Chapter 12
charclone
Well-known member
The Count's score and a half of men followed the trail, straight to the ruins of the camp as the sun began to set. As soon as they saw the remains, the counter ordered his men to spread out and search for survivors.
"Well? What happened?" The Count asked one of the soldiers they had found hidden in a couple of bushes nearby.
The man shivered.
"I don't know. I suddenly heard a call to arms in the night. I saw… uh, other soldiers, slaves armed with spears and swords…" He looked the count dead in the eye. "There was an Apostle with them. Cut right through my spear like it was firewood."
Count Arruns' heart dropped. An Apostle, the direct agents of the gods of Falmart? He would admit he didn't remember all of them, but if one had chosen to assist the prisoner and the slaves, the odds of them holding Alnus, let alone capturing the Knight, just plummeted to Hardy's realm.
"Which one, soldier? What did their uniform look like?"
"Black plate. But it wasn't normal I tell you. It turned away any blade that struck it, without a scratch. Spears, blades, I swear I saw a hammer just glance off." The soldier shook. "When the wyvern carried off the Centurion, we ran…"
"Sir…" Centurion Amulius started to say.
The count pulled him away from the men.
"I know… his plate showed damage… but at night it was probably hard to see that. It was well made, maybe even enchanted…" A plan formed in the count's mind. "I see his plan now. How many prisoners do you think they held here?"
"I'd guess, between the size of the camp, the number of soldiers here… and the number of broken manacles… call it two hundred. They looted all the weapons too. Looks like they were processing them here, with a hundred strong garrison, plus patrols, gathering wood, and sending them to the main camps to work."
"How many fighting men do you think are in the main camps?"
"A thousand… but between the Senator working them hard, with the harsh punishments we've seen... probably closer to four hundred. Most would break or be too tired to fight properly."
"Still outnumbered… but how many of the camps have wyverns?"
"None, sir. As far as I knew, all the wyverns died on the other side of the gate. Closest would be Italica, maybe, if they aren't stripped for whatever reinforcements are being organised."
"Tell the men to gather and remnants, and form up for a march. With an 'Apostle' supporting the prisoner and escaped slaves, I am going back to Alnus, and taking my men home."
The Centurion blinked, and then smiled.
"Where did that wyvern come from, anyway?" The count wondered out loud.
Vel led them, by acting as a scout, to deviate from the planned route, and attack another convoy of prisoners and a small logging camp. Their numbers swelled. Nearly three hundred, roughly two hundred and eighty slaves, deserters and mercenaries looking to avoid being forced to fight the otherworlders again.
They camped in a small valley, resting and eating what supplies they had taken, waiting for nightfall.
Tara spent her time doing her best to ensure they followed Richard. She realised quickly, that most of them disregarded her. Most of the Warrior Bunnies they had rescued were split between her and Hannah, along old ideological lines, but aside form them, command fell on Richard.
Which made things very difficult, especially with Richard's inability to speak the language fluently. This meant she was spending more time teaching Richard.
One of the Warrior Bunnies that followed her stepped into Richard's tent, as she was doing her best to teach him proper sentence structure. He was memorising words quickly, partly through use, and partly through him recognising the necessity.
"Yes?" Tara asked the girl.
"Hannah just came back. She hit a logging group. Had a bunch of elves with her. She wants to talk to you."
Tara sighed.
"Send her in."
The girl bowed and left. Hannah strode in, almost glowing with pride.
"Hundred strong group, and we killed them. No losses or wounded. They had elves with them as an auxiliary, who defected." Hannah grinned. "Seems they don't like being treated like slaves."
Tara was about to rebuke the danger Hannah was flirting with, the Imperials still outnumbered them heavily, when Richard spoke.
"Rescued slaves? Good." He said. "Strike at dawn."
He drew in the dirt. The hill, the camps, and lines to represent the fortification being constructed.
"Sleepy, sentries unaware. Move through fortifications, between camps. Attack any group between us and gate. Run for Gate… need white flag, red leaf."
"White flag with a red leaf?" Hannah cocked her head.
"Flag of… kingdom." Richard replied. "Plan… crude. But simple. Thoughts?"
"It will be hard to move so many people through quietly. We might need to send groups to cause a distraction. Having something to signal our side would probably be a good idea… I'll see what we can put together." Tara said. "But… overall, I think it will work."
Tara glanced at Hannah. She didn't trust her. Her clansisters had ignored ordered and led to the entire army being defeated by the Imperials. She was even acting like them, more interested in raiding than winning.
Tara forced those thoughts aside.
"Hannah, make sure our people are ready. Dawn. We need to be rested and ready to fight. At least it won't be night fighting, but we need to be up that hill by morning, so our people need to run fast."
"Got it. No more raiding. Time to run." Hannah flashed a smirk at her. "Enjoy what you can of the night!"
Tara ignored the joke. Apparently, Hannah had been paying attention to Richard and her language lessons.
Slowly, the noises in the camp died down as people went to sleep. A watch was set.
The sun set. Richard lay in the bedroll. Tara saw that he wasn't sleeping, merely resting. She sympathised. It was always nerve racking before a battle you knew was coming. She sat next to him.
She awoke suddenly, not sure what was wrong. Richard sat up and listened. Thunder echoed. Smaller cracks sounded.
Richard leapt up. He said a word that Tara didn't recognise.
"Guns."
He spun and grabbed the sword, before setting it down and trying to buckle on his armour.
It was dark, outside and inside the tent. Tara stood and did her best to help Richard get the armour on.
"What is going on?" She asked.
Richard looked at her, and she could just barely make out his smile in the dark.
"My people. Attack camps. We attack, now!"
"Well? What happened?" The Count asked one of the soldiers they had found hidden in a couple of bushes nearby.
The man shivered.
"I don't know. I suddenly heard a call to arms in the night. I saw… uh, other soldiers, slaves armed with spears and swords…" He looked the count dead in the eye. "There was an Apostle with them. Cut right through my spear like it was firewood."
Count Arruns' heart dropped. An Apostle, the direct agents of the gods of Falmart? He would admit he didn't remember all of them, but if one had chosen to assist the prisoner and the slaves, the odds of them holding Alnus, let alone capturing the Knight, just plummeted to Hardy's realm.
"Which one, soldier? What did their uniform look like?"
"Black plate. But it wasn't normal I tell you. It turned away any blade that struck it, without a scratch. Spears, blades, I swear I saw a hammer just glance off." The soldier shook. "When the wyvern carried off the Centurion, we ran…"
"Sir…" Centurion Amulius started to say.
The count pulled him away from the men.
"I know… his plate showed damage… but at night it was probably hard to see that. It was well made, maybe even enchanted…" A plan formed in the count's mind. "I see his plan now. How many prisoners do you think they held here?"
"I'd guess, between the size of the camp, the number of soldiers here… and the number of broken manacles… call it two hundred. They looted all the weapons too. Looks like they were processing them here, with a hundred strong garrison, plus patrols, gathering wood, and sending them to the main camps to work."
"How many fighting men do you think are in the main camps?"
"A thousand… but between the Senator working them hard, with the harsh punishments we've seen... probably closer to four hundred. Most would break or be too tired to fight properly."
"Still outnumbered… but how many of the camps have wyverns?"
"None, sir. As far as I knew, all the wyverns died on the other side of the gate. Closest would be Italica, maybe, if they aren't stripped for whatever reinforcements are being organised."
"Tell the men to gather and remnants, and form up for a march. With an 'Apostle' supporting the prisoner and escaped slaves, I am going back to Alnus, and taking my men home."
The Centurion blinked, and then smiled.
"Where did that wyvern come from, anyway?" The count wondered out loud.
Vel led them, by acting as a scout, to deviate from the planned route, and attack another convoy of prisoners and a small logging camp. Their numbers swelled. Nearly three hundred, roughly two hundred and eighty slaves, deserters and mercenaries looking to avoid being forced to fight the otherworlders again.
They camped in a small valley, resting and eating what supplies they had taken, waiting for nightfall.
Tara spent her time doing her best to ensure they followed Richard. She realised quickly, that most of them disregarded her. Most of the Warrior Bunnies they had rescued were split between her and Hannah, along old ideological lines, but aside form them, command fell on Richard.
Which made things very difficult, especially with Richard's inability to speak the language fluently. This meant she was spending more time teaching Richard.
One of the Warrior Bunnies that followed her stepped into Richard's tent, as she was doing her best to teach him proper sentence structure. He was memorising words quickly, partly through use, and partly through him recognising the necessity.
"Yes?" Tara asked the girl.
"Hannah just came back. She hit a logging group. Had a bunch of elves with her. She wants to talk to you."
Tara sighed.
"Send her in."
The girl bowed and left. Hannah strode in, almost glowing with pride.
"Hundred strong group, and we killed them. No losses or wounded. They had elves with them as an auxiliary, who defected." Hannah grinned. "Seems they don't like being treated like slaves."
Tara was about to rebuke the danger Hannah was flirting with, the Imperials still outnumbered them heavily, when Richard spoke.
"Rescued slaves? Good." He said. "Strike at dawn."
He drew in the dirt. The hill, the camps, and lines to represent the fortification being constructed.
"Sleepy, sentries unaware. Move through fortifications, between camps. Attack any group between us and gate. Run for Gate… need white flag, red leaf."
"White flag with a red leaf?" Hannah cocked her head.
"Flag of… kingdom." Richard replied. "Plan… crude. But simple. Thoughts?"
"It will be hard to move so many people through quietly. We might need to send groups to cause a distraction. Having something to signal our side would probably be a good idea… I'll see what we can put together." Tara said. "But… overall, I think it will work."
Tara glanced at Hannah. She didn't trust her. Her clansisters had ignored ordered and led to the entire army being defeated by the Imperials. She was even acting like them, more interested in raiding than winning.
Tara forced those thoughts aside.
"Hannah, make sure our people are ready. Dawn. We need to be rested and ready to fight. At least it won't be night fighting, but we need to be up that hill by morning, so our people need to run fast."
"Got it. No more raiding. Time to run." Hannah flashed a smirk at her. "Enjoy what you can of the night!"
Tara ignored the joke. Apparently, Hannah had been paying attention to Richard and her language lessons.
Slowly, the noises in the camp died down as people went to sleep. A watch was set.
The sun set. Richard lay in the bedroll. Tara saw that he wasn't sleeping, merely resting. She sympathised. It was always nerve racking before a battle you knew was coming. She sat next to him.
She awoke suddenly, not sure what was wrong. Richard sat up and listened. Thunder echoed. Smaller cracks sounded.
Richard leapt up. He said a word that Tara didn't recognise.
"Guns."
He spun and grabbed the sword, before setting it down and trying to buckle on his armour.
It was dark, outside and inside the tent. Tara stood and did her best to help Richard get the armour on.
"What is going on?" She asked.
Richard looked at her, and she could just barely make out his smile in the dark.
"My people. Attack camps. We attack, now!"
Bear Ribs
Well-known member
Hmm, Richard charging in when Canadian forces are already attacking... sounds like a bad idea. It doesn't seem like they'll readily notice the difference between the dude in armor accompanied by elves and bunnies and the enemies in armor accompanied by elves and bunnies.
charclone
Well-known member
Oh, certainly, it could go wrong.
Tomorrow I post the last chapter, however, and I don't like tragedies.
Edit: That being said, the Imperials mostly use the Warrior Bunnies as slave labour. Elves are used as a mix of slaves and auxiliaries, and orcs, kobolds, etc. are used as auxiliaries. A vast majority of them, anyway.
Chapter 13
charclone
Well-known member
They saw the fires and heard the screams before they saw the camp. The small army moved swiftly as they could through the dark. At the edge of the forest, they saw the camp at the foot of Alnus hill burning. They saw the smoke rising from the other two camps, illuminated by the likewise burning fires.
Richard didn't pause, maintaining a steady march towards the camp, urging everyone on, the 'flag', a white silk sheet taken from somewhere with the silhouette of a leaf on each side, in one hand on a pole. The leaf was more brown than red, but Richard considered it close enough. His other held his sword.
"Through the gaps in the wall! Charge!" Tara shouted.
Whatever had caused the destruction in the camp, had torn down parts of the wooden palisade that ringed the camp. It was through these gaps that Richard's forces slipped through. Inside was chaos. Something was killing officers, soldiers ran around, trying to establish bucket lines, recapture escaped mounts and slaves, muster to stations, all at once, with no clear direction. It took nearly a full minute for the camp to realise they had foes inside.
"Tulip-lead to Fisher-lead, say again?"
"Tulip, I say again, we were successful in panicking the horses, and destroying the supplies. No joy with captives. We are seeing an unknown force attacking Camp Beta, they have infiltrated the from the south wall, and are engaging local forces."
"Any identifiers?"
"Leader seems to be in black plate. Holding a white and brown flag."
"Confirm, black plate?"
"Confirmed Fisher-lead. Black Plate."
"One captive was reported to be wearing black plate, Canadian. What does the flag look like?"
"White, brown leaf on it."
"…"
"Orders Fisher-Lead?"
"…what is your current position?"
"About halfway from Beta to point Chuckle."
"Acknowledged. Provide cover, and spot for Fisher's mortars."
"Wilco, over."
"Roger, out."
Tara saw Richard, flanked by an elf wearing Imperial armour, disappear amidst the throng of bodies as the Saderans finally began to form a defence. An arrow hissed by her ear, earning a cry of pain from a charging Imperial.
Another died when she disembowelled him with her spear. She smashed the haft of the weapon into the face of another, wrenching the blade out of her first victim. Behind her, the slavers in the camp were freed, more to help sow confusion than to help them escape, but those that stood with them would not be stopped.
She sidestepped a thrusted spear. Something landed behind the soldiers and exploded. The spear was dropped and the soldier that tried to kill her fled in panic.
She and the Warrior Bunnies with her cut their way through the demoralised and panicked Imperials, trying to open a corridor through the camp. Suddenly, there was a gap. She saw Richard pull his blade from a soldier's gut. She saw the mace in the hand of another soldier. Saw the blade connect.
She slipped under the thrust of one soldier, driving her spear blade into his ribcage as she ducked past. She saw Richard fall, and a cheer rise from the Imperials.
Richard got up.
He grasped his blade with both hands and drove its point into the throat of the soldier that had struck him. He stood unsteadily, as the Imperials panicked and ran. Tara grasped the fallen flag and held it up.
She swore under her breath as Richard roared and pursued the fleeing Imperials. Her confusion was sparked when a soldier that didn't run suddenly had his head explode. She crushed it and focused in directing their own troops to pursue. Letting the noble that was supporting them get captured would not earn them any favours, she told herself.
Count Arruns frowned. The soldiers were fleeing from the southern camp. Obviously, the otherworlders were attacking, though the lack of devastation from above, as described by the survivors, made him think this was just a scouting force, mean to keep them off balance.
Something landed amidst the fleeing soldiers and exploded.
"Senator…"
"Be quiet Count!" Senator Godasen's fear and panic was understandable and audible. But that does not mean he should be showing it in front of the men. "I have a battle to command."
The Count shook his head.
He turned and left the Senator to his own devices. An officer rushed past him and died from an invisible blow. Count Arruns winced and kept his head down as he moved about the Northeast camp.
"Centurion, how are the men?" He called out.
"Too many sick and injured sir. The Senator pushed them hard." Centurion Amulius shouted to be heard over the panic in the camp. "We won't be able to march fast."
"Fine, get them ready to move. This is only a probe, I think."
"Vel, right!?" Tara shouted up at the wyvernrider. "Where did Richard disappear too!?"
"Northeast! He's got the Imperials on the run!" The rider laughed. A rock was held in the wyvern's claws as it took off, likely to be dropped on the Imperial's heads.
"Get the wounded up the hill to the Gate, everyone who can fight, with me!" She shouted, hoping that she could be heard, and would be obeyed. The Imperials in the camp were broken, most fleeing, a handful surrendered.
They moved, as fast as they could, out of the gate, on the heels of Richard and the retreating Imperials. The Northeast camp wasn't far, fortunately, but that only meant that the Imperials weren't feeling long.
Arrows hissed out from Tara's motley collection of troops, as elven archers put their missiles into the faces and bodies of the Imperials sentries, and anyone that tried to turn around and fight them.
They went straight into the enemy camp, with no formation or plan.
"Fisher-lead, Black Plate is charging enemy camp Alpha, allied forces are following. Please advise."
"Tulip-lead… maintain support. Granite-lead, swing your team around, maintain suppression. Can you get anyone close?"
"This is Granite-lead, negative, enemy concentration too thick and we have non-combatants in tow, will attempt to thin enemy numbers from here."
"Understood, over."
"Roger, out."
Count Arruns saw the flow of battle. The men were already low on morale. What he did not expect was to see the senator and his guards running. Godasen saw him, stopped, ordered his men to face the enemy.
The Count nearly burst out laughing when he saw their foe. Soldiers near him dropped, struck either by his blade, or some invisible force, certainly adding to the legend that their former prisoner was an Apostle.
He stood back as the Senator died.
He first tried to cast a spell, but his concentration broke when two of his guards died in a breath. The Black Knight strode forwards, cutting down a third. The fourth to die was the senator himself, his mage robes doing him no good against the otherworlder's blade.
Suddenly, there was a surge, a veritable wave of bodies, as the deserters and slaves under the Black Knight's banner arrived.
Centurion Amulius ordered his men to form ranks. Shields and spears levelled at the Knight.
"Hold." The Count shouted. "The battle is lost. Withdraw."
The Centurion blinked and followed his gaze. The senator's sightless eyes stared back. The Black Knight stood over the senator's corpse, blade at the ready.
Count Amulius knew he had no hope of winning this battle. He suspected the Empire had no chance of winning the war. He wouldn't voice his thoughts, but he would save who he could.
"You have fought valiantly, sir knight." The Count said, and the sounds of battle faded at his voice. He raised an arm, sword in hand, and saluted the knight. "I did you an injustice, after you defeated my son. I yield the field, as the most senior commander left."
Part of him hoped that he really was the most senior commander. Another part hoped that whatever weapon had struck down the senator's bodyguards would not strike him.
The Knight mimicked the salute, his wave-edged blade in hand. He nearly collapsed, but a white-haired Warrior Bunny, carrying their crude standard, step forward to support him.
The count sighed.
"Centurion. Withdraw our troops. We go not to Emroy's realm today."
"Hostiles are retreating, Black Plate is slowly being guided to my position. Sending Granite-2 and Granite-3 to guide them."
"Understood, Granite-lead. Continue to provide status updated on Black Plate."
"Wilco, Fisher-lead."
Slowly, Tara guided Richard up the hill. The sudden appearance of two black clad soldiers startled her, and others in their force, but they clearly weren't Imperials.
The guided them to the gate.
At the top of the hill, one stepped forward, and made Richard lie down. They quickly stripped the helmet off and set to treating Richard's injury.
She saw how the soldiers were nervous, as more and more of their troops arrived at the top of Alnus. She nearly jumped when a large metal beast appeared from the gate, with some strange pipe sticking out its front. Several more followed, of different shapes and sizes. Soldiers in strange green pattered clothing appeared from within them. More appeared from the Gate.
One approached her, as she sat next to Richard. She heard him speak, but it took her a moment to realise he was thanking her. He spoke to the medics.
"Yeah, that's Richard." Major Johnson said. "How bad?"
"Bad enough we want to get him back across the Gate." The JTF2 medic replied. "But I'm not sure his… bodyguards will let us take him from them."
The medic gestured to the white-haired bunnygirl, that was sitting next to Richard.
Richard's eyes moved.
"How aware is he?"
"Enough… that I can try and translate." Richard groaned from the ground. "Did anyone see what hit me?"
"Mace, I think." One soldier said. "Why did you charge the other camp?"
"I only could see the soldiers… enemies. So, I charged them. Head hurts."
"Concussion." The medic explained. "Can you tell them to let us take you to the other side?"
"They… are escaped slaves. I think they want to get to the other side." Richard said.
Johnson winced.
"I'm already in enough trouble… probably, with starting the counterattack a day early." He explained. "Fuck it. Tell them to leave the weapons here… no, fuck, ex-slaves… fine… tell them they will be under guard. I'll coordinate with the General, to get them settled in."
He hoped Richard was able to translate effectively and clearly.
"So, as I understand, you can translate for us." General Jameson said. "We need a translator. Don't have many that are fluent."
Richard blinked.
He had been surprised when the general had walked into his hospital room.
"Docs say you are good enough to walk and talk, though not at the same time." The general shrugged. "That's all we need, at this point. Getting the… army of yours settled in the camp we have established outside Alnus, alongside refugees from surrounding villages the Imperials started torching before we showed up, is difficult enough without having anyone that can speak the language fluently."
"Am I seriously the only fluent person we have?" Richard asked.
"No, we have her." Samuel pointed at Tara, sitting next to Richard's bed. "Plus, another bunnygirl, and some academics, but… well, most of them are either not the type, or busy with interrogations."
"I… see." Richard thought it over. "Any chance we can convince them I'm not a noble?"
The American general chuckled.
"We'll see, but there was some talk about making you part of the Canadian Peerage."
Samuel burst out laughing at the face Richard made.
Tara, understanding every word, shook her head. The fact that Richard was not a noble had been a surprise, but the treatment had been far better than she had expected.
"Speaking of," the general turned to her. "We need all the translators we can get."
Tara thought it over.
"If he goes… I will."
A.N. And the Story Ends.
This is the end of Hunting Freedom. Short, yes. I might do a sequel, but not anytime soon. I hope everyone enjoyed it.
Richard didn't pause, maintaining a steady march towards the camp, urging everyone on, the 'flag', a white silk sheet taken from somewhere with the silhouette of a leaf on each side, in one hand on a pole. The leaf was more brown than red, but Richard considered it close enough. His other held his sword.
"Through the gaps in the wall! Charge!" Tara shouted.
Whatever had caused the destruction in the camp, had torn down parts of the wooden palisade that ringed the camp. It was through these gaps that Richard's forces slipped through. Inside was chaos. Something was killing officers, soldiers ran around, trying to establish bucket lines, recapture escaped mounts and slaves, muster to stations, all at once, with no clear direction. It took nearly a full minute for the camp to realise they had foes inside.
"Tulip-lead to Fisher-lead, say again?"
"Tulip, I say again, we were successful in panicking the horses, and destroying the supplies. No joy with captives. We are seeing an unknown force attacking Camp Beta, they have infiltrated the from the south wall, and are engaging local forces."
"Any identifiers?"
"Leader seems to be in black plate. Holding a white and brown flag."
"Confirm, black plate?"
"Confirmed Fisher-lead. Black Plate."
"One captive was reported to be wearing black plate, Canadian. What does the flag look like?"
"White, brown leaf on it."
"…"
"Orders Fisher-Lead?"
"…what is your current position?"
"About halfway from Beta to point Chuckle."
"Acknowledged. Provide cover, and spot for Fisher's mortars."
"Wilco, over."
"Roger, out."
Tara saw Richard, flanked by an elf wearing Imperial armour, disappear amidst the throng of bodies as the Saderans finally began to form a defence. An arrow hissed by her ear, earning a cry of pain from a charging Imperial.
Another died when she disembowelled him with her spear. She smashed the haft of the weapon into the face of another, wrenching the blade out of her first victim. Behind her, the slavers in the camp were freed, more to help sow confusion than to help them escape, but those that stood with them would not be stopped.
She sidestepped a thrusted spear. Something landed behind the soldiers and exploded. The spear was dropped and the soldier that tried to kill her fled in panic.
She and the Warrior Bunnies with her cut their way through the demoralised and panicked Imperials, trying to open a corridor through the camp. Suddenly, there was a gap. She saw Richard pull his blade from a soldier's gut. She saw the mace in the hand of another soldier. Saw the blade connect.
She slipped under the thrust of one soldier, driving her spear blade into his ribcage as she ducked past. She saw Richard fall, and a cheer rise from the Imperials.
Richard got up.
He grasped his blade with both hands and drove its point into the throat of the soldier that had struck him. He stood unsteadily, as the Imperials panicked and ran. Tara grasped the fallen flag and held it up.
She swore under her breath as Richard roared and pursued the fleeing Imperials. Her confusion was sparked when a soldier that didn't run suddenly had his head explode. She crushed it and focused in directing their own troops to pursue. Letting the noble that was supporting them get captured would not earn them any favours, she told herself.
Count Arruns frowned. The soldiers were fleeing from the southern camp. Obviously, the otherworlders were attacking, though the lack of devastation from above, as described by the survivors, made him think this was just a scouting force, mean to keep them off balance.
Something landed amidst the fleeing soldiers and exploded.
"Senator…"
"Be quiet Count!" Senator Godasen's fear and panic was understandable and audible. But that does not mean he should be showing it in front of the men. "I have a battle to command."
The Count shook his head.
He turned and left the Senator to his own devices. An officer rushed past him and died from an invisible blow. Count Arruns winced and kept his head down as he moved about the Northeast camp.
"Centurion, how are the men?" He called out.
"Too many sick and injured sir. The Senator pushed them hard." Centurion Amulius shouted to be heard over the panic in the camp. "We won't be able to march fast."
"Fine, get them ready to move. This is only a probe, I think."
"Vel, right!?" Tara shouted up at the wyvernrider. "Where did Richard disappear too!?"
"Northeast! He's got the Imperials on the run!" The rider laughed. A rock was held in the wyvern's claws as it took off, likely to be dropped on the Imperial's heads.
"Get the wounded up the hill to the Gate, everyone who can fight, with me!" She shouted, hoping that she could be heard, and would be obeyed. The Imperials in the camp were broken, most fleeing, a handful surrendered.
They moved, as fast as they could, out of the gate, on the heels of Richard and the retreating Imperials. The Northeast camp wasn't far, fortunately, but that only meant that the Imperials weren't feeling long.
Arrows hissed out from Tara's motley collection of troops, as elven archers put their missiles into the faces and bodies of the Imperials sentries, and anyone that tried to turn around and fight them.
They went straight into the enemy camp, with no formation or plan.
"Fisher-lead, Black Plate is charging enemy camp Alpha, allied forces are following. Please advise."
"Tulip-lead… maintain support. Granite-lead, swing your team around, maintain suppression. Can you get anyone close?"
"This is Granite-lead, negative, enemy concentration too thick and we have non-combatants in tow, will attempt to thin enemy numbers from here."
"Understood, over."
"Roger, out."
Count Arruns saw the flow of battle. The men were already low on morale. What he did not expect was to see the senator and his guards running. Godasen saw him, stopped, ordered his men to face the enemy.
The Count nearly burst out laughing when he saw their foe. Soldiers near him dropped, struck either by his blade, or some invisible force, certainly adding to the legend that their former prisoner was an Apostle.
He stood back as the Senator died.
He first tried to cast a spell, but his concentration broke when two of his guards died in a breath. The Black Knight strode forwards, cutting down a third. The fourth to die was the senator himself, his mage robes doing him no good against the otherworlder's blade.
Suddenly, there was a surge, a veritable wave of bodies, as the deserters and slaves under the Black Knight's banner arrived.
Centurion Amulius ordered his men to form ranks. Shields and spears levelled at the Knight.
"Hold." The Count shouted. "The battle is lost. Withdraw."
The Centurion blinked and followed his gaze. The senator's sightless eyes stared back. The Black Knight stood over the senator's corpse, blade at the ready.
Count Amulius knew he had no hope of winning this battle. He suspected the Empire had no chance of winning the war. He wouldn't voice his thoughts, but he would save who he could.
"You have fought valiantly, sir knight." The Count said, and the sounds of battle faded at his voice. He raised an arm, sword in hand, and saluted the knight. "I did you an injustice, after you defeated my son. I yield the field, as the most senior commander left."
Part of him hoped that he really was the most senior commander. Another part hoped that whatever weapon had struck down the senator's bodyguards would not strike him.
The Knight mimicked the salute, his wave-edged blade in hand. He nearly collapsed, but a white-haired Warrior Bunny, carrying their crude standard, step forward to support him.
The count sighed.
"Centurion. Withdraw our troops. We go not to Emroy's realm today."
"Hostiles are retreating, Black Plate is slowly being guided to my position. Sending Granite-2 and Granite-3 to guide them."
"Understood, Granite-lead. Continue to provide status updated on Black Plate."
"Wilco, Fisher-lead."
Slowly, Tara guided Richard up the hill. The sudden appearance of two black clad soldiers startled her, and others in their force, but they clearly weren't Imperials.
The guided them to the gate.
At the top of the hill, one stepped forward, and made Richard lie down. They quickly stripped the helmet off and set to treating Richard's injury.
She saw how the soldiers were nervous, as more and more of their troops arrived at the top of Alnus. She nearly jumped when a large metal beast appeared from the gate, with some strange pipe sticking out its front. Several more followed, of different shapes and sizes. Soldiers in strange green pattered clothing appeared from within them. More appeared from the Gate.
One approached her, as she sat next to Richard. She heard him speak, but it took her a moment to realise he was thanking her. He spoke to the medics.
"Yeah, that's Richard." Major Johnson said. "How bad?"
"Bad enough we want to get him back across the Gate." The JTF2 medic replied. "But I'm not sure his… bodyguards will let us take him from them."
The medic gestured to the white-haired bunnygirl, that was sitting next to Richard.
Richard's eyes moved.
"How aware is he?"
"Enough… that I can try and translate." Richard groaned from the ground. "Did anyone see what hit me?"
"Mace, I think." One soldier said. "Why did you charge the other camp?"
"I only could see the soldiers… enemies. So, I charged them. Head hurts."
"Concussion." The medic explained. "Can you tell them to let us take you to the other side?"
"They… are escaped slaves. I think they want to get to the other side." Richard said.
Johnson winced.
"I'm already in enough trouble… probably, with starting the counterattack a day early." He explained. "Fuck it. Tell them to leave the weapons here… no, fuck, ex-slaves… fine… tell them they will be under guard. I'll coordinate with the General, to get them settled in."
He hoped Richard was able to translate effectively and clearly.
"So, as I understand, you can translate for us." General Jameson said. "We need a translator. Don't have many that are fluent."
Richard blinked.
He had been surprised when the general had walked into his hospital room.
"Docs say you are good enough to walk and talk, though not at the same time." The general shrugged. "That's all we need, at this point. Getting the… army of yours settled in the camp we have established outside Alnus, alongside refugees from surrounding villages the Imperials started torching before we showed up, is difficult enough without having anyone that can speak the language fluently."
"Am I seriously the only fluent person we have?" Richard asked.
"No, we have her." Samuel pointed at Tara, sitting next to Richard's bed. "Plus, another bunnygirl, and some academics, but… well, most of them are either not the type, or busy with interrogations."
"I… see." Richard thought it over. "Any chance we can convince them I'm not a noble?"
The American general chuckled.
"We'll see, but there was some talk about making you part of the Canadian Peerage."
Samuel burst out laughing at the face Richard made.
Tara, understanding every word, shook her head. The fact that Richard was not a noble had been a surprise, but the treatment had been far better than she had expected.
"Speaking of," the general turned to her. "We need all the translators we can get."
Tara thought it over.
"If he goes… I will."
A.N. And the Story Ends.
This is the end of Hunting Freedom. Short, yes. I might do a sequel, but not anytime soon. I hope everyone enjoyed it.
Then take your time,i could wait for good story.And RL is always more important.
prinCZess
Warrior, Writer, Performer, Perv
Okay, this is somewhat stream-of-consciousness style commentary as I read through by chapter and what catches my eye...
Maybe could've gone for full alliteration and replaced 'around' with...something? 'Between' or maybe 'bordering'?
Does the right job of getting curiosity up.
Anyhow, the sentry just doesn't seem to give enough information to justify his 'scene' in my opinion.
Also...'Just walk out' is a solid, simple plan. Bravo to our brave, bold, Black Knight hero for thinking of it.
...
Sorry. I'll be in the corner bonking myself.
More seriously, stumbling upon the two elves in the forest *feels* a bit contrived. It probably isn't with the whole 'Imperial forces moving through' and the disruption and camp-following messes and all of whatnot that would exist with a Roman style army in the area, but in my opinion it could use a little more setup to come off more believably.
Which does seem a little maybe-odd based on what little I know off memes of GATE's Warrior Bunnies? I dunnow, really.
Not super-important, but I at least am curious about him.
Reading back over it, I realize my mistake.
This is embarrassing.
So I'm just going to pretend it didn't happen from here on! Genius solution!
I do not know that for sure, though. Just a heavy suspicion.
"And why did you join the Marine Corps?"
"Japanese Wabbit Women."
Overall, I enjoyed what I read. Could use more environmental detail throughout (on bright side, leaving this out means there's actual story progression in reasonable time-frame unlike certain people's stories...MINE...Always a balancing-act), but it's only really missing and noticeably so a handful of times when character's movements and positioning are relevant (when Richard pukes after killing people and Hannah and Tara move about him to notice it, for instance). There's enough different perspectives that are necessary (Johnson and the General on Earth, the Count in...GATE-land, Tara obviously) as it is that some of the less important people like the sentries or the wyvern-rider feel unnecessary--and even the Johnson/General bits could maybe be combined for efficiency (much as I like seeing both
).
We get a pretty good sense of it secondhand, but could use further emphasizing via Tara's narration probably how Richard is...kind of out of his depth and applying very basic things as best he can to fit this crazy situation he's been dropped into. His first instinct at hearing guns being 'attack' is a good bit of this--reader can see how it's a bad idea, but also how completely understandably he'd want to run towards the rescue it implies (and maybe even help). Maybe a scene or two of him going 'WTF am I doing?' as the group he's leading starts to snowball into this bigger and bigger full-on slave revolt?
The tension between Hannah and Tara I like as well. It starts as what seems like personality difference with this shade of there being more to it, and then what the 'more' is gets revealed and then sticks around--and never is settled, just kind of worked-around by both of them.
Like this opening. Would like maybe a little more clarity of backstory(?) I suppose it would be called elsewhere in the first two introductory chapters that make it clear that it's GATE and, moreso, what the devil GATE is, but not knowing does give a bit of hook for reading on...*shrug*...But, what I was saying was that I like the structure you've got in this intro. We get a character (I'd perhaps use the Count instead of the advisor based on the Count seeming more important so far, but...), a brief setting (and the beginnings of that 'backstory' with the 'gate through which they had traveled'), and the 'Besides...Behind...Around...Before' sequence is easy to read.
Maybe could've gone for full alliteration and replaced 'around' with...something? 'Between' or maybe 'bordering'?
I am puzzled in the right ways by this knight who seems to be wearing a modern helmet but is wielding a magic sword...I don't think the flaming blade description is an attempt to describe a modern rifle or bayonet or such with older technology references, but that just raises further question of who the devil this yabo is!
Does the right job of getting curiosity up.
...Hah! Okay, that somewhat-maybe answers my question and is a good bit of dramatic irony. *clap*
Heh. I was also going to raise an eyebrow at someone knowing the term who wasn't also one of the 'eggheads'. The self-awareness and questioning seems appropriate.
This transition here from Tara's perspective to the sentry's perspective seems a bit unnecessary. Seems like the same scene staying fromher perspective would be just as effective--maybe even let you establish her a bit more and give the reader more info about where she sits in this line-walk she has going between wanting to run and wanting to fight. Hannah clearly was down to kill and run...Was Tara the same, or would she have had her priorities the other way around?
Anyhow, the sentry just doesn't seem to give enough information to justify his 'scene' in my opinion.
Also...'Just walk out' is a solid, simple plan. Bravo to our brave, bold, Black Knight hero for thinking of it.
Oh hey, it's Lord Dick and his two bunnygirl companions. I've seen this fantasy story before!
...
Sorry. I'll be in the corner bonking myself.
More seriously, stumbling upon the two elves in the forest *feels* a bit contrived. It probably isn't with the whole 'Imperial forces moving through' and the disruption and camp-following messes and all of whatnot that would exist with a Roman style army in the area, but in my opinion it could use a little more setup to come off more believably.
Oh! Oh...My earlier bad joke doesn't actually work. I was under the impression both Tara and Hannah were part of the bunny people just because of the drama that seemed to be implied over her clan name and such.
Do a good job through these perspectives from the Count of making him look sympathetic and reasonable--perhaps even a little too reasonable about the death of his son, but it comes off pretty believable just because his whole character emphasizes caution and level-headedness with how he commands and is open to political BS'ing and such rather than being more arrogant or blowhard-y...If 'blowhard-y' is even a word...
The benefits of big ol' honkin' ridiculous fetish-ears!
Here we go with more of that fun character divide between the two! That's what I was referencing earlier with the sentry bit! Hannah looks to be the more gung-ho kill em' all type, Tara's more of a...cautious? Maybe is the word? She's less enthusiastic about it at very least.
Which does seem a little maybe-odd based on what little I know off memes of GATE's Warrior Bunnies? I dunnow, really.
I also snorted. Like the...is this dramatic irony again when they're dismissing magic when the other world has very explicit magic? Dunnow if the term fits, but this is humorous and I appreciate it.
General could use a little more distinctive reasoning here, I think? Could be useful to get a peek into his thoughts enough to know if he wants the foothold just because commanding an offensive NATO operation is a Big Thing, if he's more interested in saving people whatever the sciencey folks say, or if he's in contradiction of stereotype and just that by-gum curious about what's on the other side of the interdimensional wormhole thingy and relishes the idea of commanding an exploration-y type of thing?
Not super-important, but I at least am curious about him.
Oh...Dammit all, my earlier bad joke DID work! They both ARE bunnygirls.
Reading back over it, I realize my mistake.
This is embarrassing.
So I'm just going to pretend it didn't happen from here on! Genius solution!
It's morbid, but I don't think an arrow shot to the ribs would kill someone quickly enough to stop them from crying out?
I do not know that for sure, though. Just a heavy suspicion.
SPIDERMAN! He's real and he's out there folks!
Heh.
"And why did you join the Marine Corps?"
"
This got a good chuckle out of me as well.
Overall, I enjoyed what I read. Could use more environmental detail throughout (on bright side, leaving this out means there's actual story progression in reasonable time-frame unlike certain people's stories...MINE...Always a balancing-act), but it's only really missing and noticeably so a handful of times when character's movements and positioning are relevant (when Richard pukes after killing people and Hannah and Tara move about him to notice it, for instance). There's enough different perspectives that are necessary (Johnson and the General on Earth, the Count in...GATE-land, Tara obviously) as it is that some of the less important people like the sentries or the wyvern-rider feel unnecessary--and even the Johnson/General bits could maybe be combined for efficiency (much as I like seeing both
).We get a pretty good sense of it secondhand, but could use further emphasizing via Tara's narration probably how Richard is...kind of out of his depth and applying very basic things as best he can to fit this crazy situation he's been dropped into. His first instinct at hearing guns being 'attack' is a good bit of this--reader can see how it's a bad idea, but also how completely understandably he'd want to run towards the rescue it implies (and maybe even help). Maybe a scene or two of him going 'WTF am I doing?' as the group he's leading starts to snowball into this bigger and bigger full-on slave revolt?
The tension between Hannah and Tara I like as well. It starts as what seems like personality difference with this shade of there being more to it, and then what the 'more' is gets revealed and then sticks around--and never is settled, just kind of worked-around by both of them.
This is a description of a flamberge. It's a late medieval germanic two handed sword that is sinusoidal for at least part of its length. Nothing magic about it. It just looks funny, but might be taken as magic by someone who believes in the Principle of Sympathy. No clue if GATE uses hermetic magic, though. The actual purpose is somewhat in contention. It may help control the opponent's blade in the bind. It may also show off that the blacksmith can make a wavy blade strong enough to function or that the owner can afford to pay a blacksmith capable thereof for enough of his time to bother.
Describing it as like flame is projection I think. The germans who made and used them thought they looked like flames, hence the name, but if I were to describe it from a perspective of ignorance I'd compare it to waves at sea unless it was a landlocked perspective. And empires usually grow up around water so I'd expect magiRome to not be landlocked. They are not, after all, the magiMongols.
charclone
Well-known member
Glad to hear it. Environmental detail is something I am working on, but I struggle with it
Tara being not as 'kill em all' as Hannah, despite being a Warrior Bunny is because of worldbuilding I was doing in the background, that didn't get put in, but might end up in the sequel. Long story short, I am treating the Warrior Bunnies as more than just 'sexy bunnygirl barbarians'. They have factions and political ideologies. Hannah was part of one, and Tara part of another.
It isn't, though the Count isn't anywhere near the sea, and his 2IC has seen far more fire than oceans in his career. But yes, there is a level of projection.
Edit: Okay, I walked into that one. Completely unintentionally, mind you, I tend to name certain characters after kings.
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Sequel