The Fight For Freedom

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Thanks Paulypav and I look forward to reading some of your stuff.

[Kaos XIII]

Hi!
Very nice, I was wondering when you were going to complete this story and now I know.

[vovan]

Hey, Chris, your PM kind of brought me back to life (ahem, I mean, 'Poly ), and I actually got a chance to read your story here. And I must say: this is still some good stuff. Even though there is a pretty large gap between installments, you are doing great. I just wish I had more time to read some other stuff around here though. It's been a while and there seems to be a lot of cool new stuff around.

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Please accept apologies for the length of time taken to post this. For any posters who have not seen this before I would be pleased to know your thoughts good or bad


Part 8 News Good, News Bad!!


"Brother Murdoch!! two riders approaching from the North and East," yelled one of Bryn Murdochs men on watch duty. "They are wearing our colours Sir!" came a further shout.

"Send them to my quaters as soon as they have tended to their horses," commanded Bryn.

The first of the two riders had tended to his horses needs and was heading to give his report to Bryn as the rider from the East was approaching the outskirts of the village. "Brother! I have news from Brother Robert Jones in command of force B!"

"AH good, I was beginning to wonder what had become of you all, pray do tell me the news is good."

"Indeed Brother the news is good, Ishall read from brother Jones's despatch."

" Brother Bryn Murdoch, it fills my heart with joy to tell you my news. I hope my rider finds you and your kin in good health.
We first made contact with the enemy some distance from our anticipated point. This is the main reason for the delay in getting news back to you, we moved several miles into enemy territory, and with the luck of the Gods found them in an isolated area of forest ten miles from Alesia.
As we could not risk letting them escape we attacked in full force using the trees for cover. Sadly we did suffer casualties, 30 Brothers left this life on this day and are now in the hands of the Gods.
However we did manage to totally destroy the enemy force and capture a significant amount of weapons and supplies.
Please forgive me Brother but I did not follow your next order, I decided it would be too dangerous now to send the rescued men back to Devils Bridge, as we were so far behind enemy lines.
Instead we told them the situation that a similar force had been sent to rescue their kin, and they all decided to take the oath and join us in the battle for Alesia.
We laid low for several days in the forests while I sent several Brothers into the city to gather information.
Finally we got the news that the cities garrison had moved out of the city a week ago to go to the beleagured English front, and the the city was in the depths of revolt.
Brother we did not have to fire another shot! we were cheered and welcomed into the city as if a conquering army! The people have risen up my Lord to "Free Celtica" and Alesia is ours."

"This ends brother Jones's despatch my Lord" said the rider, brother Kelly.

"Excellent!! Excellent!!, that is indeed good news, go now brother Kelly and fill your belly. I will have despatches ready in the morning for you to take back to Brother Jones."

As Brother Kelly left the room the second rider from the East walked in, "Sir! Brother Murdoch I bring news from Brother Kyle Donavon, who is camped some twenty miles from here."

" Ah more good news I hope, please do continue," said Bryn to the young Brother.

"No my Lord, I am sorry my news is not good. Please Brother be seated I have some very bad news for you."

The door opened and Bryns staff officer came into the room. "Brother this rider has just informed me of your Son Connel Murdochs death, Brother Kyle Donavon is bringing his body here today and sent this young rider ahead to tell you the grave news. I am sorry Sir, it appears he suffered from severe torture at the hands of his captors in Stockholm." said Brother Peterson.

"He passed from this life last night my Lord, there was nothing anyone could have done, he never regained conciousness from when we rescued him from the prison my Lord." continued the young rider Brother Harrison. " The rest of my report is in these despatches Brother I'll leave them on your desk." He saluted and turned to leave the room.

"Stop young Brother, thank you for informing me it cant have been easy for you to deliver such news to me, please dont feel bad," said Bryn with tears in his eyes.

"Thank you Sir," said Harrison and left the two men alone.

"Leave me now Brother Peterson, I would like to be alone for a while."

"Of course Bryn, please accept my sympathy, your Son was a man of courage and honour. Shall I take those despatches Sir."

"No no thats alright my Brother I'll read them shortly, thank you for your kind words, now please leave me and dont let anyone disturb me for a while!!"

Peterson left the room and gently closed the door behind him, leaving Bryn behind to collect his thoughts and grieve for his Son.

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Part 8 continued.

Throughout the morning Brother Peterson organised the men stationed at Newbridge to build a funeral raft and pire in preparation to send Bryn's Son to his Gods later that day.

Most of the men there had known Brother Connel Murdoch personally, in fact a great many of the young men of Free Celtica saw him as their future King when this war was over. And so it was decided to honour his life with the last rights and funeral of a King, not praticed since the demise of the monarchy when King Brennus had been murdered by Chairman McGregors henchmen.

During this day Brothers Liam and Scratch arrived to hold council with Bryn on the next stages of the war. Brother Peterson informed them of the situation and their hearts were filled with sadness.

"Forgive the intrusion Brother Ive just heard the sad news."

Bryn looked up and through his tearfilled eyes saw his good friend "Oh thank the gods youre here!" said Bryn as he got up to greet Scratch.

Brother Scratch embraced Bryn "I am so sorry my friend!" he said softly.

Liam too entered the room "Brother please accept my condolences on your loss, he was the bravest of men that Ive known and I know that many shall mourn his death." he said to his Chieftan Bryn Murdoch.

"Thank you Brother for your kind words they are a comfort. I am heartbroken but I knew their would be sacrifices to make when I started out on this journey! and so did my Son. He was a brave man that is true and I shall deeply miss him. However I will have more time to mourn when this thing is over."

"Brother!! Kyle Donavon has arrived and he has brought your Sons body, shall I send him to you?" asked Brother Peterson.

"Yes yes please do!" replied Bryn, "have arrangements been made?"

"Yes sir everything is in hand!"

"Hello Brother, I am so sorry to have failed you my Lord!" said kyle as he bent down on one Knee and lowered his head.

"Nonsense man!! stand up I command you. You did your duty it was those Basta--ds who killed my Son, and it is Mcgregor who will pay!!" said Bryn now feeling stronger with his closest friends with him.

"Brother the men have assembled and would like to offer their tribute to your son in the form of the ancient funeral service reserved for Kings and princes. Many of the young men felt that one day Connel would have been their King Sir," said Brother Peterson.

"Then so shall it be, Brother Kyle Donavon you were my Sons closest friend in life I now want you to serve him one last time and send him to his Gods! will you do this for me?"

"I shall do it for you, for my friend Brother Connel Murdoch and for all the men of "Free Celtica", it shall be an honour Sir." replied Kyle.

The five men made their way to a platform constructed by the shore of the lake at Newbridge. Bryn assisted three Brothers to lay his Son's body apon the pire raft, and gently kissed his forehead.

"Brothers I thank you for the great honour you have bestowed upon my kin this day. Men of "Free Celtica" I now hand over my Son to the Gods of Celtica, this is a terrible sacrifice for me to make but one which make willingly as I stand shoulder to shoulder with you all my Brothers, as we all continue to make the sacrifices required to win this war. Before this time has passed a great many of our kin wil have passed from this life and I wish to honour you all as you honour my Son now!!"

With that the raft was set adrift with the wind, as the men looked on some, many with tears in their eyes, but all standing strong to Connels honour. Kyle set a light to his flaming arrow and aimed high as if to touch the Gods themselves, the arrow soared high then swooped like a falcon and ignited the pire. It was done! Brother Connel could now go to his celestial home and wait for his father. As the men dispersed to go to the funeral feast Bryn stood alone and watched till the last embers has been extinguished.

[vovan]

Chris,

You are starting to behave like theGuitarist (is he still around, btw? I'd love to see some more of his writing)! You don't write for like four months and then give us some great stuff. Don't torture us like that, man. Give us the goods and don't delay 'em or they'll go stale.

Any way, sweet stuff this. Hope you've hit some inspiration streak and will keep on writing.

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Thanks Vovan your support as always is much appreciated

Now stop with the nagging and get writing some stuff too

[Easthaven I]

Awesome, bro! Good to see you begin once again. Let the Resurrection begin.

I think I'm inspired to bring back up the Lands of Darkness, thank you.

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Yay East Baby its good to see you looking forward to more Lands of Darkness

[unscratchedfoot]

That was sure a big break you took there Chris. You made up for it though by writing a big installment about a big funeral. Keep the goods coming. We should all try to write more often to help fan the dying embers of the immortal apolyton stories forum. Vova, you're due to supply some new goods. How about a romance for variety since your name rhymes so nicely with Casanova.

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Thanks Scratch, good to see you back here more regular these days.

[ChrisiusMaximus]

World Map,


Rome is the dominant power after swallowing up two of her neighbours ie Iroquois and Azteca with a few French and Egyptian cities also living as slaves to the Romans.

[vovan]

Cool map, Chris. Thanks. Always helps to visualize the stuff.

As for romance, scratch... I don't know, I doubt it, though maybe I could whip something short and sweet up. Though I'm afraid in my attempts to tie it in to the topic of Civ, I'd make it extra cheesy.

Now, if only I could get some inspiration... Just a lil' bit...

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Another Map showing in more detail the cities of Celtica and the region now under Free Celtica's control.

Thanks to vovansim for showing me how to directly post these maps to the thread

I am quite computer illiterate

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Part 9 Back to business


Bryn opened his eyes, momentarily unsure of his wherabouts. Within seconds it all came flooding back to him. His Son, his beautiful baby boy that he had so cherished and reared to be a fine noble warrior. He was gone. For any man to lose a child is tragic, but to have sent your own Son into the arms of danger, and for your Son to perish at the enemies hands!. Bryn's mind was awash with mixed, crazed emotions, guilt, anger, fear, a lesser man would not have withstood these stresses, and been left a broken wreck. " I will avvenge you my beloved Son!" he said to himself in his mind as he dressed himself.

The Village of Newbridge was bustling with activity, many thousands of men were streaming into the the area from greater Celtica looking to join the freedom fighters of "Free Celtica", young men, nearly boys in many cases. Those who were old enough were sent back to Devils Bridge for training whilst the youngsters were sent to safer villages out of harms way.

The year was turning through its cycle, and it seemed so long ago now to Bryn since the harvests had been gathered. The Winter had been particually mild and quite dry, and even in this climate of war, the first real signs of spring, of new life, buds breaking on the trees and birds thinking of courtship could be seen. " Nothing changes but everything changes!!" Bryn thought to himself as he pondered the scene outside his hut.

He made his way to the command centre for the morning briefing planned for 07.00 with his senior staff, stoping by the cookhouse to get a bite to eat and a pot of steaming coffee.

.................................................. .................................................. ............................


Another meeting was taking place this morning at Communist party headquarters, over in Entremont.

The new Cultural advisor was just being cleaned up by Svenson, yet another unfortunate soul to have uttered a sentence not to the Chairmans liking.

"Hurry up Svenson will you hes dripping blood all over my best rug!" yelled the Irate Chairman Mcgregor.

"Comrade begging your pardon but comrade Perkins did have a point, this damn populist movement is out of control!! we have no choice we must talk to them before the whole country rises up in rebellion!!"

Bang !! Bang !! two more shots rang out and comrade Davidson's body slumped to the floor lifeless.

"SVENSON!! GET THIS FILTHY TRAITOROUS BAST**D OUT OF HERE!!" yelled the Chairman phsycotically.

"Chairman Sir I beseach you, please calm youself. If we carry on like this you will have no advisors left to shoot!!" said General Thordarson in his usual unemotive way. Anybody else would have recieved the same treatment as the previous two comrades had, but the Chairman trusted Thordarson completely, and if the truth be known he admired him a great deal too.

!Yes yes Ill calm myself but you heard the ridiculous things they said to me!!"

"Yes I did and you were quite right to kill the yellow bast**ds, but there's no use you losing your top. We need cool heads if were going to formulate some sort of a plan to deal with these rebellious dogs!" replied the General. Who is a man just as insane and evil as the Chairman, but far more composed and devious in his actions.

"You know they've taken control of Alesia, dont you Thordarson, and furthermore they burnt down the prison and raided the armoury in Stockholm ?" the chairman said calmer but seething with rage. All eyes in the room turned to Thordarson, no one else dared to speak for fear of the Chairmans deadly rebuke. "Have we got any idea of their strength! numbers and who the hell is helping them ?" added Mcgregor.

"Its the stinking Japs for my money Sir, they cut off all diplomatic ties with us recently and they've kicked out all of our diplomats from Kyoto." replied Thordarson.

"I would have to agree with that Chairman Sir," added a rather nervous comrade Davis the foreign advisor.

"I thought I told you to reissue our demands Davis you damned fool!"

"We have Sir, time and time again, but Togukawa is completely ignoring our calls!"

"Can we spare any troops to go and teach that BAST**RD a lesson he'll not forget?" asked the Chairman.

"Impossible Sir, I

Bang !! Bang !! comrade Jones the military advisor did'nt finish his sentence and was still wriggling around on the floor. Unusually the Chairmans magnificent marksmanship had failed to finish the target on this occasion, so he slowly made his way around the table, and finished the job with a third bullet to the head.

"SVENSON!! remove this filth from my sight at once or you will be next!!" yelled Mcgregor. "Thordarson! I dont care what it takes I want Alesia back, do you understand!!"

"Yes Sir Ill get right on it" replied the General knowing full well in his own mind that that was just not possible, they simply did not have the troops. He was'nt going to tell the Chairman that though after what he had just witnessed, and neither were the surviving members of the communist party ruling council.

To be continued.