Having his scouts find a good place to hide the company, and after inspecting to make sure everything would have the right amount of cover to conceal them from any angle that a force might see them. He sent his watches to a quarter, and set patrols to encounter any scouting parties. Only after the camp was set up did he allow himself to relax a bit.
Searching though his pack for something to grip for chow he found some cheese and dried port. He laughed to himself and said quietly under his breath," Dried pork, the staple diet of the soldier on the move. He could have one of his men make him his dinner but he always thought that to be demeaning his men. Soldiers are taught to fight wars and make some officers food for them. Since, coming into the Children he rarely thought about what his noble blood in title him. After continuing this train of though, he again laughed under his breath and thought. It was only when I made lower captain that I decide not to sleep on the ground with my men, burn it I've been at this for way to long. I deserve a flaming cot! Interrupting his thoughts his champion came up to him. Find a sit on the ground next to his side he waited for the captain to mention to speak. The Champion may have been a loud-mouth son-of-a-pig herder, but he gave all the officers that he thought was good enough respect. Those that haven't caught themselves many of a chew out that if you were wise enough just took.
After receiving a wave to goon and speak up he set into a grim mood and not said, but more like huffed out," Sir, we question those woman that held the leashes to the Aes Sedai. Apparently, they are very upset that we killed their little play things. Burn me, one even bite me, though I think she found that I tasted too tough for her." He laughed like only a man of his pedigree could do. It sounded as if a bear would laugh. After, seeing that the captain did not find it funny he continues." Turns out that they call them selves Sul'dam and the leash an a'dam, those Aes Sedai are called damane. They are something of a special group in the Seanchan ranks. The sul'dam are at least, the damane could be a mutt for all umm… their… society… cares." He paused.
The captains seeing that the champion was having a trouble explaining this he decide to change the subject. After all no sense to make a man tell about or try to explain something he has no knowledge about. These cases having a man explain something that he never gave two wits to understand. He was a champion, those types of guys always decide to have nothing to do with politics and this was politics and believes to its core.
He asked," How did you get them to talk so easy? By the noise that came from that tent I thought that he might just killed on to get the others to talk."
He let his head fall and as if empress asked," Does the Captain really want to know how?" He nodded his head. Shaking his head not wanting to tell he spoke with a gars," Ivowan, I told them that if they didn't get themselves together that I would give them something too really to scream about. They thought I was joking so I had Thomas, you know that big ugly guy we pick up out of Seandea, and I had him take off all but his smallclothes and then said I would come back in whenever I could find the time. They believed that." Pausing to receive the scorning that was surely coming he let his head fall again.
The captain shook his head. Sometimes you really did not want to know how your men did things, this was one. Trying not to mock with all reason the most important man besides himself in the company he said," You know Alwon sometimes you really are a mean son-of-a-goat. I did you find anything else?"
The champion sat there for a moment. Sometimes the captain could be like any other noble officer, but he knew that if any man really wasn't it was him. That was why he respected the captain so much. It wasn't what a man was born into that made him great; it was what he made of himself. We both know that he could have been a High Lord Captain by now if he sacrificed his believe of his men first. He did not and that in anyone's eyes if they could see would see greatness was that was what he believe at any rate. He thought to himself. After the moment passed he said," We really got nothing more. They know that we are not officers and that makes them guard their tongue. All we got was what we knew in the first place and having no knowledge of the Seanchan that doesn't help." Sighing as in he himself thought it was hopeless he looked up to the captain. Feeling the man's eyes on him he let out a long breath.
He said," I guess I have to go talked to them." Getting up he covered his food, and put it back into his bags. As he started off to the tent that the women were held he made a follow me jester toward the champion. Taking his time he walked the long way toward the tent. He didn't want to handle this. Questioning people was just one thing he hated to do, there being woman just made it that much trouble.
Reaching the tents entrance he pulled the champion close to his side and whispered," I take it you did not tell the Second (now in units today the is the Co the command officer, then the executive officer or xo… he is the ass hole or the unit the guy that does all the yelling and stuff like that. Of course then there's the Sgt Major…which in my story the captain is the co…the second… the xo, and the champion is the Sgt Major… I know that was cheap of me to explain it like this…, but after some thought I could not think a good way to put it into the story… unless I was to include some fresh farm boy…..which the story is not going to do). No, worries I am sure he would have told you to come to me anyways…"pausing to laugh to himself he continued," I want this to be as formal as you can get it ok. Once you go in call me in."
The champion smiling as bright as a man like him could said," It will me my pleasure, Sir." Turning his back to the captain he walked into the tent.
From outside of the tent he could hear the cruses of the champion as he made his entrance ready. Trying to cover a small laugh about how the champion always clams to know nothing about military formalities, he could drill the back side off anyone that tried to beat him. He got ready and thought what he would say. He had to harden himself. Woman always made him weak, he always try to make them as comfortable as he could. This was different though, he had to keep their heads spinning if he wanted the information he wanted.
He took a deep breath and stepped into the tent. The moment he was in the champion yelled as if they were on a parade ground reviewing for drill," STAND FOR ATTENTION, CAPTAIN IVOWAN OF THE NOBLE HOUSE OF ANDOR FAIRHEART."All the men in the room stood to attention and brought their right fist to their hearts. In a more meaningful tone he continued," Cast aside the darkness, and see that no man here that stands to question the accused has harbored the Dark Lord."
Damn that was formal… that is what I asked for. With a snare on his face he replied in a sour tone," Does all know what is in bound for them if they do not seek the Light?" The champion turned toward the woman and said," They were told my Lord."
"Then, Champion of the Light, send this men off so they may live in the Light free of the Guilt that comes from doing the greatest and Hardest of the Light's work." The champion turned to the three men that were there and shout," MEN, COUNT YOUSELVES FOR THE LUCK. MAY YOU FOREVER KNOW THE BEST SIDE OF THE FIGHT FOR THE LIGHT. YOU ARE SENT AWAY." He watched them marched, then turned to the captain and said," The faint of heart are gone now my lord."
Taking another deep breath the captain continued to stare into the eyes of the woman. He felt the ping of guilt for scaring them so, but he had to learn everything he could. As he reached for the chair to sit down he said with none of the formality that he had just used," Champion, please see to some good tea. I do believe there is some in my bags." He looked at the woman again and asked them," My ladies have you all eaten yet?" seeing that they were too scared to speak. Afraid most likely that if they spoke then they would cry out and then the champion would get that brute of a man back in here. Instead, they just shook their heads no. "I am sorry we are a force on the move and really don't have anything that could do you justice, none the least" He looked over his shoulder at the champion," Champion, please have are best made up for are guest. Be quick about it took they look very hungry."
The Champion took the sudden change in astride in stride and said in a respectful tone," Yes Sir, the tea will take just a moment and the food a couple after that. Do I have permission to do as I have been command it?"
The captain just nodded head. When the champion left the room the captain gaze fell back to the woman. Sorting his thoughts out he continued to break them down under his stare. Good, if I did it right then they will think that I am the civil one. Those fool questions could get any man to sing what they want to hear, but if myself and the champion continue this good guy bad guy game they will turn to me with the true. Offering his hand toward them he said in more of a understand voice," I hope my men was not too hard. Forgive them they are just peasants" Burn me," I would have been here sooner, but I had to set up my camp. I respect your army and it would be rude of me to present them with easy prey." That's it. I am the understanding lord. If you liked that Sul'dam then how's this?" I know that you are Sul'dam. You control those damane with that leash what is it called? Yes, yes, an a'dam. Can't say that I find that wrong. All women that can channel should be hung. You are just as guilt as they are. It as like a man that hires a murderer to kill his wife. No, he did not kill her, but he did use the murderer. In my land that is just as guilty. So, as with the Laws that stand above all else" That, is not true, I don't think that." Why shouldn't I find you all guilt and hung you now?" That's it I have a tough side, too. Waiting a moment for the women to speak up, which they did not. He leaned back into his chair just as the champion returned with the tea.
Perfect timing, serve them tea and then go back to a nice guy." O good, tea. How do you all like yours, I suggest a lot of honey. My men don't make tea for woman." He laughed. All the three woman said was," Yes, please, Captain" Turning to grip the tray from the captain gave his head signal to wait out side. Taking the tray he started to prepare the tea. He looked at the women who just stared back eyes as big as the tea cups he held. He asks in his sweetest voice he could come up with," Now, what are your names?"
Ok, done hope you liked it. The solid wall of faith is just not there for the guy …..You are going to love were I take this….I hope. Next chapter is the three Sul'dam kind of little story followed by a pretty good fight.
Ok with that all said. Some reviews please I have been a good boy….so far I got one, but thank you Riventhorn for it.