CANELIS FRACHDAL's promotion comes with a price and that is to investigate a supply issue in the army. Upon arrival, she is greeted with a renegade camp underneath the Army's nose, a magical anomaly creeping inward from the ocean, and warring sides...
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2407 Rab 7, Briss
"You meant to say that Cailen is being detained against our agreement, Crown General?" Elder Tarmis's voice didn't sound like he was in the mood for ill-timed jokes. His gray eyes sparked in anger. "Do you know what we are prepared to do to defend one of our own? Hasn't the Army betrayed him enough?"
Canelis massaged the bridge of her nose. Going back and forth between Yin-Alora and Ok-Sa had surely taken a toll on her. Why couldn't they just talk via the light streams? Why must she play messenger between two forces who clearly couldn't bring themselves to care about each other?
Ludio and Fioren, the only two dagrinis in this sunken city, had their new companion today after Canelis stormed through the stables and jumped on the first kraejen she could find. Her new addition might look punier compared to the sheer height of the dagrinis but it did carry her across miles without much complaint the fastest she dared push it to.
Then, it's only a matter of time between signaling the renegade camp of her presence and being hauled to the Elder's temporary office. It was a wise call to not let Canelis anywhere near their official strongholds in case she accidentally ignitied Yin-Alora's ire against the renegades. It was for her own safety as much as it was theirs. Perhaps, she had Elder Tarmis to thank.
Now, they sat on crudely-hammered wooden chairs opposite each other with hands propped on a fungi-infested table. Canelis had to stop her leg from bouncing several times. She had lost count already. The Elder grilled her over the past few hours about their journey which Canelis had described in detail. She omitted the talk she had with Cailen in the forests of Xai-Ren. It was way too private and she would need the renegade's consent in sharing it, even if it's from his elder.
As soon as the Elder heard the Riogener had detained Cailen until Canelis could present a proof, he slammed his hand on the table, the sound reverberating in the room's walls and up Canelis's arms. "How dare they provoke us like this!" the Elder yelled at no one. It was almost like how the Commanders and Marshals yelled at the ranks lower than them to prove a point. Some old habits die hard, Canelis guessed. "Why didn't you stop them?"
Canelis clicked her tongue. "As much as I wanted to, Elder," she explained as properly as she could without snapping. "The Riogener still has the final say over everything. He has given us a leeway in presenting him proof on how the renegades are able to use quilderfen bones to stop the plague. I aim to study its properties tonight to see if we have a...more endemic substitute abundant in Yin-Alora. You will have Cailen back in your stronghold sooner than you know it."
She placed a hand to her chest. "I swear in Daexis's name," she said. "No harm will come to him until I send him back here."
The Elder's eyes narrowed. His warm beige skin had never looked so contrasting against Canelis's pale complexion. She had been making a lot of promises lately. It's going to be a challenge keeping all of them. But...she has to, if she wanted to keep her rank and make everyone happy. It's the right thing to do.
