Realm of Monsters

Chapter 161: The Gambit

Chapter 161: The Gambit

6 years ago

The sun began to set over the northern armys encampment. Soldiers marched back and forth, carrying supplies into their wagons and harnessing the centaurs. Loh stood watch over the soldiers, barking out orders to her messengers as they came.

I want the supply wagons to be in front of the rear guard and set two battalions to protect them. There may be no raiders at night, but there are still other predators this near Glimmer Grove forest, Loh ordered.

Yes, general, a messenger saluted and jogged away.

Another messenger ran through the crowd of soldiers and wagons. She hurried to a stop in front of Loh.

General, she saluted between heavy breaths.

What is it? Loh raised an eyebrow.

Its your brother.

What did he do this time?

Aizel is missing. He managed to slip past the guards you had stationed in front of his tent.

What?

The messengers face paled, Uh, um. What are your orders, general? Should I gather the scouts?

Loh took a deep breath and looked up at the sky. Fuck my life!

The messenger took a fearful step back.

Loh sighed, The scouts have already been sent ahead of us to the south to ensure the armys movement. Bringing them back now would take too long. Besides, I have a pretty good idea of where my idiot brother is.

General?

Make sure those guards are given thirty lashings each. I need to find Vayu, she stomped off.

~~~

Loh found Vayu in his usual open clearing. His fire drake had been equipped with her battle armor and ready to travel or fight, whichever came first. His hawk rested on one of the drakes large horns. Vayu was already saddled when he caught the look of rage on Lohs face from a distance.

Loh? What happened? Vayu hopped off the large wingless lizard.

My idiot brother, she seethed.

Aizel?

Hes fucking gone! Thats what happened!

What? No, that cant be. We were supposed to have a drink before the army headed out.

Vayu, he clearly doesnt care as much about your nightly drinking as you think.

She pinched the bridge of her nose and clenched her eyes shut. I think he went to go get those stupid villagers.

That doesnt make sense. The camp wont be here by the time he gets back, Vayu shook his head.

Normally it wouldnt. The problem is, the little prick knows his importance. My grandfather explicitly ordered me to keep him safe.

He knows you will halt the army to get him back, Vayu said with dawning realization.

He is a scion of House Noir. His safety comes before the mission, she sighed. Can you just help me?

Leave it to me, he nodded.

Vayu sat cross legged on the ground and closed his eyes. Ill need some quiet and time to focus. Itll probably take a while to find him.

Loh glanced around the open clearing, Should be easy enough. None of the soldiers dare get close to your drake.

Right then, Ill try to make this quick, he closed his eyes.

Purple runes began to glow around Vayus grey skin, starting from the skulls temple all the way to the base of his spine. Vayus hawk shuddered, its eyes flashed a bright purple. The hawk flapped its wings and shot up into the night sky.

Loh didnt have time to be impressed by Vayus binding magic, chromatic purples true spell-form. She was too busy thinking of the repercussions of Aizels idiocy.

She would have to at least send two battalions to ensure his safety, in case the caravan were a bunch of raiders in disguise. She would probably have to lead the battalions herself. She would send Vayu on ahead with the rest of the army to the rendezvous. Hopefully two-thirds of the northern army would be enough to protect the diplomats.

That egotistical, self-righteous ass thought I would save those villagers just because I had to save him? Loh thought angrily.

Aizel had no idea, she would kill those villagers herself if it meant saving the mission. She would get Aizel then leave the caravan and the damn villagers behind.

Loh cursed under her breath.

It was always like Aizel to fuck up her life. First, it was becoming grandfathers heir and apprentice. Lohs future had looked bright before Aizel failed to do his job as heir. Then Aizel had taken the love of their parents all to himself.

Finally, Aizel had taken the love of the woman she loved. And now, when all she had left was her position, her army, he sought to make himself the center of attention once more. He was going to ruin her mission all so that he could go home with a story of how he bravely saved a bunch of commoners from Valley raiders.

She clenched her fists until they drew blood.

I found Aizel, hes on a centaur leading the caravan of villagers towards our camp, Vayu said.

She sighed in relief, At least we found him quick. Maybe our mission isnt completely fucked yet. How far is he?

About eight leagues still. The villagers' wagons are quite slow.

Dammit. I swear Im going to make that attention whore pay for running away.

Wait, I see something, Vayus eyes shifted under his eyelids.

She gripped her mug. If I could take back that night, I would have given anything. But I cant. You win, Aizel.

A warm hand touched her shoulder.

Loh, are you okay? A gentle voice said.

Tauris voice broke Loh from the memory. The sounds of the wedding reception returned in all their rowdy galore.

Hm? Yeah, Im fine, Loh forced her lips to smile.

Tauri poked her grey forehead, What goes on in that brooding head of yours?

I was just thinking about an old gambit, Loh shrugged.

Oh? What happened?

Loh downed her wine in one swig. She slammed the mug on the bar counter. I lost.

Hah, thats hard to believe. The magical genius of House Noir, losing? Nay, impossible! Tauri yelled dramatically.

I dont feel like much of a genius right now Only an idiot, Loh sighed.

Tauris face grew solemn. She bumped shoulders with Loh, Well, technically youre a prodigy, not a genius. Youre allowed to be stupid sometimes.

Is that right? Loh grinned wryly.

Definitely. If you cant act stupid, then what hope do us ordinary folk have?

Tauri, I could describe you with a thousand words, ordinary would never have crossed my mind as one.

Wow, I never took you as a poet, please regale me with one of your ballads, she batted her amber eyes.

Loh laughed, Stop or maybe I really will.

Alright, alright, Tauri raised her hands in surrender. She glanced down the bar, Oi, two of the strongest stuff you got!

Right away, miss, the bartender nodded enthusiastically.

Are you trying to get us wasted? Loh raised her eyebrow.

If we cant get drunk at a wedding party then I see no point in living, Tauri winked.

I guess so Loh fidgeted with her mug.

Damn right, she nodded.

...Im sorry for what happened to Aizel, Loh whispered.

Tauris smile died. She reached out and grabbed her best friends hand, It wasnt your fault, Loh. No one expected Valley raiders to attack at night. You and Vayu rode as fast as you could to save Aizel. You cant blame yourself for what happened.

Tauri took a long deep breath, You know, I used to think what would have happened had you guys been able to get there just a few minutes faster. If only one of the soldiers noticed Aizel had left the camp a few minutes earlier. If only Vayus hawk had been able to locate Aizel before the raiders attacked. How different could things have been?

...What changed?

One day I came to the realization that Bellum had decided it was Aizels time.

You think the goddess of war let Aizel die? Lohs hands trembled.

Well, not exactly. I dont pretend to know the minds of the gods. But I have to believe Aizel died for a reason. Because if not Well, no point dwelling on that, Tauri swallowed.

Loh felt the pain constrict around her heart, it was difficult to breathe.

You sure youre okay? Tauri patted her back.

She cleared her throat, Im fine, really. I was just thinking it's weird how your family worships the ebon gods.

What, do you want me to be a staunch atheist like you? Tauri chuckled.

Maybe? Well, what about the scarlet gods? Do you ever whisper a prayer to them?

No, Tauri shook her head. Many orcs still do, especially in the city of Murkton. But the way my family sees it, we left the Scarlet Realm centuries ago. If House Katag is to rule over the Ebon Realms people, we should worship their gods too.

And you really believe that?

I do. After all, why would a scarlet god listen to the prayer of an orc in a faraway Realm? But an ebon god listening to an orc of a Ruling Family of Hollow Shade? Well, thats a different story.

If the gods are real, Loh added.

Careful, Bellum might smite you, Tauri winked.

Loh shook her head, Im more worried Lunae might smite us both. We are literally in a tavern that has a sign outside with a drawing of the moon with two shapely legs in high heels.

Good point, Tauri conceded.

Here you are, miss, the bartender placed two full mugs in front of them.

Tauri grabbed one and passed the other to Loh.

I win! Stryg yelled triumphantly from across the room.

Clypeus and Kegrog fell over next to him, empty mugs all around. The crowd cheered the winner of the drinking contest.

I always thought Stryg was a strange one and nothing Ive seen today has changed my mind, Tauri chuckled.

Loh grinned, she raised her mug high, To the newlyweds!

To the newlyweds!