Make Me Crumble

CHAPTER 3

Picture: Kingdom of Svalin

It was around late evening when Eileen got called to see Captain Colton. She had been writing a letter to her dad, containing reassuring sentiments and some self-sacrificial lies. Mostly about how she was fine, and was 'enjoying herself to the limit'. She was at the letter house when a soldier walked to her and pet her on the shoulder.

"Ms. Tuffin." He spoke. Eileen looked at him. "Captain Colton requests you at his office."

"Now?" She asked, looking into his light brown elven eyes.

"Yes." He smiled. "I'm afraid it's a direct order." Eileen knew she couldn't break any more of those, so she folded the paper, handed it to the crow man and followed the soldier.

"Was he in a... vexed mood?" She asked the soldier as they walked to the Captain's Office hut.

"One could say that." The solider chuckled. "But it's never too bad with Captain."

"Everyone's behaviour with him around greatly disagrees with your... reassuring claims." Eileen sighed.

He chuckled again; his laughter almost musical. Eileen dismissed that as an elf thing. "Well, he's held in high regards, but he's no monster."

"You're just saying that because I'm a girl."

"Precisely." He turned to her and smirked. "He won't go nearly as hard on you as he would on us, which is not that hard. So, you'll be fine, Miss."

"Eileen." She said, returning a tired smile. They reached the hut and Eileen stopped outside to look at him.

"I'll be sure to invite you to my funeral Mister..."

"Yeltris." He smiled charmingly. "Kogane Yeltris ."

"Well, wish me luck Mr. Yeltris." Eileen beamed a sarcastic smile at him, and he chuckled.

"Good luck." He said. With that she turned and took a deep breath before entering.

The captain's office hut wasn't small. Well, it was a whole hut with only one room that served as an office. Upon walking in Eileen felt blanketed in the warm glow of the filament lamps that were placed around the walls. No windows, just a very cozy ambience. If you had ever been within a 6 feet radius of Captain Colton, you would be just as surprised as Eileen was at the huge contrast to the man's display of authority and the atmosphere in which it thrived.

"Eileen." The captain's voice snapped her back to attention. He was standing behind his chair, surveying Eileen with a cold gaze. She saluted.

"Good evening, Captain." She said.

"At ease."

Eileen's gaze dropped to the wooden flood. She didn't know how she was going to back up her actions in a reasonable way... no doubt, Calix would have laid out her story, coated with exaggeration, surely not in her favour. She waited for him to speak, eager to know precisely what she was dealing with.

"Lieutenant West has made me aware that you're having difficulty following his orders."

"Sir-"

"I am mid-thought." He interrupted her. "I will waste no time reminding you of our rules and army expectations. You were eager to join, and you are expected to comply." He walked around the table and leaned back against it.

"I'm letting you off easy this once, because I'm no dealer in prejudice." He crossed his arms over his chest. "And I know Calix isn't everyone's cup of tea either. But with him, you always have to be the mature one."

"Sir, if I may speak." Eileen looked up from the floor. "I think his allegations towards me are fuelled by a more... personal fire."

The Captain raised his eyebrow.