The Heroes of The Elemental Academies Book 3 The Tides of War

Chapter 9: Determination

   "But I also won't tolerate any I'll will towards him, either. I've fought with Seth before and I've seen his dedication first hand. He may be inexperienced but that doesn't mean he isn't capable." Charles shrugged his shoulders as if to say he couldn't care a less and then turned as a blond hair man approached. He wasn't quite into his forties but was probably in his early thirties with a haughty expression. He looked like the refugees from the war movies she used to watch. His eyes sockets seemed sunken in and there were dark circles under his eyes.
"What are you doing here? This isn't any place for normal civilians." Rylee said causing the man to pause and look up. The look in his eyes was one that Rylee recognized. Fear.
"I... I was told to report here, by a Mike." Before Rylee could voice her doubt another voice rang out.
"Mr. Caaro what are you doing here you should be with your daughter and wife," Seth interjected.
" W... we were told somethings," he continued speaking in broken almost quiet whispers. "And we were shown something's and after all of that they told me that my daughter would most likely end up having to fight." He paused for a long time. It was clear to Rylee at this point that he was having trouble coming to terms with his new reality. The poor man had been through a lot already. He almost lost his wife and then after he arrived at a place he thought was safe. He found out that his daughter would be recruited into a war.
Rylee got off her horse and took in the man's appearance. He was wearing a leather breastplate over a black padded vest and jeans. A oddly ornate scimitar hung loosely from his waist. It was clear at first glance that the blade was not strapped to the belt correctly.  Rylee gently reached out her hands and took the mans', They were shaking uncontrollably. The man who Seth had called Mr Caaro stopped and looked in Rylee's eyes and the looked her up and down. But there was nothing in his look but true curiosity.
   " Are you the com... I mean person in charge?" He asked. Rylee didn't release his hands but she answered him in the most soothing voice she could.
   "Listen I don't know who was in charge of the initiation but they clearly need to be replaced. First of all no one has to fight if they don't want to we have plenty of civilians that live here safely as well. Second, if you chooses to fight you would undergo rigorous training and learning before you were ever sent out to fight."
   A snicker came from beside her. She turned her head to look at Seth who was trying to hide his smile behind his hands.
   " At least that is the Standard Procedure," she reiterated. The man stared at her for a long while before he took in a great breath and let it out. Clearly he was trying to calm his nerves. He did this several times before gradually his shaking stopped.
" I am trying to understand what this world is and if you guys are warriors or zealots or a cult I don't know."
"We are Christians or Believers of Christ..." Rylee began.
"When you live in a world constantly being attacked by Demons you begin to understand who God is and why we need him," Seth interrupted. Rylee turned to tell Seth to shut up and let her talk but she saw a look on Seth's face that told her he probably understood what Jaden was thinking better than anyone else.
   "None the less I'd like to come with you guys and at least see for myself what kind of fight this is." Rylee knew by the look in his eyes there was no convincing him to stay he had made up his mind.
   "Fine I'll introduce you to the logistics commander after we get through the portal. And after we go through stay near the back there's a good chance we are going to be attacked as soon as we go through."

   Seth
   Seth was fuming. He knew that he had been placed in Rylee's battalion to learn but the way she treated him as an inferior had as you might say rubbed him the wrong way. After all they had been through together to treat him as cold as she had was simply annoying. They were all now lined up rank after rank of white hauberks over chainmail and half plate armor. Swords either hung at their side or didn't based on their own fighting preference. One hundred and eighty agents in total and behind them was a mounted unit. Of approximately eighty horsemen. And behind them was a contingent of nearly thirty horses and wagons carrying various supplies such as medic supplies food and ammunition. Seth himself had been put in charge of a small squad of six agents. Most
Of which were younger except for Jaden who had been put with his squad until he could be placed with the logistics core
Seth had been but in charge of protecting him and leading his squad. Why it fell to him he really didn't know.
Seth was walking down the line of agents to where he was supposed to meet his squad. Jaden was trailing right behind him looking at all the armored men standing quietly as they waited for the portal to open.
"Surely all this isn't necessary right?" Jaden asked staring nervously around him. Seth understood his reluctance to believe what was going on, but the longer he let Jaden deny his reality the harder it will hit him. Seth stopped and turned to him abruptly. He placed his hand on Jaden's shoulder and looked him in the eye.
"Listen I understand your fear. Never in your most wildest dreams did you think you would be carted off to another world and embroiled in a war. Are you sure you want to come with us? Because once we go through that portal it could be weeks before we see the city again and there's no assurance you'll make it back."
Seth could see the fear lingering in his brown eyes and sweat was pouring down his face even though the weather was mild. But, there was something else too determination? Acceptance? Seth couldn't figure it out but he did recognize the squaring of the shoulders.
" No I need to see what kind of world or people I've brought my daughter and wife into. Seth nodded, " Thats fair but then you need to listen to me when we get to the other side and stay close. I'd like to bring you back in one piece." Jaden gave out a nervous laugh.
Seth arrived in front of his new square five youths whose ages ranged from around fifteen to eighteen. Two were girls the other three were young men. The two girls had locks of brown and fiery red hair respectively the boys had brown, black hair as well. All their hair was tucked into their thick helms that covered only to their nose and around their cheeks leaving their mouths and chin exposed.
" What are you names," Seth said after the silence upon his arrival.
"As the one responsible for getting you home I would like to at least know who I'm working with."
Before he could say anything else he heard a strangled gasp from behind them.
"They are just children are you seriously going to expect them to fight?!!" Jaden shouted outraged. The agents looked at him, Seth wasn't sure what their reactions were as their helmets covered a lot. One after the other they reached up and removed their helms revealing young but determined faces all of them. One of the young black haired boys stamped his foot in indignation.
" Just children! Hmph! But we've been through training and we know what's at stake. It's an insult to call us children! We are agents of God!" Seth nodded him the boy's direction acknowledging him as the first to speak up.
"What's your name?" Seth asked. The boy straightened up
"Karta sir!" He replied eagerly. Behind them Jaden had gone silent clearly at a loss for words
Seth turned to him. "You can't judge this world with the logic you are used to. I myself only came here two years ago and I haven't even had the training they've had.
   "Not that I've needed it." He forcefully coughed.
" I'm Aisha," said the brown haired girl. She had freckles covering her face but a fierce smile lit up her features. "I don't know about the rest of you but I'm ready for a fight."
"Most of us aren't here just to fight we are doing our part for God!" Another one of the boys said this one with a mess of brown hair a top his head and deep hazel eyes. He seemed to have a fire lit under him. His whole posture told Seth he was ready to fight but his words portrayed him as a honor bound kid.
"Justin, I'm here to protect my mom," the black haired girl said but she wouldn't even lift her eyes to look around. She gave a little jump when she realized Seth had turned his attention to her.
" My name is Karla, Milord." She said quietly her voice almost a whisper.
The last boy stepped forward a smirk across the face.
"My name is Leon Gilgreen I'm a nature agent I'd like to fight for the position of squad leader!" Seth immediately turned and looked the kid up and down a smile forming in his face. It had been along time since someone had challenged him. Thoughts were swirling around in his head. Everything from anger to distrust blossomed but he forced the feelings down before letting himself speak.
"If you wish to fight me for the position that's fine but first you'll have to wait until after we go through the portal and set up the base. Seth stepped up to the youth named Justin almost three years his junior. He was bulky, with large biceps and his shoulders were very defined. He was definitely a earth agent, As he wore straight plate armor. A long handled war hammer was held in place in his back by a leather case. Seth got up in his face staring him down until he looked away.
"Until then you will follow my orders. Understood?"
"Yes," came the muffled reply. His shoulders seemed to deflate somewhat.
   There was a sharp crackling that filled the air and The hair on Seth's arm stood on end. He turned in the direction of the portal as a blue light lit up the sky. A wall of that same blue light filled the area inside the archway, although nothing could be scene through it Seth knew that in the other side lay the borderland of the city-state of Durindal. Seth took a deep breath even as the first ranks of agent rushed into the portal disappearing to the other side.
   This was it. A fight like he had never been in before. The war had begun.