A Skeleton and a Lich by Michael Chatfield

Author:Michael Chatfield [Chatfield, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Michael Chatfield
Published: 2019-08-26T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter: War Front

“When I was younger, I was excited, I was happy to go to war, to show to the others in my unit, to the people back home that I was a warrior, a real fighter. Now when I see all of the men and women of the legion marching, I can’t help but see war. The bodies, the death, the smell. Losing that happiness I had before,” Gus said to Su. They were riding atop their caravans along a paved road. They were coming down off a hill and could see over the trees. The different forts that ran along the border were filled with those from the beast kin legions.

Smoke rose from the camps ahead of them.

Su looked in the distance. “I used to think that the humans and the people on the other side were just targets, unfeeling things to be destroyed. Now...” Su shook his head. “They’re just someone like us, fighting for their homes, for the people that they love. Some kid who thinks he can become an adult by going to war.”

“Funny how quickly history is forgotten by those in positions of power. How generals who were in the rear are quick to make up plans to send young men and women forth once more, to die for their nation,” Gus agreed as they fell into silence.

Su looked back, checking on the rest of the trading caravan. All of the registered traders in Selenus were now moving supplies for the military up to the front lines.

“We shouldn’t be far from Easthall now.” Su sat back down and got comfortable.

Gus grunted as they kept going.

It wasn’t long before they saw the sparse village that marked their next stop.

“I’ll be back in a minute.” Su drew his mount up and got on, unhooking them from the carriage as he rode up to the gates.

“What is your business here?” a guard asked from the walls. Other archers were ready to draw their bows if they needed to.

“I have supplies for the war effort. I have my paperwork here. We’re to stay here one night before moving to the line.” Su held up his papers.

A bucket on string dropped from the parapet.

“Papers in the bucket.”

Su put them in and secured the lid.

The bucket rose once again. Su waited as the caravan got closer.

“All right, you are granted access. We’ll need to inspect your goods and your people’s papers at the gate, though,” the disembodied voice said from above.

“Very well.” Su sighed internally. The whole process was to make sure that they weren’t spies, or carrying black market items. It was a lengthy process that took a few hours.

The gates opened and guards came out.

“Name is Lieutenant Pell. Sorry about this all, but orders...” the young woman said to Su.

“I know it only too well. Did my stint not that long ago,” Su said.

She seemed to relax a little. “Mind if you come with us as we’re inspecting? Might make things a bit faster,” she suggested.

“Certainly.” Su nodded.

They checked the people of the caravan, and then the caravans before the guards allowed them in.

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