Finua

Chapter 27: Meanwhile, Back at the Camp

"This campaign is going to be the goddamn death of me," Captain-Commander Haraku Burjai told me in a huff, pacing back and forth with pure nervous energy. "Everything the Dark Lady has told me, everything she's ordered me to do, is completely ill-conceived. But what am I supposed to do? Argue with her? Argue with Cerrex?!"

"I mean... if there's anybody with authority to do so, I'd assume it'd be you!"

"On paper? Yes. Theoretically, it is completely within my power to talk back to Cerrex. But in practice, that's what happened to d'Ruka."

"I thought d'Ruka tried to mutiny."

"You really think she could tell the two apart?"

"I... would hope so?"

"'I would hope so,' you know that's what she told me when I asked her if the siege towers would be able to reach the castle precipice."

I fiddled with Ahka's burgeoning hair as I talked to him, hoping my questions didn't sound too stupid.

"Aren't we... but we're winning, right?"

"Aha, see, that's the problem. In war, short-term and long-term goals are married, and divorce means defeat. Sieges are already the least-effective form of warfare, and destroying an army is always the least-effective short-term goal. So it's ineffective all around. But it's also the Lady's direct orders."

"It doesn't sound like you have very much respect for Lady Cerrex's leadership."

"Hmm... Lady Cerrex is one of the most powerful beings in the world."

"So maybe her short-term goals are lining up in a way that you're not quite seeing?"

Haraku chuckled sardonically. "Nothing's impossible, I suppose. We'll see."

"You can just say you disagree with me, I mean what am I going to do? Talk back?"

"This army worships Cerrex. The entire southern half of this continent does. But that doesn't change the condition of her army or the outcomes of her tactics. You can think as highly of your leaders as you want. Ultimately, you'll find yourself stealing success from other sources, and gifting it to them."

There was a slow pitter-patter of approaching footsteps, and we turned to see General Pack approaching us. He was hunched over gracelessly, his face lowered as he studied a scab on his forearm that he was in the midst of picking at. Ahka slumped in his harness: any troll who wasn't Kwer bored him immensely, no matter what they were doing.

"Captain-Commander?" he grunted, hardly even looking up.

Haraku waited in silence a moment. Pack didn't look or follow up on his initial utterance.

"Well since verbal confirmation is the only option here," Haraku said, "yes, it is I. Haraku Burjai."

"Good. Lady wants to see you in her tent."

"I assume asking 'why' is out of the question."

"Huh."

"You know, that scab'll leave a scar if you keep pestering it like that."

"Scars are badass."

"Not the ones made from picked scabs, they're not."

"Scars are badass." He finally looked up, noticed me for the first time that day, and flinched. "The hell are you doing here? You brought a baby!"

"Unlike your mother, I pay attention to my child."

"Haraku, you have been deceived into admitting this person!"