A'trus studied Kahn'a and his expressions, something between a feral snarl and a hateful display. A wounded beast ready to spit but held in check by some.shreds of civilization. Â A'trus snorted and sucked in air through his nose as he made a slow tsk, tsk, tsk.
"Your animalistic fury and indulgences of silence aren't going to help you or your comrades in the end, Od'hilkas. It only adds fuel to the fire of your guilt. I pray that a deep sleep restores the rational side of your mind and you will save yourself from the chasim your Captain has dug you and the rest of your unit. I'm just a fellow officer, Od'hilkas. Its you and your actions that made us enemies."Â
A'trus looked at the man holding Kahn'a on his feet and nodded. The man nodded back before he hefted his club and swung it down violently onto the back of Kahn'a's skull in a act to send the Keeper into the land of sleep. A'trus turned as he heard the crack of wood against Kahn'a's skull and waved his hand at the healer. The figure in white moved forward as ordered and began the process of restoring Kahn'a's wounded leg.Â
"Kapapapa." A'trus said, looking up at the airship hovering overhead. A high pitched voice spoke as the lalafell pilot eagerly answered.
"Sir, excellent shooting as always. How can I assist you?"Â
A'trus chuckled at the male's exuberance.
"Tell your spotter crew excellent work. I want you to lower a lift for our target and then fly him to our cells in the desert. Our orders were to keep the Red Wings secure outside the city and away from any sympathizers within our ranks. And you are to inform Kresha to pull out any information from Od'hilkas she can by her means."
"I understand sir." Kapapapa answered, his voice slightly darkened by the mention of Kresha and her means of extracting information. A'trus then turned and watched as the healer let the aether flow into Kahn'a's wound. A'trus stood and then llifted his hand to his ear and pressed his pearl.
"Sergeant Rungee, what is your status?"
"I'm banged up." Rungee was slow to reply and A'trus felt his stomach knot as his sergeant continued. "But the twins are dead. Both if them. Whatever that device was, was the work of the hells. Metal marbels shot out from the explosion that went off. Shredded Burnt Rock. As for Burnt Tree, the healers tried. But the merciful thing was for me to just drive my knife into his heart."
A'trus paused and had difficulty swallowing. He out a trembling hand to his mouth and pinched his checks to stiffle the tear that tried to run down his face. He maintained his composure after a few moments of concentration and when he answered, all emotion was gone from his voice.
"Get their remains to the Hall. Have the honors prepared. I'll write their letters of service and death to their mother myself."
"You sure sir?" Rungee asked, knowing his commanding officer well enough to know really how much this bothered him.
"Aye. They were my responsibility. I will do it. As always. Get the rest of the unit home Ringer, I'm headed back to make my report.
A'trus pulled his hand away from his ear and looked back at Kahn'a. The healer was almost done with the leg and the airship had lowered a net for Kahn'a to be loaded into so he could be flown to the cells A'trus unit maintained outside the city walls. The soldier who had bound Kahn'a saluted A'trus, indicating he would accompany Kahn'a all the way. A'trus returned the salute and then removed the link pearl from his ear as he slowly began walking towards his office in Flame Hall. It was a long walk and once A'trus made in silence.
He was responsible for the death of two of his men that night. His orders, his plan. Losing soldiers never got easier, and A'trus had lost his fair share over the years. The officer managed to get to his office, lock the door, and sit in his chair before he put his head in his hands and cried.
Weakness was for behind closed doors, not in front if his soldiers. And when A'trus walked out if his office several bells later, he did so with his report, letters of apology to the mother of the twins and a burning desire to bring the remaining Red Wings in to face the justice they deserved.
"Your animalistic fury and indulgences of silence aren't going to help you or your comrades in the end, Od'hilkas. It only adds fuel to the fire of your guilt. I pray that a deep sleep restores the rational side of your mind and you will save yourself from the chasim your Captain has dug you and the rest of your unit. I'm just a fellow officer, Od'hilkas. Its you and your actions that made us enemies."Â
A'trus looked at the man holding Kahn'a on his feet and nodded. The man nodded back before he hefted his club and swung it down violently onto the back of Kahn'a's skull in a act to send the Keeper into the land of sleep. A'trus turned as he heard the crack of wood against Kahn'a's skull and waved his hand at the healer. The figure in white moved forward as ordered and began the process of restoring Kahn'a's wounded leg.Â
"Kapapapa." A'trus said, looking up at the airship hovering overhead. A high pitched voice spoke as the lalafell pilot eagerly answered.
"Sir, excellent shooting as always. How can I assist you?"Â
A'trus chuckled at the male's exuberance.
"Tell your spotter crew excellent work. I want you to lower a lift for our target and then fly him to our cells in the desert. Our orders were to keep the Red Wings secure outside the city and away from any sympathizers within our ranks. And you are to inform Kresha to pull out any information from Od'hilkas she can by her means."
"I understand sir." Kapapapa answered, his voice slightly darkened by the mention of Kresha and her means of extracting information. A'trus then turned and watched as the healer let the aether flow into Kahn'a's wound. A'trus stood and then llifted his hand to his ear and pressed his pearl.
"Sergeant Rungee, what is your status?"
"I'm banged up." Rungee was slow to reply and A'trus felt his stomach knot as his sergeant continued. "But the twins are dead. Both if them. Whatever that device was, was the work of the hells. Metal marbels shot out from the explosion that went off. Shredded Burnt Rock. As for Burnt Tree, the healers tried. But the merciful thing was for me to just drive my knife into his heart."
A'trus paused and had difficulty swallowing. He out a trembling hand to his mouth and pinched his checks to stiffle the tear that tried to run down his face. He maintained his composure after a few moments of concentration and when he answered, all emotion was gone from his voice.
"Get their remains to the Hall. Have the honors prepared. I'll write their letters of service and death to their mother myself."
"You sure sir?" Rungee asked, knowing his commanding officer well enough to know really how much this bothered him.
"Aye. They were my responsibility. I will do it. As always. Get the rest of the unit home Ringer, I'm headed back to make my report.
A'trus pulled his hand away from his ear and looked back at Kahn'a. The healer was almost done with the leg and the airship had lowered a net for Kahn'a to be loaded into so he could be flown to the cells A'trus unit maintained outside the city walls. The soldier who had bound Kahn'a saluted A'trus, indicating he would accompany Kahn'a all the way. A'trus returned the salute and then removed the link pearl from his ear as he slowly began walking towards his office in Flame Hall. It was a long walk and once A'trus made in silence.
He was responsible for the death of two of his men that night. His orders, his plan. Losing soldiers never got easier, and A'trus had lost his fair share over the years. The officer managed to get to his office, lock the door, and sit in his chair before he put his head in his hands and cried.
Weakness was for behind closed doors, not in front if his soldiers. And when A'trus walked out if his office several bells later, he did so with his report, letters of apology to the mother of the twins and a burning desire to bring the remaining Red Wings in to face the justice they deserved.
