Darkness

[DoS Archive]

From: novashayde@aol.com (NovaShayde)
Date: 27 Jul 1998 17:15:03 EDT

The night was dark, clouds obscuring the light from Suhn's three moons, the defenders sat upon the wall, eating in utter silence. The fires flickered and danced before the seated men, their only entertainment. Almost every man's eyes were locked on the flames before him, his thoughts his own, no one daring to intrude on the somber mood bearing down on them all. Just a few short hours ago it seemed as if they could turn the tide and
go home to their families, heroes... victorious in the face of unimaginable odds. Now, it seemed as if Death broke bread with them there on the wall, eating with them, in silence, waiting for that arrow to hammer home... that club to swing down... that blade to slice into their flesh and take their life from them.
A great weariness settled over the remaining defenders. Beyond tired, their muscles almost numb from constant stress, their minds fuzzy... yet clear. Sleep would not come for many, and those that did manage to drift off found themselves in a dream world where they constantly relived the horrors they had seen.
Nova Grey Shadow sat by himself, his back to the wall, his blades resting upon the stone on either side of his body. He stared into nothingness, thoughts drifting back to his youth. The Nova Corps. Muse, his wife... Shine, his daugher; both long since dead. Kaylan... back in RhyDin, his only remaining flesh and blood. His little girl. He wondered what she would be like when she grew up. Probably a lot like her mother. He thought of her
with a slight grin, Kaylan'll most certainly be strong and stubborn. He realized then that he'd never see her again. He slowly dropped his face into his hands and silently began to cry. Not for the dead there in SuhnSong... not for those yet to die in the Plains beyond this little city. No, these tears were selfish. There, in the darkness, away from the fires and the rest of the men, Nova Grey Shadow shed tears for himself and all the things he
now realized he'd never do.
Hadrian War Sabre stood near the back edge of the wall, looking up at the sky, straining to catch a glimpse of one of the three moons hanging there, behind the clouds. As it began to rain, thunder rumbling in the distance, he removed his helm and set it on the ground by his feet. He opened his mouth to the rain, allowing the few drops that entered to trickle down his tongue and into his throat. The defenders behind him began to huddle
together under makeshift canopies of cloth and leather that served just enough to keep the rain from dousing the fires.
A young, blonde soldier approached War Sabre. The young man was the picture of perfection at first glance, from blonde hair and strong jaw, to eagle eyes and beautiful feathered wings arching from his back, making him seem like an angel then and there. As the young man drew closer, War Sabre noted the harsh reality behind the first glance. The feathers were not perfectly aligned as they would be outside a time of war. The backs of the wings
were covered in stretched leather to keep them somewhat safe from enemy swords. A harness held the wings close to the man's back, to keep them from inhibiting his performance. A long, crescent gash fell down the side of his face, still bleeding, though it didn't appear fresh.
"You should see to that wound, young man," was War Sabre's greeting.
"Koren War Angel, sir," the young man answered with a slight grin, "and it won't kill me."
Both of them barked a bit of laughter then, it was, indeed, rediculous to think that such a wound would kill the man in the middle of a battle. If anything, it would be truly beyond irony.
"I suppose you're right," War Sabre said after the laughter subsided, "what can I do for you, Koren?"
"Nothing, sir... " Koren answered, his voice trailing off as it appeared he had begun to consider his words. "Me and the other soldiers," he began again, gesturing over his shoulder at a large group huddled around a fire, "we just wanted to say... that it's been an honor serving here with you and."
He was interrupted by War Sabre's raised hand.
"Son, the honor was mine. I've never fought beside the likes of you boys. You've fought with a greatness I've never seen. You've done me proud, son. All of you," he smiled as he spoke, his voice raising so that all could hear.
"In fact, I don't think it's right that you all stay here and die. You've got wives, children some of you... now is your chance, men. Go home! We won't think ill of you! Those who wish to, can leave, with their heads held high... know that you did all you can, there's no need to die," he gave a sweeping gesture toward the Keep gates not three hundred yards beyond the wall.
Silence prevailed, the defenders looked at each other, some were unsure, some considered the words carefully, but in the end, no one rose from their position. No one walked away.
"So damn proud of you all..." War Sabre whispered as he walked back down the wall, leaving Koren War Angel to return to his comrades.

Nova Red Arrow sat crouched in the lee of the wall, listening to War Sabre speech. There, in the shadow of the wall, away from the fires, he was practically invisible. His black skin as dark as the night around him. The rain cooled him, his body always ran hot. Funny that that would annoy him now, with so many other aches and pains to worry about. Cuts, gashes, possibly a concussion... but none of it compared to his pride. He had killed
ninety-three men today with his arrows. He knew the exact count. He kept track the entire time, counting out loud as he shot arrow after arrow at a blinding pace. He smiled as War Sabre walked past him, hearing the whisper... his ivory teeth breaking through the ebon blackness of both skin and shadow. Red starlight twinkled in his eyes as he looked to his bow.
"You've got a few more in you, haven't you, old girl?" he asked the inanimate object affectionately. He then silently began to pray that he'd live to see another day on this damnable wall. If only to take more enemy down through the Void with him.

War Sabre once again stared up at the clouds hanging in the sky, enjoying the cooling rain as it fell onto his face. Far away from the men now, away from their murmurs... at least they had begun to talk again. That long silence was indeed stifling. He closed his eyes and let his thoughts drift. He heard boots scuff on the ground beside him, Grey Shadow's voice not far behind.
"It looks like they're readying for a night attack," he said quietly. War Sabre looked at him, Nova's tears hidden well by the rain. Thunder rolled in the distance as the storm grew stronger. It went on and on and on... strange.
"They're coming!", a cry from man to man along the wall.
It was then that War Sabre realized it wasn't thunder at all, but hundreds of feet stomping upon the ground below the wall as the enemy rushed to the attack without so much as a battle cry. War Sabre and Grey Shadow drew their blades as Red Arrow leapt up from his position and readied his bow. Koren War Angel swallowed the lump of fear in his throat and said a silent prayer to his gods that he'd live to see the sun rise again... and that,
when a new day dawned, this all would be over. His prayer would know an answer... A long night, indeed.