Chapter 1095 (1/2)

Zauna tiredly rolled her shoulders as they continued to wait for the Ghosthound to return from the armory. As her joint lightly popped as she worked through the kink, she considered the people that were gathered around them. She could tell from Salazar’s stance that the snake-man was nervous, but Zauna could do little for him.

At the very least, most of the mocking commentary from the guards of the armory was only directed toward Zagnal. For his part, Zagnal had done well enough enduring the constant mocking, but it was clear that the more that he was mocked for being a subordinate to an image, the more Zagnal forgot what mission he had been clearly given by Queen Iellaya and grew to resent the trio for putting him in a situation like this.

Something to watch out for, Zauna’s eyes glowed quietly.

After all, in his eyes, it was the Ghosthound’s fault that he was being sent on a mission that he would likely not return from. It was one thing to wait for Queen Iellaya to save your people while alive. It was quite another to die in her service and hope she kept her word after you were gone.

Zauna surprised herself with a long sigh as she confronted the likely truth that she would die soon. Despite the fact that she had been long waiting for the chance to die and be liberated from this binding, now that there was a concrete chance that would happen… her heart seemed to have lost its way.

A chance? Zauna shook her head ruefully. Even I am infected by the Ghosthound’s madness. Even if Yggdrasil can heal us if we make it back to camp, it is no help to us out in the Great Rift. Even if the Ghosthound is powerful… on this mission, we can not escape our fate. This mission is strategically necessary, but all know the result for those sent on it. We will die without a doubt.

Again, Zauna sighed at the heavy word ‘die’. But this time she didn’t question her instinctual reaction. A bone-deep weariness that stemmed from her own emotional confusion and the weight of the geas she bore was enough of an excuse for the sigh. She simply accepted that as the truth and allowed time to pass.

The small distraction of the guards teasing Zagnal was eventually cut off by the return of the two figures around the fire that Randidly went to talk to before proceeding into the armory. They had been gone and then suddenly they were at the fire, playing with smoke. Within a minute, the guards scattered like pidgeons fluttering out of the way of a car to head toward more hidden parts of the camp.

Zagnal sagged like a deflated balloon after they left, displaying clearly the weakness that had been picked bloody by these scavengers. Rather than standing, he sat on the ground and looked at the dirt. Licking his lips, Salazar stepped forward, probably to try and comfort the man, but Zauna surprised herself by moving to touch Salazar’s shoulder.

She shook her head strongly; nothing good would come from trying to talk to Zagnal right now. He was a rusted blade that would be turned on anyone who approached him. Trouble enough that they would need to stay with him for their extremely long duration in the Great Rift. No need to antagonize him now.

Zauna knew only generally that the Aether Key they would be given would last quite some time, but she didn’t know the specific amount. But either way, keeping relations civil know would stave off the inevitable. After all, Randidly Ghosthound was not a gentle leader. Zauna had no doubt tensions would be high during the mission.

Despite Salazar’s rather vapid expression, Zauna knew that the snake-man was quite perceptive. Seeing her reaching for him, Salazar sighed and nodded nervously, then moved back toward the largest of the tents. Zauna watched him go with mild eyes.

If he hadn’t been so perceptive, he wouldn’t so perfectly needle the Ghosthound whenever the Ghosthound’s mood became particularly dark. Perhaps even more important to Zauna, his actions were also a demonstration that Salazar had an empathetic and kind heart.

The kind that usually gets you killed in the army, Zauna thought moodily as she returned to her silent vigil outside the armory.

The sky above them began to darken. The shadows flowing down from the high walls of the valley swiftly engulfed them. Zauna clicked her teeth together. They hadn’t specifically been given a time limit for the trip to the armory, but it had almost been three hours… and it was pretty clear that Lord Miln expected them to begin the mission today.

Would he come to fetch them after a while? Only time would tell.

Zauna couldn’t help herself, she chuckled, earning herself a sharp look from the morose Zagnal. But it truly was funny. Although they were being sent to their deaths, obviously Lord Miln didn’t want to directly kill them himself. Otherwise, he wouldn’t bother with the fiction of the mission. So he could reprimand them for delaying and give them a punishment, but that punishment wouldn’t actually occur until they returned from there mission.

Honestly then, there was no reason to rush. Perhaps the Ghosthound was leisurely proceeding below with his training. He was just reckless and masochistic enough to think of something like that even with a death sentence looming above his head. Therefore, Zauna settled in to wait.

At about the six-hour mark since the Ghosthound had gone into the armory, Zagnal finally could stand it no longer.

“Hey! You two.” Zagnal said as he walked toward the two figures tending the fire. “Has he… when is Randidly Ghosthound going to be finished with his selection.”

A cold wind whispered through the camp. The subtle background noises of the other guards attending their business suddenly became obvious as they suddenly ceased completely. Within that moment, Zauna saw all the guards turn and look at Zagnal with a pleading look in their eyes. But she also saw in their expression the truth that it was already too late. The damage had been done. They dreaded would result from this thoughtless shout across the camp after the visitors departed.

Inwardly, Zauna checked her reaction. Had her geass recognized Zagnal as an ally of the Ghosthound that she was required to protect?

No, came the rather malicious answer. Nothing compelled her to move and draw the attention of these powerful individuals. Zagnal’s punishment would be his own. So for several seconds she simply watched Zagnal’s arrogant way of walking toward the fire. He opened his mouth again. “Can you not hear me? I asked you-”