Elian issues Angusel one last order in RAGING SEA Ch 6/Sc 2 #amwriting

Graphic overlay (c)2015 by Kim Headlee. In Dawnflight , Angusel pledged his life to the service of the most important woman in his life: his mentor and friend, Gyan. 

Stricken by grief because of a situation that Angusel couldn't prevent, she shattered that pledge in Morning's Journey , shattering Angusel's life in the process.

In today's excerpt, Centurion Elian helps Angusel realize that he has yet to face the most important issue for any warrior.

Previous excerpts of Raging Sea  Chapter 1: Scene 1 | Scene 2 | Scene 3 | Scene 4 | Scene 5 |Chapter 2: Scene 1-A | Scene 1-B | Scene 2 |Chapter 3: Sc 1-A | Sc 1-B | Scene 2 | Sc 3-A | Sc 3-B |
Chapter 4: Sc 1-A | Sc 1-B | Sc 2-A | Sc 2-B | Sc 2-C |
Chapter 5: Sc 1-A | Sc 1-B | Sc 1-C | Sc 2 | Sc 3 | Sc 4-A | Sc 4-B |
Chapter 6: Sc 1 |
Raging Sea Chapter 6, Scene 2©2015 by Kim HeadleeAll rights reserved.
Lying prone on the floor, Angusel wriggled under his low cot, reaching for the undertunic that had been kicked there at some point during the past several months. Last year he could have done this task easily. Now, between the thicker armor and the muscles that armor protected, the damned thing lay just beyond his fingertips.

“You’re being an amadan,” said his father behind him.

“If that means ‘bloody fool,’ then I agree,” Elian said. Angusel heard the step-thump of the centurion’s tread as he moved closer. “Turning down such a prestigious posting is foolish enough, but you and she were inseparable.”

Angusel stretched again, almost hooking the fabric, but he couldn’t quite reach it. With a sigh, he scooted from beneath the cot, stood, and faced his mentors. “I don’t need her charity.”

Gull bellowed, “Charity!”

Elian said, “What you need is to avail yourself of this opportunity.” His eyes narrowed to stern slits. “Or are you still a puling boy, afraid to face the consequences of your actions?”

Angusel balled his sword hand and dug it into his thigh to keep from swinging at his soon-to-be-ex-commanding officer. “Centurion Elian, I have been facing those consequences ever since the day that whole sorry business happened. Failure, disgrace, humiliation, banishment, rejection . . . what more would you have me face, sir?”

“What every warrior must learn to face: fear.”

Angusel snorted.

Gull said, “Has it ne’er occurred to ye that she offered this posting because she has forgiven ye?”

Aye, though he couldn’t allow himself the luxury of indulging in that hope.

He dragged the cot away from the wall and retrieved the errant undertunic. It was filthy with cobwebs and stiff with dried sweat, and no time to wash it. After shaking it out as best he could, he stuffed it into the canvas sack that held all his worldly possessions he wasn’t already wearing, save one item. His fist closed around the gold lion brooch, another man’s payment for treason and the symbol of Angusel’s freedom from being the Pendragon’s hostage. He pressed the brooch into Gull’s palm. “You of all people should understand why I cannot do this, Father.”

“Nay, lad. I only understand why ye must.”

Angusel used the motion of tying shut his sack to mentally tie down the anger spiking within him. “Why? You didn’t.”

“And that be exactly why I know ye must accept the posting.”

Elian, who had been following the exchange with a furrow deepening upon his brow, said, “What in hell are you two talking about?” When neither Angusel nor his father offered an answer, he held up his hands as if in surrender. “Never mind. In any event, Gull is correct.” With the lowering of Elian’s hands came the lowering of his eyebrows. “Ainchis Sal a Dubh Loch, Third Turma, Manx Cohort, I order you to accept the invitation of the Comitissa Britanniam to join the new unit called the Comites Praetorii.”

“You can’t! It’s—” Angusel hated himself for how shrill he must sound. He cleared his throat. “Fleet Commander Bedwyr said it’s a volunteer posting, sir.”

“Yes. And I order you to volunteer.”

***
Note: Amadan is the Caledonaiche epithet meaning "foolish man," derived from Scottish Gaelic. A foolish woman is amaid.

***
All this month, you are invited to...
— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Add Kim to Google+
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter and/or YouTube follow
...and each action this month is good for one chance to win an e-book copy of Snow in July . Please enter often, and good luck!