A Drink Before Battle [MxM] ✅

29: I Could Do With A Drink

"No!"

General Urskatha fixed everyone in the map tent with a dark and icy glare.

The two Generals had gathered First Constable Yanek, Lieutenant Thelan, and Sergeant Kahan to discuss this so-called "Butcher of Anwynd".

Military spies had uncovered a trove of information about him. They knew his name now – Master Balan Ghed. He had come to Loranar from a distant country overseas, rumored to have been driven from his home country as a criminal. He had insinuated himself among Loranar's Alchemists, exposing them to his country's unusual practices. Although many Loranarian Alchemists spoke of him with distaste, his unorthodox methods had been embraced by some.

At Anwynd, even two squads of Alchemists hadn't been able to take him out, or even to drive him back, leaving them no choice but to rescue whoever they could and then cede the ground. He hadn't been heard of since, though, and that had been a mystery. They now knew that while Master Ghed's methods endowed him with power beyond any normal Alchemist, he required very long periods of rest after implementation, and Loranar would only deploy him for their most important missions. It was this detail that had given Sevei some peculiar ideas.

Ideas that General Urskatha vehemently opposed. Sevei threw his hands up in frustration.

"You're not even listening to me," he complained. "Don't just say 'no' - tell me what's wrong with it."

"You wouldn't understand if I did," Urskatha scoffed. "You have no idea what you're talking about. Alchemy isn't something you can take piecemeal and rearrange as you wish."

"But it is," Lieutenant Thelan mused. "That's how innovation happens. You Martials are too rigid. You forget your fundamentals."

"Aren't you a Martial?" Yanek snickered.

"I am no such thing," Thelan replied reproachfully. "And General Sevei may not have our education, but he's clearly been quite diligent in his observation. The idea is good... I can work with it."

His sleepy doe-eyes slid a side glance to Sergeant Kahan, who sat close beside him. She gave him a reserved smile, then turned to Urskatha.

"I agree," she said. "We can do this."

Urskatha frowned at her before glowering again at Sevei. "It's too dangerous. And you know that Sergeant Kahan is... needed elsewhere. How can you ask her...?"

"If we plan carefully..." Sevei began to protest.

"I can keep Meira safe," Thelan interrupted.

Urskatha gave a dramatic tsk. "With respect, Lieutenant, I'm reluctant to send you onto the field."

"Yes, I know what you think of me..." Thelan said quietly.

Kahan laid a comforting hand on Thelan's arm while shooting Urskatha a scolding look. Urskatha's mouth dropped open silently, his eyes betraying some regret for his thoughtless words.

"He really can do this," she asserted. "And I can do my part. I want to."

"Meira..." Urskatha began, a patronizing tone in is voice.

"Yeresym," she said firmly. "I know you want to protect me. Don't you know that I would do the same for you?"

Urskatha's face only hardened as he huffed. "I'm disappointed that you would agree to something so dishonorable. This idea is underhanded. It's cheating."

"Hey, don't take cheap shots at her!" Sevei shouted. "This is my idea, and how is it underhanded? It's just using all of our assets. Loranar isn't playing by your rule book, should we just let them slaughter us, so we all die honorably?"