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It was pouring. The summer rains couldn’t have come at a worse time. The trenches were filled with water, high enough that one could drown in it if they fell, high enough to make every moment of this campaign miserable. Several soldiers suffered from foot-rot and it was all they could do to keep their feet dry to prevent more cases. Mucking through the trenches, Fuujin surveyed their defenses. They had built a hasty wooden wall and reinforced it with dirt and mud, which eroded had been eroding in the heavy rains. She kept her soldiers busy by having them maintain the wall as best they could.

It wasn’t the best of circumstances. Reports indicated a regiment of Winged Guards moving west through the Drowned Lands with Godan as their target. The High Lords sent troops to defend Godan keeping the city between the rebels and the city of Tear, but they cared little for the outlaying villages sure to be victims of the fight. Fuujin fought and argued to get troops to defend this village that stood in the warpath and her wish was granted. With barely a company under her command, a little over eighty soldiers, counting the other officers, Fuujin wasn’t given a lot to work with.

Fuujin pulled out her spyglass and pointed it to the enemy camp. The force was huge. Fires could be seen with the naked eye all along the horizon. The rebels were serious. She could make out the soldiers performing patrols around the camp to prevent a night-time raid. The Winged Guard were unaware of how few were actually present to defend Harin and this made them cautious, much to Fuujin's advantage. The patrol they had sent into the village was decimated and only a horse returned back to the Winged Guard's camp.

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The soldiers under her command rode into the village of Harin, their banners were lowered, but their black and gold coats made them recognizable. He was a minor lord, of this minor village, and approached Fuujin with a bow and a smile, “Lord Maver Harin, at your service, Ma’am.” Fuujin gave the Lord a curt nod, she didn’t have time for pleasantries nor did she care for them.

“We’re evacuating this village.” The Lord opened his mouth to speak, but her look cut him off. “Women, children, and the elderly are to leave immediately for Godan, there’s a camp there for the refugees. Keep three boys, nearing their adult years and able riders, here. And one girl, of similar age in years, she’s to assist me.” She glanced around the village and saw the manor not too far from the village manor, belonging to Lord Harin. “Your retainers are conscripted into the service of the Defenders of the Stone, by order of the High Lords of Tear. You’re to assemble them here in the Square, by noon, in full gear.”

“Ma’am, if I may.” Spoke the lord, trying to recover some of his dignity, “For what reason is this happening?”

“In three days’ time a regiment of rebels will be here, heading for Godan.”

“Well certainly that’s no reason for all of this commotion…I mean evacuating all the villagers is exhausting work and…” He wanted to say expensive, but Fuujin wasn’t gonna listen.

“When those rebels come here they will strip this village of anything useful, they’ll take your women and children and force the men to fight against their own country, or die. And they will, most certainly, kill you, Lord Harin, as you are a noble of Tear.” She bit her tongue to stop from saying ‘No matter how minor.’ She needed to be polite and needed his cooperation; it would be easier that way.

“Your manor will serve as our base camp, I assume you have maps of the area?” He nodded at Fuujin. “Good, we will need those. Now do as I bid of you, Lord Harin, and we may still save this village.” The lord scurried off leaving Fuujin and her men. She turned to face them; there were so few…

“Peridot, Ruby, and Sapphire Squads: Prepare the defenses, we’re gonna need a wall on that side of town.” She pointed to the other end of the small village, “A wall and pikes. Use the houses near the wall to create a roost for our archers.” She heard three ‘Roger Ma’am’ for the squad leaders. “Topaz squad, you’re to take inventory of the town’s supplies and report to me with real numbers, not estimates. Opal Squad you’re to assist in the evacuation of the civilians here. They’re only to bring the essentials. A two day’s supply of food and water is all they’ll need for the journey. Don’t let them bring much more than that. When you’ve got them ready half your Squad will escort them to Godan, the other half will stay here. Is that understood?” Squad Leader Amarant offered a salute and quickly went to work.

“Emerald squad, you’re with me. Half of you will assist in the preparation of defenses, the other half will be assisting me in converting the manor into our base.” She nodded at her soldiers. “You’ve got your orders, so move out.” A chorus of ‘Yes Ma’am’ filled the air, and she turned her horse towards the manor.

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The spartan manor was just to her liking and it made it easy to convert it into a suitable base. The foyer had a large table brought in from the dining hall and served as her desk. Maps were brought in and Defender Garis began comparing them with the maps they had brought.

“Their maps are a bit more up to date, showing a road here and a lack of vegetation here and here, where their farms must be planting. Other than that ours are pretty accurate.”

“Good.” Fuujin replied curtly. The girl and three boys she had requested were brought in at that moment. She turned and offered them a fang-toothed smile, “Boys,” She addressed them first, “I’ve been told that you are good riders. Is that so?” The three of them all nodded. “Good, I’ve got a very important mission for all of you. You’re to be messengers.” The boys nodded, knowing what that meant. “I’ve got a letter right here, in fact, for one of you to carry to Godan. Have you ever been to Godan?” They all shook their heads. “It’s very easy, in fact. The road that leads out of your village goes straight to Godan. I’m gonna give you one of my best horses so that you can get there as soon as possible and once you have delivered it you can stay with your family when they get to Godan as well.”

“Now, who wants to deliver it?” The youngest looking of the three young-adults raised their hands. “Good.” She said, giving him the letter. “Defender Harris will bring you to your horse and get you setting off in the right direction. It’s of upmost importance that you deliver this letter as quickly as possible. The safety of your family and village depends on it.” She let Defender Harris take the boy away.

“Garis. Take the other two and find them rooms in the manor, make their stay comfortable till I have use of them.” Defender Garis nodded and beckoned for the boys to follow him.

Fuujin turned to face the girl. She was no older than Fuujin was when she put on the black and gold of the Defenders. “You’ll be assisting me...” She waited for the girls name.

“Selene, my lady.” The girl curtseyed low to the ground.

“Selene. Listen closely and don’t screw up and there won’t be problems. Tonight I’ll have you help me remove my armor, pay close attention so that you may help me put it on once more. Now go to the kitchens and brew a pot of tea.” The girl curtseyed once more and went to do as she was told.

The rest of the evening was spent getting reports, addressing Lord Harin’s retainers and setting them to work, examining the defenses, seeing the citizens evacuate the city, reinforcing the manor, and preparing for battle.

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Under-lieutenant Deirdre opened the double oaken doors that served as the meeting room for the Defenders of the Stone within Godan. She offered a salute to Lieutenant Harlway and Captain d’Long and a nod to her fellow Under-lieutenants.

“Sir I just got a report from Defender Fuujin Oaks. She’s arrived at Harin and has evacuated the citizens already. She says they’ll be here in two days’ time at the latest. She’s begun building the villages’ defenses and requests more men to solidify their presence there.”

Under-Lieutenant Hensan snorted, “Why did we even let her take any troops to begin with? It’s a waste and a distraction from where we really need to be. She should’ve stayed here and helped defend Godan. She’s on a suicide mission.”

“Defend Fuujin’s ‘suicide mission’ might just be the thing we need to get through this mostly unscathed.” Deirdre shot back, the bells in her braids jingling. “If we can slow them down at Harin we’ll have enough time to shore up Godan’s defenses and turn back this host.” She turned to address Captain d’Long, “Surely we can spare some more men to the cause.”

The aging Captain stroked his pointed beard in thought, his gnarly fingers were more suited for silks than a sword, but he had served the High Lords for several decades in service to Tear and the Stone.

“Under-Lieutenant, your concerns are noteworthy. Defender Fuujin’s cause is a great one and her success is vital to our mission here…” He paused before continuing, “However: Our mission is here, in Godan and I cannot spare more troops to defend areas elsewhere.”

“But!” Deirdre started, “If she doesn’t get more troops, that whole village and all the Defenders there are lost.”

“Defender Fuujin is an excellent leader and fighter. We could not have put someone better in charge, Under-Lieutenant. She will have to make due with what she has, however.”

Lieutenant Harlway spoke next, “It would be best, Under-Lieutenant, if you didn’t let your personal friendship and feelings get in the way of what is important here.” He offered a polite smile and nod, “If you’d like, you can send a response back to her and regretfully tell her that we are unable to send more troops. But don’t go deliver it yourself, Under-Lieutenant, we need and expect you to stay here. Is that understood?”

The anger was evident on her face, “Yes sir.” She said curtly, offering a quick salute before she stormed out of the room, the bells in her braids ringing violently.

She sat at her desk and began penning the letter…

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Fuujin began instructing Selene on how to remove her armor properly. The dull roar of thunder could be heard in the distance and the pitter-patter of rain upon the windows heralded a storm coming.