Three Sisters

Chapter 1 A Raid

Tillie jerked her head up and around. She thought she heard something... She was busy fixing up someone's cut that they had gotten when all of a sudden caos started. Soldiers had somehow caught the watch off-guard. She quickly grabbed her daggers and her medicine pouch. The whole camp was in dissarry, "Look out!" She called to one person.

The Black Legion swarmed into the camp like a black armored tide... all in black armor... except one. The Century strode calmly into the fray, his bronze and gold armor gleaming in the light. His armor was vastly different from the grunts who were basic plate armor. His was not, instead it was ornately carved and engraved, chiseled to be not only practical, but awe-inspiring. His gauntlets possessed many spikes to catch weapons, break guards and more importantly, cause physical harm if he somehow lost his own sword. The great red dyed horse hair plume on his helmet rose high above him, a stark contrast to the white cape attached to his pauldrons. Malik Valyn stood out among the basic legion grunts, and not just in appearance but also his demeanor. He did not rush into the fight or slaver for the kill...

Malik pushed forward suddenly, knocking back two of the rebels with his bronze towershield. Whipping around, he thrust his broadsword forward, impaling one of the unfortunate soldiers in the abdomen. He jerked his weapon back, a quick spray of blood following and coating his golden chestplate.

"Kill the weak, take the strong!" Malik shouted, knowing his loyal black dogs would hear him. He cut down another two men before stopping to look at the camp. He wasn't worried as his men surged around him. The white cape he wore was already changing colors, swiftly taking on red and brown hues from the blood and dust around him.

Tillie glanced around at the chaos, she was pretty sure that they weren't paying her much mind because she was a little kid in their eyes... even though at fourteen she had no doubt that she had more training then some of them. She saw the Legion soldiers were focusing on the ones who were giving the most trouble, subduing them if they found it possible. She shuddered at the thought of what their plans were for her friends. She saw someone in need of assistance so she went around and behind the soldier who was attacking her and plunged her dagger into his neck. She looked around for someone else to attack in the same way as the soldier fell to the ground dead. She had started her little maneuver again to get behind someone else, when she heard someone say that they surrendered. She shook her head with disgust as she wondered why anyone even bothered to say that when everyone knew what the result would be... She did, however, take the opportunity of the slight distraction to bury her dagger into another soldier though.

Not long after the surrender was accepted, Malik paced back and forth in front of the gathered rebels. "Nope... nope... nope... " Malik shook his head, not seeing much promise in any of them. "Kill. Maybe keep that one. Kill that one. That one too... kill... dead... dead... Dea- what?"

Malik blinked, the large man stopping in front of Tillie. He tilted his head to the side, before planting his shield into the ground beside him. Malik easily towered over the girl, even as he crouched down in front of Tillie. He had seen youths in these camps before, but this one caught him off guard. Most cowered and cried, pleading with tearful eyes... this one...

She did not cower, very unusual... but even more intriguing was the blood on her hands... Malik saw no open wounds on her, but judging by the spray pattern, it was someone else's. Malik glanced up from Tillie's hand to her face, his dark eyes searching hers for a moment, not really sure what he was looking for. Be such a waste to kill someone like this... even more to send them to the arena... perhaps he could convince Rimsak to spare this one...

"This one, comes with us." Malik said as he stood up, not sparing Tillie another glance as he continued on. He chose four others to take with them... "Kill the rest."