Inkvite - My Collaborations

Gas In The Fog

Note: Originally written on Inkvite by 'Juliet November' & 'undormant'. This story takes its first paragraph (up to the first mention of the word 'fog') from 'Abhorsen' by 'Garth Nix' available from Amazon and other retailers. It was used as a story prompt in #Inkviteinspires.

"They're all dead but me, sir" said Maculler simply.
"Me and Dusty fell in the charge. By the time we got up it was all over. Something made us sick. Maybe there was gas in the fog."
The wasn't any reason not to trust him, but in spite of the circumstances, Maculler's theory threatened the very existence of the camp.
"Why would you think that?" Head general asked Maculler.
"Because sir, he told us." He answered.
"Who Maculler? Who told you?"
"The man... The man with the golden eyepatch." The head general's eyes filled with fear. This was the first time Maculler ever saw the man tremble under one name, "Ramsey."
The general disappeared from my sight, running in fear from the one man that had haunted him all his life, Ramsey, the general's brother.
They were meant to be defending their imperial occupation against the uprising heathens, instead they found themselves up against opportunistic mercenary pirates.
Ramsey was obviously keeping tabs on his brothers movements, waiting for the perfect chance of revenge. This vindictive mind set was damaging to those who were closest, and forcing all to yield under his command. The general was certain that he didn't want to see his brother in this state, but damned be if he wasn't. The general had blindsided it for years. Not anymore.
The General got his whiskey out and drank with the boys, he lamented, it was ironic brother had turned against brother. Maculler was the religious type and this gave him great amusement. The General bemoaned they were at opposite ends of the criminal spectrum.
Maculler got amusement from this. He perceived that the threat of war was drawing near, but never could the General have ever foreseen that Ramsey would stoop to such a level. If ever there was another choice, but sadly for the General, he feared that killing his brother was the only way.
The General grilled Maculler and Dusty regarding this foggy meeting on the battlefield with Ramsey, post gas release.
"We could barely see him," Dusty piped in, "but he wanted you to know he could get you at any time."
"He wants to battle at dawn sir," said Maculler.
The General's chest puffed out in pride. "If it is a battle he wants," he said, "then it is a battle he will get." With these words he stopped off to the place Ramsey wanted a battle; their old home at the peak of Himer's mountain, where their feud began.
Ramsey had again employed the fog of war to disguise the battlefield.
General Osborne had 100 men in his command. He released the rainbow coloured Jojo birds into the fog.
"They didn't detect the gas the first time," said Dusty.
"It must've been released very late."
"So Ramsey's rebellion for power will finally be over." Maculler concluded.
"But then a new one," the General predicted, "has just begun."
The birds returned safely. It was a risk but Osbourne sent his men into the fog. The fight ensued, shots were fired, the general could hear shouts in the chaos. His horse took a shot to the head he jumped off as it fell.
Then there he was, Ramsey, standing in the fog. His eyepatch; the golden eyepatch that covered the hideous scar on his left eye reflected brightly in contrast to the sun. Ramsey's grin could be seen across the battlefield and slapped the general as if it were a threat of upcoming destruction. Ramsey threw his head back in a laugh as a figure on either side of him emerged through the fog, smirks on their faces.
Osbourne looked on in horror, the men were Maculler and Dusty. He asked, "why?"
"Your mercenary brother pays more than your imperial army," said Dusty.
"Much more," added Maculler.
"You set me up for failure?" The general inquired, horrified. "Indeed." Maculler answered. Ramsey, with his chest bulging with triumph, declared, "Our feud has now come to an end brother; and you have lost."
The general could barely breathe. "If only father could see us now."
"Yes," replied Ramsey, "and here is where the melodrama ends."
Maculler and Dusty raise their guns as Ramsey aims at Osbourne.
"I am defeated," says Osbourne with tears in his eyes, his gun falls out out of his hand into the grass.
Ramsey and his new recruits fire and kill the general.
"Now," said Ramsey, "let's go make some money."