I feel like these delays are starting to become standard. I will try to do something about that.
Ruins built on ruins.
The huge doors to the almost empty hall opened up and almost all the heads in the room turned as the guards announced Esdese's arrival to the morning meeting.
She had some of her followers with her. Bellany was walking behind her with a folder under one of her arms. Looking proper and beautiful. Some officers from her army that Tatsumi recognized were walking beside Bellany. Both carrying scrolls and papers. Esdese herself was wearing her usual uniform but now carried a much larger and longer cloak than usual over her shoulders, instead of her old coat. The cloak itself a mark of her rank as great general.
Tatsumi was standing beside the podium that was stationed on one side of the room. Standing beside the stairs that led up to a giant chair that was intended for her. The big room was relatively empty. Guards were stationed at the main doors that Esdese had entered through and there were some warriors standing around the podium itself. Makeias and Tom-Tom was standing beside the huge chair on the top of the podium. Waiting for Esdese. Some of Makeias own guards were also standing in the back of the room.
But aside from that and Esdese's small retinue, the big hall was empty.
"Good morning, warriors of the empire." Esdese called out. "I hope you have slept well because we have a lot of work to do."
The guards at the base of the podium saluted her as she approached it. "How many have arrived today, pillager?" She asked and looked at Makeias as she started to climb up the stairs. She reached out with an arm and drove her fingers through Tatsumi's hair as she passed by him.
Tatsumi looked at Belllany as she walked by him, following Esdese up the stairs. Trying to get eye contact. But the girl treated him like air. As she had done ever since they met in the archives. Tatsumi had still not been able to understand what was going on with her.
"Well.." Makeias said and looked at a clipboard that Tom-Tom gave him. ".. quite a lot more than yesterday. Almost two thousand diffrent cases."
Three weeks had passed since Budo's demise. Since then, any soldier and warrior of worth belonging to the empire had been called in to swear allegiance to the new great general. This was standard procedure but the process around it had been much more tense this time around. Due to the nature of Esdese's overtaking of the title. This time around it was not just a matter of keeping up standards. There was a high chance that if you failed to show up, then you would be labeled as a traitor to the empire. Since it was Esdese who decided how things were going to go down this time around.
This was a meeting to give a chance for those who had not yet pledged themselves to Esdese to do so. These kind of gatherings had been held every morning during the last three weeks.
"Anyone we need to keep an eye on?" Esdese asked. Sounding interested. There had been a few cases of people that had been sent to the torture chambers during these meetings. For one reason or another. Some of them had almost deserved it. Almost. Tatsumi had heard that the admiral of the empire's navy had been executed on the spot on one of these meetings. Esdese sending a spear of ice through his neck when he started to shout at her. Not even rising up from her chair as she did.
"I don't know, to be honest." Makeias said and read through his clipboard. "I am sure that you have heard that general Gallus finally has arrived."
"Yeah, I heard." Esdese said as she reached the top of the stairs. "Do you think he will be too prideful to bend the knee?". She almost sounded like she hoped that he would refuse.
"We have apparently met him before. Both of us. He was attending both of our inauguration ceremonies when we became generals." Makeias said. His eyes reading from the clipboard.
"I can't say that I remember him." Esdese said and moved some of her hair away as she sat down in the huge chair. Her big cloak spreading out around her. Bellany and her other officers placing themselves standing behind her chair.
"Yeah, neither can I. Anyway, from what I have heard, he is supposedly far too lazy and comfortable to bother with such a thing as insubordination." Makeias said and looked up from his clipboard.
"Do you want us to keep an eye on him because you think he might be too sluggish to be of use to us?" Esdese said and gave Makeias a curious look.
"Yeah, maybe. He also has some rather disturbing hobbies." Makeias said and looked at her with meaningful eyes.
Tatsumi stood down by the stairs and listened to the discussion. He knew what Makeias was referring to. General Gallus was known as a rather peaceful figure. He was a warrior priest that had risen within the military in order to spread his relligion within the empire. Among all the five field-generals the empire had in it's service at the moment, he was known as the most pacifistic.
However, it was also commonly known amongst the spies of the revolutionary army that he often had small boys delivered to his chambers during the nights. Most of them never being heard from or seen again. Makeias was probably referring to that. Though Tatsumi didn't understand what Makeias thought that bringing that up to someone who spent their free time torturing people for pleasure would accomplish.
"What the man does on his free time is not what we should concern ourselves with, pillager." she said and waved a hand in the air. "We should only be concerned with his loyalty."
Makeias simply nodded.
"Anyone else we should take notice of?" she asked him.
"Not that I can see." Makeias answered. Once again glancing at his clipboard.
"Well then. Go and start the process." she ordered.
Makeias saluted her and started to walk off the podium. Esdese's eyes following him.
Tatsumi watched him walk out of the room. The relationship between Makeias and Esdese had become very strange after Esdese became great general.
Esdese had kept her word and allowed him to keep all his powers and forces. But just as both Tatsumi and Makeias had suspected, there was a rather nasty catch to it. Esdese had said that she would make him into her most influential counsellor. And she had. They had worked very closely as they had reforged the imperial military these last three weeks.
She had made it very clear that she wanted his objections to her decisions and his advise on her ideas. She had told Makeias that the moment he stopped speaking his mind, she would take his powers from him and throw him out of the military. And when she didn't think that his objections were justified or his advise sound, then he was punished severly by Esdese herself.
Just the other day, he had come walking when Esdese was moving to the jaeger's quarters with Tatsumi. He had some objections and complaints about her decision that a certain southern warlord shouldn't be offered reconciliation into their new military. Esdese had listened to everything he had to say. Honestly taking his complaints into consideration. She had finallly decided that she didn't agree. Then, without warning, she had kneed him in the stomach so hard that he fell over and threw up his dinner. She had then walked away while telling him to investigate some of the cases coming the next day. And Makeias had risen up, wiped his mouth and had then told her that he would get to it immediately.
And that was the strange position Makeias was in right now. He clearly had more inluence over the military than ever before but he also acted as Esdese's punching bag. Yet in some ways, it was apparent that Esdese respected his strength and knowledge. She listened more to him than any other of her counsellors. Clearly valuing his knowledge, since more than half of his objections didn't end up in punishments.
Tatsumi wasn't sure that he liked that. Not that he had ever acted as one of Esdese's counsellors. That would have been way too obvious. But he wasn't sure that it was a good thing that Makeias infuence increased along with Esdese's. Especially since Makeias still hadn't contacted Tatsumi about what he wanted in return for keeping quiet about the imperial archives.
Esdese watched as Makeias left the room. It seemed like today's meeting might turn out to be one of the boring ones. These meetings had been everything from fun to tedious. But today she had something she usually didn't have at these meetings. She looked down at Tatsumi.
He was standing with his back against her. Facing the doors. He had been called in as a security guard for this meeting. To see that nothing went awry. However, Tatsumi himself had of course understood the folly of having a jaeger placed to protect the ice queen.
Tatsumi and Esdese had both been very busy these last three weeks. Their roles and duties had forced them to spend very little time together. Both of them working on establishing the new military in their own ways. This was actually the first morning that Tatsumi had been free of work or tasks since Budo's death. As soon as Esdese learned that he was free she had it arranged so that he would be called in as a guard this morning.
Which of course only was a facade.
"Tatsumi." she called out in a giddy voice.
"Yes, great general?" Tatsumi answered in a formal tone and turned around.
She scuffled off to the side in her huge seat and enthusiastically patted the spot beside her.
Tatsumi expression changed to something partly questioning and partly embarrassed. Trying to tell her that it would be troublesome for him with a gaze. Esdese understood what his face was telling her but she would have none of it. She eagerly patted the spot beside her again. Her smile warm and unyielding.
Tatsumi sighed and started to walk up the stairs.
This was the kind of standards and regulations that Esdese had started to completly ignore, now that she was the great general. Now she was the one who decided what was proper and what was not. Only the emperor himself could overrule her command now. Which had allowed her dominating urges to come out in full swing.
She had always been loyal to her subordinates and therefore loyal to the empire. In her own way. Therefore she had always obliged to her duties as a general. But now she was the great general and decided almost all of what her duties were herself.
Tatsumi walked up on the podium. Looking at her in a complaining way. Her eyes smiled at him in a dangerous way. He took some steps forward and sat down beside her. Sitting down on her huge cloak that spread over most of the seat. And just as he did, the doors to the great hall opened and people started to flow into the room.
Esdese looked at the crowd of people that were walking into the hall as her hand came slithering around Tatsumi. Crawling in under his shirt and taking a grip on the side of his stomach. Pressing his body against her side.
The room quickly filled up with people. Esdese watching every new warrior and soldier that entered through the big doors. Measuring them with her gaze. Tatsumi also kept his eyes at the people that arrived. Trying to see if there was anyone there that he recognized.
Makeias was the last one to enter through the doors. The guards closing and locking them behind him. A pretty clear signal that there was little escape for those attending now. As Makeias started to walk through the crowd and organizing people, Esdese turned her gaze from the crowd and pushed her nose down into Tatsumi's hair. Taking some deep and eager breaths of his smell while Makeias organized the room.
Tatsumi tried to act unpertubed. Like this was nothing out of the ordinary. Despite the fact that most eyes in the room were glued to the two of them. He had since long ago discarded any remnants of pride he had. Deciding that it would not aid him anymore. Yet he still found this to be somewhat embarrasing. He didn't understand why. It was almost instinctual.
The room had started to grow more silent. Just as Tatsumi thought that he had the situation somewhat under control, Esdese moved a little bit down and gave the side of his face a forceful lick. From his jawline to beside his eye. Pressing her tongue against him with enough force to make him bend his head a bit. Suddenly it became much harder for Tatsumi to fight the redness that started to creep up his neck.
Esedese was of course not bothered by the audience at all. She liked being the center of attention and felt no shame about any of her interests or desires. Including her affection. So if she wanted to nibble on his face then she would nibble on his face. Welcoming anyone to try and stop her. Tatsumi kept his eyes at the crowd. The looks they were given were varied. Many were fearful or troubled. Some were curious or suprised. A few were filled with jealousy or contempt.
"Alright then!" Makeias called out and walked up to the base of the stairs. He turned around to the crowd when he was standing in front of the podium. "I will start calling your names out now. Come forth and report the extent of your forces and then swear their as well as your own allegiance to the great general when I do. She will then decide wherever she accepts you into her new military or not. If she does, you will be escorted to another room to fill out all the necessary papers and registrations."
Makeias didn't need to say what it meant if Esdese didn't accept you into her military. Everyone in the room was well aware. Unless there was a really good reason, they would not be allowed to just walk out of here peacefully if that was the case.
Esdese turned her face towards the crowd again. Moving away from Tatsumi's face for the moment. Leaving a long trail of her saliva on the side of it. She looked down on the crowd with an empty expression.
"Okay." Makeias shouted."First on the list is mercenary captain Sota."
A big bald man walked out from the crowd. Almost twice as big as Tatsumi. He skin was the colour of chestnut. His clothes were brown and grey and he carried a big saber on his side. His head was so bald that it looked like it had been waxed and he had a black mustach that fell down on the sides of his mouth and trailed down to his waist.
"Sota is known from.." Makeias started to introduce but was interrupted as the bigger man shoved a open hand into his chest and pushed him too the side.
"Stay away from me, pillager." The bigger man said in a brisk voice."You reek of sickness and piss."
Makeias couldn't help but smile as the big man passed by him. "And we're off to a great start."
The man walked up to the base of the podium. He looked up at Esdese with a hard smile. "It is an honor to stand before you again, ice queen. We have met before, but I am not sure that you will remember."
"Ohh I do, Sota. Your little mercenary company begged for me to hire you during my campaign in the north." Esdese's smile lacked warmth but was not unfriendly. She was holding two fingers on her chin in a thinking pose. Tatsumi could feel how her fingers slowly stroked the side of his stomach under his shirt. She was still deciding about this one.
"Of course we did. The battles were going to be fucking glorious." Sota said with confidence.
"But you didn't want to participate without being on someone's side." Esdese said. Her eyes measuring the man she was looking down upon.
"We didn't want to particpate if we weren't on your side. No mercenary will live long if he can't see who the strongest dog is."
"And you reckoned that was me?"
"It was easy to see that you had the biggest cock around." the mercenary answered loudly.
Esdese's smile widened slightly. "I was sure that my appearance would convince people otherwise."
"It is not about appearance, ice queen. You are way to assertive to be a girl." Sato said with a cocky smile.
Many in the room looked shocked at his words but Esdese only chuckled. This form of crude language didn't bother her at all. She was no stranger to any form of genitalia anyway. It was one of the basics of torture to go after the victims most sensitive spots.
"I have been called many things but this is the first time ever that anyone has claimed that I am not a woman." she said. She sounded amused but her smile had gotten a little bit more dangerous.
"I have never seen a girl with your power and bloodlust." Sato stated. Actually sounding serious in his claim.
"There are very few girls like me." Esdese admitted. "But you seem to have a pretty big obsession with cocks though, Sato. Should the boys of my legions be worried if I let you into the imperial military."
"Only if they irritate me." Sato said in a self-confident way.
Esdese took her decision. "Fine. Sato, I will allow you and your company to join my military. Your forces will be disbanded, distributed and spread out in many diffrent legions. You yourself will be given the rank of footsoldier."
Sato's face fell. It was clear that this was not quite what the mercenary had expected. It seemed like he had hoped to keep his power.
He looked over to Makeias who smiled mockingly at him. The mercenary's thoughts started to move fast. Makeias wasn't wearing a weapon and neither was Esdese. So he would only have to get past the guards. He started to reach for his sword. He looked up at the new great general. Quickly realizing how foolish that thought was.
Esdese eyes were filled with a dangerous gleam. Her expression intrigued and welcoming. Sato realized that she wanted him to draw his weapon.
"Kneel." she ordered calmly.
The mercenary did as he was bid immediately. Knowing that the torture chambers awaited him if he refused. He swore his oaths.
Esdese nodded when he was done. "I accept your vows. The guards will guide you to where you can write your registrations. If you have a craving for manhood, then I think there are a few brothels that specialize in that down in the slums which you could visit." she finished cruelly. Some nervous laughs could be heard throughout the room.
Some soldiers came and lead the man away while Makeias started to call out for the next one.
The following ones were much less eventful. Mostly just officers and soldiers from diffrent kinds of the military that were there to reinstate themselves. Tatsumi could easily notice how Esdese started to grow bored after about fifteen cases. Her stroking of his stomach had slowly turned more foreboding. Her nails starting to scrape his skin.
He could tell from the way she clawed at him that she was hungry for him. They had not been able to spend much time together at all this last weeks and it had made their few interactions even more frantic and intense. But there was something else to it as well. Esdese's more bestial sides had been driven forth by the situation they were in now.
He had even started to notice this on her first dinner with him as great general. Budo had been killed in the early morning and after that he and Esdese had gone diffrent ways. She and Makeias had set about with reforging the military. Immediatly meeting with the politicians and leaders that were connected to the military. Delivering the news about Budo's demise along with an order to immediately swear loyalty to Esdese. Killing anyone who even hesitated for a moment. Spending the entire day with gathering followers and destroying the institutions and people that objected.
The news had spread like wildfire and towards the end of the day, everyone bent before them.
Tatsumi himself had been busy with diffrent tasks. The jaegers had been ordered to seek out any teigu users in the capital and check their allegiance. Ordered to not engage anyone unless necessary. Esdese didn't want to miss a fight with a teigu user. But Tatsumi had also been busy with other things. The entire military was getting an overhaul and he wanted to have control over some good positions when the new order was established.
So he had been busy for the entire day. When he had finally returned to their chambers, Esdese had been nowhere to be seen. She didn't come back to her quarters that night. Tatsumi still didn't know if she had slept somewhere else or if she had skipped sleep entirely that night. But she had apparently been too busy to return to her chambers.
It was first at the dinner the day after that night that they met again. Tatsumi had waited alone in the dinner hall. He had heard that she was returning so he had waited rather late into the evening for her.
He had noticed that something was off the moment she entered the dining hall. He had first made the mistake of thinking that she had been exhausted. She had greeted him and smiled warmly. Then she had simply sat down on the other end of the long table as the attendants came and served her some dishes. He had asked her about how everything had gone but her answers had been short and brief. After a little while the discussion had died off and Tatsumi had focused on his food. Wondering what was going on.
It was after some minutes of silence that he realized that she was not tired. She was holding back something starved and furious. And not for food.
He had looked up at her after looking down at his meal for some time and had seen that she was staring at him. Her expression serious. She didn't say anything. Nor did she touch her food. She had just stared at him. But Tatsumi recognized the look in her eyes. She wanted to touch him, she wanted to hurt him, she wanted to please him. She wanted to do so many things to him. He had been able to tell just by looking at her.
Her dominating and sadistic urges had been running wild for two days straight and now he was sitting right in front of her. Her most precious playmate. All her love and affection for him battling inside of her against the urges to dominate and hurt him.
The silence had gone on for almost five minutes. Esdese staring at him, barely even blinking, while Tatsumi's gaze flickered back and forth. And her feelings managed to reach him. He felt how his heartrate went up a bit and how his blood moved to certain parts of him in anticipation.
After a little while he had tried to talk to her again. "Esdese?" he had said. He had intended to sound gentle and questioning but his fear and expectations leaked into his voice. Making it sound like he was pleading. His voice meek and longing.
That had been more than Esdese could take.
She had drawn a sharp breath and her eyes had widened slightly. Her right hand had closed strongly. Bending the knife in it to a V-shape. Ruining the beautiful silverware. Her gaze had momentarily shifted to the attandants.
"Out. Now." Her voice had been a low growl. Threatening and filled predatory lust.
The message had gone across and the attendants had almost been been running as they existed the room. Esdese's eyes once again focusing on Tatsumi. The moment the door closed behind them, Esdese had swiped away her tableware with her arm and jumped across the table, towards Tatsumi. Her arm reaching out towards him.
Tatsumi had ducked down and jumped in under the table. Not sure why he did so. Since he also wanted it. His instincts had reacted to the huge carnivorus aura she had emitted. His body fleeing from the perceived threat on it's own accord. He didn't get too far though. Her hand had grabbed his ankle before he had gotten far in under the table. When he had turned around he had been met with blue gleaming eyes. Staring into his own.
She had drawn him out and lifted him up by the throat. Then she had swiped away his plates and glass and then smashed him down upon the table. Then she had taken him. Right then and there. Letting all her urges come out and play. Tearing through his clothes. Making Tatsumi whimper and yelp as she bit and clawed at him. Her touch ranging from sweet and tender to hard and painful. From wonderful squeezing to beastly ravaging.
When she was done with him he had been a shivering and sticky mess. His breathing shaky and his clothes ripped to shreds. Bleeding from many small wounds. Not even having the strength to rise up. His energy spent on their violent copulation.
She had then straightened out her clothes and risen up. She had thanked him for the enjoyable dinner. Looking down at him with extreme satisfaction. To her, he had looked perfect like that. Cracked open and naked. All exposed and vulnerable to her. Marked as hers by her own fangs and fluids. At that moment all of him was hers. At that moment he could not hide anything from her. Or so she thought.
For some moments, Tatsumi thought that she would leave him lying there on the table. But then she had wrapped him up in the tablecloth and carried him up to their chambers. There to continue playing around with his body.
And so it had gone on. They hadn't gotten to meet each other that much during these last weeks but when they did, a lot of things needed to be expressed and get release. She was usually the one being the most busy of the two of them. Coming back to their chambers when Tatsumi was already lying sleeping in their bed. Undressing and then creeping up into the bed. Usually waking him up as she claimed her rights over him once again.
Tatsumi could still not understand how she could keep up her pace when she worked all day and then spent all night savagely fornicating. It seemed to him that she never got a chance to rest. But she seemed to enjoy the situation they were in. Now she spent her entire days establishing her dominance and all nights with her mate.
She loved this and in a strange and dark way, that made Tatsumi happy. If she liked this then she would keep doing it. Walking down the road he had intended for her. The joy and bliss she got from it was his gift to her. His trade. Tatsumi almost found it a bit uncomfortable that he was so happy that she was enjoying herself. It made the change he had gone through this last twenty months terrifyingly apparent. He needed to not forget his final goal. He needed to remember that in the end, she would have to be stopped as well.
Tatsumi was brought back from his reminiscing as Makeias announced the next warrior.
"Next up is general Gallus." Makeias turned up from his list and looked at the approaching man. "You sure took your time to answer our call, general."
The man walking out of the crowd was apparently the man that Esdese and Makeias had talked about before. Tatsumi had never seen him in person but this man matched the descriptions he had heard.
The man was about as tall as Makeias, a head taller than Esdese. But Gallus was much wider than both of them. He had an enormous gut and thick arms. He didn't look particulary well trained. His Belly hanging down over his belt. He was in his forties and had no hair on either his head or his face. His expression stern and yet somehow still humble. He was wearing mostly black clothes with some white linings. A religious attire. He carried a large warhammer over his back. So big that Tatsumi had a hard time believing that the man could handle himself well in combat with such a huge and clumsy weapon but since the man was of general rank he guessed that his appearance was decieving.
The highest ranked warrior priest in the empire, general Gallus.
Tatsumi looked at the general. This man was a walking contradiction. A testament to the complexity of human nature. Out of all the generals in the empire, he was the most mercyful and kind in how he executed his orders.
So benevolent that Night raid hadn't even considered him a prioritized target. Despite his position. This man used his forces to help people in areas where natural disaster had struck. He used his influence to fight the poverty and starvation within the empire. And when he actually did bring his forces to battle and conquered, the defeated forces were always treated humanely. His army immediately shifting focus to helping the wounded and dying on both sides, as soon as the battle was done. Preaching the forgivness and compassion that his religion teached.
Within the empire, general Gallus was often seen as a symbol of what the empire was supposed to be. Which Tatsumi found extremly ironic. Since most spies of the revolutionary army were well aware that the man was a child rapist. Apparently the leaders of the imperial military were aware of this as well. If Esdese's and Makeias's discussion before was any indication.
The big man turned his head to Makeias. "Ahh Makeias, it is good to see you. I'm sorry that I am late to the party." he spoke in a kind voice. "I have heard about your efforts on the western borders. I offer my condolences for having to deal with that ugly situation on the empires behalf. But from what I have heard, you managed to handle the situation quite well. You have my thanks, son."
Makeias smiled at the big man. Thankful that he actually had avoided calling him by the rank Esdese had given him. "Thanks general Gallus. I rarely get praise for my work. But it is not me you should be apologizing to or searching approval from." he said and nodded to the podium behind him.
Gallus turned his gaze up to the podium and was met by blue cold eyes. Judging him from above. He walked past Makeias and kneeled down by the stairs. Esdese didn't say anything. Her expression empty.
"Great general Esdese." he boomed out. His voice strong and firm. "I have arrived to swear allegiance to you."
Esdese rested her head down in her hand. "You were ordered to come here three weeks ago. Why did it take you this long to show up?"
"I was stricken by sadness when I heard the news about Budo. I had to spend some time to pray and mourn before I started my travels towards the capital."
A complacent smile formed on Esdese's face."Was he really that dear to you?"
"No, he was not, but I always admired the man. His strong belief in justice was always inspiring. To know that even such a man as him was able to fall into corruption and treason was a harsh reminder that we all carry the potential for evil in our hearts." Gallus answered. He really did sound like a preacher in a church, Tatsumi reflected.
"I'm sure it was." Esdese said. Her smile staying. "But I don't know if I should let you join my military if these sort of bad news will render you incapable of action. I don't like the idea of letting my subordinates be lead by a warrior so easily rendered impotent."
Tatsumi knew that she was going to let the general rejoin the military. He could tell from the way she looked down on him. She was just getting rid of her boredom by cruelly playing with the man a little bit. Making it seem like he might be close to a death in the torture chambers when she had actually already decided.
"Then I ask this of you," general Gallus called out. "once I swore my loyalty to Budo. Just as I now are about to do to you. Will you betray me like he did?"
"I am loyal to my subordinates." was the only thing Esdese answered. Everyone in the room knew that Budo had been loyal to his own underlings as well.
"I will take your word for it." Gallus answered. He bent his head down and swore loyalty to her. For both him and the legions he commmanded.
Esdese was silent for a while after he was done. Looking down at him. She wanted to see if she could put some fear in him by just waiting. But the big man was unfazed by the silence. Still looking humble and calm.
"Very well." She answered after some seconds."I accept your vows. As a general, you will now be forced to attend the generals meeting together with me and Makeias later today. You will be briefed about your other duties then. Now go and fill out your registration."
The big man rose up and nodded to her. He patted Makeias on the shoulder as he passed him on his way out of the room.
Esdese leaned back into her chair. Her fingers slowly started to claw at the side of Tatsumi's stomach again. Her focus returning to him now that the highest ranked case of the day had been dealt with. But her attention was quickly brought back to the floor as Makeias announced the next one.
"Okay, so next up we have arena champion Radolf. He has... is.. is that a cow?"
The warrior called forth was a demi-human. Partly human and partly a bull. Just like the fighter Tatsumi had fought down in the arena on the day that he first caught Esdese's attention. He carried two small battle axes in his belt. Demi-humans were not that rare in the empire. However, it seemed like Makeias had never met one.
"Is that a fucking cow walking around on two legs like it's from the fucking circus?!" he exclaimed and pointed at the warrior.
Esdese smiled. "Don't tell me that you have never seen a demi-human before, pillager." she called down to him. Finding this rather entertaining.
Makeias ignored her and shouted out to no one in particular. "Okay, who did this? Who fucked a cow? Who made this happen?"
The arena champion Radolf tried to chime in. Trying to act as humble as possible. "Actually , sir Makeias. It is believed that us demi-humans evolved like this without any contact with hu-"
"You close your goddam mouth!" Makeias interrupted him. "You freak me the fuck out just by standing there and now you're gonna start talking?" he shouted. Looking somewhat flustered. "You keep your goddam mouth shut or I will turn you into burgermeat, you clothed cattle!"
Esdese laughed lightly at Makeias sudden outburst. The sly man temporarily acting a bit out of character. And when the great general laughed, her soldiers laughed with her.
The proud arena champion looked around. Not understanding why everyone was laughing at him. Esdese noticed his confusion. Deciding to give him a chance.
"Radolf, I have heard about your achievments in the fighting pits." she called out. The room falling silent as she started to speak. "I have been lucky to see a few of your matches by chance. I hope you will show the same vigour and enthusiasm in the military."
Radolf seemed to be glad for this offered escape from the ridiculing. And he felt pride fill him as the ice queen herself had just praised him. "It would be the geatest honour of my life to fight for you, great general Esdese." He called out. Hitting his chest with his fist.
Esdese nodded. "Then go and fill out the forms." she said. Not even bothering with hearing his vows before letting him know her decision.
Radolf bent down deeply towards her and then turned around and walked out of the room with his head held high. Even if he could feel how Makeias stared at his back.
"The next one then, pillager." Esdese called out. Bringing Makeias out from his little tantrum.
"Ahh, right." He said and looked down on his clipboard. Shouting out the next name as the meeting went on.
They managed to get through almost two hundred more cases without any incident. An hour and a half passing by before the next incident.
"The next one is the last survivor of a group called the Rakshasa demons, Suzuka." Makeias called out. Smiling mockingly at the name of the group on his papers. "Since her old group is completly destroyed, she currently has no clear part of the empire to join. Now that the old order is gone." he concluded.
The name meant nothing to Tatsumi but he quickly recognized the woman from her visit to him down in the dungeons so long ago. As well as his brief fight against her before that. Suddenly Esdese grip on the side of his stomach became much harder. She apparently recognized Suzuka as well. She pushed his body into her side so hard that his face was pressed agains the side of her breast. Her nails digging into the soft skin of his stomach.
"Ouch,ouch,ouch" he whispered. "Calm down girl. I'm here with you." He looked up at her. Her gaze was directed down at Suzuka who was kneeling down at the base of the stairs. Her eyes filled with cold and controlled anger. Tatsumi decided further emphasize his words and put an arm around her waist. Swallowing his embarrassment as his hand grabbed hold of the side of her butt. That did seem to calm her down, as her nails stopped digging into him. Her grip still too hard for comfort, though.
"You have some nerve to show yourself before me again." Esdese called out. Her tone icy and ominous. "I didn't think that you would be able to recover from our last encounter."
Suzuka looked up at her with warm and compassionate eyes. The opposite of what she was recieving from Esdese. "My body happily accepted everything that you gave me, great general Esdese." she called out in a dreamy voice. The lower part of her face was still wrapped in cloth.
"You will wish you hadn't." Esdese answered.
"I have come to give myself to you, great general." Suzuka called out. "I can think of no other path to take in life but to follow you. Now that all old loyalties are gone."
"Do you honestly think that I will let you into my military after you tried to steal that which belonged to me." Esdese asked rhetorically.
Suzuka's eyes momentarily moved over to Tatsumi. "Great general, you need to understand. I had no idea that you had laid claim to the prisoner already."
"Are you dim-witted then?" Esdese asked coldly. "You had a member of Wild hunt with you. I had already made a deal with that group. Your friend knew that you were trying to take what I had already reserved for myself."
"I swear to you, great general. I had no idea that the prisoner wa-"
"Tatsumi. His name is Tatsumi. He outranks you by far." Esdese corrected. A hint of anger creeping into her cold voice.
"We had no idea of what you had in mind for Tatsumi, great general. We just thought that you wanted to torture him yourself."
Esdese didn't say anything. Staring at her with unconcealed hostility. The room was completly silent. Tatsumi himself was kind of enjoying the situation.
"Please, great general. I offer myself to you! Please accept me into your forces."
"No." the answer was quick and hard. Guards in the back of the room started to move towards Suzuka.
Suzuka eyes looked uncertain. Not sure of what to do. "What now?" she said and turned her gaze to Makeias.
"You will be taken to the torture chambers." Esdese said. Making Suzuka's eyes turn back to her. "I will come down and take care of you personally when I get some time over."
Suzuka froze for some moments at those words. Then her eyes turned dreamy. "Thank you, Esdese." she sighed happily as the guards took hold of her arms and dragged her away.
Esdese looked at her for some moments. Then her hand came up from under Tatsumi's shirt. She grabbed his chin and bent down and kissed him. Deeply and strongly. Moving her tongue in between his lips with force. Demonstating to everyone in the room who he belonged to.
When she moved her mouth away from him, he whispered to her."You might want to think about how to handle that one. She is almost as much of a machochist as you are a sadist. I have heard."
Esdese gave him a questioning look as the guards walked out of the hall with Suzuka. He rarely encouraged her in her endeavours down in the torture chambers.
Tatsumi met her gaze. "Well... she did almost rape me, you know."
Esdese looked at him for some moments and then nodded."Leave it to me. I will make her wish that she had never been born."
Tatsumi smiled bitterly at her. "Her nature seem to overlap much better with yours than my own. Maybe she would be a better partner for you." he joked.
"Tatsumi." she said tenderly. "How many people like her do you think I have attracted since I became a general. Almost a third of my pets enjoy it when I hurt them. And I will admit that I have enjoyed playing around with them. But that is all they are. Toys and pets. If I happenend to break one, then there are many more like that woman who are willing to take their place."
She stroked his cheek with two fingers. "There is only one of you, Tatsumi. At least for me. You have taken my heart from me. My love lives and dies with you."
Tatsumi couldn't help but smile sadly at her. "And don't worry." Esdese continued. "I know how to handle people like her. After all, I do enjoy it more when I know that my victim isn't enjoying it in any way."
"So not even machochists get to enjoy themselves when facing your wrath then."
"I don't feel as fulfilled dominating someone if they want me to do it. That ruins half the fun. Don't look down on my desires." she said with a proud smile.
Tatsumi leaned in and stroked his chin against the side of her face. Throwing his embarrassment to the wind. "You know, it is those inclinations that make people call you a monster."
Esdese kissed him lightly on the cheek and whispered in his ear. "I. Don't. Care."
"I know." Tatsumi whispered back. "Believe me, I know."
Esdese straightened up a little bit and rested her chin against the top of his head as she watched how Makeias called out for the next warrior to step forth. By her side, Tatsumi was thinking if this changed the situation.
Did the fact that Suzuka would be down in the torture chambers change anything? He didn't think it would. Not that he cared the slightest about her but the fact that she was there might make it more likely for Esdese to visit that part of the palace. That might be a problem. But he didn't think it would be. He had made certain that Esdese would be busy most of the coming night either way.
His plans to save Leone tonight would not be affected by this.
Makeias slowly tapped his fingers on the extravagant table as the other leaders of the military started to move into the room and take their seats all around him. He had arrived some minutes before all of them and had been sitting there watching all the new arrivals. Most of them had been attending the same meeting the day prior but there were a few new faces. Most notably general Gallus who sat down some seats away from him after greeting everybody. Sitting down between the minister of internal affairs and the captain of the city watch.
This was the council of the great general. Gathered from those who controlled the military. It was standard practice to have this meeting everyday. Talking through progress and future plans. But Budo had never trusted Esdese or Makeias enough to let them sit on his own council so this procedure was relatively new to the both of them. Wherever Esdese actually needed these meetings was a bit more unclear.
Last to arrive was Esdese and Bellany. Everyone at the table rose up as Esdese walked in and then sat down when she had taken her seat at the end of the table. Makeias sitting closest to her on her right side. Bellany standing behind Esdese's chair.
Gallus was the first one to speak. "Before we begin, I would like to thank the great general for giving me the honor to be a part of this council."
Esdese nodded at him. "You will have to prove that I didn't make a mistake yourself." she said in a formal tone. "But now that you are here in the capital, I think it is time for the military to start dealing with some buisness outside of coping with Budo's treason. It is time that we finally deal with what has been a torn in the empire's side for too long. The group known as night raid."
Makeias gave Esdese a doubtful look. The rest of the table remained silent. Some nodding approvingly. "We have been hunting night raid ever since they were formed." general Gallus stated. "They are a hard group to catch or even trace. Do you have any lead or idea of how to catch them."
"I have always had an idea. Since I have always known how soft-hearted the leader of that group is. Budo was just too weak to capitalize on that."
Makeias didn't like where this was going.
"We have found out that night raid currently have their base in a trade city by the coast. The port city of Garu."
General Gallus crossed his hands over his huge belly. "This isn't the first time that we have known that night raid have been hiding in one of our cities, I've been told. The problem is that the moment we move in with any considerable forces they slink away and escape. And when we have sent a few hidden agents to kill them, it has always just turned into a cat and mouse chase."
"The reason why they have been able to escape us everytime is because Budo was too lenient in his operations. A mistake you will never find me repeating. We will smoke them out." Esdese answered.
"How?" Makeias asked. His voice empty.
"Night raid could earlier escape because they could hide amongst the population and trade caravans that passed through the cities they have been hiding in. I won't give them that opportunity."
"How?" Makeias repeated.
Esdese smiled at him."Simple. We will place our fleet around the port and make sure that no ships enters or leaves. At the same time we will also cut off all traffic going in and out off the city."
"We don't currently have an admiral for the navy." the minister said. "Since you killed the last one a week ago."
"I already have a substitute in mind." Esdese said. Thinking about one of her favorite subordinates.
"We have tried this before." Makeias said without looking at her. "They have just gone into hiding during those occasions and have then been able to escape after a month or two. Since it takes us forever to search through an entire city carefully enough to find a secret hideout."
"Ohh, I don't intend to give them that time. I will do what Budo couldn't. We will simple level the entire city with the ground in a day. Killing everyone in it."
The room was silent after that sentence. Gallus looked at Makeias, who was staring down at the table.
"Of course we will make sure that everyone knows that we will stop the extermination the moment night raid gives themselves up to us. That ought to make those that harbour them come to us. And I have a feeling that Najenda won't be able to just sit by and watch it happen. They will realize that it is a trap and walk into it nonetheless. They don't value themselves more important than an entire city of people."
The silence was deafning. The worst part is that it will probably work, Makeias thought. Is this really how far things have escalated?
Esdese leaned back into her chair. "Well then." She said and gestured with an open hand to the table."You are my council. Counsel me."
Makeias turned to the minister of internal affairs. "What is the population of Garu?"
"About 200 000 residents."
Makeias slowly leaned back into his chair and closed his eyes. Letting the others speak first.
Esdese looked at her council. "Well?" she demanded.
"You are now the great general, Esdese." the minister of internal affairs said. "The imperial court will support whatever action you find most prudent."
Esdese nodded.
"It is a great tragedy that all those innocent people need to die." General Gallus said in a deep and mournful voice. "But their sacrifices are necessary. Night raid has obstructed the way to peace for too long and I think this plan might work. I support this. God will sort out the good from the bad after we send them all to him."
Lickspittle, Makeias thought and gave the man a condescending look.
Even the captain of the city watch dared to speak up after that. "This is a wise plan. It will most certainly give results."
The same man who had loudly supported Budo some hours before he was killed. That was more than Makeias could take.
"I am starting to doubt that these meetings serve any purpose, great general." He said and leaned forward, looking at Esdese. She met his gaze with an interested expression. "This council serves little purpose to you if it just consists of fawning underlings and ass kissers."
"Fully agreed." Esdese said with a smile. Urging him to continue. Wanting to hear what he had to say. So that she could absorb his wisdom or punish him if he wasn't helpful. "Go on, Makeias."
Makeias couldn't help but notice that it was the first time today that she hadn't called him pillager. He had tried to be as helpful to her as he could during these last three weeks. Being as ruthless as he could and as effective as he could in order to gain her favor as they had reconstructed the military together. Hoping to make himself valuable to her, so that his position would be more secured.
But it had only partly worked. She clearly found him capable and in her own way she even respected him more, now that he had shown her how cruel he could be. But she still didn't consider him as her subordinate. That much was clear. She still didn't see him as one of her own. She still saw him as a threat. Keeping him around for the thrill of it. As well as for how useful he was. Her instincts once again saving her from making the mistake of trusting him.
"This is folly." he said and looked her in the eyes. "Night raid has not been a threat to us for almost twelve months. The symbolic danger they posed was only potent when they had the revolutionary army behind them. When they managed to help that force by taking out important and significant targets.
Esdese crossed her fingers in front of her mouth as she closely listened as Makeias went on.
"But the revolutionary army is broken and spread out. It's days has come and gone before our eyes. Now night raid is nothing more than a slight annoyance to us. Yet now you want us to not only give an entire army to this task but also sacrifice one of our trading cities for sake of catching two renegade teigu users? Folly."
"They have apparently been recruiting new members. Which they are training to use new teigus." General Gallus said.
"Two to five people in exchange for a city? This is neither efficient or worthwile. Your judgement has failed you here, great general." Makeias went on.
Esdese smiled at him. Her eyes alarmingly amused. "Say what you really think, Makeias. That is what I keep you around for."
Makeias looked at her for some moments and then did as he was bid. "You are just using this as an excuse to settle a vendetta with Najenda. You know that we have bigger issues at hand. You are just using the military to satisfy your own aspirations." he concluded.
Her voice was suprisingly warm when she answered. "This is why I keep you around, pillager."
"So you will heed my words?" Makeias questioned.
"No." She said and enjoyed the fear she saw hiding in Makeias's eyes at that word. "But I will admit that I am settling something between me and Najenda with this but that is not everything there is to this."
"What do you mean?"
"You will learn soon enough. But your advice was sound."she said and put her hands down on the table. Looking at her council. "I have great plans for the empire. And I will not allow these remnants of our old enemies to lie around and act as sand in our gears. It is time that we root them out, once and for all. No matter the cost."
"When will we begin?" Gallus asked.
"You will stay here in the capital, general Gallus. I will personally handle this together with Makeias. We will move towards Garu under the disguise of an inspection of the navy. We will move out first thing tomorrow morning. The longer we wait, the more likely it is that our plans will leak out and reach Night raid's ears. And then our operation will have little chance of succeding. No one but a few must know about this plan before it is made into a reality."
Makeias sighed."I had hoped that my new rank was only for show." he said and put the fingers on one of his hands on his forehead. Already dreading what was to come.
Author's note:
I will atribute the delay of this chapter to easter celebration. Easter around my part has little to do with religion and a lot to do with drinking. So my productivity was pretty hampered by this. I lost almost three days. The next one won't take so long. I promise.
This chapter is the first one that moved into a part of the story that I hadn't planned when I started writing. So I choose to make this one reflect the prologue of the story. In the sense that most of it takes place during meetings. Many sentences in this chapter taken from the first entry to this story. Building up for what's to come while also showing what has been happening. Things will start moving on faster in the coming chapters.
As always, thanks for reading. I will start working on the next one asap. It will take seven days at most.
Now I got to run. Got places to be. Take care of each other and have a great day.