And Replenish the Earth (Closed for Darkwarrioress)

[QwertyMaster]

As Richard reached the top of the hill,he got off of his horse and his men followed suit. The delegation he'd come to meet hadn't yet arrived so while he waited for them, his eyes lazily scanned the area around him. The hot summer sun beating down on him and the fields of ripe wheat that surrounded the hill brought back memories of the long, lost days growing up on his family farm. He could almost hear the sounds of the tractors in the fields or smell the fresh cut hay. The sight of the abandoned buildings to the north brought him darker memories of a much less pleasant time.But those memories belonged to a younger man, one that hadn't even yet seen the first of his black hairs turn gray.

His musings were cut short by the calls of one of his men, pointing out the arrival of the group they were waiting for. By the time Richard had come to take a look at them they were already on the way up the hill on horses of their own. Richard took a moment to appreciate they're tactical choice of meeting ground. It was neutral territory. Far enough from their home that Richard's men could pose no immediate threat but close enough that should something happen they would have help before he did. The hill was also the most prominent point around and with the addition of no significant tree coverage nearby it would be impossible to hide anything significant from either side. As they approached the top,Richard called his men back to the far side of the hill and waited for the new arrivals to dismount their own horses. For a time the two groups stood in a tense silence before an older man in the new group spoke up.

“What's this all about?” The man demanded. Richard knew the man, but not well. The man's name was Martin and he was the current elected leader of his people. Richard guessed he was about 50; so about 10 years older than Richard and,just like Richard, that meant he'd known the world as it was before.

“You said something about the tribute,” Martin continued, “We've got a wheat harvest to get to and any time we waste here is time we could be spending bringing that in. You know as well as I that the smaller our harvest, the smaller your tribute will be. So just get on with what you're going to say and leave.”

Richard stepped closer to the man, not close enough that he could touch him, but close enough to let his size overshadow the smaller man. While not as robust as he was when he was younger, Richard was still a tall and muscular man. The men on both sides had reached for their weapons, but no one had dared draw one.

“Are you telling me what to do? ”Richard's voice was calm but it carried an unmistakable threat, “Do you think it's your place to give me orders?” Martin shrunk back as Richard spoke, apologizing profusely for his words.

“I must have misunderstood you then,”Richard said, “A simple misunderstanding that I'm sure we can all laugh about later.”

“The man is right though,” he continued, turning his attention to the whole group, “Time is of the essence. He was also right that this is about the tribute. It isn't enough anymore.” Whispers started moving through the men and he held up his hand for silence. “I'm not here to raise your tribute. It will remain as it has always been. I'm here, though, to welcome you to your rightful place among our growing nation. We've come so I can tell you all of what that entails.”

“But, but,” Martin sputtered out as the other men shouted their objections, “But we told we you before we have no interest in joining your nation of murders and brutes. Paying you tribute is bad enough but we will have no part in your barbarity and petty conquests.”

“You see, my friend,” Richard responded, his voice even as ever, “This time I am not asking you.You will join us and add your strength to ours. I would prefer to do this without any bloodshed but I will do whatever I must.”

“This is America goddammit!” Martin shouted, having seemingly grown a spine, “This isn't how we do things! You want to play the tyrant? Then we'll show you what we do to tyrant's here. If you come for us you'll find us ready for you.”

“A simple correction,” Richard responded, unfazed by the man's words, “This was America. America has been gone for a long time. And as for being ready for us? I doubt it. The attack has already started.” With that he gave a whistle and there was the sound of a gunshot from a man hiding in the wheat at the base of the hill. It was followed by another a moment later, just barely audible and coming from the direction that Martin and his men had come.

“I told my men to only kill when absolutely necessary but the longer it takes us to come to an agreement here, the more opportunity there is for tragedy. The clock is ticking.”

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Samantha was taking a small break from her work in the fields. As she sat under a nearby tree, her hazel eyes gazing out over the wheat fields, she remembered how things use to be and what they were now. They had come through so much. Losses were tallied all around and the numbers were disheartening. Everyone had lost someone, a loved one or someone they knew. They had mourned and buried their dead. Moving on was difficult but necessary. That was Life. A gun shot rang out somewhere in the distance. The other workers in the field scattered like threatened insects. There was still fear in the hearts of the people. Rightly so. Warlords were popping up all across their nation. Each willing to kill to own what they felt was their rightful due.

Samatha was young. She had just turned twenty the other day. Well beyond the marriageable age according to the old crones in the village. She didn’t understand. Her body was lithe and still capable of bearing children if she wanted to, should she have chosen to marry. However, the shackles of marriage were something Samantha avoided thus far. She brushed escaping strands of chestnut hair that rebelliously escaped confinement. In the sun, when it shone upon her hair, fiery strands showed themselves amongst the brown. They accounted for Samatha’s temper when pushed beyond her limits. Standing, she brushed the soil from her clothing and headed back to her home. There would be no further work today. The people were too scared after they had heard the gun shot.

Entering her home, Sam removed her hat, hanging it on the wall. She had previously put away her harvesting tools. There was nothing more she would have liked than to indulge in a bath to clean away the grim of her work, but that would have to wait. She had a meal to get ready. Surely her father and brothers would return soon. As she worked in the small kitchen, her thoughts turned toward their past. It had been 20 years since the global war that had torn their world asunder or, so she had been told. She had only been a babe, back then. Her mother had been killed in that war. A casualty, they told her. Like, her mother was nothing of import. She was nothing but chattel, except to the family that lost her. Her father and brothers did the best they could and they must have done just fine because here she stood today. Her community had helped raise her and she was grateful. She loved the quiet peace that her village brought. However, it was not enough. Not for her. The world they had known was no more. Now, a new world was in the making and she wasn’t sure she liked it much. However, her opinion mattered little. She was simply a woman. She had her place and it was a place Sam was determined to break from. How, she didn’t know. Yet. While the meal cooked, Samantha grabbed a broom and started cleaning. Her father and her brothers liked a clean home even though they were the cause of messes that would lay around until Sam tidied them up. Sam glanced out of a window and started to worry. It was growing late and her family had yet to return. She prayed they were safe.

 

[QwertyMaster]

It only took a few minutes for the men took come to their decision. They had stepped away to have their discussion with some degree of privacy but things quickly got heated and once they started yelling, Richard could hear every word they said. He made careful note of those who argued most forcefully against surrender. They eventually came back, still grumbling, before throwing their weapons down. As they came up one of the younger men of the group feigned throwing his gun down before he snapped it up and tried to point toward Richard himself. He never got a chance to fire before a couple of his own compatriots had grabbed him and wrestled him to the ground.

"Idiot," one of the attackers shouted, "What would killing him even do? They're already attacking and if you'd killed him who'd give the orders to stop?" They hauled the man to his feet and handed over to a couple of Richard's men who held the man tightly, even as he still glared .

"Bind him and follow after us," he told his men as he got back onto his horse, "Now gentlemen, let us leave immediately. The sooner we reach your village, the sooner this can all be over." The other men soon followed suit and they started riding hard toward their destination. It was moments like this that Richard missed cars the most. The heat of the sun beating down on his tanned skin and the hard riding did nothing good for his aging body. Especially since he'd already spent the whole morning in the saddle already. What he wouldn't give to sit in a comfortable ride, with the AC blasting. But most of the cars at this point were rusted out junk and even if he could find a car that was in good enough condition to run, all of the gasoline was long gone to run it. For now. He thought to himself. Just one more thing to work towards.

It didn't them long to reach the outskirts of the village. They'd heard gunshots along the way. Richard almost winced at every shot he heard but he was glad to hear that they were few and far between. As they drew to the edge of the village, he drew his horse to a stop and turned to the other men. Most of the men of the village blew past him riding onward, likely toward their homes and family. He shouted his words, hoping that they would still hear him.

"Tell your people to surrender and gather them to the village center. Let me worry about my own men." With that he signal a trio of his men who pulled out a polished trumpet and let out a series of distinct blasts. A signal to his men to stop the fighting.

"Carter, Andy," Richard said, pointing to a pair of his men, "You're with me. We'll check the outlying houses for the stragglers who can't hear the call." Or otherwise won't listen to it. He'd trained his men to follow his every order but sometimes that discipline broke down.

"Everyone else, get out there get everyone together as quick as you can. I want this over with as soon as possible."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

It was getting late, well, later than her father and brothers usually were home. Starting to worry, just a little, Sam took off her apron and headed for the front door of their home, opening it. She did enjoy the quiet and the peace that living a little further out from the village afforded them, but in uncertain times like these, she wished they lived in the village. She would know everything that was going on there at least.

The sound of horses' hooves, galloping down the road reached her ears and she perked up thinking it was her family. Shading her eyes from the fading sun, Sam looked up the road and saw three riders but even from where she stood, she could tell they weren’t her family. Those weren’t their horses and the men riding them were strangers. Feeling a sense of panic, Samantha hurried back into the house and secured the front door. Where were her brothers? Her father?

The world was not a secure place. Warlords were all fighting to claim land and with it, people. Sam raced to the back bedroom and found her bow and arrows, laying them within easy reach as she raced to shutter the windows. With any luck, they’ll think there was no one at home. For the moment, she was a young woman alone, though capable with her weapon, she was still vulnerable. She silently sent up a prayer that her father would find his way home quickly along with her brothers. They would not let anything happen to her.

In their vicinity, there were about two or three houses close by. Through the locked-up house, Sam could hear the horses come to a stop and an authoritative voice rang out. Next came the pounding on nearby doors with the demand to come outside. The sound of pounding on her own door startled her. She clamped her lips together in a straight line and did not answer. After a moment or so, the pounding came again, along with the same demand. Still, Sam refused to move. There was a sudden sound of wood splintering as her front door gave way to brute strength. At the same time, Sam raised her bow, notched with an arrow and had it pointed at the doorway.

 

[QwertyMaster]

Richard, Carter, and Andy rode their horses, looking for his last group of his men that he had yet to make contact with. He'd sent all his men out in the same direction, making it easier for him to contact them after they had made it to the village. Two of the three groups were quick to contact. The first had heard the trumpets and Richard met them while they were on their way into the village. They had a couple of the locals with them. They found the second group still picking up stragglers coming in from the fields and Richard quickly sent them on their way.

Richard and his men rode into a small cluster of houses in search of the last group, a trio of brothers that Richard had tasked with finding a couple of hostages amongst the farmers. Richard almost passed right by the houses until one of his men shouted "Over there, sir." When Richard looked over at where Carter was pointing, he noticed, tied up next to one of the houses, three horses: his men's horses. He rode his horse to the center of the buildings and called out to his men, "Alan! Donnie! Merrill!" There wasn't a response and Richard started to wonder if they were still here when he noticed the broken down door to one of the houses. He slid off the back of his horse and drew his gun.

"Andy, you're with me," he said gesturing for the tall man to follow him. "Carter, keep watch in case something takes us by surprise." Richard and Andy, both with guns drawn, cautiously stepped up to the door. "Alan? Donnie? Merrill?" he called out into the house and got no answer. He turned to walk away when he heard shouting coming from deeper within the home. He quickly strode the modest domicile and found young Donnie lying in a small pool of blood, still gurgling around the arrow in his throat. He wasn't dead yet but Richard had seen enough throat wounds to know he soon would be and there was nothing he could do about it. Richard stepped over the body of his near-death companion and stepped into the room that was the source of all the commotion.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Sam stared in utter horror at the young man lying in a growing pool of his own blood on her floor. She didn’t remember letting the arrow fly. She remembered the door slamming open, a voice raised in demand that she come outside now. A man had walked through the open doorway of her home with yet another stranger right behind him. What was happening? The dying young man was no older than her youngest brother. What if it had been him she had shot? Her fingers trembled, causing her to drop her bow to the floor as she continued to stare at the man on her floor. Why? Why had he come busting through her closed door, yelling at her to go outside? Samantha clenched her hands into fists hoping to stop their trembling. She looked up at the first man who had recently come through her door.

“I--- I did not mean to shoot him. I don’t know what happened.”

It was a simple truth. There was fear in her eyes, fear she couldn’t hide. Some part of her mind wanted her father. Her brothers. Where were they and who was this man that stood before her? There was a gurgling sound from the floor and then silence. The sound drew her attention once more.

 

[QwertyMaster]

As Richard stepped into the room his eyes instantly fell on the sight of a young woman at the far side of the room who seemed to be in a state of shock. The sight of her slender body crowned with a head chestnut hair made Richard think for a moment that he was seeing a ghost. The bow she held that clattered uselessly to the floor made it obvious what had happened with Donnie. She looked up at him and when he looked deep into her hazel eyes he saw nothing but fear.

“I--- I did not mean to shoot him. I don’t know what happened.”

He slowly, cautiously stepped toward her and when he'd gone about as close as he thought she'd let him, he squatted down until he was eye level with her. Her eyes were transfixed on the now corpse in the doorway and he cleared his throat to get her attention.

"You did what you had to do," he calmly said as soon as her eyes were once more focused on him, "You didn't know him. You had no idea what he would have or could have done. I'm not going to hurt you but right now you really shouldn't be alone." He didn't know if she had killed before but he doubted it. He knew from first hand and frequent experience that someone's first kill could be traumatic. "We aren't here to hurt anyone. We just need everyone to come to the village center."

At that moment Richard's attention was turned back to the door as there was shouting coming through it. He turned to see Alan and Merrill step through the doorway and take in the scene. It didn't take the brothers long to realize what had happened. While Merrill knelt down over his younger brother's body, Alan became flushed with rage.

"That fucking bitch killed Donnie!" he screamed as he started marching towards the girl, "I'll kill her! I'm gonna fucking kill her! I'll make you pay for what you did to my brother!" He raised his fist up as he came close to her, ready to bring it down hard. Richard stepped up to him and grabbed his arm before he could take a swing.

"That's enough!" Richard said as he held back the arm of the smaller man. "You are not going to touch her. The only one who's getting hurt here is you if you don't control yourself. Donnie knew the risks. We all did. We don't deal in vengeance, am I clear?"

"Yes, sir," Alan said through gritted teeth, as he backed up. His eyes were still filled with malice as they flitted between Richard and the girl but he seemed to have been cowed, for now.

"Alright then," Richard said turning to speak to everyone present, "The village has surrendered. We need to head to village center. That's where everyone's gathering up. Alan and Merrill, find something to wrap Donnie up in and bring his body with you when you come." He turned back to the girl. He knew he needed to get back as soon as possible and he also knew it was a bad idea to leave her here with the brothers. "Miss," he said, extending a hand to her, "I'm going to insist you come with me as we head into the village."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

An authoritative man stepped in front of her and cleared his throat, drawing her attention to him. She raised her frightened eyes to him and listened to what he was telling her. However, two more men came through her doorway. One of them became enraged and he headed straight for her, fist raised, causing her to instinctively shrink back, trembling. She had killed his brother. All color left her face, turning her quite pale as the younger man continued to rage at her. Samantha’s stomach churned as the enormity of what she had done, sunk deeper into her consciousness.

"Miss, "I'm going to insist you come with me as we head into the village."

Her eyes focused on the hand the older man held out to her. At first, she shrunk away from it.

“Where’s my father? My brothers?”

She needed them right now, not this man. Bile started to rise up in her throat and she swallowed a few times to make it subside. Sam had no idea what was going on or why these men were here, in her village. She cast a remorseful glance at the young man, lying dead on her floor then to the masculine handheld out to her. She had no idea where her family was. Still, this man seemed to demand she come with him. Tentatively, she reached out and allowed him to help her stand. Though her eyes still held confusion, shock and apprehension in them, she got to her feet.

“Very well, Sir. I hope you’ll help me find my family when we get into the village.”

 

[QwertyMaster]

As Richard took the girl's small hand in his own and helped pull her to her feet, she spoke about finding her family.

"They should be at the village center, right where we're headed. Everyone in the village should be gathering there."

For a moment, after she had gotten to her feet, he was lost in the feeling of her soft hand in his heavily calloused one and he didn't want it it end. He looked at her pretty, traumatized face and just wanted to pull her into a hug. After a moment, he let go of her hand and strode towards the entrance of the building.

"Come on then. The sooner we get out of here the sooner we can get you to your family."

As Richard stepped out of the house into the sunlight, Carter almost immediately rode up with Richard's and Andy's horses in tow.

"I saw Merrill and Alan enter after you but I didn't see Donnie with them," the man said as he pulled his horse to stop. "Was he in the house when you got in there? I heard more shouting after the two of them entered."

"Donnie's dead," Richard said as he reached for the reins of his horse, "Alan and Merrill are staying behind a bit to take care of him. The four of us are headed back to the village center without them."

"Four?" Carter asked, just as the girl stepped out of the house, followed by Andy. Carter looked her up and down and gave whistle, "Well I'll be. If you ain't a sight for sore eyes. I have to thank you Richard for bringing me such a beautiful gift in my time of need. Come on babe," he said slapping the space in front of him on the saddle, "Get on up here and I'll show you how I take care of hotties like you."

Richard's jaw clenched at his underling's crassness. He stood next to his horse and gestured for the girl to come over to him, readying himself to lift her into the saddle.

"You'll ride with me. Unless of course you'd rather ride with the jackass."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Sam nodded her head but did not speak. He would help her find her family. As his rough, large hand engulfed hers, Sam felt a warmth spread through her. Strange emotions and feelings rose up inside her. It frightened her but it also made her feel… odd. The moment he let her hand go, she felt bereft, silly she knew. Sam followed him out of the house. She shot another glance at the young man she had killed and his angry brother. The latter glared daggers at her. She hurried out the door after the man who had protected her. Outside, another man brought up two horses, speaking with his leader as he did so. The man on the horse turned his eyes toward her and saying things that frightened her. She shrunk back from him. Her eyes turned toward the commanding figure of his leader, who gestured for her to come to him. The man who had held her hand earlier and tried to reason with her. Sam’s choice was simple.

“I’ll ride with you.”

Samantha still didn’t understand what was going on. She was still wrapped in guilt over killing a young man. Everything had happened so suddenly. Once her front door had slammed open, the following sequence of events had been unavoidable, at least in her own mind. Still, guilt overwhelmed her though she did her best not to let it show. Her chin lifted, her shoulders straightened and her eyes cleared. This man would help her find her family and she would seek solace in her father’s love and understanding.

 

[QwertyMaster]

Richard barely felt her light weight as he helped lift her into the saddle. After she'd settled in on the back of the horse he Richard pulled himself up and into the saddle behind her. By the time he'd gotten into the saddle, Andy was already on his horse and ready to go. Richard wasted no time taking the reins and getting the horse moving down the road toward the village.

The saddle was large enough that the two of them could fit on it, but only just. The back of her body ended up pressed tight against his front. With his arms held out around her to hold the reins it was almost as though he was wrapping her in his embrace. He found himself enjoying the feeling of her small, soft body pressed up against his own. As they traveled down the road he found his eyes kept drifting from the road in front of him and down to her. He increasingly found himself wanting the girl.

"Tell me," he said, shortly after the houses had slipped out of sight, "What should I call you? I can't just keep referring to you as 'you there' or 'girl'. I like to know the names of the people I deal with."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

His hands slid along her waist as his fingers wrapped around her when he lifted her onto the horse. This odd feeling of warmth engulfed her as she scooted forward as he got up on his horse behind her. His arms came around her when he took up the reins, which pressed her back against his chest. She could feel his heart beating and again, she found herself immersed in this indescribable warmth. There was this… tingling that spread down her spine as she allowed herself to relax back against him as the horse beneath them moved down the road toward her village. She folded her hands across her abdomen as they rode on in silence.

She came out of her private musings as he asked what her name was.

“Samantha, Milord. My brothers and father call me Sam most of the time and you would be?”

Her voice was quietly inquiring. She was curious about him and why was he rounding up the people of the village? Could he possibly be…. No, the war had ravaged everything around them but miraculously, they had been seemingly untouched. Sam knew it could not last forever, it just couldn’t, but she had hoped. With a small twist to her head, she turned her face upward to sneak a glance at him again. Before, she had been in shock from actually killing a man, so she hadn’t really noticed him then. His voice had penetrated the numbness of her mind at the time.

 

[QwertyMaster]

"Samantha," he said, repeating her name after she said it. He'd known a few Samantha's in his past and for some reason he found that her name just seemed to fit her. At least in his mind. Then he thought about how to answer her own question to him.

"Richard," he said to her, "My name is Richard. Though some call me Rich. My men mostly call me 'sir.' I imagine others, including many from your village have more colorful terms they use for me." He thought for a moment of the many names he'd been called over the years. From his childhood name of Richie to the terms, like monster or bastard, that he'd learned to live with being called in the last ten years. And all along his life there was always the constant of people calling him 'Dick.' He felt her body shift in front of him and he looked down at her and found her staring back up at him. He found his dark brown eyes momentarily captured by her hazel eyes and he couldn't bare to look away. He suddenly felt very conscious of his salt and pepper beard that matched his hair. It had been several days since he'd been able to shave and he didn't like how one of the several scars on his face cut through the beard, creating a bald slash. He knew he'd been a handsome man once but time, as well a few deep cuts, had taken its toll on his looks. He certainly wasn't hideous but he wasn't next to the beauty he found himself staring at.

He found that she was the only thing that his mind could be conscious of. He could only see her and the rest of the world fell into the background noise. He could only feel her breathing body pressed up against him. He could only hear her breathing and her voice. Luckily the horse had a mind of its own and continued to plod toward the village center.

"You said that you are looking for your brothers and father," he finally said when he came to some semblance of sense, "Do you not have a husband or fiance waiting for you in the village?"

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Her name on his tongue, sent … something flowing throughout her body. She wasn’t sure she could describe it exactly, but it felt, exciting? And yet scary. It was an odd experience for her.

Richard, he had replied to her query. A strong name she thought. It was his accompanying words that frightened her. So, he was one of the warlords. She wondered about his intentions where her village was concerned. Frowning, she turned back around and gave her attention to the road in front of them once more. Would they all be garnered into his thrall, she wondered. Such were the times, she supposed, yet it didn’t mean she approved or just blindly accepted such things. She wasn’t foolish however and realized that they would come under the warlord’s protection, at a price. This war they found themselves in, was horrid. Men were killed and forgotten so easily. They were just bodies to fight a war they never wanted or asked for. Because men died so readily, women from villages were taken captive and used for breeding stock. The more women who became pregnant, the more fighting stock or breeding stock for the warlord. It never mattered either way what the captive women gave birth to, the lord of the land found uses for them all. And this one, this Richard, what were his intentions toward the village people, toward her family even?

"You said that you are looking for your brothers and father," he finally said when he came to some semblance of sense, "Do you not have a husband or fiance waiting for you in the village?"

His question brought her out of her own thoughts as she gave her head a little shake.

“No. My father has yet to decide to whom he wishes to pledge me in marriage to.”

She wondered why he would ask such a thing to begin with. She was not about elaborate on her answer by telling him she had been stubborn in her father’s picks of suitors over the last year. If she were strictly honest, there was no one in their village that appealed to her. She was not interested in marriage at this point or anything else that went with it. Yet, such matters were in her father's hands. It was simply the duty of women and nothing she had to say or protest was going to change it. Sam leaned forward slightly, gripping the pommel of the saddle. Her fingers turned white with the strength of her grip.

 

[QwertyMaster]

He felt a pleasant jolt run through him when she explained how she had no man in her life. That feeling only lasted a moment as she seemed to completely withdraw into herself. When she leaned forward and pulled her body away from his Richard realized, based on her reaction, that she had likely figured out why he was here in her village. He knew she probably felt, or would feel, some hatred towards him. He'd come into her life like a storm and turned things upside down. He wouldn't blame her if she did hate him. He wanted to explain to her what he was trying to do, trying to build. To help her understand how in the birth of something new, something better, that there must first must come pain and blood. The horses trotted down the road as they neared the village center and Richard said a silent prayer to a god he didn't believe in that her family was safe.

He remained silent as they drew into the heart of the village and found a large crowd waiting for them. They pulled up to where his men had grouped together, waiting for him. They were lingering around a makeshift platform that had been put together to elevate him above the sight line of the crowd. He slipped off of his horse and offered to help her down out of the saddle.

"Go," he said to her, "Find your family. You'd best hurry because I'll be addressing the village in a moment. I'm going to need everyone here to listen carefully to what I say."

He handed the reins to one of his men and turned to a short, wiry man standing nearby, "Warren, how did everything go? How many deaths?"

"Everything went smoothly. No real unexpected hiccups. At least a half dozen dead villagers and easily that many more seriously injured," Warren responded, "We caught them by surprise and most simply didn't put up a fight, just like you'd planned." Warren's eyes darted downward with his next words, "The village seems to have had few working firearms so only two of our own died."

"Three," Richard responded with a muted grimness, "Donnie was killed by one of the villagers. Alan and Merrill are bringing in the body." That news caused Warren to shake his head as he let out a deep sigh. "Things definitely could have turned out worse," Richard continued, "but they also could have turned out better."

He spoke briefly to his men before stepping up onto the platform. He noticed out of the corner of his eye movement as his couple of his men dragged a young man to his feet, the same young man who had previously attempted to take a shot a Richard earlier. The man was dragged to the edge of the platform as Richard turned toward the nervous crowd.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," he said, projecting his voice over the whole crowd as best he could, "Your attention please. I know that you are all likely upset that I have interrupted your busy day so I will be quick so that you can get back to peaceful lives."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Richard helped her off his horse and sent her off to find her family. She hesitated just briefly, then nodded and headed off, wandering through the growing crowd, searching for her brothers and her father. She found herself jostled around a bit, but it wasn’t long before she found her family. They were standing at the back of the crowd, quietly talking amongst themselves.

“Father! Andrew! Connor! I’m so glad I found you.”

She rushed up to give her father a hug as her brothers closed around them instinctively.

“Samantha! What are you doing here?”

She pulled back from her father and looked up into his tired eyes.

“That man,” she pointed to the platform and Richard, “brought me here. He said he had something to say to the villagers. What’s going on, Father?”

“That man,” spat Connor, “is the new warlord, Samantha. He didn’t hurt you, did he?”

She turned curious eyes to her older brother.

“No. In fact, he was quite kind.”

“Father, I’m afraid I have some disturbing and horrible ---”

Her terrible news about actually killing a young man in their home was interrupted by Richard beginning to speak.

“Martin---” one of the villagers rushed up to them and started to speak, but her father lifted a hand to silence him as the warlord began to speak.

 

[QwertyMaster]

"For anyone here who has not yet heard," Richard continued his speech, "You're village leaders have made the wise decision to join our growing nation. I know that many of you likely fear the worst, but I assure you that your lives will largely remain unchanged. We are not here to take you as slaves or turn your peaceful village into nothing but a colony for resource extraction. You will be joining a community of equals and you will be allowed to continue to live your lives as you have always done. There will be no changes in customs or culture here. However, there will be changes coming." He paused for a moment, scanning the crowd for their reactions to his words. While he did see some relief, he still saw mostly apprehension.

"The first change," he continued, "Is that while you will still largely govern yourselves as you see fit, their will be the appointment of an overseer to watch the village. The day to day running of life here will still be left to the leadership of the village but the overseer will help guide the village's development and will speak with my authority on all matters. A small number of my men will come to here along with him. These men will not only be here to protect the overseer but will also act to protect the village and its citizens. If there are difficulties or dangers, my men will take care of it. I do not expect much in the way of conflict. Every settlement within a day's travel on horseback of has already bent the knee. You were the last group in entire region left independent. Given the lack of threat and the fact that the village will be under our protection, I will have my men take all of the firearms the village may have. In the future, any who wish to own or carry firearms of their own must come to your new capitol to be properly trained and vetted."

A murmur rose up from the crowd as they reacted to that news. He couldn't pickup on almost anything that was being said but he could hear the tell-tale signs of fear, outrage, and relief all mixed together. He let them talk somewhat amongst themselves for a moment as he instructed his men to bring up the bound prisoner they held off stage. As he stepped up to the platform much of the crowd went quiet and Richard raised his hand to quiet the rest.

"As we are now all apart of the same nation, we are all subject to the same justice. This young man, one of your community, attempted to kill one of my group. This was done, not in battle as a way to protect his home, but after the decision had been made to surrender. This was attempted murder, plan and simple. It is only right that justice should be applied in this case, the way that it would be applied to any within our nation. Typically, the punishment for this action would be death." There were gasps and shouts of outrage at this pronouncement but Richard once more called for silence. "But given the situation and the fact that his own compatriots stopped him, I have chosen to change his sentence to flogging. Let it never be said that I cannot be merciful."

Two of Richard's men held the young man's arms while another handed Richard a whip. He unwound the whip with a crack before turning it on the young man. He struck him several times on the back, slashing through the man's shirt and drawing blood. Richard knew that the leaving the shirt on would end with it being ruined, but it would also work to protect the man from the worst stings of the whip. When Richard was satisfied, his men let go of their charge and he collapsed to the ground. Richard found himself pleasantly surprised by the fact that the man hadn't fought back and had largely taken the punishment with a stoic silence. As Richard turned back to crowd most of them were staring at the heap of flesh the young man had collapsed into.

"Two final pieces of business before I let you get back to your lives," he said, speaking loudly to gather the attention back to him, "First is the matter of your villages tribute. It will largely remain unchanged. The only addition is that for every tenth youth that comes of age, one will be selected to join us in the capitol. Those that are brought there will be treated well while being taught and trained to serve their country. Another point about the tribute, or now taxes, is that this year, in honor of the dead, you will not have to pay anything. Keep all that you produce."

"My last point I must make," he continued, cutting off the sound of the crowd, "is that today, several of your citizens will be brought back with us as...honored guests. The first of these guests will be this fine young gentleman here," he said, gesturing to the whipped man on the platform. His eyes roamed out, looking for Martin and to his surprise he found Sam standing beside the man.

"The remainder of these guests will be chosen from among the families of your most prominent citizens," he spoke his last words while unable to take his eyes off of her, "They shall be your ambassadors and eyes into our world and the many things we can accomplish together. Rest assured that they shall be treated with respect and will not want. They shall be as one of our own."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Samantha watched in horror as Richard took a whip to a young man. She supposed as she watched him writhe on the platform every time Richard’s whip connected with the poor lad’s back, that it could have been worse. If what Richard had said was true, he could have put the young man to death, instead, he chose to whip him. The punishment was soon over, probably not soon enough for the young man. Richard’s voice rang out once more, drawing everyone’s eyes back to him as he spoke.

Honored guests? Or captives? And who would be these “honored guests”? As he spoke, she found his eyes upon her. She could make out a flash of surprise before he masked it again. Sam was trying to think who these prominent citizens might be and she suddenly felt sorry for them. Someone from their families were going to be taken from them and there was little doubt in her mind that these people were not ‘honored guests’ but rather hostages. People held in his custody to insure the villagers stayed in line and cooperative. Even as he spoke, Sam found her eyes fastened upon him. She couldn’t seem to help it. For whatever reason there may be, she felt drawn to him.

"They shall be your ambassadors and eyes into our world and the many things we can accomplish together. Rest assured that they shall be treated with respect and will not want. They shall be as one of our own."

That made her give a small unladylike snort and found her brother’s elbow in her ribs to shush her, lest she overheard. Samantha rubbed her side, giving her brother a rueful grin. She didn’t trust Richard. Even if she felt drawn to him, she didn’t trust him. He was a warlord, for heaven’s sake. Nobody should trust a warlord. Especially in these times.

Her fingers sought her father’s and squeezed them. Her father’s squeezed back as if to reassure her in some fashion though his eyes never left the figure standing up there on the dais. Her foot tapped lightly on the ground under her as she waited impatiently for Richard to be done talking so her family could go home and have supper. Hopefully, her chicken hadn’t over roasted while they had been away.

 

[QwertyMaster]

"Those of you who were part of the delegation that first met with us should remain behind so that we may speak with you," Richard said as he wound down his speech, "The rest of you are free to go back to your lives."

Richard dropped off the platform and started working his way crowd as it started to disperse. The air was filled with hundreds of conversations about what had just happened and many an insult was hurled his way as he worked his way through the sea of people. He didn't notice anything that anyone said, whether directed to him or not, as his mind was focused entirely on his own thoughts. As he worked his way through the sea of bodies towards where he had seen Martin and Samantha standing his mind swam with the possibilities. Deep down Richard wanted nothing more than to stride up to Martin and demand that Sam come back with him. To take her as his and keep her close to him. But he also thought about forcing her to leave her home, her family and how that affect her. He also thought about how what he might have to do if her father chose to do something stupid. That completely soured his otherwise pleasant thoughts. As much as he might find her attractive, he wasn't going to force her to leave her life behind just for his own fantasy.

"Good," Richard said as he came up to where Martin and his family still stood. His eyes briefly looked towards Samantha before his attention turned totally back to her father, "I'm glad you didn't leave. I'd hate to have to head back all the way out to your home just to have this conversation"

"You're a monster," was all the older man could say, unable to even make eye contact with Richard.

"I guess that makes me your monster now," Richard responded with a bit of a smile that quickly faded, "I believe you understand that before I leave that one of your children will be coming with me. I'll let you head back to your home for now. The others we're bringing with us are here in the village and we'll be heading out your way after we're done here. That should give you plenty of time to decide which of your sons will be leaving, as well as time to pack their things." He looked at the boys standing by their father, all of them had a strong, smart, and defiant look about them. Any of them would fit in nicely in their new home. His eyes briefly fell on Samantha once again and after a brief, almost longing look he turned away. In another world, perhaps, he thought to himself.

"I would not linger long," Richard said as he turned away, "I expect to collect the others rather quickly."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Sam stood quietly at her father’s side and watched as Richard made his way toward them. She couldn’t control the beat of her heart as Richard drew closer and stopped in front of her father and began to speak. Her father called him a monster and as Richard was now their warlord, perhaps he was. However, she had found him to be anything but. It was only when Richard said that one of her brothers were coming with him, that she began to wonder if he was a monster. A member of her family, forced to go reside with him? How could he even think of breaking up their family that way?

He spared her glance and she could have sworn she saw a longing in his eyes but it was gone before she could be sure. The voices, soft and loud, dispersed from the village square. Several families were going to have absent sons. Samantha was under no illusions where Richard was concerned. He was taking prominent members of families to insure those left in the village did his bidding. What exactly Richard was going to demand of them, she wasn’t sure yet, but she had a feeling they’d all find out soon enough.

“No!”

Sam’s voice rang out as her arm shot out to stop Richard from leaving. Her fingers dug lightly into his forearm.

“Samantha! What are you doing?”

Her father’s stern voice rang out after hers. Her brothers’ protests echoed his. She ignored them all, waiting for the warlord to turn around again and look at her.

“There is no need to wait. I’ll go.”

Her voice sounded firm and resolute.

“SAMANTHA!”

Her father’s voice roared out, “The answer is no. A million times no.”

Sam lifted her chin stubbornly and looked steadily at her father.

“Yes, Father. I’m the only logical choice. You have a village to lead and you need your sons to help. If there is to be any hostage taken from our family, it should be me.”

“Samantha,” her father grasped both her shoulders in his hands and gripped down, making her wince slightly, “do you have any idea of idea of the possible consequences to this? Do you understand what going with this man could mean for you?”

Oh, she was aware. Her cheeks burned a light red at the thought. Her chin notched higher.

“I’ll cross that bridge, if and when I need to, Father. You can hire a woman from the village to cook and clean for you, but you need my brothers with you. They are your right hand.”

And she knew this for the truth it was. She was just a female and her role in this world had little to do with making decisions, leading or fighting. She would go with Richard in place of one of her brothers.

“I won’t allow it,” her father hissed as her brothers threw in their protests as well.

Samantha was determined. It was the only thing that made any sense in this chaotic world of theirs.

 

[QwertyMaster]

When she'd first called out "No" Richard was sure that Samantha was simply upset that he was about to break up her family. He knew by the way she gripped his arm that she had something to say to him and when he turned back to her he expected to hear her plead for him to spare her brothers; to leave her family intact. When he looked at her, he expected to see a desperate plea for mercy across her face but he was surprised to see a look determination instead.

He stood dumbfounded as she pleaded for him to take her. He was used to mothers and sisters pleading with him not to take their sons and brothers. Making pleas, promises, and propositions if he would only show mercy. He'd never had someone beg to be taken instead. He remained silent as she argued with her father.

He didn't pay much attention to her father's words. His full attention was on her. Watching her beautiful face for any slip, any sign of doubt or indecision. The only change he ever saw was the blush when her father mentioned what might happen should she leave. Richard knew full well what both were thinking and no one knew better the truth of what could happen than Richard. That soured Richard's thoughts and he swore in his heart that one way or another he would protect her from the worst his world could do.

"Enough!" Richard stated loudly and firmly. A few more eyes of the stragglers turned toward their conversation. "Your daughter has made a decision and I find it acceptable. She is an adult, is she not? Does she not have the right to make her own decisions? Or do you seek to rule over her as a tyrant? Do not forget that I could always take her and one of your sons as well." The men were still defiant but cowed, if not by his words then at least his tone.

"I would like to briefly speak to her before we leave," he said as he gently grabbed her hand and pulled her a short distance away, just far enough that he was sure that others could not hear.

"Are you sure about this?" He asked quietly but firmly as he placed his hands on her small shoulders. He kept his gaze firmly on her eyes, losing himself a little in them as he searched for fear and doubt. "Everything you know will be turned upside down and I can assure you that you will not like all the ways it will change."

She seemed so small, so vulnerable to him in this moment. At the same time she had a quiet strength and will to her that he found almost intoxicating.

"Do you have anything you might want or need from your home before we go?" He asked her, "We have time as the others are gathered in order to collect your things."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Over the heated protests from her brothers and her father, when Richard raised his voice, they stopped. When he tugged her slightly away from her family so they could talk privately, she easily went with him.

"Are you sure about this?"

His voice was quiet and Samantha took a moment or two before she spoke.

"Everything you know will be turned upside down and I can assure you that you will not like all the ways it will change."

She nodded her head then realized she needed to speak.

“I’m sure, well, as sure as I can be. I also realize life will be different for me and I can accept that. It is more important that my brothers stay here with my father and help him run the village. I’m a secondary issue.

"Do you have anything you might want or need from your home before we go? We have time as the others are gathered in order to collect your things."

Again she nodded, twisting her hands that she had held clasped in front of her.

“There are a few things I need from home. May one of your men take me there to retrieve them?”

Sam could have easily gotten a ride with either her father or one of her brothers, but she knew what would come of it. They would argue with her the whole way home. Forbid her to go, even. She didn’t want to hear it. Her mind was made up and Richard was willing to take her with him.

He was right. How he ran things where he lived would be foreign to her. There would be some things she found strange. Some, she would not like at all, she was sure. Life was about adapting and learning. She saw this as her sacrifice for her family and the good of her village. She also wasn’t stupid. She knew she was leverage to keep her father and brothers in line. Still, she was willing to do this, for them. It wouldn’t be forever, she thought to herself reassuringly. Eventually, she would be allowed to return home. She hoped. She put her hand on his arm.

“Where will I live and what will be required of me to do while I’m there?”

She was almost afraid to hear his answer and she wasn’t. She wanted to know what she would face by the time they got to her new home. Then there was Richard himself. There had been something about him from the very moment they had come in contact with each other. Sam frowned. She still didn’t understand this..this.. pull she felt toward him. She knew she could work and she could hunt but to simply be an honored guest? No. That she didn’t believe that at all. While she knew nothing of politics, she wasn’t unaware of exactly who he was and what he did.