39 The Outsider (2/2)

Somehow, I wasn't convinced as I felt no sincerity in the way he called me boss.

”Now we can march without worrying about leaving you behind,” Aura explained happily. ”So... shall we get to training? There's a war to prepare for.”

Aura's enthusiasm didn't spread to the rest of us. The depressing atmosphere was even more apparent with the rest of the unit who had all heard about the threat heading our way. Qwipps, in particular, was shameless in his whining.

”That's what I get for fighting alongside a human... death and more death,” he sighed.

Thom, who was standing beside him, tried comforting him with, ”Well, if we are overwhelmed by the enemy, chances are they'll want to kill our commander first,” he winked at me as he said this, ”so you'll have time to flee while they dismember him limb from limb, Daggerby.”

Qwipps seemed to brighten up at this thought which annoyed Varda who had been standing in front of them. She punched him in the gut for earning her displeasure.

”Sorry, Commander,” Varda said brightly when she glanced back at me. ”I'll whip this lousy pixie into shape for you.”

Seeing Qwipps double over in pain caused by the punch of someone a third his size was a happy memory for me, almost as much as my time with my friends back on Mudgard. In fact, it was the memory I chose to replay in my mind's eye while I stood at attention behind Commander thors outside the Patriarch's Hall five days later.

Thors, who was standing behind Great General Varda like he usually did, glanced back at me so we could continue our conversation from the extremely long centaur ride back to the seat of the Trickster Pavilion's power, The city of Shärleden, well hidden in the foothills of the Bloodsword Mountain.

”So they forgave you after you told them the truth?” he asked.

I beamed at him. ”Yeah... it was as easy as you said it would be.”

Thors and I traded side slaps from behind Darah who was irked by having to wait outside the great hall. She had to be announced first before she could go in, and this was taking a while.

Darah looked over to me and Thors.

”You two are getting too chummy,” she reproached us. ”Dean, fix your collar.”

I fixed the collar of my sleeveless leather coat. Underneath it, I wore a new steel chainmail shirt. It gleamed with a blue steel tone that matched the electrum breastplate over my chest.

”Sorry, ma'am,” I said without adding in any honorifics.

In the last two months of training directly under her, I'd learned to be less formal with the great general who always seemed to enjoy making me work harder than most. She explained it was to help me grow into a fine leader but I think a part of her just liked watching me suffer.

”See, Roger?” she gave him an incensed look. ”Give the boy a carrot and it's like he's forgotten the feel of the whip... whatever shall I do with such a cheeky subordinate?”

”Didn't you bring me along to spy on your rivals for you?” I reminded her.

Darah glanced sideways to ensure none of the elven attendants were listening in on us. Once she was certain everyone was minding their own business—as if anyone had the courage to spy on such a dominating presence like hers—she gestured for me to come closer with her hand.

”You aren't here to spy, you're here to observe, Dean,” Darah explained. ”I want you to see first hand the wall you seek to smash through in your insistence to assist my niece.”

”Wait... are you saying that there are people here who don't want us to succeed?” I asked.

It made sense if the Fayne was anything like Mudgard's politics where everything and anyone was up for sale. But I thought better of fairies. Stupid me.

Darah nodded. ”The allure of power can be very tempting... very dangerous for those unfit to wield it. This will be your opportunity to watch and listen.”

Darah placed her hands on her hips.

”If you learn to use your brain for more than your usual witlessness then perhaps you'll even learn something,” she laughed. ”What do you think, Roger?”

Commander Thors glanced over to the wooden double doors with their geometric leaf patterns. ”He'll have his work cut out for him. There are a lot of tricksters behind those doors.”

”Indeed,” Darah instinctively wrapped her hand around her golden sword hilt. She spared me one final glance. ”Remember, Dean. To many of the fools inside this hall, you are an outsider. They will not care that you are present. This gives you power over them. Use it wisely.”

I nodded thoughtfully. Darah was giving me a chance to catch a glimpse at the internal politics of the clan I served. I wouldn't let it go to waste.

”It's time,” Thors said, nodding over to the attendant who was gazing nervously at the she-elf Great General.

The massive oak double doors swung outward slowly, and the hall within came into view.

”Marshall of the East, Great General Darah, enters,” the attendant announced.