The Truth Over The Wall

Chapter 16

*Did anyone ever tell you? That if humanity learned the ability of converting the power of a smile into a sustainable form, you could light the whole world for a week with just one smile? So you can imagine what we must feel like, when we don't see it on your face...

So smile! Cause you light up our world!*

Three weeks later...

"So, you see Your Highness," the surveyor went on, "Much as this line indicates, the witches have moved their two squadrons back to surround the castle; where before they had been stationed for nearly four months along the woods."

Dominic studied the freshly drawn map with rigid concentration. The surveyor that had come along the Tafahan river to convey his report had paused, waiting on Dominic.

Dominic looked up, realizing this and nodded at him, "Go ahead Mr. Birke. Please, continue."

"Yes, Your Highness," Birke, a big man, bent his entire frame in a bow as he went on, "Of course Your Highness! What was I thinking? If only I could do more Your Highness..."

Dominic suppressed a sigh and Emery rolled his eyes as he muttered under his breath only loud enough for Dominic to hear,

"So, he's one of those..."

"All talk and no action." Lord Alban agreed. The two of them had been sharing a laugh at Birke's expense but Dominic stopped them both with a look.

"Pay attention," He told them as he turned back to the map as well.

Dominic passed a hand over the sun warmed parchment. Here and there a line or a tree became blurred and left the impression of someone's hand. The cartographer perhaps, in his hurry to leave the witch's territory as fast as he was able.

"You've done good work by your country," Dominic told the big man with a nod, "You should be proud. We thank you."

"No, Your Highness," the grinning Tafahan waved his red hands in protest, "You don't have to reward me!"

"Lord Alban?"

"Your Highness?" Lord Alban stepped forward with a nod. Dominic continued to trace a line along the Tafahan border that coincided with Derker keeping his back to the room while he replied,

"Make sure that Mr. Birke is properly compensated."

"Yes, Your Highness."

After about half a dozen more sentences were strung together to express adoration for Dominic, Birke finally followed Lord Alban out.

"Sir Emery?"

"Yes, Your Highness?" Emery continued to apply the formal address because he was still annoyed at Dominic.

"Am I correct in assuming," Dominic asked him calmly, "That you are not particularly fond of Mr.Birke?"

"Yes, you are," Emery said crossing his arms and then adding, "Your Highness."

"And why is that?"

There was no one in the tent except Dominic, Lord Aden and Sir Emery. Everyone else had been dismissed. Even then Emery crossed the length of the tent and walked out. They saw his shadow fall across the left of the tent making it appear he was circling round. Once he had finished he walked back in, closing the tent flap behind him.

"As you know," Sir Emery explained, "For some time now, there's been a blurring of the wall between us and them."

Humans and witches.