Eighteenth day of tenth month of forty third year after the foundation of the Union.

John Edward, Sergeant, The 23rd Blue Guards, Union Army

A quick thrust and his blade ended the elven maiden's life. He looked down at the beautiful dead face. For a second a moment in time. He almost regretted killing the elf. Then he remembered the blood and carnage that was inflicted on the Union army by these warrior elves.

Although he was a seasoned veteran in all his years he had never been in a battle with so much death and destruction.

He had been in the army for over twenty years. As a youth he left his home a small farmstead in the heart of the union. It was commonly joked that the only produce the farms grew were soldiers for the Union armies. He had fought in some of the hardest campaigns of the unification wars.

He looked around and watched as the priests and paladins walked through the wounded and used their powers to heal wounds and light injuries. A paladin bent over a wounded soldier and placed his hands on a soldier with a grievous wound and said a pray to his God and the wound disappeared.

Then there were other soldiers medics dispensing magic potions. The Union army bought the best potions money could buy. These elixirs were sometimes the difference between life and death.

Finally there were the soldiers on burial duty. These soldiers were collecting the dead and placing the bodies in graves. There were rows and rows of graves. There were so many dead.

When the Union army had marched into the valley and spotted the Elven army arrayed against it. Some of soldiers in his company had laughed that the elves were armed with bows.

His regiment was one of the first to approach the hill. He remembered when the arrows had started raining down death. Somehow he survived the deadly deluge. Only to almost be crushed by the giant elemental.

Then what was left of his regiment tried to block to hole which the elven army used to escape the battle. He remembered engaging the elven pikes, he believed that the union soldiers had blocked the hole. Then the warrior women had engaged.

They were like a whirlwind of blades and brought death to whoever they engaged. This attack had allowed the elven army to flee from the battle and left the Union to pick up the pieces.

He wiped the sweet from his face and looked around as a officer was approaching him.

"Hey Jake fancy finding you here. Glad to see you have survived the battle. A messy one this time."

Only one person called him Jake, was Major Hookes, they said once Hookes got his Hook into you, you were in for bound to find yourself in trouble. He had first met the Major during the Vale Campaign, no actually it was the campaign of thirty two.

He didn't know the Majors official role in the army but everyone knew he was attached to the secret military intelligence. He had seen the Major give orders to Generals and they jumped at his command.

"Jack I've got a job for you"

The last job he was given by the major had him scouting enemy fortifications during the last mountain campaign. He frowned and looked the Major in the eyes".

"Last Job you gave me I lost three toes"

"Jake how was I to know that snow storm was going to appear. This job will be easier. Trust me. It's a baby sitting job."

If you had been in service as long as the sergeant eventually you would pull a baby sitting job. Looking after someone who thought that they were the centre of world. At least he was unlikely to loose any toes to the job.

"So who is it you want me to babysit"

He asked, still not very enthusiastic.

"I am going to fold you and the rest Twenty Third regiment into the Fourty Fourth regiment. I am placing you under the comand of Captain Simon Wayne, he is fresh from Sea Guard."

Sea Guard was a military academy where the elite of the union sent their children for officer training.

"So why does this Captain need a babysitter surely if he graduated from Sea Guard he should know how to be a Soldier."

He asked knowing that plenty of officers who graduated from the academy should never have been given a commission.

Major Hookes leaned in and spoke

"Well you see he is General John Wayne's son."

John Wayne was a national hero. Many gave him the credit of ending the last of the Unification Wars. He was known as the Duke. Even though the Union was meant to have no nobility.

"Don't worry Jack, the job will be easy, the Captain has been given command of supply wagons which will be supporting the Fourty Forth regiment who are following the Orcs. It looks like they have broken off from the main army and are making a break to return to Orc Empire. The Forty Forth have followed them and are there to make sure they return home as quickly as possible."

He gathered up the soldiers and went to meet their new Captain.

Twenty Second day of tenth month of forty third year after the foundation of the Union.

John Edward, Sergeant, The 44th Blue Guards, Union Army

It been three days since the battle and they had made a quick pace through the forest. Wayne's company which he was now part of was almost at full strength with over hundred men.

They had eight supply wagons which were pulled by donkeys, the wagons were full of food and water to feed the rest of the Forty Forth regiment. They had almost caught up to the rest of the regiment which was a couple hours ahead of them.

The sound of shooting echoing through the forest brought the company to a stop. The Captain gathered his officers into a huddle around him. There were three leftenants all of them were straight out of Sea Guard and appeared to be friends of the Captain.

"We should send the scout ahead and see what is happening."

He suggested to the Captain. The company had also been given a native Elf as a scout. The scout was one of Prince Teynfrafwr retainers. The Prince had allied himself to the Union. In return the Union had agreed that the Prince would be made Governor of the Union province they were in the process of conquering.

With a nod of his head the Captain agreed.

"Hey Sgowt go and check out what is ahead."

The scout didn't bother to respond and just moved out. He disappeared into the Forest.

"Get these wagons into a defensive circle. Move the donkeys into rear. Form up in defensive lines"

He yelled preparing the soldiers for the worst.

After about ten minutes Captain Wayne approached him.

"Sergeant Edwards, perhaps I should, scout up a head and see what is happening."

He could see the boy and that was exactly what he was, clearly wanted to get into the action.

"I don't think that's a good idea, Sir, the company needs you to be command in case of trouble"

Indeed they did not have to wait long for the trouble. He saw the scout running back through the forest. He was yelling

"Orcs are coming."

He looked over at the Captain standing nervously next to him.

"Two lines and guns at the fore wait the Captain's order to fire"

He yelled preparing the men for the enemy.

The elf reached the wagons as the first Orc broke the tree line. He almost gave the command to fire. However the Captain beat him to it.

"Fire and reload"

He fired his own musket as the rest of soldiers in the first line fired their muskets.

He withdrew as the second line took up position. The soldiers of the second line automatically moved into the front. They were well drilled and knew what to do in a battle.

The second line took up a firing position and waited for the Captain's command.

"Fire"

Again the muskets roared and their lead shot hit their targets. With his musket reloaded he moved up next to the Captain.

He surveyed the tree line and spotted about a dozen dead Orcs. There did not appear to be any more approaching. They nervously waited for more to attack. After a bit of a wait.

"Sgowt see if the Orcs are gone."

He commanded the elf scout. Again the elf disappeared into the forest. He was gone for a long time.

He was used to waiting in situations like this but he could see that the Captain was getting a bit inpatient.

An hour went by and then another finally the scout returned.

"The Orcs are gone, there are no trace of them. But I think you better come with me."

Sgowt asked of both him and the Captain.

"Ben, Steve come with me and the Captain"

Both were dependable soldiers he had know them for years and would be good if they got into a scrap.

Sgowt lead them through the forest till they got to a clearing. As they stepped into the clearing it was clear a battle had been fought here. Dead Union soldiers lay all over the place.

"Captain over here, we have a survivor"

Steve called out standing over an wounded soldier. The soldier had a large open wound on the shoulder and a large gash across his face.

The soldier opened his eyes and stared ahead and started screaming

"The Orcs are going to kill us all."

The soldier sounded deranged. Steve tried to calm the soldier.

"Calm down son your amongst friends the Orcs have all gone"

The Captain looked around at all the dead. Finally he spoke.

"We need to gather the men and go after the Orcs."

What did he think we could do with hundred men, when the rest of the regiment with over two thousand men had perished.

"Captain, we need to check for survivors, bury the dead and then report back headquarters. We need to let them know what happened here."

The Captain looked like he was going to argue with him but he nodded and gave the orders.

Twenty Forth day of tenth month of forty third year after the foundation of the Union.

John Edward, Sergeant, The 44th Blue Guards, Union Army

They had eventually found five survivors, two of them had died during the trip to the Union headquarters. However the other three should pull through once they received medical treatment.

The Union army was in the process of building a fortress just outside of Dyffryn Dwfn, the Elven city was controlled by Prince Teynfrafwr.

The Elven city looked alien and exotic and he yearned to explore and look at the wonder's that surely lay within. However before he could do that they needed to report the fate of the Fourty Fourth regiment.

They walked through the gates of the fortress. He assigned some soldiers to take the injuried to the hospital. Then commanded the rest of troops to stand down whilst he and the Captain went to report what had happened to the Fourty Fourth. As they passed some soldiers on their way to commanders office the Captain looked nervous.

"Do you mind if I ask what's shaken you up Captain?"

In response to his question the Captain pointed back at soldiers they had just passed.

"Those soldiers over there are from the Tenth regiment."

So they were from the Tenth regiment he didn't see the issue. So he asked.

"Why would that be a problem?"

The Captain leaned over and whispered.

"Because my father always travels with the tenth."

Before he could mull the implications of this new development. They had arrived at the commanders office.

He knocked on the door and it was opened by an old staff sergeant. Who asked.

"What do you want?"

The Captain still seemed distracted so he answered

"We are from the Fourty Forth and we have important information for whoever is in command"

The sergeant let them through into the commanders office. Once in the room he saw it was really a war room. With maps and troop deployment displayed on large desks that dominated the middle of the room.

There were at least three general's as well over a dozen other high ranking officers in the room and they seemed to be arguing about something. But everyone seemed to have gone quiet as they entered the room.

One of the General's looked over at them. He looked at the Captain and asked.

"Why are you here?"

The General was looking straight at the Captain. His eyes bored into the kid.

"Fa…. General we have come to report that Forty Forth has been destroyed."

It seemed to take a few seconds for the General to digest this information. Then he asked.

"What of the Orcs where have they gone?"

The Captain answered the General's question.

"The Orcs appear to be heading back to centre of the forest."

They all moved over to the maps in the centre of the room. The General and fellow officers started asking questions. Sometimes the Captain looked to him to supply details but for the most part the Captain answered all the questions as a officer of his rank should.

Once they had answered all the questions. They were dismissed. Before they exited the room. The General called out.

"Captain Wayne well done, the information your provided is vital to the ongoing war."

Once outside the room the Captain looked visible more relaxed in fact a smile came to his face.

"That's the first time my father has ever said I have done anything well."