Saturday, February 06, 2016

Unriddling Clues: Day 6

Word Count: 36,023

Summary of Events:
Gavriila and the nice Major — Major Tiarkonski — discussed how the military functioned and why over breakfast. Nikita was visited by a fellow Lieutenant and invited the Lieutenant along on their hunt for the Aissuresky camp, which the Lieutenant agreed to. Gavriila rode in the group behind Nikita — which her mare didn't appreciate — and heard calls she'd heard prior to the ambush the day before; the troops then all spied fleeing Aissuresky and made chase. They discovered the Aissuresky had built a fort and battled the Aissuresky in front of it. After the battle Nikita went looking for Gavriila, whom he couldn't find, and found she'd fled; he found her in the forest crying because she was sure she'd killed someone.

Excerpt of the Day:
"Gavriila was still in tears, balled up against the dirt, so delicate and feminine. He could do anything to her, and he knew exactly what he wanted to do to her.
Instead, though, he collected her into his arms and held her gently against himself.
"This is exactly why women aren't suited to military life," Nikita said gently.
Gavriila whimpered against his breastplate, a tear ran down the side of her nose.
"Killing is a part of being a soldier," Nikita said. "And it's the part most of us men enjoy about being a soldier. We get to defeat our enemies. For some of us the bloodlust is so strong we go into a frenzy. Women are delicate creatures, much more suited to the giving of life than the taking of it. Of course, you know all of this is merely proof. It doesn't relieve your agony, it doesn't help you find solace for your soul. And to be honest, I don't know how you can, I rather like killing."
She pulled away from him and gazed up, her blue eyes wide with terror.
"Not my own countrymen, and never a woman," Nikita said. "But I like killing my enemies, especially in vengeance for killing my friends, and my father."
"But that's not right," she said quietly.
"Maybe it isn't, but that's how it is," Nikita said. "Come, the battle's over, we routed them, let's go collect our captive horses and head back to report the construction of the fort. Besides, they need someone to command them over there, Lieutenant Yasimokov is in no condition to do so."
"Why?" she asked.
"Because he's still in a killing frenzy," Nikita replied. "He's out on the battlefield stabbing the heads of the dead and dying to make sure they're dead."
Gavriila shuddered violently.
Nikita got to his feet and helped her up. "That's the way he's always been. He doesn't mind relaxing, but he likes a good fight with lots of blood better."
"That's terrible," Gavriila whispered.
Nikita said nothing, he just gave Gavriila a boost up to the top of the little cliff and then hauled himself up with the aid of a tree. Nikita placed an arm gently around her shoulders and led her back to where their horses were waiting.
"Sometimes killing is an acquired taste," Nikita said. "But I don't think you'd acquire it, especially being as you're so tender and delicate, but if you're going to be a part of the army, you're going to have to fight for survival and if that means killing or mortally wounding someone, that's just kind of how it's going to have to be."
"I don't ever want to do it again," Gavriila said.
"Then make sure you stay further back next time," Nikita said, swinging into his saddle. "But until we get you out of here, you're going to have to deal with it."
Gavriila made no comment. Nikita looked over at her. He felt sorry for her. She was doing this for her family, but he had a strong feeling she hadn't realised what she was getting into when she'd signed up. There was a reason why women weren't welcomed in the military."

Tiarkonski: teearekohnskee
Yasimokov: yahseemohkohv

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