A kiss is still a kiss, a scythe is just a scythe
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Acname: sciolist Chrname: Jezekel Charrid
Her cheek, reddened from the crisp morning air, flushed brighter at his kiss. Jez grinned at Erik and looked away, looked back to the rest of her family. He was only the boy from the neighboring farm, but they'd known each other since they were little. Just a farm-boy, but he seemed to think he was -her- farm-boy. She'd been hoping that maybe they'd get wed one day, she could go next door but still be close enough to pop next door to see her little brothers if she wanted.
Maybe he'd want to still, after she returned from the city. It wasn't fair that their farm had been picked by lot at the council as one of those to send someone off to be trained as a warrior. Even more unfair that Stephen had broken his leg. He'd never walk quite right again, but would be able to manage a plough. He should be going north to the Academy, instead of her.
Why should she be fighting? The legion and the Helmites and the Militia had always seemed enough. It wasn't like she even wanted to fight. She liked watching the birds over the woodland, or the steady joy you got from a decent straight furrow ploughed in this unforgiving, usually half frozen soil. She liked baking, wildflowers, feeding the chickens. Not a warrior.
She shouldered her pack, checking again that the monies they'd scraped together for the academy fees was safely wrapped in a spare dress. She sniffed again, trying not to cry worse as she unravelled her smallest brother, Josh, from her knee and passed him back to their Mum.
'I'll be back. It'll be fine. It's just like a big school, or something.
She turned and had barely taken a couple of steps when she smelt smoke on the wind, from the south. Turning back, too slowly, watching the orcs and the flaming torches advance from the woods. They shout… something... sounds like 'Roonsh' as they advance at a charge, the meanest looking ones swinging greatswords. Too many for this far outside Jiyyd. They never usually come like this, so many of them. They sweep over the farm and the people like water, parting around her. Leaving her dry, like a rock in a stream.
Unable to move, she watches them fall, Stephen standing awkwardly alongside their Dad, staves no match for the mighty blow sweeping through both of them as one. Her mum, running with Josh for the house, dropped by a club from behind. Jeering orcs, throwing the boy into the burning house, laughing at the screams. Laughing more when they stopped. Erik, twisting from an orc's fist. Watching her with pleading eyes as the blade cuts across and blood pours from his throat.
Jez wakes again with a scream caught in her throat. She clutches the bedding around her and looks at the grey shapes of the Academy dormitory at night. It didn't happen like that. She wasn't there when it happened. She'd only heard about it afterward. Words from the south, whispers after the classes. Most days, it didn't feel real, like they were fine, back there, waiting for her. She could go home anytime, and they'd be there.
Color of the sky at the window tells her it's a few hours til reveille. Another day of classes. More training to prevent something that had already happened. Jez sighed, knowing she wouldn't sleep again tonight. She snuck quietly out of the dorm to get some gym practice in before breakfast. Already she was bulkier than her brother had been, none of it fat.
Too late for her family, but maybe not for someone else's.
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Reviewed, XP pending
