The Conqueror's Leader

The mud was iron and ash-tasty.

Kain shoved him away from him and his fingers clutched onto the cold, wet metal of his armor. His lungs seemed like they were filled with broken glass and he gulped and gulped for air.

There was no more the sound of battle now. An hour earlier the screaming had ceased and been replaced by the cawing of birds that feed on carrion. The banner of the Wolf Company was trampled in the dirt, bloodied.The banner of the Wolf Company was trampled in the dirt and bloodied.

They had been abandoned.

Kain closed his eyes, and the recollection struck like a punch to his head.

"Hold the line!" Over the sound of the teak clanging, Commander Veyr had shouted. "Reinforcements are coming! Hold the line!"

Kain had taken his word. He had returned to the enemy and his arms were burning with the power of his sword. However, after looking around, Veyr was lost. He had no more personal guards. The banners had been walked out over the ridge.

He had glared his eyes right in Kain's before riding away in his horse. He had disgraced them in front of Kain and his men and made them slaughter them so he can save his skin.

There was silence, except for a faint wail.

Kain's eyes snapped open. He turned, cringing, and there was an opening in his side, a deep slash. Half buried under a dead horse, Joren was a few feet away. The boy was only about sixteen years old and his face was ashen with shock, with tears streaking down his face. He had a broken sword in his hands, his hands trembling.

"Captain?" Joren whispered.

Here, Kain replied in a husky voice. He pulled him back as he crawled to him. "Are you hurt?"

My leg... I think it's broken.

Kain nodded. He looked past him. "Linden? Linden, answer me!"

A low noise was heard from a nearby trench. Kain stumbled over, and found Linden leaning against the dirt wall. His face had a grayish color, and there was a bad scar running down his leg on his thigh that was bleeding profusely from it.

Linden hissed, "Stop yelling!Linden hissed, “Stop yelling!” “Not yet, I'm afraid I'm not.

He looked around at the sea of corpses. "They left us, didn't they? That coward Veyr."

He did, Kain confirmed. He ordered them to stand still, and then he ran.

Joren's eyes gleamed with panic. "What do we do? There are no weapons, there are no horses  we can't fight them we are dead.

"Shut up, boy," Linden snapped, wincing as he shifted his weight. We were all dead when Veyr rode away.

Kain's voice interrupted the tension, "Stop. He was weary, wounded, and frightened. He was their leader, however. Then they would all be dead if he broke.

He did a tummy fetch and retrieved his water skin. It was almost void of elements. He unscrewed the cap and knelt down by Linden. He took a few drops in his mouth.

"Drink," he ordered.

You need it more than me," Linden mumbled.

Kain replied, "I need you alive more than I need water. You're the only one who can track. Only you can get us out of here.

Linda looked at him for a long time and swallowed the water. We must find shelter, before the sun sets, or the wolves will get here first.

Kain gazed out at the sea. The sun was setting in a blood red sky. They were only through an hour of light.

"Can you walk?" Kain asked Linden.

"I can limp."

"Then limping we go, we need to find somewhere defendable.

Kain grabbed Linden and lifted him to his feet, wrapping his arm around his shoulder. Joren followed them, holding his broken sword. All of these steps were excruciating, but Kain was determined to focus on the future. He managed to breathe in and out evenly.

He could hear the howling of wolves a long way out. Or perhaps it was the enemy's hunting dogs. It was not possible to see in the dark.

They fell into a small hole, covered with a lot of thorns. It was cramped and damp but it would keep them safe for the night.

Kain told them, "Get some rest. "I'll keep watch."

Joren fell down right away tired out. Kain was studying the stone while Linden leaned his back against it, his eyes on Kain.

“You're stupid, you know that? Linden whispered. “A silly person to be sitting around, to drag us out.”

"Maybe," Kain said. He walked out to the glooming forest. “But I'm not going to let Veyr win, that's not how I'm doing it.”

Kain was at the entrance of the cave, gazing at the black woods. His body wanted sleep, his mind was buzzing. How would he be able to provide for them? How was he going to get them home?

His temples throbbed with pain. He clenched his fists over his head, pressing the heels of his palms against his heads. When he looked at them, the world was different.

In front of him, another panel, a blue translucent one, hovered in the air, among the dark trees. kain blinked, but it didn't go away. It was cold and mechanical and no sound came from it at all.

[SYSTEM INITIALIZED]

[NEW CONQUEROR DETECTED]

FIRST QUEST: Find a safe place for your remaining friends. Reward: 50 gold, Basic Rations.

Kain looked at the floating words. He streached out his hands, his fingers slipping through the blue glow. He was hallucinating. He had to be. The blood loss was taking its toll on him.

"What do we do now, Captain?"

But his voice was small and trembling behind him Joren's voice.

Kain's heart drummed in his ribs, gazing at the glowing blue panel. He didn't know what it was, or what it had to do with. It was providing him what his people needed to survive, however.

He looked to his Joren, his face a mask he didn't feel.

We live, he said," "We find a way."