On the move again...
Not that this is so unusual, we're always moving on, after all...but this time, we're leaving more then twenty of our comrades buried behind, as well as the ferret defector Meras, who opted to stay of his own volition.
We did the right thing...of that I have no doubt. We protected others without the promise of wealth for the first time in the years I have been a Calpathion.
And I cannot help but reflect...have I done the right thing all these years? It's always been so simple, kill Visla; nothing else matters.
I have good reason to kill Visla...I've seen many terrible things in addition to the many woodlanders who fought and died with us back at that settlement...homes destroyed, lives crushed, children orphaned...every time, it seems Visla and his Death Watch are to blame.
But are we so different in the end? What separates Jald Nightson from Visla Deiran? I cannot answer this question in the end...
I am no hero. This fact has been obvious for all these years. My desire to kill Visla, though...could it be considered heroic? To remove such an evil and dangerous beast from this world could indeed be considered heroic by all accounts...it is the right thing to do.
But when I look at Visla, I remember Talrid's words of what he was once like...many things changed him...perhaps the mad General Visla was like me one day?
It is a stupid thought. It matters not what Visla was like then. It matters what he is like now...and now, he must die...not for vengeance of the dead, but preservation of the lives he will undoubtedly destroy should he live.
But what of Taren de-Droka? I do not doubt the fox commander survived my blow and I do not doubt he craves revenge for his defeat. When I battled Taren, I could only wonder what he could have become. I heard stories of the crimson furred sadist and his merciless cruelty, but when we met, I sensed a warped sense of honor beneath the dual toned eyes.
He will come after me again, I know this. We are anathemas to the beliefs of the other. But if I kill him, I will cry for what this magnificent warrior could have become.
If I kill Taren de-Droka, I will be crying for myself. -Eroket Nightblade.
Two weeks. Two damnable, horrid weeks had passed since that night, since the battle at the settlement. The Calpathion losses hadn't been as heavy as the losses the Death Watch had taken, but each death hurt them, especially at this crucial time when the war between the mercenary factions had hit the boiling point.
Eroket was standing in the command tent with his fellow four commanders: Kallan, Deran, Jald and Talrid...Four commanders...
Sarhein was gone...it seemed impossible to Eroket...he had known Sarhein for all his years with the Calpathions and been his friend for nearly as long. The bitter reality that Sarhein was gone forever was a pain in Eroket's heart that wouldn't fade.
The ermine did his best to dismiss Sarhein from his thoughts and focus on Kalis Deiran's words.
"You four are all familiar with the action to the east...with the anarchy?"
All four commanders nodded in unison, most had even taken jobs regarding the many warring factions in the eastern lands, tribes, warbands and the like vying for control.
"One of the more prominent groups-the Kirtha-have hired us as a whole to rescue their forces pinned down by another force. Any questions?"
There were none. Kalis nodded in approval and continued. "Jald will lead one squadron around the flank of our enemy; Eroket will take command of the next squadron and provide cover with Deran's archers. The final squadron will be lead by me and head to the recovery site; the Kirtha have informed us to expect minimal resistance on our arrival. I've made it explicitly clear that this will be our only job for the Kirtha. I don't want to stick around a war-zone like this. Everyone understand?"
Four nods confirmed Kalis's words, the weasel nodded. "Good...Eroket, this will be your first time leading a squad in this kind of job..." A rare smile spread across Kalis's usually stoic face. "Make me proud."
Eroket nodded and saluted. "Yessir!"
Jald's emerald eyes narrowed slightly as Kalis gave them the final 'dismissed' nod.
Eroket walked from the tent, barely noting the presence of Jald beside him until the black ferret growled, "I think sometimes he forgets you aren't his son..." Jald smiled. "One day, Kalis's gonna choose a successor and he'll need a clear head for it...sentimental feelings just impair his thoughts...yours too."
"Kalis will do what's right for the time, Jald...he always has."
Jald nodded in deference as he replied. "Lets hope we can say the same about you...you reminded me of your father for a second there, boy."
Eroket looked like a breeze could have knocked him over. "You knew-"
"Of course I knew him...I suppose Talrid didn't tell you we grew up together." Jald laughed slightly. "That wasn't a compliment by the way...I was never fond of Aleran...always maintained a fighter needs things like passion to fight...that its spirit that guides a blade." Jald snorted, "You seem to suffer from the same delusions...but, still...we did respect one another...a very long time ago..." The ferret sighed, shaking his head.
"Look at me, prattling on like this..." He growled angrily. "I hope you remember what I said when its time..."
Eroket nodded. "I will..."
Jald almost smiled. "I'm counting on it..."
Not that this is so unusual, we're always moving on, after all...but this time, we're leaving more then twenty of our comrades buried behind, as well as the ferret defector Meras, who opted to stay of his own volition.
We did the right thing...of that I have no doubt. We protected others without the promise of wealth for the first time in the years I have been a Calpathion.
And I cannot help but reflect...have I done the right thing all these years? It's always been so simple, kill Visla; nothing else matters.
I have good reason to kill Visla...I've seen many terrible things in addition to the many woodlanders who fought and died with us back at that settlement...homes destroyed, lives crushed, children orphaned...every time, it seems Visla and his Death Watch are to blame.
But are we so different in the end? What separates Jald Nightson from Visla Deiran? I cannot answer this question in the end...
I am no hero. This fact has been obvious for all these years. My desire to kill Visla, though...could it be considered heroic? To remove such an evil and dangerous beast from this world could indeed be considered heroic by all accounts...it is the right thing to do.
But when I look at Visla, I remember Talrid's words of what he was once like...many things changed him...perhaps the mad General Visla was like me one day?
It is a stupid thought. It matters not what Visla was like then. It matters what he is like now...and now, he must die...not for vengeance of the dead, but preservation of the lives he will undoubtedly destroy should he live.
But what of Taren de-Droka? I do not doubt the fox commander survived my blow and I do not doubt he craves revenge for his defeat. When I battled Taren, I could only wonder what he could have become. I heard stories of the crimson furred sadist and his merciless cruelty, but when we met, I sensed a warped sense of honor beneath the dual toned eyes.
He will come after me again, I know this. We are anathemas to the beliefs of the other. But if I kill him, I will cry for what this magnificent warrior could have become.
If I kill Taren de-Droka, I will be crying for myself. -Eroket Nightblade.
Two weeks. Two damnable, horrid weeks had passed since that night, since the battle at the settlement. The Calpathion losses hadn't been as heavy as the losses the Death Watch had taken, but each death hurt them, especially at this crucial time when the war between the mercenary factions had hit the boiling point.
Eroket was standing in the command tent with his fellow four commanders: Kallan, Deran, Jald and Talrid...Four commanders...
Sarhein was gone...it seemed impossible to Eroket...he had known Sarhein for all his years with the Calpathions and been his friend for nearly as long. The bitter reality that Sarhein was gone forever was a pain in Eroket's heart that wouldn't fade.
The ermine did his best to dismiss Sarhein from his thoughts and focus on Kalis Deiran's words.
"You four are all familiar with the action to the east...with the anarchy?"
All four commanders nodded in unison, most had even taken jobs regarding the many warring factions in the eastern lands, tribes, warbands and the like vying for control.
"One of the more prominent groups-the Kirtha-have hired us as a whole to rescue their forces pinned down by another force. Any questions?"
There were none. Kalis nodded in approval and continued. "Jald will lead one squadron around the flank of our enemy; Eroket will take command of the next squadron and provide cover with Deran's archers. The final squadron will be lead by me and head to the recovery site; the Kirtha have informed us to expect minimal resistance on our arrival. I've made it explicitly clear that this will be our only job for the Kirtha. I don't want to stick around a war-zone like this. Everyone understand?"
Four nods confirmed Kalis's words, the weasel nodded. "Good...Eroket, this will be your first time leading a squad in this kind of job..." A rare smile spread across Kalis's usually stoic face. "Make me proud."
Eroket nodded and saluted. "Yessir!"
Jald's emerald eyes narrowed slightly as Kalis gave them the final 'dismissed' nod.
Eroket walked from the tent, barely noting the presence of Jald beside him until the black ferret growled, "I think sometimes he forgets you aren't his son..." Jald smiled. "One day, Kalis's gonna choose a successor and he'll need a clear head for it...sentimental feelings just impair his thoughts...yours too."
"Kalis will do what's right for the time, Jald...he always has."
Jald nodded in deference as he replied. "Lets hope we can say the same about you...you reminded me of your father for a second there, boy."
Eroket looked like a breeze could have knocked him over. "You knew-"
"Of course I knew him...I suppose Talrid didn't tell you we grew up together." Jald laughed slightly. "That wasn't a compliment by the way...I was never fond of Aleran...always maintained a fighter needs things like passion to fight...that its spirit that guides a blade." Jald snorted, "You seem to suffer from the same delusions...but, still...we did respect one another...a very long time ago..." The ferret sighed, shaking his head.
"Look at me, prattling on like this..." He growled angrily. "I hope you remember what I said when its time..."
Eroket nodded. "I will..."
Jald almost smiled. "I'm counting on it..."