Page 105 of Oath of War
‘I heard another group’s been spotted heading towards us,’ Annika said, slipping into the tent. I was on my feet and embracing her before the flap fell closed, breathing in her scent and calming my worries.
She sighed, but her small smile eased the knot in my chest. She gently tapped her finger on my leather armour. ‘Are you guarding yourself against me, Commander?’ she asked.
I groaned, bending down to capture her lips. ‘Never, but my soldiers might not appreciate their leader parading around naked for his lady’s pleasure,’ I said when we parted. Ani chuckled, and the melody of her laugh almost brought me to my knees.
‘You know what? Fuck it. They can endure my hairy arse if it makes you smile. I missed the sound of your laugh, Nivale.’
I reached for the clasp of my breastplate, but Annika promptly covered my hand with hers. ‘No, some things are only for me. I just came to ask what you plan to do about the upcoming attack.’
Another thing I had noticed was that Annika didn’t speak of Alaric at all. Since the battle, she hadn’t once spoken his name, and each time I brought it up, she promptly changed the subject.
‘Ani, we’ll get him back,’ I said.
She placed her hand on my lips. ‘You don’t know that ... and I can’t ...’ I saw tears well in her eyes before she turned her head,blinking them away. ‘Tell me what you’re going to do and if you need me.’
‘Orm?’ Vahin’s voice in my mind made me sigh. He must have picked up on Ani’s feelings again.
‘Everything’s alright, but she still refuses to talk about Alaric,’ I answered.
I kissed Annika’s palm. ‘I was going to go and welcome our visitors. I don’t think you’ll need to fight, but I’d enjoy your company. Would you like to join me?’
The hope I had felt at seeing her in my tent was promptly extinguished when Annika shook her head.
‘Not this time. Bryna and I are going through Katja’s wagon. Her potions could help our healers, and if any women need clothes ... they can ... they can pick some,’ she finished, swallowing hard.
‘You don’t have to do that, love. I’ll ask the mages to send some healers. They will be better versed in deciding what tinctures could be used, and as they sort that out, they can help with the rest.’
‘No, Katja was a private person. She wouldn’t want strangers rummaging through her belongings. I will find what can be used and burn the rest. That’s what she’d want.’
She forced a smile for my benefit, wiping tears away. ‘I’ll get to it. That way, I might be able to avoid coming to the evening meeting,’ she said with one last pat on my armour, leaving the tent.
‘Will she get better?’ I asked Vahin, feeling his presence in my mind as he listened in on the conversation.
‘With time, yes, but I don’t think she’ll ever be the same. Some wounds never heal, and while everyone’s idolising her, she can’t see her own path clearly.’
‘What can I do?’
‘Give her time, give her love ... and pray for your mate’s return.’
‘Commander, you wanted to see us?’ Three men walked into the tent, cutting my conversation with Vahin short.
I nodded, pointing to the chairs.
‘Yes, there is another group heading our way, and if the information from the humans we captured is right, we are two days away from Katrass. I want to send a reconnaissance unit to scout their defences,’ I said, pointing to the crudely drawn map on my table.
‘We have three potential routes to reach the capital, and I want them all checked before deciding on the best approach. And, for goodness’ sake, ensure the soldiers are ready. The way they’re behaving makes me think they believe the war’s already won.’
‘Well said, Lord Commander.’ Reynard entered my tent, nodding to the men. ‘I came here to ask you for exactly that. The sooner we get to Katrass, the better for us all, and once we take the capital, subduing the rest of the Lich King’s forces will be much easier.’
‘My lord, may I request Lady Annika’s presence on the reconnaissance mission? In case we encounter unexpected resistance?’ The infantry captain asked with hopeful expectation, but his smile died when I shook my head.
‘You are all trained to deal with the unexpected. Are you suggesting your men can’t deal with the threat? If so, I can reassign your unit to the vanguard.’
I let my words hang in the air, the reddened cheeks of the dwarf letting me know that the insult hit the mark.
‘No, Lord Commander. We are perfectly capable of dealing with any threat. I was merely thinking of reducing possible casualties.’
Oh, he was good. My jaw tightened at the suggestion that I didn’t care about my men.
