***Chapter 2***

“We had been ordered to investigate rumors that had been circulating near Ramarck in the sparse forests of the Sand Narrows. The 112th had been sent out as well the 127th. We made our camp near the ruins of Ingrane.”

I was rigid at attention and spitting out the words like a list, I suppose some things never change.

“What kind of rumors would require two companies of the crown’s finest men to go and investigate?”

The magistrate almost seemed as though he believed his own words, as though he didn’t know. It was just another ploy and I hated him for how he made it seem that he was so blissfully ignorant. I bit my lip again and spoke through gritted teeth.

“You know damn good and well what we were sent out there for, Magistrate, you sign-“

“I believe I know exactly what I did, Sergeant Vehnul, but while you are in my courtroom you will answer my questions straight and to the point!”

On the last word he banged his fist on the bench. Now the humor in his voice and the compassion he had earlier was completely gone. His eyes burned into mine and I gripped my fists tighter.

“Do I make myself clear, sergeant?”

It took everything I had to not throw the table to the ground and through hell or high water, whatever I’d have to wade through to put my hands around his neck I was willing to trudge through it. His browbeating had done what he needed to express; control.

“Crystal, sir.” I was forced to yield.

Some training never gets out of you.

“Now answer the question for the court.”

The magistrate relaxed back into his chair as to not seem so aggressive and a hand was pressed underneath his chin.

I relaxed my hands with one flex and took in a slow deep breath.

“Rumors of dark activity, sir.”

“Elaborate, sergeant. Dark activity certainly has a wide definition.”

‘Yes it does, Magistrate. Look at why you have your position.’ Fortunately my thoughts didn’t betray me by slipping out.

“Body snatching from graveyards, strange green glows coming from the woods; cryxian activity, sir.”

The moment I said that word the entire courtroom felt so much tenser. There were whispers that had started to erupt from the attendees; I could only close my eyes and try to focus on something else.

Now I wished I hadn’t.

“Continue, sergeant.”

The images flooded my mind and the words continued to flow. The world without became the world within. Every word I spoke made the images engulf me and when I opened my eyes, I was there again, within myself as I described it.

“Private Harper!”

My order carried itself through the encampment and without a moment’s hesitation the man I called for came hustling up. I heard him before I saw him as usual and that put a smile on my face.

He was young to say the least. He looked no older than a boy that still needed to be in school and he was too. The king’s army had made an exception for his only being sixteen summers because his father was a nobleman and wished him to experience life. That and put some hair on his chest. The blonde, blue eyed youngster came rushing up with his ruck sack nearly falling apart at the seams. The standard trenching tools still coupled to it and in his arms were a library’s worth of maps. He was our scribe and cartographer.

Harper snapped to attention and all of his maps went spilling out and onto the ground. A look of disdain came over his face and a quick glance of his eyes went down to the papers and I shook my head.

“At ease, Private Harper; get your maps before they ruin.”

He scrambled to have the papers back together and he rolled them all together to prevent another accident like before and then he stood at ease.

“You called for me sarge?”

“I did son. I need you to come with me.”

I turned around and headed towards my lieutenant’s tent. I started whistling one of our cadences innocently enough but what Harper didn’t know was we had something planned for him. At hearing my whistle, the other man put down their duties and started hustling a very roundabout way to getting to the lieutenant’s tent. There was some worry in Harper’s eyes and my stone faced demeanor wasn’t giving him relief.

“Sarge, be honest with me. Am I in trouble?”

I took in a deep breath and sighed.

“I don’t know what it is you’ve done this time, Private Harper, but it’s taken his notice. He sent back a letter, as a matter of fact. He reported you to Command.”

The poor boy nearly dropped everything again and his knees started to shake.

“C-c-command? Oh sarge, what did I do?!”


“Like I said private, I don’t know.” We arrived at the tent which was drawn tight and I unhitched the knots. “Now you wait here while I speak with lieutenant.”

I stepped through the flap, making sure as to not let him see anything and once it fell shut, I smiled at what I witnessed. Everything was falling into place smoothly and just to add effect, I let Harper sweat it outside for a few more minutes. Then I turned around and stepped back out.

Poor kid was nearly in tears.

“Well Private Harper, he’ll see you now.”

Then we revealed the surprise.

Two other soldiers pulled the large flaps open and every single one of our men was either in the tent or outside the back of it and they started clapping, whistling and to see the shock on the private’s face was absolutely priceless. We had him hook, line, and sinker.

“What, what is all this?”

Then the lieutenant came forward, clapping and smiling from ear to ear. This was Lieutenant Valorn. We had respect for this man and we would follow his orders to the letter. I looked up to him as much as he looked up to us and counted on us. If he’d have asked us to fall on our bayonets we’d have climbed up the tallest tree to do it. A seasoned man in age and heart but certainly not in spirit, he was a brilliant tactician and we were honored to call him friend.

He clasped a hand to Private Harper’s shoulder and shook his hand proudly. I could see the glow in the lieutenant’s blue eyes, and he took a moment to clear his throat, holding up both of his hands to calm the men down.

“Well everyone, it seems that Sergeant Vehnul has played his part well. Heartless bastard.”

I couldn’t help but smile and take a bow while some of the men laughed.

“Private Harper, the real reason we have you in here is for a reason that is overdue.”

The lieutenant turned to another soldier who handed him an oak box. Now he faced the private and another soldier took the maps away from him and made him lower his ruck.

“Private Harper, cartographer and scribe for the 112th company. It is my honor to award you your promotion to Corporal.” He opened the box and inside was the appropriate patches and pins. To see the smile on his face did your heart good and made me swell with pride. I had seen so many promotions in my service but each one made me feel special. The lieutenant pinned the new chevrons onto his collar and the entire tent erupted into praise at the young man’s promotion.

“Alright you glory hounds!” I shouted out. “Now that we’ve had our fun, we need to get back to setting up camp.”

I clapped my hands and everyone put their hands like mine.

“For even though a wonderful moment has happened to Corporal Harper, someone has to keep you crazies in line.”

“Mad Dogs!” They all shouted.

“And who else gets it done when you need it done right?”

“Mad Dogs!”

“First for the kill, last to leave from the fight?”

“Mad Dogs!

“112th company, dismissed!”

The men began to disperse and as I went to leave, Lieutenant Valorn cleared his throat in my direction. I stopped in my tracks and he just smiled and waved me over.

Once everyone was gone, he went to his cot and sat down while kicking out a footstool for me to sit down on.

“Yes sir?”

“Sergeant, I want to thank you for this moment today.”

I was rather shocked he was thanking for me this. It really was nothing.

“You’re welcome, sir. I’m afraid I don’t follow.”

He took in a deep breath and a gloved hand rubbed absent-mindedly at the mustache he’d been growing. It was flecked with the same spots of gray as his fading red hair.

“I wanted to thank you because I see what your presence does for these men. You always go out of your way to make sure they eat, take up extra fire watch to make sure they sleep, and you never let them step out of line or get too big for their britches.”

“I do what any man should do for his men, sir.”

He put a hand up and then put his other to his mouth and coughed harshly. I winced at the sound and when he pulled his hand away, there were crimson flakes on his fingers. I recoiled at the thought.

“Sir are you-?”

“It’s alright. I’ll be fine. It’s just something I’ve accepted.”

Now he lay down and closed his eyes.

“If the food hasn’t killed me by now, I don’t think anything will.”

I had to admire his apt timing for his humor. I couldn’t shake this feeling that I had in my gut.

“Sergeant Vehnul, promise me something.”

I leaned in to listen to him. His eyes met mine and I felt like I was watching my father speak to me. He had a way to hold you in reverence.

“Promise me that after I’m gone, you take my position. These boys need you more than anything. They’re family, you’re family. And the first one of you that cries at my funeral when I’m gone I swear I’ll come back just to kick your teeth in.”

I couldn’t help myself. I knew why he was doing this. I offered him my hand and he shakily took it as another coughing fit took him…now his lips were stained in essence. I turned my head to start to shout for the medic but the ferocity of his grip made me stop. He shook his head.

“You promise me, son.”

It took so much for me to hold back the tears welling in my eyes but I nodded so very slowly.

“Yes sir. I promise you.”

I didn’t want him to talk like that. I didn’t want to accept it but he had already said, it was something he’d accepted and that was more than enough.

Now his breath came in more ragged but he smiled at me, even as the coughing fit took him one more time. I wrapped my arms around him as he coughed and I held him. I held him like a son holds his father as if he’s never going to see him again. I lost the fight with my heart and a tear rolled down my face when the fit finally stopped. I laid him down on his cot as he took his last breath and I closed his eyes.

“I promise.”