Entry for Contest (Al's Romance)

It was a cold morning outside the last bastion of the Thayan Empire known as Thaymount, and Lieutenant James Riley of the Cormyrian War Wizards was at a knee before the Forlorn Hope. 1758 had been a difficult year for the Cormyrian Empire, and even more so for Lieutenant Riley personally.

James looked back at the hundred or so troops behind him known as the 'Forlorn Hope,' their crimson red coats blemished only by the numerous snowflakes that fell from the heavens. The Forlorn Hope was always the first to storm the breach of a siege; first to die.

The artillery had pounded the massive magical walls for days, and the War Wizards had assaulted Thaymount's magical defenses with spell. Thaymount was no medieval fortress adapted to the age of muskett and cannon: it had walls built up to withstand bombardment from the mighty guns of the Cormyrian Army, as well as enchantments to reinforce its strength. It had taken five days of nonstop bombardment to break through.

A Sergeant of the 95th Rifle Regiment approached the head of the Forlorn Hope. She wore a green rifleman's uniform rather than the traditional red coat of the rest of the army. She was as short as Lieutenant Riley, but unlike his beige skin and dark brown hair, she was fair with dusty blond hair.

The elven sergeant had the look of a woman who might once have been considered to have classic beauty, but over one hundred years of army service had turned her once soft and fine skin tough and slightly wrinkled for her age. She smelled like the rest of the army: flea bitten and unbathed for weeks.

Yet Sergeant Kalen Lomanii and Lieutenant Riley had built a friendsihp over the course of the war, and as their hands met in friendship it was a meeting of two different worlds. James Riley was the son of Colonel the Lady Cathrine Riley and Sir Jonathan Riley, who sat on the board of directors for the Cormyrian Trading Company.

“What the bloody hell are you doing here Kay?” Riley asked with semi-serious angst. “You should be back with the regiment.”

She smiled slightly and laughed. “And leave you alone to get all the glory? Ha!” She spoke with humor, but both knew only death was to be found in the gaping breach ahead of them.

Perhaps death would be good for Kalen: there was little happiness to be found among the ranks. The life of a common soldier offered little comfort or hopes of advancement. Kalen had joined the army long ago to get away from home. A boy she loved had rejected her, and she had thought it best to go away, believing it better to die on a distant battlefield.

And what did she fight for now? Probably for the soldiers under her, that they may suffer a less worse fate than she. And partially, for Lieutenant Riley. She had done as many sergeants had always done, and always will: bring a young Lieutenant under their wing and teach them the parts of the army not taught in the books.

Kalen looked over at James, and if either one of them were hoping for death, it was him. He couldn't help but notice that Kalen's reason for joining the army so many years ago were parallel to his own for being at the front of the Forlorn Hope. He had the look not of a brave man, but more of one who no longer really cared whether he lived or died...

Two months earlier.

“To peace and Victory!” General Sorrowleaf declared from atop the highest hill outside of Suzail, capital city of the Cormyrian Empire. Vilya Sorrowleaf, perhaps Cormyr's most legendary General, stood up high in her black combat-dress atop her white conquering horse.

A huge cheer erupted from the crowd mixed of soldiers, sailors, marines and Cormyrian citizens. The end of twenty years of war had come as a momentous occasion worthy of all the trumpets, cakes, and dances. Nobles and commoners celebrated together, as the bloody conflict against Cormyr's most mortal enemy had ended in victory.

Young Lieutenant Riley stood next to Vilya atop the hill, and peered down into the crowd, looking for a certain special someone in a green and lavender dress. Spotting Rebekah in the front row, she seemed the happiest woman in Cormyr, and she blew James a kiss.

Kalen cocked a half smile, “Sir, if you won't be needing me, I'd like to be getting back to the troops,” she said with a knowing tone.

James straightened up, regaining his military bearing.

“Of course, sergeant. Carry on.”

“Thank you, sir,” she replied, rendering a salute before she left.

Rebekah came running up the hill and James swept her up into his arms. It was a moment found only in the storybooks: he swung her around as the sun began to set in the background.

“James, thank Lathander you're safe!” she said, planting a sweet kiss on his longing lips.

The young lieutenant looked up into his wife's eyes. By the gods, she was legions more handsome than he. Not that James was unattractive, but her beauty and charm were the stuff that the richest of nobles paid the highest of prices for.

He had met her at sea. He had been serving as a War Wizard Lieutenant aboard the HMS Lydia and she was the sister of Commodore Norrington, returning from visiting him in the far away station of Matztica. She was a lady, far richer than anyone had a right to be. Comparatively, James had married up, even as the son of a Colonel and a senior Vice President of the Trading Company.

Yet what brought them together was not arrangement nor financial contract, as many marriages among the aristocracy were. Rebekah was a giver, one who would travel to the ends of the world to ease the suffering by offering a comforting hug or a cart full of food. Lieutenant Riley was a true believer in the motto of the War Wizards: Is the world a better place because you were there?

They served the world in their own ways, through charity or smashing those who wished harm on the helpless. They felt love on the deepest level; selfless service to others.

Atop the hill they embraced, not caring that the whole crowd could see them.

“I worried about you every day,” she said.

James leaned forward and said four words that would, in the end, be his undoing. He meant them, from the bottom of his heart. But the world couldn't be kind to those who give the most:

“I'll never fight again, I promise.”

“aaaargh!” James Riley awoke in a cold sweat, thrusting forward and grabbing for his sword. In a split second, he was out of bed with his sword and pistol, ready to fight a phantom foe that existed only in his dreams.

“Oh gods, James!” Rebekah gasped, jumping from bed, and placing her arms around him.

Coming to his senses, he dropped his rapier and pistol where he stood. He was breathing heavily, gasping for breath.

“Oh dear, you had another dream,” she said. He had been home a month, and he had the same dream every night. “You know, it might do you better to tell me what happened.”

With a violent shake, he shook her off of him. “No!” he shouted.

Rebekah crossed her arms angrily from the bed as she recovered from the shove. “James, that wasn't very nice. Don't ever shake me away like that again.”

“I...I'm sorry. But I just...I can't tell you.” He was almost crying now. The three o'clock bell began ringing from the clock in the center of Suzail.

“James, come back to bed and tell me what's been bothering you this whole month,” she said, shooting him a knowing look. “I won't take no for an answer.”

He hesitated for a few seconds, and calmed his breathing. Walking towards the easy table and chair, he used a spell to light the candles, illuminating the bedroom in an orange glow. Taking another deep breath, he sat down at the table.

“I'm back in Rashmen,” he said coldly.

“The nation of Witches.” she said.

“Yes,” he replied. “I was leading a platoon of men ahead of the rest of the army. The Thayans were on the retreat, and they were making it as bloody as possible.”

“The papers reported that the Thayans retreated with their tails between their legs,” Rebekah replied, then paused, realizing the truth. “Oh.”

---

Lieutenant Riley stood at the head of his column of men, the advance party that preceded the rest of the army. Sergeant Lomanii walked steadily beside his horse, keeping sharp lookout for any ambushes. Suddenly, she stopped, and her ears seemed to perk up, from their keen elven sense.

“Platoon, halt!” Lieutenant Riley commanded. The platoon of men stopped in step.

Riley turned to Kalen. “What is it, Kay?”

“Ahead...something...bad,” she said, listening intently with her pointed ears.

“How far?”

“Less than a mile,” she said.

Riley sized up the situation. Probably destruction of a nearby settlement, he guessed. There would probably be a dozen or so soldiers, plus a Red Wizard (which he could handle) and a score of undead.

“Sergeant Lomanii,” he ordered. “Have the platoon form line to advance!”

In a military fashion, the platoon broke ranks and formed a single line that Lieutenant Riley stood in front of, all soldiers standing shoulder to shoulder facing front.

Pointing with his rapier, Lieutenant Riley began the advance, slowly and cautiously. But when a scream could be heard ahead, he advanced the pace to a double-time.

They arrived in the settlement, and the smell of burning flesh filled the air, and the sound of pure agony punctuated the scent. There were no enemy soldiers up, but two tall stakes with what appeared to be children tied to them. Great fires were lit below them, and were burning them alive. The childish screams and gasps for air sounded as the nine hells.

Below at the foot of the murder-pyres was a woman, neither bound nor gagged, watching in horror her children were burned alive. The fires were far too large to be put out without massive amounts of water, so she stood there, helplessly screaming to insanity.

Lieutenant Riley's first instinct was to use a spell to douse the flames, but he had no cold-spells prepared, as they were ineffective against the undead legions of Thay.

He looked down at the soldier standing to his left.

“Give me your weapon,” he said. Without hesitation, the soldier gave him his musket. Swinging up the weapon, he took aim at the closest burning victim on the post...

---

That morning, Rebekah woke up next to James, nestled next to his arm. She gave him a brief kiss on his shoulder as she got out of bed to open the curtains. The morning light shone brightly into the bedroom, completely illuminating it.

There was a knock at the door downstairs, and a few moments later Rebekah could hear the servant coming upstairs to bring word of the morning visitor. James was rousing just as the servant came to the door.

“Lieutenant Riley, sir!” the servant said.

“He is here,” Rebekah replied. “Enter, Joshua.”

The boy entered and came up to James as he was crawling out of bed.

“Sir!” he said with excitement. “The Vampire General V'Ghera has risen up and raised a Thayan army out of defeat! He marches on Cormyr!”

It figured. He didn't think the Thayans would abide by the peace treaty. And now a Vampire-General had decided to start an insurrection. One that had little chance of success, but would surely wipe the countryside in blood.

James began to scramble to put his clothes on. “I must go see General Sorrowleaf at once,” he said.

“She's here, downstairs, and wishes to see you!” Joshua only got a few words in before James noticed Rebekah was crying.

“James,” she said in a tone of desperation, something he had not heard from her before. “Don't forget your promise.”

* * *

What did he have to live for? There was always Cormyr, but Rebekah was gone forever. The bitter decision had eaten at him hard, but he was sure he had made the right one. As he gazed out at the giant breach in the wall, Kalen turned to him.

“I have a question, sir,” she asked. “It's rather personal, but since we're both probably going to die...”

As much as he would have liked to reassure Kalen, she'd been in the Army longer than he and knew a hopeless situation when she saw one.

“What is it, Kay?” he replied.

Kalen paused, and drew in a deep breath. “Why?” she asked, then paused a moment. “Why did you choose as you did?”

“Choose what?” he asked.

“Choose duty over love,” Kalen replied.

James sighed, and looked away from the gaping breach ahead of him. “Between those two options, there really is no choice,” he said, with a gravely sad tone in his voice. “General V'Ghera would have burned and pillaged half of Cormyr had Marshall Sorrowleaf not stopped him.”

“But that doesn't answer the question,” Kalen prodded. “I've never known love, at least not requited love. How could you have thrown away what so many seek so easily?”

“I think that Tyr judges us by our right action, not by how we feel,” he murmured. “Coming with Marshall Sorrowleaf and the Army was what had to be done. And there are no excuses for not doing the right thing.”

“Even when it costs you everthing your heart holds dear?”

James let out a breath, which he could see in the cold winter air. A tear began to form in his eye, and dripped down to his cheek before freezing to ice.

“Especially when it costs you everything,” he murmured. James looked back to the breach, and then to Field Marshall Sorrowleaf.

“Only seconds now.” he said, anticipating the order to proceed with the attack.

Not a moment later, the flag signaling the attack began, and the bugle sounded. Lieutenant Riley drew his rapier and ordered:

“Forlorn Hope, advance!”

The smell of death was in the air from the undead guarding the breach. At an ordered march, the Forlorn Hope advanced.

The first volley of shot came from the living Thayan soldiers and their muskets. Lieutenant Riley quickly erected a magical shield to deflect the bullets from his soldiers as the crawled the steep, pile of rubble up to the breach in the wall.

Within seconds, he saw a Red Wizard, dressed in a flowing blood-red robe preparing to unleash a fiery ball of doom upon the Forlorn Hope. Lieutenant Riley swung his fingers up and around, releasing a boost of magical energy and leaping directly behind the casting wizard. With one swift stroke of his sword, he stabbed the woman through the heart, killing her instantly and spraying blood on himself.

Lieutenant Riley took but a second to size up the tactical situation. There was a line of fifty living troops firing into the advancing Forlorn Hope, and at least a hundred undead troops behind them. The Forlorn Hope would have already discharged their weapons at the living Thayan musketmen.

Shouting loudly, and casting a spell on his arm making it solid as rock, he charged the line of infantry that faced down the Forlorn Hope. The first man he fell instantly, with a slash across the neck. The next man was harder, as he had turned to face Lieutenant Riley. However, with a quick parry, he felled him with a stab to the chest.

The difficulty was not just killing the enemy, but keeping him dead. The Thayan Red Wizards had a nasty habit of making dead soldiers into undead zombie troops, replenishing their trained troops with cannon fodder that could brute force the Cormyrians to death.

Taking the time to tactically analyze his chances against fifty soldiers with loaded muskets, he let loose a fireball from his fingertips that cut a molten swath through the first line. Flesh burned and uniforms singed, many cried out in horror as they burned alive.

In that one moment, at that sight, was when Lieutenant Riley reached a state where he would later be unable to recall what had happened. Some accounts say he killed a hundred Thayan Knights , some say he slashed with his sword until it broke, and he was stabbed. All he would remember was waking up with a surgeon above him, patching a wound, and his sword next to him, sundered.

That evening, Lieutenant Riley lay in bed, recovering from his chest wound. For the first time in several months, he looked to the future; he hadn't expected to have to do that. Officers who led the Forlorn Hope usually died, as he felt he should have.

But he was a survivor, and the surviving officer of the Forlorn Hope was accorded honors second only to those who received the Queen's Cross, the Empire's highest military award. He would be immediately promoted to Captain, whether he fulfilled the requirements or not, and would wear a gold leaf on the right cuff of his sleeve. This indicated he had led a Forlorn Hope...and survived.

He had lost Rebekah, and become a national hero. Not only did he survive leading a Forlorn Hope, but he did it on the assault of the capital city of Cormyr's most dangerous enemy.

From outside, he heard the guard render a salute, and Field Marshall Sorrowleaf entered and sat next to his bed.

“How do you feel, Captain Riley?” she asked, half-attempting to cheer him with the obvious news of his promotion.

“Ma'am,” he nodded, weakly.

Vilya smiled slightly. “I know what you're going through. Now come on man, you're about to become a hero of the Empire. You know the drill: wine and dine with all the nobles and politicans who'll be ready to kiss your ass.”

The joke did, in fact, make James smile slightly outward.

“Always ready to do my duty,” he said with a slight smile.

Vilya nodded. James mother was one of her Colonels, commanding the 28th Regiment of Foot. She was a bitch; she would have men flogged for the smallest infraction, brutally laying down a line of discipline that broke good men and made the bad ones worse. When young Riley had joined the War Wizards, she took special interest in his abilities, and kept him close to her to protect him from the brutal ways of his mother. If Kalen had been an older brother to him, Vilya had been a surrogate mother, keeping him away from the corrupting influence of his real mother.

“I understand you lost your sword during the battle,” she said, removing her own sword and scabbard from her belt.

“Yes ma'am, I'll acquire another as soon as possible,” he said, in honest pennance.

“You'll acquire one sooner than you think,” Vilya replied. “I want you to have my sword; call it a gift.”

“I..” he began to protest.

“No arguments, Captain. I'm ordering you to accept this gift,” the general insisted.

“I thank you, ma'am,” he replied with what energy he could muster.

“I also have other news. You're being transferred back to a naval assignment. In one month, you'll report to H.M.S. Sutherland, commanded by Captain McCoy, as ship's War Wizard.”

James knew this was deliberate, and that Vilya must have used quite a bit of her influence to pull him a naval assignment. Not only were the considered highly prestigious, but they were difficult to get.

No, Vilya must have gotten him this assignment to get him away from Suzail, as well as his ex wife. Spending a year or two at sea would do him well, psychologically and socially.

Vilya stood and spoke, “Well, you must be getting your rest now, captain. I shall visit you each morning at eight o'clock for breakfast.”

Just before she reached the door, she stopped and turned around, and said with conviction, “The world is a better place now.”