Men who play games of war and soldiers born from circumstance...
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Scroll 01 : 08
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Serpentine eyes meet Bal’thial’s mismatched gaze before falling away, the nervous shifts in the small creature’s movements apparent, as if he isn’t sure whether or not the tall Captain will keep his end of the bargain or simply kill him when this meeting is over. This one is close to their Queen and those she keeps close are treacherous, ruthless and untrustworthy, this much he knows. As he stands in his presence, he’s beginning to regret ever agreeing to meet with the man in the first place because his fear that it will be the last of his life is growing with every silent second that passes between them. Blue feathers ruffle in the slightest, the creature flinching noticeably when the white haired man reaches back to unhook a small skin from the ties cinching his robes closed before he squats down and offers it up to the one before him. Slitted eyes widen, all movements stopping at the sight before he slides his hand up to make a grab at the leather, only to have Bal’thial pull it back. “Only once you have told me what you know…” Tar’ilith winces slightly. He’s not supposed to know or remember or speak of the information the Captain has asked for and he’s wondering if this could just be a test of his loyalty to the Queen. Looking around, the small creature locates the nearest window and takes a quick moment to plan an escape should this meeting end up being a trick. Sliding his eyes back he nervously wrings his hands before speaking. “You are speaking of the fifth Harbinger… H-he’s been erased, by order of the Queen. He was the last to lead her armies as a General, before she started keeping them with her always… M-M-M…” He stutters as he tries to say the word, knowing he will be at the point of no return once the information leaves his lips. “M-Mithghiiel. His name was Mithghiiel.” Tar’ilith shrinks down, covering his head as he waits for the Captain to deliver his execution but finds after a moment that nothing happens. Serpentine, gold eyes blink as he looks up, Bal’thial simply waiting for him to continue with a raised eyebrow at the small creature for his behavior. A heavy sigh of relief leaves Tar’ilith and he sits down on the marble, trying to stop his heart from beating out of his chest long enough for him to speak again. “He was a good man, very kind to us, though he was ruthless on the battlefield, highly skilled. Strong willed but obedient to our Queen. He made her happy; you could see it, even if she refused to acknowledge him as anything other than a pet. We knew there was more there for her. For Mithghiiel, I don’t know, he was hard to read sometimes, but we knew he enjoyed his position by her side. His men were very loyal; all those that could fight always wanted to fight under him, which often upset the rest of her generals. She didn’t care though what her generals were whining about, she never does.” His eyes meet Bal’thial’s once more, taking another moment to collect himself before continuing cautiously. “Something happened… it was about the time she started taking out the farming communities in the Western Territories. Somehow he betrayed her, I don’t know the details, and she had him executed. She was different after that, much more cruel. Her first Harbinger after Mithghiiel, she was never let out of her sight and all of the Queen’s apparent frustrations were taken out on her. She barley lasted five years. We all felt sorry for that one.” Bal’thial says nothing for a few moments longer, simply allowing each word to stream throughout his head. This explains some things, but leaves many more open. It seems his Queen once held feelings for a Harbinger of hers, one that stood beside her before he himself came into service. When she’d chosen him from the ranks to become one of her personal guard, the one’s time previous to Tir’snin had been coming to an end and while he’d heard rumors of the cruelty she’d extended to the female before, he’d never seen it with his own eyes or inquired on the reasons because inquiring was a dangerous game that usually cost you your life should be on the losing end. She’s always been the same from the first day he’d been up close and personal. Cruel, unfeeling, ruthless… only generous when it suited her current wants. Even the time he’s spent in her bed he’s known to be nothing beyond a tool to torment her love sick dog of a Harbinger or a reward for a job well done. There was never any emotion beneath it and still isn’t to this day nor has he ever expected there to be. Her heart has always been closed off, it's something they’ve both had in common and one of the main reasons he’s enjoyed serving under her as much as he has. Despite what his fellow soldiers think or the aspirations most of them have as far as their Queen is concerned, he’s always known better and never wanted to try. There had never been any true emotion in her in that way… until he brought Kso’ppghiel before her. It was then he saw something spark in her he’d never seen before and he still doesn’t understand why. There’s a connection he’s missing, a link still broken. She’d loved one of her Harbingers -this Mithghiiel and he’d betrayed her to change her into what she is today. But what does any of that have to do with Kso’ppghiel himself…? Shaking his head, the metal adornments dangling from capped horns chime softly as Bal’thial pulls his thoughts back to once again focus in on the scribe at his front. Sliding his hand out, he drops the leather skin onto the floor before him, the gold contained within clanking as it hits cold marble. “Purge this meeting from your thoughts and speak of it to no one.” The tall Captain says flatly, causing Tar’ilith to flinch from the tone alone as he quickly pulls the bag towards him with shaky fingers. Gold serpentine eyes remain glued on the white haired figure as he’s straightening, the fear that he’ll be killed coming back so strongly that he prepares himself to bolt should Bal’thial change his mind. But instead the Queen’s Captain simply turns away from him and moves down the empty halls of the lower fortress levels, and only when he’s disappeared around a corner does the small creature finally breathe another long sigh of relief.
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