I’ve come to a decision. The weapon, it deserves more respect. The work of several Soulweavers went into its creation. A name people can rally behind and take solace in. Legosia thought the name I picked for it was too generic, so he chose to amend it.

From now on, work on the Spear of Arneshal shall be sped up. The quicker the Spear can become available, the earlier we can assure our safety.

-From The Recently Deciphered Notes of King Arneshal, 1st Grouping

Dolish walked back into camp and breathed in a sigh of relief. The tents ahead of him looked so warm and inviting, and his bones were so very tired. But he wouldn’t find refuge in them. He had more important tasks ahead of him.

Beside him, the rambunctious Devourer stood bound. Ropes tied his hands together, and his eyes looked downcast and empty. Dolish felt a pang of guilt for the condition he’d put the boy in, but he couldn’t let that affect him.

As he walked past the camp, people whispered. He looked worse for wear, boots covered in mud and clothes ripped to shreds. He paid no mind to the spectators. They were not his destination. Soldiers dropped off injured to the tents, filling them to bursting.

Dolish nodded at the Brigadier, leaving the task of taking care of his army to him. If he was being honest, he still didn’t trust the Brigadier, and wanted him away for what was about to come next.

By the time most of the soldiers were delivered, someone special came to meet with Dolish. General Amarna hid her amazement at Dolish’s loss behind years of discipline. Though some of her emotions still showed, even if Dolish could not sense them.

“The Armon will want to know of this, Dolish. This is unprecedented,” she said, glancing over at Rozu.

“The boy’s my charge. I’ll deliver him personally.”

“Is the Stronghold really taken? After we’ve been trying to capture it for so long?” Amarna asked.

“Yes, it is.”

“All that time we wasted, all those lives…” she clicked her tongue.

“What was even the point?” she kicked the dirt.

“I led an expedition into Sanasira, Amarna. I’ve found things there that might be of use to us,” Dolish told her.

“Wait, you weren’t present at the attack? Dolish, how could y-”

“Later, Amarna. What happened was my fault. I know that. But before I take responsibility, I’ve work to do,” Dolish said, pushing Rozu forward, who moved listlessly.

“You better have a good explanation prepared for His Sharpness,” Amarna said from behind him. Dolish himself didn’t know if what he said would suffice.

He grunted, taking Rozu away from the nursing tents. He’d said it himself; he was a Bladeborn. He wouldn’t need any healing, would he? The both of them entered the army’s section of the camp, where Dolish moved to find Rozu’s commanding officer.

“The mantra of the Devourer is “Assimilate, Integrate, Become,” is it not?” Dolish asked him as they moved towards the building.

Rozu made a simple noise of affirmation.

“Then, tell me, soldier. Do you want to become nothing more than a wild animal?” Dolish asked him. Rozu muttered something unintelligible and Dolish stopped.

“What did you say?” he asked the young Devourer.

“At least animals don’t need to think,” Rozu said more clearly. Dolish tried to urge more words out of the Devourer, but Rozu didn’t speak any more. In a way, Rozu was correct. Animals didn’t need to think about wars, money or anything further than the next day. And animals would not have bothered themselves with some hidden relic of a kingdom long past its fall.

But they were not animals.

“We’re here,” he gestured Rozu towards the building. “Your commanding Colonel should be inside. Have you any words for him?” Dolish asked him. Rozu shook his head.

“Fine.”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Dolish expanded his Commander field, not bothering to enter the building himself. This would be a good display for all soldiers present. From inside, a Colonel popped out. Wrinkles covered his face, greying hair covering little of his head. He came out looking unamused but straightened up once he realized who he was speaking to.

“Colonel, this is one of yours, I presume?” Dolish asked him. the Colonel adjusted his clothing before speaking.

“Yes, sir. That boy’s under my command,” the Colonel replied curtly.

“Well, you’d be glad to know that you’ve trained him so well he tried to attack me.”

“I…I’m so sorry, General! I swear I-”

“You can save the apology, Colonel. I’m not here to admonish you for what you did or didn’t do. Does this one have a history of such occurances?” Dolish asked him.

“No, not until recently… Rozu was a good soldier. Lately, he’s been especially unruly, however. His squadron members, Tanz, Raisho and Sazir, report him missing from training sessions. I thought maybe the boy was just a bit shocked but… this? This is completely unacceptable!”

Dolish noted that Rozu grunted when hearing his squadron’s names. Perhaps he needs to change squadrons.

“What will you have me do with him, General? I promise I won’t compromise when it comes to his judgement,” the Colonel said, shaking slightly now that Dolish looked him up and down. Dolish wasn’t cruel enough to punish Rozu’s commanding officer, no matter the crime.

“Have him demoted. To the lowest rank possible. This soldier needs to learn the hierarchy all over again.”

“What?” Rozu finally spoke up.

“You have no place to complain, soldier!” The Colonel shut him up.

“You can’t do that!” Rozu told Dolish. He struggled against his bonds, but stopped once he realized that Dolish was not moving.

“Be glad I’m not having you executed, soldier. What you did today brings shame upon every other trooper who’s given their lives for this war. The fact you cannot get that through your head disappoints me,” Dolish told him. He turned back to the colonel, addressing him.

“Have him set to cleaning duties for his former squadron. I want weekly reports on his behaviour, so I know that he’s learning something from this. And if he does not,” Dolish glanced back at Rozu for half a second, “We’ll deal with him.”

Dolish left the young Devourer there, in the care of his Colonel. He hoped it would teach the boy a lesson, but he couldn’t spare the time to think of him. His mind was beginning to get foggy, and an ache had blossomed at the back of it. He funnelled some bewl through his brain, soothing the ache and refocusing himself. Ahead of him, there were more important affairs to take care of.

Raisha created a portal to him, meeting him halfway between his own tent and the Armon’s stronghold.

“They’re in a meeting right now, General,” she told him.

“And Yennel?” Dolish asked.

“Is present in the party,” Raisha answered.

“Thank you, Raisha. You’ve done enough on this day. Rest for a few days, you and the others, understood?” Dolish asked, though it came out more as an order.

“Yes, sir, I will,” she saluted him, though it was sluggish. He wouldn’t blame the woman for that, and she disappeared soon after.

He thought he should’ve asked for help travelling to the stronghold, but this way was more preferable. He would get more time to think through his words, sharpen them for the time to come.

****

Dolish entered through the elephant emblazoned doors of the stronghold, rubbing his arms. He’d long healed the cuts that Rozu had given him, but a phantom pain still stung beneath the surface. He knew it was inside of his mind, but it still scared him.

Red carpets and plush decorations lined the hallways, same as they always were. The warm inviting atmosphere of the stronghold did little to help Dolish’s mood, as he made his way to the war room.

He took the handle of the door in his hands, feeling the cold metal against his skin. He took a deep breath, before pushing it open and drawing the attention of everyone in the room.

At the head of the table sat the Armon. His grey eyes bored into Dolish, awaiting the words that would come next. Around him sat the various generals and ministers that made sure this war effort didn’t rob them of their resources. Ministers such as Fersh and Ayshara, Generals like Merin, Renolt, and Yennel.

Dolish had to restrict himself from just outright attacking the man. He sat as if nothing was wrong at all, like he was unaware of his own doings.

“General Venastian? W-why are you back? What has happened to you?” The Armon said, and Dolish never thought he’d hear the man stutter. He looked down to see himself, and conceded that he did look like he was mauled by an animal.

“There sits a traitor among us today, Your Sharpness!” Dolish announced, grabbing the attention of everyone there. Confusion riddled their faces, even Yennel’s, but Dolish saw a hint of detail that no one else would’ve noticed. It was there for only a moment, but Dolish would swear he saw panic spreading across the Lieutenant General’s face.

That little moment of weakness was all he needed to know to continue.

“Explain yourself, General. What are you speaking about?” Armon Mortici asked him.

“Lieutenant General Yennel tried to have me assassinated. Troops that he specifically requested to have sent with me on my expedition into Sanasira turned out to be traitors. I lost a member of my honour guard, a Devourer named Jerre, before I fended off the attack,” Dolish explained to the gathered crowd.

“What? I didn’t know of anything like that! Your Sharpness, you have to believe me!” Yennel began to beg.

“Don’t listen to this Formless bastard’s words, Your Sharpness!” Dolish boomed over the entire crowd.

“He should be held against yourself and sentenced to death!” He finished, moving towards Yennel himself. No one stopped him, but Yennel began to back off.

“Dolish, stop!” The Armon said, but Dolish refused to. Jerre may not have spoken much, but he’d chosen him for a reason. And Yennel was just sitting there as if he hadn’t had a hand in his, no, all of his men’s death!

Before Dolish could sieze the Lieutenant General’s throat in his hands, several guards rushed the man and grabbed him. The last thing Dolish saw before being knocked out was the disappointed face of the Armon, looking as if he’d needed to put a rabid dog down.