[SR patrol] Look sharp, take note [Reconnaissance]

An arrow pierced through the young boy's throat, and another burst through his chest, gorey with blood, the feathers touching skin. Evgenii rode up on a horse that was obviously much too well-groomed for him, his bow in one hand. He braced his other hand on the pommel of the saddle and dismounted, grabbing the reigns and leading the horse to Atoro. He saluted and held out the reigns for the tactician to take. "This is yours sir, my detail has been following your detail, watching your back and scouting." His eyes slid over to Lourna and back to Atoro. He'd watched the entire exchange which was probably why he smiled then, wide and handsome, dimples showing. "Figured you could use a break from the inept and disobedient." He tapped Lourna's cheek with the edge of his bow. "When your General says 'kill it' you kill it. Are you Lahrukan?" He took the three strides to stand directly in front of her and leaned down so his face was in her face, his smile fixed on his face. "We drown Lahrukans. But I see your blue eyes and your lily skin and your dark hair..." He grabbed her by her chin, his grip bruising. "So why don't we punish you the way we punish errant Surahnians?" He tugged her forward by the grip on her chin, and snatched his hand back when she went to fight his grip, he kneed her in the stomach and grabbed her by the hair, dragging her over to the horse. "You." He pointed to Fivei. "Come here and divest her of weapons. I'm sure you know your knots, there is rope in the saddlebags, tie her up." He turned, boot-heels clicking and saluted Atoro again. "You need not dirty your hands with such trivial stupidity, Sir." He grinned. "It will be my pleasure to teach respect."

This girl was ridiculous, she was worse than ridiculous. How dare she refuse such a direct order, from Atoro himself? Speaking back to him once was bad enough, twice would have given her a severe punishment, but this… he would have her killed. At least one of the children had been disposed of, the other Surah woman doing what he had told her to. If he had to deal with all three of them at once, by the War Father…

He advanced on Lourna, eyes narrow slits from anger.
“You are disobeying my orders? My direct orders?” He did not care about these morals that she seemed so worried about, did not care about her emotions or thoughts. When he wanted something done, it got done, no questions. As it would have run for any of the other officials- probably more, considering his position as the Tactician.
“Kill you, I will do more than merely kill you,” he said, his voice a growl. If he had been angry before, he was livid now. He would not be disobeyed by a mere girl, over the life of some worthless alley child.

But before he killed her in the most painful way he knew, he was interrupted, possibly in a good way. Finally, a competent archer- annoying, in his own special way, but competent in equal measure. The second child dropping to the ground with two evenly-placed arrows gave him a small idea of who it was, and he was actually pleased to see Evgenii behaving in such a proper manner.
Lourna was saved from Atoro, for now, while he dealt with his friend’s arrival. And, the man was behaving as if he followed his rank today too.
“Bowman Adroa,” he addressed him formally, taking the horse’s reins and nodding slightly to dismiss him. Evgenii was always so efficient, it was refreshing next to this incompetence. “You are efficient as usual. I would enjoy punishing this one; she has just disobeyed direct orders. From myself.” No doubt Evgenii had heard. He certainly acted as if the girl had caused him dire insult, which she had. His rough treatment was just what the girl had earned herself.

“I fear teaching her how to obey orders may take a little longer, either from yourself.” He stepped forwards, dropping his voice so Evgenii could hear, less so the others around. “How did such an incompetent woman end up in the same patrol as yourself?”

If she’d sooner die, it seemed like she was all too likely to get her wish. It was hard to believe such a blatant lack of any regard for Atoro’s authority. If nothing else, Dekhovra admired the girl’s resolve in standing so firm against that irate face, but there was great stupidity there too. What could Atoro do but kill her now, even if he didn’t want to- which he so obviously did.

Perhaps the intervention was a good thing when it came. Judging by the tactician’s demeanour, he could have been about to do something more than a little undignified, and she’d almost forgotten that the child still needed taking care of. All the same, two arrows being shot with a foot of her did nothing good for the nerves and when she span to greet Evgenii it was with a knife in hand. As soon as she saw his colouring her hand dropped somewhat, and once she recognised his face she hastily resheathed the knife and touched her left shoulder for a few moments.
“My apologies, sir, I didn’t recognise the arrows,” she explained. Evgenii was known to be on good terms with Atoro; it wouldn’t do to offend him. Still, with a bit of luck her actions would be considered sharp reflexes rather than insolence or foolishness. She stepped smartly back as Atoro moved into the other man, obviously for a more private conversation, and turned her gaze to Fivei as she dragged Lourna over to stand by the horse and removed all the weapons in plain sight before stripping her down to the bare essentials of modesty and checking for any concealed weapons. There weren’t many. Satisfied, Fivei kicked Lourna to the ground and retrieved the ropes from the saddlebags, kneeling on the ground beside her victim as she efficiently bound her and added a light gag just in case. What she was meant to do with the disgraced woman now was unclear, so she hauled her back to a rough standing position and dragged her back to stand next to Dekhovra, waiting on further instructions from either Atoro or Evgenii.

Evgenii lowered his voice to match Atoro's. "To be honest, I don't know. Perhaps she is perfectly fine on her own, but when she is around you she feels the need to show off. Perhaps she thinks you'll like a woman like her... unafraid to be an absolute moron. Or brave, it's a fine line." He looked behind Atoro, to find Dekhovra apologizing and smiled gesturing for her to relax. "If someone shot something in my hands, I'd be quick to act too... my fletching changes with the seasons, I've got to stick with something." But that was a false excuse made for her benefit. His fletching was always the same, a black feather marked with a red, white and yellow band. Surahnian fletching was rather easy to tell, black with a red band, but there were variations. He just supposed Dekhovra was uneasy in a foreign town after all the unfortunate events. He looked back to Atoro. "Would that any of us were swordsmen with broad blades..." he gestured vaguely to Lourna, gagged and restrained like a prisoner. "It would make the task of oaring her all the easier, but I suppose I could drown her a couple times to remind her she is not Lahrukan..." Evgenii scratched the back of his head and sighed. "It's so much more difficult to punish someone with nothing but your bare hands..." He had a short blade, though, but his intention wasn't to kill the stupid thing. She was still Surahnian, after all, and killing her over some natives was not Evgenii's intention. He'd have to talk to Atoro later about his temper. Had he killed Lourna over her disobedience, the story might get out falsely, and he could be seen as killing her for a far less worthy reason. Her punishment now was far better than her death, perhaps if she'd disobeyed in the Capital of New Surahnia, she could be killed with no problems, for there would have been several Surahnians to witness her stupidity. Evgenii smiled. "I'm clever I'll think of something." He saluted Atoro, winked at him, and walked over to Lourna, still smiling.

"Well, my dear, aren't you lucky we're not in the capital?" He reached around her head and undid the gag, tilting her chin up and peering down into her face. She was lovely, but most Surahnian girls were. If he had to marry, and he would avoid it for as long as he could, he wouldn't marry a young girl. They caught the eyes of higher ups and they were so eager to climb the ladder. He would marry an older woman, someone eager to be married, and to a strapping lad like him no less. It didn't hurt that he had white and yellow armbands. "You have a choice, because unfortunately all I have are my bare hands my bow and a shortsword." His grip on her chin was bruising. "You can apologize profusely, prostrating yourself and begging your General's forgiveness, whereupon I will take you back to the main host and tell them you are to be suspended a week and sent back to the capital... or you could continue to be a fool, and I can remind you that you are Surahnian... then take you to the main host and tell them you are to be oared until you learn respect. And I am told the Lion is there." Which meant there'd be oars and men itching to use them, and if any of them were too soft to oar such a pretty girl, he'd do it his damned self. "Use the brain bestowed upon you by the War Father."

Atoro rolled his eyes at Evgenii’s explanation. Absolute moron was putting Lourna into the right words, certainly. He did not much care what happened to her, as long as she was out of his sight, and he did not have to deal with her incompetence a second time.
“I should not think brave, she treads so firmly on the side of idiocy. It is a wonder she was accepted into the archery unit.” Perhaps their standards were slipping. However, this was one step too far in the wrong direction, they were better off training the natives. He stared at the wayward girl, expression back to its normal cold blankness, then up at Evgenii as he addressed him a second time, folding his arms across his chest.
“Exact something appropriate, before I have to myself. Perhaps the challenge will sharpen your senses a little.” He was not annoyed with Evgenii, the truth was that he had saved him from completely losing his temper, but even still, he was not in a good mood. Not being able to take it out on someone made him snappy- snappier than he generally was already.

He turned away from the pair as the bowman dealt with Lourna, surveying the rest of his little group. A couple of other bowwomen hesitated round the edges now, obviously the rest of Evgenii’s group, then there were Dekhovra and Fivei too. He clicked his fingers at them, then at the child’s body at their feet.
“Dispose of that.” There was no chance that they were not attracting attention now, but he did not want even more. They would have to abandon this for the time being, what with so many extra problems to attend to now. Now he was remembering why he did not like to run missions himself, so many hindrances…

After listening to Evgenii speak, she seemed to somewhat come back to her senses and looked down. "I don't quite know what happened back there." she whispered hoarsely. "I-I. . ." Her statement was cut short by a rather painful coughing fit from raising her voice so much, and if she did so anymore she'd likely go mute entirely. "Please forgive me, sir." Taking physical damage wasn't easy in the least, not because of a low tolerance for pain, but for the fact that an oaring would more than likely cripple her for the rest of her days. She wouldn't cry over this, by the gods she wouldn't! It was just difficult after seeing what she did and the strain she'd put on her voice. "Only an idiot would choose oaring at this point."

Strange that she would say that after basically being called a moron by this bowman, but if there was anything she could do to salvage the situation she'd do it. There was a knot of guilt twisting its way through every fiber of her being, and if this ever went away, it wouldn't be a moment to soon. Perhaps that was from being kneed in the stomach, but really most everything was a blur aside from the bruising she now had on her chin and midsection. "I'll pack up and head back immediately."

"You lost your damn mind is what happened back there." He made no comment on her being a complete idiot, and only choosing the less painful of two options because it was sane, even for a moron. "I don't think you heard me, you have to prostrate yourself before your general, beg his forgiveness and thank him for his mercy. After all, you're alive aren't you?" He knew very well that Atoro would have skinned her if he hadn't interfered and he didn't want that for Atoro's reputation. The last thing any of them needed was some young girl making Atoro lose his temper in front of a squad. They didn't need that kind of disobedience producing those kinds of results. It would make the army trust its Generals less. Punishments had to be dealt with through the right channels. Exceptions were made for generals, and surely this would have been understood, but he didn't want Lourna to be made into some kind of martyr by some Surah looking to take Atoro's position.

There was always someone looking to take a higher position.

"Then you will be escorted back to camp, your supplies will be divvied up and you alone will be sent back to the capital, with our couriers who will have your suspension papers." He picked a spec of dirt from his sleeve and flicked it. "We do not have all day." He gestured for her to go on with the begging.

It wasn’t Dekhovra’s position to interfere as Evgenii talked to Lourna- but standing right next to them, she was able to hear every word as the girl got her just deserves. Until Atoro stepped over to her, that was. She saluted, not bothering to speak as the tactician stalked away again, before picking up the corpse at her feet and carrying it around the buildings on either side of the street to a small, hidden space between them with a loose earth floor. Fivei followed, bearing the second boy, and set him down on the ground beside the first.
“You wait here,” Dekhovra commanded, marching along behind the row of shops to a small wooden lean-to she had spotted a few buildings down. As she had suspected, it contained a small variety of tools; she selected two sturdy-looking spades and returned to their chosen spot. Between the two women and the crumbly earth, it didn’t take long to dig a hole big enough to fit the two urchins into. As a finishing touch she added a few chunks of stone from an ancient, crumbling wall as a deterrent to any animals who might try to dig up the corpses. Maybe she didn’t care enough to give the boys a proper burial- she didn’t know what heathen customs they might have on this island anyway- but there was no reason for their bodies to be desecrated.

With the job done, Dekhovra and her daughter returned to the main group just as Lourna turned to Atoro. Evgenii stood authoratively over her, the very model of a Surahnian officer. She’d heard rumours about the native bowmaster being dismissed for some reason; of course, there was much speculation as to who would be his replacement. A true Surahnian, no doubt. The Lion was about the only native who had been successful in very high rank, and he was something of an exception. Evgenii’s name had come up once or twice in discussions- him having both white and yellow bands, not to mention a friendship with the tactician, at least had to put him in the running. There were plenty of people about to impress today. Evgenii was single as well, she was sure of it. If Atoro could not be persuaded to take a look at Fivei, then maybe they would have more luck with Evgenii. He would still make an excellent husband, and likely he got less attention than Atoro.
“My lord,” she murmured, bowing as she took up position beside the group. What they were up to now, she didn’t know, but she wasn’t about to leave unless commanded to.

When she tried to talk, all that would happen was a spatter of blood on her hand, so hurriedly she wrote out a full apology in the dirt. Her voice had now completely failed her, and she could only hope that she wasn't dismissed for her physical defect. The way things were going now, she could almost expect her mother to be forced back into military service. After clearing her throat she tried one last time to speak, and this time it worked. "Please, please do not dismiss me. My mother can't resume her position in the military, and I have shamed myself and my family enough for ten lifetimes, please have mercy." If her mother got wind of her sudden trouble with her voice, there wasn't really any telling what would happen to Lourna.

In her current state she wasn't all too reliable, and worse yet Lourna was her only surviving child out of four to survive past infancy and several others that were stillborn. All that combined would mean that if it came down to saving her daughter's life or letting her die, Verunia Krishnev would openly admit that her daughter was affected by the Plague. Lori ventured to stand, but refused to look up at any of her fellow Surahnians for fear of them seeing the blood. Sadly it was dripping through her hand, and likely enough Dekhovra would know what was going on. 'Willow Mother have mercy, please don't let her find out.' she prayed to herself.

Atoro was far from pleased about the whole situation that had unfolded, but at least now things had settled. A little. Not quite enough for his liking- this was supposed to be a damn subtle reconnaissance mission, for War Father’s sake!- but he would have to live with that.
Apparently he would have to live with overwhelming incompetence too…

Returning to the others, he sent a look towards the darkening sky. They had begun this day’s work late to begin with, and despite it being summer with lengthened days, the night chill was starting to show its face. There was too much interest sparked in passers by now to achieve anything more today. He stepped over to Evgenii’s side, giving no heed for Lourna except from a token glance- was she sick? No healthy Surah lost their voice so fast. This whole thing was a complete farce! His work was not easy, but it did not need to be made even more impossible by the incompetence of those who were set under him.
“There is no more to be done here tonight. We shall return to camp. Bring the wench.” He spun on his heel, paying no attention to the apology in the dirt, or how the movement sprayed it with a layer that did nothing to help legibility. He might sometimes –usually- have said something more to Evgenii, but for now, only sharp comments lingered for any who tried to instigate a conversation.

Evgenii noticed the older woman joining the group again. She was the paragon of a good archer, and he wondered if, perhaps, he should foist re-training of Lourna onto her. It would be seen as either a punishment or a chance to prove her worth. If she was the kind of woman Ev thought her to be, then she'd see it as the latter, and do her damnedest with this fool girl. He smiled brightly when Atoro spun on his heel, mentally noting that he was such a dramatist when he didn't get his way. He'd definitely tease him about it later. However, his smile turned feral and he turned to look at the older woman, Dekhovra if he remembered correctly.

"Soldier, I have a special assignment for you," he said as he hauled Lori to her feet with ease. His grip around her waist looked leisurely. "This girl here has forgotten what it is like to be a Sur. She has forgotten what it is like to be an archer. She has forgotten our pride and she has forgotten our mercy. Therefore she must be taught, and I see that your daughter..." He gestured with his chin at Fivei. "Is as proper a Sur woman as her mother..." He started walking, gesturing for Dek to follow, dragging Lourna along as though she was a sack of grain. "Therefore I suggest that you take over her rehabilitation."

That and Evgenii did not feel like spending too much time with the girl reteaching her Sur ethics. That is, teaching her to obey her superiors and to stop mewling like a little babe about how her mother would be forced into the military otherwise. Surs discharged for one reason or another were not forced back into the military. A discharge meant they either weren't fit or had served their time and only if they signed back up would they be back in the military, and only after fitness tests.

"I think she might be touched in the head, but if you can work it out, Mother, I'd be very happy." He grinned at Dek, and winked at Fivei before dropping Lourna and walking ahead to catch up to Atoro. He didn't look over his shoulder, quite confident his message had been clear.

When he caught up to Atoro, he was silent for a while, enjoying the man's angry aura. It was a while walking before he spoke. "Need wine? I can procure some. You look like a walking headache."

Having realized just what sort of hellfire and misery she'd just earned herself for being an idiot, there was a small moment where the rest of the world stood still and she stared intently, very intently, at the apology she'd scrawled in the dirt. Perhaps it was divine intervention, or maybe she shut away her own personal feelings were forfeit in favor of being someone worthy of her heritage. At the risk of being beaten, and sounding like more of a lunatic, she raised her head slightly. "I am honored and will not disappoint you." She sounded hollow as she spoke, but it couldn't be helped; she felt as though her soul had been pulled from her body. "I will prove that I am worthy of being a soldier and an archer." It didn't matter how long it took, or what she had to do to earn back the respect of her fellow soldiers and superiors: she'd do anything. There was no sense in her looking at any of them, she didn't want to have any idea of what they thought about her.

Grasping hold of the reins of the horse Evgenii had brought, Atoro deigned to walk out the anger within him before mounting the poor beast once they were out of the town boundaries at a later point. He did not turn back to survey the end of such a breach of discipline, although he was not far enough away yet to be out of hearing range.
The fact that another competent archer would now be weighed down with the useless waif that was Lourna did nothing to improve his mood. He would rather have had the girl run through and left to bleed out on the pavement slowly. But there were watchers, and the Jilurians needed a favourable impression of the Surahnians before their town was reoccupied.

That did not stop him from scowling openly at all those who stared at him and all the rest now, though. His lips narrowed to a thin line and he fixed his gaze straight ahead, not even looking across at Evgenii when he trotted up to match stride with him.
“The last thing I need is wine,” he said in clipped tones. “That woman is a walking disaster. I want the troops lined in rows outside the city tonight, for inspection. If they are all so incompetent, then my plans will need amending.” It disgusted him, to be handed such pathetic excuses for Surahnians and thought they could do an adequate, even good, task of being ambassadors for Jiluria. The locals were meant to conform to Surahnian ideals following this visit, respect them for their discipline and strength, not mock them for the obvious insubordination and lack of control exhibited today already.

Evgenii saluted sharply. "Thy will be done, Tactician." He cracked a smile and patted his friend's leg. "Come now, you know I'll have things in order for you shortly. If these natives so much as sneeze the wrong way, this village will find itself rid of all its men in a single night... I promise you this much." His smile was feral and the hate in his eyes was palpable. Evgenii was of the opinion that not a single native should be left alive, lest they make the mistakes of their forbears and be overrun by chattel. It would weaken them, and they would falter and Evgenii did not ever want to see another Surahnian dying of plague, or Surahnian children starving for lack of food and water.

He had no qualms about killing women or children either, but their orders were to be ambassadors. They couldn't very well massacre the entire village and expect word not to reach other villages. They would clam up tight and it would be a bloody campaign across the island.

It was an intelligent tactic, to get the enemy to welcome them.

Though, Evgenii wouldn't have minded blood and fire across the land. Not one bit.

» (0) A Note on all Magic Lore