Fable - Ask The Insidious Sun

[Talus]

Anirian Territory - Cortosi Border

Talus sat on a stump inside of the small camp setup by the Anirian Guard. Half a dozen tents lay inside of a small wooden palisade hastily erected within the last day or so in order to create a somewhat defensible position.

His sword was leaning on the stump besides him, a bowl of soup in his hand and a wooden spoon sticking out of the side of it. The warm air felt pleasant enough at the moment, though today was the first day it hadn't been absolutely scorching out. It had been a calm day, another thing to be thankful for at a time like this.

They had been here for nearly three days now.

The mission that they had been set upon was an important one, at least to the Great Houses of Vel Anir. Rumor was swirling that elements of the Radiant Church had begun to filter into Anirian Territory. Men and women preaching about the glory of the Sun God and the power he held. The rumors said that these people were forebears to an invasion.

Talus and a regiment of the Guard had been dispatched as a quick response unit to what might have been a potential invasion. After scouting the area he had found nothing of the sort, though his men had captured at least three of the preachers since they had been here.

Now they were waiting for what was coming next; Dreadlords.

The Houses did not trust Talus to handle this situation on his own, after all in many of their eyes he was barely a Dreadlord and the Guard was meant only to handle matters of war. Thus he waited, blowing on his soup to try and cool it down some before eating. "Any sign yet?"

He asked one of the passing soldiers.

"Not yet sir."​

Talus offered a nod, and then the soldier walked off after a quick salute. Dreadlords always did take their time.

 

[Alakir]

Cortosi Border Camp

Always be prepared.

It was the mantra that his father drilled into him until he was senseless. It was the Anirian Guard, changing their posts every few hours so that wakeful eyes were always on the horizon. It was the ever burning flame that told their enemies where they were- and silently spoke the words, "let them come."

For the red-eyed Guardsman, there could be only anticipation. He pissed his childhood years away for this moment. The front lines, a real enemy, and the age old Anirian pastime of War. Alakir stared into the unending calm and let out a ragged breath, unbidden.

"Not a damn thing to be seen," one of the more seasoned soldiers yawned. "At least give us something to stab, eh?"

"Shouldn't we be glad nothing's happened?" another shifted his feet uncomfortably.

"We're Anirians, lad," the gray maned man let out a hearty laugh. "War is what we do! You should be proud and eager to face our enemies."

"I don't think anyone ought to be eager to die," the quick response soured the veteran's expression, which only worsened when the rookie added, "nor do I think we should be ecstatic about killing anyone."

Emotions ran high when people were together for any length of time. The camp was filled with anxiety, both in waiting for any possible attack, and in awaiting the arrival of the Dreadlords. Why they had to wait for the Houses to collect themselves was beyond Alakir. The Guard could handle Vel Anir's enemies without some haughty House retainers.

"Fuck you, Greenblood!" the venomous outcry tore him back to reality, and the Halberdier leapt forward to peel the elder soldier from the young one. The first punch had loosed a tooth, and blood spewed from a crunched nose. "I dare you to call us murderers again!"

Tears streamed down the boy's face as he curled into a fetal position. "Piss off him, Jack, it's not worth it," Alakir murmured as he held the man back. "You're already about to be in for it as it is."

"If that's all the blood you have to give the Anirian people, just pack your shit and go home!"

"Someone, rouse a bloody officer. Hurry up about it!" Alakir called. Hopefully he could hold Jack back long enough for help to arrive.

 

[Zana]

It hadn't exactly been a question as to whether or not Luana would send their own contingent of Dreadlords to help the Guards on their latest mission. As a show of friendship of course, not that they didn't trust the Guard to do their job. Ashur-Kan Luana had been quite clear that whoever Zana had selected for this mission would report directly to her and that she would report directly to the Guard's Commanding Officer. They were to be a unit to bolster the Guards forces and not to overrun them. It was... a new way of working. Not one that Zana was unhappy with. She had been stationed with the Guard as Luana's symbolic hope that the two might work together much better for nearly a month now but this was her first mission with them.

She shifted slightly in her saddle.

"I don't see why we are under the command of the Guard," Jayne sighed, riding close to Zana's left. Her lips flattened for a moment in to a thin line before returning to her usual blank expression. She had to be careful about how she educated the other Dreadlords. It couldn't be a total unravelling of their way of life it had to be discussed in a manner they understood.

"Because this is the job of the Guard, they just require magical assistance," Zana fought to keep the annoyance from her tone but the other woman didn't seem to notice if she did hear it.

"And thus we should lead, surely? We have been trained in this, surely we are better place to-"

"It is not our place to question but to carry out our duties to the benefit of Vel'Anir," Zana cut her off sharply. Jayne at least at the sense to look ashamed for a moment before the two lapsed back into silence. She inwardly winced. She had not meant to be so harsh with the younger Dreadlord and after a moment she continued, her voice gentler. "The Guard are one of the greatest armies in the world. Just because they do not possess magic does not make them... less. By working with them, we show Vel'Anir Luana do not think the people are less because they are not rich or because they do not possess magic. We are showing the people we see a future of us all joined together not bickering with one another. We are demonstrating we can be stronger," her words seemed to rouse something not only in Jayne but the other eight Dreadlords she had asked along on this mission. They all sat up a little straighter and they seemed a little less like moping children. Zana breathed out a soft sigh of relief under her breath.

She had selected the Dreadlords she had because they were younger or had shown some interest in expanding their knowledge and the ways in which they worked. She hoped she could use their curiosity or youth to get them to see the benefits of working with the Guard.

Soon the camp became obvious in the distance, camp fire smoke curled its way up into the sky and the noises of a busy camp began to reach their ears. There was a shout and she assumed one of the sentries were passing on the message that Dreadlords had been spotted. Zana shifted her position again. She was dressed in her full beautiful armour from the winged angelic helmet to the large blade at her side: it was an unmistakable bit of workmanship.

Once they reached the centre of the camp Zana dismounted and then the other nine did so in perfect union.

"Find a place to set up our own tents, I will find you when I'm done," there was a series of nods and then the group moved off through the camp. She watched them go for a moment and the stares from Guards that followed and then took off her helmet and made her way to where she knew those in Command of this group would be set up.

 

[Ademar Acero]

House Virak did support the armed forces, specifically those that favored their banners, of Vel Anir, but they weren’t willing to allow this mission to be solely influenced by their rivals especially Luana. Anything on a scale like this was something the Virak nobles would like to keep tabs on. But why fuss about some religious zealots? In the last years Vel Anir did take an interest in the Cortosi territories as they had conquered several city states away from the mainland of Cortos. One of them which Ademar participated when he was an apprentice.

Why did they beat around the bush and not just commit a campaign to dominate their neighbors by the west?

“Hopefully this’ll be the last straw so we can expand our borders,” Ademar commented to the man he rode beside; a man he was familiar with as it was the same person that took him as his own apprentice. The two carried a bond together as Ademar was one of his mentor’s accomplished and recognized Dreadlords within the House they served.

“We can only hope, Ademar; but patience, it won’t be long until the Houses understand the need to cross the river that separates us and Cortos,” Kor replied back to the lad.

“I’ll be taking lead in our group, but you’ll be my second-in-command,” Kor Vokeg reminded Ademar as the man was at the level of a first rank; a position Ademar yearned to achieve. “And you’ll remember to heed my commands.” Under his mentorship, Kor did make an imprint on Ademar. The man was cruel towards him, but he always got away with manipulating Ademar. Something about being Kor’s legacy. If an order was disobeyed or failed to be completed, a harsh punishment would present itself.

“I understand.”

“Good, I still know you have that temper and attitude you’re well known of. I know your thoughts on following command from the Guard.”

“We’re better and superior than these second rated soldiers. Us alone can crush this whole battalion. I refuse to take an order from someone insignificant.”

“And I agree, but not to worry. I won’t have us under their thumb. Them or Luana,” but there would still need some sense of cooperations in order to prevent any complaints towards their overlords. Pride and power meant everything to them. Them and the other four Virak Dreadlords accompanied them.

“Seems we’ve arrived. All of you set up our tents and campgrounds; everyone save for Ademar. We’ll be back, just have to...deal with these lesser soldiers.” Their black and crimson armor would catch the attention of the others as Ademar and Kor made their way to the command centre.

 

[Talus]

Talus was there quite literally in a snap.

Some of the ghostly after-effects of his magic still clung to him as he appeared between Alakir and the two brawling soldiers. There was a stern expression on his face, and he stared daggers at all three of the men. "Enough."

The tone of his voice could have cracked a stone. Gaze fixed on Jack, Talus taking a step over to him as he motioned for Alakir to take a step back.

"You don't touch your fellow soldiers." His finger pointed at the man. "Doesn't matter the anger, doesn't matter the rage. You. Don't. Do. It."

His stare was hard. "Anything you do to them, I do to you."

Jack seemed to be taken aback, his eyes as wide as that of an insects. He nodded his head slowly, and before he could move too far back Talus clasped him on the shoulder.

"I understand your passion, I do, but there's a line. We stand together, or we fall apart. Regardless of opinion." His voice was softer this time, still stern, but granting the man the respect he deserved. A moment passed, and then Jack nodded. "Take him to the infirmary."

"Yes, Sir."​

Jack said as he glanced back at Alakir, muttered a 'thank you' and went towards the boy he'd punched. Talus himself turned to Alakir. "Good job holding him back, I know Jack can be a bit of a ho-"

The Dreadlord turned Major found himself cut off as he noticed the second procession of Dreadlords slowly make their way through the camp. His lips thinned as he recognized one of them; Ademar. The others, he presumed, were all of House Virak as well. Fingers tightened, and he briefly wondered if Zana was already here as well.

"Come with me." He told Alakir. "Look as composed as possible. You're about to get a lesson in Dreadlord politics."

Was it a good idea to bring the Guardsmen? Probably not, but Talus was their Commanding Officer, he wasn't ashamed of his men in the least.

Without waiting for a reply Talus headed towards the Command tent, his tent. Where all the other Dreadlords would already be waiting.

 

[Alakir]

Alakir gave a slight nod as Jack and the wounded rookie hobbled toward the infirmary. He was glad the situation got resolved just as quickly as it started, but the fact remained. Tensions in the camp were already high for the Guardsmen. With the addition of the Dreadguards and the politicking of the Houses, only the gods knew what would happen.

Talus gave him some words of gratification, but they quickly drowned behind the arrival of the men that the camp awaited. Alakir watched the stone visage of the commanding officer as he considered the procession. There was no smile, nor any mirth at all.

Unlike the normal Guardsmen, Dreadlord showed nothing. Not positive, not negative. It was like a strategy game: the first to react lost.

"Aye sir," he replied with a stiff salute. Whether or not he could fully comprehend the Dreadlords and their enigmatic dealings was a suspended notion. His commanding officer had just entangled him in the heart of the web regardless.

So, he kept his mouth shut, his shoulders back, and represented himself in a manner befitting an Anirian Guardsman. In perfect step just behind the Major, once inside the tent he took a position flanking the man. Alakir remained still as a statue.

 

[Zana]

There was a Guard on the door to the tent and her pale green eyes fixed upon him like he were some sort of curiosity. A human guarding the tent of a Dreadlord? Even though she had been working with the Guard for a few weeks she still couldn't quite wrap her head around how they saw Talus as one of them so fully that they seemed to forget he could easily kill them all without so much as breaking a sweat should he desire. After a moment or two she realised she was making him uncomfortable by staring; his face had gone ashen white and taken on a slight sheen. If she could have been herself she might have said something more comforting but instead she merely threw him a half smile that looked forced as if she were remembering the rules of socialising someone had taught her before ducking inside of the tent.

Even if she hadn't of known this was Talus' tent she would have been able to guess. The little details in the wood that she had begun to recognise as his Signature were obvious on the little pieces around the room. She appeared to be the first one there and she set her helmet down on the table before her fingers ran over the maps thoughtfully.

There was a sudden exclamation from outside but Zana didn't so much as look up before the Grey wolf which had become the Dreadlords second shadow nosed his way into the tent. She struggled not to smile at how much more on edge the Guard outside now probably was.

"It is not nice to scare them," her pale green eyes met the sky blue of the wolf's and for a moment they simply stared at one another before the creature bounded onto the bed in the corner of the tent and settled himself comfortably on the mattress. Zana had no further chance to rebuke him before the tent flaps fluttered again and in strode the Dreadlords of Virak soon followed by Talus and an unknown Guardsman. Zana's eyes flickered over the group of men assembled in front of her and she leaned back against the desk with her hands clasped behind her back respectfully.

The game began.

"Kor Vokeg, Ademar," Zana inclined her head politely and there was even a touch of warmth to the latter's name in her voice. Now she knew who Ademar reported to his tendency towards violence made more sense. Kor was closer to her in age and the two had had more than a few run ins at their time in the Academy. Then her eyes shifted to Talus. "Commander," and then to the other Guard. "Well met. How can we be of assistance?" Her last question was directed solely to Talus.

 

[Srash]

Nevar journeyed with the Luana Dreadlords under Zana. He was known as a Third Level Dreadlord that just finished his apprenticeship. Rather than debate about who should oversee the effort to cull the cult, Nevar remained silent. He listened intently to Zana’s words, though. Straightened his stance as she gave her speech in response to Jayne’s question.

The youthful Dreadlord sported leather armor for mobility. Plus, he would not have had the time to acquire the funds for any custom armor. He bore a staff with a spear tip wrapped in cloth.

With the order to set up his tent, Nevar and the rest of the Luana Dreadlords found a spot in the camp. Some banter shot back and forth among them as they dismounted and began to assemble their tents.

For now, they would be busy with that while Zana met with others.

 

[Ademar Acero]

“Well, the time would come to deal with your presence again, Zana,” Kor said with a passive aggressive tone in his voice. The two did graduate in the same class from the Academy and Kor harbored resentment towards her. “I heard about your recent promotion, much congratulations. I thought you’d never reach that rank. Unlike my old apprentice, Ademar, he happens to not find many obstacles on the ladder of power. Not weak like you.”

If Zana could see it, she would know that Kor’s habits and personality imprinted on Ademar’s. The man groomed him to be almost like him. The strive for strength and power, to feel superior than others, and awful attitudes all came from Kor. Like a cycle.

Ademar could only make sure his eyes didn’t meet Zana’s. He respected his old mentor, but didn’t share Kor’s views on the woman.

Talus and a Guard entered the tent which would stop any other words he had for Zana.

“Talus, is it? Debrief us any recent activities. I don’t like to waste my time on incompetence,” and glared at the Guard in the room.

“And what is he doing here? Is he an officer with command?”

Ademar also flared at the Guard, sharing his mentor’s values of the strong over the weak. What was this Guard compared to him? Just cannon fodder to be sliced up.

 

[Talus]

Talus' face could have been made of marble. A smile was perched on his lips, fingers resting on the hilt of his sword as he leaned back slightly in front of the large table centered in the middle of the tent.

"He is here for the same reason you are Kor." There was a coolness to the way he spoke, a listlessness that seemed entirely unpracticed and natural. "Because I asked him to be."

He gave the man a smile, then glanced at Ademar. "Welcome my friend. It's been too long, seems like an age ago that we struck that blight from Vel Cirak."

Talus and Ademar had fought side by side against a horde of werewolves. The fight had been a especially brutal one, and they'd saved one another's lives more than one throughout it. Their paths had diverged since then, but just as with Hal Talus would not forget what Ademar had done.

His attention then turned to Zana. A light flickered in his eyes, and she would know exactly what he felt as he spoke. "And of course I welcome my fellows from House Luana as well, Zana I believe it was? It's a pleasure to meet you."

Acting ignorant was hard, but she would know the truth behind the mask. She always would.

"Now, to business." Talus said as he tapped the map on the table to pull their attention. "The rumors of a coming invasion have proved somewhat untrue, we've seen no movement of troops or gatherings of soldiers, though the Cortosi city of Galdria is located just here above the river and has a considerable garrison."

They'd established that on the first day. "What is true however is word of these...priests preaching to our people. They are undoubtedly connected to the Radiant Church, and I suspect are trained to resist interrogation."

Members of the so called 'Solar Choir' he presumed.

"Right now, our next step needs to be breaking one or all of these men to figure out what is going on." They had captured three of these men, all of them held in separate tents in the camp.

 

[Alakir]

He held his composure tightly, even as all manner of elements crashed against him. The doubts and suspicions of more reserved Dreadlords, and direct disdain from the most vocal of them. Alakir fixed his gaze on the far end of Talus' tent and examined the canvas as if searching for the tiniest imperfection. So long as his eyes did not waver between the group, they would most likely ignore him as nothing more than a setpiece.

That was preferable to speaking out and drawing their ire. No man ever made it far as a Guardsman if he went against the grain. As swiftly as the storm came, it passed. They started their talks about the campaign and the question of the unranked Guardsman melted away into obscurity.

This part drew his attention, and he looked down to the table. He followed Talus' words and description, and realized that they had been briefed in short about the situation previously; but it became apparent that the information came at a need-to-know basis, and several things he learned had not been deemed necessary for the larger number of Guardsmen outside of the tent to know.

Religious fanatics were not well loved in Anirian society. Impractical things were generally eschewed in favor of manpower, iron, and tangible forms of strength. An attempt to disrupt that simple, yet stout structure would be perceived by any Anirian to be an act of aggression.

Stealing hearts and souls away from Vel Anir meant taking away its fighting force. That could not be allowed to pass. It made sense: an outright attack on their lands would be suicide.

Propaganda masked as religious preaching? Devlish. Ingenious, even.

He had questions, but he knew that to simply ask them undermined that there were ranking Dreadlords who would speak ahead of him.

Alakir waited patiently.

 

[Zana]

A rush of anger, disgust, bitterness, rushed through the bond as Kor spoke but Zana's mask never slipped. The radiated calm she gave off didn't change but her stoic expression changed into that of a smile. Mainly because she knew it irritated him. Infuriated him that he couldn't get the reaction from her that he had always wanted which was a fight. So, much like she had done Ademar, she simply bowed smartly as was appropriate for a senior Dreadlord paying someone beneath them a compliment and gave him a look that could have sunk a thousand ships and broken more hearts.

"You are much to kind, Ademar is a credit to Vel'Anir, one could only hope to be like him one day," though she made a distinct decision to say Vel'Anir and not to him. Ademar had shown her how to skip stones across a lake of moonlight - Kor would never do such a thing.

Her attention shifted like his did to Talus and then the map. She had been standing against the desk but as Talus stepped towards her she took a big step to the side to avoid the contact and put the table between herself and him so she could still see what he pointed at. His words made her gut sink a little. Propaganda and spies were Luana's trademark. Breaking them from other factions was part of that cornerstone. She stood up straight and put her hands behind her back.

If she could get her hands on one of them she might be able to get a flash of the future and their plans.

"I believe I could be of assistance in that," Zana kept her eyes on Talus and ignored Virak altogether. "If you need a recommendation you trust Ademar can vouch for the time I was able to get information out of a rebel group of elves that led to the decimation of their whole camp," now her eyes flickered to Ademar. Of course he had no idea how she had done it but her information about the camp nor about the poisons on weapons had been a foot wrong.

 

[Ademar Acero]

Kor only scoffed at Zana’s comments, disappointed he didn’t spark a fire in her. After years from graduating and she still had the same demeanor. It irritated him, but it did not anger him unlike Ademar who did express his frustration when Zana showed kindness to him even when belittling.

“It’s been too long, I trust you’ve grown since then,” which earned Ademar a quick glance and frown from Kor. There have been many missions Talus and Ademar partook when still apprentices in the Academy. Frankly, Ademar was surprised and somewhat disappointed when Talus joined the Guards and not pledge to House Virak. Since then he has not seen Talus, though they shared a mutual companion which was Hal.

To Talus, Kor did not protest of the Guard in their presence. It mattered little to him as the man was seen as cannon fodder and weak for Kor. “If it makes you feel better to have...pawns and chaff with us, suit yourself,” Kor proudly said, disrespecting the guard and bringing a more tense atmosphere amongst them.

“What Zana speaks is true. She has a talent in retrieving information that is critical to our benefit.”

And that Warner him a scornful look from Kor, glaring at Ademar after validating Zana’s words.

“As the only First Rank in this campaign, I believe it would be more efficient that me and my Virak Dreadlords interrogate these religious fanatics and not have these alleged traits of Zana process them,” more slights towards the woman from Kor’s mouth. Kor wanted to assure dominance and command in these ranks.

“Where are these prisoners, Talus?”

 

[Talus]

"I don't much give a damn what your rank is Kor." Talus said blankly.

This was testing the waters slightly, in fact, it was wading into a shark infested Lagoon. Officially Talus was only a third level Dreadlord, the lowest among those in this tent. He was confident he could take any of them in a fight, but bucking tradition was never easy.

"This mission was brought forth by the Guard." He glanced at all the Dreadlords. "Commanded by the Houses with the Guard being put in Charge."

His voice was firm. "Even Virak agreed to that, and I do not think they would be pleased their men are already bucking that command."

Talus had a sense that he would have to kill Kor before all of this was over. He could feel it in the way the man stared at him.

"There are three prisoners. Enough for all. Zana you may take one, Kor another." Doling out people like cattle put a bad taste in his mouth. Zana would feel the bitterness radiating through him. "The Third will remain untouched."

The prisoners dilemna. Talus' own tactic.

 

[Zana]

Talus' emotions were like a roar in her head and she struggled to maintain her stoic expression as Kor dismissed her outright. She bit the inside of her cheek and concentrated instead on the sharp sting of pain to stop herself saying something out of character. Or worse, punching him. Zana did manage to catch Ademar's gaze and offer him an appreciative flicker of a smile for supporting her before going back to waiting for the others to finish talking. A heavy silence hung thickly around the group into which she cleared her throat.

"That sounds agreeable," she took her hands off the map and put them behind her back once more. "Shall we say we reconvene in an hour after we have had time to talk to our prisoners?" her green eyes swept between all four of the men in the room, including the guard. It was important to her mission to bring Luana and the Guard closer together to make sure they felt warmer towards her and thus the House. If her magic didn't require secrecy she would have suggested he join her in the room, instead her mind drifted to the other Dreadlords in her group.

 

[Alakir]

Disagreeable lot, he decided as he pondered over the map and listened to them bleat about their misgivings, and the one more highly ranking officer went so far as to disparage him openly. Alakir had never questioned how these men and women thought. He'd always dismissed them as gifted, the type to be born with something and never have to work for it.

Kor embodied that sentiment perfectly. Alakir looked up from the map only long enough to affix the man with a sanguine expression, just to let him know he didn't give a fuck about him. When he looked back down to the table, Alakir dismissed the prattle between them.

Their politicking did very little to enhance the quality of their work, and the airs they put on divided them more than anything.

Talus put a swift end to that, and the Guardsman had to commend him. Not many people spoke back to their betters. In the end, Talus had his respect for that. But then, Talus had a command here and Alakir was no one.

"Aye, an hour," he agreed. He had thoughts to share with Talus, and wasn't quite sure he wanted the other Dreadlords to hear them. The girl from House Luana seemed as though she might hear him out, but on the whole, the feeling in the room stood.

He'd be easily passed over in a heated conversation, and his words dismissed.

 

[Srash]

Zana's Dreadlord companions finished setting up tents as directed. The only spot that could fit all of them was edge of the camp. Made sense due to them and the rest of the Dreadlords arriving well after the Guard had set up their own tents.

"What do you think those sun cultists are doing?" Nevar asked his tent mate allowed as they finished putting in the last stakes into the earth.

 

[Ademar Acero]

That slight would not go without consequence for Kor. He would not let a man who joined the Guards and lower of rank than him speak in such manner. That would earn Talus some sort of punishment or maybe death. It was part of the toxic culture in the Dreadlords. When one questioned another above in rank or at the same level it would create tensions and wouldn’t go away until one was killed. Something that they all knew when training in the Academy. Naturally if one wanted to get rid of someone higher than them, there would be plotting to bring their downfall.

And so Kor would await for the opportune moment to strike at Talus. Cowardly? Sure, but honor was overrated.

“I’d watch your tone, boy. Or did your pathetic mentor not teach you that lesson?”

Words that were so obvious that something would come later to Talus.

“Let’s go, Ademar,” and would leave, giving a glare to all in the room before stepping out of the tent to collect the prisoner. The tension in amongst them made him feel awkward, wanting to say something to Talus as he knew Kor would have the task of attacking him; but he said nothing except, “An hour it is,” and would follow the tracks of his mentor.

Outside he would see an angry Kor which could be told from his face. “We will talk when we get to our campgrounds,” in a frustrated tone he said. The two would be directed to where the prisoners are and would take one of them for interrogation. They’d pick one that seemed timid and the weaker of the three. Someone easier to crack and have their tongue loose.

 

[Talus]

All Talus did was smile at Kor.

The best part of most Dreadlords was that they were easy to bait and predict. Men like Kor had a way about them. All they could see was the wall in front of them, never the path around it nor the window just to the right of them.

He smiled after the man, and then offered Ademar a respectful nod of his head as he agreed to the hour of time. After a few seconds Talus turned to Alakir. "Could you give us a moment? I'd like to ask Zana about her interrogation techniques."

It would be important to getting things done.

"If you don't mind, of course." Talus said as he turned to Zanna.

 

[Alakir]

"No, of course," Alakir gestured for the man to do as he needed. It wasn't as though he had any room or power to question it; nor would he do so if he had. "For Vel'Anir," he added with a respectful salute.

 

[Zana]

It would be easily missed unless someone was looking for it or knew of it but a purple crackle of energy ran across her hand when Kor threatened Talus. Her eyes never left the other man, not until he was out of the tent and even then she stared after him for a few more seconds. Memories of their time in the Academy together flickered through her mind. Despite his prowess in magic he had been a completely average soldier in Zana's mind. She had far surpassed him in the arts of mounted combat and in blade work it was only his brute strength that had been the difference between them. Her hand slowly curled into a fist on the table and the energy fizzled. She took a deep breath and returned her attention to the Guards.

"Wait," Zana moved around the table and put her hand on the mans shoulder. "Would you mind going and informing my men what was decided here? There is one amongst them, Srash, if you could take him to the prisoners he can start the interrogation," she held the younger man's eyes for a moment longer then finally released him to continue on his way. "Thank you," she inclined her head as if remembering that such polite words were necessary.

Once he was gone she let out a long breath and leaned back against the table, her eyes flicking to Talus. A slow but warm smile finally cut through the icy mask.

"And what didn't you want to say in front of the others, Commander?"

 

[Srash]

Some time after Zana asked a guard to get Srash…

“Srash? First Level Srash?” Jayne said in response.

Jayne and the other eight Dreadlord’s traveling with Zana sat around a little campfire they had made. They were boiling some water and making some simple tea. They had been chatting away – telling Academy and apprenticeship stories. Trying to build some camaraderie.

A raven haired Dreadlord woman turned her head toward Nevar and asked, “That’s your master, right?”

“Yeah,” Nevar answered, “I haven’t seen him since I finished my apprenticeship, though.”

“I heard he can shapeshift,” a stocky man among Zana’s Dreadlords added, “Maybe Nevar’s Srash?”

Spitting a bit of tea out, Nevar said, “Hah, as if. I can’t even do a fifth of what he does.”

Still, someone had to interrogate the prisoners.

“Maybe she meant Srash’s Apprentice?” the raven haired Dreadlord suggested.

The stocky Dreadlord slapped Nevar on the back and said, “Guess it’ll have to be you to fill in your Master’s shoes!”

“Eh,” Nevar hesitantly muttered. If there was something they were missing from Zana’s request… well, a young Dreadlord disobeying their leader’s request was never pleasant.

Without much thinking through, Nevar finally agreed with, “Yeah, I guess I’ll do my part. Take me to the prisoner…”

 

[Ademar Acero]

Their prisoner was acquired from the guards and was dragged back to the campgrounds of the Virak Dreadlords. The way they settled their tents and equipment was in a way almost secluding themselves from the rest. They did not wish to share much space with the Guards as they were seen as inferior soldiers under their gaze.

What Ademar now feared was the repercussions he’d face from his former mentor. There were few things that could nerve him and this was one of them. He remembered how he’s be treated if he failed in executing order or not heed the words of Kor. Quite ironic as Ademar was taller than Kor, but his power was outmatched by Kor’s own magic.

“Begin interrogating this sorry fuck, I’ll attend to it shortly,” Kor said as he threw the Cortosi prisoner to one of his subordinates, “and show no mercy to him! Not the slightest ounce of compassion.”

“As for you, Ademar,” the man now directed his eyes and words to Ademar as he conjured a laser beam with the light of the sun given to them. The beam impacted on Ademar’s chest plate and knocked him over, the other Virak Dreadlords stood in circle to observe this commotion. The attack was enough to knock the wind out of his lungs and lay helplessly on the ground as he tried to recover his breath.

“You dare undermine me!? Validate that bitch with her interrogation skills?!” and a kick was aimed at Ademar’s face, rolling away to avoid anymore that came. “I will not suffer any insubordination from you. I trained you which got you to the Second Rank, and this is how you show gratitude? Pathetic much like that Luana simpleton.”

“For-forive me, Kor. I mean not disrespect you,” still fighting for air to ease his lungs.

“If you wish for my forgiveness, then you will do as I say without hesitation. Another mistake and it will cost you dearly.” Kor then looked around to the others of their group, spectating the beatdown. “Let this be a lesson to all of you. Understand!”

And all in fear nodded their heads.

“Someone patch up this disgrace while I do some work,” and off he went to interrogate the priest. Anger and embarrassment boiled in Ademar. He was hurt, but in his mind he figured he deserved it although part of him protested otherwise. He was confused, but ultimately accepted the fault was on him for doing what he had done.

A Virak Dreadlord tried to help him off, but Ademar shiver him away. “Fuck off!” By himself he picked himself up, taking slow steps towards his tent to have a moment for himself and sulk for disappointing his old master. He was not weak or a disgrace, and he’d prove that to all. He’d amend his mistakes and regain a sense of honor from his mentor.

 

[Talus]

"Quite a few things, Dreadlord." Talus said as he slowly walked around the table, folding his hand over hers.

He did not move any closer, despite a desire filling him to do so. It would have been foolish, and Talus was trying hard lately not to be foolish. His shoulders set slightly, and he brushed his thumb over her skin as he smiled. "Most of them can wait though."

In truth he had just wanted a moment alone, even if he couldn't say half the things he'd wanted to.

"This entire thing is...troubling me." Talus told her quietly, biting his tongue for a moment as he shook his head. "There's something else wrong here. I can't pin it down."

No army had shown up, but these priests...they were most certainly real, true believers. "It feels like I'm missing something."

And now on top of that he had to deal with three groups of people who desperately wanted to kill each other. One of whom was most definitely going to try and kill him.

Though in truth, he was rather looking forward to gutting Kor. The man just rubbed him the wrong way.

 

[Zana]

The ties to the tent flap silently laced themselves together so if anyone had attempted to come in they would have been met with a rock solid wall of power. Zana twined her fingers with his and pulled him the rest of the way to her, brushing a lock of hair out of his face with a small frown.

"My vision hasn't changed either, there will be an attack here," if anything it had been getting clearer, crisper, stronger. Her fingers lingered on his cheek and then her lips twisted to the side as the thought more on the matter. "I will see if I can get anything off of one of the prisoners but I might need your help to focus it," like he had helped her in the cabin during the attack. She still wasn't entirely sure how the visions worked with the Soul Bond he had created but from experimentation and what she had ready in the book that had led them to each other, she believed he was an Anchor.

"I worry for Ademar too," a look of pain crossed her face. "I hadn't realised Kor was his mentor. He was in my class at the Academy and our history is... not the nicest," her lips pressed into a thin line. They had come close to killing each other on multiple occasions. They were like fire and water, summer and winter, even back then. Ademar had shown he respected her and Kor would want to remove that. She might even have to watch her back from him now which was a shame after their mission together.

"There's hope for him still, maybe if Kor is gone..." she thought about the man who had shown her how to skip stones and created terrible tunes with reed whistles under the moonlight.