《Blue of a Sentinel》


 Blue of a Sentinel - Intro

    Across the barren streets of a long lost dream. Across the barren streets of a long-lost dream, the poor whisper of greatness, and the rich speak only of betrayal. Many came for fortune, most never left, their families in cycles of abuse by a broken system.


    As civil unrest consumed the mainland, the colonies could do nothing but watch, powerless as their master tore itself apart. An empire that once spanned the world now struggled to hold even its own cities together. In Scorpius, along with their northern brothers in Equuleus and southern sisters in Cygnus, isolation weighed heavily, their ties to the empire no more than a distant memory.


    In war, many dream of the glory of a last stand, a moment to etch their names into history. Yet for most, such moments never come.


    As the empire crumbled, Scorpius stood on the brink of despair. The Sentinels knew they would need to endure, their blue banners a defiant symbol of freedom in the face of ruin. With heavy hearts and uncertain fates, they marched into the rugged mountains, knowing full well they might never return to those they loved.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Onward they marched for days, threading the narrow passes and sprawling trails of the mountains. Along their way, they ''liberated'' village after village¡ªplaces left hollow, abandoned or too weak to resist. The inhabitants watched from their windows or fled to the hills, wary of trading one oppressor for another.


    Word reached the Sentinels of the chaos festering down south, a rebellion turned kingdom. The so-called Colonial Emperor, John Bennet, a former colony overseer, had crowned himself ruler barely a month ago. His armies, a patched-together mob of desperate soldiers and mercenaries, were locked in their own bid to seize power over Scorpius.


    The Sentinels tasked themselves with seizing control over their fractured nation and implementing what they believed to be true freedom.

 Blue of a Sentinel - Chapter 1, Townsfolk

    The mountains were full of chill, a soft breeze flowed through the valley and the snowy peaks shimmered in the bright sun. They had reached the town of Nova Roza, a town at the edge of frost. Their march had come to a halt to stock up on supplies, they were ready to meet the Colonials head on, but first came rest and chow, an army marched on their stomach, that stomach was empty at this time.


    She slung her musket over the bench¡¯s back and settled in, her fingers curling around a tankard of beer, its frothy chill rivaling the mountain air. Drinking beer wasn¡¯t just a Sentinel indulgence, it was a necessity. The wells were unreliable, prone to poisoning or worse. Her gaze drifted toward the town¡¯s main street, quieter than expected for this hour, a supply cart pulled by a single ox rolled by.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, we¡¯re just asking you for supplies,¡± the officer said, his voice strained but measured as he leaned forward on the store¡¯s counter. ¡°Two barrels of beer or some dried meat at the least. We''re willing to compensate¡ª¡±


    The store owner slammed her hands on the wood, cutting him off. ¡°Compensate? We don¡¯t want your money, and we don¡¯t want you here!¡± Her voice rose, a fire that seemed almost too loud for such a quiet place. ¡°Do you even know what the Colonials did to Uyus?¡±


    The officer hesitated, his hand flexing against his belt. ¡°I¡¯ve heard the stories¡ª¡±


    ¡°Stories?¡± she spat, her anger boiling over. ¡°They razed the city! Burned it to the ground! And then¡ªthen they rounded up every man of age, sent them up the mountain to die in their name. Do you know what that¡¯s like? Watching your brother dragged from his home? Your son?¡± Her eyes glistened, but her hands never shook.


    A few Sentinels paused in their tasks to glance over, uneasy whispers passing between them. The officer straightened, his tone growing harder. ¡°We¡¯re not them. And we¡¯re trying to keep what happened in Uyus from happening again.¡±


    The woman laughed bitterly. ¡°By dragging us into your fight? You¡¯ll leave us with nothing but corpses and ashes when the Colonials come looking for revenge. You march into our town with your banners and your promises, but we¡¯ve seen this before. You soldiers always leave someone behind to pay the price.¡±


    The storekeeper¡¯s voice rang out, sharp as a shot from a musket. The officer turned, startled, as the woman strode past him, her heavy boots crunching against the frostbitten ground outside.


    ¡°You!¡± the woman bellowed, pointing an accusatory finger at the girl standing near the cart. Her voice carried through the quiet street, and heads peeked out from behind half-drawn curtains. ¡°Talk some sense into your officer¡ªI think he may be deaf!¡±


    The girl blinked, her beer forgotten on the table beside her musket. She stood quickly, uncertain, clutching at the strap of her pack like it was some kind of lifeline. ¡°I¡ªuh¡­¡±


    The woman stopped mere feet away, her gaze burning hot against the cold air. ¡°You march into our town, looking for handouts while pretending this is all for ¡®freedom,¡¯¡± she spat, the word dripping with venom. ¡°Tell me, girl, do you even know what freedom means? Or does it only come from the end of a bayonet?¡±


    The girl faltered, the weight of those words pressing against her chest. ¡°It¡¯s not like that,¡± she said softly, almost to herself.


    ¡°Then what¡¯s it like?¡± The woman leaned closer, her voice quieter but no less sharp. ¡°Tell me. Tell me how you sleep at night, knowing you¡¯re dragging our children into a fight that isn¡¯t theirs.¡±


    The officer stepped out of the store, his jaw tight. ¡°Enough,¡± he ordered, his hand twitching toward his sidearm. ¡°We¡¯re not here to debate politics.¡±Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ¡°Then what are you here for?¡± the woman snapped, turning on him again. ¡°Because it sure as hell isn¡¯t to keep us safe.¡±


    The officer now stood squarely between the girl and the woman, his blue coat straining against his broad shoulders as he raised a gloved hand to silence her. ¡°Ma¡¯am, I suggest leaving the enlisted out of this,¡± he said with forced calm, though the edge in his voice was unmistakable. ¡°She has nothing to do with it. So please get back inside, or I will have no choice but to place you under arrest.¡±


    ¡°Arrested!?¡± The woman¡¯s voice rose, drawing more curious stares from shadowed windows and alleyways. She jabbed a finger into the officer¡¯s chest. ¡°For what, speaking my mind? I thought your Sentinels were here to promote freedom! Or is that only for the ones holding the guns?¡± Her words dripped with disdain, each syllable aimed to wound.


    The officer¡¯s jaw clenched visibly, but he kept his composure, if barely. Behind him, the girl shifted uncomfortably, looking anywhere but at the woman¡¯s blazing eyes. The air was thick with tension, so palpable it could choke the soft mountain breeze.


    ¡°You¡¯re free to speak your mind, ma¡¯am,¡± the officer said, voice cold now. ¡°But disrupting our operations¡ª¡±


    ¡°Disrupting your operations?¡± She cut him off with a bitter laugh. ¡°Let me guess¡ªrequisitioning the last scraps from my pantry so my children can starve in the name of your ¡®freedom?¡¯ Maybe you¡¯ll find the barrels of beer more useful than bread!¡±


    The girl winced at the biting sarcasm and took a step forward, words tumbling out before she could stop herself. ¡°We¡¯re not trying to hurt anyone,¡± she said, voice soft yet firm. The officer turned his head sharply to glare at her, but she didn¡¯t stop. ¡°We only need enough to keep moving. We¡¯re fighting for all of us¡ª¡±


    ¡°For all of us?¡± the woman echoed, her voice like thunder. She rounded the officer as though he didn¡¯t exist, stepping close enough for the girl to catch the sharp scent of cold earth and firewood on her coat. ¡°Did Uyus fight for all of us? Do you think the widows of men who marched up that mountain see it that way?¡±


    The girl shrank under the intensity of her words, the spark of conviction faltering in her chest.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am¡ª¡± the officer began, his voice tightening into a bark, but the woman turned back on him in an instant.


    ¡°No.¡± She pointed a weathered finger at his face. ¡°Don¡¯t you ¡®ma¡¯am¡¯ me, soldier. My pantry¡¯s already empty. You think you can scare me with words and uniforms, but your army¡ª¡± She shot a venomous look toward the girl. ¡°Your army¡¯s nothing more than another pack of wolves, fighting for scraps on a carcass you didn¡¯t kill.¡±


    The yelling had drawn attention. Soldiers from nearby outposts and makeshift encampments were already heading their way, boots crunching against the frozen dirt roads, muskets slung lazily over their shoulders. Their watchful gazes carried both curiosity and the quiet readiness for escalation, a subtle tension that hung in the crisp mountain air.


    ¡°Don¡¯t come and bother me or my family again!¡± the woman snapped, spinning on her heel to march back toward her shop. ¡°I won¡¯t supply your so-called ¡®army,¡¯ and I certainly won¡¯t help you any further than pointing you at the Colonials. Go kill yourselves over a hill and leave us alone.¡±


    With those final biting words, she disappeared behind her shop door, slamming it shut with enough force to rattle its frame. A moment later, the sharp clack of a lock echoed out into the street, and a handwritten sign with hastily scrawled letters reading ''Closed'' swung into place behind the frosted glass.


    The officer let out a breath through gritted teeth, his glare fixed on the now-closed door as if he could bore holes through it. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to do that,¡± he muttered under his breath, though his anger laced each word.


    A flicker of movement caught his attention from the corner of his eye. His gaze snapped to Arya, still standing awkwardly near the supply cart, shifting her weight from foot to foot. Her shoulders were hunched, her face tense, guilt and unease written plainly across her features.


    He turned fully to her, his voice low but sharp. ¡°Get back to your unit. I don¡¯t want to hear a single word from you again. Not about this, not about anything. Understood, Private¡ª¡± His words faltered for a moment, then tightened. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°Grey, sir. Arya Grey,¡± she answered quickly, straightening her posture as though standing at attention would erase her earlier involvement.


    The officer¡¯s gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, a mix of frustration and something more inscrutable simmering behind his sharp eyes. Finally, with a sharp nod, he dismissed her with a wave of his hand.


    ¡°Grey. Get back to your unit. Now.¡±

 Blue of a Sentinel - Chapter 2, a Mouse in a Horde of Rats

    "What took you so long, Grey?!" Charles called out as Arya approached their small, ragged group by the firepit. A crooked smirk tugged at the edge of his lips. ¡°Got in some squabble with the townsfolk, I heard.¡±


    Arya rolled her eyes, lowering herself onto an overturned crate next to him. She shoved her musket to the side and rubbed at her chilled hands, the faint ache from the bitter mountain air grounding her.


    ¡°Something like that,¡± she muttered, not meeting his gaze.


    ¡°She walked straight into a storm, I bet,¡± another voice chimed in from the other side of the fire. Caleb, always keen to latch onto any juicy tidbit, leaned forward, his wiry frame backlit by the flickering flames. ¡°You know how they are. No love for soldiers. Especially not Sentinels.¡±


    Arya gritted her teeth, determined not to show the irritation bubbling beneath the surface. ¡°Not everyone in this country believes we¡¯re saviors,¡± she said curtly.


    ¡°Did the officer give you hell?¡± Charles asked, his tone light but with a flicker of real concern beneath it.


    Arya shook her head. ¡°Just told me to stay in line, like usual.¡±


    ¡°Like usual?¡± Caleb cut in, raising an eyebrow as he poked at the fire with a stick. His tone carried some sentiment of curiosity ¡°How many times has this happened, Grey?¡±


    Arya shrugged, trying to seem indifferent despite the heat rising in her cheeks. ¡°I lost count, honestly. Guess I¡¯ve got a knack for rubbing people the wrong way.¡±


    ¡°Or maybe they¡¯ve got a knack for hating us,¡± Caleb said, leaning back with a casual grin. ¡°Can¡¯t really blame them, though. The way we¡¯ve marched through this valley like it¡¯s ours by right.¡±


    ¡°Are you sympathizing with them now, Caleb?¡± Charles asked, narrowing his eyes. He¡¯d meant it as a jab, but there was something deeper behind the question, some unease he couldn¡¯t hide.


    ¡°Not sympathizing,¡± Caleb said quickly, holding up his hands in mock surrender. ¡°Just saying, if a bunch of armed soldiers stomped into my village, demanded food and beer, and left nothing but muddy streets behind, I might be a bit sour too.¡±


    Arya glanced at him, her defenses easing just slightly. ¡°Well, that¡¯s refreshing. Usually, everyone¡¯s more focused on blaming them for not rolling out the red carpet for us.¡±


    Charles snorted. ¡°No one¡¯s expecting a red carpet, Grey. Just a little cooperation. This fight¡¯s for them too, you know.¡±This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    ¡°They don¡¯t see it that way,¡± Caleb countered. ¡°To them, we¡¯re just another army, waving a flag they didn¡¯t ask for.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, that woman made some valid points.¡± Arya interjected, leaning forward slightly. ¡°But we¡¯re better than the Colonials.¡±


    Caleb nodded, though his expression darkened. ¡°Better than the Colonials isn¡¯t much of a standard these days, is it?¡±


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t get me started on them,¡± Charles cut in, his voice sharp. He dropped the piece of wood he¡¯d been whittling onto the ground. ¡°They razed Uyus after the local garrison retreated. turned it into ash.¡±


    Arya blinked, taken aback by the sudden seriousness in his tone.


    ¡°My brother was one of the garrison soldiers there,¡± Charles continued, his voice strained but steady. ¡°He wrote to me before they pulled out. Said it looked like the whole mountain was on fire. After the Colonials came through... he was sure no one could¡¯ve survived it.¡±


    ¡°By the stars, I get her point. That¡¯s rough,¡± Caleb muttered, his voice low, almost as if he didn¡¯t want to admit it aloud.


    Arya leaned back, arms crossed, but her expression softened just slightly. ¡°She¡¯s not wrong about what this war¡¯s doing to people. But we¡¯ve still got a job to do.¡±


    Before anyone could respond, a sergeant strode up to their small group, his boots crunching against the packed dirt. He stopped a few steps away, his posture straight and commanding.


    ¡°Hey, you three,¡± a sergeant barked from a slight distance, the three went quiet. ¡°We need skirmishers to probe Colonial lines. Some officer told me that you, Grey, are perfect for the job.¡±


    Arya stiffened, the casual camaraderie around the fire abruptly replaced by the weight of responsibility. ¡°Perfect for the job?¡± she echoed, her voice careful.


    The sergeant nodded, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. ¡°That¡¯s right. Quick on your feet and sharper than most of these greenhorns. Get some rest while you can. Head to the town square at sunrise. Don¡¯t keep the officer waiting.¡±


    ¡°Understood, sir,¡± Arya replied, snapping to attention.


    ¡°Grey¡ª¡± Caleb began with a sly grin. ¡°You long-haired ape. Because of your squabble with that storeowner, we¡¯ve been assigned to skirmish duty.¡±


    Arya kicked a clump of mud towards the fire, the heat quickly drying it out into dark shards. ¡°At least we¡¯ll be out of this town for a little while¡ª¡±


    Before she could finish, Charles cut her off, throwing his hands up dramatically. ¡°By Sol, you¡¯ve doomed us, Arya!¡±


    She glared at him with irritation, her knuckles tightening momentarily before she flopped down onto the log, her head sinking low. ¡°At least we¡¯re not going alone,¡± she muttered under her breath. ¡°Both comrades in arms C and F are coming with us. They¡¯ll share the misery.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m getting some damned sleep since we¡¯ll be dragged out of our tents at dawn,¡± Caleb muttered, standing up. He grabbed his hat, dusted it off, and strode away from the fire, disappearing into the darkness without another word.


    Arya stayed seated by the crackling flames, the orange light casting flickering shadows over her face. Beside her, Charles shifted uncomfortably but said nothing. The two sat in a heavy silence, letting the hiss and pop of the fire speak for them.


    After a while, Arya rose to her feet without looking at Charles. She hesitated briefly, staring into the flames as if searching for something, then turned and walked off toward her tent. No goodbyes were exchanged that night, there didn¡¯t seem to be a point to even do so.

 Blue of a Sentinel - Chapter 3, The Officer

    The crisp morning air nipped at her nose as dawn spread its soft glow over the mud and grass outside the tent. Arya stirred awake, scratching at her recently cropped hair, Sentinel standard, before reaching for her boots.


    The sun, inching its way over the mountain peak, cast long shadows across the camp. Her heart sank when she realized the tent was empty; Caleb and Charles must have left for the officer''s briefing without her.


    Muttering a curse under her breath, Arya grabbed her blue coat and hat. The coat¡¯s worn edges brushed against her fingers, a stark reminder of the time they''d spent in the field. In one swift motion, she shoved her arms through the sleeves and fastened the buttons with haste.


    She stepped outside, blinking against the glare of the rising sun. A chill lingered in the morning air, mingling with the earthy scent of trampled grass and damp soil. The camp hummed with muted activity, soldiers murmuring in clusters, the sharp clink of tin cups against canteens and the occasional bark of orders.


    Arya didn''t pause to admire the view or take stock of the camp. The officer wouldn¡¯t wait, and she had no intention of letting Caleb and Charles rib her for being late. She adjusted her hat, tugging it firmly down over her ears, and set off at a brisk pace toward the town square.


    As she strode down the street, her focus was broken by the angry shouts of a local berating a group of drunk soldiers further up ahead. Memories of yesterday¡¯s incident flashed through her mind, and a knot of anxiety tightened in her chest. She wasn¡¯t about to risk another confrontation. Without hesitation, she veered sharply into a narrow alleyway to avoid the brewing scene.


    "Whoa, watch out, missy," came a gruff voice. Arya stumbled slightly, colliding with a man clad in a similar blue uniform as hers. His stance was firm, blocking her way, and his tone carried an unmistakable edge.


    "We¡¯re busy here," he added, his eyes narrowing as he noticed her gaze flickering over his shoulder. Arya craned her neck, trying to catch a glimpse of what was happening behind him, but before she could get a proper look, the man shoved her back roughly.


    "By that, I mean you should leave!" he barked, stepping forward aggressively, his presence filling the alley. The warning wasn¡¯t subtle, and the tension in his voice made it clear she wasn¡¯t welcome here.


    Arya¡¯s hands clenched into fists, but she knew better than to escalate. She raised her arms slightly in mock surrender. "Fine, no problem, I¡¯m gone," she muttered, retreating a step and spinning on her heel. As much as she hated backing down, whatever was happening in that alley wasn¡¯t her fight. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    She continued to walk down the street, now back towards the drunken soldiers and the still angry local. The road here was uneven, made of stone from the mountain that loomed over the town. She passed a small shrine to Golub, or Columba, god of peace, it was decorated with small leaves from the local trees and small gemstones embedded in the wood.


    Now nearing the group of drunkards, Arya lowered her head and quickened her pace, focusing on the ground ahead. She did her best to ignore both the angry local and the soldiers, willing herself to slip past unnoticed. It seemed to work¡ªuntil she was about six paces away.


    ¡°Keep walking, whore!¡± one of the soldiers slurred behind her. His words tumbled clumsily.


    ¡°Fuckers¡± She mumbled under her breath as she walked on.


    The town square was bustling with chaotic energy. Carts pulled by oxen rumbled through the space, loaded with the wounded, their moans and groans rising above the clatter of wooden wheels on uneven stone. Something had clearly happened.


    Arya¡¯s eyes landed on Caleb and Charles standing stiffly before the officer from yesterday, who seemed to be in the middle of delivering a sharp lecture. She hurried her pace to close the distance.


    ¡°You¡¯re late, Grey,¡± the officer barked the moment she approached, his stern gaze pinning her in place. ¡°Or were you planning to reschedule our meeting without notifying us?¡± His pointed look shifted briefly to Caleb and Charles, as if questioning their role in this apparent delay.


    ¡°No, sir. Of course not,¡± Arya replied smoothly, her tone tinged with sarcasm. She cast a snide glance at the two men, who didn¡¯t so much as flinch under her scrutiny. ¡°I just overslept, sir.¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯ve already gone over your task for the day with these two gentlemen,¡± the officer began, his tone laced with annoyance. ¡°But I¡¯ll explain it again¡ªquickly.¡±


    The officer folded his arms as he addressed the group. ¡°We received a messenger earlier this morning. The Colonials are reportedly massing a force for a counterattack in the next valley to the north. Until our telegraph is operational, we¡¯ll need skirmishers to scout ahead and confirm these reports.¡±


    He stepped toward a table where a map was spread out, its edges anchored by small stones. Gesturing to a marked area, he continued, ¡°That valley is about four kilometers north, near the town of Circinus.¡± His finger tapped the map with emphasis before trailing to another location. ¡°To avoid detection, you¡¯ll need to hike through this mountain pass to the northeast.¡± He traced a winding route with his finger, the path twisting between sharp ridges.


    ¡°It will be cold,¡± he added, his tone stern. ¡°I¡¯ve already briefed the quartermaster. He¡¯ll supply you with winter clothing and the climbing gear necessary for the hike.¡± With that, he handed Arya a smaller map detailing the pass. ¡°Study this closely, you won¡¯t want to lose your way up there.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Arya replied, standing at attention. Then she hesitated before asking, ¡°I thought Comrades-in-Arms C and F were coming with us?¡±


    The officer shot her an annoyed side-eye. ¡°They¡¯ve been assigned to the front to reinforce our defenses. You, however, will be taking a different path¡ªaround both our lines and theirs¡ªto scout.¡±


    Arya nodded, her lips pressing into a thin line. ¡°Understood, sir.¡±