Farie sat on the small chair in his chambers tears in his eyes as he finished up the preparations for the burial. The holes had been dug earlier and the bodies collected and prepped for burial by the woman who had accompanied the camp. Farie had looked in on them earlier for his men. His unit. His friends. So many dead. He couldn’t help the tears that seemed to be a constant since the battle had ended. Cordian was in his own tent and Farie was glad that his friend wasn’t with him right now. He couldn’t handle having anyone around him. Wanting only to be alone with his thoughts and memories. Farie was finishing with the polishing of his armour his clothing haven been cleaned earlier. A small spark of hope still burning in his heart that his father would forgive him, would not disown him after all. The fear that he really was disowned for keeps was what kept him away from his father, but soon he would have to face the reality. Face what was to come. Farie was no coward and the war had changed him even more. Wealth and status no longer mattered as they had. How could they when death and blood filled the fields around them? How could anything except the celebration of life matter to him now?<br/><br/>This may have been his first true battle, but it was not the first death he’d seen. Only this time he’d had a say in the matter. He’d been there. He’d been their leader. Their deaths were on him. He felt the weight of that as certain as he felt the weight of his armour in his hands. Sparkling again as bright and clean as the day it was forged. He looked at it and felt somehow as if it were a lie. He rose and set the breastplate down on his bed. He walked out into the daylight that was just filtering into the camp and went over to the preparation tents. He stopped a woman who was just leaving no doubt to report to his father that the preparations for their house was complete.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF8080">”Pardon my interruption ma’am,”</span>Farie began gently stalling her with a hand on her arm. She turned to look at him, but did not speak waiting for him to finish.<span style="color: #FF8080">”I would have them dressed in their armour and weapons. They are to be buried with all honour. They died for all of Soluunar and will be honoured as such.”</span>Farie did not wait for her to respond to his words, but instead turned from her and returned to his tent. He did not care to argue. If she did not see it done he would do it himself. Something of that must have shown. Or maybe one of the fallen was a member of her family or god forbid her son, for when he returned a short while later to lead the procession to the burial field he found his order had been followed. Farie slowly walked down the line of men laying on white sheets and whispered their names softly to himself so he would forget none of them. He decided then and there that this was not enough. They were not knights and should only have been buried in clothing and with only their names spoken, but they had fought as valiantly as any knight even more so for they had no great honours or rewards waiting for them. Most were simply common soldiers serving their duty. They deserved the honours of their lord far more then any knight. Tears shining in his eyes he stopped as he spotted Cordian standing over the body of a male his hand resting on the other’s shoulder. The older man was weeping his hands pressed to his face as he knelt by the body of his son. It broke Farie’s heart to see. Cordian was speaking in low terms to the man and Farie did not hear his words.<br/><br/>Farie met Cordian’s gaze as he approached them. There was loss and pain etched in his old friend’s face. How could he deny these men their due? How could he not honour them with greater honour then their station demanded? His mind made up he clenched his teeth and stopped next to them.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF8080">”I will see that your son is never forgotten Suavi,”</span>Farie said softly as he placed his hand on the weeping man’s shoulder before leaving. He heard the man’s faint whispered thanks. Cordian fell in next to Farie. They did not speak but the unspoken words between them was enough to make their course known. Cordian would follow Farie to the end regardless of the cost. It was clear as day in the man’s eyes. Farie offered him a gentle smile, but remained silent as well as they began to lead the procession of their fallen. Farie’s father Lord Lucianus Shalerin led them with Farie and Cordian behind him. Dressed in their battle armour. Farie did not look at his father as they headed down towards the already dug graves. He’d lost count of how many had died in this battle and so many were to be buried over the course of the days. Every house holding a funeral for their own. Every witness coming out to share in the grief. So much grief. So much loss. Farie no longer cared who saw the grief in his features of the tears shining in his eyes. He did not try to hide either. He could not.<br/><br/>The bodies were placed into their graves as Lucianus made some ‘heartfelt’ speech about service and honour and duty. Something Farie did not listen to at all. Ignoring the words of his father altogether he focused on the men. As his father’s speech ended, the lies spewing from he callous man’s mouth had no affect on Farie as he knew them for what they were now. Lies. Deceit. False sentiments meant to grow his power. Nothing more. He didn’t truly care about the lives that were lost. Anger sparked inside Farie as the squire stepped forth to begin speaking the names of the dead. Farie stopped him with a swift hand. The squire regarded him with confusion but did not stop him as Farie stepped forwards to stand over the first grave.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF8080">”Saene Coemgi,”</span>Farie began his voice trembling as he spoke the words. He’d known Saene since the young lad had first joined the military, they had trained together as children and men. Swallowing Farie continued, ignoring tradition and ignoring his father’s wrath which grew with each word,<span style="color: #FF8080">”A true son of his house. Amongst his deeds are the protection of innocents of Soluunar. A brave warrior who paid for our freedom with his life. A true man worthy of all honour. He fought with great courage and slew many a Tutar. May he rest in peace and forever be remembered for his bravery in the face of our greatest enemy!”</span><br/><br/>Farie bowed his head a silent moment before moving to the next grave. Tears starting to blur his vision as he spoke again,<span style="color: #FF8080">”Galde Antach, a true warrior. It was my honour to train under Galde in unarmed combat. As courageous and honourable a teacher as he was a warrior. His sons honour his courage and his name as they took up arms in this fight. He died defending us all. He sacrificed his life for this war. For the people of Soluunar. His deeds shall be remembered forever. May he find rest in peace!”</span><br/><br/>Farie bowed his head a silent moment the tears flowing freely down his face as he moved on. His voice growing heavy with emotions as he stood over the next grave. A young man who was no older then nineteen. Suavi’s eldest son. His words shook with the weight of everything he felt as he spoke.<span style="color: #FF8080">”Elan Scrixim, son of Suavi. One of our youngest warriors, who was as brave as any man. An true honour to his family. He stood and faced the horrors of the war and never once flinched from the advance. His courage new no bounds. He fought for his home, for his future. For all of us. For all of Soluunar and he paid for the victory we hold with his life. May he rest in peace and may we never forget his sacrifice, his deeds forever etched in the memories of us all.”</span><br/><br/>Farie kept going from grave to grave speaking their names and honouring them with words, not just a cold list of deeds, but the truth of their valour and character as he went. His voice shaking and grief evident. A few times he had to stop to collect himself enough to continue. So many of those who had died had been man he’d known. Of all the hundreds he’d commanded he’d known every man by name. He had made it his duty to know them. To spend the time to speak with them. It was one of many reasons that when he had broken with his father they had followed him. They were loyal to him, but he could not ask them to follow him anymore. He could not allow them to loose their homes over his choice. He would have to make that clear before they left.<br/><br/>As Farie finished speaking over the last grave he saw the hatred and anger in his father’s face blazing like the fire of a fallen sun. He swallowed hard as he knew what would come next. He had hoped that his father would have found forgiveness in his heart, but clearly the man could not do so. It was so hard to look on the face of his father when all he’d wanted was to be like his father. His father had been his hero and now he had fallen so far.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">”HOW DARE YOU!”</span>Lucianus thundered as Farie drew up to him. So much hatred and anger swam in his gaze and tone that Farie was certain there was no love left in his father.<span style="font-weight: bold">”I have sheltered you, I have trained you! I have given you EVERYTHING and this is how you repay me! YOU betray me!”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #FF8080">”No father, I honour you, I —“</span>Farie began but was cut off. His heart thundering he wondered how Lucianus could be so blind. How could his father doubt him so much. Hate him so.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">”Honour me! By defying my orders? By going against our tradition!”</span>Lucianus demanded angrily at Farie. Grabbing his son by the shoulders painfully. Before Farie could even speak Lucianus acted. He shoved Farie back startling the younger man. His fist rose and all Farie could do was watch in horror as Lucianus slapped him hard across the face. Farie fell stunned and looked up on the father he’d idolized his whole life.<span style="font-weight: bold">”Farie Shalerin, As your sovereign lord and father I herby disown you of house Shalerin. I strip you of your titles and land. You are Farie Shalerin no longer. You are Farie Liubhair. The forsaken child of a noble home!”</span>and without another word Lucianus turns his back on his son and walks away. Farie is left in shock and horror. Wondering what he would do now. Knowing he had only one choice. Stripped of his home, his name, his titles. He was left to his own.<br/><br/>————<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">“You’re not alone, Farie,”</span>a man said as he emerged from within a nearby tent. "There is much that is different about us, but in many ways we are the same." Jahal Resuran touched his braided mustache instinctively, pondering on the similarity of their situations. While he was never heir to a noble house, he still spent his entire life in service to one, gaining lordship after many years of following along with what both Garths wanted of him. As well as following in the footsteps of his father, a man eternally indebted to the mighty house. Jahal worked hard for what he had, but in the end, he realized he wanted none of it.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">“Care to share a drink, seeing as we both fight beneath the same banner now? That is, none,”</span>he added with a smile as he indicated the tent flaps behind him.<br/><br/>————<br/><br/>Farie pushed himself up off the ground as he heard the voice from nearby. He looked over at the knight and gave a gentle smile of gratitude for the words.<span style="color: #FF8080">”Guess you heard all that hen,”</span>he said as he nodded to the suggestion of a drink and headed towards the tent flap.<span style="color: #FF8080">”Not how I’d expected this day to end, but could have been a lot worse. I would love a drink, I believe we have much to discuss regarding the future.”</span><br/><br/>————<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">“We do,”</span>Resuran replied as he led the way inside. His tent was neither cramped nor overly spacious; it had enough room for several people to reside within, in relative comfort, but the former Lord Knight seldom entertained visitors.<span style="font-weight: bold">“Of course, whatever plans we make for the future depend on whether or not there <span style="font-style: italic">is</span> a future. As the saying goes, we've won the battle but not the war." </span><br/><br/>There was a small wooden table, well polished, upon which sat a brass mug and a glass bottle filled halfway up with amber liquid. Jahal sat down, indicating the other chair, and retrieved another cup from beneath the wooden surface. He filled both cups up and slid one across to the opposite end of the table.<br/><br/>"To your health," he said, raising his cup and taking a gulp. "And to the mighty fallen. May they never be forgotten.”<br/><br/>————<br/><br/>Farie stepped into the tent not really caring what the interior looked like. He was done with finery and displays of wealth and wanted simply the comforts of a drink and company that was not passing judgement on him. Deep down he knew what he really wanted, but that may never be now. Either way as things stood he could not afford to be distracted with thoughts of what could have been when the future was yet still so uncertain. He sighed lightly.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF8080">”It is a foolish dream to think the war is over so easily, yet still to have won such a victory is worth something to celebrate at least.”</span>He said more to himself then to anyone else. He accepted the cup with a nod of thanks picking it up off the table and after only a brief hesitation sat down. It wasn’t that he did not want to sit. It was more that he was restless and wanted to pace the floor of the tent until his mind settled, but it wouldn’t do to be impolite to his host after all.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF8080">”I’ll drink to that,”</span>Farie said rising his cup,<span style="color: #FF8080">”And to your health as well,”</span>he continued taking a sip. He drank in silence for a few moments before he continued to speak.<span style="color: #FF8080">”I presume by your earlier words that you are no longer part of your house either?”</span>Farie asked deciding that a few drink and a light banter wouldn’t go amiss in this time. The true topic of their conversation would come soon enough.<br/><br/>————<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">“Aye. I have forsaken my house, becoming the first Resuran in generations to venture out from beneath the banner of Garth.”</span>He blinked, wondering how the words would've felt to him before Lebidan received its first taste of the Tutar. The war changed him more than he realized.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">“But I was done, Farie,”</span>he added, taking another sip.<span style="font-weight: bold">“Done with following along with the schemes, and the political nonsense. The protocol, things fellows like Sir Derrald and the like would talk about until they become blue in the face, it's all worthless at the end of the day. Those men speak of tradition, but what do they know of honor? Would they defend an ally, regardless of nation or banner? Would they stand with men who disagree with their principles, but who wish to fight for a common good? Never." </span><br/><br/>He took yet another drink; he'd already had more than his usual share for the day, but he saw no reason to stop now. It was a pleasant change, having a countryman to speak to that actually listened, as opposed to disagreeing with him.<span style="font-weight: bold">“I would sooner stand alone.”</span><br/><br/>————<br/><br/>Farie drank in silence as he listened. He’d been thinking much the same things over the last few days. Especially after his first fight with his father, not the first ever, but the first in this war. It was not as if he’d never fought with the man, gods alone know they fight over everything all the time, at least since Farie had become a warrior unto his own right. A Lord Knight of his own. Now though he saw far different then his father. Far more of his own truths. He saw for the first time how wrong he’d always been even in his naif opinions.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF8080">”You don’t stand alone, I stand with you,”</span>Farie said declaring his loyalties first. His one and only truth now.<span style="color: #FF8080">”I stand for Soluunar and will not wear a banner that looks to politics and gain before it looks to it’s people’s welfare. I will stand and I will fight in defence of Soluunar. So long as any wish to stand against the enemies of Soluunar they will count me on their side.”</span>Farie continued. He paused only long enough to take another drink before he continued on.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF8080">”Where do we go from here? The fight isn’t over. As you said the war is still brewing. We must make ready. We were lucky once, but we shall not have the time we had before to ready ourselves. If they have any intelligence they will hit us before we are ready. While we are drunk with our victory and debating our rewards.”</span><br/><br/>————<br/><br/>Resuran inclined his head appreciatively when Farie responded to him.<span style="font-weight: bold">“It is good to know I still have friends among the Lebis. Like you I care only for protecting our lands and people. I did not enjoy watching Borim burn, but the man was a liar and a coward. And I wasn't the only one who knew the truth of it. Some of my men have left me, intending to join with Lord Garth's host, but I have just over a hundred that are loyal to me. I will offer them, and myself, in service to the Prince." </span><br/><br/>He picked up his cup, but finding it empty he set it back down with a smile.<span style="font-weight: bold">“The Tutar are a threat that I fear shall never be exterminated. They make all other adversaries seem like child's play, and I have heard many a Lindenian saying that there are countless more, waiting in the Ravine for the chance to strike. I believe you are right, and that we must stay at the ready, but I don't know if we can ever be ready for what is coming next. Sometimes I think of those things… those <span style="font-style: italic">Drorghans</span>, and I cringe at the thought of what other surprises may be lying in wait for us. Luckily the scouts of the alliance are not idle. With luck, we'll have enough warning to defend ourselves.”</span><br/><br/>He took a deep breath, then smiled as he spotted a familiar robed figure walking past the tent.<span style="font-weight: bold">“It helps that we have the Gods themselves on our side, of course.”</span><br/><br/>————<br/><br/>Farie nodded as he finished up his drink. Everything Resuran said made sense to him.<span style="color: #FF8080">”I did not go to see Borim burn I could not witness that. I know what he did was wrong, but I could not watch the man be burnt, even if it was merited. I am afraid in that I am weak,”</span>Farie admitted. He  had heard about everything that had happened there, but he could not bring himself to go. It had been the one thing he felt he had failed for being weak. It was the first time he had spoken the words aloud however and it felt good to admit this fact.<br/><br/>He looked down at the table and listened silently to the rest of Resuran’s words. Nodding slowly he replied,<span style="color: #FF8080">”I will offer my allegiance as well to the Prince, and those of any man who choose to follow me. I expect most will, though I have told them I would rather they not forsake their family, I fear they will do so anyways. Their loyal man.”</span>He paused and looked up. Nodding.<span style="color: #FF8080">”It is what I fear as well.”</span>Another pause followed before he added,<span style="color: #FF8080">”We owe our victory to the gods. They granted us luck and skillful leaders, and then came and stood with us in our hour of need. For this they have my eternal gratitude and loyalty above all else.”</span>Farie had never been a very 'religious' man, but this war had awoken a side of him that felt the need to acknowledge the gods for the true rulers of the universe. Something that surprised even him. Faith seemed to have found Farie in the darkness of loss and war.