Chapter 5
Anias Russ, one of the few Secfenian leaders outside of Bravia, and one of the few people of any importance out of Bravia, who had respect for the people of Natonito, was going up the Bravia River with a small army. Hearing about the Bravian struggle for independence, she decided to help them out against imperial tyranny.
She did not know of the battle that had just annihilated the Imperial forces in Bravia, and the Bravian troops did not know anything about her, other than the fact that she was a brave and beautiful general in the Secfenian Central Guard. She had been fortunate, and had escaped attention while Robert Russ III and Natonito attracted all the attention. She preferred it that way.
�We are almost at Russville,� her aide-de-camp said to her.
�Good, it is time to recover the family property for the forces of freedom and liberty,� Anias replied.
�I cannot believe the Longberts were such cowards as to stay with the empire, even over the kidnapping of their eldest daughter,� the Jackal said.
�Some Bravian lords are exceptionally petty in fighting family quarrels. Such pissing contests are a sad waste of what would otherwise be an exceptionally strong people. If only they could work together and stop squabbling among themselves the rest of Secfenia would have reason to fear their strength and might,� Anias said.
�The rest of Secfenia squabbles as well,� the Jackal said.
�Yes, but the Bravians are a good people, a people as brave and courageous as any, and yet one without that arrogance that comes with great power and dominance. May a tyrant never come from Bravia,� Anias said.
�They are a bit too attached to their land, though,� the Jackal said. �They are very possessive about their own small land.�
�Yes, but that is the mark of all great people. Those among them who are wise enough to see beyond the hills and forests, the pleasant breezes and farms of Bravia, the swamps and the streams still never forget who they are. They realize that land is more than something to be built up, but something that needs to be cared for and preserved and loved,� Anias said.
�The city is up ahead,� the aide-de-camp said.
�Good, let us take the treacherous duke by storm, and see if he has any sense,� Anias said.
�What is the plan?� the Jackal asked.
�You and I will each take a wing of this army and march towards Russville. You will march directly for the city from the river here, drawing the forces towards you, while I will march behind the hills, through the Longbert estate, and then march towards the town myself. Good luck,� Anias said.
�Sounds like a plan to me,� the Jackal said.
�I�m glad you said that, or else I would have to call you meerkat,� Anias said with a smile.
The two wings of the army then split. The Jackal led his army through minor fights, fighting his way slowly towards Russville. Anias, of course, had the more interesting route. Very soon she had led her troops to the Longbert estate, where the Longberts were captured.
�I can�t believe this has happened,� Eric Longbert said.
�Me neither, son, our sentries failed us,� Duke Longbert said.
�Stop kvetching,� Anias said. �You are prisoners.�
A great purple hairstreak alighted on Cherie. �What a pretty butterfly,� she said.
�What a silly girl you are, Cherie,� Eric said. �We get captured by some rebel and all you can talk about is butterflies?�
�I have read that butterflies were good luck if they landed on someone without bothering them,� Cherie said.
�Well, obviously that theory�s wrong. You�re not lucky,� Eric said.
�Be nice to your sister,� Duchess Longbert said.
�The dear girl is lucky,� Anias said. �After all, you could have been captured by Oen Bravia. You would have liked that much less.�
�That is true,� Duke Longbert said.
�In fact, you guys have nothing to fear. I will not burn your house or kill you. I will merely bring you to Natonito so he can decide what to do with you,�Anias said.
�Is that a good thing?� Eric said.
�You mean that nice man who came here just before the rebellion?� Cherie said.
�Nice man?� Duke Longbert. �You have too rosy of a view of the world sometimes.�
�Natonito was nice,� Duchess Longbert said. �Remember, it was you who were rude to him and tried to take him prisoner. He will appreciate the irony.�
�You�re supposed to be on my side, dear,� Duke Longbert said.
�She can think what she wants,� Anias said.
�I wonder if the empire has taken care of Natonito yet,� Duke Longbert said.
�I don�t think so,� Anias said.
�Why do you think that?� Eric said.
�I saw no troops on my way here. Your protection is gone,� Anias said.
�They must have diverted it all to bag Natonito,� Duke Longbert said.
�I doubt they will succeed,� Anias said. �We shall see shortly. It is time to go to Russville now and claim back my family�s city.�
�I haven�t been to the city in quite a while,� Cherie said.
�That�s because we feared for your safety,� Duchess Longbert said.
�I know. After what happened to Bathsheba,� Cherie said sadly. �I miss her a lot.�
�I know, we all do,� Duke Longbert said, comforting his daughter.
And so Anias and her hostages marched with the troops into Russville, where things were not going well for the Imperial commander, a man by the name of Lord Sabre, who had come over from the Imperial District to oversee the war himself from a safe spot. Little did he know his fate.
�What do you mean there is an army at the gates of the city?� Lord Sabre screamed.
�Um, we didn�t want to warn you about the two arming your way,� a soldier said.
"Two?� Lord Sabre said. �That�s the last time I mock these Bravians. They fight rather well, every one of them�
�Well, you might not have much more time to sing their praises on this earth,� a soldier said.
�Why is that?� Lord Sabre said.
�Here they are now,� the soldier said as both the Jackal and Anias Russ surrounded the headquarters.
�This is great,� Lord Sabre said. �These Secfenians are just full of surprises.�
�There is the Imperial scum,� Anias said, rushing in, taking all of those in the headquarters prisoner.
�Yes, I will avenge my family,� the Jackal said.
�What are you talking about?� Lord Sabre said.
�The Doomsday Machine killed my family,� the Jackal said. �And look here, we have the architect of that plan right here. You will suffer for what you did to my family.�
�Yeah, there�s no need for him,� Anias said. �Do with him what you will.�
�Excellent,� the Jackal said with great hostility.
�Damn these provincials,� Lord Sabre said. �Why did I even come here in the first place?�
�Your mistake was to underestimate the people,� Anias said. �You will never make that mistake again.�
�Nor any other,� the Jackal said with slanted eyes.
The Jackal ripped out Lord Sabre�s entrails and let him die slowly, in agony, screaming and cursing. Those who seek to offend others have little room to ask for mercy from others. Some people do not understand that fact, and act snotily to others and expect them to sympathize with the woes of ones who so easily lash out at others. The world does not work that way. Not even a son will sympathize with a shrew of a mother who has just vented a tirade.
�It�s time to visit the city of Bravia,� Anias said.
�Yes, it is,� the Jackal said. �I am glad I got that out of my system. Now my revenge is over.�
�Revenge is never over,� Anias said. �The deed may be done, but the bitterness never ends.�
�Such is the life, I guess,� the Jackal said.
�Yes, I guess,� Anias said as they went towards their personal carriers and went off to Bravia.
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