Chapter 66: The Nearing Storm (Volas)

It is a surprise to watch my soldiers set up an ambush point with this much dedication. Spending the entire day without pause to set up lines of trenches and ballista pits. In the distance, it is hard to tell that an army is hiding on the hill behind trees and shrubs. I suppose the knowledge that this war is coming to an end and that they are going to be the ones to end it will make anyone go far beyond.
I sit across the open field. Taking notes on the development of the ambush point to see where they need to improve and how they can better hide themselves. However, I can’t take risks. We have a steady supply of meat from a pig farmer and an ample supply of drinking water. The issue of food isn’t the problem; it will be the cold. I can’t have them start fires during the night. If they want to eat, they have to eat during the early morning in enclosed furnaces. I worry that the rule might cause problems for their morale and discipline since they are not veterans and might not be used to this routine.
Timing isn’t perfect either. While the snow is disappearing slowly and the grass is showing, the coldest winds are coming. I need to send a call out for extra blankets so everyone can stay warm.
My entourage silently patrols around me, making sure no Dog is clever enough to sneak up from behind or scouting the area as we prepare for their eventual arrival. Huson has already taken some soldiers to scout the area and ensure that the Dogs are not coming, deciding to take the lead and be more involved with his men. Since no one has turned up to tell of any sighting, I suppose everything is going well and that the Dogs are taking their time.
Olivia sits beside me, drawing a picture of the landscape with a piece of white chalk and charcoal. Humming to her own tune as she delicately tries to copy the hill in front of her. I can’t help but peer down to admire her art, even if it looks crude. However, when I do need to debrief the Commander on where to improve, I can use her drawing as a reference.
Come to think of it, I need to ensure that the path the Dogs follow is within the range of my war machines and archers. The thunder cannons will help. If they turn up, this ambush will be effective if everyone is in range and can hit the Dogs at the same time before they can react. The signal bombs will be a great bonus as well. Once we set up our positions, I will need to have…
‘Achoo!’ Olivia sneezes, ending my line of thought. ‘So, Volas. Why are we out here?’
‘Because I have a job to do.’ I calmly explain. She doesn’t need all the details. ‘I have to fight bad guys.’
Olivia puts her art equipment down to look up at me. ‘Bad guys? Like who?’
‘The ones we fought almost a month ago. The Dogs with the crossbows and painted black armour.’
‘Oh,’ she looks away for a moment before responding to me with a saddened expression. ‘Why do all bad guys look like… me?’
‘They just do. It just so happens they are the same species as you.’ I shrug off as I continue to write down my notes.
‘Am I a bad guy? Is that why you brought me here with you?’
What did she say? That doesn’t make any sense. How can she even come up with that… oh… I see. Ah shit, I’m sorry, kid. I didn’t mean it that way. But I can see where she is coming from. She only saw one battle, and that was when I was fighting against her people. There is no doubt that she hears stuff from the palace, she must be aware that she is the only Dog there and isn’t welcomed by others.
‘No, kid. You are not a bad guy.’ I reassure her. ‘I brought you here because I need an artist.’
A simple lie, but maybe it is good enough to distract her. My finger is smothered in chalk as I tap her drawing.
‘That picture you are drawing, that can help me identify the problems in my defences.’
She stares at her picture for a moment before looking back at me. ‘Does that mean we are the good guys?’
‘No,’ I reply instinctively.
Wait! Why did I say no? Why is that word so fluid and immediate when she asks that question?
She flops an ear in confusion. ‘Huh? Why not?’
‘I… uh,’ I stutter, trying to scramble for an answer. ‘We have our reasons for fighting. I don’t think that makes us good.’
‘But they have their reasons as well. That doesn’t make them bad, does it?’
‘No, no, it doesn’t.’
‘So why did you call them bad?’
I can’t say, it isn’t clear-cut. No, I will be lying to myself. They are fighting for their freedom, and I am championing their enslavement. In every part of the world, even the damned dodads will see me as a monster. They are in the right, in every case; they are the good guys. At the same time, they have done so much wrong towards my people. However, I have to wonder. If I were in their position, a slave born to work and die, would I also butcher every Dog?
‘I call them bad because it is easy.’ I admit to her, though I can’t give her the reasons as to why. She doesn’t need to know that I am fighting for her to be property and not a breathing person. ‘It doesn’t make it right or wrong, it just makes it easy for me.’
‘Oh… so you don’t feel like a good guy?’
‘No. At first I did, but after a while. I don’t see myself as one.’
Olivia smiles at me. I suppose she is trying to comfort me. ‘It is okay. I don’t feel like a good guy as well.’
No, child. After what is going on with this war, I doubt you ever will. I’m sorry, I really am. I understand what she is trying to do, but I put on a smile to pretend that she cheers me up. Even though all she has done is prove me wrong. She isn’t aware of this war, but she is a victim of this conflict and the enslavement of her people.
We sit for a bit longer. She continues to draw while I set my notebook aside to look out at the field. Olivia is happy to see me smile and remains ignorant of the world and the battle that will soon come. I wonder what she will think of me when this war is over and she finds out the truth. I like to think she sees me as a hero, someone who got her out of that plantation. Yet I can’t be sure, not anymore. No good can come from lying for her comfort, nor is it right for me to fight for their enslavement. There is no doubt that I have to. I have to fight for the Empire!
But if Hannah is looking down at me, knowing what I know and knowing what I have done to fight this war. Will she ever consider me a friend? Or am I just another General fighting for an unjust system?
Perhaps it will not matter in the end. She died and I lived, continuing the fight that should not happen in the first place. Sure I will end it, but what good is that when I don’t have my best friend to watch it through? The world is darker without her, I just hope more people can be like her.

...

Spending three days out here is what I will call utter hell. Tonight is the worst. I can’t see my hand even if it is directly in front of my face. Olivia sits by my feet in content, smothering herself in three blankets, already half asleep, while I sit on top of a wooden crate.
However, even when we wait in the hills without any campfires. Everyone waits, shivering and complaining to each other in a murmur. Even when they are whispering, I can hear them from the other trench line. I won’t call this luxury either. While I do have my own sleeping area at the most secure part of the formation, it isn’t any warmer.
For the past couple of days, soldiers will huddle together to get some warmth, even sharing the same beds as they cuddle while they try to sleep. An uncomfortable sacrifice, but everyone is dedicated regardless of the constant bitching.
That is the least of my problems. The cold is bad, but there is now an outbreak of camp fever and the flu. Thankfully, only the right flank is having problems, and anyone infected is forced over there to contain the spread through the lines. I suppose Commander Jean didn’t properly take care of her soldiers if camp fever is spreading among her troops. The flu, however, is unavoidable, even if it is undesirable.
The Pretorian Guard and Dragon Fleet arrived two days ago, so far, none of them has been sick. It is good to see them turn up to strengthen my formation. The Dragon Fleet only donated two lightning cannons and a crew to man those ancient machines of war. Which is amazing since originally I suspected I was only going to be given one, but it is good he kept his promise. Instead, they gave me the mounted weapons fitted on the Air Ships.
The High Priestess, Gods bless her name, donated fifty of her finest guards. That will be enough. I just hope the Dogs turn up tomorrow like they are scheduled to.
‘Volas… you there?’ Huson whispers as he jumps into my trench.
‘Psst! I’m here. Everything is going well?’
Huson scrapes his feet along the ground so he doesn’t accidentally step on me or Olivia before sitting down. ‘Yep, the Outriders are behind the hill near the horses. They’ll charge in once the initial attack has commenced.’
That is good. Though I believe the Dogs are going to march along the makeshift path we made, so our weapons can be in optimal range. The Outriders and the cavalry elements of Jean’s army will go around the hill and finish off any of them that are lucky enough to survive.
‘Is everyone aware of what the signal is?’ My voice shivers as I hide my blanket closer to me.
‘Yes, I checked three times already, and they know. One blow of the horn for signal bombs, two for the barrage, and three for the cavalry to charge in.’ Huson picks up a spare blanket and wraps it around himself. ‘This shit is bloody cold! I can’t stand it.’
‘No one can,’ I whisper back. ‘But tomorrow will be the last day we have a night without a fire.’
We sit in silence for a moment, shivering as we freeze our asses off. I can barely sleep here, though I doubt anyone can. I just hope I will have enough energy before the battle starts. ‘How is Jack doing? Is he here?’
I can’t see his face, but from the shifting of his body, I believe he is nodding at me. ‘He wants to fight alongside us. But the idiot got the flu!’
I chuckle. Surely he didn’t call his love an idiot for coming here. ‘A lot of idiots got sick wanting to serve their Empire. I am sure he is doing fine.’
‘No!’ Huson sneers back. ‘I told him that he shouldn’t come, but he insisted. Now he is paying the price for getting sick. Idiot. Fucking idiot!’
With a smirk, I lean over to nudge him. ‘You are worried for him, but I think he can handle himself. He is a soldier like the rest of us. I believe he can fight when he has to.’
‘Volas, I broke your nose, and it is permanently crooked. You can’t fight for shit!’ Huson laughs to himself. ‘But I suppose you are right. I just hope he gets better afterwards.’
Rolling my eyes, a half smile forms on my lips. ‘Don’t worry, this war is nearly over.’
‘Yeah, and I plan to go home to Thesia. Retire and get myself a vineyard.’
‘Will Jack come along?’
If I can see his face, he will be smiling. ‘Oh, he will. Might marry him here, but that is a future me problem to contend with.’
Well, that is going quickly. I expect they should have more time together before making that sort of choice. However, as everything is moving so quickly. It makes me regret not even knowing Jack at any capacity. He seems like a lovely man from how Huson describes him.
‘Marriage? You’re moving fast.’ I comment.
‘I think being together during this entire war brings people closer. For better or worse. I like to think it helps me understand him a bit more. Besides, this bloody conflict has a way to open someone’s eyes.’
‘Thesia doesn’t support same-sex relations.’ I point out, moving the conversation along. ‘How will you live there, being married to a man?’
Huson ponders for a moment before responding to me. ‘Well, of course, we will lie about it to the authorities. However, I prefer to live over there. It isn’t as fucking cold and miserable.’
‘And I was starting to think you were into me.’ I teasingly say to sound offended.
‘Darling, I like men who don’t have a receding hairline.’
‘Asshole!’
Huson giggles, ‘cunt!’
In a brief moment of silence. We both act serious and hope Olivia doesn’t hear our vogue lashing. But from the sounds of things, she is sound asleep. Failing to contain ourselves in the moment. We snicker. Whispering and holding back our burst of laughter as we share jokes and insults. Even when we can’t see each other’s faces, we are surrounded by trenches and soldiers for miles on end. I bond with a colonist over the stupidest thing. A shame that he will leave Cinaris, but one day, we will meet again. I just hope his tavern will have good ale.
‘Volas, I suppose you are going to stick being a Commander after this war?’ Huson asks me. It is the same question as the last time he asked me, but I suppose he wants to pass the time more than ever. Or perhaps he wants to do something other than think of the cold.
‘Stick to my plan, I want to become an Inspector. I always wanted to become one ever since I was a kid. I don’t see why I should turn away from the job.’
‘A spy, huh? I never thought you were a snake?’
‘The fuck is that supposed to mean?’
Huson chuckles at my reaction, but shuts himself up once he hears Olivia rolling around by my feet. ‘Don’t worry, I am just teasing you. Why do you want to become one of them? Didn’t they… you know… kidnap us?’
‘Yes, but I want to explore the world. I want to learn about the Forgotten Era, and I think the Inspectors will give me that opportunity. Granted, our first interaction with them isn’t pleasant. But that is how they operate, and I can’t complain. Not when I know so little about them.’
‘You want to join them without knowing what they are exactly or what they do?’
I scoff at his response. ‘I know what they do. But of course, there is more to them, and I want to know more about them. I want to become one. It is why I joined the army and worked hard to become the youngest Commander. I wanted to prove to the world that I am worthy of being an Inspector.’
‘And now you are a General, I think you’ve proven yourself enough.’
‘Well, I didn’t expect to lead the army during this war.’ I bitterly admit, but I should end it here. I should get some sleep to prepare myself for tomorrow. ‘We should get some rest. I’ll catch you later. Sleep well, Huson.’
‘You too, Regali.’ Huson replies as he heads off to his bunk to sleep. Marking the end of the final night in this brutal cold, and hopefully, the last.