On time once again.
Standing on the edge.
When Tatumi woke up again, someone had already put clothes on him and wrapped up the bite wound on his arm in band-aids and bandages. He could pretty easily guess who it was that had played dress-up doll with him in his sleep. Probably finding enjoyment in trying to do it without waking him up.
Especially since she had dressed him up in clothes of her own choosing. Picking the things from his wardrobe that she herself had gotten for him. A lot of black and white. To both contrast and mirror her own appearance. Esdese had a strong sense of style but her inclinations had always been a bit too flashy for Tatsumi's personal image. According to him. She always wanted to flaunt and show off a bit more than he did. In all matters. It seemed like she had taken her chance to dictate his own appearance right now.
He realized why she had done it pretty quickly. As soon as he tried to move, he noticed that his hands were locked together behind his back. He could feel that his bindings was one of her designs. Interweaving his fingers so that he couldn't break free without crushing them.
As he rose up, with some difficulty, he saw that a note had been left on one side of the bed. It's message written out in Esdeath's elegant handwriting.
Come to me!
Guards are waiting outside the chamber to escort you to where I am.
Do not do anything stupid!
Tatsumi sighed as he remembered her words about punishing him. He rose up from the bed and walked out of the bedroom. It was still raining heavily outside. He could hear the strong winds. With some effort he managed to get one of his long coats over his shoulders in the entrance hall. Concealing the fact that he was tied up. Making it look like he simply was holding his arms behind his back.
He opened the door with his leg and walked out. Closing it behind him with his foot. Trying to act natural to the guards standing outside. He knew their faces but had no idea of what their names were.
They were some of Esdeath's more esteemed warriors. Taken from the one of her elite squads. Used as shock troops and assault units. These men had seen their share of combat. Battle hardened and steadfast. Tatsumi had a certain respect for them. The fact that they were good enough to tell just how much more powerful he was than them helped a lot. Since they were always vary and polite to him.
One of them immediately walked up to him. "Tatsumi, sir!" he said and bowed lightly."We have been ordered to immediately escort you to Esdeath."
Tatsumi noticed how tense the men were. As well as the fact that they all had their entire battle attires on. It seemed that Esdeath had ordered them to not let him go, no matter what. Kind of a cruel thing to do since the men were well aware that they had no chance against him. But he was not going to make this hard for them.
"And I guess that she ordered you to not let me go anywhere else?" he said with a bitter smile.
The man nodded. "I'am sorry, sir. You know what disobedience will get us."
"Don't worry about it." He said and shook his head. Unable to gesture with his arms. "Where are we supposed to meet her."
"She is currently down in the torture chambers, sir."
"Lovely." Tatsumi said sourly. He nodded to the man. "Lead the way."
Forty minutes later, a soldier in the torture chambers walked into the room Esdeath was occupying.
The room was rather grimy. Bloodstains were spread over the walls and the floor was covered with long streaks of it. Flowing down towards a small hole in the floor in the middle of the room. Loud screams could be heard from the other rooms but this room was relativly quiet. Only filled with the weak moans and whimpers of the few people that hanged on the walls. It stank quite bad. As it usually did in the torture chambers. Torturing was a messy business and many people soiled themselves when their bodies started to give up.
Esdeath was standing in the end of the long and somewhat empty room with her back turned towards the door and the newly arrived soldier. She was not wearing her uniform but were instead dressed in a white, more clinical attire. Her usual fingerless gloves replaced by plastic ones that covered up her entire hands and arms,all the way up to the shoulders. Her hair was tied in a long ponytail that reached down to her knees. She had three people standing around her and her victim. One of the torture masters that handled these parts of the dungeons and the other two were servants that held trays with diffrent tools and syringes for her.
"Yes, soldier?" Esdeath asked without turning around. Not leaving her current activity with her eyes as she pressed the metal tool a bit further into the flesh of her victim. Trying out at theory.
"A message from the entrance room, general." the man called out in a strong voice.
"You need to be a bit louder, girl." Esdeath said. Ignoring the soldier for the moment. " Otherwise, I won't know if I am doing anything... right!" Esdeath put more force on the last word as she drove the tool into the spot she had been trying to reach.
The scream of the woman in front of Esdeath didn't even sound human. A piercing and shrill tone. Making the soldier jump a bit into the air.
"There you go!" Esdeath said in an encouraging and soft tone."Do you want me to do that again?"
"No please no.." the blonde woman whimpered. "I've had enough."
"That is not really your choice." Esdeath said and turned around. She looked at the soldier as she put a bloody and crooked metal tool on one of the trays her attendants were holding."What message, soldier?"
"Tatsumi of the jaegers has come to the entrance hall. He requests an audience with you."
"Already?" Esdeath said. Sounding a bit suprised. The soldier nodded at her. "I did not expect him to come down here so soon."
She turned and looked at her victim. She didn't want Tatsumi to see this. She knew that seeing his old ally like this would probably garner a rather agressive reaction from him. She didn't want him to be more mad at her than necessary. Considering that she was gonna punish him now. It would be better if she could keep as much of his emotions out from that as possible.
"Torture master Kenneth. Your new here aren't you?" She said and looked at the big young man. He was gigantic. Almost three heads taller than her and thrice as wide. His figure reminded her a lot of Bols. But this man carried the giant head shaped helmet that was standard for the torturers.
"Yes, milady." he said and bowed. "It has been an honor working with you."
She smiled at him."You have been of some use to me this morning. Good job."
He bowed to her again. "Thanks general. That means a lot."
She nodded."Now go with the soldier and fetch my partner for me. Then take him to the main hall. I will meet you there."
"Yes, general!" the man answered with gusto and walked out from the room with the soldier in tow.
When the two of them had left, Esdeath turned back to her victim. She reached out with a hand and grabbed a handful of her blonde hair. Turning her face up to her.
"So, do the little kitten want to play with me some more later on?" she asked in a seductive voice as she looked the girl in the eyes.
"No.. Not any more of this... I... I don't..." the girl mumbled in respons.
"Then tell me who your mistress is." Esdeath said. Moving a bit closer to her victim. "Come on. Who is your mistress?" she said in an encouraging voice. Sounding like she was talking to an animal.
Leone looked up with the one eye she could still see through. The defiant gleam suddenly flared up in it again. "Go to hell, ice-bitch."
Esdeath's expression grew even more entertained. "You really are fun to play with. You still haven't broken after all this." she said. Her other hand came up and grabbed Leone's cheeks."Well then, I will come down here and continue teaching you how to behave later. Now I have to go and enjoy some time with Tatsumi." she went on. Trying to get an reaction from Leone. When she didn't get one, she let go of her hair so that her head fell down again.
She turned around and started to walk out of the room. "Take her back to her cell and chain her down. Let her keep her teigu on for a day or so. Take it away when she has recovered sufficiently."
"Yes, ma'am" the attendants answered in unison.
Esdeath opened the door leading out. "And try to reattach her fingers and toes again."
At about the same time, a few floors above this, torture master Kenneth and his accompanying soldier met with Tatsumi.
"This is the one." the soldier said and gestured towards Tatsumi with an open hand.
"Really?" the big man said and looked at the soldier who simply nodded in response. "Are you the partner of Esdeath."
Tatsumi nodded tiredly. Trying to conceal the lockings on his hands the best he could.
The big man didn't seem to believe him. "The imperial general? You know, the ice queen?"
Tatsumi simply looked at the eye sockets on the big man's helmet. Giving him a look somewhere between bored and challenging. "I'am guessing that you are new here." he said.
"Come on, little guy." the big man said and bent down a little so that they were on the same level."This is not the place to be trying any pranks."
Tatsumi sighed."Just take me to Esdeath. Then you can go back to your pathetic profession."
The big man straightened up."Fine, but don't say that I didn't warn you." He turned on his heels and started walking away. Tatsumi following in his footsteps. Leaving his escorts behind.
Five minutes later they were in the main hall of the torture chambers. The dimly lit and barren rooom acted as sort of a lounge hall for the torturers and attendants. A prisoner where escorted through the room every now and then but no actual torturing happened in this room.
They had barely been standing in the big room for more than a minute when Esdeath arrived. Followed by a couple of attendants. Taking off the last one of her long, plastic and bloody gloves as she entered the room through an open doorway.
Her relatively serious face shone up when her eyes landed on Tatsumi. She picked up her pace as she walked towards him. After all this time, the sight of him still made her feel giddy.
"I'm sorry general." the big man said and scratched himself behind the head with one of his arms."But this is the boy that was requesting an audience with you. I tried to tell him to buzz off but he-"
The big man interrupted himself as Esdeath walked right past him and hugged Tatsumi. Pressing him hard against her body. "Did you sleep well?" she asked happily into his hair.
"Yeah." he said. Then he whispered silently."But I could have done without these handcuffs!" Hoping that no one else heard that.
"I just wanted to be sure that the guards could handle you if you were feeling especially rebellious." Esdeath said a bit too loudly for Tatsumi. Still sounding happy.
"Do I seem like a teenager to you?"
She giggled and rose her head up from his for some moments. "Well, you have been a bit unruly these last days."
Beside them, turture master Kenneth had dropped his jaw. Even if no one could see it, due to the helmet he was wearing. "Are you serious? Is that really Tatsumi?"
"Yeah, torture master. This is my mate." Esdeath said and drew her fingers through Tatsumi's hair. She turned her head and gave the big man a questioning look, keeping Tatsumi in her embrace. "Why is that so shocking to you?"
"I just thought that your partner would be more.. I don't know.. stoic? Considering who you are I just thought that he would be way more awe-inspiring. I mean.." he gestured towards Tatsumi."He isn't really manly at all, general"
The room got a little bit more silent as everyone tried to discreetly pay attention to the discussion. The new torture master's lack of experience in Esdeath's company showing through.
Esdeath could feel Tatsumi sigh in her arms. She smiled at the torture master. "Believe me, Tatsumi could beat everyone of you without using a weapon." She looked down on the boy in her arms. "And I can assure to you that I have enjoyed his male attributes quite a lot." she said and gave Tatsumi a pat on his head.
The room filled with light laughter. Everyone more at ease, now that it seemed like the general hadn't taken offense to anything.
"Now return to your duties. All of you." Esdeath called out. Setting the entire room into motion. Everyone scufffling back from their breaks. The attendants behind her started to walk away along with everyone else.
"Oh, and one more thing, torturemaster Kenneth." she said in a kind yet loud voice. A gentle smile on her face.
"Yes, milady?" he answered and immediately turned around. Having started to walk out of the room himself.
"The next time I hear you talking condescendingly about Tatsumi, I will rip your tongue out. Understood?" she said in a happy tone.
This time the room grew completly silent. Everyone looking at either Esdeath or Kenneth, aware that Esdeath did not make empty threats.
The big man raised his hands and waved them in front of him in an excusing motion."I'am sorry Esde-Ma'am general. It was just a simply joke. I didn't mean any harm." the man stuttered.
"Understood?" Esdeath repeated. Her voice much harder and colder this time. Her smile gone.
"Yes! Completly understood, general!" He bowed deeply. "I'am very sorry. I meant no offense."
Esdeath looked at him with hard, unfriendly eyes. "Get back to your duties." she ordered with a nod to the side.
The man turned around and hurried away. Feeling Esdeath's gaze drilling into his back until he had left the room.
When he was out of the room, people slowly stared talking again. Relieved that nothing had happened. When the volume in the room had reached a higher level Tatsumi turned his face up to Esdeath's. He lightly rubbed his nose against hers when he did. Since she had been looking down on his head.
"Wow. Not that I mind but that was way more agressive than usual. Have you become more sensitive about what people say?" He teased.
"Not really." she said and brought forth the keys to his bindings from her cleavage. Having been forced to keep it there since these cloth's offered little in the terms of pockets. "It is a matter of making an example, Tatsumi. Just as I did with the attendants."
She reached around to his back with her arms and started to unlock the bindings on his fingers. Her forehead pressed against his as she did."That one of the attendants dared to free you means that some people haven't realized what insubordination means in my ranks." she said as she looked him in the eyes. "And the fact that some of my own soldiers actually attacked you means that I have to statuate some examples in that regard as well. "
She removed the handcuffs from him and straightened up a bit."Since it seems that some people have not yet realized that hostility against you means hostility against me. No matter what form it takes."
"Well, thank you. But it would be easier if you could just turn a blind eye to me beating some of them up. Then I am sure the nagging would stop."
"You know I can't do that." she said as she returned the keys to their original place. "So from now on, please try to get some evidence if someone else is abusing you. So that I can make an example out of them."
This was great, Tatsumi thought. This sort of distrust between Esdeath and her followers was just what he needed. If the distrust kept increasing then he might be able to even send Esdeath after some rather important people later on. An unexpected benefit gained from Esdeath finding him being roughed up by her own soldiers.
"I will try to remember to do so." He put his hands behind his head. "Anyway, should we get this over with? I would rather not prolong the wait for my punishment."
"Yeah" Esdeath said and stretched her arms over her head."Let's do it."
"Did you have any particular room in mind?" he asked and looked around."You know your way around this place better than I do."
A smile that looked both compassionate and entertained formed on her face. "Tatsumi." she said in a caring voice."Did you think that I was going to lock you up on a bench and torture you?"
"Well,"Tatsumi said and smiled at her. Realizing that it was not going to happen. "I thought it seemed like the easiest way to do it. Since we already are in the torture chambers."
"Tatsumi.." she said and put a finger under his chin. Lifting his face up slightly. A warm smile on her face."You are my partner. Not a vigilante to be punished or a subordinate needing an lesson. Even if I had intended to torture you like they do here, I would have done it up in our bedroom. Not down here amongst this rabble and weaklings."
"Good to know." Tatsumi said with a crooked smile."What did you have in mind then."
"Your punishment will be handled in a training match." she said in a thrilled tone. Reaching down and grabbing one of his hands.
"Against who?"
She smiled excitedly at him. Bringing his hand up between them. Squeezing it so hard that it hurt. "Who do you think?"
Twenty minutes later, Esdeath had changed to her uniform and fetched Incursio from wherever she had been hiding it. She was walking towards the training halls with Tatsumi by her side. Keeping Incursio in her left hand. Not yet giving it to him.
They were heading through a long corridor. It's left side was open to a big inner garden. Full of colorful flaura. Now completly devoid of people because of the intense rain. The corridor was empty as well. This was one of the parts of the palace where only the highest ranked military were allowed. So they were pretty much alone.
The mood was rather warm between them. Despite what activity they were heading for. But the fact that he was not gonna be tortured had lightened Tatsumi's mood and Esdeath was happy to see it.
"..and then that meant that you had fifteen people, who were all higher ranked than me, that didn't want to help me. Simply because they thought that you had demoted their captain because he didn't like my clothes." Tatsumi explained while smiling at her.
"Yeah right." Esdeath sniggered."They really will do anything to avert attention from their own subpar performances. You should have forced them to help you."
"Didn't have the rank for that."
"You had the force. If they were such cowards you could have intimidated them pretty easily."
"Then someone would have whispered about it in your ear. Sooner or later."
"I would have let that one slip by. They were clearly not upholding their duties either way."
"Ahh, I wish you could tell me these things beforehand. Now I regret not giving some of the nastier ones a good punch."
"Ohh, maybe I can still arrange for something if you behave."
"You really are a sweet girl, you know that?" Tatsumi said with a jokingly ironic smile.
"Well, I do my best." she said with a shrug.
They both snickered as they walked on when a small gathering of figures entered the other side of the empty corridor. Causing them both to look over. The approaching group was easy to distinguish.
It was Makeias. Followed by a retinue of nine people. Two of them were regular soldiers from his legions. Both of them, along with the general, were completly drenched. They looked like they had gone swimming in their clothes. Leaving wet tracks as the walked through the corridor.
The other seven were the long and slender people from the tribe that had pledged themselves to him. Towering over Makeias and the two soldiers. Making them look like children nex to them. Though unlike Makeias and the soldiers they were completly dry. Giving the three men towels and helping them carry their equipment. Seeming to have much more energy than the other three.
Makeias was currently talking to one of the giants that stood out a bit. Unlike the others of his kind who carried special made uniforms, this man had long grey robes hanging on him. Dragging behind him on the floor. Just as Makeias's destroyed general's coat. He was heavily hunched over. His head almost at the same height as Makeias. His head was hooded and he had a long white beard growing from his chin. Reaching all the way down to the floor. He leaned on a long wooden staff which reached way over his hunched form and had a big owl sitting on his shoulder.
"Did it really happen that fast?" Makeias asked in a hushed and frantic voice." It must have been instantaneous. Considering that you are here right now"
The giant bearded man nodded slowly.
"And there is no other that it has shown compatibility with?"
The tall man shook his head.
"The gods are cruel. Now I will have given both his children to-"
Makeias stopped himself and looked up at Esdeath and Tatsumi. First noticing them now. His perceptive skills suffering greatly from his exhaustion.
Tatsumi slowed down a step so that he was walking slightly behind her right side. Taking the position of a subordinate in a meeting between military officials.
"Well well!" Esdeath called out. Her hands on her hips. Stopping when they were a couple of meter in front of the group. "Look what the cat dragged in!"
"Spare me, you goddam blue popsickle." Makeias said with his head tilted to the right side. Hitting it on the other side with his hand in an attempt to get the water out of his ear.
Esdeath's smile grew a got a bit more forceful. Usually he was the one pushing her patience. This was a welcome change of pace. "Gone for morning swim, have you?" she said and took a step forward. "Or did you just miss that it was raining outside?" She enjoyed that everyone in the other group tensed as she took a step towards them. Giving her the respect she deserved.
Everyone except Makeias, who seemed unfazed. Still occupied with getting the water out of his ear. "Yeah yeah yeah. Very funny"
Esdeath walked up to him. "By the way, how are those ribs of yours healing? I hope they don't hurt too much." Esdeath said with an happy expression. Her tone suggesting that she hoped for the opposite.
"Tch," Makeias got a smile of his own."you will have to hit much harder than that if you want to damage me in any meaningful way."
"Oho." Esdeath said. Her eyes growing menacing as her more playful side started to come out. In a bad way."Want to test if I can do it?"
Makeias sighed, keeping his smile. "We both know the answer to that. Anyway," he said as his voice returned to it's usual sly tone."why don't you go and torture some people that don't deserve it so that me and the others who actually deserve it can go on with our day. I am sure you have your own joyfull duties to uphold."
"As it happens, I do." Esdeath said, smiling for some moments before walking past him. The men behind him edging away from her as she did. She had just passed them when Tatsumi spoke up.
"Esdeath. Could you give me a minute."
She looked over her shoulder at him. "What for?"
"I would like to trade some words with general Makeias. If he has time for it?" Tatsumi said and looked at the general.
She turned around and crossed her hands over her chest."Sure. Speak." she said. Giving Tatsumi a piercing look.
"In private, Esdeath." he said and met her gaze."If the general has time for it, that is." he said and looked at Makeias.
Esdeath's hard gaze shifted to Makeias who were looking at Tatsumi with an empty expression. Tatsumi still had no idea that Esdeath had realized that the two of them were keeping something hidden from her. He was also unaware that she had threatened Makeias to stay away from him. So he thought that this wouldn't seem too strange to her.
Esdeath looked at Makeias with a cold and hard expression. Her entire presence reminding the man of what she had said. Makeias just stared at Tatsumi for some seconds. Then his gaze his gaze traveled up to Esdeath. A smile forming on his face. Esdeath's frown grew deeper.
"Sure, Tatsumi. I got some minutes to spare." the general said while smiling at Esdeath.
Esdeath's nostrils flared as she started to emitt enough hostility to make some of Makeias tall guards reach for their weapons. Their sensitive instincts overflowing with an urge flee.
Esdeath concluded that she had been way too gentle with Makeias if he still tried something like this. She had been very clear in her warning. Between this, the attendants and her own soldiers beating Tatsumi, Esdeath started to wonder if she had become a bit too soft in the later days.
She lowered her arms to her sides. Her fists clenched."Did you forget what I told you in the arena, pillager?" she said in an ice-cold tone. Her eyes drilling into him.
Makeias straightened up a bit and turned to her."Hey, I am not the one taking the initiative." he said with a shrug. "It would be rude to deny Tatsumi a simple conversation."
Esdeath started to slowly walk towards him. "I will give you a warning. Since you are a general. I was joking when I asked you if you wanted to check if I could hurt you for real some moments ago. But if you don't crawl away and hide now, I am actually going to hurt you really bad."
"I don't know if your fat friend have enough influence to let you get away with attacking another general." Makeias said with a smile.
"I will make sure that you will only be singing me praises and denying that I attacked you when I am done." she said as she continued her steady approach.
Tatsumi was unsure of why this had escalated so quickly but he understood that Esdeath and Makeias had talked about this before. And that Esdeath had told him to stay away. Now it looked like they were heading for a total confrontation either way.
He thought about it for a moment. If Esdeath crushed Makeias here, that was not necessarily a bad thing in and of itself. He felt confident that she could defeat this general. Even if Makeias was the type to carry some cards up his sleeve. However, the problem was that if she defeated and broke her fellow general then he might start leaking information. And if Tatsumi's sucpicion was correct then Makeias knew that he was the one who had lit the archives on fire. If Esdeath learned about that, then everything would be over.
He decided to intervene.
He walked up and put himself in front of the approaching Esdeath. "Come on Esdeath. We just want to talk a little. It's no big deal."
Esdeath didn't look away from Makeias."It's about making an example, Tatsumi. Just like before." she said as she continued walking towards the other general. When she got close to Tatsumi, she reached out towards him with the hand not holding Incursio ,while still keeping her eyes on Makeias. Intending to gently but firmly push Tatsumi out of the way.
The moment her hand was about to touch his shoulder, he avoided it and moved toward her by spinning around. He smashed himself into her front while wrapping his arms around her. Without Incursio's power, the force of it barely made her move at all. But it did make her stop walking. Even if it was not because of his power.
She sighed. "Tatsumi." she said in a tired voice. Her free arm came up around him. Pressing the lower part of the arm against him to hold him in place, while it's hand came up and grabbed his neck. Intending to put him under again. When she started to squeeze down with her fingers, he simply tightened his grip around her body.
"Please don't." he whispered into her bosom. Only audible to the two of them. But unlike last night, Esdeath actually stopped applying the pressure. Her feelings getting in the way.
It was one thing to make him fall asleep in her embrace and then hold him close throughout the night. Another thing entirely to rob him of his concious and then throw him to the side to fight someone. Her entire body revolted against the thought of discarding her Tatsumi to the side like a used rug when he was clinging so tightly to her of his own free will. The part of her that wanted to subdue Makeias cursed that the little boy had managed to steal her heart like this.
But it was not much for it. Makeias time would come, she reasoned. She could wait a little bit longer. It felt like it would have been too symbolic to just dump Tatsumi to the side right now.
Tatsumi sensed how she was consigning to letting Makeias go and looked up at her. He gave her the warmest smile he could. "I will pay you back in any way you want." he said to her.
She just reached up with her hand and grabbed his hair so hard that it hurt him and then reached down and kissed him. Strongly and passionately.
Makeias looked at how it all played out with a watchful gaze. He could think of several quips and jests he could make right now but this time he actually decided to keep his mouth shut.
When some seconds had past Esdeath moved her head up again. "I will make you pay me back plenty for this." she said. Looking annoyed but not angry.
"Anything you want!" Tatsumi said with gusto.
"I will take this chance to go and do another errand. I will meet you in the training halls in an hour. Understood?"
Tatsumi nodded energetically.
She ran her fingers through his hair and then let him go. With a last hostile look at the other general, she turned around and started to walk away. "And Tatsumi."
"Yeah?"
"If you take this chance to run away from me again, then this time I will not hesitate to take out my fury on your friends." she warned as she walked away.
"Understood." Tatsumi said and smiled bitterly at her back.
Tatsumi and Makeias's group watched as Esdeath left the room. When she was gonna, Makeias put his hand on Tatsumi's soldier. "Well, thanks for that. Probably spared me some pain there."
Tatsumi sighed."She is probably gonna make me regret those words later."
"That goes for the both of us." Makeias said with a little friendlier smile.
Tatsumi turned around to the imperial general and looked at him. The fact that he was drenched from head to toe did not make the man look more sophisticated. Coupled with his shaggy hair, the destroyed long coat and his muddy pants, the man truly looked tattered and torn.
"Sir, maybe you should get some dry clothes. You will catch a cold like that."
"Bah. I am basically a walking plague already. Sinckness and infections are free to try. They will fail to kill me. Like so many before them."
Tatsumi was a bit uncertain about what the general meant with that, noticing that this seemed to be a theme when interacting with Makeias. "If you say so."
"I do. Now should we have our small but likely costly talk?"
"Yeeaaahhh.." Tatsumi said and looked at the people behind Makeias.
Makeias followed his gaze. "Ahh of course." He turned around. "Go back to the barracks and get some rest. I will be with you shortly." he ordered his followers.
The group of people started to walk away. Leaving Tatsumi and Makeias alone. With the exception of of the thin, bearded giant. Who remained behind Makeias, leaning heavily on his staff. The big owl on his shoulder staring at Tatsumi. Tatsumi looked at the weird appearance.
"Ahh don't mind him, Tatsumi." Makeias said calmly. "This man knows everything that I do." he turned around and gestured with an open hands towards the giant man. "Tatsumi this is Tom-Tom, my second-in-command."
"Tom-Tom?" Tatsumi gave Makeias a questioning glance.
"Yeah, his real name is Tomarasiju-Tomarisju? Tamarsjiia- Tomarusiu?" Makeias said and looked at the big man.
The bearded man slowly shook his head in respons.
"I still can't pronounce it." Makeias said and picked his ear. "So I call him Tom-Tom."
The old man shook his head again.
"He is the patriarch and oldest member from that tribe I told you about. Don't let his old age fool you though. He has sharper instincts then all of them. The more superstitious from their tribe believe that he can see the future. Because it can at times seem like he can start reacting to things before they even happen." Makeias said and smiled at the old creature.
Tom-Tom slowly turned his head to Tatsumi. His blue eyes staring at the boy. " Oh yeah, Tom-Tom, this is Tatsumi. The boy I talked about."
Tom-Tom spoke in a low and raspy voice. "The ice-demon's breeding partner."
Makeias looked a bit annoyed but Tatsumi only chuckled. "Basically yes." he said with a smile. "Though I like to think that there is more to me than just that."
Tatsumi looked at the owl at the big man's hunched shoulders."But you sure have a strange pet."
"So you have noticed already?" Makeias said with a smile.
Tatsumi looked at the bird. It's big eyes were black with small shining spots in them. It looked like the owl's eyes were taken from a starry night sky. "That is not a normal animal."
"Correct." Makeias said and put a hand on the owl. Slowly patting it. "This is a biological teigu. And the biggest insult the imperial court has ever given me."
"Hmm?" Tatsumi gave the other man a questioning glance.
"Tatsumi, this is The ever knowing sleeper: Noctuaz. Also known as the world's only dysfuntional teigu. It was sent to me by the imperial court when I requested that they send me teigu users during my campaigns on the western borders."
"What does it do?" Tatsumi asked and eyed the the big owl.
"Well, as the name implies, it knows everything. And I mean that literally. Everything that has happend, is happening and is going to happen. No matter what the question is, this little guy knows the answer."
Tatsumi raised an eyebrow."That doesn't sound like a failure. It sounds like something you could control the world with."
"Yeah. You could probably conquer the entire world with just this owl. If he ever felt like telling you anything in a clear way."
"Ahh" Tatumi said. Realizing the problem.
"Everything this teigu tells you is extremly diffuse. I would like to say that it only speaks in riddles but that would indicate that there was a solution to deciphering his presentations. There isn't. Half the time his advice is impossible to understand and when he actually tells you about the future he does it in a way so that you only realize what he meant when it has already happened."
Tatsumi couldn't help but smile."So close yet so far away."
"Yeah. Which explains the insult. The imperial court has never trusted me. When we were getting hammered on the front, I requested support and reinforcement. I begged them to send me some teigu users. This was what I got in respons."
Makeias got a bitter expression on his face."A funny joke to those sitting in the warm halls of the palace. But I can promise you that the humor had worn off when we received it after losing two thousand men in three days. Defending our positions as they had ordered us." For the first time ever, Tatsumi saw how a hint of anger crept into Makeias expression."And yet they dare to reprimand me when I took the buisness of destroying their enemies into my own hands."
The general took a deep breath. Calming himself.
Suddenly the owl turned it's head to Tatsumi. In a shrill and squeeky voice it spoke to him.
"If you had chosen death then you would have lived. You changed your steps and the world started to spin diffrently."
Tatsumi stared at the bird. Baffled by it's sudden outburst.
Makeias smiled and shrugged. "Case in point."
The old man shook his head again.
"Anyway let's talk a little, Tatsumi." Makeias said and started walking down the corridor. Gesturing at Tatsumi to follow him.
Esdeath walked down on a balcony in the giant theater. Seething internally.
A simple meeting witth the other general had managed to turn this good morning sour. Somehow Makeias had manage to take control of the situation without doing anything. He had gone against her warning and been able to get away with it. Something that few people could do. Her anger grew as she thought about it.
The most infuriating part was that he had somehow managed to get Tatsumi on his side. He had made her own mate go against her. Why had Tatsumi chosen to take Makeias side in this? What did the pillager mean to Tatsumi?
She sighed angerly as she walked down to the first row of the audience seating on the balcony. Down on the stage, some sort of play was being performed but Esdeath had no interest in it at all. Her reason for coming was seated in the middle of the front row of the balcony. Surrounded by politicians. They were all talking quietly but immediately turned silent when Esdeath walked down beside them.
"Lady Esdeath." the prime minister said. Slightly suprised that she had come here so fast."I didn't expect you to come so quickly. I sent the summoning just an hour ago."
"I got some free time between two tasks. Besides, you wrote that it was urgent." Esdeath said. She had intended to make the prime minister wait while she played around with Tatsumi but now she might as well get this over with.
She looked at the politicians sitting next to him. "Get out."
The men started to look at each other and then at the prime mininster. Esdeath did not have patience to wait for them to reach the obvious right course of action. Her mood was far to sour for such gentleness.
"Either you leave through the doors or I will throw you off the balcony. Either way, you won't be here in ten seconds." she said in a calm voice.
That got them moving. The prime minister sighed deeply as the politicians he had been talking to started to run out of the theater in panic. Esdeath didn't give them a single glance. Walking over and sitting down beside the prime minister.
"I wish you wouldn't be so rash sometimes." The prime minister said and stroked his beard.
"So what was it that was so urgent?" she said. Cutting down any chances for small talk. Wanting to get this over with so that she could go back to Tatsumi.
The prime minister shook his head and then decided to turn to the matter at hand.
"The great general has finally decided to act."
Esdeath started to smile. Maybe there was a silver lining to this. "How?"
"When you return to your chambers you will find a letter from him. A letter that has been delivered in sectret. He is summoning all the military leaders in the capital to a secret meeting. Probably tonight."
"And those outside of the capital?"
"Letters has been sent to all three generals that are stationed outside of the capital. But they will never reach their destinations. The roads outside of the capital can be so dangerous for couriers, you know? Regrettably." The big man said with a smile.
"Certainly." Esdeath said and returned his smile. "Do we know why he is choosing to act now?"
"No. But it would seem that he has been gathering information about the trials of the betrayers who you uncovered information about when you removed the warden of the west from his office."
"I thought that you would try to be discreet when removing them?" Esdeath asked. More curious than annoyed.
"I have been. But Budo has for some reason been able to find out about them either way. It almost seems like has been aware of exactly where he should look."
"Looks like you have a leak somewhere then."
"It is unlikely. But I don't see how this could have happened otherwise. I will have to search through my ranks a bit." He said and looked down on the performance happening on the stage.
"So why did you summon me? I thought we were clear about how we would handle the great general if it came to this." Esdeath asked.
"It is not the great general that I want to talk about. It is the other one."
Esdeath's smile got a bitter tinge to it."I was actually talking to general Makeias right before I got here."
"A futile endeavour, I'm sure." The prime minister said and chuckled. "But we need to decide how we should handle him. Do you have any idea about the capabilities of his forces?"
Esdeath looked at the big man with a menacing smile."I do. Have you looked up his teigu for me?"
The prime minister nodded at her."I have. But there is not much to find out about it. He has kept it's abilities well hidden."
"Of course he has." Esdeath said. Her irritation at Makeias waking up again.
"As I said, it is a small knife lodged into his body. Just below the chest." The prime minister put his hands together in relaxed position. Just below his waist. "It is called "The all corrupting infection: Morbus". As the name implies, it's powers are linked to sickness and decay."
"Well, that suits him pretty well." Esdeath said.
The prime minister nodded. "I haven't been able to find out much about it's actual capabilities. But it is a powerful tool when fighting creatures of the flesh. Allegedly."
Esdeath sighed. "Do you have anything useful to tell me?" she said in a slightly irritated voice.
The prime minister looked at the young woman at his side. Sometimes Esdeath could be a bit difficult to deal with. He had to be careful with her at all times. She had always been relatively reliable but it was always worrying when her mood was sour. Since she could kill him with a finger. "Two things. First of all, your ability to freeze him should be fairly effective. Ice is one of the few things that can stop any infection or disease."
Esdeath looked at the big man."A bit ambiguous, are we?"
"If I seem unclear then that is because we don't have much details about Morbus. The second thing I have learned is that, while Morbus is a powerful weapon, it is also fairly self-destructive to the user. Corrupting the user's body in exchange for power."
"Satisfying to know. But it doesn't help me if it comes to fighting." Esdeath said.
The prime minister shrugged."My information network is superb. The only reason why we don't know more about the teigu is because Makeias has kept all his knowledge about this lost teigu to himself. What have you learned about his forces?"
Esdeath turned her gaze from him. Looking down at the play being performed on the stage. "I have read through several of his reports from the front lines. As well as the documentation of his army's movements on foreign soil."
The prime minister bent a bit forward and looked at Esdeath. "And what is your conclusion?"
"Well, as you know, his army suffered heavy casulties during it's last campaign. Losing a third of it's soldiers. And they have been very slow to refill their ranks. Right now, my own legions outnumber them two to one."
The prime minister leaned back into his chair again. The poor furnuiture creaking as he did."So it is of no concern to us?"
"They can't even get close to the offensive capabilities of my own army. If they face me and my forces on the field, they will lose. Quickly. Which is why they won't ever meet me there."
The prime minister raised an eyebrow at her.
"There is a reason to why they haven't been quick to refill their ranks after the last campaign." Esdeath went on. "Because the two thirds that survived it are now heavily specialized. And all new recruits have to be trained to match that level."
"Specialized in what?"
Esdeath looked over at the big man with a bitter smile. "Guerilla warfare. The reason why Makeias could ravage the foreign country for so long was because his army was basically demobilized. Acting in thousands of small units. Yet somehow they were still able to be synchronized in their attacks. The entire army mobilizing in a matter of hours and then disappearing just as quickly. I still haven't been able to find out how they could keep up that level of order and the communications required for it."
Esdeath's eyes returned to the play. "If they meet me on the field, they will be crushed. But they never will. That is not how they fight."
"That is certainly troubling to hear." the prime minister said and scratched his beard. "If such a huge force scattered like that, it would be extremly taxing to root them out. And they would be looting and pillaging our dear empire as we tried to exterminate them. Should Makeias decide to turn rogue."
"The pillager's forces lives up to his name." Esdeath said with an empty voice.
"But this makes our course of action pretty clear." The prime minister said. "When the meeting takes place, you will have to make sure that the pillager's loyalty is with us. Otherwise, it might be best for his services to the empire to come to an end."
Esdeath smile grew a bit wider. Subdue or destroy. This was why she liked to have the fat man as her ally."I will make sure to check where his loyalties lies during Budo's meeting. And if it is not with the empire then I will know what to do."
"Try to convince him to keep his convictions." The prime minister said in a concerned voice. "It would be a shame if the empire would lose such a big military resource."
"We will see what happens." Esdeath said and rose from her chair. "You should go and say your goodbyes to the great general. If he is having this meeting tonight, then I don't intend to let him see the morning."
"Such a shame. He was such a loyal warrior." The prime minister said with a malevolent grin.
"Yeah, ain't it." Esdeath said. Her own expression happy yet intimidating.
She turned around and walked out of the theater. Leaving the prime mininster to watch the show.
Tatsumi and Makieas walked through an inner yard in the capital filled with houses and people. Tom-Tom following behind them. It was almost getting close to midday and there were a lot of people walking around. The buisness in the capital reaching it's peak for the day. Tatsumi had an umbrella to protect him from the heavy rain but Makeias hadn't bothered with getting one. Since he already was drenched.
"Where had you been when we met you earlier?" Tatsumi asked. "You were already wet by then."
"I was visiting some of my forces outside of the capital during the night." Makeias lied. "The rain caught me a bit unaware."
"Really?" Tatsumi asked. Looking a bit sceptical.
"Really." Makeias said tiredly. "Anyway, you wished to talk to me."
"Yeah." Tatsumi said. His more serious mood returning. "And I think you know why."
"Ohh I can think of many reasons. Which one were you referring to."
"You know about my nightly visit to a certain military district. Don't you?"
"I do. Bellany told me some interesting things. Do you know her?"
"Only too well. I actually have a bone to pick with her." Tatsumi said. Once again reminded of the possible liability that Bellany represented. "I heard that she had fallen sick earlier but it seems like she made a speedy recovery."
"Well, something like that." Makeias said with a smile. Making Tatsumi give him a quesioning look. "But you don't have to worry about her anymore."
Tatsumi was about to ask Makeias to clearify but was interrupted as Makeias eyes widened slightly as he looked in front them. "What the..."
Tatsumi followed Makeias gaze and saw what he was reacting to. One of the palace's kennelmaster was walking past them with his dogs. Keeping them all in leashes. But at the back of the pack of dogs a rather distasteful sight met them. The results of Esdeath's symbolic punishment.
The man looked horrible. He was completly naked and covered in dirt and blood. Having many bite marks on his arms and legs. His hands and feet had been replaced with small wooden feet that had started to fall apart into bits. He moved by walking on all fours. Steadying himself by using his knees instead of the wooden replacement that his legs ended in. His knees were scraped and bloody as a result. His mouth was hanging open, revealing destroyed teeth and a missing tongue. His eyes vacant.
Makeias turned to the kennelmaster."What is the meaning of this?" he asked, sounding more than a little peeved. He was well aware that many slaves within the empire were horribly abused like this but he had never seen someone parade it around like this. At least not a civilian.
"I'm sorry, general. I'am not more happy about this than you are. But I have recieved strict orders to treat the man like this. I will be punished if I disobey."
"Ordered by who?" Makeias asked. Ready to overrule whoever had given the kennelmaster this order
"By lady Esdeath, sir"
Tatsumi didn't hesitate for a moment. He let go of his umbrella, drew his weapon and struck it through the crawling mans neck. Ending his misery before either the kennelmaster or his dogs could react.
Makeias looked at Tatsumi. Nodding at the younger boy as he rose up. He then turned his gaze to the kennelmaster."If general Esdeath gives you trouble for this then you can tell her to take it with me. Or even better, Tatsumi." he said and gestured towards the other boy before continuing his walk. Tatsumi falling in beside him after picking up his umbrella.
"Was that out of anger or mercy?" Makeias asked.
Tatsumi sighed."Mercy, general. I am not like Esdeath. Just as you have said before." he answered truthfully.
The older man nodded approvingly at Tatsumi and then went on. "So, to get back on track,"he said. "you have basically come here to make sure that I don't tell anyone about your nightly escapades."
"More or less, yeah. I also wonder why you haven't told anyone about it yet?"
"At the moment I don't stand to gain anything by tattling on you. I might have something to gain from not doing it though."
"Such as?"
"Information for example." the older man said with a smile and looked over at Tatsumi. "Tell me about what powers Esdeath's teigu have."
The underlying threat didn't need to be said. That had not been a question but an order. Tatsumi started to understand the situation. If the general was going to blackmail him with his knowledge then Tatsumi would play along. For now.
He gave the other general a quick summary of Esdeath's powers but left out some of her tricks and abilities. When he was done, the other general looked at him.
"Are you serious? Stop time itself? That has to be a joke."
"I can assure you that it is not, general."
"Damn... as if she wasn't tricky enough to deal with already." Makeias said and scratched the side of his head. That is going to be difficult to counter, he thought. But not impossible.
"I told you that it is foolish to oppose her openly."
"Our convictions sometimes forces us to do foolish things. As I think you have been able to understand by now." Makeias said and shot Tatsumi a sly smile.
"You still haven't told me what your convictions are, general." Tatsumi stated.
"And neither will I. But I think I have started to grasp yours and I can assure you that they aren't the same as my own."
Tatsumi tensed slightly, which Makeias noted."But as long as you go along with what I say and do the things I will ask of you in the future, then nobody will have to know anything about your nightly escapades."
Tatsumi smiled. It seemed like the general only thought that Tatsumi wanted to sabotage the empire's proceedings. He hadn't realized how far-reaching the plan was. He hadn't realized that the military was about to fall apart. All because of Tatsumi.
"Blackmail, huh?" he said and looked at the taller man.
"Think of it more like something akin to "The enemy of my enemy is my untrustworthy ally."" Makeias said. Sounding rather amused. " But I must say, you are an intriguing one, Tatsumi. To think that our strongest warrior's own partner is still opposing her."
"I'am not trying to fight Esdeath. She will help me reach my goals. And I have a feeling she will enjoy doing it."
Makeias sly smile turned to Tatsumi. "So what then? You are no longer a little boy arriving from a small village, nor a member of night raid and the revolutiounary army anymore and not a loyal servant of Esdeath or the empire." Makeias mused to himself. "So what are you then Tatsumi?"
Tatsumi looked up at the rainy sky. Honestly thinking about the question. After some seconds a sad smile formed on his face. " Some marks aren't washed away that easily. Some morals don't fade." He sighed. "A tiger doesn't change his stripes, general."
Makeias looked at Tatsumi. Closely studying the younger man as Tatsumi turned his sad smile to Makeias.
"I am bent but not broken."
Author's note:
A bit of a transistional chapter since we are starting to build up to one of the bigger moments in this story. It took me some time to think up the name of the teigus original to this. But in the end I went for simple latin descriptions. The all corrupting infection: Morbus and The ever knowing sleeper: Noctuaz.
A quick question: I have known ever since the third or the fourth chapter of this story that the name Esdeath is actually an incorrect translation of her name. Since her name sounds like Esdeath many translators made the mistake of believing that that was what the author of the manga meant. But it is not. Her name actually is just Esdese. Since it's letters are a play on words in japanese.
So if any of you readers want me to change her name then write it in a comment or a pm. If enough people want it to change then I will go back and correct her name in all released chapters and start calling her her real name from now on. Consistency is important. If you don't write anything then I will assume that you are indiffrent about it.
Anyway, thanks for reading. It's been quite a journey and I have enjoyed it a lot, thanks to you people reading it. Thanks for all the feedback and comments. I read every word you write.
As I wrote earlier. I have a lot of work on my hands right now so expect the next chapter to be released in 8-10 days.
Until then, I wish you a great day and hope that you take care of each other.