Chapter 15

It was evening the next day before Calintz returned to Headquarters. The journey had taken him longer than expected due to his injuries requiring him to rest often. He knew he probably should have prolonged his visit at the Temple for another few days but he simply couldn't. It wasn't just the fact that he was the Captain of the Tears of Blood, but mainly because he couldn't bare to be close to Agreian. Well, not so much that he couldn't bare it, more that he was simply afraid. Why did this feeling frighten him so much? He sighed in relief as he rounded the corner seeing the Headquarters in sight; at last he was home.

Calintz made his way immediately to see Lehas who was in the meeting room as always. She looked up from a pile of papers on the table, surprise registering on her normally stern face.

"Calintz, I didn't expect you'd be back so soon,"

"I can't just leave this place all to you,"

"We were taking care of things,"

"Still,"

Lehas sighed. She could never understand why the Captain failed to trust her with commanding the Tears of Blood in his absence. He trusted no one and it angered her something awful. He had probably insisted on coming back, against everything the priestesses had advised, just because he couldn't trust anyone to make things run smoothly.

"You know, I am just as capable as you are, Calintz. I don't understand why you have such doubt in me – in all of us!"

"It's not that!"

"Then what is it?"

"How about if I said this is the only place I can come anything near to calling home?" Calintz didn't mean to snap at her like that, he didn't mean to spit out the words like they were poison or to reveal anything about himself. But nonetheless it shut her up. She sat in silence for a moment, staring blankly at her papers.

"I'm sorry," she said finally. "Are you alright? You don't look that good, you should have at least had someone accompany you here,"

"I'm not a baby,"

"And nor are you invincible,"

"I came to learn that many years ago, Lehas," She got to her feet, setting the papers down in a neat rectangle.

"Let me make you something to eat,"

"That will not be necessary. I'm going to retire to bed. But first, fill me in on what has happened," Lehas sighed wearily, retrieving the papers and flicking through them.

"There has been Yason sighted around the top of Mount Selton. They were worried about an attack at the Great Temple,"

"That it?"

"What do you mean "that it?", Calintz, if they attacked Amabat and the Great Priestess was killed then things really would be dire!"

"I know, I meant are there any other occurrences?"

"None other than the usual stray bands of Yason popping up here and there,"

"Hmph…"

"It has been requested that the Tears of Blood are to be despatched to Mt. Selton tomorrow to investigate the situation,"

"Can't the Alliance do it? They seem to be sitting on their fat butts most of the time,"

"Actually, it was the Alliance who requested it,"

"What?"

"Apparently, General Agreian has given strict orders for the Alliance to stay away from the Yason situation at Mt. Selton,"

"That's bizarre though, aren't they suppose to be protecting Amabat?"

"That's what I said, but you know what they're like, they won't go against orders,"

"Typical…" Calintz sighed and folded his arms across his chest. It seemed odd, the Alliance normally dealt with any occurrences around the Amabat region, why would they not get rid of the Yason at their doorstep? Had Agreian done this just so he would get to see him again? Was it some sort of bait to lure him back to the Great Temple? No, that's absurd, if he was that desperate he'd come down here...

"I'm going to send Eonis and Azel with a few others,"

"Well, I shall be going too,"

"Do you think that wise in you're current condition?"

"I'm getting better everyday, I can easily handle a trek up Mt. Selton, don't worry," Calintz said sarcastically. Lehas frowned at him and began to say something but she was promptly cut off.

"I am the Captain here, Lehas, and it is my duty to ensure missions are carried out effectively," he interrupted. Lehas opened her mouth to say something else but quickly changed her mind and shrugged.

"Do as you will then, Calintz," she sighed and turned back to her desk.

Calintz made his way to the upper floors of the Headquarters where his room was situated. There was no one around at this time of night and the tell tale sounds of peaceful sleep emanated from a few of the doors. What he wouldn't of given for an undisturbed night. Calintz withdrew his key from his pocket and unlocked the thick, wooden door into his room. His own room at last. His own bed, his own things. How many times had he imagined he'd never see it again? He stripped off his clothes, leaving them in scattered disarray around the bed, and lay down. He turned on his side and stretched himself out, looking over at the wall adorned with his favourite swords. In some ways, his room was a lot like Agreian's, just smaller. Each one of those swords had a story. Stories of victory, of defeat, stories of friendship, of pain. And each story was wound up within the cold steel of the blades, only ever knowable to him. Calintz closed his eyes, feeling the cool breeze from his open window fall across his bare skin. The outdoors enticed him. He felt confined within walls, within buildings. Some nights he would go out and sleep in the forest, lying underneath the blanket of stars and breathing in the rich scents of the wilderness. In the wilderness no one knew you're name, no one would bother you, no one would find you. No one…

As Calintz began to drift into the realm of slumber thoughts plagued his mind. Thoughts associated with feelings associated with urges associated with desires. Did it ever end? Was there ever a beginning…? He had always gravitated towards solitude, never depended upon anyone. But now, even though he was alone, he wished there was someone else here. Being in Agreian's bed again had at once frightened him but then appeased him. The warmth of another body against his own, the touch of warm skin. Are you lying in you're bed, alone now, Agreian? Are you thinking of me…like I'm thinking of you…What? What am I thinking! He could feel something stirring in his lower regions, an unsatisfied lust. Why it had suddenly overtaken him now, he could not comprehend. Was it possible to hate someone and love them at the same time? The thin line between love and hate…only a fraction away from each other…I hate him, I hate him for making me feel this way, for making me think these things… He brushed his hand across his arousal, stroking it gently. I remember when I used to do this to you…We could never get enough of each other…You always wanted more. We used to fight at the same time, what is it about pain and lust? I remember you're taste, you're smell, you're touch…I remember…

The next morning came too soon. Calintz awoke tangled in his bed sheets and sticky with sweat. He could already hear the sounds of the soldiers training outside and footsteps in the hallways. He got out of bed, neglecting to it, and headed for a shower.

The cool water soothed his burning skin and cleansed off the dried sweat of the previous night. It was too hot here, too humid for any restful sleep. He had to keep his mind focused on the task ahead, not let his emotions deviate from his self erected cage.

Downstairs, in the meeting room Eonis and Lehas were waiting.

"Good morning, Calintz," Eonis greeted him. He offered a smile.

"No one told me you were returning last night. Are you better?"

"Yes, thank you,"

"Well, I'm glad you're back with us," She moved forward and put her arms around him, in a light hug. He returned the action.

"It's good to be back. I missed this place…" Lehas coughed, making them both turn and stare at her. Her seamless face was creased with irritation.

"What's wrong with you now?" Calintz quizzed irritably.

"It's nearly time for you to leave and Azel still isn't here," There was evident frustration in Lehas's normally cool voice. When things didn't go as she planned she became easily stressed and irritant.

"Any idea where he is?"

"He isn't in his room, I had someone go and check. It's too short notice to find anyone else,"

Calintz sighed, frustrated. Why did something like this always seem to occur?

"Stay here, I'm going to find him,"

"Do you know where he is?" Lehas said, raising an eyebrow.

"I have a good feeling where," Before she could interrogate him further he was out the door.

Calintz knew from past experience that Azel always stuck to the same path. He always did the same things when he felt certain emotions or certain things happened. It was predictability. But, Calintz couldn't blame the boy, not after what he had been through as a child. It had been a cold winter's morning when the Calintz desired the solitude of the forest before a day's training. He found the boy huddled unconscious beside a thick oak, as if he had been trying to retreat inside himself to get away from the frigid atmosphere. After that, Calintz found he had been abandoned but he seemed to remember nothing before that. He didn't believe the boy of course, he could see the fear in his eyes, he knew he just wouldn't tell him. As Azel made his home with the Tears of Blood, his tension loosened, but, as Calintz noticed perpetually, he always desired to do the right thing; to carry out missions successfully, to never falter or lose in training. The Captain realised it was due to his fear of abandonment, of uncertainty.

Just as when he lost a match in a training session, as when he was sad, he would always go back to that secluded spot in the wood. It seemed odd, to Calintz. Why would anyone want to go back to a place that held such crippling memories? But he was not a psychologist, nor would Azel enlighten him on the subject, so he would have to make do with his guesses and assumptions.

And he was right.

No sooner had he breached the thick wall of elms that lead to the great oak, he saw the shock of black hair and shining sword lying on the moss obscured earth. He approached the boy quietly, seeing that he had his head buried in his arms.

Just like the day he had found him.

"Azel," Calintz said quietly. The boy looked up, startled.

"C-Captain!" Was that a tear stain down his cheek? Calintz knelt down beside him.

"Did you forget about the mission today?" The boy shook his head.

"N…No…"

"You always come here when something's wrong,"

Azel hunched his shoulders, as if trying to physically avoid the statement.

"I…just…I never knew you were coming on this mission too, Captain,"

"Is there a problem with that?" Azel frantically shook his head.

"No, of course not! I just thought…you would be saying with General Agreian a little while longer…" A slight tinge of crimson adorned Azel's cheekbones as he looked up at the older man timidly. Calintz raised a slender eyebrow.

"And why would I be doing that?" he inquired. Azel shuffled his feet nervously.

"I…don't know…" he murmured. Calintz placed a hand on his slender hip and stared down at the boy. He sighed then held out his hand. Azel looked at it puzzled.

"Don't just sit there like a slob, get up!" Calintz barked, startling the young boy. He took the Captain's hand as he pulled him to his feet. Azel lost his balance momentarily and clung onto Calintz's shoulders, his eyes staring into the captain's.

"Azel…are you sure you're alright?" The boy straightened himself immediately, blushing with embarrassment.

"Y-Yes, sorry, Captain!"

"It's alright…" Azel smiled with relief. Calintz started back towards Headquarters.

"C'mon, let's get this done," he said then hesitated a moment before adding, "Remember, Azel, there's no point in dwelling on the past, it doesn't matter anymore."

The two men walked side by side back through the wood towards HQ and their new mission.

Not much happening in this chapter, but hope it hasn't bored you to death! I'm going to try and pick up the story a bit from here on(whether or notI'll be successful is a different matter). Butanyways, thanks for the reviews and please keep them comming!