The Two Sides of a Sword

Chapter Eleven

"Hey."

Aley started awake when Xinn jiggled her in his arms. "What? What?" She snorted, jerking her head up. Her head connected with his nose as he had been leaning his face over hers. They both groaned.

"Sorry," she hissed, rubbing her head. "Sorry, I... I wasn't ready."

Xinn wriggled his nose—looking incredibly unserious for once. "My apologies for startling you. I only wanted to let you know that we're back." He nodded at the building in front of him. "This is the healer's. I'm taking you to get the thorn out of your foot while my men put together other room arrangements for you."

Aley glanced over his shoulder. His entourage was already gone, hopefully doing what he said and getting her a better place to live seeing as she was probably going to be here a while. How long will I be expected to be here? Until they can get Rocki back of course, but will we have to stay after that? How long will it take to end a war? Does it involve actual work or will it just happen when we're reunited?

"Krye," Xinn called, looking around the building when they stepped inside.

Aley wrinkled her forehead, turning the command over in her head for a moment. "Why?"

Someone gasped. "Aban avar!"

A sariun that seemed to be waiting in a chair jumped to his feet, harsh sounding words in a foreign language tumbling from his tongue.

Aley almost jumped out of her skin when Xinn literally growled at him, showing his sharp teeth. "Show some respect. Do you know who I am?"

The other glared at him, baring his own teeth as he snapped something back.

Xinn drew himself up, eyes bearing darkly down at the male. "I am General ArikSeirXinn. I have won countless battles and destroyed even more enemies. I am trusted by the council as their advisor on war and head of the investigation to obtain the savioresses. It is not your place to question me regarding anything, much less what is obviously a sensitive mission—understood?"

As soon as his name was out of his mouth, the male paled and dropped to his knees, trembling a little until Xinn finished. His language suddenly switched over to English as he stammered out an apology. "I-I... forgive, my disrespect, general. I was merely startled at the sight of... please forgive me."

Another sariun stepped into the room, pausing when he noticed the situation. He was followed by a female who looked shook at the scene in front of her.

"Krye," Xinn said. Aley felt his shoulders drop slightly. "Good. I have someone who needs your attention."

The shorter male eyed Aley with a mixture of nervousness and distain but nodded. "Of course, general. Please." He stepped back and gestured to the room he had exited. The female by his side scurried away with a murmur of thanks towards him. She kept her eyes cast down and away from Xinn as he passed her.

Before stepping through the doorway, Xinn looked back at the sariun on his knees. "I will not tolerate disrespect again," he hissed.

"Of course, general. My apologies, sir."

Xinn, and consequently, Aley, stepped into the other room before she could see the other sariun stand. She wondered if he would remain on his knees for a time, shaken by the ordeal, or if he would jump up and turn tail.

A familiar face was mixing something in the corner of the room. Tavl, if Aley recalled correctly. The assistant healer watched as Xinn set Aley down on the table, but didn't say anything.

"Care to make an explanation?" Krye said, raising an eyebrow at Xinn.

Aley cringled a little, waiting for another tongue-lashing. It seemed that sariun did not take disrespect lightly.