Psyker Landshark said
As Xanxus apologized to him, Lantus simply nodded and waved a hand, accepting the apology. Xanxus's attitude didn't bother him much, as he'd dealt with far worse before. Compared to his now-deceased mother-in-law, gods damn that harpy to the deepest pits of the abyss, a bit of cockiness wasn't much to get worked up about.
"Think nothing of it, General Xanxus. As long as you do your job well and I do the same, we'll get along fine."
While it was annoying that Xanxus refused to use his own men, Lantus couldn't exactly complain, seeing as he had no intention of recalling any of his own bannermen in the first place. After all, there was no point in running his men ragged chasing after what remained of the Shepards if Darrian planned on inciting war with Plegia. Lantus's own knights were among the most well-trained and equipped in Ylisse, and he was certain that they were a more than a match against Xanxus's personal unit, especially if Lantus was leading them himself. Fielding an elite force like that just to chase down a few ragged survivors was simply a waste of resources.
As Xanxus began discussing their troop choices, Lantus took a moment to consider his words before nodding.
"Agreed. We'll field a force of fliers and mounted infantry." The old general said before turning to leave. "Considering your dislike of common soldiers, I trust you won't mind if I gather the men myself. Send for me if you need something." Lantus left for the barracks, his two knights trailing behind him.
vancexantan said
A group of soldiers came up to the General Xanxus followed by a man with an iron sword on his belt with his hands tied behind his back. "Sir this man is convicted of being a vigilante. He murdered three bandits who were robbing an inn and forced another to back down." the soldier said as he forced the man forward. "He tried to get away shortly afterward but we caught him. He wasn't resistant per say but it was clear he is bitter about being brought here sir." the soldier said as the man looked at the general with his cold dead eyes. "He refuses to give us a name general-" the soldier continued but was shut clean up when the man glared at him and gave off a seriously irritated aura. "Hello General my given name is Carn and I served with the Silver Hawk Company until recently. Our leader was killed and I simply am off to Plegia to settle some old scores before I go and die in some hole somewhere. Before you ask I do not regret killing those men and I would do so again. Scum and villains who pick on those for fun are no friends to me or the public at large. If my sentence is death I ask that it be quick. But I did not do it out of self-righteous glory I did it because I wanted to do it. Now may I ask that I had my side told that you decide my fate." Carn told Xanxus plainly.
"Let's try to aim for a departure time before the noon arrives." Xanxus called as he saw Lantus off.
The regular military... a ragtag group for eliminating ragtag dogs. It's almost a match made in heaven.Xanxus himself had not been particularly interested in attaining his position of power, but rather, he preferred the sense and authority of control that came with the privilege. To some extent, the uniformity of the military was a factor that he did not enjoy; mindless pawns to do the bidding of their 'leaders' were what the term military meant to him. But for his men, he had built them up differently.
Xanxus, though possessing authority equivalent to that of a General in the Ylissean Army, viewed the latter as a complete embarrassment. He commanded his own detachment force that consisted of a blend between ex-mercenaries from his old association and the hand-picked top elite of the regular military, both combining to tally a total force of sixty. This force, unofficially labeled as the Ylissean Raiders, was second to none in ferocity and combat ability, full of ethnic and background diversity. Some were orphans at birth seeking a family. Some were stray nobles seeking purpose.
Highly-disciplined and close-knit, Xanxus had originally gathered one-hundred people from both groups and left them in a hostile and hazardous environment surrounded by various bandit and rival mercenary groups paid by Xanxus through his many connections to attack them regularly, leaving them on their own for two and a half weeks with his occasional check-ups. By thrusting them into a desperate situation that wasn't just a simple military simulation, this weeded out any potential friction between the two groups. The mercenaries taught the militants their ingenious methods of braving the deadliness of nature that the soldiers' military training lacked, and the militants taught the mercenaries their battle tactics and weapon quirks to better their advantages against their enemies. In the end, only sixty from the initial one hundred remained, the other forty either outright deserting or succumbing to nature or their assailants.
There was much controversy behind such an unconventional and 'indecent' way of breeding soldiers, but the result was unlike producing any average army; Xanxus, with these sixty men and women who were now the Ylissean military's
true pride, simply spat and laughed in the faces of those imbeciles.
And almost as if on cue, Xanxus was approached by one of
them."Sir, this man is convicted of being a vigilante." The word vigilante was the sole thought that resonated in his mind, bringing an expression of disgust on his face.
This is going to be great."He murdered three bandits who were robbing an inn and forced another to back down." The grunt paused as he pushed the scoundrel forward.
Always the one who tries to play the hero. These kids really need to stay at home. "He tried to get away shortly after, but we caught him. He wasn't resistant per say but it was clear he is bitter about being brought here, sir." Can my sword pierce his flesh already, Darrian? Is that a possibility?"He refuses to give us a name, General--"The soldier would've been able to continue, until the scoundrel interrupted him with a look that revealed how hard he was trying to look menacing to appease Xanxus.
"Hello General, my given name is Carn, and I served with the Silver Hawk Company until recently. Our leader was killed, and I simply am off to Plegia to settle some old scores before I go and die in some hole somewhere."It's trying too hard to sound formal. "At least you're honest." Xanxus directed towards his last statement about dying in a hole.
"Before you ask, I do not regret killing those men, and I would do so again. Scum and villains who pick on those for fun are no friends to me or the public at large." Typical of a vigilante. And from the looks of it, it's also a swordsman... What a drag. "Yeah?""If my sentence is death, I ask that it be quick. But I did not do it out of self-righteous glory; I did it because I wanted to do it. Now, may I ask that I had my side told that you decide my fate?"Xanxus sighed out of annoyance, shaking his head as he placed a hand atop of it.
"What the hell are you on about? Are you seriously that inclined on dying? What are you, one of those mongrels who call themselves valiant and heroic swordsmen? People who attempt to don such a false identity and live a lie make me sick.""And even if I were to punish you with death, your existence isn't privileged enough to be ended by my inexpensive blade," Xanxus continued to derail the man, who had irritated him alone by being in front of him.
"What do you want me to tell you? To hurl yourself off of a bridge? Have some dignity, and be a real man."
A dream of a time when things were simple."Mam, whure'sh Xanxhus? Tomorrow'sh ma birthdhey!""He'll turn up, Zaino." His mother reassured as she, with a finger in his mouth, slowly opened it and carefully fed him a dark liquid from a spoon. She rubbed the side of his throat to help him digest the medicine as he coughed, feeling his forehead. She reached for a wet towel and laid it there, sighing as she smiled warmly and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"He's growing into a man, just like Daddy."The six year old frowned to his mother, reverting his empty look to the wall at his opposite side.
"But isn't Daddy dead? Does that mean Xanxus is gonna die?""Don't say that, Zaino." His mother frowned at her son's analogy.
"Daddy was a great man, you'll come to see it soon. You and Xanxus are going to be good people, just like him.""But Xanxus always beats me in everything! And he's never home anymore!" Zaino whined.
"He's just busy, honey. Men are always busy.""All he talks about is girls..." Zaino sighed, followed by a sneeze.
"Where do babies even come from?"Zaino's mother traced her hand against his cheek in a motherly caress, giggling.
"I'll tell you after a few more birthdays. How about you get some rest? That cold isn't going to go away without sleep, and you wouldn't want to miss your seventh birthday.""Fineee." Zaino, seemingly disappointed, said goodnight to his mother as she lifted the towel briefly to kiss his forehead and left his room with the lamp. He brought both of his hands to the back of his head and stared at the ceiling, thinking.
Xanxus... I'm going to beat you in swords! Just you wait!With a giddy and toothy grin at the thought, Zaino yawned as he shut his eyes and let the darkness of his room send him to the world of dreams.
