War

Hello there readers ^^,
I hope you all enjoy this first chapter. I'm not very far into this story atm, but it's coming along nicely I think and I wanted to see if others liked it as well. No tags on this one tho, because I'm not entirely sure all that this story will entail, so tags will be chapter sensitive. If this chapter gets a bit of positive attention I'll continue to post more chapters, probably about one per week if my schedule allows it. So read on and please tell me what you think ^^, ENJOY!
(ps. this chapter is short sry)




1
The driving sharp elbow of Catherine's mother forced a grunt from her lungs as she threw her gaze back to her work. Her small sound drew the attention of one of the taller soldiers but he rode past without pause. Catherine's mother let out a sigh of relief and moved a bit more naturally than before, throwing her wet laundry down hard onto the washboard.

"If you don't start acting like a woman instead of a child in daydream they're going to take you away."

Catherine grimaced at her mother's words and went into her own, more gentle rhythm on her own washboard.

"They take everyone away mother, be they boy, girl, woman or man."

Her mother let her laundry drop and grabbed her harshly by the arm. The woman was old and small but very strong, her dark brown hair was done in tight curls that became prominent in her age. Her dark almond eyes were lined with crow's feet and deep with wisdom. And anger flew out of her as she spoke low to her child.

"Act weak and they will leave you here to live out your days as a simple housewife to a man you only slightly love. Act as if you have a brain, as if you want more than what you have and they will snatch you away and sell off your skin, piece by piece. Weakness is our strength here child, now bow your head and get back to work."

Catherine winced away the pain in her arm and set back to her slow and boring laundry. It was all she ever did anymore, cook and clean, cook and clean, she wanted to die. And so long as she lived a life of boredom she could live a sure life. As the days went by, as the soldiers poured in more and more by the day she was beginning to wonder if being taken away was really a release rather than a punishment. The sun was sinking low; she didn't realize how long they had really been outside that evening. Her mother gathered the wet laundry into the baskets and carried the heavier of the two on her hip, leaving the other to Catherine. She gathered up her skirts and placed the wicker against her hip, walking slowly and carefully back to her home. The soldiers were all about now, roaming the streets of the once quiet town, gathering around the inns and taverns that travelers used to use. They simply wander through now, choosing a place in the forest over a soft bed. It was a wise decision; the soldiers many times became too dangerous and full of beer to be trusted after sundown. Her mother opened their door and sighed as she set her load down onto the floor, it would stay there until early morning when the sun could heat the water away. But Catherine froze, only ten feet away the soldier that had stared at her before was walking down the near empty street, away from the commotion of his comrades. Their eyes locked, and she could see the effect of the booze on his features. She quickly gathered herself, broken from the stare like a startled deer, and threw her load down with a bang, closing the door behind her with her foot before he could see inside. Her mother only gave her a strange side-glance, but didn’t question her further, something Catherine was very grateful for.

******

The small ban of warriors rested quietly in a valley just north of a small town. It was a town of the tyrant king Dolan, and was to be destroyed. No fires burned, no one laughed over a drink of ale, and no one slept without their leathers and boots on. A lone man sat at the top of a hill overlooking the waiting target. His leathers were thinner than the others, his gaze a little heavier. A thin trail of smoke lifted from the end of his cigarette as he knelt and awaited the dawn.

"I can't believe you're still out here."

The youth lifted his gaze to a comrade above him. He looked him over before staring back at his target, a wolfish grin on his face.

"Just finishing the last of my tobacco. I doubt I'll be getting anymore."

His friend took a clumsy seat next to him, resting his arms on his knees once he was settled.

"Don't talk like that, I don't know who you pray to but he loves you whoever he his."

They laughed together quietly, glancing behind them at the heavy camp. They were all on edge, all so ready to flee. He didn't blame them, when dawn came and they were saddled and ready they would ride out to meet death. The town was small but strongly protected, thought of as valuable to the king for it's productivity. They were greatly outnumbered, but they hoped surprise would serve them well.

"I don't pray you know that."

A moment of silence passed before his friend stood and brushed away the leaves on his pants.

"I best be moving along, I've paid good money for the girl in my tent right now."

The other smiled and took another drag from his cigarette. He hadn't wasted his last penny on a girl, and sleep was beyond his reach. He almost wished his slave hadn't died in the last battle; at least she would have been there to give him a back massage.