The Angaran Chronicles: The General and the Poet.

Chapter 1

The General and the Poet by Benjamin Agar

Year: 2484 AHV (After Holy Victory)

Age: Late Industra era

Country: The Kingdom Zathar

Raleas lined up another shot. Her Stegran mark seven rifle's scope crosshairs were perfectly sighted, but that knowledge hadn't stopped her instincts, making her check obsessively after firing. It only took her around a second to look, but it still felt like a waste of time. She barely had to think before she exhaled and pulled the trigger.

The orc shaped dummy swung on the rope tied to a tree branch as the bullet went through its dead centre and whizzed out its back. She'd hit it there so often there was no explosion of wood; it just passed through a hole about as twice as large as a bullet.

It was fifty metres from where she lay prone in the backyard of her house. Her father had set it up for her when she was twelve.

Her mother hadn't approved, Raleas' mother. She...

Water welled within Raleas vision, but she shook it away. She wouldn't cry; crying was for the weak, the selfish.

Raleas had always thought her mother weak. She had been a famous poet, and she hated guns, hated violence. She'd always said there was more to life than fighting than killing. Raleas' mother was from Halandith. A country in the northwest, a country of prissy people. But that was every country on this continent called Angara, which wasn't named Zathar. No other country bordered the orc lands. No other country had to stand as a bulwark against the invasions of such savage, mindless beasts.

No other country had to conscript its young people into the military.

Conscription was at eighteen and lasted two years; Raleas would've lied about her age and joined already if her father wasn't a famous general, which meant she was somewhat famous too, by proxy.

Unlike other countries, like Everdeen, which idolised its aristocracy or Isstarrsia, which worshipped its film picture stars, Zathar looked up to its war heroes. The men and women who fought and killed Zathar so the entire continent could live their cushy lives safe from the orc hordes.

She had always wanted to be like her father; she had always trained hard to fight for Zathar, to be a career soldier.

Again, her mother hadn't approved. She'd always go on about how beautiful Raleas was, how Raleas should move to Isstarrsia and become an actress, that she had a talent for it.

Her mother did it so often that the compliments wearied Raleas, and she became numb to them. Many of the boys in scholarium would stare at her with wide eyes, and a few had asked her out. But she'd always said no. They whispered that she was classy or pretty when they thought she couldn't hear. She didn't make a deal about it; being emotional was not befitting a sniper.

The 'waterworks', as her father contemptuously called them, sprang into her gaze again; Raleas cursed and, with her sleeve, wiped her eyes. But still, when she shot, she was right on target.

'I will not cry,' she said. 'Crying is for the weak and helpless.'

'Raleas,' came a deep voice behind her that radiated strength and authority. She flinched in fright and turned to find her father standing over her. He wasn't a tall man, barely about the average height, but he always seemed to tower over everyone. His back always ramrod straight, his shoulders broad to a ludicrous degree. He was like a wall, the most robust wall imaginable, and he was as emotionless as one too.

For some reason, Raleas felt a surge of anger at this thought, though she didn't know why.

'It's 1800 hours, dinner,' he said. He was only forty-five but seemed older. His short, close-cropped hair was whiter than the harshest Zatharian winter; his face was so scared that it was hard to tell what the scars and wrinkles were. Without waiting for a reply, he turned and started back toward the house.

Raleas nodded and, with weakened weary limbs, slowly stood and followed her father.

They sat at opposite ends of the long table, and for what seemed to be hours, the only sound was their knives and forks squeaking on their plates.

Their servant, a dwarf, named Colchin had cooked them a special meal, a beautiful roast chicken, and Raleas savoured every bite.

'You need a haircut,' said her father; it was so abrupt; it made Raleas judder. Raleas moved her hand through her messy, long brown hair. It coated the right side of her face and fell far below her shoulders. It wasn't military standard, but she liked it long, although she wasn't sure why. She supposed it was so she could hide her face from the boys. Her mother had always insisted she should look after it more, that she would 'look even prettier if Raleas put more effort into her appearance.'
'The funeral is tomorrow,' he said. 'I will get you an appointment at my barber early tomorrow.'

'Where?' said Raleas; she didn't want to ask; she already knew the answer and knew she wouldn't like it.

'The church of the Truthful Light. The church we always go to. You know that.'

Raleas frowned and put down her fork before taking a serviette and wiping her lips.

'I don't-'

'You don't, what?' said her father, his eyes narrowing.

Raleas exhaled, working up the courage to say it. 'I don't think mother wanted that.'

Her father, with fitful, barely controlled movements, put down his knife and fork. 'And what makes you think that?' he said through a twitching jaw.

Raleas swallowed. She swallowed a lot of truths. 'She never came with us to church. She...she hated the church of Jaroai, father,' said Raleas.

He raised his hand and clenched it into a fist. 'And tell me, daughter. Why does this matter? You attend church with me; you should know this is the right thing to do.'

Raleas bit her lip, and her attention drooped to the stark white cloth covering the table. She couldn't tell him that the only reason she attended church was to spend time with him. 'I-I just don't think she'd like it.'

His fist smashed against the table, causing Raleas to flinch and freeze in her beautiful Amartisian oak chair.

'That...that doesn't matter,' he said. 'She has faced judgement and is-'

Raleas furrowed her brow so hard. 'Is what, father?'

He straightened; it was the first time she'd ever seen him seem taken aback.

The tears eclipsed her sight. 'She's what, general?'

His shock went in a second, replaced by a glare so horrific, Raleas feared for her life.

'Get...to your room,' he growled.

Raleas didn't hesitate to slam her hand on the table, get to her feet then storm into her room, smashing the door shut behind her.