Kapitel 28: Ch. 28: Making Camp
"Kovin, how do you think we could claim an alliance with Silvantia?" I asked. Maybe throwing a few questions and ideas out would help.
Kovin rode up alongside my left, "I do not know. Even Prince Baymun was unsure before heading out to this territory. He specifically wanted to stop by the palace library to read up more on Silvantia, however his plans were interrupted by that ludicrous assassination attempt."
Not caring in the least that Baymun had nearly died, I bit my lip in frustration, "Thanks anyway."
"If lady Ezran would allow lowly Rodair to speak, Rodair may have some useful information." The tall dark adonis was walking at my right (riding a horse would be odd with his height) now in peak health. Apparently his Gorvantian bloodline allowed all the previous wounds to heal quickly causing him to be a formidable foe once more. Luckily, he was on our side now.
"Of course you can speak Rodair, you don't have to ask." I responded exasperatingly. He had been doing this 'lowly' and 'lady' crap since we left Gorvant - I didn't like him acting like a servant to me. We were equals; so what if he felt he owed me a life-debt?
"Gorvant is near Silvantia and has had some dealings with Silvantia's kind. Silvantia is very sneaky and conniving - not like Gorvant. If an army tries to go through, Silvantia will easily ambush the enemy and force them off the cliffs. Any soldiers left standing will have the heads placed on spikes to line Silvantia's border. But Rodair has heard that Silvantia likes to allow a particular trial for enemies that do not wish to fight; that is how some territories have been able to cross. If the opposing territory proves worthy, that territory will be allowed to come and go as they please. If the territory is unworthy, Silvantia will brutally kill as many of the army forces as possible." Rodair looked up at me, "Perhaps lady Ezran can send a messenger to inquire of this trial?"
'A trial huh?' I nodded my head in approval. "What type of trial is this?"
Shaking his head, Rodair seemed disappointed, "Sadly, this lowly Rodair does not know."
Well, sending a messenger out couldn't hurt I guess. Unless they kill the messenger . . . "Viktor!" I ordered.
Viktor came riding up to the front lines, "Yes my Champion?" He was still a little unwilling to actually look my way however he was beginning to acknowledge my authority. It seemed as though there were still some prejudice against my gender.
I smugly smiled. If anyone were to gain access to the Silvantia leaders it would be Viktor - but if he were to die it wouldn't be a total loss. "Ride ahead and request an audience - I want to find out more about this trial allowing territories to move through freely. Come back when you are successful and I will meet with them. And do be careful; the Silvantians are rather sneaky."
As Viktor rode off, Kovin and I ordered the soldiers to make camp. Night was falling soon and we were not too far away from the Silvantia border so it would make sense to take a rest. If we had to do battle, the troops would need all their strength to defeat such a conniving enemy.
"Whew, I'm pooped. Ez this battle life is not for us . . . why are we out here again?" Richie came in the quickly prepared tent while I tried washing off my face a little. Since we were close to the ocean, the grime from the sandy cliffs had dug into my skin making it itch.
"Rich, how many times do I have to tell you it's about the long-term? I'm not bailing just because you don't like riding for so many hours at a time. Besides, aren't you happy to be seeing new lands?"
Richie rolled his baby-blues, "Hah, what land? Gorvant may have been okay, but this place is so dirty. I mean, the ocean is absolutely stunning - no way we would have seen that back home, but it's just not worth all this walking." Richie stomped over to a stool and sprawled out, "I'm exhausted!"
"Lazy." I mumbled, continuing to wash my face. Richie didn't even retort back, he just closed his eyes and rested for a little bit.
Deciding not to bother him and have to listen to more complaints, I walked out of the tent to take a stroll around the camp. It could be a little while before Viktor made it back. However as soon as I stepped out, Rodair's massive form was there to greet me.
"Greetings Ezran. This lady looks refreshed." Rodair's beautiful blue eyes looked down at me, causing me to reach a hand up to my wet face.
"Yeah, just splashed myself with some water. Were you waiting out here for me?" I asked.
"Wherever this lady goes, Rodair will follow."
I pinched the bridge of my nose and sighed. I didn't like having him follow me like a pet, but I was just too tired of having to repeat myself when he never listened to me anyway. So instead I let him follow. We walked around the camp so that I could get a feel of the men's morale. A few of the soldiers looked up from whatever activity they were doing and would nod in respect, especially since Rodair was right behind me like a massive shadow guard.
As we kept walking, we came to a rather rambunctious group of men who were busy playing some knife throwing game led by the notorious Toval. Toval was a well respected soldier who had been serving the Empire for nearly fifteen years . . . and he hated my guts. Since I became the new Champion, Toval was the main voice of complaint. Oh sure he kept his mouth shut when Kovin was around, but any time it was just me, Toval would start in with how pathetic a woman was and how the army shouldn't have me here.
Toval saw me come over and sneered in disgust, "Oh look who it is? High Champion Ezran, to what do we owe the honor of your presence?" Toval stood up and spit on the ground, "Seems like since she obtained a lackey, Ezran believes she can just gain the respect of the whole army." He looked into my eyes with scorn, "You do realize that fighting in a war is much different than single-combat, right? Ah, but a breeder like you wouldn't know anything about that - why don't you just go home and pop out some sons to assist the war, huh?"
I rolled my eyes and was about to walk away . . . when I forgot about Rodair. Rodair stomped forward, interrupting the soldiers' game as he towered in front of Toval, "Rodair does not know who this detestable man is, but this man better take back what was said to lady Ezran."
Toval may have been a head shorter than Rodair, but he was stocky and fearless. Toval looked up at Rodair with contempt and rudely said, "And if I don't?"
Rodair was about to reach for his axe, when I called out, "Rodair, that's enough." Turning to Toval I said, "You may not like me, but it was YOUR Prince that made me your Champion. So if I were you Toval, I would watch what I say. Baymun only ordered me to lead this army and not kill off his men - he didn't say anything about allowing someone to rip you apart limb from limb leaving you as nothing but a maimed torso unfit for battle."
Toval's amber eyes drew into slits, "Nice threat woman. I'll watch what I say, but do know that a woman will NEVER be a good leader. Just food for thought."
I could tell that Rodair wanted to smash his skull in, but I gestured for him to come with me. What Rodair didn't understand was that killing Toval would do more harm than good - he held a lot of favor within the ranks. If I were to kill him the soldiers would hate me even more. Somehow, I had to earn Toval's trust - if I were able to convince him that a woman was more than a tool for breeding and COULD lead, then the rest of the men would follow suit. And actually from what I'd seen, Toval wasn't all bad. He deeply cared about his fellow soldiers lives and was a really great fighter - he just had some messed up views on women. It wasn't HIS fault he was raised to believe women were tools.
As we were walking away, Rodair turned to me, "Rodair does not like that man. Lady Ezran is one of the best persons Rodair has ever met - not a simple breeder."
Chuckling at his last words, I couldn't help but think that Rodair hit it right on the money. 'He just doesn't realize how right he is.'
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein