Daniel stared in astonishment at the mass of Lokkadonian warriors assembling outside of Vul De Rah from his vantage atop the main city gate. The call had gone out to the southern Lokkadonian provinces after Hego Agron declared his intentions to invade the Rexunii to the south, and every day, more and more warriors trickled in from the surrounding territories. There were many varieties of warriors, as well. There were the easily recognizable crimson-clad line troops he was all too familiar with, standing in straight and orderly lines or using their Dunamis to create tent-like shelters. There were the reserve contingents as well, who wore black and crimson striped cloaks. These were made up of regular citizens who possessed impressive Dunamis capabilities, and much like the reserve units of the US military back home, the Lokkadonian reservists would train with instructors several days out of the month. Then, there were the assorted mercenary war-groups, from many different clans, looking to make a hefty profit from the Torre’ investors.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” a voice called from behind him. Daniel turned to see Boros, walking to stand next to him. He leaned his elbows on the bulwark and gazed for several moments. “My brother is going off to lead warriors against the Rexunii for the second time,” he said. “And I find myself thinking more and more, how I would do the same. I don’t think I could.”
Daniel nodded in understanding. “It’s always the same when you’re put in command of warriors. You fantasize about being this great leader, then when you’re wearing the chevrons, and shit hits the fan, you realize that it’s a lot more than you bargained for.”
“Oros is a great Dae,” Boros continued. “I have watched him all my life, always feeling like I had something to prove. When I finally was released as a squire and stood beside him as a peer, I thought that things would be different, but still, I felt like a fool in comparison. Like I was trying to catch the wind in my hands.”
“Well,” Daniel said, “one day, when he’s King of Lokkadonia, it’s going to be up to you to fight his wars.”
“I wonder where we will truly be at that time.” Boros turned toward Daniel, leaning on one elbow now. “That will surely be many years from now.”
“Hopefully, old, fat, and lazy.” Daniel chuckled.
There were cheers down below as Oros walked through the developing camp. Thousands of warriors turned to greet and show their respects to the man.
“Mighty shoes to fill,” Boros said, gesturing down to the commotion.
Daniel and Boros then made their way down from atop the wall and through the bustling encampment to where Oros had set up his headquarters, a large stone structure erected using the Dunamis. This was a COC to Daniel, or ‘Command Operations Center.’ It was a place that he had tried his best to avoid back home. It was where all the brass and staff NCOs congregated, and they were usually bored and looking for some poor hapless junior Marine to torment. Now, in this world, he strode toward it without even a thought of hesitation.
Within, there were dozens of generals, junior officers, and clan leaders, all mingling and conversing with one another. They were distracted enough to let Daniel’s and Boros’ entrance go unnoticed.
“Brother!” Boros called when he saw Oros speaking with Avria near the center of the room. The two embraced, and Avria nodded toward him in greeting; she did not acknowledge Daniel’s presence at all, and here he’d thought she was warming up to him a bit.
“Aren’t you supposed to be with father?” Oros asked, a handsome grin on his face. “Snuck away, did you, to see your brother off?”
Boros laughed but shook his head. “No, father sent me to find you, actually. We have news from the other clans. It would seem the Visgo have decided to withhold any support for fear of retaliation. The Sabree have pledged their allegiance to us but have expressed that they are not yet ready to commit warriors. As it stands, we have been reinforced by the Baa’Yega, Exous, and the Torre’. Clan Volsung has denied any comment on the matter; they seem to be in league, perhaps, with the enemy.”
Oros nodded. “Well, we have more than double the number of warriors, even without any of the other clan’s assistance. However, if the Volsung have joined the rebels, they pose a great threat to Exous and the Sabree. Try to establish more of what their intentions may be. I don’t wish to march into another clan territory to quell another failed uprising.”
Boros nodded and looked at Avria. “Also, my father has asked that Lady Avria take over the training of both the human squires in your absence.”
Avria glanced at Daniel and frowned. “If that is what he wishes of me, I will, of course, obey,” she conceded.
“Try not to hurt him,” Oros said, still grinning. “There is much I still need to teach him.”
After the exchange, Daniel was sent back to the Ignos keep with Avria. The ward was silent for much of their walk. They were accompanied by a dozen or so guards, but this was essentially the first time Daniel had been alone with the Dae for any extended period of time.
“So,” he said, breaking the overbearing silence. “It looks like we’re stuck with each other for a little while before—”
“You will not speak to me with the same familiarity you have with Kryo Oros,” she chided, not even taking the time to look back at Daniel. “If you are going to be a squire of mine, you are going to change the disrespectful manner with which you speak. Whether it’s for a day or until the end, I expect you to obey me and work on your lack of discipline.”
Daniel held his words in his mouth, not seeking to further instigate any harsh response.
“Am I speaking to myself?” she asked.
Still, he said nothing. God, this is going to be a long few weeks, he thought.
She stopped abruptly and whirled toward him, her eyes burning brightly. She crossed her arms, blocking his path, and waited.
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Daniel sighed and shook his head. “Listen, I know you have your rules and regulations. I get that. Katrina was someone who hadn’t known anything like this before; she came from a wealthy family and longed for adventure, yadda, yadda. I think you have probably found her pretty malleable. But for me? I’m a stubborn asshole, and I respond only to other stubborn assholes who have earned my respect. So far, all I know about you is that you’re entitled, annoying, extremely judgmental, and competitive as hell. So no, I am not going to do any of that crap you’re making Kat do. She can sit here and drink the Kool-Aid all damn day, but if you try to force it with me, I’ll make myself scarce. Now, if you want to do what Hego Agron asked you to do and help train me in your ways without this bullshit? I will be your best student, I’ll listen to you and learn quickly, that I promise.”
Avria fumed but seemed to be studying him with a bit more intrigue than she had before. Daniel could tell she was formulating a response, but he struck while the iron was hot.
“And you and I have to hash out this problem you’ve had with me since I got here. I’ve stayed out of your way and made a concerted effort to get on your good side. This can’t still be about Delmos, can it?”
“My brother,” she said slowly, “as I told you, many months ago, was squired under the greatest swordsman in all of Lokkadonia. He does not take many pupils and had taken a great liking to him. Then, you showed up, and he disgraced himself during the trial of Doxo.”
“So, what was I supposed to do?” Daniel interjected. “Let him beat me? Let you burn me like your piece of shit king did to some innocent and scared human, who woke up in a world they didn’t understand?”
“No,” she said, angrily. “But still, you ruined any chance he might have had at ascending higher than anything more than a mere general. I guided him, groomed him with my father to be something great, and in a moment, it was all taken away. So yes, whether by foolish pride or unmerited enmity, I hated you; I still do to some degree.”
Daniel paused for a moment, realizing that he could not win an argument against someone who was antagonized regardless of knowing it was irrational. He struggled to find the words to continue.
Seeing his words falter, Avria pressed on.
“Fine, I will agree to your demands, under several conditions, however.” She held out her hand with its index finger extended. “First, you will show me ample respect while we are in front of Katrina. I don’t want your fractious ways rubbing off on her.” She extended another finger, counting off. “Second, you do not speak to me outside of training unless it is otherwise unavoidable.” She extended a third finger and narrowed her eyes. “And third, never look at me like that again.” With that, she turned again and continued walking.
“Wait… what?” he said, caught off guard. Look at her like what?
~
“Can’t you see it?” Telmos asked Katrina, his eyes focused on his fine cloak. “I’m sure there is a stain of some kind! Look, it’s slightly darker here.”
Katrina held the piece of cloth up toward one of the floating spheres of light in his chamber. She strained her eyes and faintly saw an outline in his crimson cloak that seemed a slightly darker shade of crimson. “Maybe?” she said, unsure of herself.
“It’s all of these damned parties we’ve been having lately. I keep telling Agron they are completely unnecessary, but still, he insists on having them.” Telmos stood from his chair and walked toward a large balcony attached to his room. “These times of cheer and happiness will be coming to an end for many of us, you know? War is a bloody business, and I can only hope that we don’t make the terrible mistake of treating this rebellion business like a minuscule problem. Descent in Eleutheros will be our downfall. We are perhaps one of the most powerful territories in all of Pelemont. But fractured as we are?” He shook his head. “We would stand no chance against a full invasion from any eastern empire.”
Katrina stifled a yawn but nodded her head. She enjoyed her time with Telmos, most of the time. But when he was like this, it was difficult to pay total attention.
“I have been meaning to ask you some things, Katrina,” he said, changing the subject. “About the nature of your arrival here, and possible reasons as to why it might have occurred.”
Katrina shrugged respectfully. “I’m sorry, my Lord,” she said, shaking her head. “But it is a mystery to all of us.”
He found his way back to his seat and leaned forward. “Tell me about your world, more this time. You were very vague about it the last time I asked.”
“Well…” she started, remembering the life she had left behind against her will. “…it was a different world from this one, by far. We had no Dunamis, but that you already knew. It was a world filled with conflict and division. We used machines to do amazing things, like travel and for entertainment. We could communicate with each other across long distances.” She strained, thinking of ways to explain these concepts to someone who had no idea about any of them. “We had many different countries as well. We are all from a country called the United States of America.”
“My, that’s a mouthful, isn’t it?” he interjected.
Katrina chuckled. “I suppose. I thought it was flawed and all, but it was home. I’m sure Daniel would have a better grasp of it than I would. He fought for it. Of course, his political opinions are probably different too, but I guess that doesn’t mean a damn thing here.”
Telmos thought for a while, just looking out of his balcony in deep contemplation. “A different world,” he said to himself softly. “I would like to see it one day.”
Suddenly there was a knock at his door. Telmos invited whoever it was in, and the door opened to reveal a stern looking Avria.
“Father,” she said in greeting. “Katrina?” She nodded to both of them.
“How is Oros, my dear?” Telmos asked, leaning back in his chair with a grin.
Avria entered and went straight for Telmos’ assortment of wine, set up on a small table.
“Anxious,” she said, pouring herself a bowl. “Excited, how else would one react when going to war?”
“Hmmm.” Telmos rubbed his chin. “And you?”
Avria sipped her wine thoughtfully. “I wish Hego Agron would have allowed me to go as well. I can’t help but worry about him.”
“It is perfectly normal to worry about those you love.” Telmos smiled. “I have waited a long time to hear these words from you, my dear. But fret not over such things; Oros is a very powerful warrior. He has experience fighting the Rexunii already, and trust me when I say that this rabble to the south is nothing compared to how they were before. The Rexunii, who we fought in the last war, were ruthless and overbearing. It took all of Lokkadonia’s might to bring them down. Now, they have a fraction of their old strength, none of their powerful warriors, and no allies.”
Avria sipped again, narrowing her eyes at the thought. “Then why would they go about everything so aggressively, with no regard for their current state? If Alektor is at as much of a disadvantage as you say, then why would he be so eager to destroy his own clan?”
Telmos sighed. “He’s a—”
“Don’t tell me it’s because he’s a fool. This is a man who, either by wit or sheer power, overwhelmed the old regime and took power. A man who conspired with the Torre’ to bring House Ignos down. I do not believe for a moment that he is this much of a fool. We must have missed something.”
“Avria,” Telmos said, his voice now stern, “Do not worry yourself. One cannot expect to explain things like this or to know the hearts of madmen. Alektor is young and naïve. You can say what you will about his apparent cunning, but that will not give him the funding or the forces he needs to defeat Lokkadonia in a war, let alone with the support of the Torre’.” He stood from his chair and placed his hands on Avria’s shoulders, looking her in the eye. “So rest easy, and take your squire somewhere nice.”
She huffed, forcing a smile. “I have more than one squire for now.”
“Yes, Daniel. Oros’ charge. Try to be gentle, my dear. He will soon be out of your way.”