Marching to War - OPEN

I didn't have anyone in the City to say good-bye to, I realized sadly. I had stayed within the circle of other Albans and Eirans in the City, and most of them had other gone home or were coming along to fight for Terre d'Ange. I hadn't been planning to, at first, because it wasn't Eire's fight, but when I saw that Caelum and Decimus were going, I reconsidered. Terre d'Ange's fight might not be mine, but I would do what I could to keep my friends safe.

I spent the time before we were to leave writing letters back home, to be posted only in the event of my demise, and training with my bow as well as my sword. I practiced with Oisin too, because he could be a savage on the battlefield, but only if he knew friend from foe. I had trained him to stay near me and only attack anyone who attacked me, so as long as no friendly forces came after me, I should be fine.

The day we were to leave found me riding out of the City alongside Caelum. We'd been spending a lot of time together since he'd come to the City, because we had more catching up to do, since Decimus and I had already done so ... and then some. I still smiled to think of it, and though I was not the romantic sort, I looked back on that night with a certain fondness. I'd never mentioned it to Caelum, of course, but I had the feeling he knew.

L'agnace was beautiful in the gray dawn light, and though I knew we were riding into danger, I couldn't help but be excited by the prospect of once more joining a battle.

I'd gone out on enough patrols and served enough time to know exactly how long it took to get myself ready, how much rest I would need and the supplies I would have to have on hand for them. Unlike Akkad the place we were going now was closer, and in friendly territory, which meant the chances of getting necessities as far greater. Even so there was a certain amount of apprehenion as I'd mounted up and started that morning. Most of that had to do with the sort of people I'd seen joining up as well, so many of them young, or without the obvious military experience you'd hope to see. A few were even untrained girls to be used for whatever medical duties and patching up, and I could only wonder if any of them had even been trained in that field. It wasn't my decision, but there was still a disquieting sense about it.

Expression as composed as ever, uniform neat and with my packs neatly tied to my saddle, my sword and knife hanging from it in easy reach, I kept my gelding on a carefully controlled rein, enough to let him move freely but not so much he'd wander or blunder into other people. I'd never been the best rider but the Captain had shown me a few tricks to it here and there, and before he'd started as my father's apprentice he'd grown up the son of a horse-trainer. A part of me wondered where the Captain was right now, whether he'd be routed to the front as well, but it was conjecture and there was no way to validate it one way or the other, only to wait.

I recognized a few of the other people in line, giving them nods and half-smiles and trying not to get too lost in my thoughts again. It would be several days or more before we reached the front but it set a bad precedent. There was a good bit of nobility on this trip as well, and even the royalty, and that created even more complications, but I refused to be phased by them. From the basket hanging on the side of my saddle I saw Cassanova shift in his sleep and watched for a moment, then looked back at the line to see if anyone would approach me to talk.

A Priestess had no business marching to war, or so I told myself. Or maybe a Priestess had every business here, but either way, I was a companion and lady-in-waiting to the Queen, and where she went, so did I follow. It was strange to think of me, the girl who had been terrified to walk past the steps of Naamah's Sanctuary had ridden right past it, and onward, out of the City for the first time in 12 years. I had thought I'd be afraid, and maybe part of me was, but more than anything else, I was worried for Coretta and what this all meant for her. I'd come to care for her during my time at the Palace, and I knew she had been through so much, and now she had to leave Christien after only just having him back.

I sighed and urged my horse up close to her, just in case she needed anything from me.

I kept my gaze locked on the horizon. Skaldia. Somewhere, within that barbarian nest were those whose actions had contributed to the death of my ward.

My hands shook with barely suppressed rage as I clutched the reins. There were others around me, I could have cared less. Myself, my horse, my armor, my sword and dagger, I needed little else. Cassilines fought alone, in pairs, if pressed, but not as a unit.

Ah, but I was not a Cassiline. My training, however, was another matter entirely.

I had managed to dispatch a brief missive to Landis, leaving little time between the dispatch and the point where I was actually deployed. I knew he would be wroth, I also knew that he would have not hesitated to chain me to a wall in that salon of his and refuse to release me until the war was over.

I had to go. I wanted nothing less than vengeance, terrible, terrible vengeance.

So I left, I left and did not look back, not once.

The call to war had come and that included me. I was assigned a troop, one with Reza thankfully, and when the troops were ready to move I was right there with them. The first trek of the leg seemed sullen and quiet, which wasn't really a surprise to me. I wasn't the only cadet in the group and the fear of the unknown was tearing at me. I knew that I could perform, that I'd be able to fight, but I feared death and I feared watching those around me die. I knew enough for my studies to know that there was a very good chance that many of my comrades would not come back whole let alone at all and I didn't know if I was ready for that. I rode in silence, thinking on what was to come.

And out we went.

Part of me was glad, that I would have an army at my back in if Naia got it in her head that she was going to stalk after me and try dragging me forcefully from here, but the mental image of that very thing sent me into full-out amusement at the idea of holding her aloft, her little feet kicking in anger and frustration. No, she wouldn't come, not with Jace to protect, and so I marched along, sticking with my unit and wishing Emeric was in it. I'd much prefer to be with him, to guard his back than to have him be off elsewhere; blood was blood, family was family, and it chafed at me that I wasn't able to be at his side during what would likely be a bloody battle.

Oh, a ride to battle- actually it was a relief and I enjoyed being on my horse, under the open air and finally able to rid myself of that itch of wanderlust that usually gripped me. War with Skaldia- I'd traveled through there doing mercenary work, and enjoyed some of their prettier girls, but now it was battle. It didn't raise a sense of conflict though; one day friends, one day enemies, that was the life of a paid sword-arm. This time the expected me to follow some sort of military rules, and for now I was indulging them, but something told me once the actual fighting started that would be out of the window.

For now I was riding near my group but a few questions had told me where my brother was staying and who his commander was, and I could only grin slightly. Well, at least I'd be able to stop by without worrying his boss- commander, whatever- was uptight about it. It was good to know people near the top. I had not a single concern about my own safety, but how long had it been since Kendrick had done anything except swing around and blade in practice or gotten into anything worse than a bar brawl? Yes, he had that scar, but that was just proof he hadn't moved out of the way fast enough for all I knew. Neither of us were the talking type and he had enough on his mind, so getting out among men and really being a man himself again would do him some good.

Smirking to myself and sat comfortably in my saddle and took a deep breath. There were girls coming along on this trip. Even better. Now I knew this may well have been the opportunity of a lifetime and I meant to take in as much of it as I could.

Sitting ramrod straight in the saddle, I was silent but keenly aware of everything. I don't think it had quite sunk in yet, the fact that we were officially at war, but alas here we were, marching as an army to Camlach. I remembered the Akkadian war as a child would, a vague sense of anxiety as my younger self tried to come to terms with it, hoping that my brother would come home safe.

It was different now that I was older, old enough to understand and old enough to be of use. I had written to my parents, telling them of my involvement. Father would be furious, but mother, for all that I lacked her Eisandine sensibilities for fine art and dress, mother would understand as a healer.

I rode with my unit, a healer division led by a princess of the blood. It occurred to me that we had the flower of D'Angeline nobility present here, and that should anything go wrong it would deal a great blow.

It had been a tender goodbye to my parents and sister and a lot of discussion with my employer before I left to prove myself a man. The Scorpion would have to rest until this was over as there were more important things now than just cleaning up Night's Doorstep. It was time to fight some Skaldi!

With me I had my crossbow, a long bow, and my own special little gadgets I used as the Scorpion. I figured too that this was as nice a way to get my armor as any. I'd taken a peek at the list of those in the archery unit and noticed a good number of women in the group and I smiled. This was to be quite the adventure indeed.

For now I looked around me hoping that perchance I would see a familiar, or at the very least a pretty face.

It had gone down, and the results were obvious. I sat in the saddle, loyal men from Eisande following in my trail. I held no standard. I was still a son of house de Layne, but I marched in my own name, among men I'd roused to the call of duty.

It should have tasted sweeter, but it instead made my bearing heavy and unhappy, as if every step my steed took was one step closer to doom. To deliverance, too, where I was going with little taste, with the resignation of inevitability.

Oh, I'd give them a fight – the best fight I could, at any rate. I'd never liked sparring, but I'd done it nonetheless, just as I'd never liked wrestling, but I'd indulged in the rounds as prescribed. The shield on my arm was stout, the sword at my hip, stouter yet. I looked around at others – folk from other groups, and idly, I observed one who reminded me of Marcel.

He had dark hair and a smug grin. He was enjoying this, and I envied him.

_{[OOC: Engaging with Emeric, ftw! ]}

The ride wasn't a hard one and I listened, sometimes piping in when someone said something that I thought needed my input, or just had a topic that interested me, and I laughed along with the jokes. After long enough traveling with near-strangers who only had the fact they were being paid by the same people in common with you there was a certain sort of friendly distance you developed. It couldn't be much different in the military, right? We were only fighting for a common goal, not as friends or family, and until someone struck me as worth more time. No reason to get attached to people who might die anyway.

In one of my glances around to see if I recognized anyone else who was nearby I saw a man watching me, one with a bit of a dour look, who looked just comfortable enough with his weapon that he probably wouldn't stab anyone on accident and a few people who seemed to be looking to him for some sort of leadership. He didn't have the stripes of a commander though- perhaps just a lord with his own fighters? It didn't really make much of a difference, but what the hell? More friends couldn't be a bad thing and maybe he'd seen my brother somewhere along the line. Smiling in a friendly fashion I waved to the man and edged my horse a bit closer. "Hello there friend. Crowded enough ride, isn't it?"

I rode in with my horse a little late, not the best form for a general but I had been detained for good reason. My mind was speeding as was my horse and we halted at the end of the line. There were so many of us, out to do the same thing and I wondered for a moment if they really needed me. But then I remembered that it was I who needed this more than the other way around.

My hand slipped into my pocket and I felt a silk cloth and I took a deep breath. The cloth was reason number one to return. I then dismounted and searched for members of my unit.