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This is my current attempt at a novel. It is kind of serious at the moment, but it will get funnier later on, I promise. It is set in the year 3040 A.D. The current title is Warfare and Fanfare, but that is open to change. Tell me what you think! (Please excuse the fact that I might misspell my own characters' names. That's what you get when you steal them out of a book of mediaeval Irish saints.)


I absently rubbed at the fresh brand on the palm of my hand, thinking about all that had transpired in the past seventy-two hours. The setting sunlight striking the balcony was warm and golden, and below, the lush gardens of the Varalian palace were empty and peacefull. It seemed impossible that three days ago I had stood in the middle of a bloodsoaked battlefield on Mvrod, still holding on to a hope of victory.

We had lost, obbviously.

Night fall had found me and the rest of the regiment sitting in the hold of a Veralian cruiser, headed for Ver.

Morning had brought a Veralian prison.

We were all terrifed. Our own nation was notorious for cruelty to their prisoners of war. The Veralian queen had been on the reciving end of that hospitaliy in the past. We did not hope to be treated with any more consideration. I learned then how very diffrent Veralians are from Mvrodian.

They sent medics to treat the wounded, clean clothing, good food, and most importantly, water. The Veralians saved the terrifing expirence for the next day.

That third day, late in the afternoon, we were escorted by armed guards to the great hall of the Veralian palace. For a moment, I had forgoten where I was. The hall was beautiful. Constructed entirely of white marble with arches soaring overhead, the room appeared as though underwater, from the golden sunlight streaming through the blue glass windows. Then I saw the Queen, and the fire. I remembered why we were there.

The Queen rose from her marble throne and took the hand of her knight champion to decend the steps of the dais. I realized that I had been staring when one of the guards kicked me, forcing me to my knees like along with the rest of the prisoners.
"Marcus!" Andromeda's voice was clear, piercing but beautiful. She was adressing the guard who had kicked. "That isn't neccesary."

She gestured that we should all rise, and we struggled awkwardly to our feet, hindered by the shackles binding our wrists behind our backs. Andromeda noticed, and shot an exasperated look at our guards.
"Remove those." She said with a dissmissive wave of her hand. One by one the guards removed our shackels. I attempted to surreptitiously rub my aching wrists.

When we were all free, Andromeda nodded at the guards who slunk off to unobtrusive stations about the hall. She stepped forward, leaving her knight champion standing by the dais.
"I fear I have some bad news for you."

"Not all of you will be surviving your captivity." I could feel the panic in the room. I clenched my jaws shut and closed my eyes, trying desperatly not to think.
"Those of you who are not of noble birth are of no importance to the Mvrodian Emporer. He doesn't care if you live or die, so why should I? You will be returned home shortly. Guards?"

There was relieved murmuring and whispering as the commoners were escorted from the hall. The queen paced across the front of the hall as she waited. I could tell that she found this buisiness distasteful.
"That leaves us with how many of you?"
"Fifteen, My Lady" I was startled by the quiet voice. The Knight Champion had spoken for the first time. I had forgotten that he was there. Andromeda nodded.
"Very well, fifteen." She adressed us again.
"Five of you will also be sent back to Mvrod, so that the Emporer has reliable witnesses to these events. Five of you will remain here, as slaves. And five of you will be killed in response to the massacre in Loch Itcen last week."

I don't remember much of the rest of the audience. Andromeda seemed to pick at random who would live and who would die, for wearing a slave's brand is as good as a death sentance. A man, once branded, could never return home, for the Emporer would never suffer someone who had spent an extended amount of time in enemy hands to live, thinking his loyalty questionable.

Five of us, once noblemen of the Mvrodian Empire, were branded slaves then and there. I was half relieved and half dismayed that my close friend, Acacallis, was among this group as well.

And that's how I came to be standing on a balcony of the Veralian palace, the double cresent moon brand of a slave on my right hand, staring out at the pictureque colors of the Veralian sunset. I heard footsteps behind me, and whirled around. The Queen was standing in the doorway. I bowed hastily. She smiled.

Nice, I'm interested, the story I'm working on at the moment is also futuristic. I'm so happy, I love reading instalment stories, they give me something to look forward to. Thanks to everyone who writes one on here. biggrin

I'm glad ya'll like it. The only thing I'm not happy with at the moment is the title. Anyone have any suggestions?

For a title, I know it sounds dumb but it's the first thing I can think of on the spure of the moment, "A Noble Slave"?

And I changed Andromeda's name to Athdara.

I wasn't trying to make a link, just to state the adress, the computer tried to make it a link anyway.

OH, and by the way, her links never work. You actually have to think to use any URL she ever gives you eek wink rofl

That's cause my Father found it. I'm very protective of my writing where my family is concerned. (or anything I say/write/or do, for that matter)