“Vilkus Anihilus? I believe I’ve heard that name before.” Anitus said, “Your father wouldn’t happen to be The Grimm would he?”
“He is the very same. Though I am named Vilkus that is my father’s name. You may refer to me as Vilka, or as Lieutenant Commander. I will accept no other titles. I will be your overseer. I am Deka’s eyes, ears, mouth, and arm. My words are his, so stand at attention.”
She spoke with such assertive authority that even Anitus followed her command.
Vilka stepped into the tent, those burning eyes aglow in the dimly lit tent, surveying her surroundings as if she expected a trap of some kind. A steely silvered tail followed through behind her, “My prince has chosen his allies well, but I will not have insubordination among our ranks. You are each granted authority and rank to command and punish those ranked below you as you see fit. You may assemble teams of no more than four subordinates per captain. If you desire, The Prince has allowed the six of you to instead form an independent group of your own and act as mercenaries.”
“I think I would like to take command of your ilk myself.” Anitus said, “And Lieutenant Commander, if I may be so bold, who are you to Prince Deka? Before all of these war games, that is.”
“I am the prince’s retainer.” She said flatly, daring Anitus with her eyes to say anything backhanded.
“I see. Understood Lieutenant. What do you need from us?”
Kaara could hardly hold her excitement back. Deka had already given so many ranks to other people. She loved roleplaying as a soldier, and Deka had put so much effort into the war games that she got to pretend to be a captain.
“Mind your tail, Kaara Tibur.” Vilka said, her eyes piercing straight through her now.
She hadn’t even noticed she was wagging it. She saluted, coiling her tail around her leg, “Sorry Ma’am! It won’t happen again, ma’am!”
“As I was saying,” Vilka said, “Your mission will be to seek out and defeat enemy targets. Take the tips of their horns and bring them back as proof of your victory. With me I have an extensive list of our targets. We want at least six defeated by the end of the day for us to hold up our end of the bargain. We don’t care how you do it, just that it is done by tonight.”
Kaara squeezed her leg with her tail in excitement. She recalled in previous years how they conducted these ‘wars’ by taking the tips off of the loser’s horns. Anyone who lost two tips were considered ‘dead’ by the rules of the war games. They could be taken in an ambush, by force, or wagered in a duel. It was the best way to simulate war without killing anyone.
It was also one of the reasons Kaara was so good at cutting things with water magic.
Anitus raised a hand, “What are our incentives to claim the horn tips of more than six targets, Lieutenant Commander?”
“I am glad you asked, Captain. Speed and results will be proportionately rewarded. For every three additional horn tips collected per day, Deka is offering to read one additional scroll in the evening. Is this sufficient?”
“More than sufficient,” Anitus said with a fanged smirk, “The prince really knows how to motivate his subordinates.”
“Naturally,” Vilka said with a stone faced expression, “If this is understood, then I will leave you with this list. I await your results. You have until sundown to deliver.”
And with that, Vilka handed Amaro a small scroll before turning on her heel and leaving the tent just as quickly as she had entered it. Kaara looked over his shoulder at the names on the list, “Wonder who they want us to take out. I might know a few of the names.”
“Don’t you know everyone in camp?”
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“I know I try to, but there’s definitely a lot of people my age I really don’t know too well.”
“That’s unsurprising considering there are close to a thousand Tibur young and old. I also imagine people come in and out of the tribe regularly.”
Kaara nodded, “More or less. The tribe has several smaller sub-tribes which explore other parts of the Altix. They’re like extended family, we only get to see them around this time of year. Anyways, who we fightin’?”
Amaro held open the scroll as everyone gathered around to look over the names, “Looks like Deka has taken the liberty of scouting their magical elements too.”
“I’m starting to like this prince more and more every second,” Anitus said, “Quite the model for a Xirxus. Prepared, ambitious, and driven.”
“Put his boots in your mouth while you’re at it,” Arik said, rolling her eyes, “Still, give me a fire user I’ll blow them out like a candle.”
“I’d be interested in handling someone with Earth Aix myself,” Anitus said with a glance over to Rorik, “It will be a good warmup.”
Rorik crossed his arms, “I have no preference myself.”
“A wind user for me!” Raktus pitched in.
“Well, we’re spoiled for choice, I’m counting at least sixty names on this list, but there were five scrolls, right?” Amaro said.
Kaara pressed her thumb to her lip, “As far as I remember, yeah.”
“Then the minimum we must take out is eighteen in a single day.”
“Eighteen?”
“Six plus three times four.”
“Oh,” Kaara didn’t understand, but she trusted he was correct.
“I suppose that means a few things,” Anitus said, “Either he anticipates we will consistently fail to reach the quota of six, that we won’t reach nine, or that his other followers will beat us to the punch.”
“There is certainly some wiggle room. If we beat six every day we only need to beat thirty in total.”
“I doubt he wants us to take out everyone on the list, but I wouldn’t be surprised if eighteen is the minimum number he considers to be a useful contribution. Shall we go for eighteen by the end of the night?”
“I don’t see why not,” Amaro said with a smirk, “It would be fun to see the look on Deka’s face when he realizes he has to read all the scrolls to us.”
“I think you guys are overlooking the other sub-tribes,” Kaara said, “If we exhaust ourselves too quickly, or go in without a plan we might get our own horn tips cut off in the process. Not to mention, there might be others who aren’t on this list who we’ll have to fight to get to the ones that are.”
“Kaara’s right. These fights won’t be easy,” Arik said.
“Plus, if we run into Tadios, there’s a high chance he might get a revenge kill on us,” Rorik said.
“You can do as you please, I don’t plan on losing, Tadios or not. I will be gathering some subordinates to assist in these endeavors.” Anitus said, “If the contents of those scrolls hold knowledge for greater power, then I’ll be doing everything I can to get that knowledge. Don’t slow me down with your hesitation will you?”
Anitus swept out of the tent.
“That guy…” Rorik muttered.
“I will be doing the same,” Raktus said, “I’ve much to prove, and much more strength to gather. Good luck on your hunts.”
They all looked to Amaro.
“What?” He said.
“You leavin’ early too?” Arik said.
Amaro shook his head, “I’ve learned my lesson. I understand we cannot overlook them. However, we should also prepare to take down at least one each by the end of today so my brother’s efforts don’t go to waste.”
“What’s the plan then?” Rorik said.
Kaara thought for a moment, “I vote we pair up. Anitus and Raktus are already sorta together, so if we’ve got three pairs of two we can defend each other’s weaknesses.”
Amaro perked up a bit, “Well I don’t think that’s a bad idea. It would give us more time to-”
“I’m goin’ with Arik!” Kaara said, hugging her, “If it’s the two of us we can’t lose.”
“Right, that makes sense, I think,” Amaro said, turning to Rorik, “Then I’m with you.”
Rorik nodded, “Just don’t be reckless and run off on your own. My magic can’t protect you if you get too far ahead of me.”
“Then its settled. We each bring back two pairs of horns by the end of the night,” Amaro said.
“Just remember, living to fight another day is better than risking yourself for one more kill,” Kaara said to him.
“Like I said, I’ve got someone to impress. As much as the Tibur have taught me defeat, I am still a Xirxus in the end I suppose.”
“Just be ‘Amaro’, alright?”
Amaro paused, staring at her. He smiled, turning, “Good luck to the both of you.”
“You too.”