Green embers

chapters 35-37

Chapter 35

My patience hung by a thread in the week Reif was gone. Watching the soldiers come and go was so tempting, I was so close to sneaking out in their midst if it wasn’t for my promise. I had even gone so far as to wear Reif’s coat which he had given me the night he left for Rey city but because of the stupid promise, I backed out. I threw the coat under my bed, its sight too tempting. However, nothing can stop time and eventually the week passed by. I wasn’t sure when exactly was Reif going to come back but I sure kept myself busy by counting the days until he would show up.

I skipped my lessons for today and after breakfast I walked around near the hospital, hoping to hear any news of Erwind's arrival. However, all I found out from the soldiers' talk is that my father still has the upper hand (even though most of father's allies have joined king York) and that if we keep up the good work, then perhaps in another month's time, king York will be defeated for good. As much as I felt glad about that, it also means I only have a month left of the war for me to join in. I hoped then, that Reif didn’t already know this fact because if he did, he might stall and would definitely not feel guilty about breaking his promise because by then it would be invalid. I didn’t want to stay long and so I decided to return to my room. ‘I'll be able to see Reif and his captain return from my hallway window’ I said to myself. As I was on my way, someone tapped me on my shoulder and when I turned around...

''Conrad! Long time no see!'' I cried happily, hugging Conrad so hard, I thought I'd break his ribs. I pulled away to look at him and he just stood there laughing.

''I'm sorry I couldn’t find the time to see you.'' he said guiltily.

I haven’t seen Conrad in over a month. Everywhere my father would go, he’d go and what with one captain short, Conrad and Cielo had to take up Erwind's duties. I looked up at Conrad and pity took over me. He looked just as depleted and under slept as he did the night he and Reif brought in an injured Erwind from battle. The black rings under his eyes were deeper than Reif’s and he smelt like smoke and gunpowder. I sighed.

''Has my father been pushing you too hard?'' I asked. He simply shook his head.

''Times are difficult right now.'' he said. ''Your father is sadly in a worse condition. He may win this war but the cost of losing the majority of his allies is far too great. His majesty hates traitors and his allies in the water valley have turned on him at his worse hours. Our casualties due to their treachery were beyond measure on his majesty. That’s why he's pushing us too hard, afraid he might lose his head before this war ends.''

''I see.''

It wasn’t hard to imagine what he meant about my father losing his head. He hates to lose, not because he likes to win but because losing means losing his men and to my father, his army is now the number one most important thing in the world to him, second only to Haku. Till this day, still second to Haku.

''Has his drinking gone any worse this past month?'' I asked. Unfortunately, my father has become close friends with wine and exotic drinks since two years ago. I’ve always thought his newly acquired habit is just temporary but it has become regular to him now. Conrad shook his head again.

''Not much,'' Conrad answered. ''His majesty...''

As Conrad continued talking, I saw someone behind him walking on tiptoe as he approached us, one finger on his lips, looking at me. I stifled a smile and pretended to listen to Conrad, making sure his attention was fixed on me. The man came closer then, with one step, jumped on Conrad.

''Traitor!!! The biggest traitor of all!'' Erwind shouted with animated anger as he gripped Conrad by the neck. Conrad's look of surprise burst into laughter as he tried to shake Erwind off his back. Reif, who was walking next to Erwind, came to stand next to me, shaking his head and laughing along with me at the two captains and friends. Conrad managed to shake Erwind off and then gave him a huge embrace, raising his friend off the ground.