Farie, had organized his men into two teams. In order to make it easier, for them to allocate breaks as required. Since digging trenches was hard work, breaks were required to keep the men from succumbing to heat exhaustion. However, his men were used hard training, they were not used to such hard labor. Farie led one group while Cordian led the other.<br/><br/>Farie had not seen his father since the argument that had taken place before they began digging trenches.  This didn't bother Farie however, as it meant he got the opportunity to get to know his companions better. Between digging trenches and training, he didn't even have time to dwell on what would happen after the war. Which is just fine, since he wasn't ready to cross that bridge, he much rather avoided at least for the time being.<br/><br/>Farie, worked in the trenches shirtless as all the other males were. He was proud to see how the others who followed his commands worked with the Maidens, if not completely harmoniously at least with courtesy and respect. Farie suspected that Cordian had a lot to do with this new turn of events. Seeing as he had a way of achieving his own way of thinking, no matter how much people may hate it.<br/><br/>Dirt covered Farie and were he not so tired he would be laughing at this fact. If his father thought that being battle stained was bad, this would have been a far worse disgrace. Warily Farie climbed from the trench he had been finishing. Cordian stood at the edge of the trench and held out his hand to Farie, who gratefully grabbed it and allowed Cordian to pull him the rest of the way up.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF8080">”Any news on the situation?”</span>Farie asked Cordian as he wiped sweat from his brow.<br/><br/><span style="color: #CCFFCC">”I have not heard anything for hours,”</span>Cordian replied worry evident in his eyes. He released Farie’s hand and stepped back giving the other space to move. Cordian held out the waterskin to Farie. Farie sighed as he took the waterskin from Cordian and took a drink.<br/><br/>The two men made their way back down the line of trenches.<br/><br/>—-<br/><br/>Farie was exhausted, Cordian could see this in the way that he walked. He had known Farie since he was a boy. Thus it was easy for him to recognize the signs of fatigue and his friend. Cordian knew how hard this was for Farie. He had seen it in his eyes. The emotional pain that filled the younger lad, a pain that no son should feel.<br/><br/>Cordian placed his hand on Farie’s shoulder, concern mirrored in his eyes.<span style="color: #CCFFCC">”You need to rest,”</span>Cordian said roughly.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF8080">”Rest is a luxury no one has,”</span>was all Farie said, before he walked away from Cordian. Cordian watched him go knowing that he would rather be alone right now. Farie with right, they didn't have time to think about other things right now. The war needed to take precedence over everything else. Cordian felt his anger rising, what Lucianus had done to his son was unforgivable. In Farie, Cordian saw a true leader. One he was proud to follow, regardless of his age.<br/><br/>Sighing heavily Cordian followed Farie back towards the camp.<br/><br/>—-<br/><br/>Farie had not gone more than a dozen paces, when a young man ran up to him. He had seen the young man before in the trenches, he worked for another Lord. Farie did not know the lad's name.<br/><br/><span style="color: #808080">”They're… Coming…”</span>the young man gasped, panting for breath.<br/><br/>Cordian had reached them by then. Farie looked over at Cordian his gaze was stricken.<span style="font-style: italic">So it has begun,</span>Farie thought to himself. He think the lad, turned and headed back towards the trenches. There would be no time to rest. His place was at the frontlines. It was his duty. As much as he may hate it. It was required. Cordian had always told him,<span style="font-style: italic">a true leader leads by example, he does not expect his men to do what he himself would not.</span>That is just what Farie would do, he would stand at the frontlines and he would fight. To the death if needed.<br/><br/>—-<br/><br/>Cordian couldn't help the smile that spread across his features. A hard cold deadly smile. The smile that was more akin to a wolf barring its teeth. His eyes sparkled with anticipation, with bloodlust. This was war. This was the very thing that he lived for.<br/><br/>They made their way back to the trenches, back to the frontlines, back to the action. Cordian was ready, willing and able to fight. To win.<br/><br/>As they stood with the others that formed the command. A squire arrived carrying their armour. Farie and Cordian donned on their armour quickly, preparing for the battle to come. It didn't take long for both men to be ready. Farie took his sword in his armoured fist while Cordian took up his Warhammer.<br/><br/>They watched as the hoards of Tutar came towards them like a swarm of death.<br/><br/>—<br/><br/>Farie felt his heart race, a light trace of fear winding through his mind. Gazing at the enemy would break most men. Keeping his breathing even Farie observed the oncoming hoard. This is not like their first attack. Then the only thought that had been in his mind was saving those innocents trapped behind enemy lines. Now he could see the beasts as they came charging towards them. Like the very death they were. It was a truly frightening sight.<br/><br/>Farie looked over at Cordian who did not watch the horde coming with fear but instead watched it coming with anticipation and delight glowing in his eyes. Cordian lived to kill the enemies of his kingdom, those who threatened his home, those who threatened his family, and anyone dumb enough to pass him off.<br/><br/>Farie watched as the archers took their turn, attempting to bring down the horde of enemies raging towards them, attempting to kill as many as they could before they reach the defender. Farie watched with morbid curiosity as the creatures seem to just run atop each other carelessly. There really was no camaraderie between them, they were beasts. The sight sickened him. What struck him more however was the sheer number of the force attacking them. Such a force shouldn't be possible. Everything he knew told him this couldn't be happening. But it was. That much he could see with his own eyes. Fear rose within him but he did not give way to it. He would use it as a weapon. To sharpen his senses, to make him more aware. Fear could be a powerful tool when correctly used. Cordian had taught him as much, and much much more.<br/><br/>Farie could sense the uncertainty and fear of those around him, he knew many of them had never faced something so vast and powerful. Many of the men around him are new to battle entirely. Many had never seen a fight, and never stood in front of death, and had never had to kill another. For so many in his country, being a night was more show than an actual occupation. What some of these men knew of warfare was no larger than the grains of sand at their feet. A truly frightening thought. The only comfort he had was at least a season soldier, one who had seen more bloodshed in this war, who had lost more people than should have been the case, was leading them. Farie would follow every command that Barth gave without hesitation.<br/><br/>Farie could see the tension rising around him, he felt that from the man who stood by his side. He could not blame them. This was a truly scary concept, and many of them were not ready.<br/><br/>Farie heard the call from Barth, marking their turn to attack. Sudden energy thrummed through him. He raised his sword, cried out and ran forward into the fray.<br/><br/>—<br/><br/>Cordian watched the oncoming horde, feeling a kind of excitement thrumming through him. He could already taste the bloodlust rising inside of him! He wanted nothing more than to charge the enemy. However he had to wait. Used to taking commands, this was not hard. His smile grew as his eyes glittered with anticipation, as he watched the hoard coming towards him, as he saw them dying in the trenches and crawling up on top of each other moving ever towards them.<br/><br/>He watched the carnage, with a kind of anticipation that only came with war. Cordian loved to hunt, love to fight, and he loved to win. He too sensed the nervousness of those around him, even though they hid it well. He was also aware that many had never seen a battle in their life. There is no better time to learn than the present.<br/><br/>He watched the archers work, wanting nothing more than to rush forward. Wanting to engage the enemy, to fight, to kill, and to win. He fingered his Warhammer, feeling the comfortably heavy weight of the weapon in his hands. He was a familiar with its weight, comfortable, it had become an extension of him. An extension of his will.<br/><br/>Cordian roared a battle cry, as soon as the command was given for the frontlines to attack. There was no hesitation as he charged forward to engage the enemy. His battle cry turned into insane laughter as he swung his Warhammer at the nearest foe.