Old Scars

January 20th, Imperial Year 880
Duchy borders, somewhere in between Ekuna and Castillo

"Hold your ground, they're just a paltry force!"

"Get into defensive formation, watch for the enemy horse-"

The bandit was gored through by a spear I had tossed right through his chest. As Goldie galloped along, I pulled out my blade and ran the other one through with my sword.

"I got him, I got him!"

"Now!" Anya sprang forth, leading a charge of some twenty men right for the bandit camp, aggressively leaping for one of the thugs. She cleaved her way through a few more with a bold laugh, before looking up at the central watchtower. "We need to take that out!"

A single, measly wooden watchtower, and a big, undefended camp in a valley. Piece of cake.

Several drunk bandits wandered out of their tents, only to be cut down by precise arrow fire from the ridge above. I rapidly turned my attention to the braziers they had up for light and heat, knocking them over. The fire began to spread, first along the trees, then to the tents, lighting up the camp. A part of me wished the fire would spread to the watchtower as well, but I figured that would be too risky.

Several screams, roughly from the eastern side of the camp. Some sounded like the voices of women.

I redirected Goldie towards the screams, galloping full speed towards the area. A larger tent, with several nervous looking bandits around it turned their spears towards me, trying to fend Goldie off.

I hopped off of my horse, quite literally leaping towards one of them, hacking his arm off. The other one dropped his weapon and ran for the woods, not stopping to look behind.

I suppose not all bandits are stupid.

"Hello?" I sliced the tent flap open and gazed inside. There was a large collection of women and children, their hands and feet bound. The oldest males couldn't have been more than ten, while the females showed a bit more variety in age. Their tails tucked in as they saw me, their eyes filled with both hope and fear.

Beastkin.

For some reason, I'm not terribly surprised.

"Anya!" I shouted. "We have..." I rapidly counted the prisoners, some of whom averted their eyes from me as I looked at them. "...some thirty two prisoners, beastkin!" I looked over to where Anya was. She stood valiantly in front of the watchtower over a few bandit corpses, which was currently in the process of being stormed by a few of my men. Upon hearing my voice, her ears perked up and raced over to where I was, wildly cutting down a couple bandits along the way.

"Thirty two prisoners. Understood." Anya walked past me as I re-mounted Goldie. Her tail wagged slightly, which I had learned some time ago, didn't necessarily mean she was happy.

"I'll leave them to you." I said, before turning to face the burning camp. "We got a camp to burn here."

"Mhm, yeah." Anya turned back into the tent, as I looked back towards the ridge. Then towards the mountain.

Just over that mountain...

"Anya, hold the tent!"

"Hmph."

I know you like to aggressive charge headlong into battle Anya, but I'm sure you know why you're being stationed here.

I took off for the watchtower, but by now, the bandits were fleeing into the woods, clearly having realized they had lost.

"Halt, men!" I shouted. "Victory!" A small cheer erupted from the soldiers, but as I dismounted, I noticed one of them looking rather pensieve. "You think that's it?" I asked him.

"Maybe. Or maybe they'll find another brigand camp to join. As long as it keeps their bellies full."

"I can't deny I don't see where it's coming from." I gazed back at the tent where Anya was. Was that okay to say?

"Whatever the case, we should get the prisoners and guide them to the nearest stable region."

"Wonderful. Where is that?"

"The map's a bit outdated, but we should try our luck at the Thame barony. I can't say for sure if they're still around, but the reports show that they're somewhat functioning. Just over that mountain..."

The soldier droned on and on, but I could no longer hear him.

Home. Or...if it even was that.

I'd have to see my family again.

"...we don't know what side they're on, but we can argue neutrality based on - sir? Sir."

"Huh? I'm listening."

"We can hand them over to the local stewardship of the baron. Assuming they don't just decide to sell them back as slaves..."

"I'm...sure they wouldn't do that." I replied.

"Are you sure about that sir? I heard-"

"I know what I know. Let's get them out of here."

I looked back at Anya, and then back to the mountain.

Home.

Probably.

***

January 21st, Imperial Year 880
Thame Property overlooking a manor

"Go on." I said towards the beastkin prisoners, pointing towards the distant manor. I didn't bother to verify, in the end.

"T-thank you, sir." One of the children beastkin looked at me and gave me a bow. The others, also bowed before us, their heads low to the ground. Anya uncomfortably dithered at the sight.

"Go on." I repeated, shooing them towards the manor. "Go...visit them." I turned to the men. "Lads, it's time to move on."

"Are we not going to give them a visit? The local nobles might be more welcoming if we introduce the Black Reaper is here as a neutral stability force."

"No no, that won't be necessary. Oros, you have verified that these nobles are dependable, yes?"

"That's the impression I got..."

"Then there is no reason to waste our time. Let us move towards the town. Many more things to see there. And, we might find ourselves some women and drinks, perhaps." I gave the men a wink, before redirecting my eyes towards Anya, who looked at me with a concerned look in her eyes. I looked away.

***

Some Hours Later
Scout Campsite

"Jason."

"Hmm?" I looked at Anya, who stood behind me, her arms crossed. "What is it?"

"You're not being honest, are you?"

"What...what are you talking about?" I asked, nonchalantly as I reached into a bag of goodies. "Do you want some cookies?"

"Jason, this isn't you." As I insistently shoved the cookies into her face, Anya growled slightly. "No Jason, I don't want cookies." She shook her head. "Nevermind, it is you. The hairbrained, stupid Jason. You know very well that's not who I'm asking for!"

I bit my lip.

"Give me a break. We're moving onto the next town, no questions asked. Those are my orders."

"You're still lying to me." Anya said, bitterly. "When I said I wanted to choose you as a battle partner, I thought you'd trust me more."

"You wouldn't know the half of it."

"Then take your secrets to the grave."

I was silent. 

"Anya, I never told you my full name, did I?"

"Your...full name?"

"You know I'm nobility, right? Then I must have a last name." 

Anya scratched her head, in slight confusion.

"I always suspected you had one, but the thought never occurred to me to ask. Maybe you have a good reason not to tell me. Or maybe you just don't care."

 "Anya, my family is my life. I...I can't just not care about that."

Now it was Anya's turn to be silent. After a brief silence, she spoke up.

"Then...what is your last name?"

"...I didn't do it, by the way."

"Huh?"

"I didn't do it Anya. You believe me, don't you?"

"I don't know what it is, but sure!" Anya gave me a grin. "I believe you, partner!"

"I'm Jason Thame, of the Baseli Dynasty. I'm sure even a beastkin mercenary would know what that means."

"You're..." Anya stepped back, her eyes wide.

You're the reason this war started, that's what she was going to say.

"I didn't do it Anya. You believe me, right? I didn't do it." I turned around. "But I know who did!"

Anya was completely silent, a conflicted look on her face. After a second, she looked around, before turning to me.

"You know, I used to curse that name back early on in the war. Even now, I'm sure that those wildfolk would have spat on you if they realized who you were."

"Even beastkin view me as lesser, huh?" I quipped, bitterly. Anya huffed, but moved on.

"Pretty much." Anya said, a slight anger growing in her voice. "Who was I fighting with all this time? I thought I could trust you, but now I don't know. And I'm just meant to take your word that you didn't do it?"

"Anya, I..."

Anya once again looked around the tent, then outwards to the flap to make sure no one was eavesdropping.

"I'll trust you. Because I know what I've seen, and you don't seem like the type of person to be a murderer." She nervously gave me a small salute. "I know what I've seen, and I know who you are. So..." She averted her eyes.

"Thank you, Anya." I said, looking down at a glass of water that sat beside my desk. Despite everything, I still looked the same as I had back at the academy.

Despite everything, it's still me.

Rayne sure as hell didn't think so.

"Hey Anya?" I asked. "Do you mind if we go do something? There's something I need to get."

"Huh? Sure. What is it?"