Dream: Warrior and Leader

Date: 12/11/2016

I was from a clan of well-respected warriors. We took in refugees, taught them how to defend themselves, taught them how to take care of themselves, and helped them forge a new path in life. It was just how we did things because of our leader, Josephine Grey. She had men and women alike worshipping her. Not because she made them. She was just that well-respected. I was her right hand man. I helped her train the refugees in hand-to-hand combat and in how to wield a sword. However I also helped Dagan in the infirmary. We used a lot of different healing techniques on the refugees who were in bad shape when they came to our lands. Josephine also helped with the cooking so that she made sure everyone got food that would be good for their systems. We were a well-known and well-respected clan because of her leadership. Though her son being an adorable little tot probably added to how well loved we were. If only a little. lol -------------------------------------------------------------     There had been rumors of a new clan rising in ranks. Taking over some of the other clans of the country. We had hoped to stay away from them. We had hoped we’d never have to confront them. Then one day, a mission led by Josephine went wrong. She had vanished. Her son and the clan left in my care. I made sure to protect both with everything I had. Many clansmen asked where our leader had gone. I told them the truth. That she’d vanished. The main theory was that the newer clan had taken her. Her son, hidden under the blankets, was unseen by the clan so he wasn’t taken. It was just a theory. We had no idea where she was or if she was alive. Something in me said she was alive though.     “Mar! Time to get to work!” Dagan called from the infirmary.     I had Josephine’s son in my arms as I headed up there.     “He shouldn’t be in here.” Dagan said quietly.     “I need to be in here and he won’t let anyone but us keep him calm. He’ll be fine. I promise.” I told Dagan as I made sure the mask was secured on the tot’s face. He clung to me before I sat him in a chair next to my work station. He had learned to keep the mask on in the infirmary and he’d slowly become quite good at staying in that seat while we worked.     About an hour had gone by. Dagan and I had fixed up some people and had cleaned off any possible risks. We’d gotten ourselves cleaned up and I picked up the tot once more. He was starting to doze in my arms when we heard some noise coming from the main gate. I ran ahead only to see that our clan’s lands were being attacked by that new clan. -------------------------------------------------------------     I found myself inside the main hall of Josephine’s villa she’d built into a hospital. I was holding her son in my arms as rage and regret battled in my heart. Many of my clan’s leading people were in chairs in this villa as if on trial. The new clan’s leader was standing before us, sword in hand, as a twisted smile crossed her face. If she weren’t so damn ugly in soul she might have actually been pretty. I wanted to slice her throat with how pissed I was.     “If you wish to keep these lands then come. Challenge me. If you win, I’ll let you keep your lands. If you lose, your land is mine.” the woman said.     I could feel bloodlust trying to wrap around my heart. I handed the tot over to Max (one of the top clansmen) and told him “take care of my boy” as I got to my feet.     “I’ll be your opponent. If I win, get your damn clan out of these lands.” I told her, my words having an echo of malice in them.     I could hear hushed voices from both her clan and mine. No one had seen my rage before.     “Oh. Make sure you bring me back Josephine Grey before you do leave.” I told her as my knife slid down into my hand.     “A knife? Not even a dagger?” The woman questioned with a laugh. “Fine, fine. Your life is practically forfeit but if you should somehow win, these lands will be yours once more and that precious woman will be returned.”     She unsheathed her sword but it wasn’t fast enough. My knife had landed in her chest, mere inches from her heart. Fear and panic crossed her eyes. I unsheathed my own sword as she attempted to attack me. I kept knocking her sword back till it was finally out of her hands. I spun around her, taking the knife from her chest and placing it to her throat.     “If you wish for your leader to live then you will do as I say. Get Josephine Grey back here alive and evacuate your clan. When my mistress has returned then I will release your leader. Alive.” I commanded, the echo of malice still in my voice.     The woman’s panicking eyes told them to obey. Her clan left my clan’s lands. A couple weeks later and Josephine was home. Her son back in her arms. We released the leader of the enemy clan, alive, as promised. Josephine was pale but we’d managed to help her heal. Dagan and I continued to run the clan until she’d recovered. However, after that incident, the clan had stopped seeing me as just a warrior. They’d seen a glimpse of the devil in me. -------------------------------------------------------------     I knocked at Josephine’s door just to be greeted by laughter.     “Since when do you need to knock, Mar?” She asked as the door was opened for me.     “Sorry. I didn’t want to disturb you if you were resting.” I said with a small smile.     Her son was fast asleep on the bed. I was grateful that the incident hadn’t done too much damage to him. She gave a small smile and hugged me.     “Everyone is safe. You and Dagan saved the clan. You beat her, Mar.” She told me as she released me and went back to her bed, sitting by her son.     I nodded with a weak smile. “Yes...but at a price. They’ve seen the devil in me. It might be time for me to leave soon, Mistress.”     She scowled at me, got back on her feet, and stabbed her finger into my chest. “Listen up, mister. I don’t care if they see the devil in you or not. You aren’t leaving. This is your home. They might be a little concerned but no one here is afraid of you. If you’d try talking to them instead of assuming the expression is fear…” She smiled weakly and crossed her arms, “You might just learn they actually are worried FOR you. Not of you.”     I blinked in surprise at her comment and felt a sense of...relief?...happiness?...a sense of something good cross over me.     I nodded to her and gave a slight bow. “Forgive me. It seems I’ve taken my position a bit too seriously lately.”     “Damn straight you have.” She said with a laugh. “Go talk with Dagan. He needs your help gathering supplies for the infirmary. Maybe by going in town with him you’ll come to realize your worth in this clan. You aren’t just a warrior. You’re far more than that.”     “Thank you. I’ll take my leave then.” I told her and smiled. “Let him know I’ll come see him later.” I nodded to her son.     “He knows. Now get going.” She said and shooed me out her door.     I chuckled as I left the room and headed off to see Dagan.     I awoke after that.