Command Tent

[swammeyjoe]

"Good, I hope you return, Achillios, you a good man, truly."

[Sam]

Achillios bowed respectfully and turned to go find his men.

[barker520]

Cahrin and the Noth'Kol, after handing over their weapons, were admitted into Admiral Arerya Taor's command tent.

[swammeyjoe]

"Cahrin, it is good to see you, I have yet to get word of Achillios."

[barker520]

Cahrin saluted, and introduced the Noth'Kol generals. "They have pledged their complete support to our cause, lending us many good men. They have also promised to give us food and supplies to feed our army if our own supplies run low while we are in the region," Cahrin told the Admiral, who listened impassively. Cahrin would wait to inform him that he had promised the Grand Council Chairman half of the Noth'Kol army's plunder; he did not think the generals around him would take kindly to that information.

[swammeyjoe]

Arerya nods, showing little emotion, "Very good Cahrin, may I speak to you in private."

[barker520]

"Yes, Admiral." Cahrin gave directions to the guards outside the tent for their allied generals to be shown to their tents, and bowed low to each of them before they were dismissed.

[swammeyjoe]

Arerya's face darkens, "I have word of Achillios, he is dead. I didn't want to surpirse you in front of the generals. On the morrow, we march for Kalior."

[barker520]

Cahrin's face flinched, as if he had suddenly been punched by some unseen force. Dead? My closest friend... he was like a brother to me. Even closer, if that were possible. Cahrin shook his head in disbelief, too proud to start sobbing in front of Taor. His mind went back to the days when the two of them were not yet ten years old, causing mischief in the market, begging the fat wine seller to give them a cup. His jaw clamped tight when he spoke. "We will kill them all, Admiral? We will avenge Achillios, yes?" he asked softly, but with anger in his voice.

[swammeyjoe]

Arerya gives Cahrin a simple nod, "The city will fall, my friend, and I need a good man, a man such as yourself, to lead the ground assualt while I engage their navy.

[barker520]

Strangely, Cahrin's mind began envisioning the assault and pushed his thoughts of Achillios out of his mind for now. There would be time for grieving later. "I will not fail you, Admiral. Will we be marching soon? If so, I will dismiss myself and rouse the camp."

[swammeyjoe]

"Yes, ready the army, and make sure your reinforcements are ready for battle."

[barker520]

"As you wish," Cahrin replied, bowing stiffly before leaving the tent. His mind was reeling with different thoughts and emotions, a hundred different memories coming and going in a matter of seconds.

[swammeyjoe]

Arerya began looking through papers, shuffling through them merely to have something to do. He had to keep focused, keep your heart out of this, you have a war to win.