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Alun has never seen such horrors before. Only a boy when The War started, he never served in it, although he's heard the stories.
Alun stumbles back, his breath heavy and labored. Sweat soaks his body, blood running down from a gash in his leg. With a spear and shield in hand, he pushes on. The smashed remnants of the wood barricade serves as the battleground.
Shoulder to shoulder with men he doesn't know, he fights. An axehead embeds itself into the rim of Alun's shield. Wide-eyed, he stumbles back. But there's nowhere to run. He falls onto the man behind him, who presses Alun forward, back into the fight.
Alun thrusts with his spear, striking nothing.
Suddenly, a rebel soldier slams into his shield. He stumbles back, fully losing his footing. The man behind him trips as well. As does the man on his left. Rebels begin to flood into the gap.
Someone steps on Alun's chest, tearing the breath from his lungs. He looks up. A rebel is standing atop him, blade pointed down toward Alun's throat. Fear seizes Alun. Horrific, primal fear.
A halberd slashes deep into the rebel's neck. Blood splatters across Alun's face. A man, clad in plate, pushes forward, cutting down a second rebel. And then a third. He's followed by the old quartermaster, limping his way into battle.
As the quartermaster barks orders and rallies his men, Alun's savior drops to a knee beside him. He pulls the visor of his helmet up.
Alun can see an open wound over the man's lips, blood flowing into his mouth. He turns to the side, spits blood, and turns back to Alun. "The name's Milon. You okay, friend?"
Alun nods, still too shocked to speak. The man returns his nod. He offers Alun a hand. Alun takes it, and Milon pulls him to his feet. Suddenly, a blade slams against the back of Milon's helmet.
Milon curses, stumbling forward. Alun reacts on reflex, lunging forward and skewering Milon's attacker through the chest. The rebel cries out and collapses, dead. Alun, eyes wide, glances at Milon, who gives a small nod of understanding and appreciation.
And then he rejoins the fight.
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