17th Cylus, 718
Cylus was always cold, but tonight felt as if the cold was alive and trying to tear apart the men. All of the mercenaries had come equipped with their warmest clothes in a futile attempt to prepare for the cold, but it was no use. This cold was unnatural, and with the nature of their mission it was something they would have to endure for what could be breaks.
Ryder knelt down in the snow, watching carefully with his team behind him. He'd been tasked with leading on this mission, though it was clear he wasn't the real leader here. Another man, one he hadn't had a proper meeting with yet, was here with him. He was important, by all accounts, but Ryder had no idea how - nor did he care. His job was simple, lead the mercenaries, take out the target and win the battle.
Ryder waited patiently, a familiar feeling in his stomach. They'd done this before, all of it. Biting cold, attacking from the trees - and last time it had gone sour at around this moment. But not this time. Ryder was certain of it. He wouldn't let this situation go as bad as the last had, he was dead set on making this impression good. He would show that he was capable of greatness.
Behind him, Ryder felt a small tap on his shoulder. He glanced over and met the gaze of a mercenary he hadn't had the chance to talk to outside of missions yet. They had interacted a small number of times during training and a few other small encounters, but not enough for him to even know the man's name.
"You alright?" Ryder whispered, raising an eyebrow. The man nodded, but his shaking said otherwise. He was evidently one of two things, terrified of freezing. Both were detrimental to the mission and to his health. Ryder watched carefully, evidently examining the man, causing him to shudder a little under Ryder's gaze.
"I just...it's cold, sir" he admitted. Ryder thought as much was true, and nodded his head. He took off the cloak he had and handed it to the man, keeping behind a tree. It was a part of his potential camouflage gone, but the health of his unit mattered more. As the man went to complain, Ryder raised his hand and glanced back, hearing the faint sound of movement in the snow on the road. Sure enough, he caught glance of torch light, followed by the torso of horses.
With the man beside Ryder moving to duck behind a tree before putting the cloak on, Ryder glanced to the two archers he had on this side. He raised his hand, readying for the order, before looking to the mysterious man that was so allegedly important and nodding. He waited until it was clear that the archers had a good shot, before lowering his hand to signal the attack.
As if on queue, the two arrows flied, one striking down a horse and the other planting itself in the ribs of a guard. Hearing a scream, all the men on both sides knew to attack, rising from the snow around them and rushing out of the trees. As Ryder stood to run, he looked back to the archers.
"Target the horses, and kill any stragglers" he ordered, before sprinting, his team following after him. Running through the snow was hard, but it wasn't the first time he had endured it. He was ready this time, knowing the careful steps he would have to take to avoid falling.
As Ryder and his team burst out of the trees, he held his weapon, ready to attack. In front of him were ten men, one of which was now dead and the on the ground, barely avoiding being crushed by a dead horse. Ryder felt ill prepared. All he had was six men, two archers and whatever the mysterious man brought to the battle.
With that thought burning in his mind, he knew he had to try his best. He would have to kill at least two people to lead these men how he would want to be led. His sword swung down in a big overhead arc, planting itself firmly in the shoulder of a man, catching him by surprise. The rest, however, wouldn't be caught off guard. In the middle of the group was a man on a different horse, their target. He was evidently not a mercenary, or a guard, which left the one possibility.
As Ryder pulled the sword out, he heard himself being rushed from the side, glancing to see a guard with his sword raised high about to strike Ryder down.
Cylus was always cold, but tonight felt as if the cold was alive and trying to tear apart the men. All of the mercenaries had come equipped with their warmest clothes in a futile attempt to prepare for the cold, but it was no use. This cold was unnatural, and with the nature of their mission it was something they would have to endure for what could be breaks.
Ryder knelt down in the snow, watching carefully with his team behind him. He'd been tasked with leading on this mission, though it was clear he wasn't the real leader here. Another man, one he hadn't had a proper meeting with yet, was here with him. He was important, by all accounts, but Ryder had no idea how - nor did he care. His job was simple, lead the mercenaries, take out the target and win the battle.
Ryder waited patiently, a familiar feeling in his stomach. They'd done this before, all of it. Biting cold, attacking from the trees - and last time it had gone sour at around this moment. But not this time. Ryder was certain of it. He wouldn't let this situation go as bad as the last had, he was dead set on making this impression good. He would show that he was capable of greatness.
Behind him, Ryder felt a small tap on his shoulder. He glanced over and met the gaze of a mercenary he hadn't had the chance to talk to outside of missions yet. They had interacted a small number of times during training and a few other small encounters, but not enough for him to even know the man's name.
"You alright?" Ryder whispered, raising an eyebrow. The man nodded, but his shaking said otherwise. He was evidently one of two things, terrified of freezing. Both were detrimental to the mission and to his health. Ryder watched carefully, evidently examining the man, causing him to shudder a little under Ryder's gaze.
"I just...it's cold, sir" he admitted. Ryder thought as much was true, and nodded his head. He took off the cloak he had and handed it to the man, keeping behind a tree. It was a part of his potential camouflage gone, but the health of his unit mattered more. As the man went to complain, Ryder raised his hand and glanced back, hearing the faint sound of movement in the snow on the road. Sure enough, he caught glance of torch light, followed by the torso of horses.
With the man beside Ryder moving to duck behind a tree before putting the cloak on, Ryder glanced to the two archers he had on this side. He raised his hand, readying for the order, before looking to the mysterious man that was so allegedly important and nodding. He waited until it was clear that the archers had a good shot, before lowering his hand to signal the attack.
As if on queue, the two arrows flied, one striking down a horse and the other planting itself in the ribs of a guard. Hearing a scream, all the men on both sides knew to attack, rising from the snow around them and rushing out of the trees. As Ryder stood to run, he looked back to the archers.
"Target the horses, and kill any stragglers" he ordered, before sprinting, his team following after him. Running through the snow was hard, but it wasn't the first time he had endured it. He was ready this time, knowing the careful steps he would have to take to avoid falling.
As Ryder and his team burst out of the trees, he held his weapon, ready to attack. In front of him were ten men, one of which was now dead and the on the ground, barely avoiding being crushed by a dead horse. Ryder felt ill prepared. All he had was six men, two archers and whatever the mysterious man brought to the battle.
With that thought burning in his mind, he knew he had to try his best. He would have to kill at least two people to lead these men how he would want to be led. His sword swung down in a big overhead arc, planting itself firmly in the shoulder of a man, catching him by surprise. The rest, however, wouldn't be caught off guard. In the middle of the group was a man on a different horse, their target. He was evidently not a mercenary, or a guard, which left the one possibility.
As Ryder pulled the sword out, he heard himself being rushed from the side, glancing to see a guard with his sword raised high about to strike Ryder down.