I set the dealine to 8-10 days and suddenly the chapter takes 10 days to write.
I am starting to notice a pattern here.
On the prowl.
The wind blew strongly against Tatsumi's face. He drew a deep breath of the fresh air and looked up at the blue and sunny sky. Another strong gust of wind blew against him as the giant, dragon-like creature under him lazily flapped it's giant wings again. Tatsumi was sitting in Esdese's lap, on the back of the giant beast. Flying high up in the air with her. A hundred meters below them, one hundred and fifty thousand soldiers marched over grassy fields. Currently passing between two enormous hills.
Tatsumi looked down at the huge force under them as Esdese steered the giant, flying beast. The creature circling the army back and forth. Tatsumi had seen forces of this size on the move before but it was always a tremendous sight to behold. The caravan of people stretched for some kilometers in width and the only reason why he could see the beginning and the end of it was because he was so high up in the air. It would be impossible to see the entirety of the force if you stood on the ground.
The sound from the huge gathering of warriors and soldiers beneath them was constant. A constant buzz of thousands of voices and noises. Every now and then you could hear the sound of a blowing horn. Signaling that some parts of the force should start moving or another should halt. And in the background, the constant beating of the war drums was heard. A slow and monotenous rythm. Enforced by thousands of feets walking in it's tempo. Turning it into a slow, thundering beat that could be heard for miles.
In the front of the huge force was the cavalry and other more prestiged combat units. And in the back was all the food carts and supply wagons. Drawn by mules. The force left nothing but a wasteland in it's steps. The grass turned into mud by thousands of boots and all bushes and wildlife trampled by the march. Leaving only a few desolate trees in the wake of the army.
Esdese also took deep breath of the air. "It is a lovely morning."she said. "A good day for a march.". She pulled lightly on the chain she was holding in her left hand. Making the giant beast alter it's course slightly. Her other arm was wrapped around Tatsumi. Pressing him close.
Tatsumi thought she was a bit silly. Back when he had just joined the jaegers, he had not been allowed to carry around Incursio. And one night when he was flying with Esdese, he had dozed off behind her. Resting against her back. It was nothing unusual but this one time he had actually slipped to the side and fallen off the beast before Esdese had realized that he had fallen asleep and wasn't just moving around behind her.
She had saved him from a death by gravity by diving after him off the dragon. Catching him before he hit the ground. But after that, she hadn't let him fly with her unless she was holding him. And so it had gone on until he had gotten Incursio back from the imperial court. But now it seemed like Esdese had reverted back to that standard. Holding an arm around his chest. Pushing it against her body.
He thought she exaggerated things. He was not gonna fall asleep in the middle of the day. He tried to shift around a bit but that only made her grip harden. He looked to the side. A couple of kilometres away to the side of the army, a long forest stretched out. Tatsumi studied it closely but he couldn't see what he was searching for.
Esdese noticed what he was looking at and brought her face down beside his. Also looking at the forest. "Can you see them?" she said into his ear.
"No." Tatsumi answered truthfully. "But I can almost feel them."
Esdese nodded. "Even I have a hard time seeing them from here. But you can smell them when the wind blows this way." she said as she put her cheek against the side of his head.
"Yeah, maybe if I had your nose I could do that as well."
Tatsumi had seen Esdese's legions on the march before. Even if it was an awe-inspiring sight, it was nothing new to him. What scared him was the other part of the forces that Esdese had brought. Makeias's part. She had said that the force that she had ordered Makeias to bring outnumbered the one she had brought from her own army by far. Yet Tatsumi had been unable to catch a glimpse of them this entire morning.
Esdese had given him hints every now and then. Pointing him in the direction of a swaying tree in a forest or a huge gathering of birds suddenly leaving the trees. But he had been unable to see the bulk of the small army that Makeias had brought. The fact that such a huge force could conceal it's precense to that extent both amazed and scared him.
The beast under them suddenly tore at the chain and roared. Causing Esdese to smile.
"Ohh, is the big boy feeling a bit unruly today?" she called out loudly and raised her head from Tatsumi's. "Does he need a little reminder?" she said and pulled at the chain. She reached down and put a hand down at the beast's back.
Immediately the giant creature whimpered and mellowed out. Recognizing the threat. "Yeah, I thought as much. Next time I will make you squeal." she called out loudly and roughly patted the creatures back. She tugged at the chains that acted as reins and made the beast change it's direction once again.
She liked this beast in particular. It was strong and did not allow itself to be tamed. Only staying submissive for a short while before starting to challenge her again. Giving her plenty of opportunities to crush it's confidence and break it's pride. Over and over again. She enjoyed it a lot. She would have to search for a long while for a steed like him after she inevitably destroyed him.
"You don't have carry me in your lap, you know. I won't fall asleep right now. You can let me sit on my own."
"Nope." Esdese said happily. Tightening her grip a bit further. "I had forgotten how nice this feels. I don't think I will allow you to sit so far away from me even after we have found Incursio."
"If we find it." Tatsumi said with a hint of sadness. He had never thought that a weapon could mean so much to him but during this morning he had felt the teigu's absence in everything he did. He had realized that he really had lost a part of himself last night.
"Don't worry, Tatsumi. I have high hopes that we will find your teigu soon enough. Maybe even during this mission." she said in an encouraging voice. If night raid had Incursio, then they would hopefully regain it when they eradicated the organization. Not that Tatsumi had any idea that that was the reason for this operation.
"You still haven't told me what this sudden troop movement is about." Tatsumi said.
"It's confidential. I hadn't planned to bring you along for this but I didn't like the feeling of leaving you alone without Incursio." Esdese said truthfully. The fact that she hadn't been able to catch the ones that attacked him made her a bit wary. And that Tatsumi had earlier been attacked by her own subordinates didn't help. She had decided to not leave him in the capital. Not when general Gallus was the man in control of the city.
"I promised you that I would never let anyone else hurt you. So I took you with me." she said. "You're way too precious to be left unguarded right now."
"Nevermind what I think about it." Tatsumi said with a grim smile.
"Of course not." Esdese said in the same happy tone. "You are mine. I can do whatever I want with you."
"I thought you cared about me." Tatsumi teased.
"There is not a single living being that I care about more than you." Esdese answered proudly. "Just because I push you around that doesn't mean that I don't love you."
"Even without the power of Incursio?" Tatsumi questioned while looking off into the horizon. A bit afraid of the answer.
Esdese looked at him for some moments. Studying him with a confused expression. He had been down all morning and she was not quite sure why. He had been acting like normal but Esdese could read his signs. She knew that he was upset about something. Esdese didn't understand that Incursio was more than just a tool to Tatsumi.
Is this the reason? , she thought. Let's talk a bit, just in case.
"Tatsumi, when I fell in love with you, it was an instinctual reaction. I didn't think much about it. My heart chose you. It was not a decision on my part. But still, there must have been something that made me react to you like that. And I have been trying to analyze what it was." she explained and stroked him lightly with the hand that was holding his chest. Sounding like she was holding a lecture.
"When you stole my heart, I was surrounded with people more dedicated to me than you. I worked with generals that are still stronger than you are. Even when you have Incursio. And I had a lot of people that wished for my affection that the general public would consider much more beautiful than you." she said and waved a finger in the air.
"Yet it was you that I fell for. Why? Why did I settle for you? Why did I still want you, back when the former great general forbade you from ever wielding a teigu again or participating in battle? Why was I still attracted to you when you were paralysed and weak from the poison, some weeks ago? I spent most of last night staring at you while trying to find an answer to that."
"And?" Tatsumi carefully urged on. Afraid of what was to come. He needed her on his side in order to create a rift between her and the prime minister. But there was something else inside him that was afraid. Something else that needed her love. Something which existence he wanted to deny.
Esdese percieved the worry in his voice. She looked at him as a small tinge of irritation crept into her expression. "Don't look down on my loyalty, Tatsumi. I said that you would be my partner if you gave yourself to me and you did. You will be my mate until one of us dies. I take care of my own."
Tatsumi grinned at her with genuine relief and the irritation melted from Esdese's face. "So, did you find an answer?" he asked.
"I think I already knew it. I was just too caught up in other things to think about it." she said. "I noticed it the moment I first saw you. Others might not see it so easily but I can. I see it in the way you move. I see it in the way you train. And I see it in the way you push yourself."
"What?" Tatsumi asked. A bit more at ease now that she had already reassured him of his place at her side.
"Your potential." she said and smiled at him. Almost looking triumphant. "When I see Wave train, I can easily see how he can perfect his moves. When I see Makeias fight, I can see how he has optimized his potential. But when I look at you, I can't see it."
"See what?"
"Your limit." she said and looked at him with possessive infatuation. "As far as I can see, your potentail is beyond anyone I have ever met. That is why I had to have you. That is why my heart and instincts chose you."
"So you chose me for what I could be and not for what I was." Tatsumi said in a mocking tone.
"I didn't chose you, my heart did."
Tatsumi looked at her. It was such a strange feeling to sit in her lap and listen to her talking about her heart and her love as if she was a young and innocent maiden. Especially after he had spent the last evening running through rooms filled with the horrifying results of her lust and her neverending search for thrills.
"Don't misunderstand me, Tatsumi. You have my affection even in this state." she said and stroked her head against his. "But when everyone in the world is below your own level, you have to search for possibilities instead of results."
"Possibility for what? he asked. "Why is my potential so important to you?"
"Because you have the potential to become someone that can fully satisfy me." she said and moved her head away from his. Looking down at him. "In all regards."
"I think you flatter me a bit too much." Tatsumi said with a crooked smile.
"I know that I don't. We will find Incursio and even if we don't, it will just be a momentary setback. Under my watch you will rise above all other warriors that I know of. Just imagine it, Tatsumi." she said. A smile forming on her face that was not entirely friendly. Her aura suddenly turning intimidating. "Think about how fun that will be. Think about how much I will be able to play with you when you are at that level. Think about what a struggle you will be able to put up when I try to push you down."
Tatsumi had never felt this feeling from her. It was the compassion and warmth that she usually gave him but it was drenched in maliciousness this time. She had been threatening to him many times before. Either when she was irritated at him or when she was playing around with him but this was diffrent. This was her more brutal nature challenging him like it challenged her opponents. Inviting him to dance with her at his own risk. Wanting him to play with her on a dangerous level.
She was smiling at him fiercly. Her teeth bared and her nails digging into his side. He decided to try and calm her down. He moved up to kiss her but when he got close she moved her head down quickly and bit his lip. Drawing it back. Forcing him to move his head up with her as she pulled back. Watching with delight at how he winced slightly from the pain.
"Just the thought of it makes me excited." Esdese said through her bite. Her cheeks slightly red. "Then you will not only be my partner in love but in everything. You will be able to dominate all the warriors of the empire. Just the thought of subduing you when you're at that peak makes me restless. Then you will truly be my other half. And not just my cute and submissive mate."
"Sho your heart only cshhoose me sho that you could beat me up even more?" Tatsumi slurred. Currently lacking a lip.
Esdese let go of his lip. "Don't be silly. You know that there is more to it than that."
Tatsumi sucked on his hurting lip for some moments. "Yeah, I know."
"I will see to it that you will become everything that I want. I know that you have the potential to become as vicious and powerful as me. I will protect that possibility with everything I am." Esdese said and licked his reddening lip.
"I don't think that I can ever become as ruthless as you."
Esdese smiled at him."You said that I wouldn't be able to change you the first night we spent togethere. Yet look at us now. Who has bent to who, Tatsumi? Who is sitting in my lap? On my dragon? Participating in an imperial mission?" Esdese said. The dominating urge in her affection rearing it's head yet again.
Tatsumi looked up at the blue sky. The truth in her words worried him.
Esdese looked at him. A triumpant gleam in her eyes. "Deny it all you want, Tatsumi. But you have changed. I can see it. Just like I said that you would. Though I will admit that you still have some way to go before becoming what I intend for you to be.
"Yeah, losing Incursio sure didn't help with that." Tatsumi said bitterly.
Esdese pulled him closer. "Stop beating yourself up over that. We will find it. And even if we don't, we will find you something even better." she said. Trying to cheer him up. She was not used to cheering people up so she always felt a bit awkward when she wanted to make Tatsumi happy. But she would try. She felt that it was her duty as his mate. Her loyal side affecting her in this regard as well.
Tatsumi didn't answer. He simply raised his arm and put his hand over the one that was holding him. Intertwining their fingers. Esdese felt warmth rise inside her as Tatsumi squeezed her hand. The small gesture affecting her more than most attacks ever could manage. She looked down at him with a satisfied smile. Wanting to reward him for his behaviour in some way. But Tatsumi was gazing off into the distance.
It was rare for him to do these kind of things without some ulterior motive yet he had done so now. Not even thinking much about it. His body just searching for some form of love or comfort on it's own. Ever since he had lost Incursio, he had felt like he had a hole inside of him. A hole that had been filled with what Incursio meant to him. His last connection to his old friends and those happier days.
Now that thin bond had been severed inside of him. Leaving a gaping hole in it's wake. A hole that could very easily be filled by Esdese's neverending compassion for him. But he was afraid about the effects that would have on him. He was already aware that he had grown dangerously close to her during these months. His love for her had been growing stronger steadily. Turning from faking, to thankfulness, to gratitude, to genuine affection.
And it scared him. He knew that she was going to be his final obstacle. And the more attached he grew, the more he started to fear that he would not be able to make her fall. He knew that his hopes and dreams would never come to fruition for as long as she lived.
And he was still unsure of what he would do when that faithful day came.
But that was a problem for another day. He couldn't believe that he had gotten this far and he found it even more unlikely that he would be able to survive until the moment when Esdese was the only problem left for him.
He pushed himself against her and looked up at her with a cocky smile. "We will find Incursio or get something better, huh? I will hold you to that."
Esdese's eyes smiled at his challenging tone. Her more playful side reacting to his cockiness. "I will make you swallow that doubt. You will be telling me how right I was before this is over."
She returned his cocky smile. "By the way, Tatsumi. I want you to deliver a message for me."
"Okay."
"Go tell Makeias that his forces should move out ahead of ours. I want them to reach their destination and start with their mission before we reach the city." she said and steered her steed to fly down to a lower height.
"You don't feel like telling me what that means?" Tatsumi asked. He had been nagging her about this the whole morning. He had a bad feeling about this mission but no one was willing to tell him what the operation actually was.
Esdese pinched his chin until he winced and moved her face close to his. "No, Tatsumi. I don't." she said with an evil smirk. "Stop trying."
"And while I'm at it." she said and stayed close. Her pinching slowly growing harder. "Just looking at you all night was not that satisfying. When the march is done, I will meet with the other leaders to summarize the day. Then I will return to my tent. And you will be there then. Understood?"
Tatsumi shook his cheek out of her painful grip. "Yeah, yeah. Don't worry. I will spend the night with you."
She nodded at him.
"Have you spotted him?" Tatsumi asked and looked down at the fields. Esdese was steering them closer to the ground.
"Yeah. He is in the front base at the moment." Esdese said and pointed to a small cluster of tents in the front part of the long caravan. The force marching under them was so vast that small camps were raised in the front and then deconstructed again before the back of the caravan passed.
"I saw his personal guards walking into the camp twenty minutes ago. They are easy to recognize." she said and moved some of her hair away.
"Aye. That they are."
Esdese bent down and kissed him one last time as they approach the tents. She looked at him. Her gaze serious. "Don't leave me waiting."
Tatsumi nodded to her with a smile. She let go off him with her arm when they flew past the small camp and Tatsumi jumped off the beast. Flying down the last ten meters before landing between two tents. Making the nearby soldiers jump a bit into the air by suprise. His impact making the tents nearby sway from the wind of it.
He rose up and looked as Esdese's beast started to rise to higher altitudes again. Already a hundred meters ahead of him. The great genral herself mostly just visible because of her long white cloak that blew in the wind.
The soldiers around Tatsumi were either staring at him or at the flying beast as it roared in the distance. He brushed of the dust from his coat and started walking through the camp.
It was not hard to locate the general. The long and thin appearance of his personal guards was as easy to distinguish as always. Makeias seemed to currently be occupying the highest hill in the small camp. A circle of tents raised on top of it. Makeias personal guards walking around the hill. There was about twenty of them.
Two of them started walking towards him as he approached the hill. But before they reached him they stopped and turned around. Tom-Tom had appeared behind them. Standing at the top of the hill. Looking down at them. He waved a long and thin hand in the air and the two guards walked away from Tatsumi. He had no idea how the two guards had noticed that Tom-Tom was seeking contact with them. Since no words had been exchanged. He walked up to the bearded old giant. He was leaning on his long staff and had the teigu in the form of an owl sitting on his shoulder.
"Tom-Tom, was it?" He asked as he got close.
The old man nodded. "Tatsumi of the jaegers." he said. His voice deep and raspy.
"Thanks for the help with the guards there. I need to talk with general Makeias."
"Then follow me, little Tatsumi. Two of your friends are already with the general."
Tatsumi gave the big man a questioning look but Tom-Tom just turned around and started to walk futher into the camp. Tatsumi followed closely in his footsteps.
They found Makeias standing at the top of the little hill. Overlooking the front and the vanguard of the long caravan that was the forces that Esdese had brought. But to Tatsumi's suprise, Wave and Kurome was there as well. Kurome was standing a bit in the background and nodded to Tatsumi when he got close. Wave was standing beside Makeias. They seemed to be deep into some discussion.
"..no of course it won't help. Stability has never been her goal, admiral." Makeias said as he gazed over the thousands of people that were slowly passing. His hands folded in each other behind his back. "She doesn't care if this creates more enemies of the empire."
"But Esdese has always taken her duties seriously. Isn't it her duty to try and give the empire peace, now that she leads the military?" Wave asked, looking at the general. Tatsumi noticed that Wave seemed very stressed.
"Her duty is not to bring peace to the empire. Her duty is to defeat it's enemies. In some cases those two are the same thing but Esdese won't handle her position in that way. She won't care about the cost. In either case, the path to peace must be initiated on a political level." Makeias answered grimly.
The general looked over his shoulder at Tatsumi as he approached. Wave was about to say something more but Makeias stopped him with a gesture of his hand. "Let's discuss this later, Wave. Remember what I have told you."
"I hope I am not interrupting something important." Tatsumi said with a dark smile.
Wave turned around. Looking slightly suprised to see Tatsumi there. His expression lightened up a little bit. "No problem. How are you doing, Tatsumi? I was told that you got ambushed in the dungeons yesterday."
"Well... it took it's toll on me, that's for sure." he answered with honesty as he walked up to them. His hands in his pockets.
"Ahh yes I heard about that." Makeias said as a sly smile formed on his face."It seems like night raid got one of their teigus back. Or should I say, one of our teigus."
Tatsumi looked at him for some moment. He had not told anyone except Esdese that he had actually lost Incursio. Had she told everyone that he was weakened at the moment? He doubted it.
Wave clapped him on the shoulder. "Don't worry, Tatsumi. If night raid has it, then we will probably find it during this mission."
Makeias eyes immediately shifted to Wave's. A hard look on his face.
"Ohh, and why is that?" Tatsumi asked.
Wave opened his mouth but then closed it again. Realizing that he might have said too much already. "Uhmmm..."
"Come on, tell me." Tatsumi encouraged with a forceful grin. "I would like to know why we are here in the first place."
Wave looked at Tatsumi for some moments. Wrangling with the situation before he decided to come clean. "Sorry, Tatsumi. I'am not allowed to tell you about it."
"Neither of us are." Makeias filled in. Looking off to the end of the army. Esdese's steed could be seen circulating over it. It's roar audible, even from that far away.
Tatsumi picked up on the clue. Except for the emperor, there was only one person who could impose silence on a general. Which meant that this operation most likely was the same thing that had bothered Wave the day before. Tatsumi's premonition grew darker.
"Anyway, general Makeias, I bring some orders from the great general."
"Speak." the general said without looking away from Esdese's dragon.
"Esdese wants you to move your forces ahead of the rest of us. She wants you to begin with your part of the operation before her force arrive."
Makeias nodded. "Yeah, I can see why. You can tell her when you meet her again that it will be done."
He then turned his gaze to Wave. "Go admiral, you have preparations to get done. Remember, being prepared is not about having a perfect plan. It's about having a plan ready for all possible scenarios."
Wave saluted the other general. Forgetting that they now had the same rank. "Thank you for your words, general. I will take them to heart."
"Let's speak again soon, Wave."
Wave nodded to the general and walked off. Kurome following him. Already acting as his bodyguard. Wave stopped after a little bit and waited for Tatsumi with a smile. Tatsumi started to walk after them but was halted by Makeias stern words.
"I haven't dismissed you, Tatsumi."
Tatsumi turned around to the general. "Is this is improtant? I have been looking forward to talking to my friends for a while now."
"It is."
Wave looked at him. "It's okay Tatsumi. We can eat our dinner together later. I will be in the front camps when we stop for the night."
Tatsumi sighed and nodded. "I will be looking for you."
Wave nodded back and then left with Kurome.
Tatsumi gave Makeias a tired look when they had left. "Did you want something else from me?"
"I do, Tatsumi. I think it is time that you make the first payment for my silence." Makeias said with a smile.
Akame looked around in the big room they were sitting in. It was a dining hall. Big and extravagant. With long drapes hanging from the walls down to the marble floor. The table she was sitting at was long and luxurious. Najenda was sitting beside her. Eating from the soup they had been served. Even the soup spoke of wealth. Filled with fish,crab,onions and saffron. All swimming in a cream stew. Served with a bread filled with nuts.
This was the priveledge of the elite of the empire. All the comfort the world could offer. Akame felt a bit hypocritical as she sat there eating from this food while claiming to fight just this kind of injustice.
On the other side of the table sat their host. The mayor of the city Garu. A man in his thirties. Relativly well trained with a shaved head and a red beard. The man had a brisk and harsh demeanor from his upbringing in the military but he was a just man. Night raid's highest contact in this city.
They were there to discuss the coming week. Since this sudden movement by the emopire might change some things. Akame didn't have much to add to the discussion. She had mainly follwed Najenda as a bodyguard but had been invited to sit at the table nonetheless.
"So you won't be leaving for a while then?" the mayor asked with his arms crossed over his chest. Already done with his meal.
"No." Najenda answered. "Our mission here is not quite done. Though we have made good progress."
The man looked bothered."And when will this force you speak of arrive?"
"If they keep up this tempo, they will be here by tomorrow afternoon." Akame said.
"Do we know how big the force is?"
"Not exactly." Najenda said and drank from the wine that was served. "We know that about one hundred and fifty thousand soldiers marches towards us in regular formation. But our scouts have reported that there are a lot more forces that are marching alongside this small army. But they don't have any formation and have stayed mostly hidden so we don't know how big this supplementary force is."
"Gods have mercy." the mayor sighed. "Do we at least know who it is that leads these forces?"
Najenda smiled a dark smile at the man. "Have you ever considered that too many answers is the same thing as no answers at all."
"Is that a fancy way of saying that you don't know." the mayor said and raised an eyebrow at her.
"Yeah." Najenda admitted. "Our spies in the capital says that Esdese is still in the city, yet one of her steeds has been spotted flying around, over this army. While other sources tells us that the pillager no longer is in the capital. And at the same time they say that general Gallus hasn't been seen since yesterday." she shrugged in annoyance. "So yeah, we don't know."
The bearded man shook his head. "I don't like this at all. If they are bringing such a force here then they have probably heard that you are here. They are coming here to search through my city. If they find out that my administration has sheltered you, then they will kill everyone that works for me."
"Don't worry about that, mayor." Najenda said in a reassuring tone. "They have tried these kind of things before. We know how to hide from them."
Akame looked down at her soup. Both she and Najenda knew that there was probably more to this. The kind of force that the empire was sending was far too big for a simple search and quarantine mission. There was something more to this but they were unsure of what. But Najenda had made it clear that they couldn't leave yet. The eventual loyalty of their ally under the sea was far too valuable to give up on now. Even if it was a risk to stay in the city.
"Have you heard anything about your ally in the capital?" the man asked. Looking at Najenda.
"Yeah." Najenda said with a smile. "Good news actually. The mission was a success and they are currently traveling towards us. They even managed to steal another teigu. Incursio."
Akame wondered what had happened back in the capital as she ate a piece of her bread. The message they had recieved had been very brief. They knew that Leone carried Incursio with her but not how she had gotten it or if she had met Tatsumi.
"That is good to hear. So we can assume that Tatsumi the traitor had been brought down?" the mayor asked.
"It is too early to assume anything. We will have to wait and see."
"I understand. I still don't understand why you haven't made him into a more prioritized target. Considering how he betrayed you."
Akame spoke up without thinking about it. "I don't think Tatsumi is our enemy!"
The mayor gave her a suprised look. "What do you base that conclusion on? Everything seems to point at the opposite."
Akame hesitated. Realizig that she should have kept her mouth shut. "I don't know. I just don't believe that he would kill us."
"Believe?" the bearded man said. "Young lady, the battlefield is not the place for uncertainties and guesses."
"I know that." Akame defended. "I know. But still." She put a hand on her chest. "A small part of me still believes in him."
"So you will follow your doubt when battle is joined? That kind of behavior will get you killed." the mayor said.
"I didn't say that I would hesitate. If Tatsumi tries to stop us, I will kill him." Akame said with a expression that was both sad and angry. "But I will not consider him as an enemy until then."
"Even though trusting him has already cost you a member. What was her name? Mine?"
Akame was about to say something but Najenda raised a hand in her direction and gave the mayor a hard look. Making the room fall quiet. Ending their discussion right there. Revealing who the real boss in the room was.
Akame looked down at her food again and the mayor looked to the side. After some silent seconds he spoke again.
"When will Leone and your new member arrive?"
"Hard to tell." Najenda answered as she put down her spoon. "It has become more risky to move, now that there is such a big force occupying the main path between this city and the capital. So they have to move a bit more carefully than usual. But I think they will be here soon enough."
The mayor rubbed his hand on his forehead. "So we will just feign ignorance when the army arrives then?"
Najenda nodded. A serious look on her face. "I know that this is hard for you. You are not only risking your own life but the life of your subordinates as well by helping us. We will not forget it."
The man looked out through one of the large windows. His look sober. "I became mayor because I believed that the the empire was a good and fair nation. When I finally reached this position, I had already learnt how wrong I was. But like many before me, I still believe that the empire is capable of more than this. Once the current imperial court is removed." He turned his eyes to Najenda. "Please don't let that hope falter."
Najenda smiled and rose up. Akame rising up with her. "Never. Not as long as peolpe like us draw breath."
The mayor rose up himself. He reached out with a hand to her. "Godspeed."
Najenda shook it with her human arm and nodded. "Good luck."
Najenda turned around and started to walk out of the room. Akame was about to turn around and follow when the mayor reached out with an arm to her as well. She shook it with a bit of suprise. "Good luck." she said and looked at the man.
"Good luck, Akame. I wish you all the best. And you do have a point. Sometimes it is the whisper that carries the important message. Not the scream."
"Ah, here he is." Makeias said as Tom-Tom lead a young boy into the tent that he and Tatsumi was standing in. "This is Jack, Tatsumi."
Tatsumi looked at the little boy that the the giant man had brought. He was very young. He couldn't be more than ten years old. He was pale and very frail. He wore civilian clothes that were clearly too big for him. His head was wrapped in bandage that stopped just above his eyes. The boys white hair sticking out from the bandage here and there. His eyes were as pale as his skin. He looked kind of vacant. Like he wasn't fully there.
"Has he damaged his head?" Tatsumi asked.
"Well in a sense, yes." Makeias said. "But that is not what I want your help with."
"What then?"
"Well, you see Tatsumi, I don't have a full idea of your influence. Not by any means. But I know that you are in a rather special position. And there are certain things that you can do because of that which I can't."
Tatsumi looked at the general with annoyance. "I am sure that you will get to your request sooner or later"
Makeias smiled at Tatsumi. "Okay, let's get down to it. I know why Esdese tortured her own attendants to death. I know what it was that she asked them as she slowly killed them. And I know what the last one she tortured screamed out as your lover cruelly played with her."
Tatsumi's eyes narrowed slightly but that only made Makeias own smile grow.
"I know that she was one of yours and not one of Esdese's. Did you plant her there or did you just steal her loyalty from Esdese?"
"She was already one of Esdese's chambermaids when I met her." Tatsumi said bitterly.
"And now her body feeds the crows. Come to think of it, the birds must love your lover. She always keeps them fed." Makeias mused and tapped his chin with his fingers.
Tatsumi gave Makeias an angry look.
"She is your partner Tatsumi, not mine." Makeias said slowly and met his gaze.
"So you will hold me responsible for what she does?" Tatsumi said angrily. "Do you honestly think that I can decide over what Esdese does?"
"Ohh, but I think you can, Tatsumi." Makeias said calmly, with a look in his eyes that Tatsumi didn't like at all. "I actually think you can and are. In some subtle and very indirect way."
Tatsumi started to believe that he should have dealt with this general a long time ago. It was dangerous how close he was to the truth. Tatsumi needed to either figure out his goals or elimante him. Soon. And Makeias had already made it very clear that he was gonna keep his ambitions hidden from him.
"You don't seem to understand the ice queen very well, general." Tatsumi said. Trying to sound as indiffrent as he could.
The look on Makeias face told Tatsumi that the general knew that he was right but Makeias backed off from it nonetheless. "Maybe." he said and shrugged. "You know, considering your position, I had hoped that you would have been able to at least hinder Esdese's more violent nature a bit. But you only seem to have increased it's influence."
"And how do you suppose that I would hinder her from doing what she wanted?"
"Well, when I first heard about your position I had hoped that you would at least put a baby in her belly." Makeias said and scratched the back of his head. "Then she would at least be out of action for a month or two." And that would be all that I would need, he thought.
That actually made Tatsumi laugh. "If you think I am in control when it comes to that, then you are sorely mistaken general." he said as he settled down. "Besides, I don't think Esdese is interested in anything that would hinder her from doing what she likes."
"That is kind of strange." Makeias said and tapped his chin again. "I have been told that the first thing she did to your former partner was to castrate her. So I had assumed that Esdese disliked her fertility in some way. And I thought that indicated that she wanted to own all your offspring. But maybe she just thought that it was your old partners sexuality that made her able to charm you."
Bringing up Mine was always a safe way to bring down Tatsumi's mood and this time was no exception.
"Though I heard that when Esdese actually was done with the night raid member it was impossible to see if the person had been a man or woman before Esdese got her hands on her. They are still talking about it down in the torture chambers sometimes. I have been told that it has become something of legend among the torturers. Allegedly. Did you know that Esdese actually let some of the other prisoners use your old girlfriend as-"
"Enough." Tatsumi's voice was so cold and hard that he actually managed to stop the general midsentence.
Makeias was strong. Tatsumi knew this. He could feel it from his presence and see it in the way he handled himself. Maybe not as strong as Esdese was or Budo had been, but he was not far behind them. Tatsumi knew that he would probably not be able to beat the pillager even with Incursio. But he was still very close to punching the other man in the face at that moment.
Makeias noticed how upset Tatsumi was and realized that he had gone too far. He didn't want Tatsumi to be his enemy. Not yet. He stood still and looked at the boy for a while and then turned over to him and bowed lightly.
"I'm sorry Tatsumi. That was unworthy of me. I don't want there to be any hostility between us. I thought you had left this behind you."
"I told you before, general. Some wounds don't heal." Tatsumi said coldly. He had felt the remorse in Makeias's voice and it had calmed him down but he kept his hard expression.
Makeias straightened up with a smile. "A tiger dosen't change his stripes, right?"
"We are what we are." Tatsumi said. "Some things will always remain."
"We are what we are." Makeias echoed. "Yet i believe that even someone like you, who's best abilities are fighting and hurting, can still find ways to bring joy into the world."
Tatsumi looked at the general for a while. "The only thing that attracted Esdese attention to me in the first place was my ability to hurt others. I admit that. But even if I am nothing more than murdering assassin, I still want to think that you are right, general."
Makeias smile grew wider. "I am right, Tatsumi. Even someone as low as me can make this world to a better place."
Tatsumi smiled bitterly. "If I am only a murder than what does that make you, general?"
Makeias smiled widened but lost all joy and happiness. "Decay incarnate."
There was something about the way Makeias said it that made Tatsumi deeply uncomfortable. Something about the honesty in the other man's eyes made shivers run down Tatsumi's spine at those words. His right hand started to hurt slightly but Tatsumi managed to suppress any reaction from showing. After a moment, the pain was gone.
Makeias shook his head."Let's cut to the chase."
"Please do." Tatsumi agreed.
Makeias walked over to the little boy that Tom-Tom was still holding hands with. "I want you to place this boy in some minor position close to the military leadership. Make him into an attendant to some of the leaders or something. Or make him into a butler to the great general. Something like that."
Tatsumi gave the general a sceptical look. "General I hope you don't think that this child will be able to spy on the leaders of the military just because I put him somewhere near them. The security is a bit too tight for that."
"I am well aware of the security of the military, Tatsumi. You don't have to bother yourself with the purpose of this act. Just hide him somewhere near the military leaders. And if you successfully plant him there somewhere, no one will ever need to know who it was that burned the archives."
"But why can't you do this yourself?" Tatsumi sighed. "Fine." he continued with an exhausted tone. "I will see what I can do. When do you need this done?"
"As soon as possible. Send him back with the supply lines before the sun has settled." Makeias said in a serious manner.
Tatsumi nodded. "Will he be needing any help after that?" Tatsumi said and looked at the boy. He did seem awfully young.
"Don't worry about him, Tatsumi. He can handle himself just fine." Makeias said and looked at Jack.
"Anything else that you wanted from me?" Tatsumi said in a slightly annoyed tone.
"No. Just do this for me and your secrets will be safe."
Tatsumi walked up to the boy. "Well then, Jack. Come with me."
The little boy's eyes focused on Tatsumi. He nodded. Tatsumi turned around and started walking out of the tent. The little boy started to follow him but didn't get too far. Tom-Tom did not let go of his hand. Jack stopped and looked up at the old giant. His expression empty. Everyone in the tent looked at Tom-Tom but he still held on to the child's hand. Unable to let go.
"Tom-Tom." Makeias said lowly. His voice a warning.
The big man took a very shaky breath. This was not easy for him. He looked at Jack's eyes. They looked so horribly vacant to him. He supressed his emotions to the best of his ability and slowly lightened his hold of Jack's hand. Letting go of the boy, both physically and metaphorically.
"Go with Tatsumi, Jack." Makeias ordered.
Jack immediately withdrew his hand from Tom-Tom's and turned around. Tom-Tom inhaled sharply and took a step back. Stricken with grief. The reality of the situation coming down on him as he was shown that the little boy he had come to regard as his own child didn't exist anymore.
Jack walked out of the tent with Tatsumi and didn't look back. Leaving Makeias and Tom-Tom alone. Makeias looked at his old friend and second-in-command.
Tom-Tom stared at nothing for a long moment before he spoke. His voice thick and shaky. "I failed them. They believed that I would help them. They trusted me. And I betrayed them."
Makeias noticed how the big man's shoulders were shaking. There were tears in his sad, blue eyes. He reached up and put a hand on Tom-Tom's back.
"I just want to go back home." the big man said in a shaky voice.
"Soon, my friend. Soon." Makeias tried to comfort him.
Noctuaz stirred on Tom-Tom's shoulder. The owl shook it's body a little bit and then spoke in it's squeeky voice.
"The spectacle of our collapse is growing thin."
"Indeed." Makeias agreed.
"When the fire rises, loyalties will change." the teigu went on.
Makeias and Tom-Tom looked at each other. None of them certain of what the teigu meant. But both suspecting the same thing.
Author's note:
I have no idea why but this chapter took ages to write. I still got it out in time but damn. I had to put a lot of effort into this one. Compared to some of the other chapters. This happens now and then and I am not sure why. Sometimes things are just harder to write.
Anyway, a very dialogue heavy chapter this time. Sometimes I worry that I bore you with these kind of chapters but they are necessary from time to time. Especially now, since we are building up to something rather big.
But then again, I might be insulting you with that worry. I mean, most of you have been along for more the 360 A4 pages of Bent but not Broken. You can probably weather a chapter of mostly dialogue.
As always, thanks a lot for reading. You following and commenting on this story is literally what keeps it going. I pay close attention to it all. The next one should hopefully come a bit sooner. 8-10 days, per standard.
Take care of each other until then.