Deran exited the healer's tent several minutes after sundown, face
cold and passionless as polished marble.
"He's dead then?" The voice was spoken with firm conviction, Jald stood near the tent, dressed in his red tunic, shouldering his massive broadsword.
"He is."
"He's lucky." Jald growled, emerald eyes. "Well, at least we have a decent idea of what we're up against now. You're the strategist, Arakias, what do you propose?"
For a moment, Deran was caught completely off guard by Jald's callousness and how easily he cast Windclaw aside. He caught himself, forcing sapphire orbs under emerald.
"What do you think, Nightson? Wasn't this fabulous charge your plan? If it were up to me, we could have scouted ahead first and got at least a small knowledge of who were facing! Barbarian!" He snarled contemptuously, spitting upon the ground near Jald's feet.
Jald smirked, delighted at provoking Deran to rarely seen anger. "All this from a coward who hides behind his bow? I was unaware you felt so strongly about me, Deran."
Deran stifled a response by clamping his jaws shut, biting into his lip so fiercely the coppery taste of blood filled his mouth, his eyes blazed untold hatred at the larger black ferret. "When you die, Nightson.I hope to be there.I hope you know there's nothing worse then dying alone."
Jald took the calm words with a laugh and a sneer, reaching out pat Deran on the cheek, Deran barely succeeding in restraining himself from biting Jald's index finger off. "Cute, Der.real cute. Now, I suppose I'm the big, bad villain and Eroket is the dashing hero.What does that make you? The little sidekick of this drama?"
Deran forced himself to look at the sneering features of Jald Nightson as he replied calmly. "Is it all power for you, Jald?"
"Actually its about combat.didn't you hear what I said earlier?"
"You know what's real funny, Jald?" Deran replied in a subdued manner, anger forcing his voice into a rasp. "The Death Watch are considered the barbarians.the villains, the traitors.but the only difference between fighters like yourself and Geras is the name."
"At last you learn. We're mercenaries. We sell our blades and ourselves to the highest bidder.we make money and we kill whom we're paid to. A paycheck decides all virtues, every waking breath is wondering how to earn more. I've carved my way through the mercenary world.I've killed hundreds.how many have you killed, Little Arakias?"
Deran remained silent, Jald laughed. "A dozen? A thousand? What difference does it make? We've killed soldiers and we've killed civilians. The Death watch kills soldiers and civilians for the same reason and the reason is money. Do you know WHY Kalis Deiran and General Visla want each other dead? Did you ever bother to learn?"
Deran froze. He had not, never questioned why this war had started.he had followed orders.it was just something that was there and had to be ended, Jald laughed again. "You do not.did you know Visla loved Kalis after their father passed away? How one stray arrow that claimed an innocent life changed them forever?"
"Shut up."
"Did you hear Visla's screams? I wonder if they weren't from pain so much as the sheer agony of the betray-"
"SHUT UP!!"
Deran had no recollection of what happened several moments later, he could only feel two arms wrapped around his torso and his body twisting to get free, he could hear the arrogant mocking laughter of Jald Nightson.
Deran panted heavily, sapphire eyes flaming in the darkness.
"Let me go. Now."
The archer that held Deran complied, Deran turned to face his subordinate. "What happened, Feron?"
The rat nodded once. "You attacked Jald.you screamed and jumped at him.if not for me, commander, no offense by the way, you'd be one dead stoat.its rare he can provoke you like that.are you alright?"
Deran nodded. "Yes.where is Jald now?"
"He left, sir." Deran could see a group of his archers gathering around, one offering him a water skin which he sipped from gratefully.
"Have Windclaw's corpse cremated.show the Death Watch we aren't afraid of them."
"At once, sir." One ferret nodded and walked off to pass the orders on. Deran's irritation showed in the twitching at the corner of his mouth.
He thought of Visla. Did what Jald say have truth to it? IT could not.Jald would say anything to hurt Deran or damage Kalis's reputation.
And yet.that laughter had been genuine.that sneer had seemed arrogant and superior but not the tone of one who seeks deception.just one who seeks to bring out a fact to hurt others and glories in it.
Was it possible Jald had not been lying after all?
Now THAT was ridiculous, Deran scolded himself. Jald had started that little speech with that one sentence in mind, damn him.
Deran wrapped his blue cloak around himself, growling to the stillness of the night. "Kalis Deiran.you owe me big for this.Eroket, wherever the hell you are I really hope Talrid is a hell of a lot better company then Jald."
Biting back another sigh, Deran Arakias could only reflect upon the last few minutes, disgusted of his lack of control and temporary madness. It frightened him that he was capable of such violence, he was more frightened of the specific fact he had done exactly what Jald had expected and wanted.
"We have other problems now." He whispered to himself as he walked to this tent.
"When this fight is over, we'll rendezvous will Ero and Kalis and the others and do some real work.Kalis can leash Jald and Eroket can too."
Removing the bow from his shoulder he set it down near his cot, removing his tunic but keeping his breeches on, quiver following his uniform and bow to rest upon the floor of the tent.
Deran lay back on the cot, placing a dagger beneath the rough pillow, wrapping the blanket around his slim figure.
He had no peace even in sleep. Even then Jald taunted and insulted him in his nightmares. Even then, the question plagued him and picked at his mind.
Was it possible Jald Nightson had not been lying after all?
"He's dead then?" The voice was spoken with firm conviction, Jald stood near the tent, dressed in his red tunic, shouldering his massive broadsword.
"He is."
"He's lucky." Jald growled, emerald eyes. "Well, at least we have a decent idea of what we're up against now. You're the strategist, Arakias, what do you propose?"
For a moment, Deran was caught completely off guard by Jald's callousness and how easily he cast Windclaw aside. He caught himself, forcing sapphire orbs under emerald.
"What do you think, Nightson? Wasn't this fabulous charge your plan? If it were up to me, we could have scouted ahead first and got at least a small knowledge of who were facing! Barbarian!" He snarled contemptuously, spitting upon the ground near Jald's feet.
Jald smirked, delighted at provoking Deran to rarely seen anger. "All this from a coward who hides behind his bow? I was unaware you felt so strongly about me, Deran."
Deran stifled a response by clamping his jaws shut, biting into his lip so fiercely the coppery taste of blood filled his mouth, his eyes blazed untold hatred at the larger black ferret. "When you die, Nightson.I hope to be there.I hope you know there's nothing worse then dying alone."
Jald took the calm words with a laugh and a sneer, reaching out pat Deran on the cheek, Deran barely succeeding in restraining himself from biting Jald's index finger off. "Cute, Der.real cute. Now, I suppose I'm the big, bad villain and Eroket is the dashing hero.What does that make you? The little sidekick of this drama?"
Deran forced himself to look at the sneering features of Jald Nightson as he replied calmly. "Is it all power for you, Jald?"
"Actually its about combat.didn't you hear what I said earlier?"
"You know what's real funny, Jald?" Deran replied in a subdued manner, anger forcing his voice into a rasp. "The Death Watch are considered the barbarians.the villains, the traitors.but the only difference between fighters like yourself and Geras is the name."
"At last you learn. We're mercenaries. We sell our blades and ourselves to the highest bidder.we make money and we kill whom we're paid to. A paycheck decides all virtues, every waking breath is wondering how to earn more. I've carved my way through the mercenary world.I've killed hundreds.how many have you killed, Little Arakias?"
Deran remained silent, Jald laughed. "A dozen? A thousand? What difference does it make? We've killed soldiers and we've killed civilians. The Death watch kills soldiers and civilians for the same reason and the reason is money. Do you know WHY Kalis Deiran and General Visla want each other dead? Did you ever bother to learn?"
Deran froze. He had not, never questioned why this war had started.he had followed orders.it was just something that was there and had to be ended, Jald laughed again. "You do not.did you know Visla loved Kalis after their father passed away? How one stray arrow that claimed an innocent life changed them forever?"
"Shut up."
"Did you hear Visla's screams? I wonder if they weren't from pain so much as the sheer agony of the betray-"
"SHUT UP!!"
Deran had no recollection of what happened several moments later, he could only feel two arms wrapped around his torso and his body twisting to get free, he could hear the arrogant mocking laughter of Jald Nightson.
Deran panted heavily, sapphire eyes flaming in the darkness.
"Let me go. Now."
The archer that held Deran complied, Deran turned to face his subordinate. "What happened, Feron?"
The rat nodded once. "You attacked Jald.you screamed and jumped at him.if not for me, commander, no offense by the way, you'd be one dead stoat.its rare he can provoke you like that.are you alright?"
Deran nodded. "Yes.where is Jald now?"
"He left, sir." Deran could see a group of his archers gathering around, one offering him a water skin which he sipped from gratefully.
"Have Windclaw's corpse cremated.show the Death Watch we aren't afraid of them."
"At once, sir." One ferret nodded and walked off to pass the orders on. Deran's irritation showed in the twitching at the corner of his mouth.
He thought of Visla. Did what Jald say have truth to it? IT could not.Jald would say anything to hurt Deran or damage Kalis's reputation.
And yet.that laughter had been genuine.that sneer had seemed arrogant and superior but not the tone of one who seeks deception.just one who seeks to bring out a fact to hurt others and glories in it.
Was it possible Jald had not been lying after all?
Now THAT was ridiculous, Deran scolded himself. Jald had started that little speech with that one sentence in mind, damn him.
Deran wrapped his blue cloak around himself, growling to the stillness of the night. "Kalis Deiran.you owe me big for this.Eroket, wherever the hell you are I really hope Talrid is a hell of a lot better company then Jald."
Biting back another sigh, Deran Arakias could only reflect upon the last few minutes, disgusted of his lack of control and temporary madness. It frightened him that he was capable of such violence, he was more frightened of the specific fact he had done exactly what Jald had expected and wanted.
"We have other problems now." He whispered to himself as he walked to this tent.
"When this fight is over, we'll rendezvous will Ero and Kalis and the others and do some real work.Kalis can leash Jald and Eroket can too."
Removing the bow from his shoulder he set it down near his cot, removing his tunic but keeping his breeches on, quiver following his uniform and bow to rest upon the floor of the tent.
Deran lay back on the cot, placing a dagger beneath the rough pillow, wrapping the blanket around his slim figure.
He had no peace even in sleep. Even then Jald taunted and insulted him in his nightmares. Even then, the question plagued him and picked at his mind.
Was it possible Jald Nightson had not been lying after all?