Valiant (*On Hold*)

18 Fallen - Adelaide

Men had such strange rituals when it came to conquest. Getting drunk and telling bawdy stories about other battles or their preferred entertainments outside of the battlefield seemed to be the primary one. And who was I to begrudge them their celebrations? So, once the remaining opposition was dealt with, some imprisoned and some sent off to warn their fellow countrymen of the threat coming for them, I allowed the men to crack open the enemy casks and let the ale flow in our conquered dining hall.

I'd sent word to my brother the moment the fort was in our possession, one of the many messengers I'd brought along for that very task riding at speed over the mountains and back toward the Etzeran palace. Then I joined the men celebrating in the great hall that was not our own if only to avoid thinking about the ones we had lost. I joined the other commanders at the high table on the dais, thanking Commander Norris as he reached over to fill my goblet with wine. I gave him a smile and a demure nod of thanks. Captain Ridley stood at my back, stoic and silent as always. He had come straight to me to inform me that Tyne and his men had fought admirably. I had assumed as much seeing as the battle had tipped so completely in our favor.

I couldn't help but glance down at the end of the table where the warrior sat, dark eyes surveying his men where they stood, drinking and clapping one another on the back. It was clear that Tyne of Vyndoli would much rather be down in the proper great hall, celebrating with his men, than sitting on this dais with the other commanders. But I found myself feeling glad he was here. For entertainment, if nothing else. But truly because, with him here, I wasn't the only one on the dais that looked as I though I didn't belong. Still, I couldn't help my grin at the little tick of his jaw whenever the other commanders at the table began discussing strategy to employ at the next fortress we faced without asking for his opinion despite the fact that it was his plan which had won us this day. Because I knew, even though he pretended that he didn't care for the official titles of nobility and respect that the other Commanders had, I knew that he did.

The drinking and celebrating lasted long into the night. So long that I felt my eyes growing heavy with the wine and the exhaustion of the day. So I rose from my seat around midnight, chairs scraping all around me as the commanders rose with me. Even Tyne looked at me from his position near a table in the back where he had long given into the temptation to join his men. I gripped Commander Norris by the arm and lowered my voice to inform him that I would be retiring for the evening but that it was my orders for the men to enjoy their celebrations for as long as they wished. He smiled and nodded his understanding and then I was sweeping from the hall, Captain Ridley following at my heels.

I'd had the time to bathe earlier, washing the blood and grime from my skin after the battle. They'd settled me into the lord of the fortress' rooms. They were comfortable if not a bit too dark for my taste. And Ridley had found a few of the cowering servants and coaxed them into our service, promising we weren't here to hurt them, only to take back the fortress which had belonged to Etzera before the invaders came. So those women had drawn me a bath and fetched one of my gowns and that's what I had worn to the celebration in the great hall. But now I was tired and wanting nothing more than to loosen this corset, fall into bed, and not rise until the sun did. And I was well on my way to doing just that, having sent Ridley off to get some rest himself, when there was a knock on my door.

Assuming it was Ridley returned to warn me of some danger he would rather remain to guard me from, I crossed the room and threw open the door, ready to order him to bed if I had to. But it wasn't Ridley standing on the other side.

My lips parted slightly in surprise as Tyne of Vyndoli smiled at me over my threshold. I was stunned to find him here, having followed me all the way from the great hall. I prepared myself for another attempt at flirtation but when he spoke, it wasn't what I thought he would say.