For Talrid and Jald, the fight had been on since Kerin had first
raised the alarm.
The ferrets urged their troops on, holding nothing back on their own, Jald's emerald eyes shining, fangs bared in a terrible grin as he cut down his opponents, broadsword flashing again and again.
Then the unthinkable happened: The enemy began to break off, to retreat. Jald's eyes shone in disappointment as Talrid breathed a sigh of relief, the golden ferret bleeding from a cut on his forehead and another on his right shoulder. "Thank the fates..."
Jald's enraged snarl cut through the night as he sprang forward, slaying one of the retreating Death Watchers and hurling another to the ground.
The Death Watcher-a weasel- scrambled back, Jald smiled at him and nodded to the dropped sword by him. "Pick it up..."
The weasel was scared, rightfully so, for he knew of the Manticore's ferocious reputation. Still, he swallowed his fear, took up his sword and met Jald head on.
The weasel was good. He had trained most of his adult life with a sword. However, even if he trained for all his remaining years, he wouldn't equal the skill that Jald Nightson possessed with a blade.
The weasel was good. He lived for almost five minutes.
***
Taren swore to himself as his troops fell back, abandoned suddenly by Geras and Sariss's groups in an event he couldn't explain, left alone, the fox commander ordered a retreat of his assault.
Arrows slammed into three of his soldiers, sending their corpses to the ground, Taren threw himself to cover behind one of the settlement houses swiftly as the archers on the wall fired again, cutting down more of his soldiers. The crimson fox held his breath, sheathing his sword until he heard the sounds of death recede.
Alone and cut off from the other soldiers of the Death Watch, Taren de-Droka was afraid.
He slipped off into the night, heading for the nearest exit from this death trap that was supposed to have been an easy target. He headed past the river. He headed to the cliff.
***
Sarhein had pursued Kalis, careful of taking a different route then the enraged Visla. The scarred fox's desperate flight halted at times to dispatch random Death Watchers Visla had ordered after his brother.
Sarhein thought he might've given up hope, he had been ready to quit his lone, desperate search until a familiar voice hissed in his ear, "Sarhein?"
"Kalis!" Sarhein whirled to face the gray weasel, hidden in the shadow of a tree, a relieved smile creeping along his face as he sighed in relief, "Thought you were dead...or worse, Visla caught you."
"I know him too well for him to accomplish either..." Despite Kalis's smile, Sarhein felt a chill of foreboding that the weasel wasn't entirely confident.
The scarred fox shook the fears off. "We should get back before- Aaah!"
Sarhein cried out as an arrow pierced his leg, knocking him to the ground, hearing Kalis cry his name as the weasel knelt beside him. Both beasts could hear footsteps through the forest, drawing closer, a crow of delight echoing from a familiar throat.
"I think I got him, general! Kalis isn't getting away from this!"
Kalis and Sarhein nearly froze, the situation setting in on both of them. Sarhein's amber eyes hardened as he surveyed his leg wound. "Kalis...I'll only slow you down...get going."
Kalis drew in a breath, shook his head. "I'm not leaving you, Sarhein..."
"Dammit, you're a leader! Act like one! Give me your cloak."
Kalis could have refused, could have ordered Sarhein to come with him, but he did not, could not. He was the leader of the Calpathions. If he fell, it may mean the rest of them would fall to Visla's nonexistent mercy. Kalis Deiran made his decision, undid his long cloak of command flung it to the ground, trying hard not to look at his old friend.
Sarhein undid his red cloak and placed it at Kalis's feet. "I can give you time, at least, old friend..." He smiled slightly. "Never was much for long goodbyes though...now get out of here."
Kalis placed Sarhein's cloak over his shoulders, Sarhein donned Kalis's, extracting the arrow from his leg, struggling to stand, digging his sword into the ground. The footsteps sounded closer.
Kalis nodded to Sarhein. "May your back be steady."
"May your blade be sharp." Sarhein murmured, finishing the old mercenary expression.
Kalis was gone then, gone back into the night. Sarhein withdrew a dagger from his belt, flung it in the direction of the footfalls, a scream and a thud told him he had managed to take at least one of them with him...
He smiled. They wouldn't find him easy pray. Even after all this, Sarhein was still Sarhein.
***
Visla looked on passionlessly as the archer took the dagger in the chest, pausing only to take the beast's mace from his belt, hefting it up in his left paw, the right clutching his broadsword.
"Sariss?" He growled, the ferret commander saluted him.
She had followed him with a small group from the settlement, Geras having taking his squad to scour the words for Kalis Deiran, the hopes of glory fresh on his mind.
"Yes, General?" She responded briskly, Visla grinned.
"Stay out of this...Kalis is mine..."
They could see the cloaked figure-his face obscured by the night and the hood of his cloak-by the tree, obviously wounded. General Visla stepped forward, raising his blade in a mocking salute.
The figure withdrew his blade from the ground and struck at Visla, finding his blade locked around the elder weasel's.
Visla smiled and struck out almost lazily with his sword, finding it blocked by his desperate opponent.
The weasel continued an almost thoughtful series of attacks, finding each one blocked as the wounded creature attempted to kill him.
Visla stepped back a bit, dropped his guard on purpose, the figure lunged, thrusting at Visla's heart with his sword.
Visla side stepped casually and swung the mace up viciously. All present heard the crack of bone as it connected with the creature's skull.
As the cloaked fighter fell to the ground, its hood fell from its face and at once Visla knew he had been tricked. Kalis hadn't been nearly as scarred-and he was NOT a fox.
"It must be the one called Sarhein, General." Sariss offered, surveying the corpse, "He matches the description..."
"Do I care WHO it is?!" Visla screamed in rage. "It's not Kalis!" Visla raised the mace and flung it from him into the woodlands, snarling as cursing in absolute rage.
When Sariss thought he would erupt at her, Visla's voice was surprisingly calm. "Sariss? Take your troops and find Geras...recall him immediately...I feel it was an error to pull ourselves from the main battle..."
Sariss could have slain Visla there. He had left their soldiers to be slaughtered? Had left Taren to be slaughtered simply so he could pursue his insane revenge?
She opened her mouth to tell him they were returning to the battle to see if it could be salvaged, but all that came out was a brief 'yes sir.'
Sariss nodded to her troops and nearly raced off, glad to be away from her mad General and his insane vendetta. ***
Eroket had been following Taren since the fox had attempted to slip out from the main battle towards the cliff, the young ermine knew the fox by reputation and was certain not to underestimate him, desiring to hurt the Death Watch even more by finishing one of its top commanders.
He followed Taren until the fox reached the cliff face, Taren breathing a slight sigh of relief to catch his breath as the ermine made himself known. "Taren de-Droka..."
Taren turned, an odd smile on his coldly handsome features as he replied, "I wondered when you'd show your face, Eroket Nightblade..."
Eroket nodded. "Pleasure's entirely mine, de-Droka."
Multicolored eyes locked on amber ones as both commanders drew their swords. Both were famous fighters of both sides, meeting for the first time, both eager to test the other in battle.
Taren smiled and lifted his sword hilt in salute, a gesture Eroket returned, slightly mystified. This wasn't the cold blooded sadist he had heard of. Taren seemed...almost honorable, in fact.
The fox's sword struck at the ermine, parried swiftly. Eroket struck back, matching Taren blow for blow, the two evenly matched as they fenced one another around the cliff edge, both seeking to place their backs against the rocky wall, neither giving the other an inch.
"You're good..." Taren admitted, his eyes narrowing, parrying another blow from Eroket, aimed at his throat.
"Not so bad yourself..." Eroket replied, his sword flicking up at Taren's leg, a feint he knew would be blocked instantly.
Taren had anticipated the move, his fist already shooting out to catch Eroket in the jaw, knocking the ermine back, Eroket barely managing to raise his blade to block the blow that would have split his skull in two.
Taren kept up his assault, forcing the dazed ermine back, driving him to his limits as Eroket kept up his defensive.
Eroket let his sword slip as Taren struck; the ermine winced as Taren's sword bit into his shoulder.
Eroket drove his blade into Taren's chest.
Taren's eyes bulged, his sword falling from his paw, he stumbled back, Eroket removing the blade quickly.
"Why...?" Taren mouthed, a paw clasped to the bleeding wound, staring into the cold face of the ermine. "Did you miss..."
Taren leaned against the rocky wall of the cliff, mouthing the final words, "My heart...?"
Eroket couldn't answer, he didn't have an answer for his defeated opponent, he swung the blade, wiping it on ground, clearing it of the crimson mist that clung to it, staring at his wounded foe.
"If you don't kill me..." Taren hissed, breathing heavily. "I'll live here...I'll find you...I'll kill you..."
Eroket allowed himself a smile as he sheathed the sword. In truth, he hadn't wanted to kill Taren de-Droka...the fox was honorable and a good fighter...a beast he could respect...a beast that was too rare these days.
"Find me then..." Eroket stepped away. "And when you're ready, kill me..." He didn't say 'if you can,' but that was unnecessary, both understood.
"I'll be waiting here..." Taren replied; his eyes strangely calm. "For you to come back...to kill you, Eroket Nightblade..."
Taren fell silent, fading into the blissful unconsciousness.
Eroket had seen death on grand scales, he knew when a beast was going to die and he knew Taren would live.
This knowledge in his mind, the knowledge that he had foolishly let a defeated, vengeful foe-the worst kind-live, Eroket turned and walked from the cliff edge, but not before his sword marked a long scratch down the cliff face by Taren's head.
***
Geras had been searching for Kalis, unaware of the Death Watch's retreat, his mouth twisted into a frown as he snarled. Where WAS that damnable weasel anyways? Would it be harder to find or to kill him?
"Geras!" Sariss's voice? Geras whirled around, brown eyes hardening as he looked upon the female ferret. "Its you..."
She nodded. "Geras, Visla's recalled us...he finished their commander Sarhein...wants us to regroup."
Geras's eyes widened and he turned away, walking further into the forest.
"Geras! Did you hear me?" Sariss snapped at him, walking swiftly after him. "You even sent your troops away?! Are you so obsessed with your own personal glory?"
"Get away from me..." Geras snarled, "go back to Visla..."
"There's more at stake here then your pride!" Sariss yelled angrily, drawing her sword, Geras whirled to face her.
"Damn Visla!"
"Idiot-look out!" Sariss shoved him suddenly, sending him stumbling back, tripping over a tree root, slamming his head into the ground.
When Geras was again capable of conscious thought he first saw the thrown dagger buried in a tree, the sound of steel on steel ringing in his ears. He looked and saw two figures locked in combat; one his fellow commander, the other Kalis Deiran.
Geras tried to rise, but something held him to the earth, ludicrously sluggish.
Just yards away, Sariss brought her sword around, trying to catch Kalis in the side, Kalis rolled back and the sword buried itself in a tree trunk.
Leaping forward, the weasel tried for Sariss's stomach, but the ferret commander deflected the blow with the sword handle, receiving a glancing wound in the shoulder.
"This is not between us, Sariss..." Growled Kalis.
"Surrender and the General may yet let you live! He admired you once!"
"As I did him...but I think we're long past that now."
Sariss's eyes narrowed, and she charged. Again and again, her sword came at Kalis at deadly shifting angles and again and against the blade was countered by Kalis's skills, but the weasel was forced back.
Sariss sprang, striking at Kalis head, but the weasel threw himself to one knee, before Sariss. Her swing went wild with momentum, carried her forward.
Kalis Deiran thrust his sword into Sariss's throat.
Sariss stumbled back, the dripping blade sliding free. A stream of red poured from the wound, spilling over her silver cuirass armor, her sword dropped from madly twitching paws.
Kalis thrust again, catching her in the same place.
Sariss crumpled to her knees, stared at her foe-then dropped to the ground.
Geras managed a shocked grunt, which only served to remind his enemy of his presence, still trying to rise, Geras stared into the calm face of Sariss's killer.
Kalis took a step towards him before shouts to the west made the Calpathion Leader's eyes narrow. Turning from Geras he ran into the darkness and was gone.
Seconds later, a force consisting of soldiers of Sariss and Geras's groups appeared, all looking stunned by what they beheld.
Geras rose to his feet and snarled. "What are you waiting for?! After him!!"
"But, sir," One of his own blurted. "Commander Sariss..."
"After him, you fools!"
Several others stayed behind to assist Geras, two of Sariss's soldiers went to her side.
Able to stand on his own, Geras snarled at the soldiers. "Well?! Why are you standing around? We may yet catch Kalis!"
With a hint of distaste, Sariss's officer remarked. "Should not some of us stay behind to guard the commander's body?"
"Of course, of course...you deal with it then!" Feeling more himself, Geras rushed into the night without a second glance at Sariss, followed by his somewhat reluctant soldiers.
The officer watched Geras vanish into the darkness. He removed his cloak and placed it over Sariss's corpse.
"Prepare a proper framework." He ordered the other soldier. "We'll see she arrives to Commander Taren in honors..."
He cast a scathing glare at where Geras had vanished. "Which is more then some others deserve..."
The ferrets urged their troops on, holding nothing back on their own, Jald's emerald eyes shining, fangs bared in a terrible grin as he cut down his opponents, broadsword flashing again and again.
Then the unthinkable happened: The enemy began to break off, to retreat. Jald's eyes shone in disappointment as Talrid breathed a sigh of relief, the golden ferret bleeding from a cut on his forehead and another on his right shoulder. "Thank the fates..."
Jald's enraged snarl cut through the night as he sprang forward, slaying one of the retreating Death Watchers and hurling another to the ground.
The Death Watcher-a weasel- scrambled back, Jald smiled at him and nodded to the dropped sword by him. "Pick it up..."
The weasel was scared, rightfully so, for he knew of the Manticore's ferocious reputation. Still, he swallowed his fear, took up his sword and met Jald head on.
The weasel was good. He had trained most of his adult life with a sword. However, even if he trained for all his remaining years, he wouldn't equal the skill that Jald Nightson possessed with a blade.
The weasel was good. He lived for almost five minutes.
***
Taren swore to himself as his troops fell back, abandoned suddenly by Geras and Sariss's groups in an event he couldn't explain, left alone, the fox commander ordered a retreat of his assault.
Arrows slammed into three of his soldiers, sending their corpses to the ground, Taren threw himself to cover behind one of the settlement houses swiftly as the archers on the wall fired again, cutting down more of his soldiers. The crimson fox held his breath, sheathing his sword until he heard the sounds of death recede.
Alone and cut off from the other soldiers of the Death Watch, Taren de-Droka was afraid.
He slipped off into the night, heading for the nearest exit from this death trap that was supposed to have been an easy target. He headed past the river. He headed to the cliff.
***
Sarhein had pursued Kalis, careful of taking a different route then the enraged Visla. The scarred fox's desperate flight halted at times to dispatch random Death Watchers Visla had ordered after his brother.
Sarhein thought he might've given up hope, he had been ready to quit his lone, desperate search until a familiar voice hissed in his ear, "Sarhein?"
"Kalis!" Sarhein whirled to face the gray weasel, hidden in the shadow of a tree, a relieved smile creeping along his face as he sighed in relief, "Thought you were dead...or worse, Visla caught you."
"I know him too well for him to accomplish either..." Despite Kalis's smile, Sarhein felt a chill of foreboding that the weasel wasn't entirely confident.
The scarred fox shook the fears off. "We should get back before- Aaah!"
Sarhein cried out as an arrow pierced his leg, knocking him to the ground, hearing Kalis cry his name as the weasel knelt beside him. Both beasts could hear footsteps through the forest, drawing closer, a crow of delight echoing from a familiar throat.
"I think I got him, general! Kalis isn't getting away from this!"
Kalis and Sarhein nearly froze, the situation setting in on both of them. Sarhein's amber eyes hardened as he surveyed his leg wound. "Kalis...I'll only slow you down...get going."
Kalis drew in a breath, shook his head. "I'm not leaving you, Sarhein..."
"Dammit, you're a leader! Act like one! Give me your cloak."
Kalis could have refused, could have ordered Sarhein to come with him, but he did not, could not. He was the leader of the Calpathions. If he fell, it may mean the rest of them would fall to Visla's nonexistent mercy. Kalis Deiran made his decision, undid his long cloak of command flung it to the ground, trying hard not to look at his old friend.
Sarhein undid his red cloak and placed it at Kalis's feet. "I can give you time, at least, old friend..." He smiled slightly. "Never was much for long goodbyes though...now get out of here."
Kalis placed Sarhein's cloak over his shoulders, Sarhein donned Kalis's, extracting the arrow from his leg, struggling to stand, digging his sword into the ground. The footsteps sounded closer.
Kalis nodded to Sarhein. "May your back be steady."
"May your blade be sharp." Sarhein murmured, finishing the old mercenary expression.
Kalis was gone then, gone back into the night. Sarhein withdrew a dagger from his belt, flung it in the direction of the footfalls, a scream and a thud told him he had managed to take at least one of them with him...
He smiled. They wouldn't find him easy pray. Even after all this, Sarhein was still Sarhein.
***
Visla looked on passionlessly as the archer took the dagger in the chest, pausing only to take the beast's mace from his belt, hefting it up in his left paw, the right clutching his broadsword.
"Sariss?" He growled, the ferret commander saluted him.
She had followed him with a small group from the settlement, Geras having taking his squad to scour the words for Kalis Deiran, the hopes of glory fresh on his mind.
"Yes, General?" She responded briskly, Visla grinned.
"Stay out of this...Kalis is mine..."
They could see the cloaked figure-his face obscured by the night and the hood of his cloak-by the tree, obviously wounded. General Visla stepped forward, raising his blade in a mocking salute.
The figure withdrew his blade from the ground and struck at Visla, finding his blade locked around the elder weasel's.
Visla smiled and struck out almost lazily with his sword, finding it blocked by his desperate opponent.
The weasel continued an almost thoughtful series of attacks, finding each one blocked as the wounded creature attempted to kill him.
Visla stepped back a bit, dropped his guard on purpose, the figure lunged, thrusting at Visla's heart with his sword.
Visla side stepped casually and swung the mace up viciously. All present heard the crack of bone as it connected with the creature's skull.
As the cloaked fighter fell to the ground, its hood fell from its face and at once Visla knew he had been tricked. Kalis hadn't been nearly as scarred-and he was NOT a fox.
"It must be the one called Sarhein, General." Sariss offered, surveying the corpse, "He matches the description..."
"Do I care WHO it is?!" Visla screamed in rage. "It's not Kalis!" Visla raised the mace and flung it from him into the woodlands, snarling as cursing in absolute rage.
When Sariss thought he would erupt at her, Visla's voice was surprisingly calm. "Sariss? Take your troops and find Geras...recall him immediately...I feel it was an error to pull ourselves from the main battle..."
Sariss could have slain Visla there. He had left their soldiers to be slaughtered? Had left Taren to be slaughtered simply so he could pursue his insane revenge?
She opened her mouth to tell him they were returning to the battle to see if it could be salvaged, but all that came out was a brief 'yes sir.'
Sariss nodded to her troops and nearly raced off, glad to be away from her mad General and his insane vendetta. ***
Eroket had been following Taren since the fox had attempted to slip out from the main battle towards the cliff, the young ermine knew the fox by reputation and was certain not to underestimate him, desiring to hurt the Death Watch even more by finishing one of its top commanders.
He followed Taren until the fox reached the cliff face, Taren breathing a slight sigh of relief to catch his breath as the ermine made himself known. "Taren de-Droka..."
Taren turned, an odd smile on his coldly handsome features as he replied, "I wondered when you'd show your face, Eroket Nightblade..."
Eroket nodded. "Pleasure's entirely mine, de-Droka."
Multicolored eyes locked on amber ones as both commanders drew their swords. Both were famous fighters of both sides, meeting for the first time, both eager to test the other in battle.
Taren smiled and lifted his sword hilt in salute, a gesture Eroket returned, slightly mystified. This wasn't the cold blooded sadist he had heard of. Taren seemed...almost honorable, in fact.
The fox's sword struck at the ermine, parried swiftly. Eroket struck back, matching Taren blow for blow, the two evenly matched as they fenced one another around the cliff edge, both seeking to place their backs against the rocky wall, neither giving the other an inch.
"You're good..." Taren admitted, his eyes narrowing, parrying another blow from Eroket, aimed at his throat.
"Not so bad yourself..." Eroket replied, his sword flicking up at Taren's leg, a feint he knew would be blocked instantly.
Taren had anticipated the move, his fist already shooting out to catch Eroket in the jaw, knocking the ermine back, Eroket barely managing to raise his blade to block the blow that would have split his skull in two.
Taren kept up his assault, forcing the dazed ermine back, driving him to his limits as Eroket kept up his defensive.
Eroket let his sword slip as Taren struck; the ermine winced as Taren's sword bit into his shoulder.
Eroket drove his blade into Taren's chest.
Taren's eyes bulged, his sword falling from his paw, he stumbled back, Eroket removing the blade quickly.
"Why...?" Taren mouthed, a paw clasped to the bleeding wound, staring into the cold face of the ermine. "Did you miss..."
Taren leaned against the rocky wall of the cliff, mouthing the final words, "My heart...?"
Eroket couldn't answer, he didn't have an answer for his defeated opponent, he swung the blade, wiping it on ground, clearing it of the crimson mist that clung to it, staring at his wounded foe.
"If you don't kill me..." Taren hissed, breathing heavily. "I'll live here...I'll find you...I'll kill you..."
Eroket allowed himself a smile as he sheathed the sword. In truth, he hadn't wanted to kill Taren de-Droka...the fox was honorable and a good fighter...a beast he could respect...a beast that was too rare these days.
"Find me then..." Eroket stepped away. "And when you're ready, kill me..." He didn't say 'if you can,' but that was unnecessary, both understood.
"I'll be waiting here..." Taren replied; his eyes strangely calm. "For you to come back...to kill you, Eroket Nightblade..."
Taren fell silent, fading into the blissful unconsciousness.
Eroket had seen death on grand scales, he knew when a beast was going to die and he knew Taren would live.
This knowledge in his mind, the knowledge that he had foolishly let a defeated, vengeful foe-the worst kind-live, Eroket turned and walked from the cliff edge, but not before his sword marked a long scratch down the cliff face by Taren's head.
***
Geras had been searching for Kalis, unaware of the Death Watch's retreat, his mouth twisted into a frown as he snarled. Where WAS that damnable weasel anyways? Would it be harder to find or to kill him?
"Geras!" Sariss's voice? Geras whirled around, brown eyes hardening as he looked upon the female ferret. "Its you..."
She nodded. "Geras, Visla's recalled us...he finished their commander Sarhein...wants us to regroup."
Geras's eyes widened and he turned away, walking further into the forest.
"Geras! Did you hear me?" Sariss snapped at him, walking swiftly after him. "You even sent your troops away?! Are you so obsessed with your own personal glory?"
"Get away from me..." Geras snarled, "go back to Visla..."
"There's more at stake here then your pride!" Sariss yelled angrily, drawing her sword, Geras whirled to face her.
"Damn Visla!"
"Idiot-look out!" Sariss shoved him suddenly, sending him stumbling back, tripping over a tree root, slamming his head into the ground.
When Geras was again capable of conscious thought he first saw the thrown dagger buried in a tree, the sound of steel on steel ringing in his ears. He looked and saw two figures locked in combat; one his fellow commander, the other Kalis Deiran.
Geras tried to rise, but something held him to the earth, ludicrously sluggish.
Just yards away, Sariss brought her sword around, trying to catch Kalis in the side, Kalis rolled back and the sword buried itself in a tree trunk.
Leaping forward, the weasel tried for Sariss's stomach, but the ferret commander deflected the blow with the sword handle, receiving a glancing wound in the shoulder.
"This is not between us, Sariss..." Growled Kalis.
"Surrender and the General may yet let you live! He admired you once!"
"As I did him...but I think we're long past that now."
Sariss's eyes narrowed, and she charged. Again and again, her sword came at Kalis at deadly shifting angles and again and against the blade was countered by Kalis's skills, but the weasel was forced back.
Sariss sprang, striking at Kalis head, but the weasel threw himself to one knee, before Sariss. Her swing went wild with momentum, carried her forward.
Kalis Deiran thrust his sword into Sariss's throat.
Sariss stumbled back, the dripping blade sliding free. A stream of red poured from the wound, spilling over her silver cuirass armor, her sword dropped from madly twitching paws.
Kalis thrust again, catching her in the same place.
Sariss crumpled to her knees, stared at her foe-then dropped to the ground.
Geras managed a shocked grunt, which only served to remind his enemy of his presence, still trying to rise, Geras stared into the calm face of Sariss's killer.
Kalis took a step towards him before shouts to the west made the Calpathion Leader's eyes narrow. Turning from Geras he ran into the darkness and was gone.
Seconds later, a force consisting of soldiers of Sariss and Geras's groups appeared, all looking stunned by what they beheld.
Geras rose to his feet and snarled. "What are you waiting for?! After him!!"
"But, sir," One of his own blurted. "Commander Sariss..."
"After him, you fools!"
Several others stayed behind to assist Geras, two of Sariss's soldiers went to her side.
Able to stand on his own, Geras snarled at the soldiers. "Well?! Why are you standing around? We may yet catch Kalis!"
With a hint of distaste, Sariss's officer remarked. "Should not some of us stay behind to guard the commander's body?"
"Of course, of course...you deal with it then!" Feeling more himself, Geras rushed into the night without a second glance at Sariss, followed by his somewhat reluctant soldiers.
The officer watched Geras vanish into the darkness. He removed his cloak and placed it over Sariss's corpse.
"Prepare a proper framework." He ordered the other soldier. "We'll see she arrives to Commander Taren in honors..."
He cast a scathing glare at where Geras had vanished. "Which is more then some others deserve..."