Warlord

(Chapter 3: Nothing Important)

The crowd stared at me with my awful joke. Well this just got awkward… wasn’t there something-oh shit Shatter!

Seeing her lay in the snow I went beside her and picked her up bridal style. I looked at the crowd and with the awkwardness in the air I decided to do something about it.

“alright, i’m your new leader and you should all respect me now because I am your new leader… so go... and do… whatever it is you do.” What! Don’t judge me! You think of something on the spot!

With that I ran to the big building which I assumed was the Town Hall. Opening the huge doors there was a nice kitchen inside. There was an upstairs and the building was put together really nice.

It reminded me of Skyrim in the way it’s designed.

Finding the stairs, which were cut in half logs mounted to the side of the building, I ascended them to find a wooden door.

Opening it up I could see a shitty crafted bed, but it must be her bed. I placed her down on it and made sure that the fur blankets covered her body.

I could see a smile creep on her face as she relaxed in the bed. Not knowing what to do I walked downstairs to take a better look at a place.

I found a bench rep assigned a giant fireplace and decided to take a seat. I am now a ruler and have an army. Well not a big army and I need to learn everything about my people but it’s a start.

I was already thinking about conquest, liberating and fighting on the battlefield. I could feel the blood rushing through my veins I was so pumped ready for the next day and the day after that.

My family thought I was crazy with my “general phase” that they called it. If only they could see me now… if only…

I felt something… Sadness… loneliness… I realized… that… I’m alone. My nearest family is in another dimension.

I Felt like I was on top of the world just a moment ago… and now I was knocked down.

Sure my family thought I was crazy with my military “quirks.”... but they still loved me.

I could feel the tears in my helmet escaping through my expose neck. One of the three week points I noticed on this armour.

I took off my helmet and laid it on the table next to me. The fire was burning bright and my tears keep flowing down my face. It’s been a long time since I cried… on able to hide it I just let it out.

My hands reached my face as I sobbed into them. I was isolated for three years not seeing my family once. I realized how big of a mistake that was. I would take it all back if I could even if that means not going coming here.

Just then I felt arms around me. Somehow I could feel them even though my armour was on. They were small and soft. Just then I noticed my armour wasn’t on. I looked over my shoulder to see Sage.

She started humming a little tune… I… know it from somewhere…

“oh, sweet one, sleep well tonight.
This world will wear you down~”

“Take rest in this lullaby,
and in my arms I will hold you tight~”

“When hardships never seem to die,
In flames they still cry~”

“Remember this lullaby!
And a brighter tomorrow, you’ll find~”

I felt insanely calm. I let out a little sigh and close my eyes in her arms. For the first time in three years I’ll be able to sleep well tonight.

(The next morning)

I woke on the floor. I remember relaxing in her arms but I don’t remember getting on the floor.

I saw that I had my armour back on and I heard noises upstairs.

Shatter came down the stairs looking quite tired and looked at me for a minute.

She rolled your eyes a little bit and look to me again. Then she looked at me with shock and surprise noticing where I was.

“My Lord I’m sorry to be in your way.” She said quickly while dropping to one knee.

I look at her confuse and then realize that I was the king sleeping on the floor where my servant was sleeping in a nice bed…well close to a nice bed.

“It is quite fine.” I said to her but she didn’t seem convince. “Listen, you need the bed for more than I did besides the armours is quite comfy.”

“No, it’s not fair for mare to take a comfy bed while The stallion takes the hard floor” Shatter said to me. So wait this is about sex and not about her being my loyal servant.

‘Wow! Way to ruin my day! Shatter!’ I shouted in my mind.

I sighed through My helmet. “just-! Ready the townspeople I need to speak to them for the future of our clan.”

She stands at attention “yes Warlord!” she shouts then runs out of the building.

As soon as she was gone I start talking to myself. “So Sage, you there?”

Indeed I heard a voice in my head say.

“Is there anything you can do to help me to understand what is going on here?” I asked hoping to get more information.

There was a minute pause before she come back out. “indeed there is! If you were to look on the table I could set it up.”

I finally stand up not knowing why I was still on the floor. There seem to be nothing on the table so Sage made a blue screen appear on the surface of it.

Slowly part of this begin to rise making shapes like trees houses and Hills.

After a while it was like a 3-D map. To the far left in the far right where to villages. In the centre there was a Long and thick forest. The one on the left glowed dark blue. The one on the far right which I can assume east is our enemy village the soaring clan.

The soaring clan not only were two times bigger than us but also had walls around their clan.

In the centre there were many green dots. I got a closer look to notice that they were animals. ‘so green must be neutral, red for enemies and dark blue for us.’ I thought to myself. ‘interesting this will give me an edge over all my enemies.’

It seemed that most of our enemies were huddle up in the Village. Another thing I noticed is that their village had a wall around it.

Hearing commotion outside seems that Shatter rounded up the townspeople to us. ‘showtime’ I thought to myself.

I began to walk out while signalling Sage to get in my head.

I look at the two huge doors standing at 10 feet tall. I could hear the crowd outside and begin to open the doors.

As the door opened a gust of Snow hit me across my helmet. As my vision was clear I could see the townsfolk. What was funny is that there was at least three times what I saw last time. Another thing is they’re in chains and have barely any warm clothes.

‘Slaves..? I have slaves?’ I thought to myself ‘shit, do I go the right way or the more profit way…. Fine‘

“Shatter fang?” I stood up tall making me look more intimidating. “Why are the people like this” I said pointing to the slaves.

“These are your slaves your majesty.” She answered calmly. I nodded my head pretending to just realized what they were.

…

“Release them.” I said plain and simple.

Shatter nearly tripped and face planted in the snow. She looked at me, and as did everyone, with shock and surprise.

“I am sorry sir, I didn’t hear you.” i’m guessing slaves are common here. This is going to be a little harder than I thought.

“Maybe actions will speak louder than words.” I replied to her. I approached a slave mare bat pony who looked at me with fear.

I kneel down to be at eye level with her. She had beautiful long Silver mane with her greyish coat and her eyes were sapphire. She had barely any clothes to cover up and she looked quite embarrassed

I raised my hand up and she reacted on instinct by closing her eyes and using her bound arms to cover her face for protection.

(Ching)

The sound of metal breaking got everyone’s attention instantly. Summoning my short sword I sliced through the Metal with ease.

Everyone was shocked at what I did. I looked through the crowd I need to settle this before they riot.

“Listen everyone as your new warlord, there are no slaves in my clan!” I shouted at the top of my lungs.

The Crowd gasped to my answer.

“we are in a middle of a crisis and if we do not have the extra support we will all die.”

They started pondering this.

“We number 50 but if we were to free the slaves, that would make us 150. The enemy are probably planning for a second wave we cannot allow them to get the upper hand on us.”

I look at the mare who looks at me with surprise and happiness. I reach down and pick her up bridal style.

“We all bleed the same colour how does that make us different.” I mainly say to her but everyone else here is it.

…

A knife could cut the air of how still it is. “well you heard the Warlord, release them” I heard shatter fangs say everyone now looks at her with shock.

She looks at me “I trusted you to be warlord and I believe I have not mistaken yet. I promise you warlord that your wishes shall be answered with a yes.”

The crowd not wanting to upset a former warlord and a current warlord obliged and started releasing the slaves who were happy to be free.

I had completely forgotten that I was still holding the mare.

She taps me on the chest getting my attention. My helmet scares her as it turns to her direction. “what is your plan with me“

She’s kind of cute when she scared, having her hair cover her face like fluttershy.

I give it a thought why did I choose her of all the slaves… oh now I remember.

I turn around not answering her and speak to Shatter “do you think you can handle things from here?” I ask her.

“Of course, do what you need to do Warlord” She told me.

I chuckle evilly as I walk to the door. “Nothing Important.”