55 Orders to Kill (2/2)

Then I looked behind me, and the awe I felt for the Darah army was quickly replaced by a foreboding sense of fear.

Far away but not far enough that we couldn't see the symbols on their flags was the Magesong army. A large grey mass of soldiers and machines of war that seemed untouched by yesterday's battle.

The chills I experienced when first looking upon the Darah army were running down my back at the fearsome sight of what seemed to be a hundred thousand enemies.

”You looked frightened, Dapper,” a commanding female voice whispered in my ear.

I turned around to find that Great General Darah was standing behind me. Standing on opposite sides of her were newly minted General Thors and my masked lieutenant, Aura.

A loud raucous cheering rang out from the soldiers on our side as Darah appeared standing before them. Just the sight of her was enough to raise their morale.

I couldn't blame them. I too felt a stirring in me while I stood under the shadow of the golden general in her golden armor. Her midnight blue cape fluttered in the wind that also carried away the scent of fresh summer flowers from her body.

Darah raised a hand in greeting that was also meant to silence the crowd. After they finally quieted down, she turned her attention back on me.

”See that, Dapper,” she crossed her arms over her chest. ”That's how a real commander can affect her troops.”

”General... Maybe you can school the boy some other time,” Thors interjected. ”We should give him his mission now.”

”My... mission?” I asked curiously.

It was the first time I'd heard of it. The last briefing had me and the Foolhardies fold into the infantry of Thors center army where the fighting was fiercest. General Thors even sent some of his militia to bolster my unit back to full strength. Although we would remain independent of their command structure and answer only to Darah herself.

”You're always ruining the mood, Roger,” she rolled her eyes at him before sending her piercing gaze back to me. ”Alright, Dapper. Your recent success hasn't gone unnoticed. I want you to keep doing what you do best.”

Darah nodded toward the Magesong army before us.

”The Magesong army has greater numbers, but so far, we've made up the difference with quality. That doesn't mean they're not without capable leaders of their own,” Darah gazed back at the forces that made up her central army. ”Still, it wouldn't hurt to lower their capabilities some more.”

Darah placed a heavy yet delicate hand on my shoulder like she was adding onto the troubles I was already carrying on my back, which was most likely the case.

”I want you to hunt enemy officers in their center army,” she said.

My brow creased because this was a very tall order. Sure, enemy commanders were usually easy to spot. Most of us had a thing for peacocking. But it wasn't like any of them wouldn't be heavily guarded by their troops. Especially the higher ranking ones. Luckily, Darah didn't mean I was going after a general.

'Start small. Go for the hundred-man commanders like you then work your way up to five-hundred man commanders,” she instructed while squeezing on my shoulder. ”Don't go risking your neck against the thousand-man commanders unless you're absolutely confident in your victory.”

She glanced at her niece before circling back to me. Of course, she was worried about Aura's safety too.

”Do you understand your mission, One-Hundred Man Commander?” Darah asked.

”Um, what about the sacrifices, boss?” I asked worriedly. ”Wouldn't hunting officers mean...”

I couldn't finish that sentence because I didn't want to think that Darah was that cruel. This was war, sure, but there had to be boundaries we couldn't cross.

”Lieutenant Aura, tell your commander what you saw in the healing camp,” Darah ordered.

Aura stepped forward, and even hooded and masked, I couldn't help but think of how beautiful she was. She wore the elven magician's robe she bought in the auction, the sleeveless one with the metal neck guard and shoulder piece crafted in autumn leaf designs.

”There's been a breakthrough,” there was a smile playing on Aura's lips as she answered my question. ”and it was actually due to your foolhardiness last night, Commander.”

”Um, thanks?” I said, unsure if I was getting complimented or not.

”When you helped strengthen the twins' new oath to cancel out the backlash of breaking their old one... a similar process was introduced to the children's curse. Berrian and the other healers couldn't just simply break the curse. They had to overwrite it with a stronger spell,” Aura explained.

”A contract...” I realized.

Of course. The sacrifice curse placed on the children worked similar to a contract already in the way it traded lifeforce from one life to another. Introducing a new contract to overwrite the binds of the first worked with the twins so why wouldn't it work for the kids.

Aura nodded appreciatively. ”Yes. There were some complications but the healers were able to deal with them and save the children... I'll fill you in more later.”

”Cool,” I said.

I was glad something good had come out of my reckless actions. Well, there were a few things to consider, like what type of contract could overwrite such a powerful curse, but I didn't think Berrian was someone who could cast anything too sinister. He struck me as a good soul which was rare in the Fayne.

Darah stepped in front of her niece so we were once more faced to face.

”Now that we're sure you won't hurt anyone you aren't supposed to, Dapper, I expect a few enemy officer heads to roll before night's end,” she ordered. ”Go and earn yourself some glory.”

A smile slowly grew on my face. It was about time for the Foolhardies' name to resound across the heavens. So, it was with great enthusiasm that I answered her call, ”Yes, ma'am.”