Prelude

"Set up your tents men." Sergeant Orian commanded the small troop of miscellaneous fighters. The Tebasey forest still proclaimed sunlight but the Sergeant had grown used to this by now. In a few moments the forest would close itself up earlier then the sun normally sets in the open sky. This had caused a few evenings wasted trying to force a stick hold up their lean-to tents in darkness, but now everyone had becomes somewhat accustom to this eccentric forest. The Sergeants orders concerning this forest were very simple.
"All of these cold-blooded rebels are to be exterminated." The sergeant had been told my the Captain a few months earlier He was a slightly large man who had and overbearing attitude that gained him only his title and very little respect. "You and several others will be sent to the small village the Emperor told me out. I don't want anything left over, you hear? Not even a twig standing on end, but I have faith in you. You. Will. Not. Fail. Me." The Captain straightened his crimson suit, and looked him directly into his eyes. “Or the Emperor. Punishments can be rather harsh.” The several others the Capitan had mentioned were other groups similar to the one he had setting up camp. Everything was situated so the other regiments and his would make a wall of rock hard real soldiers for there rebels to deal with. And now Sergeant Orian was in the Tabasey forest ready to attack this village at dawn. Orian smiled thinking about the victory to come.
Placing Down his pack, Orian wasted no time in fixing his own tent. It was, like his men’s, a small canvas lean-to. The forest didn’t have room for anything bigger, but Orian didn’t mind, he wasn’t a very hard person to satisfy. A fire was made, pots were brought out, and soon supper was served. As always, it was nothing of report. Not many animals would dare to travel this far into the forest, and the ones that did weren’t in a good enough condition to eat. Only one stray bird was caught this time so a few harmless bugs had to be caught for a sufficient meal. None of the soldiers had complained, but few had eaten more then their very small portion of bird. After eating all of his food without too many faces, he stood up and demanded their attention. All eyes turned to him, plainly just trying to avoid the food.
“Listen men, tomorrow is our time to attack, and force those rebels back where they belong, the land of the dead!” He wished for a cheer, this was everything they had worked for, but he knew none was coming. This cursed forest had pulled their spirits down below the marshes of Pasqual. If Emperor Panth had foreseen this effect the forest had on his men Orian was sure he would have known not to make such a foolish attack. Men will only fight when there is reason to, and they had only seen reason to run. These men were almost beyond hope. Their long faces told what word couldn’t express. They talked about Lence who ran away and didn’t make it past the first tree outside of camp. Murmurs of Kogen who disappeared one night with a trail of slime to this grave ran between each face. No blood split could ever repay what happened to two more of their party who contracted a disease. More fatalities had occurred on the way to the battle, then was expected in battle. Orian shook his head, We have a mission, they died with the Emperor’s honor. We must press forward, He thought. “We are attacking the town of Lassen. Although it is very small many of the attacks on The Emperor have been planned there. Many other troops are going to be with us for this attack. As long as you keep your wits about you, This should be training for most of you for the rest of you, good luck. Now pay close attention, if any of these orders are not carried out I’ll have you cleaning trophies of men who followed their orders for the rest of your life!” He narrowed his eyes at everyone, even of only one person didn’t do as he said he would be striped of everything, even his honor. “Nothing from this village should remain. There will be children in Lassen. They will be saved if they are still in adolescent years. Those children we will put back into society, we have nothing against the children, only the parents who wont let us explore their lands!” Orian turned away to leave, then as an afterthought he added, “The women fight like animals just like the men. Get some rest, you will need it.” Turning around he headed to a big shadow which he recognized as his lean-to. Carefully he laid his sword by the think wool covers. If anything happens to this company. . . he thought, but wasn’t able to finish. Too much had already happened! We are all apart of the Emperor’s plan, that was what his father had said once.
“May Emperor Panth rain forever and may we die for his work!” Orian muttered to himself before laying down and going over the plan once more.


The men sat in silence for a long time after supper exchanging nervous glances. Moz knew everyone shared the same thought, no one was told we had to kill women! Now Moz understood why the sergeant had saved the hard liquor. He, like everyone else, was wondering why he even signed up to be in this army. His friend, Aldan, awkwardly cleared his throat.
“I can’t see why we are hiking out to this pile of firewood just to take out Lassen.” Aldan was the only one of the group who still had any hope or will left. Everyone Aldan was trying to stir sat as lifeless as we’d hope to believe the shadows were. “We can’t control something by taking out their smallest villages! If I were the Emperor I would set the place ablaze.”
Lonn sighed and shook his head before saying, “And what of the children Emperor Aldan? Burn them too?” Moz sighed, only himself and Joven knew that Aldan was just big talk. He had never done anything rash besides not holding his tongue when silence would be better suited.
“Without their men, the women and children wouldn’t survive this wretched forest. Better-“ the night became darker then a dragon’s cave, and Aldan stopped short. The men stood on the edge with swords drawn as the trees angrily crashed against each other, creaking like old men uncontent in their sleep. It suddenly dawned upon Moz how incredibly dark it was getting. Not a creature stirred, only the piercing cold wind and the moaning trees seemed the still have life.
“It’s alive.” One on the stiff soldiers whispered.
“Enough Aldan! We ought to get some sleep.” Moz suggested. The young soldiers eyed the dark trees surrounding their camp. Shadows seemed to flicker in and out, never staying in the same place for long. What have we done? Moz muttered in repentance.
“What was that?” Aldan asked. Moz could see Aldan’s eyes following the shadows from the dieing fire.
“Nothing, now let us go to sleep.” Joven said, but Aldan only got closer to the shadows. He side-stepped beside his lean-to and picked up his sword, never taking his eyes off the shadows. Some of the soldiers slowly lumbered towards their lean-tos, but everyone was indifferent towards Aldan. He swung at the trees and shadows blindly, on each hit the whole forest groaned in agony.
Moz stood up, “Really Aldan, Have you thought-“ Aldan’s sword struck into one the trees as a shadow reached out. His mouth opened, but no scream came. He crumpled to the floor, and the shadow disappeared.
“To your arms! Men to your arms!” Moz cried silently morning Aldan, This was not how Orian said it would be!