by Lance Wilson
“You don’t even know what the question was, or the answer” Griffin says taken back at his calmness over all this
“I don’t have to, goodnight captain” Mellyruna says, turns, waves his hand and walks off to his tent. He knows all he needs to now and will rest comfortably in this camp.
Griffin only ties the two horses back to the post and lets his mind wander to this new prince, he can’t place his finger on it but something about Mellyruna intrigues him, puzzles him even. If Neckity is right and he will follow him, then his own goals are only a small span of time away. But she said he would break Mellyruna’s heart, he is sure that this has something to do with his fall, the one she predicted, but he doesn’t believe in that so there is no point in worrying about it. All he knows is that he now has the prince of the Unagi as one of his soldiers, and he will be as faithful and caring to him as he has been to all his others. After all, if your soldiers are not your family and friends, then they are just men who fight for money, and those are easily defeated.
It is early in the mourning when Mellyruna wakes again. With his wound nearly healed and his body forcing him to rest so much he feels in top shape. Carefully he rubs the bandages and smiles as they give him little to no discomfort. Once he is up he carefully looks over his armor, he then begins to strap it on, piece by piece. Starting with the simple things that don’t make him strain the wound too much. Then he comes to it, the chain mail shirt, taking a deep breath he goes to strap it on, but as he lifts his hands high over his head he feels a shock of pain, he knows it is too soon to try that much and lowers his arms laying the chain mail back down. He knows that he has one more day to heal, thinking carefully he figures it is probably best that he get to know the other men of the Wolfpride. He knows that he hasn’t won over Griffin yet, but at least he is willing to talk to him. Lucrainzia Noin is a whole other matter, she distrusts him and will not even talk to him right now, and she thinks he is working for Mecmed. Perhaps if he can talk to some of the others and show that he is really in this for himself and only himself then maybe he can sway her to at least look at him with an open mind. His only problem is he’s not sure what the others are like or how they will take to him. With that last thought he opens his tent flap and steps out to greet the others. The sun blinds him as he looks out into the camp and for a few seconds he only stands there and blinks. Once his eyes have adjusted he shakes his head and looks around. For a squad that is known as death on the battlefield he thought there would be more of them. There are only ten, maybe fifteen men here, yet they have been told to take on whole armies, sure they didn’t win all the time, but they always managed to get away at the least. He wonders how few men could be capable of such a thing. He can only assume that there is much more to them that meet the eye.
“Are you sure you should be up and moving about” a young voice says snapping Mellyruna out of his thoughts.
Mellyruna looks down to see a young boy; he can’t be any older then 40, not even close to the right of passage. He stands tall but only reaches to Mellyruna’s waist; he has mouse brown hair and soft brown eyes. He is dressed in a baggy light blue shirt and loose white pants with a gold sash. Over his shoulder there is a leather strap holding what must be close to ten to fifteen small knives for throwing. The boy looks like every Kainith elf he has seen, he has a gaunt look to him with his paler skin, sunken in eyes and half starved look. But he knows that it is just the way the Kainith elves look and he’s not sure why. He smiles and tassels the young boys hair. The boy giggles but his eyes stay focused on Mellyruna.
“Probably not, but I wish to meet the Wolfpride. If I am to be one of you don’t you think that is only the right thing to do” he says talking to the boy as he talks to anyone this much younger then him.
“Noin doesn’t like you” he says plain and calm, the smile never leaving his face.
“No she doesn’t” Mellyruna chuckles.
“Come, I’ll take you to my friends, I’m sure they would like to meet you. It’s not everyday someone challenges Griffin and lives” He says and takes Mellyruna’s hand.
This is not exactly what he had in mind, but if he has to start by getting to know all the kids, well that is fine enough. Besides their light attitude would probably do him good, get his mind off of all the things that have to be done and make him stop worrying about what is going to happen. The boy walks for a bit until he gets to a tent with a group of about seven people in front of it. All of them are adults. He smiles to see that one of the people is Noin, right away as she sees Mellyruna walk up she growls, and walks away.
“Wonder what got into her” one of the men says with a soft silky voice.
“Hay guys, this is Mellyruna, Griffin’s new recruit, Mellyruna these are the guys” the boy says and gestures at everyone.
“I am Millardo Peacecraft.” A tall man says with a deep and low bow.
Millardo is a good head and a half taller then him, he also looks to be about double his age. He has long black hair that is cut short for his bangs. His eyes are bright green and he holds himself with a sense of nobility. He is dressed in white pants, black ridding boots, black belt, and red dress shirt with white cuffs. At his side is a rapier, it seems a bit wider in the sheath then he is sure it is. Mellyruna only nods in respect
“Zeques Marquese” the elf beside him says but does not stand. Mellyruna is shocked at how much Millardo and Zeques look alike. Their features seem to mirror each other, Zeques too has long hair that is cut short for his bangs, but his is a blond almost white color and though his eyes are the same kind of hunters eyes that Millardo has, Zeques’s are a bright blue color. He is dressed almost the same as Millardo with the exception that he wears a gold sash instead of a belt and that his shirt is white with black cuffs. Strapped to his back is a large double-edged sword that Mellyruna recognizes as a western two-handed sword known as a claymore, heavy and in the right hands almost unstoppable
“Are you two brothers” Mellyruna asks almost sure that they have to be.
“Yes, I took the name of our father, Zeques took the name of our mother” Millardo says explaining the different surnames.
“And we are the jeckal brothers” a young man with bright red hair and golden eyes says and gives an over extended bow, the kind you might expect from a jester.
He looks at the two men and wonders how anyone could mistake them for anything but brothers. Every curve and feature is the same on them. They both have fire red hair and bright golden eyes. They both dress in black pants, boots and gloves, and both have a red vest. The only difference he can see is the symbols on the vest, each one has the symbol for fire on the right breast, but one has it in white, the other has it in black.
“Jake and Jack Jeckal at your service” the other says with the same bow.
“How do I tell you two apart” Mellyruna says and looks around the campfire, everyone just shrugs at him.
“Well the symbols on the vest tell us, black is Jack, white is Jake, but they switch vests sometimes so.” the boy says shrugging his shoulders as well.
“Doesn’t matter, they’re always together, I am Trays Ranada” a man says and gets up putting one hand over his chest and nods in respect, a true noble bow
Trays looks to be the same age as Millardo and Zeques, he has short kept light brown hair that seems to be permanently styled. His eyes are a dark brown and seem to pierce though him as if he’s seeing deeper then he should. He is dressed in the same kind of outfit as Zeques, the white pants and black riding boots. He however has a red sash and a blue dress shirt with black cuffs. At his side is the same kind of rapier that Millardo seems to have.
“Breakfast guys” a deep rumble of a voice says from behind.
Mellyruna turns to see something he has never seen before. The man coming at him is holding nine bowls stacked on each other, he is a huge man almost two and a half heads taller then Mellyruna, b
ut his features would show him not to be much older then Zeques or Millardo. The man is built like a wall, a good half a body wider then him his arms like pythons and his legs like tree trunks. But he is not fat; all the bulk shows muscle and build, he is probably a one-man army on to himself. Across his back is strapped a huge double bit axe and at his side is a huge sword like the one Mellyruna now carries on his back, but much larger. His hair is long and a greasy black, his eyes a deep red and his skin although shows mostly elf, seems to have a hue of green in it. He is almost certain that he is the product of an elf mating with an Orukai or worse, troll.
“Krull, it seems Judo brought us a new friend, this is prince Mellyruna of the Unagi clan” Trays says and smiles at the huge man.
The huge man only looks around a bit and then looks back at Trays
“Where is Noin?” he says now looking at the bowls in his arms. Instantly the jeckal brothers go to him and help take some of the load from him.
The two then begin to pass out bowls of ride to everyone.
“Judo” Mellyruna says and looks at the boy
“Sorry, we never did get to my name did we?” He says with a plight bow and chuckle.
“It seems she didn’t care for his company” Millardo says and shakes his head.
“Does Griffin trust him?” Krull asks looking at Judo
“Yep” Judo replies back his eyes closed a huge smile on his face.
“Well that’s good enough for me. Here, you can have her bowl since she’s not here” Krull says and hands Mellyruna a bowl of rice.
They all then sit down and Mellyruna watches as they move into there small groups. Krull sits right next to Judo, Millardo, Zeques and Trays sit facing each other talking other things, Jake and Jack only sit near the tent and eat, not saying a word.
“So Mellyruna, you might have an interesting thought on the idea, what is your view on the Kainith elf kingdom merging with the Denerith elves, and probably blood elves knowing Mecmed” Trays says looking right at Mellyruna.
“I think that uniting the kingdoms under one lord is a good idea.” Mellyruna says remembering the speech Mecmed gave him in the carriage.
“I cannot agree. I do not see the other elf races following Mecmed, I think that perhaps they can unite under they’re own lords, but never someone else” Millardo says shaking his head.
“Well I’m sure we all agree that the elves need to get out of the feudal system. Too many lords only destroy those they try to rule over” Zeques says and looks back at Trays.
“Well yes, but you must have someone looking over the lands that you are not in. one lord cannot be everywhere, you would have to have sub-lords, generals of such, and in only doing that you throw yourself back into the feudal system.” Trays says and looking back at Mellyruna
“What you could do is make sure that the government system in each town rules that town. Mayor, law that kind of thing. But you run into the problem that you will always run into, you have to make sure you can trust those men. I guess the only thing a lord can do is make sure his ideas are upheld, and that when they are not that the people can get a hold of him. He would also have to make some kind of schedule so he can visit and see the places on his own” Mellyruna says thinking about how he is going to end up doing things once he is granted the Denerith elf kingdoms.
“Sounds like you’ve been thinking this over for quite some time” Millardo says and cocks his head smiling
“Before my kingdom was taken from me, I was first born prince. I really had to think of how I was going to run the kingdom. I wanted to make sure I ruled right, ruled for the people and not enslave them” Mellyruna says and smiles looking down at his bowl of rice.
“Sounds like you did some real soul searching before you thought of taking the thrown. Are these things that your father taught you” Trays asks now looking over at Zeques who only has his head down thinking of his own past.
“My father taught me about a lot of things, but most of this came from the captain of the guard and my step-mother” Mellyruna says and smiles up at the sky.
“Well, looks like we have all my greatest generals right here” they all hear griffins voice say and they all look up.
“Generals, these are your generals” Mellyruna says and shocked these people are really just kids.
“Indeed, these are some of the finest generals the Kainith elf kingdom has to offer” Mellyruna says now looking around at the group.
“Even Judo” he says looking now over at the kid that is giggling and paling around with Krull.
“Judo was one of my first, right after Noin, I’m surprised that she isn’t here with you all” Griffin says and looks around as if making sure he isn’t mistaken about her not being there.
“She left when she saw the prince here” Judo says and smiles at him.
“Please do not call me that, my name is Mellyruna, and I am not a prince any longer, just a soldier” he says looking at all of them. Making sure that they know he thinks of himself not as there better, but for now, as their lower.
“Well then, I guess I shall talk to you of this as well. It seems our supplies are low, we must perform a raid” Griffin says and watches the others perk up in anticipation
“Whom will we make the raid against” Judo asks now that all ears are now focused on Griffin.
“Well there is a camp not too far from here, one of Mecmed’s finest groups of soldiers. But they are rarely used so they have grown fat and complacent. I think they are quite ripe for the pickings” Griffin says and smiles at them all.
“Wait, if we work for Mecmed, won’t we only be stealing from ourselves” Mellyruna asks confused
“Not the way I see it. We are Wolfpride, we are an independent group of mercenaries and Mecmed has been denying us food and other essentials. So in turn I will take it from him” Griffin says and smiles at them all
The small group all laugh and applaud the idea. They are Wolfpride and they are above any king, any lords. Watching them and listening to Griffin he begins to understand, neither collar nor crown. They shall not be enslaved, and they shall not be ruled. This is what the emblem meant. Watching these men, it all comes together it all makes sense.
“So what is the plan” Zeques says and looks over at Griffin.
“Judo, I will have you and your squad, along with Krull and Noin all go in from behind, these three squads will be the ones that will gather the supplies we need. The rest of us will go into the camp and cause a bit of trouble. This will keep them off of you” Griffin says and smiles at all of them.
“Tell me where will you put me” Mellyruna asks wondering which squad he will be a part of.
“I have a special task for you, will we be placed in my squad, and you will ride behind everyone. Your job is a simple one. Make sure everyone gets out, and make sure those that are barrowing things get out as well” he says and smiles at Mellyruna and puts his hand on his shoulder.
“Your putting him as the rear guard” Trays says a bit surprised but his tone is still calm and ready.
“Yes, I have faith in him” Griffin says and watches the others look at each other.
This is not normal, it is always Noin as rear guard, they do not know this young man and he has never rode with the Wolfpride before this. But they trust Griffin. All they can do is assume that he knows exactly what he is doing.
“When do we strike?” Zeques says looking up at his leader.
“Tonight, so I ask all of you to break habits and sleep today so you will be ready for the attack” Griffin says and starts to walk off.
“Griffin, wait” Mellyruna says and gets up trotting over to Griffin to speak to him.
“Is there something else Mellyruna” Griffin says but does not stop walking.
“Why me, I’ve studied strategies long enough to know that the rear g
uard is a highly important position, why me” Mellyruna says looking down.
“I have a instinct about you, and you won’t let me down” Griffin says and lays his hand on Mellyruna’s shoulder.
“You can’t know that” Mellyruna says thinking of the attack on his kingdom. He let all those people down; if he could have just held out tell the mourning he could have had them in the east and starting a new life, a life away from war.
“Go, sleep. You of all people will need your rest” he now shoving him to the tent.
“I’ve been sleeping almost two days straight” Mellyruna says sure that even if he did lay down that there is no way he will be able to sleep.
“I’m sure you have been, but the fact is that you need your sleep. I insist, and if your worried about it I left something in your tent for you so that you could sleep” he says and gives Mellyruna another shove.
Mellyruna takes the hint and makes his way back to his tent. The Wolfpride all seem to watch him with a mixed look on their face, some seem to want to greet him but at the same time they know that he was brought to this land by Mecmed and is chosen to take the Denerith elf kingdoms by Mecmed. In that information alone they have found that trusting him is a risk. He only wishes he could talk to them, tell them that he is not here to do anything against them but only to learn from them. One he is in his tent he finds that nest to the bedroll is a glass of what looks like normal water. He wonders if he should trust Griffin but then again everyone else seems to without even thinking twice about it. Taking a deep breath he lays on the bedroll then takes a deep drink of the water. There is no difference in the taste but in no time he feels himself become drowsy, dizzy, slowly he sets down the glass and before he knows it he is sound asleep.
