Men who play games of war and soldiers born from circumstance...
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Scroll 01 : 02
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Mismatched eyes stare out into the fading sunlight shining in from his balcony windows, strong arms crossed over his broad chest and his mind wandering far from his current home until an all too familiar skittering set of footfalls in the hallway beyond pulls him quickly back to his senses. A slow smile forms on his lips as he uncrosses his arms, turning away from the orange-red washed scenery and moving swiftly towards the carved, double doors resting behind. Reaching down as he passes a circular, plush lounge to scoop up his helmet without so much as a glance spared for it, claw tipped fingers wrap around an ornate handle to swing the door open just as his Mistress’ intelligence officer spills in at his feet. Serpentine eyes filled with an urgency he’s come to know very well rises to meet his calm gaze and he nods, flowing linen robes rustling behind him and decorative metal adorning long, winding horns chiming as he continues past the creature and out into the hall. The tall man takes only a second to glance back and offer Sav’real the smallest of smiles, his voice echoing softly against marbled walls as he speaks. “Close the doors behind you…”  Bal’thial’s footfalls stop just outside of his Queen’s chambers, hard leather helmet tucked casually beneath an arm and long, plaited hair spilled against his back as both green and blue pupiless eyes lower themselves towards the marble beneath his feet in respect. His head drops into the slightest of bows just as the commotion inside of the room before him begins to draw closer to where he stands. The door to her chamber creaks as it is opened by Bal’thial’s subordinates standing dutifully just outside and a second later Io’fayl’s voice reaches out from within. “Come in, Captain.” She says as she’s moving forward, the Harbinger Tir’snin looking on from the bed behind. “I have a task for you.” Io’fayl slowly circles the white haired man as he stops to her front with his eyes still glued to the marble floor. Her fingers reach out, tracing lightly along the metal caps that adorn his horns and the items that hang delicately from them. She watches her Harbinger’s reaction from the corner of her vision, smiling when his eyes narrow in cautious jealousy. Io’fayl has never hidden the fact that she and Bal’thial have shared her bed many times before, in fact, showcasing that fact in front of her current chosen is a game she rather enjoys to play. “I need you to retrieve someone for me. He will not be easy to track and I suspect even harder to bring in. You are to, of course, extend the offer of voluntary service. If he declines, you will take him by force.” Her clawed fingers move from long, winding horns to Bal’thial’s hair. “Do not underestimate this one; take your strongest and most skilled with you. Sav’real will lead you to him.” Mismatched eyes slide up to the side to meet Io’fayl’s gaze as her fingers continue to play in braided strands, the softest of smiles gracing his features soon after. It wasn’t unusual for his Queen to request that he personally bring in one person or another when it suited her, but it was a little unusual for her to caution him against them when she did. This might end up being a task he’ll enjoy as it’s been a long time since he’s been given any sort of challenge in battle. “As you wish...” he says with a slight nodding of his head that causes delicate draping ornaments to chime quietly. A smile forms on full, taught lips as Io’fayl slides her hand away from white plaits and over to a broad shoulder as she continues to circle Bal’thial slowly before she steps to his front, her rust colored gaze bemused in the slightest as she follows her own movements while claw tips circle across pale flesh. Both Queen and Captain are fully aware of the silent presence watching from behind with increasingly jealous eyes and both seem to be enjoying those eyes being on them. “I will, as ever, Mistress, not fail you.” “I trust you will not.” The shapely woman says as she’s leaning in a little closer to brush her lips along the Captain's. “This one is important and must be brought back alive and intact.” Io’fayl’s smile turns positively feline. “Once your task is complete, you will, of course, be personally rewarded.” Rust colored eyes slide back to meet bright green as Tir’snin fumes at the scene before him before he finds it to be too much and turns his head away. The tension in the room is interrupted as the recognizable clicking of Sav’real’s feet against the marble floor is heard, bringing the small creature to the entrance of her chamber. Io’fayl frowns slightly before pulling away and moving out towards her terrace, speaking as she disappears through the long fabric draped from the ceiling. “Sav’real will take you.” Tir’snin’s bright green eyes flick from Io’fayl to meet the smug gaze of her Captain, disgust showing plainly on his face in an attempt to hide the pain and jealousy he feels. The fact that she is requesting a solider and one that Bal’thial cannot handle on his own specifically, worries him, as did her reaction to Sav’real’s information. He may not have heard what was said, but to cause that much emotion from her was rare. His Queen does not speak to him as she once did and his fears have begun to take hold. Blue and green eyes remain locked with the Harbinger’s gaze for a moment longer, the smile on Bal’thial’s lips masking the twinge of sympathy towards the other man that shifts briefly through him. Of all her personal guard, that she has requested him personally to go out and retrieve someone she feels he will not be able to handle on his own means one of what is most likely, only a select few possibilities of outcome –and all of them lead him to conclusion that Tir’snin’s days are most likely numbered. He does not envy the other man in the slightest as far as that is concerned and feels rather sorry for him because of it. He was once her most favored, but there have been years now that the favor had begun to wane visibly in Io’fayl’s eyes, so much so that many under his command and the command of her others have begun taking bets on how long it will be before their Mistress’s Harbinger finds a new face… He has a feeling it won’t be very long now. Bright green eyes narrow as he continues to hold his gaze before the tall Captain simply nods in response and turns away, long robes and metal adornments rustling and his footfalls soon joined by the soft clicking of talon feet as both Bal’thial and the intelligence officer exit the room soon after.  Bal’thial leans casually back against the downed tree behind him, the roaring fire built to his front flickering across light skin and features as mismatched eyes stare a little blankly within. Somewhere in the background are ten elite under his command, gathered around their own makeshift fire pits. The racket and merry making drink has caused nothing more than white noise in his ears. One of his finest breaks free, hoofed feet unsteady as the man staggers towards his commanding officer with a stamped copper flask in hand after a fair amount of goading had pushed him into action and he sends the group into boisterous laughter when two steps away nearly topples him completely. A smile forms on full lips while the other draws near and Bal’thial’s gaze never shifts from his front as a quick shaking of his head stops the man in his tracks. Just as the soldier is opening his mouth in an attempt to speak, he slides his head back, long braided plaits spilling across the cracked trunk he’s resting against to meet the softly glazed eyes of his subordinate. No words are exchanged, only a knowing look that reminds the man even in his drunken state that his Captain has never once joined them during these times. But despite having the knowledge, Bal’thial’s refusal of his offering still causes a disappointed frown to form on his face and a moment later, soft laughter pulls pupiless orange over to meet amused serpentine before the soldier scowls at his Queen’s intelligence officer and turns to wobble his way back towards the noisy crowd he’d left behind, the failure at his task earning him a fair amount of chiding immediately upon his return. “So tell me Sav’real…” The white haired man starts as he rolls his head back down to meet the gaze of the small creature sitting opposite. “…I’m intrigued by the one our Mistress has sent me for and looking forward to a challenge I’ve not had in a long time… but… will this one truly prove to be that challenge?” Sav’real looks around nervously. The subject of who this man is and the real reason why she wants him is off-limits and so he hesitates before he nods his head a little quickly, not bothering to hide the apprehension he feels. While he has known Bal’thial for his entire service under Io’fayl’s command and trusts him, he also likes being alive and this is information she will kill to stop from getting out farther than it already had. Mithghiiel‘s betrayal and death changed something in their Queen and she has done everything in her power to remove his existence from her life. Even his name is not to be mentioned and there are few alive who would remember him now. “Though she has not specifically said, I believe she plans to either make this one her new Harbinger or she wishes him brought in just so she can kill him herself.” The small creature checks around them, making sure all of Bal’thial’s men are out of listening range before he continues, and when he does, his voice barely reaches over the roar of the fire in between them. “This one is… special. Even without knowledge of his past, in just meeting him I could tell... He will not go willingly.” Sav’real shakes his head as if he feels sorry for the group the Captain had brought, still dancing and singing while they continue downing their drinks. “He does not care for his own safety, nor that of others around him. There is nothing you can use against him other than brute force and I am afraid even your men are not ready for this.” Serpentine eyes look up to meet mismatched, pupiless blue and green. “I have seen him fight from a distance. I would say it was a thing of rare and frightful beauty if I did not know who he was. Knowing though, it can only be expected from him. I can say I honestly don’t know how she will react to his presence.” He sighs. “If you truly want to know what kind of challenge he will be… close to a decade ago, our Queen sent soldiers to raid his village in one of her attempts to cut a line of supplies to the Northeastern territory. As par for the course, everyone who refused to join or could not get away was slaughtered, including this one’s younger sister and… father. He went berserk. Destroyed most of the raid team single handedly, including the Rangas, five of them to be exact. He was seventeen with no formal military training and from my understanding, he had not killed before that day.” Bal’thial blinks before a short bout of incredulous laughter spills out from his lips, the white haired man shaking his head soon after. “Five Rangas is it?” he muses, sitting further back against the gutted log behind him and folding his arms across his chest. “Come now, I find that a little hard to believe and have no doubt the tales have been… embellished…” which wasn’t too far beyond the norm when it came to tales of war passed amongst the clans. One fighter or another looking to carve a name for themselves always carried with them rumors and wives tales of inhuman abilities and strengths that go well beyond what it truly possible. Bal’thial has run into more than his own share of people like these throughout his years and as always, he has found them all lacking in the end. But… his Queen had warned him just as Sav’real is now warning him that this particular one may be difficult for him and so he supposes there might be some ring of truth to it all, even if it’s been fed upon a bit and he’s finding himself hopeful for it in an odd sort of way simply because the more he hears of this man, the more intrigued he is over the idea that there is in fact, one out there that will stand out from the norm. If this person is truly to become what he, and now Sav’real suspects… the Captain’s smile fades and mismatched eyes narrow in the slightest as he continues to stare into the fire before him, Tir’snin’s days are indeed numbered it would appear. “Though…” Bal’thial starts quietly again, his voice carrying just above the crackling flames. “If his family had been taken from him… perhaps the rumors are not very far off. I would most likely have done the same, had I been in his position and if it was our Queen that had ordered this… it is probably true that he will not be willing to accept the invitation she has asked me to extend to him…” He falls silent for a moment before another burst of boisterous laughter breaks out from the group of soldiers far behind them and the white haired man’s gaze slides over to meet serpentine blue, a slight smirk forming across his mouth. “I think it will be prudent then, to ensure my men are… properly prepared for what awaits them at this journey’s end.” “I do not believe it is our Queen’s request that will cause him to decline, I believe it is simply the request itself. Her name has been mentioned many times in his presence by others and he’s never seemed to have a reaction to it.” Sav’real sighs as his own gaze moves to the fire. “I am under the impression he does not know who ordered the raid of his village. I am also not going to be the one to tell him and I would suggest you not either, for the sake of your own life.” A smile forms on Bal’thial’s lips at his companion’s concern and the white haired man simply nods, allowing mismatched eyes to slide closed as silence soon falls between he and the Queen’s intelligence officer while his men’s continued merriment behind them becomes the only sounds to spill into the air beyond the crackling fire that keeps them warm. This task is proving to be far more interesting than he’d had thought it could be … |
