Arn held down his head to keep the air exerted from the propellers away from his eyes. It would be a rookie mistake to be out of commission for something as simple as a pebble in the eye. Which was why many of the initiates had to be give goggles prior to their first jump. His combat boots clanged against the non skid walkways of the aircraft. He felt the looks of the crew, some confusion, some disapproval and even some others wonderment. He was a lone red battlemage amongst all the armor and weapons of knights.
He walked by them giving them a look back. His face however showed nothing more than study and memorization. The battlemage had been on similar but different aircraft. They were usually more of a glorified cargo plane than an actual drop ships. This one was meant to house capable crew and fighters. He noticed that it was built for speed, which meant that it would not fare very well against the defensive guns on the Empire’s frigates. This was going to have to be a drop and retract mission. He was starting to wonder what the actual mission was when he heard Tyrhallan dish out orders.
It was interesting to Arn the variations in tones the Knight Captain used. However, having studied some of the psychological book in the Academy’s library, he knew that confidence and assertiveness was necessary to lead soldiers what could possibly be their deaths. He noticed however that some would still freeze up and he had witnessed this himself in battle too. It was said that if you survived your first battle it just got easier from then.
Arn did not know just how accurate this statement was but it seemed to give the young recruits something to hold onto while all chaos broke around them. Indeed, even now the battlemage was starting to feel the adrenalin start to pump in expectation of the mission.
It was during these quick musings that the Knight Captain addressed him by name and his eyes met the man’s. While his eyes did not fog with thoughts of battle and glory, Arn could appreciate why the Tyrhallan’s men where so moved after his speeches. There was something in his words that behest you to comply with his requests. The battlemage merely nodded as the plan was laid out but he was taken aback by the simpleness of it. Here is where the Knight Captain made showed his true tactical genius.
The next part is what took the red battlemage aback. He was not one for pleasantries and he was most definitely a noble or someone of importance. Only the few brave youngsters of his own squad who did not know him would use his rank. Most just called him Arn or Hellspawn. The way that Tyrhallan addressed him cause him to frow his brow in confusion. So taken aback was he that all he could do was shake his head but the words that me meant to say never came out.
He looked at the stone place on his hand with even more confusion. He had heard about these. Tokes that nobles bestow upon those who ear their trust and favor. The commoners called them “boon Stones” and were often the items of local legends that happened to someone if their family long ago or the explanation why a common person had suddenly found success and luck.
In his hand however, it seemed less the golden egg of legend but actually a memorial. Unbeknownst to others, Arn had collected a token from any mage he had dropped into battle with that had not made it. While he would not call it shrine, he kept them as totems and used it when he worked this magic. He would unconsciously call out their names as he manipulated the Aether.
When he finally found his voice he said in a less monotonic voice. “Knight Captain, I will ensure to return this to you upon our completion of the mission. Please be at east that I will do my part regales of the cost.” He the did something that extremely few had ever seen and he bowed his head a few inches in respect. With that he looked out the windows of the aircraft seeing the storm clouds nearer and noticing them being stitched with sparks of lightning.
Infinite Cosmos
princess