Bravery

Pagemasters Group Challenge #6

The banner flapped noisily in the wind. The early onset of the winter rains made everything gray, wet, and cold. “Bravery,” he muttered out loud. Looking up and left, hiding from the wind, standing in front of his tent, he saw it. Black letters on a white field. “Bravery.”

His eyes drifted north to look along the water smoothed stones of the river bank. The water flowed quickest across the ford throwing up white splashes here and there. The river continued north through the valley between steep hills. It would be here, he thought. Tomorrow or the day after, this narrow would be filled with the shouts and screams of warfare. The river would run red with blood from both sides. At night the birds and other things would come down to the river to feed. In a few days the stench would be unbearable. The farmlands down river would not recover for years. He sighed.

He could hear the hushed conversations in the tents around him. He knew men would be huddled around campfires talking but not saying anything; remembering bits of life and not the coming days’ events. He could almost smell their fear. Too many would die. Too many fathers without sons, wives without husbands. The decision was made.

“Wei! Ready my horse! Zhang! My gear!”

“Yes, general,” they said in unison.

There was a scurry of feet and of motion he could only hear. He did not look back to them and entered his tent.

Closing the flap behind him, he looked around his sparse field tent. Only the basic necessities were there. Kneeling down in front of his shrine he mumbled prayers for his family and lit the incense. He waved it three times to each of his elders and placed the burning incense in its stand. The aroma was pleasing to him. It reminded him of home and happier times. After a few moments more staring into these painted faces of his family, he stood up. He threw off his weather cloak and began to strap on his armor. He could hear his two faithful servants waiting outside.

“You may enter,” was all he said.

The two men cautiously and respectfully entered. The look on their master’s face was hard and set. They did not want to meet his eyes. Carefully, they adjusted his armor and weapons around him. In just a few moments, their master was transformed from a man into a god of war. They feared him.

With the briefest checks of his equipment, he said, “My horse.” With nods and bows, the two men backed out of the tent and held the flaps open for him. The general stood for a moment while they positioned his banner to his back. They assisted him to his saddle and strapped him in. They handed him his weapons and checked the positioning of his spares around the saddle and harnesses.

A young apprentice came running up with a long, weighted lance in his hands. “Will the general be returning this evening?” The young boy asked excitedly.

“No. The monster lies in wait beyond the pass. If I am successful, there will be no war tomorrow. Take the head and the beast dies.”

The eager smile faded from the face of the young apprentice. He just grew up a bit more that day.

“My lance.”

The young apprentice reverently lifted it to his master’s waiting hand. Face set to the north, the general kicked his horse into motion. The sound of the shod feet over the stones brought many men from around fires and out of tents. They watched as the general’s cloak billowed out behind him as his horse splashed across the ford. There were many questions asked of the three servants. They could only tell what they knew.

“The general has gone to take the head of the beast.”

The general’s eyes were focused on the stone covered riverbank in front of him and the narrow opening to the north. As he approached where the hills split open to the plains just below, he could already smell burning wood. He pressed his horse forward to the apex of the hillock. Lying before him were the campfires of the monster from the north. There were so many. It was like looking at the night sky. He urged his horse forward. If he could just make his way to the center of the camp and remove the head of this beast, his people would be spared. He goaded his horse to a trot.

Flapping in the breeze behind his head, strapped to his back was a single banner. It had black letters on a white field. Bravery.

 

Bravery II - a continuation of the story

<a href="http://www.writerscafe.org/link/177185/"><b>Bravery II</b></a>

Author's Note

There is more to come on this. I can already see two more parts to the story.

Reviews

[Carole]

Bravery! Something we all have need of along with perseverance and determination.

The general�s eyes were focused on the stone covered riverbank in front of him and the narrow opening to the north. As he approached where the hills split open to the plains just below, he could already smell burning wood. He pressed his horse forward to the apex of the hillock. Lying before him were the campfires of the monster from the north. There were so many. It was like looking at the night sky. He urged his horse forward. If he could just make his way to the center of the camp and remove the head of this beast, his people would be spared. He goaded his horse to a trot.

Flapping in the breeze behind his head, strapped to his back was a single banner. It had black letters on a white field. Bravery.

(This was the most poignant part of your entire story. This was the picture of bravery and perseverance in my opinion. Some very key words: Focus, pressed his horse forward, he urged his horse forward, he goaded his horse to a trot.) He just kept moving forward--and that is what one must do. Move forward with boldness whatever the situation when bravery is called for.

Thanks for the write, Doc.

[Sean M. Addams]

very visual with a dream like tone to it ...this could turn into a good screen play!!!! very well written ... I liked it alot!!

[J.P. Bristow]

I really enjoyed this..having been raised overseas...a sense of honor and duty was drilled into me at an early age...so this spoke to me. I hope you submit it for posting in the group because it really is a work to be shared.

[Dezaraye]

Very well written. It's got great imagery. I could really see what was happening.

[Morgan A Lynch]

awsome...... love the imagery in this story.. great job doc.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

This was an awesome write, great imagery and a great story!

[James K. Blaylock]

Wow, I really loved this! It had such a beautiful way of playing out in my mind... kinda like reading a really awesome Jet Li flick.

[Teresa Bridges]

Whoa!!! This was very very very good. I wanted to read more!!!!!!! The imagery was fantastic, I could picture all that was going on. Thanks for sharing this! :)

[Raven Held]

Wow. This is good. Quite a leap out of the ordinary. Like an Asian version of LOTR.

Cool stuff. Thanks for sharing!

Loves,
Raven

[Robert Luna]

Such a vivid story. was like watching a play take place in my mind's eye. The images of a life in motion , moving along to meet it fate that lays in wait. I really enjoyed this piece had such a truth of bravery entangled in it words.

Great Job!!!