Battle Strong by Elizabeth McCready (the ebook reader txt) 📖

of a team of at most twelve soldiers, Quinn was now the leader of six thousand men. And though they weren’t the greatest fighters, but they got the job done. They were incredibly sloppy swordsmen and their marksmanship could have used some serious work, but they were making progress on the Dumarian troops. Only fifty of their men lived to tell the tale, whereas Quinn brought 5,489 men safely back to their sector. 

The day was dreadful for him, he got to fight much less thanks to the six thousand bozos that were running circles around him flailing their shoddy swords and sending their flimsy arrows into the suits of the enemy. He was thankful that he had this opportunity, he had only wished he had been able to foresee their training prior to fighting with them. 

There was only one more camp to infiltrate in his sector, and his odds were good. He had 3,562 men remaining in his wake, and maybe one-thousand men to defeat in the camp. His men far outnumbered theirs. He was confident. That may be why things went a little off rails when they arrived. The Dumarians were waiting for them, weapons aimed, cannons loaded. Three thousand men could thin to zero if they weren’t careful. So, Quinn sent small masses of men to each side of the camp, and within hours the camp was demolished. Quinn returned to base with 2,011 men in tow. 

*~*

Her eyes traveled from the high domed ceiling to the expansive gold marble flooring that practically glowed before her. Welcome home. She tried not to react visibly, no one could know who she was. Not yet. It was too soon. She had been in the castle for nine days, and had quickly discovered that she was placed with the boring job. Leading a peace operation is kind of like leading a pack of dogs to dinner, they can figure it out on their own and only really need their leader if there’s no food left. Beth found herself frequently standing idly in her old home seeing the memories of her childhood unfold before her. She wore a helmet to avoid being recognized, not that anyone would really. She hoped this would all be over soon. She hadn’t spoken to any of the boys in the nine days she had been in the castle, she wondered if they were okay. If they were even alive. She was ready for the end. Ready for Dumar to be taken down once and for all, even if she was no longer in the front lines of that mission. She wondered what would come if they defeated the Dumarians. As she so often did. 

“Captain?” A female voice called from behind her.

“Yes,” Beth answered, she hadn’t recognized the voice. Not until she turned around. “Uh- yes, what can I do for you, Lady Lamette?” Casca. Beth’s cousin and Head Lady of the Court stood tall and proud before Beth. Her long blonde hair cascading down her shoulders, pulled back from her bright blue eyes. They could be twins.  

“You have a contact request from Anderson Rockwell 66101-T5-T9-A1.”

“Ah, yes, thank you, Cas-” Beth stuttered and corrected herself as fast as she could, “Lady Lamette.” She excused herself with a quick bow and hastily walked into the command room. She could feel the sweat on her back, she never would’ve expected to speak with a member of her family. She thought they would all be hidden. She breathed as she picked up the receiver to speak with Ander.

“Ander?” She breathed.

“Beth,” She could hear his smile, she sighed in relief and leaned her forehead against the wall. “They retreated Beth.” His speech was breathy and fast.

“They what?” Beth stood straight, speaking loudly, heads turned to her and Lewisse strode to her side curiosity widening her eyes.

“They surrendered, their white flags raised this morning. We’ve demolished 73% of their camps, soldiers and all. We left another 26% injured. They surrendered, babe.” His voice broke with emotion, “It’s over. We did it.” Beth couldn’t believe what she was hearing, her eyes welled with tears.

“We did it?” She choked up, she laughed, she breathed. “We did it.” She turned to Command. “We did it!” She shouted.

The room erupted, cheering and crying and celebration roared. 

“I’m coming home, Beth, I’m coming to you.” Beth ran a hand through her hair listening to those sweet words. “I love you, Donoway.” 

“And I love you.” She placed the receiver down and hugged Lewisse, and people she didn’t even know. Everyone was elated. 

“I must go inform the King and Prince, it’s over!” She shouted. “Fifteen years, it’s over!”

No manners stood a chance, Lewisse sprinted out of the Command Room shouting our victory for the whole castle to hear. Soon everyone was dancing to sounds of their own cheers, every person was glowing with joy that they hadn’t experienced in so long. Our country was finally free. Free of the toxic hold the Dumarians had over us for years. It was the end of an era, and the start of new one. 

Imprint

Publication Date: 04-07-2018

All Rights Reserved

Dedication:
This book is inspired and dedicated to a childhood of dreams, obsessions, and people who have shaped me into the person I am today and have thus inspired the events of this novel.