Jale did not stick around to watch the Emperor and Ralen leave. Instead, he immediately set to work on his duties to prepare the Emperor's soldiers for the rest of their journey to Camp Rein, and the impending battle ahead. There were several hundred soldiers for Galton and himself to keep in line. Jale would need assistance now that two high ranking soldiers had left with the Emperor for the Emperor's protection.

Jale walked through the camp, acknowledging the salutes of the soldiers that passed his way. A young fresh-faced soldier walked out of a small tent as he approached, and Jale ignored the look of panic that swept over the man's face. He saluted and Jale returned the gesture.

"I'm looking for Satner," he said to put the man at ease.

The young soldier didn't speak, appearing to be lost for words to be suddenly face-to-face with one of the leading commanders. He pointed to inside the tent and made a hasty departure.

Satner scrambled to his feet when Jale entered without notice. He stood at attention and saluted to Jale. He didn’t look at Jale but instead, Jale noted, he kept his gaze focussed on an imaginary spot off in the distance.

Jale stood squarely in front of him and sighed. "It looks like you'll get to redeem yourself sooner rather than later, Satner." Satner dared to meet Jale's gaze, clearly surprised.

"Obviously, you have heard that the Emperor and a small group of men have headed back towards the palace at the news that the Empress has given birth,” Jale continued. “There are some other pressing matters that have also sent him in that direction as well. The men who have left have caused some gaps in the lines of command. With your experience, I will need you to take up some of your old responsibilities."

Satner returned his gaze to straight in front of him and nodded. "Of course. Whatever you need."

Jale allowed a long silence to fall between them. He wanted to say more but it wouldn’t be professional.

Satner swallowed deeply. "Is there anything else, commander?"

"No," Jale said crisply. "But you are to join us in the commanding tent now. There is much to discuss in preparing to arrive at Camp Rein. I'm expecting a battle to say the least. Walk with me now."

"Of course," Satner responded.

"There is no guarantee that we will have the full support of the Talbecan soldiers when we arrive," Jale revealed as they walked out of the tent.

Satner stopped midstride. "What?"

Jale kept walking.

"Yes," Jale responded when Satner stepped up to his side again. They continued walking. "There has been much unrest in the camps. Prince Salren's soldiers were unable to bring them under control. They have backed up to the town of Jenan to wait for our arrival to give extra assistance,” Jale explained. “The person the Emperor wishes to capture, has been bribing and brainwashing members of the Talbecan military to side with him. We are most likely going to be challenged with a strong group of angry men filled with not only thugs and thieves, but also Talbecan soldiers."

They entered the main command tent. In the centre was a table which had been covered by a thin layer of dirt. Within the dirt, lines had been drawn to reveal a map. Prince Salren and several high-ranking soldiers stood around the table with Galton as they analysed what had been drawn across its surface.

"It all depends on where these thugs meet us," Galton was in the middle of saying. "But I would still like to have a contingent of men come up from the side in case they try to flee. They won't go anywhere on the opposite side because of the terrain. There are cliffs here," he said, pointing with his finger. "Also, if they do come on strong, the contingent can then surprise them from the back. With all our extra men, we should out-number them two to one."

Jale stood at the table opposite Galton and watched as he pointed to various points of the map.

"I'll be happy to take the side approach," Prince Salren informed the group of men, his eyes fixated on the dirt map. "Most likely they do not know that I have brought extra men as well."

"That means we'll have to split our men up two days before we arrive," Galton stated, point to another spot on the map. "To give both of us plenty of time to arrive at these marked locations."

"Agreed," Prince Salren acknowledged.

"It's a good plan," Jale responded. "You must remember to order your men to take Prince Tolder as prisoner. Emperor Rathner wants him alive."

"It would save us a lot of trouble if you just killed him on the spot," Prince Salren suggested. "Get him out of the picture once and for all."

Galton nodded. "That would certainly make the journey back to the palace more enjoyable," he stated in agreement. He turned to Jale, a scroll in his hand. "This came for you from the palace when you were getting Satner," he told him.

Jale took the scroll and ran his finger over the seal, his eyes still on the dirt map, but he was thinking of whether or not they should kill Prince Tolder. "I can ask the Emperor," Jale sighed and met Galton's gaze. "Empress Crael... we have caused enough carnage of the Brandeen Royal Family as it is." Prince Salren's head snapped up, but Jale didn't acknowledge his quizzical stare and continued, "I think he wants to get Empress Crael's opinion first."

"He will tell her?" Galton asked surprised.

Jale shrugged. "I think that is his plan. For once, I do not know."

Jale's eyes dropped to the scroll and he began to read. His eyes widened immediately. "HOW DARE HE??!!"

The men in the tent startled at the sudden intense sound of rage in Jale's voice. His face had turned red with instant fury, and his hands shook as he read the rest of the scroll. "I will kill him myself!" he shouted.

"Who?" Galton asked.

Jale thrust the scroll into Galton's hands, indication enough that he was giving Galton permission to read it. Galton quickly read its contents and shook his head in disbelief.

Seething, Jale began to stalk the length of the tent, anger distorting his handsome features. "I shouldn't be here," he stated venomously. "If I was at the palace, this would never have happened."

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

"What's going on?" Prince Salren asked.

Galton lowered the scroll, his face grim. "It appears as if Prince Yernal has used Ashkin darts to kidnap Teal."

Prince Salren's face hardened. "That's an act of war against the Empire," he stated. He looked at Jale with rare support. "Prince Yernal should never have been allowed to stay in the palace for this length of time. I'm sure the Emperor will be able to sort this out quickly when he arrives back at Dalenia. In the meantime, the Empress has shown much skill in negotiation over the years."

Prince Salren's words fell upon deaf ears. Jale's anger pulsated through his body, overriding his usual cool and collected disposition. First Drean and now Teal!

"I can't believe I am stuck here, one month away from Dalenia and two months away from the Keglan border!" Jale raged, continuing to pace. "What can I do from here?" he asked to no one in particular. "Nothing! I can't do anything!"

"Why would Prince Yernal try to kidnap Teal?" Satner asked.

Jale spun on heels at hearing Satner's words and he saw the colour drain from Satner's face. He glanced nervously at Galton but Jale didn't care. He now had what he needed. A person who he could direct all his anger towards. Jale strode over to Satner.

"Why would Prince Yernal try to kidnap Teal?" he repeated, standing only inches away from Satner that saliva sprayed onto Satner's face. "Because Prince Yernal obviously thinks he can use Teal in some way to gain power in the Keglar Kingdom now that his father is dead. With the Ashkin darts, Teal is defenceless. How in all the hells am I supposed to help him? Instead, I'm stuck here with someone who wanted to betray the Emperor, and steal Teal away and have him in his own bed as well."

Satner's mouth dropped open, aghast. The other men in the tent looked at Satner in surprise. The exact nature of Satner's disgrace at the Summer Palace had not been made public knowledge for his benefit, but now it was out in the open and no doubt, passing soldiers outside would have also heard Jale's words.

"I'm sorry, Jale," Satner said quickly. "That was not my intention at all. I would never betray the Emperor."

Jale stepped even closer, lifting his finger to prod Satner sharply in the chest to emphasis his next point.

"I did my research on you, Satner," Jale spat. "You have quite a reputation of getting people to your personal quarters. No one cared because it didn't affect your job, but you took it too far."

Satner shook his head unable to retaliate physically. "I never would have acted on my feelings, Jale. Really!"

"And I'm supposed to believe that?" Jale argued back. He was facing the front of the tent now, Satner's back towards the entrance. He lifted both hands and pushed Satner firmly in chest, forcing him back several steps. "All those times in training? I saw you with your hands on him."

"I was teaching him!" Satner responded.

Jale could see the shock on his face, but he couldn’t stop himself. He pushed Satner again, so hard that Satner staggered out of the entrance of the tent and into the common walkway where soldiers were carrying on with their morning duties. Jale followed after Satner. The morning sunlight blinding them both for an instant. Jale however, continued to rant ignoring the soldiers who stopped to see what the noise was about.

"If I could have trusted you, I could have kept you at the palace too," Jale continued. "You could have been an extra set of eyes for Teal."

Satner held his hands up. "I'm sorry, Jale!"

Jale didn't hear Satner's plea for forgiveness. He lifted his right arm and delivered a hard punch to Satner's left jaw. The sound caused more soldiers to stop and take in what was occurring. Jale lifted his arm again but this time, Satner blocked and with Jale's continued attacks, he blocked again and again.

"Fight back!" Jale demanded, cornering Satner into the tent opposite the commanding one.

Finally, Jale saw the reaction he wanted. The sudden shift in Satner's face as anger took over. He took a step back to allow Satner to get the movement he needed and with one simple stride, arm raised, Satner returned a hard blow to Jale's jaw.

Jale's head flicked back from the force. Pain surged through his head, feeding the angry adrenalin pumping through his blood. He turned back to face Satner, blood pouring from the cut on his bottom lip. Jale spat on the ground, Satner's body heaved and then, without further hesitation, the pair hurtled into a battle of fists.

It was an equal fight. Both men were strong and capable, both fit and in their prime. Punches were thrown, kicks were delivered, skin was split, and blood poured. All of sudden, a pair of strong hands grabbed Jale by the scruff of his clothes and pulled him away. Jale noted that Prince Salren was dragging Satner in the opposite direction as well. He didn't need to look to know that Galton was now pulling him back inside the commanding tent.

"Get in," Galton ordered, giving Jale a firm push in the back. Jale spat more blood onto the ground and stormed into the tent looking back to see how Satner faired. Soldiers who had witnessed the attack remained silent, quickly ducking out of the way as Jale stalked past. There were no looks of disgust or retaliation in Jale's direction. Instead, views were cast to where Satner's sat, a cloth on the top of his eye to stem bleeding.

The truth of what had happened at the palace was finally out and now the soldiers gazed at Satner with anger and distrust. To even consider touching one of the Emperor's concubines and to be the cause of another's near demise, was unforgiveable.

Jale watched as Satner knocked the cup that Prince Salren held out in his hand to the ground and rose to storm away from the tent. Prince Salren grabbed him by the shirt again.

"I don't think so," he said, gruffly. "When Jale has calmed down, you're going to go back in."

"Why?" Jale heard Satner ask.

"Because we need both of you," Prince Salren stated.

A push came from behind and Jale allowed the darkness of the commanding tent to envelope him. He closed his eyes and took a moment to stand still, to let the remaining ebbs of anger flow from his body now that the adrenalin was starting to wear off. Galton didn't speak, but tilted Jale's head back to examine the damage.

"You're going to need stitches," he stated simply. "I'll get one of the camp healers to see to you."

Jale didn't respond, his chest still heaved but it was slowing down. He clenched and unclenched his fists, and the blood still spilt into his mouth from his torn bottom lip.

"You know you have turned Satner into an outcast," Galton said flatly. "Everyone heard."

Jale didn't respond. He knew what he had done and yet, he couldn't bring himself to feel remorse.

"The Emperor is a month away from the capital, as well. Ladet is with Menelt. That is our only hope," Jale said quietly.

"You can also have hope in Teal," Galton said softly. "Have you forgotten who he is?"

"You're forgetting how they did it," Jale returned. "All they have to do is keep doping him up with Ashkin poison."

"Menelt and Ladet are more than capable. I'm sure they will find a way." Galton turned and walked to the entrance of the tent. "Best if you stay here for a while."

Jale looked over his shoulder, his vision distorted slightly in his right eye from the swelling that was already taking over. "Get Satner in here," he ordered. A sense of satisfaction had started to settle, but he felt a need for explanation. "He still has a job to finish here."

Galton nodded and left the tent. A moment later, Satner entered the tent, and Jale could see the anger permeating from every pore of his body. Galton and Prince Salren closely followed.

"If you're going to continue to berate me, don't. I'd rather a sword in my chest," Satner stated coldly.

"Don't be so dramatic," Jale said. He thrust a cup of water in Satner's hand, and their eyes briefly met.

"Ten years ago, Prince Yernal was responsible for the death of someone who was dear to me," Jale explained, his face grim. "I can't stand the thought of him doing that again, especially when I am so far away that I can't do anything about it."

Satner squared his shoulders. "Is that as close as I'm going to get for an apology."

"Take it as you want," Jale shrugged.

"I'm not going to work beside you if all you're going to do is belittle and criticise me every step of the way," Satner continued. "I will fight beside you Jale and get this person the Emperor is after, and then when we're done, I'll travel with you back to Dalenia or the Keglar Kingdom. I won’t stop until Teal is back in Dalenia. Teal is my friend, and I will never stop being his friend."

Jale lowered himself into a chair, eyes narrowed and not wavering in his gaze. He watched Satner before him, face bloodied and bruised with one arm wrapped around his middle as if he had hurt his ribs at some point during their fight. Satner did not relent, he did not weaken and for that, Jale respected him.

"Fine," Jale said at last. "But I will hold you to your word."

Satner nodded and without waiting to be given leave, he turned and left the tent.