Sarina's Barbarians
Page 13
“By Uthril’s Hammer, what were you thinking? Not telling us what we were facing?”
Sarina stiffened her spine.
She said, “I am strong. I protect the weak. I needed this to happen. Because that’s who my father’s daughter is. The strategy was right, Markus. Maybe the tactics weren’t. That’s all. I should have been with the rest of the army. Fighting my own fight. It would have been a cleaner victory. Not this…” she slouched again,”…messiness.”
“Sarina, you don’t give a damn about Tias. Or anyone in it.”
“That’s not true, Markus.” She failed to withhold a frown. “No matter how big Magnus’ army was, I had to go through with the battle. There’d be a way. I knew it. Maybe I didn’t choose the best way, but…”
“You’ve spent your whole life dominating people, Sarina. I’ve watched you. But your real power lies in your ability to inspire and uplift those around you. Like your mother.”
She brought her shoulders back but didn’t look at him directly this time. As she always did when about to be lectured.
He continued, “You don’t inspire and uplift others by holding back intelligence from your closest council. Especially not us.” He studied her, looking down. “Not me, Sarina.”
“You knew the odds were against us the eve of the battle.”
“I’d liked to have known many days before.” He stuck his fists to his hip. “Next time, if you please.”
“Sometimes a commander needs to make decisions. Alone. When the answer is obvious.” She paused. “Or not so obvious.”
Markus’ voice rose, “A commander with years of experience, Sarina! Maybe. I sure as hell didn’t teach you that.” He sighed. She could hear the tension in his chest. “There was a right thing to do. I don’t believe you did it.”
“You would have tried talking me out of it. Had you known the size of Magnus’ army. All of you. Out of completing the commission.”
Markus grunted and rolled up the map on the table. He threw it to the ground. “Dammit. You can be too aggressive. Too insensitive, Sarina.”
“And you strive too much for moral perfection.”
“In myself.”
“And judge others by it. You preach one way. In private, you’re just as ruthless. Don’t sermonize, Markus. I won’t have it.”
“Nor will I have it from you, Sarina.”
Sarina stood up and closed her eyes. She growled. She tightened the fists she’d been making the whole time. “I’m continuing my rounds. Akimi is still in the hospital tent. I’m going.”
Markus stepped toward Sarina. “Give her my bed. I’ll sleep under the stars.”
Sarina looked at Markus regretfully. She said sadly, “She bleeds when she coughs.”
Markus grimaced.
Before they could say more, probably for the worse, there was a commotion outside. Then the young voice, “The princess!”
Markus swiftly went out of the command tent. When he returned, he brought the messenger boy. Again, the boy’s lips were white from his long run. The vein at the side of his shaved head, just below the spiked crest, was exceptionally blue.
Sarina said, “What it is this time?”
The boy looked back and forth between Sarina and her first captain, not sure if he was about to tell them good news or bad. He said, “An Imperial legion is on the road. Six leagues out. And on the quick march.”
Markus said, “Saw them yourself?”
“Met their outriders. They’ve been sent directly from Quintus Petrus.”
Sarina and Markus looked to each other. She put her hand on the big man’s shoulder. She had too much respect for Markus. They argued more often these days, and she didn’t like it.
She asked the boy, “Did the outriders perchance say who was leading this legion? Surely not Quintus himself.”
“Not Quintus, Your Highness. It’s Gracus Fabius. He’s at the very front of the column. They say it’s how he rides into battle. Come to finish off Magnus Sinn and the remains of his army.”
Still, the princess and her burly consort stared into each other’s eyes.
Gracus has grown brave to come now…
…within reach of my barbarians.
The boy looked up at Markus. “Is this good news.” He looked up at Sarina. “Is it bad?”
Markus said, “Well, Your Highness. You’ve already completed your commission. Tias is safe for now. And an Imperial legion’s come to take up the chase. What more do you want?”
The big brute. He already knew the answer. She had to admit once again, Big Markus knew her better than anyone.
She asked him, “How’d it feel out there, Markus?”
“On the plains?”
“To touch the insanity. To have no limitation.”
He grunted once. And nodded. He loved her and she knew it. He said, “Not bad at all.”
She lowered her gaze and squeezed his shoulder. Then she said in barely more than a whisper, “I want total victory, Markus. What else?”
THE END OF PART 1/21
Check for the next episode
Coming Soon!
Stay Entertained With Updates!
Subscribers receive monthly Sword & Sorcery Erotica!
I post only what you care about.
More battles.
More sex.
More fun.
Argh!
Sometimes I even gab a little about me.
But only the really private stuff.
subscribe to
BATTLE and BANG
About E. M. White
Hi there. Thank you for reading. And finishing. I like you already.
You won’t find me on social media. I’m too busy. And I like my privacy. Hope that’s okay.
But we can still be buddies.
Just email instead.
I’ll reply if you promise to be nice.
boomboomlasso@gmail.com