by C. R Corbin
With this war going on I wasn't so sure that I would ever be able to enjoy myself in this ocean if I really wanted to but I had to try, I had to give it my best effort and win.
Only after meeting Rebecca did I realize how imperative it was that we won. At first it was simply a matter of countering him, of punishing him for the attack. Once I caught wind of thee atrocities I became even more dedicated to taking him down but now the morale drive behind the motive to kill him was as intense as it ever was.
He had to perish because he had wronged my love and was threatening to forsake her happiness. She has taught me the importance of the lives that were at stake, more so than before when I simply had a vague idea of them morally, now I was fully dedicated to the attack.
"They are." I finally answered him after my tiny bout of introspection. He sighed as he glanced at the waters that were trickling in before him. The sands shift under his boots as the plates of his metal armor slip into place. The beads on his shoulder pads that displayed his rank and achievement shimmered while he stands there, his eyes narrow as he glanced at the warm sun.
"Is this because of your mate my lord?" he asked.
He was an older man as evidenced by the grey scruff on his chin. It was apparent that he had fought in many battles, perhaps too many to name. It was as clear as day if one were to see the scars on his chin and his cheek, the long jagged lines that run their way through his skin while he stood there before me. His eyes were empty and cold and his entire being radiated this sense of...exhaustion. He was far more worldly than I, but at times it seems as if he was more of a computer than he was a man, a computer that sprouted cold strategies continuously. His name was Urem, I have known him since I was a young boy.
But perhaps today he was a bit hesitant and looking to me in a warmer light.
"She wants to return. She feels as if it would be wrong for her to stay when her family is in danger. It is a moral drive that is behind her desire to go to Durol, you see." I stated with an even tone while resting my eyes on the sand.
"She knows her life will be in danger. You might survive thanks to your experience but this is an action that holds a great deal of consequence, possibly negative consequence." he hummed while his arms rest on top of his knees.
"She doesn't' care."
"Do you?"
"I don't either. This is the right thing to do for her and I don't want to be stuck here any longer. It feels wrong to stay here while people are risking their life for my sake."
"That is what a prince does?"
"Remain distant and cold?" I shot back.
"Remain safe, play it smart. That's what a leader does." he explained to me and I shake my head.
My hands bunch up bundles of sand and drop them back down while the words replayed in my mind over and over again. Safe and smart. Since when has doing that prevented the loss of life or been morally right? Sure in many instances it might have but not in this case. To protect one must take risks and that was what I was dead set on doing.
"You've seen me in battle. I'll be fine. If I perish then perhaps...I wasn't fit to rule." I muttered. "These people deserve a better king than one that remains so distant from the very conflicts that he is participating in. They deserve better than a king that simply stands back and watches his men crumble before him in a display of power."
"The likelihood of you perishing is...small but I would much rather you let go of these ancient ideas of chivalry and power. They are harmful to you, to put it bluntly."
"You don't understand what this means to me. To us. I've lived far too long with my head in the dirt with regards to understanding compassion, empathy. I need that feeling back, lest I become like Scoran."
"Can't you do that without going near the battlefield?"
I know on some level that he's right but I didn't care, it wasn't about who was right logically anymore. I had confidence that I would survive and so would she, there was no need to worry and fuss over strategy at this point in time.
This was no point for cold rationality, it was more so a time for action, for fire to brew in my heart in a way that it hasn't for quite a while.
In the morning we depart and I stand there on the ship while gazing out the window at the beaches. She stands there right beside me. She had told her sister all about our departure and how we would be approaching and needless to say, her family was quite excited. They all had homes that had been rebuilt and were living the lives that they were meant to live and all that was standing in the way of it now was this bastard that wanted to claim a land that wasn't even his in the first place.
I knew that I told her that we would be here to rebuild but if they caught wind of my presence then they would surely try to move on the town. I swore that they would not even touch the outskirts, we were in this massive valley and protecting the place was quite simple if I stationed my troops correctly.
That was it! I could lure them here! I knew that Scoran wasn't the keenest strategist of them all and he would likely take the bait if I positioned myself near the valley and attracted him here. We could eliminate a large number of his forces if we played it smart enough. I had thought of the strategy for quite a bit but never really went over it with Urem until it seems that it was time to. I thought that my best bet would be to hide my presence and simply hold them off wherever they chose to mobilize but I could target, I could control their forces with just a simple display of my presence.
Then they would fall, the first thing that they would do would be to fall before me.
It would put her town at a bit of a risk but nothing too major. Especially if enough forces were mobilized. I didn't know how I was going to hide my...the mountains! The mountains surrounding the valley could disrupt their readings and we could hide in the trees before attacking! That was it!
I leaned over to Urem and began to inform him of my plan, he gradually grew more and more pleased with the idea until he nodded his head and approved before marching off, I suppose in order to send word of what our plan would be.
It would have to work.
We land early in the morning, it seems that most people were still sleeping when we set down. The sun was just barely creeping over the horizon and the villagers began to stumble out of their homes and watch as I landed. I don't want to wait in the ship any longer or rest, it was time to act and it seems that Rebecca was also keen on the idea.
The airfield was quite a ways from the center of the town with nearly 10,000 people in it at this point. This was the biggest settlement for quite a while and it was where we would be doing most of our work. Before we touched down I had gotten a glance at the front lines and could scarcely believe what I saw. Soldiers mobilizing at night, fires drifting through the shadows and preparing for a surprise attack
This was it, this was all that was going to be waiting for us.
Luckily I already received word that most of my soldiers had been gathered in secret. Our trip was kept a secret and the movement of my men was kept at a small trickle in order to prevent alerting Scoran's men and it worked as far as I could tell. I set down without any fanfare at all and wandered over to the base to check-in. Rebecca was with me every step of the way, holding onto my arm and looking over at the base as she stepped forward tentatively. She was excited to be home, I could tell that much.
"Welcome to Durol sir. We just need to do a quick medical check and we'll let you be on your way. Most of the town isn't up yet and your welcoming ceremony begins in a couple of feros but don't hesitate to wander around in the meantime." said the commanding officer in charge of the place.
To say that it looks drastically different would be an understatement. Most of the ruined black stone buildings were rebuilt. Structures that had been there before were now improved drastically and looked way more aesthetically pleasing than they ever did. She marveled at how they looked in the distance, the golden sunlight drifts over them and washes among the smooth black stone as she gasped
and rested her hand on her lips.
"Pretty." She remarked.
The airfield was at the top of this small hill on a plateau. The base was directly behind us and we were standing on the lip of the hill whilst staring out amongst the lands. It looked absolutely wondrous, absolutely lovely
"It doesn't even look like the same town. Everything looks new." She remarked.
The trees and plants that had been around the town that were in states of decay and rotting when I arrived had been replanted and were now springing with new life. The people were gathering in the center of town judging by the activity of their hovercrafts that were all swarming to the center of the place. I smiled inwardly at the progress that we had made, I had received reports that things had improved but I didn't expect it to be this drastic. This was only from outside! I wondered how it could look should we travel inwards.
After all, it has only been a month. If this amount of progress was made during that time I can only imagine how much better it would look over a couple of years.
CHAPTER TEN
Kreux
"Well it would seem as if they're more than happy to see you." she giggled as I looked out amongst the crowd gathered in front of me. They stood there with their hands raised as they stared at me while I was in my hovercraft.
I stood at attention and she did as well as the gathered troops and civilians all lifted their hands upwards in an attempt to draw attention to themselves. I smiled and nodded as I passed, the citizenry seemed to be quite taken with me in general. It was hard to believe that only a month ago when I arrived that most of the people were looking at me with eyes full of skepticism. Now their gazes were filled with love, with adoration.
"Prince! Our prince!" I heard chanted and nearly laughed in reaction to it. It all seemed so ridiculous, so strange to me at least.
What had occurred to have brought them to this point? Judging from the sight of the repaired buildings and newly erected structures that we passed on the way here I would presume that the rebuilding efforts had gone better than I would have expected. Rebecca searches for her relatives in the crowd but she is unable to see them, we were only in the beginning throes of the town, after all, soon we would be in the center of town get to see everyone.
The buildings seemed taller than they were when we had departed. The shiny black stone had gotten some paint jobs and the children seemed to take the liberty of drawing a mural on the side of one of the buildings. There were signs and stores opening, it looked like this place was actually beginning to look a bit more hopeful than it ever has. Before this was just a minor town, a village of sorts. Sure it was the central urban hub around these parts but that didn't mean much when the moon was under populated like this.
But now it was trying to look almost metropolitan in a way. The tallest building reminded me of a skyscraper.
I glanced over at Rebecca and her eyes were filled with wonder as she looked on. That brown hair of her's rolls over her face as she rested her gaze on the town, her lips pursed together and she smiled at me before giving me a quick kiss which elicited a roar from the crowd. I smiled at her and slide my arm around her while she stands there, proudly waving alongside me.
"I kept my promise." I laughed and she nodded while nudging my shoulder with her forehead.
"I know you would." she states.
We arrive at the center of town that had been rebuilt since Scoran's rule. The cobblestone square was now repaired and there were no more craters to step into or cracks in the stone buildings around there. Children were happily marching out of school with gleeful expressions marking their faces while they glanced at me. I stand at attention in the center of the platform in the middle of the town while Rebecca walked up beside me. I was wearing my favorite grey robe and she was wearing a lovely white dress. We looked out amongst the individuals gathered and I see her family standing there. I motion to the guards to let them past the barrier and the guards do as her family runs up to the platform and stands off to the side, waiting for me to finish my speech so they could speak with the sister and niece that they have been missing for what seemed like an eternity.
The cheering continued for a while while I glanced at the mixed crowd that was standing before me. The Morelen soldiers glanced at me with their glowing visors and the human soldiers and civilians cheered with their best outfits shining in the light of the sun. I smiled as I take her hand and lifted it for one last large cheer before I parted from her hands to do my speech with the microphone on my robe turning on.
"Well, you certainly know how to make me feel welcome." I chuckled and the individuals around me smiled while glancing at me. They laughed and settled down quickly before I moved onto the second portion of a speech.
"As you all know our campaign against Scoran has been a resounding success and our rebuilding efforts have been even better. What lurked in the shadows of the past are now dead and gone, now we have the chance to hope for a brighter tomorrow, I hope you all realize that." I declared to the sounds of the crowd clapping.
"The place of a Morel prince is not to rule but it is to serve. To serve his people, his territories, his mate." I stated and looked to Rebecca briefly. "It is a duty that Scoran has forsaken. He thinks that he can conquer this land once more but the spirit of its people shall show him the error of his ways. By the end of this year the threat to your freedoms will cease to exist, this I can assure you of." I declared at the top of my lungs as the crowd uproariously cheered at my declaration.
"I stand here not only with my mate but with a woman that has suffered with you for far too long. I will never abandon this, I promise to preserve your freedom and your dignity for as long as I live. I will not allow any greedy fool to attempt to usurp what has been granted to you. This is your birthright! This freedom should not be a privilege, it is a right! It will take many years to purge the scars of abuse from this place but we will do it and when we finally succeed we will never have to face that dark night ever again!"
"Really laying it on thick here aren't you?
She teased me with a roll of her eyes. Suddenly I got an idea.
"I believe my mate has something to say! She is your leader as well, after all." I snicker as I looked at her. Suddenly her microphone flashed on and she glared at me in a joking manner.
"Oh you bastard." she whispered in between gritted teeth. Little did she know that her voice was instantly projected outwards thought the microphone and the crowd could hear her chiding me. She blushed furiously and glared at me while I only gave her a sheepish smile in response.
"Sorry." I mouthed.
Sighing, she began her speech.
'I have lived in this town for nearly my entire life and well ...it was never the image of the perfect childhood. I'm sure that everyone here can relate to their loved ones being ripped away or being abused by your captors. All of that has occurred to me and more and I swear today that it shall never happen to anyone else here today. We will stop Scoran no matter the cost and I swear to you that I have seen hope in these streets, in your eyes! If we could rebuild this much in the time that we have been given then just imagine how much we can do under the gaze of true freedom!" she declares and I can only smile at her as she raised her hands and loudly declared her intentions to the world.
My mate was truly remarkable.
#
Rebecca
"That was great. I missed you so much. You know that?" asked Emily as she captures me in a hug that was way too tight. I settle in her arms as she holds me in place and swung me around, I separate for her and give a quick hug to my aunt and uncle who were standing there as well. Emily looked so much healthier than when I last saw her. Her brown hair had color again, her cheeks were no longer pale and she didn't seem to be on the verge of illness each time I gazed at her.
She looked like how a sixteen-year-old girl should look, happy and healthy.
"Prince Kreux, thank you." said my aunt as she and my uncle bowed in f
ront of the man that had been responsible for all of this, the one that had saved us from that despair that was threatening to consume us just a couple of weeks ago. They each give the prince a hug but Emily goes a step beyond and actually bows to him.
Emily never bowed to anyone! Ever! To see that she was crying and bowing at the same time was quite the shock that I never really got over.
"It's alright, it's okay. You're free now." he told her while patting her back and she wept into his chest.
"It's thanks to you that I actually have a future..." she whispered.
"Thank your sister. She convinced me to go as hard on the reforms as I did." he said. That was partially true I suppose, i was his main motivation but he was now fully behind the idea of supporting these people regardless of my wants or needs. He had become a better man and I was proud of him for it.
"Thank you sis." she whispered softly and captured me into her arms.
We stayed like that for a while until nightfall and he invited them onboard the ship to have a meal. Of course, my family accepted without hesitation and soon we were in a hovercraft heading directly towards the ship. I sat in the hovercraft with my sister and caught up with her. We talked at length about what had happened on both of our ends and she could scarcely believe it when I told her of the majesty of Kreux's home.
"I'm serious there's beaches and everything! You have to come one day. Once the war is over you're coming with me and we're going to go swimming." I said with a smile.
"Can I?" she asked with an excited expression.
"Of course. Any friend or relative of my mate's is welcome to come and enjoy my planet for as long as they like. You have my word." said Kreux while he gave her a warm smile and she nodded quickly before looking back at me to tell me about how school was going. Apparently, they had to take a bunch of classes to catch up but the kids were catching on pretty quickly. They would only graduate about two years after they were supposed to, had they received a regular childhood.
