Chapter 3: Persevere
2019 Words
::Dom's POV::
(Continuation after the battle)
Dammit!
After all the damage and chaos... we found ourselves at square one once again.
"Lord Dom," one of my fellow soldiers caught up, "Tyrion he-," he stopped himself from speaking further, clearly looking at a royal knight still living.
"What's wrong with Tyrion?" I became concerned, "Is he alive?"
"Yes, and no," he answered, "We managed to bring him to the recovery tents outside the capital grounds, but I think it would be best if you appeared before him."
I furrowed my brows in confusion, but nodded. The soldier soon left, and it was me and the guard.
"I have to return back for now, your life is spared for the moment," I turned only to hear him kneel once again behind me.
"Please, Lord Dom... place me among your ranks. I have no place within the Royal government, I could be of use to you," he swore.
"Why would I bring an enemy into my militia?" I growled, "Do you take me to be an i***t like your king?"
"I understand this is so sudden, but like I said. I know Emperor Kenji. I know about Freya. I have intel from different parts of the world that could help on your quest. If you'd allow for it," he did not dare to look me in the eye.
"You won't be happily accepted," I warned, "But I can't pass on the fact you know things I don't."
I also placed my sword against his neck, "If you portray any suspicions of treason or deceit, I will behead you without hesitation."
"Understood, my Lord."
I sheathed my sword and made my way back to Merwin who was outside the building. As I walked, I witnessed the sheer cold winds of war. The blood stains of the enemy soaked onto the rugs and splattered along the walls. The fallen soldiers lay on the rainy grounds. The thunder and lightning raged on.
I was then stopped by the knight, "Wait, Lord Dom."
"What is it now?" I impatiently asked.
"I didn't offer my name," he apologized.
"I won't need it," I answered.
"But in any case you look for me, my name is Leo," he bowed and then stepped away.
"How fast can you make it to the front of the capital walls?" I asked.
"I need to make sure that there aren't any lurking spies within the walls," Leo looked back, "I will arrive in a pinto horse within a few hours."
"Here," I tossed Freya's coin to him, "If you get caught by my soldiers, show them this coin, and they will back off."
"Freya's coin," he looked at me confused, "I couldn't possibly accept this!"
"Why not?" I asked while mounting Merwin, "It has no use to me."
"Not right now," Leo urged and offered to give it back, "It's more than a summoning call, you- you don't know about Freya do you?"
"That's why I have you, right?" I reminded him of his purpose.
"Well, I will use this as a pass to meet up with you among your militia ranks, but when things become safe I have to return it to you," Leo turned away and disappeared behind a nearby door.
That was strange. Why was he so worked up about some coin?
That didn't matter right now. I ordered Merwin to break against the wind and headed to the recovery camps outside. I worried about Tyrion. I am glad he is alive, but he did not come right after his battle. It was not like him.
I felt like I did not know what I was doing. The fact that I have welcomed an enemy within close proximity goes against all the morals I had. But, his voice told no lies, he did know something I didn't. I never had to worry about any of the small details, but due to the lack of that knowledge, it left me to lose Ryanna.
Emperor Kenji.
I griped at the fact he was now in possession of her. I bypassed what Leo had said, because I knew that the raw nature of man consisted of dangers to a woman. I tortured myself with the patience she demanded, but I was not certain another would do the same.
I arrived at the medic pavillion and was relieved that there were not many injured or deceased. I gave Merwin's reigns to a nearby soldier who happily assisted.
Then a pang of hurt hit me. That was Keneff's job.
I gritted my teeth the stronger those emotions came to be. I pillaged a kingdom because I lost Keneff and Ryanna. In the end, I couldn't save both. I was a failure. I was supposed to protect them!
I opened the tent that Tyrion was supposedly in. I saw that he was sitting down facing away from me. I heard himself trying to recollect as he heard me walk in.
I could tell this man has been crying. His sobs seemed tired but relentless. I took a step further and he turned around. What I witnessed broke my heart.
"Karma," I said in a mournful whisper.
"They killed her," he looked up at me with such sorrowful eyes.
I felt another piercing of hurt surge through my heart. I knew that Karma was not just a bird to Tyrion. She was his best friend, his companion.
"I'm sorry Tyrion," was all I could offer.
"I know she was old," he croaked, "But I didn't want her to go out like this."
"I'm sorry," I repeated.
"This is all because of you!" he cursed.
"What?" I was confused.
"You don't get it!" he began to break down, "I lost her because of your stupidity!"
"Watch your tone with me," I warned.
"You react based on your rageful emotions. This always had been your problem," he went on, "This has gone too far! All for her?"
"Tyrion stand down," I ordered, "You are in no position to talk to me like that."
"Karma is dead!" he caressed her lifeless corpse.
I looked over to see a hole in her chest, clearly from a bullet.
"She saved you..." I said in a low voice.
"She's dead Lord Dom!" he repeated.
"As much as you're going to hate hearing this, but I believe Karma saved you. She knew what she was going to sacrifice," I tried to explain.
"No!" Tyrion refused, "She didn't have to if none of this happened."
"But it did, and she accepted her fate," I felt on edge.
"You don't understand, you'll never understand," he wiped his tears away, "You only see what concerns you."
"I don't," I assured him, "I-"
"You're going to want to keep fighting and head to kill the king right?" he did not hesitate, "Without looking at the injured or the fallen.
I stood there and looked at him.
"Everyday, there are lives that are taken. From the enemy, and themselves. But, for our own leader to not assess a person as a person and not a number."
"You think I don't care?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing, "Everything I do is for the people."
"That's what it used to be!" he spat, "Now, it's like the ultimate goose chase for Ryanna."
"I was gaining vengeance for Keneff as well, or have you forgotten?" I growled.
"But you won't stop," he looked away, "You killed the three knights that burned him, but you want to go after the king."
Because he won't stop. This wasn't just about Ryanna, he was hurting his own people.
"We will recede back to our borders, you are allowed your greivances against me. But, after you mourn and celebrate Karma's new life. For now, your duties are relieved," I turned away.
"What?!" he stood up, "What do you mean I am relieved?"
"It's temperary," I assured once more, "You have every right to mourn."
"I am your right hand war chief!" he reminded me.
"Yes," I agreed, "You're also a war chief in mourning."
Tyrion stood there frozen, unable to say anything further.
"I know I may have not said the right words you were expecting, and I may have made a mistake that cost us our future war plans... but don't you ever think I don't care," I looked back at him, "This is my choice to save her now, I won't be using any of our forces."
"Are you insane?" he retorted, "You'll never be able to take down the Royal Government and the king by yourself!"
"Who said I was doing it alone?" I asked.
"Even if so," Tyrion said in a lower voice, "You're going to need me."
"If I died on the battlefield you will fullfill your duties as my second hand in command," I began to exit, "For now, I bear the losses on my own today."
I had to leave. There was no getting to him at that moment. As much as he accused me of my emotions he clearly failed to see his. He was hurt and it wasn't something I would understand. I never viewed any of my soldiers as numbers, and the militia was completely voluntary.
Those words...
They reminded me of his trauma. When I had first met Tyrion. He was a part of the royal governments knights and he never understood my leadership when taking him under my wing. He was older than I was, but he never knew outside of being a number.
I could remember when he tried to hide karma from me, thinking that I would execute her. When I did, I saw that fearful look on his face and he did not need to say any words, but his eyes begged me not to harm her. When I didn't and encouraged him to take care of her, something in his heart changed. He opened up about wanting to study alchemy and medicine.
Tyrion joined me through expeditions, whether travel or war, he found every opportunity to learn about nature's blessings. But, tonight... I didn't see the soul of the man I took under my wing, it was like looking through a hollowed shell. I knew Karma the crow meant a lot to him, and I wanted to give him time to heal.
It just hurt me when he sprung up as he remembered he still had his duties as my right hand. I didn't want him to worry about the wars. I don't believe I said the right words, because his responses remained harsh. But, I walked away, rather than resorting to violence.
This was something Ryanna taught me.
Patience... even if there is no understanding.
I was headed to my designated tent where I then saw a tied up Leo.
"So they caught you after all," I chuckled.
"They didn't know about the coin!" he gently hissed.
"It's hard to gather everyone and announce a pass from a mere coin. I was dealing with something, I may have forgotten that step," I walked to him and cut his ties loose.
The soldier said no words, but left without any ill intent. Leo stood and dusted himself off.
He handed me the coin back, "They could have at least offered to put me inside the tent. It's pouring rain!"
Indeed it was, but the way he said it was humorous.
"Come on in," I opened the tent, "I recommend that you don't leave unless I do."
"Yes Lord Dom," he thanked me and entered.
He sat down on a chair nearby and a medic came into the tent.
"Do you have any wounds that need attention?" he asked.
"I think I am just going to be sore from exhaustion, but nothing serious," I dismissed him.
"Yes my Lord," he backed away and exited.
"What about me?" Leo asked.
"You didn't even lift your sword, you'll be fine," I scoffed.
"Oh yeah, right!" he chuckled.
"It's night fall, and there are a lot of things to discuss tomorrow, so get some shut eye," I turned and pulled my sheets over my face, but I knew... I couldn't sleep.
- Writer
