The crowd laughed at the young chief. “I'm serious.” Lov complained bitterly. “Besides, I didn't need to learn the lesson! Missy stole me, I didn't have a choice! So talk to her.”
Charlot stepped forward, patting the young man on the back. “I understand, we'll get your mother to help you with your ant problem.” She flicked an ant from his neck. “And we'll talk to the fairy, but you should have talked to her first and made her understand.” She patted the young chief on the cheek before shouting out. “Show's over, go get some sleep! We have a journey to continue tomorrow!”
The crowd slowly drifted away, and soon only Lov, his guards, and his family were left. “Come on, hon.” His mother said, taking his hand, and pulling him with her and the little girl who had become her shadow. “You can't help with this, Lily, but you can watch. You'll learn a lot.”
“Your son's a wimp, those are only razor bites. You just need to avoid the mouth.” Lily reached out, plucking one from Lov's leg, and casually flicking it away.
“Well, maybe you'll be teaching me a lesson then.” Tyrosh said, smiling down at her little charge. Lily soaked up the praise, smiling shyly.
“Let's go already!” Lov complained, dragging his mother behind him. “These bites hurt!”
Chapter Fourteen
The army had been at a standstill for a week now. Lov reacted badly to the insects' bites. Tyrosh could see where the ants had burrowed under her son's scales. For the past several days, large boils had covered Lov. They had been squishy and painful, and at their tops were white bumps full of fluid.
Zae had approached the elven woman, asking to help.
“I don't know what to do.” Tyrosh replied, “I would love your help, because I don't know how to go about it.”
Zae approached Lov, pressing gently on the many bumps that covered the young half-dragon. “We have to drain these. They look like chipska, a parasitic infestation that happens to my people. The only way to get rid of it is to pop these boils and free the seed.” The Anuunaki ran his hand over the young chief's forehead. Lov didn't even stir at the touch. “It will be painful, but if we don't do this, it will only get worse.”
“Do it then.” Tyrosh told the Anuunaki, stepping from the tent. She looked to the two Talons outside of her son's tent. “Keep him safe.” She told them coldly, marching off through the camp.
Nord waited for her in his tent. He had been wanting to hear what Zae had to say about Lov, and when he saw Tyrosh's face as she entered, Nord felt the cold grip of worry upon him. “Is he okay?” He asked, gesturing to the chair across from him.
“Zae says it looks like an Anuunaki infection. He says they need to drain the bumps.” She hung her head, a sense of dread wafting from her. “We won't know anything until after Zae finishes.”
“Then we'll just have to leave him to it.” Nord sat back in his chair, putting his feet up on the table as he relaxed. “Now the question becomes, do we move the army? Or do we wait for Lov to recover?”
Tyrosh glared at her brother in law. “How can you even ask that?” She asked, heat entering her voice. “My son, your nephew, lays unconscious on a cot. With sores covering most of his body. He has boils from the tops of his feet to the top of his head! And you want to move the army?” The last she yelled as she slapped her hand down on the table.
Nord put his feet on the ground. “Yes, I want to know if we should keep going where Lov was taking us. It's not like we can't just send Missy to collect him and anyone left behind to take care of him.”
“That's not the point!” Tyrosh roared back.
Nord shook his head before conceding. “Alright, alright. I see you won't be happy until he's feeling better.” He shook his finger under her nose as he continued. “But when he feels better, you can deal with him. I know he'll be angry if we don't start to move.”
“I don't care if he's angry.” Tyrosh replied, raising from her chair, and heading towards the exit. “I'll worry about his anger when he's not in danger anymore.”
Missy jabbed one of the white dots on top of the bumps with her sword. A thick sickly yellow fluid began to stream from where she had stabbed it. “Ugh, how can you stand the smell?” She asked Zae, who was working another of the pus filled bumps.
Zae squeezed Lov's skin, and a thin stream of pus shot from it. It splattered on the side of the tent, leaving a long line down it. “I helped to take care of my brother when he contracted the bug. I grew used to it over the course of weeks helping to heal him.”
“Did he recover?” Lov asked weakly from the cot.
“Yes, a full recovery. We even managed to lessen the amount of scarring most suffer.” Zae squeezed a new bump, and Lov hissed in pain. “Yes, I know it hurts. You want something to knock you out?” His arms outstretched, Zae aimed the bump away from himself. Another stream of pus shot from Lov's body, audibly splattering on the tent side.
“No, it hurts, but I can take it.” Lov replied. “How many more of these things do you need to pop?” Lov asked.
“We're about a third of the way done.” Zae said. He put a finger in front of Lov's face, a large solid piece of pus on his fingertip. It was a half inch long, and thick as a wheat stalk. “These are what we're getting.”
“Get my uncle and mother in here then. I want to know what's been going on.”
Missy considered the Anuunaki working on Lov before her. “He seems very coherent. So we should be able to leave as soon as you finish, right?”
The young half-dragon let out a scream of agony as Zae squeezed a fresh boil. “No, he'll be a week in recovery.” Lov's head drooped back against the cot as he lost consciousness. “Truth to tell, I'll be surprised if he even remembers this.”
Chapter Fifteen
Lov was young again. A day long remembered, he chased his father down the banks of a river. The mud and algae squished between his toes as he ran down the shore. Amon was further down the bank, laughing and egging his son onwards. “Catch me if you can!” He called out, as he sloshed across the river.
Lov had let out a battle cry, chasing after his father. He loved to play tag with the large elf. Everyone else treated Lov with kid gloves, but Amon knew that the young half-dragon was made to explore. Lov plunged into the water, the current carrying him farther down. His father pointed and laughed as Lov floundered to shore, a hundred feet away.
“You're still slow, boy!” Amon called out, climbing swiftly up a tree. Lov charged after his father, reaching the trunk and digging his fingers and toes in to climb. His father looked down on him, laughing and reaching a hand out to Lov. “Good job, Son. But it's time to wake up.”
Lov caught his father's hand, opening his eyes.
“Wake up, Lov.” Sanche said softly. Lov held the elder elf's darkened hand.
“What happened?” Lov asked uncertainly, pulling himself into a sitting position.
Sanche snorted. “Your guards decided to take it upon themselves to punish you. You were bit by hundreds of bugs, and left with them in a bag for hours. Some of them burrowed into your skin and planted eggs.” Sanche raised his eyebrows at the young half-elf. “They say it's not deadly, just painful. The eggs would've hatched, coming out as fully formed adults. It's why razor bites are so annoying. Hurts, but won't kill.”
“How long was I out?” Lov asked, slowly coming into full control of himself. He stood swaying a little, reaching a hand back to catch himself on the cot. “And where are we?”
“We haven't moved yet. Your wounds were bad. The boils that covered your body were disgusting, and they covered you from head to toe. Zae had you down, draining them for three days. Took you two more to wake up after. You've spent another two seeing and hearing things, talking about your father. Your mother and Nord say they haven't seen it, but I have.” The elder elf pointed to the tent around them, “We even had to replace your tent. The pus from your boils soaked the walls of yours, and the laundry maids couldn't even work the stains out. We burned them yesterday, just in case.”
&nb
sp; Lov stretched his neck out, cracking his neck. “That's bad for you.” Sanche told the young half-elf.
Lov ignored him, twisting his back releasing another loud crack. “Ahh, much better.” The young chief jumped to his feet, swaying as his body reminded him he hadn't moved in a week. “Whoa, head rush.” He sat back down on his cot.
Sanche laughed into his hand. “Watch yourself there, young man. We don't want you to slip and fall, leaving us immobile for another week.”
“What? The army's still here?” Lov jumped to his feet again, forgetting what had happened just a second before. Sanche caught Lov before he fell to the floor, though the young half-elf didn't lose consciousness. He sat on the bedside, then pointed out the tent. “Get it moving! With this large of an army, who knows what's trying to sneak up on us. What if the Titans heard about our movements? I mean, seriously? Who ordered them to stop?”
Sanche sucked air between his teeth, “You'll have to take that up with those who care. I was just keeping an eye on you while your mother and Nord had another meeting.” Sanche walked to the tent flap stepping out. Lov sat shocked, wondering what the hell was going on around here, when the elder elf stepped back in. “Oh yeah, don't move.” Sanche disappeared again, leaving Lov alone.
Several moments passed, and Lov was starting to get antsy. He could hear the army getting started around him, Sanche had moved quickly.
Tyrosh came running into the tent with Sanche hot on her heels. She fell to her knees and placed her head in Lov's lap. She squeezed him tightly, hugging him as she cried. “I'm so happy you're okay!” She said looking up to her son. “I was so worried about you, you had a fever for so long.”
Sanche rolled his eyes at Tyrosh. “He was fine, orcs used to do this kind of crap all the time.” He shrugged his shoulders, and continued, “Besides, I think it was good for him. He needed a hard lesson to remind him not to forget his place. Are you forgetting that he resurrected me after a month dead, Tyrosh? That's just evil! He needs to slow down and think before he acts!”
Lov laughed a little. “When a god tells you it needs to be done, you do it.”
Sanche rolled his eyes at this young fool. “He's still hallucinating, false alarm. Shall I stop the army, madam?” The elder elf asked, bowing to Tyrosh.
Lov growled at the old ex-general. “You'll do no such thing. I'm not hallucinating, I'm telling you what happened.” Lov looked around the top of the tent. “Where's Missy?” He asked, pointing upwards.
“Problems at home.” Nord replied, walking in taking a seat in one of the chairs. “The army should be on the move before noon, but it probably would have been better to give the men one more day of rest. You being out cold has actually helped some who were starting to fatigue. And our baggage train caught up with us.” The tall general pointed at Tyrosh, “I disagreed with your mother's decision too, but now I think it was the right move.”
Tyrosh reached out and took her brother in law's hand. “Thank you, Nord. I told you I had reasons.”
Lov waved the sentiments away. “That doesn't change the fact that we stopped moving! I said to keep going no matter what! Do you know how dangerous it is to stop a machine once you get it started? Especially one with no actual controls? These orcs aren't known for their patience.”
“That's why I understand your orders too, Lov, and haven't contradicted them.” Nord propped his feet up on the table, blocking half the room from Sanche's pacing. The elder elf glared down at his old pupil, then sat in the other chair.
“Contradicted me?” Lov sat forward, resting his forearms on his knees. “Are you saying if you hadn't liked my orders you would have changed them?”
“You bet your ass I would have.” Lov sat back, shock on his face. Sanche let out a loud belly laugh, and Nord chuckled a little at the sight before continuing. “You did put me in charge of the army.”
Lov took a deep breath, and they watched his skin lighten as the young half-dragon mastered his temper. “You're right, again. Besides, I'm in no shape to be leading us anywhere. Just leave me a competent Anuunaki to follow me around and help me when I need it.”
Tyrosh considered the men around her. “I think he needs to stay right here until he's recovered. Who knows what kind of poisons those little bugs carry.” Her eyes lost focus for a minute as she was lost in thought. “Besides, Lily needed the break as badly as the men. She's starting to get well fed, but she was malnourished for so long.”
“Yeah, I agree.” Nord said, raising from his seat. “I don't know how Manatua and the other orcs would react if you start walking around with an obvious weakness.” Nord walked to the tent flap, looking back at his nephew. “I suggest you stay here, relax. Keep an honor guard with you, a few Anuunaki. You guys should be able to catch up with no problem.” Nord walked from the tent, having more important matters to take care of getting the army ready to move.
Sanche shook his head. “If the army goes, I go. Remember, Lov, I'm looking for fights.” He followed Nord out, and Lily poked her head through the tent flap.
“Can I come in now?” She asked, and Tyrosh waved her over. The tall skinny girl ran in, wrapping her arms around Lov's mother. She stepped back and eyeballed the young half-elf. “Can I hug you yet? Or will you break?”
Lov laughed a little, reaching out and catching Lily. The girl squealed and laughed as Lov tickled her. He even worked up the energy to stand and chase her around the tent a few times. As the sun rose in the sky, Lov watched the dust settle from the passing of his army.
Already, he felt the tug increasing.
Chapter Sixteen
Nord and the army made good time that day before the sun set. The army stretched behind him, and Nord was awed at the amount of resources it took to run it. He sat in his tent, pondering the reports his captains brought him. The numbers on the papers swam through his head, all but making him dizzy.
Since Sherman and the other fairies had gone, water had become scarce. They had enough water for the army for a day or two, each person was required to carry it, but past that they would be in trouble. He considered switching their marching pattern, since they were making their way across the sands. Traveling at night would save them in the long run. And Nord would have to implement emergency measures. He'd have to have Jaxon start giving lessons on how to conserve your urine and turn it to water. If all else failed, the urine would be better than nothing.
Nord walked to his cot, trying to stretch out for a good night's sleep. The gods knew he needed it. The blessed realm of unconsciousness eluded him. He spent the night tossing and turning in his cot, worrying about finding resources to feed his army, to clothe them.
He jumped from his tent, heading outside to look at the stars. Sanche was outside his as well, drinking deeply from a bottle. The last thing they needed was a drunk Sanche. Nord approached his old mentor, taking a seat across from him. “What's keeping you up?” He asked the elder elf, stretching a hand for the bottle.
Sanche giggled a little drunkenly. He shook his head sharply from side to side, and his face took on his usual angry temperament. “Can't help you. It's empty.” He said, taking a drink from the bottle.
“Seriously?” The tall elf asked, sitting back in his chair sullenly. “Well fine, I guess I won't share this dragonweed with you.” Nord pulled a pipe and some of the herb from his pouch. He packed the bowl. He used the elder elf's candle, lighting a tinder stick. Nord took a long pull on the pipe, holding the smoke deep in his lungs. As he exhaled, he blew out smoke rings.
“Feeling better about yourself?” Sanche asked his leader. The thought of Nord being his leader would have been sickening at one point in the elder elf's life, but now it made sense.
“Not really. But I tell you what, a drink might help.” Nord turned a questioning eye to Sanche. “Do you mind if I ask you a question?” He asked.
Sanche stopped his bottle an inch from his mouth, considering. “Does it require me to do anything other than sit here and get drunk?” He asked, taking
a swig.
“I just need some advice. I've led a regiment before. It was easy.” Nord took another deep toke off of his pipe, speaking as he exhaled. “Leading this army is going to kill me.”
“No it won't, you'll just wish it would.” Sanche replied knowingly. He offered the tall elf the bottle, and Nord took it gratefully.
He took a long hard drink from it before passing it back to the elder elf. “Ahh that hits the spot.” Nord stretched and yawned, looking at the stars. “I was thinking of spending the next day here resting our men, then marching in the night. I want to know what you think.”
“I think it's a smart move, as long as you're sending scouts ahead and there's an easy path.” The elder elf took another drink from his bottle, drinking the last from it. He turned and tossed it into his tent behind him. “If we run into tough terrain though, gonna be hard to pass it at night with an army this large.”
“I know, but if we travel through the day, we only have two days' water. If we travel at night, maybe we can stretch it to three.” Nord covered his eyes with his palms. “Besides, the desert is just so much cooler at night, and we can pass Jaxon's blue bulbs amongst the army.”
“That will help. As I said, a smart move. Until we run into tough terrain.” Sanche sat his head back, his intention to stare at the stars. Soon, snores began to issue from his mouth.
Nord shook his head at the elder elf, picking him up from his chair and carrying him towards his cot. Sanche's bottle twisted and rolled under one of his feet, and Nord almost dropped the old man. The tall elf settled the elder one into the cloth cot, covering him with a blanket.
Nord spotted Sanche's stash of bottles against the tent wall, bending over to pick one off of the top. This would help him get through the night.
Breath of the Titans: The False Titanbringer: Complete Trilogy Page 39
