Board :Tales of the People
Author :Archon Iyagi
Subject :"Barbarian's honor" by Corsten
Date :2/19
            Barbarian's honor -

"Battle!" Kolath exclaimed. It was as if he, as a boy,
recieved that battle sword he wanted so dearly on his
birthday. The very thought of a good fight made his heart
beat faster with excitement.

A pretty girl with untamed hair and firey eyes playfully
punched him in the shoulder. She was the sort of woman who
you could fantasize about, but if you told her those
fantasies, you might end up with more then a broken leg or
two.

"Oh, brother," She chuckled, flipping her hair back. She
wasn't using the overused statement 'oh, brother,' but in
fact she was Kolath's sister. Which is obvious because if
anyone punched him in the shoulder besides close family,
you might have wished you told his sister about those
fantasies.

"Don't get too blood thirsty, we still haven't yet won the
war."

Kolath laughed in arrogance and mock. "Hah, Sikari, you
think those Buyans still even have a chance? Well, with the
way you were punching, they just might!" -- That got a laugh
from a few of the men.

To say Sikari punched like a girl would not only be an
insult, but it would make you rethink about how hard girls
could actually hit. Nobody insulted her strength and got
away with it, even if it was playful banter. Sikari walked
over to one of the chuckling men and punched him in the
face. Hard.

"Settle down, sister, settle down. Let's save it for the
real fight," Kolath said, though his face still hinted a
grin. "We think the Buyans will attack at the west, so we
will flank them. Tomorrow blood will be spilled, and we will
make townie scum think again then to invade our Wilderness!"


the following day's battle. None of them thought there was
a chance in you-know-where that they would lose. Perhaps
they would win though, but not without sacrifice.

<b>                        ~

Drums awoke Sikari, drums of battle and honor. Her clever
eyes opened to the rising sun.

"A good omen," She said, staring at it unblinkingly.

The pack headed out to their destination in an
uncerimoniously silent fashion. If they were to surprise their
enemy, battle roars and stomping around wouldn't have been
a good way to do it. But more unbarbarian like then their actions was getting hoodwinked on the way.

Battle cries echoed in the air, both from the Buyans and
the surprised Barbarians. The pack was surrounded, flanked
from all sides, and chaos ensued. Clashes of metal, streaks
of crimson, and cries of pain filled the air.

Sikari stepped over the body of her cousin, his eyes
open and empty on the ground. She bit her lip, wanting to
cry out in despair and anguish for her dead relative, but
instead picked up her War axe and slashed away at soldiers.
She had sent more then her share to the spirit world before
she actually opened her eyes to the scene and realise they
were winning.

Before a grin could form on her face, in the corner of her
eye she saw an archer, aiming at the pack leader. Her scream
to warn her brother was lost amidst the battle, and with a
twang, the arrow flew towards Kolath's chest.

Sikari jumped out in front of her brother, and Kolath was
hit not by the arrow, but a shock of surprise as the trifling
Buyan weapon hit his dear sister.

<b> "Nooo!" Kolath screamed, his rage echoed and heard among
<b> all on the field.

He dropped to his knees, wanting to aid his fallen sister.
Her eyes look glazed, on the verge of passing, before she
uttered his name. She passed away in his arms, bleeding from
the wound. Kolath pounded the ground uselessly in anger.

The archer's head was disected from a throwing axe, but not
before he could do damage to the hord. They had lost a great
warrior, a leader, a beloved friend.

The battle was won, but not without sacrifice. But Sikari's
name grew into legend amongst the Barbarian's. She never
really died on that fateful day, but lived among them all in
memory.


*Corsten*