Island Confederation

Chapter 10

Two Elves

Night fell as I walked to the tents my army put up just inside of the walls of Dengru, the capital of Lakuen. The sky was grey, stars blocked out by the clouds overhead. The tents were lit by candles in order for the soldiers to go through whatever nighttime rituals they perform, religious or not. Three tents ahead of my tent, I hear furious, yet hushed, voices billow from within. I stop by the tent, adjacent to the opening, listening intently to satisfy my curiosity.

"It's been months and we haven't been making any progress whatsoever," grumbled Josheire. "I don't see why you want to continue this Gaoreng. I for one have had enough. He's a nice kid, but his dreams are not worth losing the Company."

"Josheire, I've already explained this to you," said Gaoreng clearly irritated at the situation, "his dreams offer a means to reinvigorate the Company. It will create conflicts where there were none. We will have more clients in the long run if we stick with him."

"I will find another way Gaoreng."

"Josheire, you will---"

"I will not!" Josheire bellowed.

"Have you forgotten, Josheire!" Gaoreng replied in shock and fury. "Have you forgotten what you promised me?"

"No I have not," Josheire burst out of the tent, eyes red with fury. He grabbed me by the throat. "You've heard quite enough. Time for you to forget." My vision turned red and I attempt to make eye contact with Josheire. "I remembered what happened when you made eye contact with Gaoreng that one time. You aren't going to control me."

Gaoreng leaped out of the tent, tackling Josheire. The two of the fell to the ground. Gaoreng's eyes glowed red more vibrantly than Joshiere's. "Josheire? Did you forget what your promise was?" A stream of fire left Josheire's palm, aimed towards Gaoreng; however Gaoreng shifted to the right, taking only a glancing blow to his left side. "Did you forget what your father did?" he asked in an accusatory manner. Joshiere began to choke and clawed at his throat. "Did you forget what YOU did to ME?!" Joshiere's eyes faded back to normal as foam formed at the corners of his mouth. His skin began to turn grey, but I refused to intervene, letting whatever occured between the two play out. "'I was just a boy,' you said. So was I!" Josheire's limbs began to go limp as his breaths ceased for a few eternity long seconds. "You, a highborn lord complaining about life when you killed your own father. Godsdamned spoiled brat." Josheire began to take a few ragged breaths. "I was owned by you and your father. Tormented, beaten, burned, by you and your father," Gaoreng's breathing became irregular, rushed and panicked. His eyes returned to their normal color and he lay on the dirt besides Josheire.

"Gaoreng, I have never forgotten my promise to you," Josheire says between violent coughs. I looked at the two elves on the ground before me. "You two, me, Guangmei, Itrust, and Sheingne, Guangmei's friend, we are all having a nice long talk tomorrow," I sternly command them. "We can't work together and keep this many secrets."

What did I just witness? I am REALLY out of touch with them. The troops can get a well deserved rest tomorrow too. I walked past my tent and to Falemneil's tent. I tap on the outside cover on the tent, hoping that she's still awake. I hear someone behind me and see her walking towards the tent. She smiles. I smile back. "May I come in?" She has really nice thighs. "That's all you're going to do. No wonder Rhoskeil was prefered over you by most women." Shut up. I'm trying to restrain my evil notions. "Not working." I know, you exist.

"Of course you can come in, My Lord, but I must apologize for the mess," she politely replied.

The River Time Flows

I woke up with Falemneil besides me. Her head drooping down over some calculations she was working on late through the night. I cleaned my eyes and put black dye around them. The grey of the morning sun began to rise above the horizon. The air was crisp and the camp covered in early morning dew. Itrust was laying in the grass by the tent, licking his feathered arms clean. "Let's go Itrust," I said. "Time to see what's going on here." We walked through the army camp towards Guangmei's tent, seeing Sheingne, Josheire, and Gaoreng waiting outside.