A Battle of Vanities

Intro

Prancing horses trampled through the carefully manicured garden in the courtyard of Palicide.

Booted feet dropped from horseback and Commander Isen walked through King Leotin's treasured rose garden, swearing as he was pricked by thorns. In retaliation he spun, cutting one bed of roses off neatly at the stem. Rose petals drifted slowly down to the ground.

"BRING IT DOWN!" He bellowed to his men, motioning with his sword to waving banner of Palicide.

A flaming arrow arched through the sky and missed. After a round of jibes to the archer, another arrow came, meeting it's mark. And the banner of Palicide went up in flames. The banner of Allendor was raised to the cheers of it's armies.

Then the men were given free rein to pillage, spoil, and destroy.

Two commanders stayed back at the courtyard, still mounted on their battle worn horses.

Xavier the Light pulled the helmet off of his head and plopped it over the rise of the front of his saddle, leaning one arm on it as he watched the banner fly. His long blond hair was damp from being beneath the helmet in the midday sun of Palicide, but he was relatively fresh with only a few flecks of blood on his arms and chest. He wore very light armor that did little more than cover his chest and torso. Both his arms and legs were bare and exposed to the sun.

"What purpose is served by this.... display." He growled. We've won a palace while it's armies are elsewhere. We've claimed a land we haven't the resources to hold." His tone was challenging, as it often was when he spoke candidly of his king's policies.

"It is not meant to be hold." A dark voice spoke nearby.

Xavier looked over to see Jaeger the Dark, also mounted on his horse, helmet under one arm. His long dark hair was unruly about his shoulders and his black souless eyes were gazing up at the banner. His deep voice was quiet, he was a man of few words.  "This is a battle of vanities, nothing more."

"It is a waste of my men's blood and sweat." Xavier growled. "That I should bring one of my boys home with his entrails drying in the sun for the vanity of one man to say he bested another while his pants were down." His lip curled in distaste.

Jaeger reined his horse closer to Xavier, studying the warrior for a long moment before speaking. "For once we agree."

What few words that passed between the two men were generally less than civil. Not that they didn't have dislike of their king in common, but Jaeger was known as ruthless and cruel to not only his enemies but also his his enemies women and children. He was rare to smile. He was as they called him.... Dark.

Xavier on the other hand often saved the women and children. He was quick to strike down the men of opposing kingdoms and his sword was sure in battle. But he often took children as slaves to save them, and later would release them and see they were provided for.

Two men could not have been so different, and yet the same in the spirit of the battle. They were the King's finest warriors. And seemed destined to oppose and best each other in turn.

The moment of agreement passed between them and dissipated.

"Isen!!!" Xavier called out, shifting his gaze from Jaeger as he turned his horse. "Enough of this nonsense. Let's go home!"

The three armies rode as one body out of the burning gates of Palicide. Behind them was destruction. The courtyard ruined where the flag of Allendor now waved in the breeze. Buildings burned, later to smolder as the rains would come for the evening.

But for now, in the mid day sun, the road was filled with dust, blood, and bodies as they made their way back toward Allendor.

Only a mile from the burning gate, a movement in the wood that lined the road caught Xavier's keen eye. He turned his head and drew his bow, nocking an arrow, giving his horse it's head to continue walking.

He saw a blue cloak and a swish of long blond hair, and hesitated.

Just long enough for Imari of Palicide to bolt from the wood on her dark horse, racing toward the gates of what she considered safety.

Xavier cut out of the line of riders and gave chase, bending low on his fast mount.

At the same time that Xavier had been nocking his arrow, Jaeger had seen the woman and reined his horse up short.

As Imari, the Princess of Palicide made her break toward the ruins of her city, Jaeger and Xavier were both on her trail.

Imari: (her heart pounding loudly in her chest, bent low over her horse, stealing a glance back)

Xavier: (twirling the bolos, meaning to aim for the girl's horse's legs)

Jaeger: (his horse bumping shoulders with Xavier's horse just in time to throw off his aim)

Imari: (gasps softly, quickly reigning her horse and veering to the left)

--- the bolos do less than bounce off the horses flank ---

Jaeger: (whips his horse faster, pulling in front of Xavier)

Xavier: (pull along side of Jaeger, leaning lower on his horse and easing ahead)

--- the gates grow ever closer, but they burn, the acrid smell of burning flesh and death permeates the area ----

Imari: (fear crawling up her spine as she nears the burning gates, light and quick on her horse, whispering to him to go faster...faster..)

Xavier: (jumps from his horse, grabbing her around the middle)

Imari: (screams as she gets snatched from her horse, eyes round with fear, trying to twist and turn in his grasp)

Xavier: (hits the ground heavily with the girl in his arms, skidding and rolling until they come to a stop with his body pinning hers)

Imari: (gasps as they hit the ground, stunned by the impact, sucking in a breath and thrashing beneath him as they stop)

Xavier: (pushes the cloak all the way off her head and looks her over)

Jaeger: (on his horse beside them, looking down) Kill her and be done with it.

Xavier: (straddles her, a knee on either side, looking down at the girl)

Imari: HEATHEN BEAST!!!  (redoubling her efforts, trying to hit and scratch at him)

Xavier: (fends off her fists, chuckling) She's a tigress....

Imari:  (terror curling in her belly, bucking, screaming) STAZA!!!!!!!!!!

Xavier: She curses me... (smirks) I think...

Jaeger: Just finish her.

Xavier: No.. (reaching down and touching the silver pendant around her neck)

Imari: (bites at his hand)

Xavier: (gives it a tug, breaking the chain to have a closer look)

Xavier: (swats her face, stinging her cheek)

Imari: (gasps in outrage, trying to grab back at the pendant, twisting and squirming beneath him)

Imari: (hisses) Cowards....

Xavier: Well.. what do you know. (dangles the pendant out of her reach, keeping her pinned) My prize of Palicides is a Princess.

Imari: (screams louder, unsure what is worse....a quick death or becoming this man's "prize")

Xavier: (tucks the pendant into the pouch at his side)

Jaeger: (growls) Well either kill her or gag her. She's giving me a headache.

Imari: (her eyes darting to the man sitting atop the horse)

Jaeger: (reins his horse away, breaking into a canter to catch up to the rest)

Xavier: (captures both of her wrists with one hand)

Imari: (watching him leave, thankful, looking back to her captor, panting from her struggles)

Xavier: (rises, pulling her up)

Imari: (digging in her heels, trying to resist)

Xavier: (gives her a jerk, moving toward his horse)

Imari: (twisting her gaze around, looking longingly towards the gates)

Imari: ((sooo close....))

Xavier: (pulls a rope from his horse and binds her hands)

Imari: (grits her teeth, kicking at him as she binds her hands)

Imari: (her pulse racing, unable to believe this is happening to her..)

Xavier: (winces as an occasional assault hits a tender spot)

Imari: Do you feel like a man now?? Now that you have conquered a defenseless kingdom of woman and children....(lip curling)

Xavier: Yes. Yes I do. (pinning her to his horses shoulder as he ties the rope of her binds to his saddle) And if you get any ideas about jumping off once I put you up there... I'll drag you ....

Orion: (screams a war cry, the little boys legs pumping as he runs toward the blond warrior)

Xavier: (turns in time to see the little Prince closing in on him)

Imari: (gasps, eyes wide) NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.....

Orion: I'll save you, Imawi!!!

Imari:  Orion!!!  NOOOOO....RUN RUNNN

Xavier: (puts out a foot and pushes the child back on his ass)

Orion: (burst into angry tears)

Imari: (her eyes flooding with tears as she stares down at little Orion)

Imari: (sobs) Run Orion! Run!!!

Nalina: (screams from the smoldering entrance to the city) ORION ORION!!!!! (the nanny panicing as she sees the blond warrior with Imari and Orion)

Imari: (terrified for him, turns pleading eyes towards the warrior)

Xavier: (looks toward the nanny at the gate, then the boy, and finally to the eyes of Imari)

Xavier: (leans, plucking the boy up)

Imari: (lip trembling, not even caring what happens to her, lets out another small sob as he picks him up)

Xavier: (sets the boy on his feet) Go on.. Get out of here, boy. (calls out louder so the woman at the gate can hear) And tell your King THANK YOU for the Prize of Palicide

Orion: (turns his dirty tear streaked face to Imari)

Imari: (flooded with relief, her eyes trained on Orion) Run sweetheart....hurry...please....

Orion: (hesitantly backs away, finally turning and running toward the Nanny)

Xavier: (mounts his horse and gives Imari  a jerk upward)

Imari: (stumbles forward as she gets lifted, her body stiff as she looks back at her home, refusing to look at him)

Xavier: (settles her in front of him on the saddle) Take a good long look, princess.. It's the last time you'll see Palicide.

Imari: (lifts her chin, refusing to believe his words) You will regret this day...

Xavier: (laughs) Probably. (turns his horse and canters after the troops)

Imari: (her back ramrod straight, shoulders set, trying to appear calm despite her terror)