Two Masters (epic progression fantasy)

Chapter 29 : Know Thy Enemy as Thyself

Omrai looked back to Captain Nock, "Organize the wagons. Send a relief team to help the survivors. Send saurians and ropes. Try to pull what men we can from the areas affected without getting stuck also."

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He approached his tent's entrance which flapped in the breeze and looked out at the camp. It was far more disorderly than he'd trained his men to be. But that was understandable. The wounded and weak were everywhere. Soldiers wandered, hoping to find lost friends. Some did, shouting for joy. Many didn't. Tears were not uncommon. So many gone the way of the earth.

"Sir?"

Omrai let out a slow breath. It was one interruption after another today. He turned around to see Kaiato standing there, firm in a military stance.

"What is it?" Omrai said.

"If I may ask, what happened?"

Omrai frowned. "We lost. Jebuthar was too strong."

"Was he there?"

Omrai nodded.

Now it was Kaiato's turn to frown.

"Permission to speak freely, sir?"

Omrai nodded again.

"You should have brought me with you. If I had been there, I could have shot him."

"Would you have?"

"I have no love for Jebuthar."

"That would be the perfect time to learn that you were sent to assassinate me."

Kaiato straightened his shoulders and his frown turned into a glare. "I am a man of my word."

Omrai took a breath. "Continue to serve me well, and you may earn my trust."

"I could have killed him," Kaiato said. "War over."

"You are dismissed," Omrai said. "Go back to the smithy."

Kaiato gave a deep bow and left.

Omrai watched him go. Yet another mystery to solve. Omrai felt a spike of guilt and shame. Confused, he thought on himself, then realized it wasn't his own. He looked around.

Revin sat on a log, touching the small stego he'd mastered earlier. He slouched. His eyes were red, puffy, encircled by dark, sunken skin. His body frozen except for the one hand resting on the young stego's nose. He still bore the copper-brown residue of blood on his skin and clothes.

Much had gone wrong today. But Omrai had been able to quickly order a retreat because of Revin's connection with the saurians. Many lives were saved from those minutes gained. It was only Revin's first battle, everyone struggled with that.

But Revin looked like he didn't want to see any more.

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Revin touched his stego's head. He'd named it Avey. He didn't know why, it just sounded appropriate. He scratched the spot Avey liked, right above his ears. They were much more like turtle's ears than any other creature Revin had seen. These beasts were strange.

They also felt so much emotion. He remembered the agony of their wounds, the intensity of their pain. He winced at the memories and took a steadying breath to fight back the tears. His connection was down to a few gallimais and Avey. Other gallimais he'd once controlled had returned, but his connection was gone.

"Revin," Omrai's voice said behind him. Revin looked over his shoulder.

Omrai approached. He loomed tall, even among his soldiers. He gave Revin a comforting smile. How could he look calm after what had just happened?