Mercy & Fire

34. Den of Snakes Pt. 2

Rovan

Sharp striking pain thrummed at the front of my forehead, calling attention to the fact that I hadn't slept so well for two weeks. As much as I liked to believe I was indestructible before, I no longer had the same magic that kept me awake and feeling as if I could take on an entire army by myself. Untouchable turned touchable, and I had no choice but to grit my way through it.

Seeing Roselena breathing so harshly was enough to motivate me not to fall asleep. I shook my head and winced when the movement made my head throb even more, pressing a wet rag against her forehead.

Footsteps echoed toward us, signaling the approach of someone, and to my relief, it was the doctor I had summoned to check on Roselena.

He apologized as he bowed down to me, giving me time to stand on my feet.

He examined her as I stood nearby, telling him what had happened before she collapsed.  He glanced up at me, "You said you've been traveling for almost three weeks now? And was she used to this type of travel?"

I shifted from foot to foot and shook my head, "No. She didn't seem to be."

Though she knew a bit about basic survival, it was clear she'd never had to use her knowledge before.

The healer nodded and stood up, "It seems to be exhaustion. I would just let her sleep the fever off and make sure she has lots of water."

Relief washed over me. "Thank you."

The healer cleared his throat. "Please do not hesitate to summon me again if she seems to worsen. In the meantime, I suggest you freshen up and take a good rest. You may be the Red Serpent of Dhernon, but even serpents sleep, your highness."

"Noted."

He only offered a wry smile before leaving. As soon as he did, I crouched down to adjust the rag on her forehead and make sure her bunched up clothes were enough of a pillow. After making sure her blanket was carefully in place, I locked the cell and pocketed the key I forced the guard to give me. Only then did I feel okay leaving her behind.

The cave system was intricate with lots of loops, dead ends, and blocked off areas due to safety concerns. Some areas had been carved out with magic to serve as rooms, which caused some foundational instability in the mountain, forcing mages to make pillars formed from the very stone they'd carved.

I was once stationed here when I was a bit older, just before I went off to a battle that would cost me my life. As a result, I knew my way around pretty well though things had changed since I'd climbed the ranks. Most of the changes were a result of my own enforcement, and evidently, it was working.

Among other issues, the biggest one seemed to be the behavior between male and female soldiers. Thus, all the soldiers were to wear identical uniforms, and males and females had separate dorms. When a woman or a man reported an incident regardless of rank, I enforced swift dismissal from the troops and punishment. I was not in the interest of letting the debauchery that happened in the palace occur in my ranks. There was a reason the government resorted to tyranny to have an illusion of order and strength.

Having rules created structure – something Moherav hated about my leadership style. It was a frequent area of friction between us, and it was also the barrier that kept her from dragging me deeper into her entourage of depravity.

My head pulsed as I rounded the corner, and I had to pause to gather my thoughts before I entered the room.

Colonel Foia sat at her desk reading through countless documents and reports that would eventually make their way back to me. She had been my training officer during my time here and next in line as commander until I overshadowed her and took the position. I had respect for her, and under any other circumstance, I would have felt some remorse for taking the job. However, at the end of the day, she was just another snake in the pit who wouldn't have hesitated to cheat her way into the position as well.