The Oswin Tales I
Desert Rats
I originally got into writing by writing fantasy stories, so this is my attempt of writing a fantasy series for Literotica.
This is going to be a longer series, almost a novel. It will be a slow burn with less sex scenes than normal, more focused on the actual story telling.
I hope you enjoy this different style of my writing and enjoy the ride.
Thank you to Oldbroad76 for editing.
CHAPTER I
Kael I
The plains on the hundred mile desert were usually filled with dry, orange sand. Now, they were soaked with the blood of a thousand men and Pakrias. Their bodies plagued the ground. With every step that Kaen took, the damp floor squelched against his leather boots.
His feet sunk slightly into the now wet sand as he watched his footing to not step on the recently deceased. As he moved, droplets of blood fell from his light, leather armour. His sword was stained red, and he sheathed it back into his belt.
After a few hundred yards he stood upon a dune, looking down at the death that surrounded him. The orange sun was sinking in the distance, and a cool breeze scattered sand across his body.
"Kael!" A familiar voice shouted, and as he turned to one side, Kael saw Connah running up to him, a bloodied sword in one hand.
"You made it then?" Kael shouted as his lips curled to a smile.
Connah's foot got stuck in a part of sand and nearly tripped before he reached Kael and patted him on the back.
"What are you doing up here?" Connah asked.
Connah was from the Cairne kingdom, which he blamed for his short stature and slim frame. He had short black hair and a shaved face, and the only thing upon his look was a scar going from this right temple down to his left cheek, a battle wound from a year ago.
The Cairne accent was a funny one that took Kael a while to get accustomed to since each sentence seemed to end in a high-pitched tone, as though they were always asking a question.
"Just observing." Kael told him.
"How many did you get today?" Connah asked. Even after battle, he was light-hearted and happy.
"Twenty, I think." Kael replied, he wasn't one to join in counting your kills like others in the union army.
"Damn," Connah said. "From what they're saying down there, I thought you killed hundreds."
Kael raised an eyebrow and looked at his friend.
"What are they saying?" Kael asked.
"The saviour of Haal plains, they're calling you." Connah laughed out. "Shame they don't know that really you're a twat."
Kael knew he should've laughed, but hearing about this reputation was not one he wished for.
He knew why they had decided upon this name for him. The human's scouts said there were only three hundred Pakria natives approaching, so that morning when three thousand turned up, the humans were prepared for a gruesome death.
Sure, humans were more organised and equipped with better weapons and armour, however one thousand human soldiers against three thousand Pakrias were not good odds.
Within an hour most of the highest ranked officers had been slain. Seeing their defeat imminent, Kael took charge of a unit, mounted a defence, and moved from there. In the end they managed to defeat the Pakria, effectively saving hundreds of human lives.
"Did Samuhal make it?" Kael asked, worry in his voice.
"I haven't seen him." Connah replied.
I hope he made it,
Kael thought.
For a few moments the pair stood looking out upon the battlefield as the sun set, turning the sky to darkness. Stars scattered in the sky like dust.
"Come on," Connah said and slapped Kael's back again, "I need a drink."
--
The next morning Kael was woken by an urgent hand opening his tents entry way. He sat up, sword in hand like always, and looked for attackers.
"Easy," Connah said, "someone's here to see you."
Kael rubbed his brown eyes and used his free hand to pull back his long, brunette hair.
"Here to see me?" He asked.
"Yeah," Connah said as he looked around to see that the tent was empty, "some high general."
Great,
Kael rolled his eyes,
some high born bastard come to bark orders.
He rose to his feet, towering over his friend. Connah may be short, but Kael was taller than most people and wider.
The tent entry way opened once more, and four men in full steel armour walked in. Steel armour was only for high borns,
not a scratch on them, why save the best armour for the men who fight the least.
Connah stood by Kael's side. Connah, who had been awake early enough to have a cotton top on while Kael stood there in simple shorts. His hairy body with a handful of scars was on show.
Three of the steel armoured soldiers stood tall with their hands on the hilt of their sheathed blades with a single man at the front. He had dark black hair that was combed to one side, clean shaven, and a smooth face. He had dark brown hair. Unlike the others, his armour had been decorated with six green stripes on the chest to signify his post.
Posh bastards,
Kael sighed to himself.
"Kael?" The General asked, and just that one word let Kael know that he was from the Manstel kingdom, his homeland, which concerned him.
"What's it to you?" Connah grunted back. His hatred towards high borns was nearly the same as Kael's.
The General sighed at Connah and turned his attention back to Kael.
"I wish to speak in private." The General spoke softly.
"I'm not leaving." Connah shot back.
Kael stood firm, hands clasped behind his back, unaltered by the high-ranking officials.
The General gave Kael a look, not a demanding one, more of a hopeful one to speak in private.
"It's okay," Kael whispered to his friend.
Connah gave a disapproving look before huffing and leaving the tent. Kael stood there with three heavily armoured soldiers and a General in front of him.
Not exactly in private,
Kael thought before the General nodded at his soldiers, and they too left the tent.
"My name is Jarlom," The General said, clasping his hands behind his back and walking towards Kael, "and you're 'the saviour of Haal Plains'."
That name better not stick.
