The Gathering of the Hunt

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE (Part Two)

Kaedon slouched against the post holding several torches and blazed high enough it seemed that they licked at the sky, debating the merits of him being responsible for starting a border disturbance just so he could get away and do something. There were only so many times that he could electrocute Stralva before even that became boring. Seriously, how many times could someone fall for the same “feel how cold my hands are” trick? 

He yawned wide enough that his jaw cracked, closing his eyes and leaning a little further into the wood. Why he was the one to come up with the idea of border patrols, he wasn’t sure. No one was stupid enough to be out in the dark so late at night, and invading forces would be unable to make their way through the reef with enough number to actually do any damage to their regime. 

Stralva nudged him in the side. “Are we meant to be changing shifts? I thought that we were out here until dawn.”

Kaedon yawned again. “Mmm. That would be correct.” As the question fully registered, he forced himself to wake up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. 

Aesira cocked her head to the side, eyes glinting in the firelight. It highlighted the shadows underneath her cheekbones. “Not enough light to be a threat,” she stated softly, rubbing her eyes. “Not enough noise either. I don’t think that the camp will be in imminent danger, but if someone is coming here, then there has to be an issue.”

Kaedon hummed in agreement. “You’re not wrong about that. If it truly was an attack, there would be signs.”

Stralva titled his body away from Aesira when he leaned closer, Kaedon noted. “You want me to sort it?” Despite Stralva’s impatience and slightly annoying positive disposition, he was so incredibly eager, willing to do anything that was asked of him. 

“Let them come to us. It’s safer for there to be groups when we’re outside.”

Stralva cast a hesitant look towards Aesira leaning against the opposite side of the pillar before reluctantly nodding. “Alright.” He fidgeted with his finger for a moment before perking up, eyes alight with some sort of mischief. “But,” he said, drawing out the single syllable, “if this all blows up in our face, I get to blame you.”

Kaedon sighed. “Yes, I give you my full permission to place the blame on me."

Intentionally or not, he stepped out and positioned his body so that he shielded the majority of Aesira’s body. She was exhausted, and despite her fervent assurances that she was fine to continue with the patrol she had given earlier, he still doubted that she was present enough in her body to actually be bothered to defend herself if it came to it. 

Drawing up the insufferable swagger that never failed to get under his victim’s skin, he sketched a rune in the air, drawing up any source of light his blessing would allow him to. A shaky handful of crackling electricity floated centimetres above his palm, lighting shifting and weaving into a ball of blue-grey light. It set the area around them awash with blue-grey light.

His other hand drifted to his hip and before dropping back down to his side. Not every problem could be solved with violence. 

When they stepped into his little circle of light, Kaedon resisted the urge to laugh out loud, finding the situation all too humourous. Anlai really didn’t look happy to be on the opposite end to the sword that he usually was. 

“Commander! We bought you an imposter. He claims to be the General, but—that’s not true, right?” Kaedon bit down on his tongue, practically crying. “Right?” The man sounded slightly hysterical when he didn’t answer. 

“Finvera, calm yourself.  Innocent until proven guilty.” The one holding the sword inclined his head in respect, curiosity clear in his eyes. The other put their hand on his shoulder, shaking his head wildly.