Post by Tismri on Apr 22, 2009 21:57:19 GMT -5
Ivanova was watching as the men practiced their archery, supervising and making sure no one got hurt. Sometimes messengers would cut through across the field because it was shorter. She wanted to make sure no one would get shot.
Sure enough, a young man came running across the line of fire, a paper flapping in his hand.
"Hold your fire!" she called out to the men. Most of them dropped down their bows, but three arrows still flew across the field. One of them embedded itself in the runner's arm. Susan held back a curse.
"I said hold your fire!" she called out as she ran to the injured boy. He was just a kid. He stared at her, his face in agony. "Someone call a healer," she said. One of the archers ran to where Du Vrangr Gata were staying.
"It's okay, just sit still," she comforted the messenger. As he fell toward the ground, he shoved a paper in his hand.
"See that General Kell gets this," he managed before he passed out. She took the paper, putting it somewhere safe. She turned back to the archers.
"You, you, and you," she said, pointing out the three who shot. They came forward. Two of them were young men who looked as if they had never been in a fight before. Their eyes showed terror at the commander's fury. The third was an older veteren who held nothing but comtempt for Susan. She had been Empire. She couldn't be trusted. He had often expressed these opinions, though he never really went against her orders, until now.
"You three better be glad it was nothing more than a shot arm," she said angrily, "because if that kid had died, I would have you all flogged for this disobediance. As it is, you will all surrender your weapons to me for a minimum of two weeks." She held out her hand. The men gave her their bows and dropped their swords at their feet. As they did, Susan kept talking.
"While you're doing that, let's review the rules under my watch: Ivanova is always right. I will listen to Ivanova. I will to exactly what Ivanova says. Ivanova is God. And, if I fail to follow her orders, Ivanova will personally rip your lungs out!!! Do you understand?" All three men nodded, two with terror, and one mockingly. She dismissed them. As they walked away, she gathered up the weapons and waited for the healer to arrive. Then she would give the General his message.
Sure enough, a young man came running across the line of fire, a paper flapping in his hand.
"Hold your fire!" she called out to the men. Most of them dropped down their bows, but three arrows still flew across the field. One of them embedded itself in the runner's arm. Susan held back a curse.
"I said hold your fire!" she called out as she ran to the injured boy. He was just a kid. He stared at her, his face in agony. "Someone call a healer," she said. One of the archers ran to where Du Vrangr Gata were staying.
"It's okay, just sit still," she comforted the messenger. As he fell toward the ground, he shoved a paper in his hand.
"See that General Kell gets this," he managed before he passed out. She took the paper, putting it somewhere safe. She turned back to the archers.
"You, you, and you," she said, pointing out the three who shot. They came forward. Two of them were young men who looked as if they had never been in a fight before. Their eyes showed terror at the commander's fury. The third was an older veteren who held nothing but comtempt for Susan. She had been Empire. She couldn't be trusted. He had often expressed these opinions, though he never really went against her orders, until now.
"You three better be glad it was nothing more than a shot arm," she said angrily, "because if that kid had died, I would have you all flogged for this disobediance. As it is, you will all surrender your weapons to me for a minimum of two weeks." She held out her hand. The men gave her their bows and dropped their swords at their feet. As they did, Susan kept talking.
"While you're doing that, let's review the rules under my watch: Ivanova is always right. I will listen to Ivanova. I will to exactly what Ivanova says. Ivanova is God. And, if I fail to follow her orders, Ivanova will personally rip your lungs out!!! Do you understand?" All three men nodded, two with terror, and one mockingly. She dismissed them. As they walked away, she gathered up the weapons and waited for the healer to arrive. Then she would give the General his message.
