Distinct Honor

For one month, the kingdom of Soleste mourned the passing of King Klauvius XVI. Each provincial state held daily memorial services and the entire workforce was sent on holiday for observance. Unfortunately, the two opposing factions of the monarch took full advantage of this period of national grief to mobilize their armies. Both the Greater and Lesser Houses declared civil war against each other.
Several authority figures within the king’s royal cabinet had become disgruntled because of the king’s lack of desire to gain more territories in other countries. The consensus was that this passive standing made the kingdom of Soleste appear weak to the rest of the world. All the uproar came to a head when the Archbishop and the Earl of Nerou conspired with a coup.
Lines were drawn in the sand when there could be no mediation between the two court officials on how to accomplish this task. Devout followers of the Archbishop congregated regularly and comprised their own sect. A white robin was selected for their banner. They called themselves the Greater House, as they felt their cause was closest to the will of the heavenly realm. The Earl of Nerou, who preferred the blue robin to represent his cause, called upon the lower-ranking constables. They formed the Lesser House, as it was not required to have such piety for their establishment.
Meanwhile, Captain Benavides had been summoned to the garrison headquarters for a promotion. He seized on the opportunity to request a summit with several battalion commanders to deliberate a battle strategy to put an end to the war. His unit leaders, Paolo Guitterez and Yasha Malta, were eager to be informed of the latest intel. Through the former king’s reign, it had been nearly impossible to achieve a promotion in rank without deployments to conflicts abroad.
Benavides, Guitterez, and Malta were among the sixteen soldiers who were honored for their service and dedication. Guitterez was the last to receive his new rank insignia. After the ceremony concluded, the soldiers were dismissed on liberty.
Guitterez remained in the reception area of the central office. He was a tall man with delicate fair skin that contrasted against his short, dark brown hair. His brooding mood only seemed to improve in the presence of a woman, which was certainly the case when Malta entered the room.
He shifted from lounging to sit upright, and flirtatiously winked with a nod at her. Malta rolled her eyes to rebuff his signal to sit next to him on the metal bench. She stood beside him with folded arms and her back braced her back against the wall. Her pursed pink lips showed she would not be friendly.
Guitterez did not take her hint to heart, and insisted on engaging.
He gruffly cleared his throat and said, “Congratulations to you, Major Malta. It fit that you were promoted for your ambitious endeavors out in the far east.” He took her smile to mean that she had warmed up to him. With a smug grin, he added, “I must say, your new rank insignia dazzles with the spark in your eyes.”
Malta scoffed, took three steps forward, then pivoted directly in front of him. “Thank you, Major Guitterez. It was also fitting that you received your new rank right at the conclusion of the promotion ceremony. We all wondered if you had been removed from the list because of rumors of fraternization,” she replied sternly.
“Alleged fraternization?” he choked uncomfortably.
Malta returned to her position, braced against the wall as she chuckled quietly. They both straightened their postures when they saw Benavides come out of the conference room with three members of the Tribunal Council. A heated discussion appeared to be in place. Tension descended through the halls with raised but hushed voices. Benavides held his ground, and did not falter under the heavy tone.
“King Klauvius placed a tremendous burden on Benavides, and all of Soleste,” Guitterez whispered.
“If anyone can handle such a hefty obligation, it would be Major Benavides,” Malta replied in her normal voice. She tucked a loose strand of her strawberry blonde hair behind an ear and continued, “few of us have the right to stand next to him. His brilliance has kept this kingdom afloat, even during such turbulent times.”
Guitterez sighed with annoyance. “Our king certainly put a lot of faith in him. That bothered me about Klauvius. I often tried to make sense of just who he was.”
“Klauvius was a lovely man,” Malta answered dryly.
“Benavides seemed to have fancied him greatly,” Guitterez said with a sneer. “I on the other hand, could never fancy another man in the same manner I would fancy a woman like you.”
Malta crinkled her nose and scowled with a death stare at Guitterez. Before she had the chance to rebuke him, Benavides crept into the office, smiling.

The Warring Robins, Ch. 2

Fly Free, Dear King

For twelve generations, the kingdom of Soleste enjoyed peace throughout each of its 21 provincial states. During the 9^th Imperial period, King Klauvius XVI made the province of Nerou the new capital state. The relocation from the former capital of Icen caused an uproar amongst the people, but soon deescalated once everything was settled. A renowned oracle once advised the king that birds like robins signified transformation, growth, renewal, passion, and power. As a tribute to his royal subjects, King Klauvius issued several thousand robins to each state official as a sign of goodwill.
Late one winter evening, King Klauvius summoned his most trusted advisor, Captain Heinrich Benavides, to his conference chambers. The long-awaited meeting had finally come to fruition after a series of cancelations. Benavides rushed down the great-hall, as his men were instructed to wait attentively for his return. He entered the lavishly varnished black wooden doors of the conference chambers with a sense of urgency to learn what news awaited him.
The once vibrant king no longer sat at the helm of the deliberation table, but rested feebly in his armchair by the fireplace. King Klauvius shivered as he was wrapped in two white panther skinned quilts, though a luscious fire roared before him. Recently, he had donned a silky mane of wavy blonde curls. He was a hearty consumer of food and drink, but now his healthy frame had been reduced to a shriveled prune in comparison.
Benavides was moved to tears to see his mentee come to such grim conditions. He solemnly strolled over to the king and placed his sword on the decorative mantle, so that he could perform a proper bow.
“Your Majesty, I have come as soon as you requested,” Benavides said, after clearing his parched throat.
“I— called you here because my departure will soon come. This devilish ailment has ravaged my body, just as it has done so to scores of my subjects,” the king panted.
Benavides took a knee to look his ruler in the eyes and placed a burly hand on his shoulder. He did not interrupt, knowing the king’s premonition of death was a confirmation of what the lead physician declared hours earlier.
King Klauvius continued, “I earnestly hoped to serve my kingdom as a fair king. Some say I accomplished that goal, while others do not believe I was worthy to sit on the throne.” He closed his eyes and paused briefly. An attendant entered the room and placed a smelling salt under his nose to rouse him.
“Where was I? Oh, yes. The Royal Physician will announce my condition by morning. I do not expect to make it through midday. To the matter at hand; with no heir, the throne will be left deserted and my kingdom will crumble in shambles. I humbly beg of you, dear Benavides, to assume the throne in my stead.”
Benavides turned grey in the face as his jawline stiffened. With a growl, he sprung to his feet. He refrained from scowling and fixed his tone to match the solemn mood.
“There, now, old friend. I am certain your feverish nature has brought you to the brink of madness. You know it would not be possible for me, a common military soldier, to assume the throne of your bloodline,” he said.
King Klauvius sunk further into his armchair and sighed with grief.
“Then we are at an impasse. No one shall assume the throne after my death. The kingdom will be fractured by the two fanatical factions from my cabinet, he said.
Benavides slammed his fist on the mantle, then quickly regained composure.
“I was not sure that you were aware of them. My intel reported unsavory movements within your cabinet some months ago. They call themselves the Greater and Lesser Houses, and each have the audacity to mimic your royal banner with the emblems of blue and white robins.,” he replied.
Another long pause drifted into the room. This time, the king’s labored breathing rivaled the crackling fire logs.
“I have been thoroughly informed of these cults. They claim to represent the golden era of our kingdom, but have robbed my treasury dry to support their efforts,” King Klauvius sniffled.
Benavides turned to look away from the crushed king. Though he could not conceal the grief in his eyes, he returned his gaze once more.
“There are no man-made elements that exist without weaknesses. It is clear the Houses do not share the same cord. Tempers have already been flared by the head of each sect’s assertion to control the entire country. Inevitably, we will be embroiled in war,” he said.
King Klauvius squirmed until he sat upright and stretched his hand towards Benavides.
“You mustn’t let it come to that. You must intervene,” he shrieked.
Benavides clenched the king’s hand, and the two men embraced for several moments.
“I swear to you, I will end this madness,” Benavides whispered.
The oath was sealed with a tender, passionate kiss. By morning, Benavides stood with the lead physician to announce the king’s critical condition. After the meeting convened, he sat alone in the conference chambers. There was no solace for him seated in the exquisite armchair where Klauvius had lingered in his arms until dawn. Bitter tears drenched the quilts doused with his lover’s aroma. Outside the castle, church bells rang twelve times and thirty grey robins were released all at once. This customary ceremony signified that King Klauvius was dead.

The Warring Robins, Ch. 1

Cadet Yoshida

Cadet Shevchenko

The Warring Robins, Intro (p. 5)

Cadet Faruk

Cadet Savoi

The Warring Robins, Intro (p. 3)

Cadet Roudan

Roudan, Emmett
Age:20
Height: 6’1
Weight: 202lbs (athletic build)
Eye color: Green
Hair: Blonde, buzz cut
Birthmark/tattoo: Black cobra wrapped around upper R arm
MOS/position: Tactical Specialist (Alpha squad leader)
Highest Rank: 2^nd Lieutenant
Home of Record: Becque City
Background: Son of a mid-level aristocrat. Enrolled in Calvary Academy with a waiver to replace his deceased older brother and uncle (each reportedly died fleeing action during a siege). Father committed suicide after being harassed and shamed by the Greater House Knights, for which the Junior Roudan is often mocked and ridiculed for. He is a skilled kickboxer. His personal strengths are optimism and a willingness to support others in their efforts. Wants to end the war between the Greater and Lesser Houses so that he can return to his normal life. Approaches problems with compassion and consensus building.

The Warring Robins, Intro (p. 2)

Feuding Feathers

During the 9^th Imperial period, within the lush province of Nerou, the dying king decreed his final request for peace in the land. A disagreement caused two members from his noble regiment to fall out. They each divided into separate sects, notably with both using a colored robin as their designated emblems. The Greater House displayed a blue robin. Only the wealthiest dignitaries could join The Lesser House displayed a grey robin with a combination of upper and middle-class nobles. Together, they would control most territories through political ambition.

A series of brutal wars between the two houses created a hostile environment for civilians around the entire nation. Countless deaths took a toll on the supply of natural resources. Citizens were forced to choose sides and were allocated status according to decrees regarding a caste system from the wealthiest to the poor. The houses of each sect were riddled with corruption and scandal.

A prominent military general known as Benavides, assembled colleagues who held neither sect in high regard. They formed an institute in the countryside of Emor, where the ruins of a coliseum were reconstructed into a conservatory for military officers. The Calvary Academy enrolled teenage children of influential households to be trained in academia, as well as combat. Certain exceptions were made, so a poverty-stricken gifted child could also meet the criteria to attend this school.

If a child was neither wealthy nor considered well endowed with talents, they were started into battalions of infantry troops. There was a lottery for each state that demanded the first-born son of every family be called to arms. If there were no sons to enlist, the father would take their place. Healthy daughters could also be drafted to replace any sickly or dead male family members.

Thus, the generals formed a rebellion hoping to overthrow both sects, unite the governing state, and return Nerou back to its former glory.

The Warring Robins, Intro

Living Works of D.K. Fair

A Writer's Journey

Tag: war