“That’s a terrible impersonation of me,” Brisethi said and finally picked up the ball before any of the men could.
“Out of the tent, you two. The captain and I have work to do. Stop leaving Chief Pyraz to do all the training,” Etyne ordered. He then moved his chair back to behind his desk, innocently looking at Brisethi as if he had just been scolded by his mother. He took one of his letters on the desk in hand to summarize what he had read earlier.
“They finally identified the squadron that attacked us a decade ago that you melted,” Etyne explained.
“Let me read,” she attempted to grab the letter but he held her back with an arm, leaning back in his chair.
“This report says that the ship that was sunk by Master Chief Synsun had the same design and banners as the Lantheun ships.”
“The Lantheuns? What do they want with us? We’ve never had any quarrel with them. Sergeant Vilkinsen was right all along when he told us it wasn’t Kiarans,” Brisethi added.
“It took them this long to dive deep enough to investigate. I wonder if someone just needed the right mystic to withstand the water pressure,” Etyne continued. “Did you not read the memorandum from about a month ago about the Kiaran and Lantheun alliance?”
“I skimmed through it…” Brisethi leaned against his desk. “I wonder if General Satnir and Emperor Arquistas are declaring war on them, too, now. Recruitment will be through the roof, I suspect. Sending multiple training divisions out in a year, doubling their sizes, decreasing the training time from four years down to two, I can’t wait to start another.”
“You thrive on chaos and destruction, don’t you?” Etyne looked up at his friend.
She shrugged. “Considering I summon destruction, yes. I’m comfortable when things are awry. When life is calm, bad things happen.” She played with the twine ball, tossing it in the air and catching it.
“Bad things are happening now, ‘Sethi,” he retorted and quickly caught the ball in mid-throw.
“War isn’t always bad. It makes us stronger, more resilient. If we weren’t at war, we’d be growing soft and lazy knowing that no one hates us and wants our land. Instead, we’re always evolving with our mystics and combat techniques, finding ways to stay alive and keep our defenses up,” Brisethi went on catching the ball Etyne tossed in the air.
“But war brings death-“
“Death to the enemy. Death to those that mean to harm us. More people die in war, yes, but not much of our people, everyone else’s.” Brisethi put the ball back on the desk and pulled out her pistol, taking it apart for cleaning.
“I suppose you have a point,” Etyne put his pistol next to hers and handed her his cleaning kit. “Today was the first time I actually used this in a couple years and it was to fire it at you,” he said.
“Sariadne needs to make new allies,” she stated, ignoring his banter.
“There are hardly any nations left in Falajen that haven’t already sided with Lantheus or the Kiarans. We were too pompous and certain that we could never be defeated. And now, no one would dare break away from them to join us. Everyone wants to destroy us. They want to rid us of our spirits,” Etyne told her.
“Do you understand why I must change the world, Etyne?” Her voice took on a sense of quiet urgency he rarely heard from her. “Our past generals and emperors have been sitting idly by behind our mystical defenses waiting for someone to ask us to ally instead of going out there and demanding treaties. We need to demand negotiations of peace or rain fire upon any nation who denies us. We’ve lost the influence that Emperor Sentiar Asellunas once created. I’ve come to conjure it once more.” Without even moving, the blue lantern flames of the tent changed to red by her command.
Etyne remained silent, not wanting to falsely give her hope, nor did he want to crush her ambitions. He didn’t doubt that she would rank up into a diplomatic position, but he doubted her influence among stubborn leaders of the world’s nations. She would never actually destroy whole nations to prove a point. Or would she? He thought.
“You don’t believe in me, do you?” she interrupted his train of grave thought.
He had hoped she wouldn’t ask him something of this nature. He breathed in deeply and stood to emphasize his next words. Etyne leaned against his desk next to her and took the pieces of weapon out of her hands that she had been cleaning. He set them down and looked her in the eyes. “’Sethi, since the first day I saw you in expedition training setting yourself apart from the others, I knew there was a serious storm brewing in that maelstrom of a mind of yours, just like your chaotic paintings. Little did I know just how far your ambitions were reaching until the end of our officer training when you reminded me how passionate you were to change the world.
“You always admired the heroes in those fantasy books you read because of how they came to power by accident,” he left out explaining to her that he had read the first book of a fantasy series by her favorite author. “You’re not one of those heroes, ‘Sethi. You’re not going to ‘accidently’ come to power because a sword and a wizard ‘chooses you’-”
Brisethi giggled, “Did you just reference-”
“Don’t interrupt me. You’re going to work for it, demand it. I have faith that you will achieve this, but I’ve yet to experience your diplomacy and influence among world leaders. And that’s the only reason I’ve held back thus far. The men leading other nations aren’t the smartest people, but they won’t be easily swayed; not even by a beautiful, powerful woman such as yourself.”
Brisethi looked away as she blushed. She was unnerved by both his sound logic and the fact that he had never called her beautiful before. His usual sarcastic, bickering tone was absent. Finally, she was able to return his gaze. “I won’t be able to do do it alone, Etyne. I’ll need help and encouragement. I’ll need the support of people like my father, like Korteni, Acolyte Roz and you. I need you, Etyne. But I’ll understand if you think I’m irrational. We’ve only known each other over a decade-a third of our lives already-and I won’t expect you to remain a good friend if my decisions cause a rift.” She gave him a wry smile.
“The moment you demanded me to be your combat partner ten years ago, you’ve had my support, albeit reluctantly at first. And I want to be there with you when you finally do what others could not.” He smiled, hoping she could one day truly influence more than just him.
She took his hand in hers momentarily. “Thanks, Etyne. I appreciate the companion you’ve been to me this past decade.” She hesitated to go on but summoned just enough courage to speak again. “When they gave you a training command and stuck me in administrative duty at the citadel for a year, I thought I was going to lose my sanity without you.” She let go of his hand and busied herself with the weapon again, lest he see her face redden.
“Why didn’t you write?” He asked in a low voice, taking his seat back and wiping down the pieces of his own weapon.
“I did write! Twice, actually. I just never sent them out. I didn’t want to sound like a desperate, lonely child without you. And by the time I had sat down to write a third letter, I was told that I would be leading the next expedition to leave so I wrote to Korteni instead in hopes I’d get the chance to surprise you.” She stopped talking the moment she sounded fraught.
“’Sethi we’re friends. You can tell me anything you want whenever you want. I won’t think differently of you no matter how crazy it initially sounds.” He gave her arm a nudge before returning to his task.
If only you knew how much I continue to hold things back from you, Etyne, she thought as she fidgeted with her ear.
Chapter VI
Livian grew frustrated at herself. Her combat partner for the day was someone from the newer division who seemed to deflect every one of her swings.
“You’ve been in training a year longer than me. How are you this bad? You shouldn’t even be allowed to finish your expedition. Do the Dominion a favor and go home,” her partner from Division Sixty-Six told her. He seemed bored
with her attempts to land a hit.
“Fuck off, moron,” she angrily replied.
“You should have more respect for me, you little twit,” he swung his sword furiously, causing her to lose her grip on her sword and laughed at her.
“What is your problem? Is your whole division trained to be assholes?” Livian then took the first chance she had and kicked him between the legs.
He dropped to his knees, swearing at her.
Sergeant First Class Tevor was the nearest to them and ran over as soon as he heard the yelp. “Corporal Reej, report to the command tent, now!” he shouted. “Captain Vorsen’s gonna send you home for sure!”
Sergeant First Class Kile of Division Sixty-Six was next to run up. He laughed when he saw who had been downed. “I knew that mouth of yours would get your balls pushed in. Get to your tent! I don’t want to see your ugly face for the rest of the day.” Sergeant Kile declined sending in their divisional healer, Master Chief Riquez, to tend to the delinquent recruit.
The recruit staggered when trying to stand up. “Please don’t tell the captain, she’ll rip me a new one!” he whined in a pathetic whimper.
“I’m pretty sure she’ll find out from everyone else before I get the chance to report,” Kile chuckled again.
“What is it now, Corporal?” Captain Vorsen sighed, still leaning against his desk next to Captain Sen Asel.
“Sir, Sergeant Tevor ordered me to report to you,” Reej replied, standing at attention. She tried to avert her eyes from staring at Captain Sen Asel’s gaze.
“At ease, Reej. Report,” Vorsen crossed his arms.
“Reej!” Sen Asel interjected. “I recruited her,” she digressed to Etyne.
“You probably recruited half of my division-”
Brisethi interrupted Etyne to speak to Livian. “Are you doing alright, Corporal? I hope you’re stressing out your commanders as much as I did-”
“Sen Asel, do you mind?” Etyne stood to get his point across to her.
“Carry on,” Brisethi lightheartedly replied.
Livian nervously licked her dry lips then cleared her throat. “Sir, I kicked my partner in his groin area.”
Captain Sen Asel stifled a laugh which ended up sounding like a snort. Vorsen glared at Sen Asel for her lack of professionalism then asked the recruit, “Was your partner our division or hers?”
“He was from Sixty-Six,” Livian replied, wanting to giggle at Sen Asel’s unprofessionalism but too terrified of Captain Vorsen to do so. At least, she thought, she remembers me.
“Was his name Jiken? Bigger guy with dark brown hair?” Sen Asel asked.
Livian nodded, “Yes, Ma’am.”
“Spirits bless you, Reej, for doing what I’ve been wanting to for months,” Sen Asel said softly. She then stormed out of the tent with a sense of urgency.
Vorsen considered his corporal for a moment. “You’re very fortunate that Captain Sen Asel has suddenly taken a liking to you. This day would not have ended well for you had she been upset. Report back to Sergeant First Class and tell him you require a new combat partner,” Vorsen ordered.
Captain Sen Asel was on the prowl, knocking over weapons racks, kicking supply over in her search of Corporal Jiken's tent. She was letting her rage and frustration take over on inanimate objects lest she accidently murder her recruit for embarrassing her in front of the other division, in front of Etyne. When she located his tent, she stormed into it, flaring her hands of fire for dramatic effect. “I’m not even going to ask you what you said to the female corporal of Division Sixty-Four. I have a vivid enough imagination and have heard for myself every word of filth that has left your shit-stained mouth.”
Corporal Jiken shuffled to his feet in an attempt to stand at attention in her presence but was still sore where he had been kicked so that it looked more like a half-bow. “Ma’am, she was so terrible at fighting-“
“I didn’t ask you to speak, recruit!” she shouted. “We’re not here to demean and belittle the senior division!”
“Yes Ma’am-”
“If I hear another word out of your fucking mouth today, I will sear your fucking tongue off!” She extinguished the flames from her right hand to grab his collar. With a swift tug, she ripped his corporal rank insignia off. “Rest well for the remainder of your evening, Private First Class; you’re standing watch the next three nights.”
-:- -:- -:-
Both divisions were ordered to their tents for the night with the exception of three watch-standers from each division. The night was warm, perfect sleeping weather. Private First Class Jiken yawned and leaned against a cottonwood tree when he was suddenly approached by two of Division Sixty-Four’s watch-standers.
“We saw what she did to you, man,” said one of them.
“And I care why?” Jiken quipped, adjusting his rifle strap.
“We know which tent is hers," said the other, "and she happens to be alone right now since the chief and the rest of our commanders are having ‘tea time’ at your division’s command tent." Private First Class Uland spoke again with a sinister smile, “For a fair price, I’m willing to take you to her.”
Jiken considered the offer and took a few frakshins out of his pocket. “Show me.”
Livian Reej finished sewing on a replacement button to her uniform then she snuffed out the lantern light. She hadn’t known a peaceful evening since joining the expedition. When she had to spend every night listening to other girls bicker and whine, she suddenly took comfort knowing she would hear them no longer. The stationary she was issued was still untouched, having nobody to send a letter to. Her thoughts of Elion never subsided and wondered if she should write to him in prison. Maybe another time, she thought as her eyes grew heavy. She curled up into her bedroll, closing her eyes and listening to the footsteps approaching her tent. She assumed Chief Pyraz was coming to retire for the night.
“Chief, I’m sorry for the trouble I caused today,” Livian muttered when she thought Chief Pyraz had entered the tent.
“You will be,” whispered Jiken as he covered her mouth and stripped her blanket off of her.
Her muffled screams went unheard as the recruit she recognized from her own division, Uland, helped to hold her down and rip her under-uniform layer. She tried to kick and punch, even head-butt the man on top of her but the other man held her down with all of his strength. Still struggling against their combined force, she could hear Jiken on top of her unbuckling his belt and felt forceful hands grabbing at her exposed chest. Her legs were then forced open but before he could thrust, she released her spirit’s mystic, sending both men flying through the canvas tent, carried by the shockwave. The third who had been standing guard outside was also tossed. She immediately screamed as loud as she could and scrambled for her blanket.
Chief Pyraz was the first of the commanders to arrive at her obliterated tent, nearly out of breath from sprinting the moment she heard the piercing scream. A quick survey of the two male recruits on the ground, groaning in pain, told her everything. She knelt down beside Corporal Reej who was hunched over on her bedroll wearing only her uniform coat. Livian instinctively jerked away from the Chief's touch on her shoulder.
Both captains along with their enlisted commanders arrived on the scene moments later. They quickly assessed the situation and dispatched Sergeant Kile to gather the rest of the watch-standers.
Sen Asel immediately ignited her flames when she made eye contact with Private Jiken. “The fuck did you do now?” she roared unforgivingly.
The shock of Reej’s blast had left him sluggish as he clumsily buckled his belt and tried to stand. His eyes widened when the fiery captain reached over to him and threw him back to the ground.
“Do I need to sear off your dick along with your tongue? What the fuck are you thinking? What is your fucking problem, recruit?” Sen Asel’s temper flared dangerously. Even Korteni and Etyne backed away lest they feel the heat of her flames.
Jiken was too startled to respond and rema
ined on the ground as the other commanders joined in screaming at the three recruits who all lowered their heads as though hoping that would earn them some pity. Jiken suddenly felt hot hands grab his neck, forcing him to stand. Captain Sen Asel was unbelievably powerful, tossing him around like a bag of hay.
Private First Class Uland was thrown by Captain Vorsen who was also enraged. “We’re in a constant fucking war with Pahl’Kiar and you want to cause harm to your own people?”
“No, Sir,” he weakly replied.
“You’re fucking pathetic - you have no right to wear that uniform!” Vorsen continued shouting, taking turns with his enlisted commanders to push the recruit, along with the third culprit around. Instead of forcing him to his face to commence in push-ups, which would only benefit his strength, Vorsen had the recruit initiate mountain climbers, a routine Uland was quick to tire in. His lack of endurance would hastily fuel the rage of each commander.
Captain Sen Asel’s flames kept igniting with each statement she shouted, lunging forward and resembling a mythical fiery phoenix. “As if having your balls kicked in wasn’t enough of a reminder to not fuck with your fellow recruits, you had to give me a better reason to have you permanently taken out of the Dominion! Was she worth it, recruit? Was she fucking worth losing your rank, your pay, your freedom on Sariadne? You’ll be in prison for decades!”
She left the other commanders to take over reprimanding the watchstanders and marched over to her division camp. “Division Sixty-Six, form the fuck up!” she screeched. Within minutes, her entire division was in formation outside of her command tent, terrified of what was to come. Some had dressed so quickly that their uniform overcoats were not buttoned all the way. Sen Asel's eyes lingered on those who had failed to finish dressing before she spoke. “I did not spend the past year training you to be assholes! Everyone on your faces, now!” Her voice echoed throughout both camps. She sounded off the count in an annoying tune that every recruit loathed. It was the same tune Chief Renast counted off when reprimanding her. They knew it was her way of telling them how much pain and for how long she would put them through intensive training.
Spirits of Falajen Page 25
