Chapter 2 :
The following hour the remaining rat horde was utterly decimated by The Deathbringers.
Hundreds of bodies littered the ground as the great general and hero to his troops, Althalos held up a spear with the head of the cannibal rat barbarian, Rothran on it. The head was covered in dried, clotted blood and the deceased rat's tongue lolled out, completely inflated and purple. Stepping on a pile of bodies the victorious leader raised his sword and shouted to his rallied troops
"To The Empire! Hurrah!"
He was echoed by hundreds of soldiers who also raised their weapons.
"Hurrah! Hurrah!"
Clinics rushed forth to aid the fallen and wounded and carried them away to the large tent that served as a hospital and surgery room. A female squirrel led a large group of clinics to help collect the wounded soldiers. It was not unusual for woodlanders to join the Army and it's many branches. Another score or so of soldiers gathered fallen comrades for burial. The female squirrel known as Treeswift came up to him.
"General, you are in need of medical help."
"No, I am alright, tend to the rest of them instead." He tried to move on but she stopped him. Speaking in a harsh tone, the same way one might scold a child she said,
"You need assistance, sire. Your injuries might be life threatening. These are my direct orders."
Althalos reluctantly allowed himself to be led to the army's surgery tent so his wounds can be tended to.
Far behind the Zannian lines, a chariot rumbled through the forest. It was heavily guarded and a dozen elite bodyguards protected it. The exterior was a deep yellow painted on wood paneling, blue undertones and gold trimmings. A single door was installed on to it with the Empire's standards decorating it. It also had two small, triangular flags depicting the Royal Family's personal standard and motto. A sword along with lightning bolts flying out of a thunder cloud. The saying inscribed on it said: Blood and Steel on a flowing banner.
The interior was even more lavish. Inside, the entire cabin was a deep royal purple and different shades of deep crimson accentuated this. Dozens of soft pillows, a container full of food and an assortment of fine wines and liquors filled the room. Soft yellow lighting flowed in through the small, high windows on the walls. Millions of dust motes flew around like moths and were being watched under the glowing eyes of Shroud.
He was a fox, a large fox in fact. Though he was not excessively muscular, the beast instead was lean and sinewy. Gold light bathed his silver fur so it appeared to be glowing. He wore the regal attire one would expect from a prince. But he took it a little far, his clothing was a show of splendour and extravagance. Lavish silks, soft furs and elegant materials covered the fox. A small crystal dagger hung from a necklace around his neck. Shroud's eyes were his most distinguishing feature though. They glowed like twin embers in a fire, flaring when he was angry.
Tail swishing through the thickly carpeted floor he watched as the dust motes floated upwards. His predatory eyes settled on a figure sitting nearby. It was Kayleen, his most trusted advisor and seer. Being very superstitious ,the fox chose her when he was younger as his advisor. Now he carefully watched her. She wore a simple cloak of muted reds and browns and earrings of snake fangs and dozens of bangles and rings decorated her paws. Burning incense filled the air with it's sweet, sickly smell where it intermingled with the perfumes of the chamber. Shroud's eyes twinkled as he finally broke the silence. He spoke with a voice similar to steel being scraped down a smooth, wet his voice and choice of words showed eloquence and a rich upbringing.
"Kayleen,why does the army despise me?"
"Your majesty," hissed the female rat "It seems that they only respect that sable, Althalos."
"Are you sure they shall support me in the next campaign ?" growled Shroud. But the rat chose to ignore him. Instead she shut her eyes tightly and breathed in the incense.
Angry now the fox repeated,
"Answer me now, rat! Can you not see who I am?" Finally Kayleen looked up and spoke,
"I cannot guarantee this sire, they are weary now and they need rest. I think we should return to the peninsula, then refresh the troops and start again.."
The enraged fox grabbed a bottle and threw it, spilling the contents.
"Stop speaking in riddles, rat. Nothing shall stand in my way. Ever since he was promoted, I've lived in the shadow of that son of a bitch, Althalos. I will have him killed!"
The seer nodded solemnly and rose, looking out the window
"We shall deal with the sable later, master. But now you must address the horde."
The carriage rocked to a halt and a Black Hand bodyguard opened the door.
"Sire, the army await." growled the ferret.
The Black Hand was the elite bodyguard unit of the royal family. Each was highly skilled and decorated. Most were imported from exotic lands for their special skills. The bodyguards wore black tunics instead of the regular red ones and had flowing purple capes hanging from their shoulders. Armed with long curved blades and spears the group was very skilled with various techniques that most did not know of. Some were armed with bows and kept watch, Shroud noticed a otter wielding a massive yew longbow perched in a tree and a stoat equipped with a crossbow. The Black Hand also doubled as a spying unit for covert operations as well.
Steps were placed in front of the raised doorway so the prince would not have to jump into the muddy ground. He was joined by The Black Hand's elite captain, a lizard by the name of Crom Risalth. He was a large leopard lizard. The reptilian had been recruited from the warm tropical regions south of The Zannian Peninsula. His dry, mottled yellow-brown skin rasped against his robes. His flat reptilian eyes studied his master. Shroud was clearly brooding. The shadows of the midday sun cast deeply onto the fox's face. The lizard adjusted his cutlass and spoke with a dry hiss sounding like dead leaves scraping against each other. He always lengthened his 's' when he spoke.
"Ssssire, the battle wasss a sssuccess . We have won yet again in the honor of you my emperor and the Empire."
They continued walking and then the fox said,
"Yes, my lizard. The victory will be well received back home."
The bodyguard nodded and continued walking. Soon they reached the camp and they joined the emperor.
Shroud smiled when he saw that Althalos was nowhere to be seen. He walked to his cabin and readied himself for the feast.
A vixen by the name of Riven was the one of the higher ranking nurses of the army. She wore a stained apron which was previously white, but now splattered with blood and other bodily fluids, and a plain green knee length gold earrings decorated her and she was very beautiful, the entire time she flirted shamelessly with Althalos. She replaced the old, stained apron for a clean one. Her lush, russet fur and breasts brushed against the sable's head as she tied a bandage around the warriors skull and applied a poultice to several cuts on his chest.
Eyes twinkling the vixen complemented the general's muscular chest and arms and sat on his lap and whispered in his ear.
"We can' go up to my tent if ye likes sire, I have a comfortable bed with plenty of space." Althalos smile wolfishly at the lustful vixen and returned the flirtation. He had always had a weakness for women.
"Aye marm, I would certainly like that. But save your affection for tonight. I shall be seeing your beauty soon enough."
Their exchange was cut short by a nurse calling the fox's name.
"Riven, we have more men coming in and we have an urgent injuries. A archer has been partially disembowled and some of the others have missing limbs." Nodding, the fox reluctantly left the company of Althalos.
But before they departed the pair made plans to meet that night. Althalos grinned at the guards nearby who congratulated him.
"Nice catch sire." said a weasel
"Nice catch indeed, general. " added a rat guard.
Still smiling the sable headed to his tent. It was near the emperors and was very comfortable. Inside was a large assortment of pillows on a simple bed of mats, laden with soft furs and silks. The room had a rack of weapons on the far side and a sack of food and several bottles of fine Zannian wine in another side. This was the lavish life a high ranking officer earned. Compared to his old life as a blacksmith's apprentice this was like a paradise. Althalos settled down to rest and produced a bottle of aged whiskey. The spirits were very well aged and had a slightly sweet tang to them. Pouring the drink into a tall tumbler. The sable also took out a chunk of cheese and some raisins. He had naught taken a sip when a shadow outside the door called his name.
"General, the Emperor wants to speak with you."
"Alright, I'm coming. Just give me a minute."
Putting the tumbler down he took a long sip and put on his ceremonial attire and sword. The sable emerged wearing a chainmail vest with a deep crimson tunic and a flowing red cape. At his belt hung a long curved cutlass in a snakeskin belt.
Walking towards a high hillock he was greeted by the emperor with his rat seer. Along with several bodyguards and that eerie looking lizard. The general relaxed and smiled when he saw Crassus joining them. But his good mood was encumbered by a glare from Shroud. He wore a white robe and tunic and a beautiful, gold and diamond encrusted crown sat on his head. All stood to attention as the emperor addressed Althalos.
Shroud secretly loathed the sable but did not let it show.
"Althalos, you were admirable out on the field today. As you probably know, I was there watching. And I must say I am very impressed. That was some top notch fighting. From you and Crassus" The two in question smiled again. "The gods must have been very generous to you my general."
Shroud was quaking with anger and tried to speed up the process.
"General, we shall honor you as soon as we return to the capital. A glorious feast and games shall be held in my honor."
His seer continued for him . She winked at Shroud and smiled deviously.
"Althalos your service is almost complete. You have only one more campaign." Then she turned and left to her lodgings.
Crassus smirked at the general. Watching the receding form of the sable, Shroud's eyes glowed hot and a vein rippled and squirmed on his forehead as he ground his sharp, white teeth. He barked at Crom, his bodyguard.
"Bring me Kayleen, I need to speak to the seer. Be swift, lizard!"
"Yesss, sssire. Crom will do asss you wisssh."
The reptilian saluted and slunk away, disappearing like a shadow in the darkness.
Crassus spat and walked away to the mess, his stomach growling, it was dinner time.