Within Ullari's red command tent sits a wooden meeting table large enough to seat Ullari's captains, at the end of the table is a high-backed chair for Ullari himself. Along the sides of the tent stand smaller tables with maps and reports spread out over them.
Ullari stirring from his sleep, walked into the command tent. For the first time in awile he had actually slept putting him in a unusualy good mood..almost chipper. Sitting down with a mug in hand he began pouring over the maps, looking for an ideal place to strike.
Rayne entered the tent moments before the others, and bowed respectfully, waiting for Ullai to acknowledge her.
Ullari looked up, nodding his head for her to have a seat.
Moments later Gurthar walked regally into the tent, bowing to Ullari taking his seat when he had been acknowledged.
Rhapsody had followed Gurthar in with the girl in tow, bowing to Ullari as well when he acknowledged her, lightly smacking the girl's leg to force her to bow as well and took her seat next to Gurthar, the girl on her other side.
Once she had been acknowledged, Rayne sat in her seat at Ullari's left side. She waited patiently for Ullari to begin the proceedings.
What a headache and here i was thinking i could get a moments peace he thought to himself, already exasperated by what he knew was coming. "Well then, now that you are all here and have thus far not killed each other, let us begin. Rhapsody i see you brought a guest" he said lightly, amused at the new blood "I didn't know you where the recruiter type" smiling resting his head patiently on his hands.
Rhapsody smiled politely. "No, I'm normally not, I just thought I would bring you a gift my lord. Gurthar and myself found her at the Vampire's fortress."
"And does this gift have a name or a use?" he asked sweetly, very much determined to stay in a good mood. "And you look like you have been Vampire hunting Gurthar, i'm surprised Rayne didn't challenge you to a duel...from what she told me that had been her intentions. But i can see you two are both alive" Satisfied that they had at least not torn eachothers throats out yet.
Gurthar gave an amused smile "No, but from her attitude i gained that much. And yes i have been Vamp hunting, not amoung the troops as you don't like that. I brought down the Tervel coven" he said with a slight grin.
"The Tervel coven? my my most satisfactory, but would somone mind telling me who our guest is?" he asked, slightly vexed that his question had not been answered.
Rayne sat there, she smiled politely when Ullari looked at her, but she said nothing and showed no emotion, though she was boiling inside.
"Rianne, her name is Rianne my lord." Rhapsody quickly replies, looking up to Ullari. Her face was void of all emotion, but her eyes, which showed a hint of pain that she was feeling. She quickly looks away and to the girl.
Ullari gave her a questioning look sensing the pain
if you'd like to talk about then we can after this mess blows over telepathically comunicating to her. "Welcome to the camp Rianne. Rhapsody does she have any uses?" he asked her, trying not to strech her to much. Ullarie turned to Rayne an Gurthar "Any thing you two would like to tell me?" he asked even toned.
"Ullari, i would like to lead an expidition along the Northern marches in order to exploit the gap that has been won at such a price. or maybe punch a hole through the Telmar battle line maybe?" Gurthar suggested.
oh boy, you had to let that one out didn't you Gurthar? Ullari thought to himself awaiting what would happen next.
Okay my lord. Thank you. She telepathically communicated back to him. She took a deep breath and looked back at Ullari. "She has a temper to her when she fights." She smiles slightly. "Though her being persistant over a fight is really annoying. Besides that, I don't really know what else she is good at. We haven't really had the time to talk."
Rayne merely listened to the proceedings, she had gotten a hold of her temper and unless she felt there was a need, she would not speak until spoken to.
"And you Rayne? Anything to report or suggest? Gurthar, i like that idea..of a campaign through the Telmar battle line" he spoke lightly.
Gurthar smiled at Rhapsodys' description of Rianne "Sounds like somone else we know doesn't it?" he said mockingly to Rhapsody.
Rayne ignored Gurthar's jab, "Nothing of importance my lord." She said looking at him.
Rhapsody smirked. "Yes, it does sound like someone we know." She glanced over at Gurthar before looking back at Ullari.
"So then, what exactly do you have in mind my lord for this invasion?" Gurthar asked.
"Three legions of men, with you as the overall commander" Ullari said flatly.
"Th-th-three legions?!" Gurthar gasped
what is he up to now? the sinking of the entire alliance? he thought to himself, careful to conceal his thoughts.
Rayne stared at Ullari a moment, "Three my lord? What do you plan?" She asked him.
"You can ask Rhapsody after i meat with him on the details" Ullari said to her "As for you Rayne you will move under Gurthar's command with a cavaly force of five hundred to be used as scouts only" he said to her.
Gurthar was slightly overwhelmed at the task at hand, three whole legions with supporting equipment. He looked up at Ullari "My lord might one of these be the newly trained heavy cavalry legion?" he asked. He asked this, because this legion had the war elephants, rhinos' and even three dragons to boot.
Rhapsody glanced over at Rayne and then back up at Ullari, breathing lightly and closed my eyes.
This should be fun...but where do I fit in....
"I suppose so, the other will be the seige legion, and the final a pure infantry Legion" he said to him.
Rayne stiffened, hearingthat she would be under Gurthar's command, but she said nothing, she just nodded.
"When do we move my Lord?" Gurthar asked. Knowing that he would soon be in command of half the dark Army he decided that a new armour suit to replace the one destroyed by Lomien would be in order.
"Whenever you are ready, and yes you may have your new suit of Armour" he said smiling at him "You are dismissed Gurthar and Rhapsody, i hear the mess hall has somthing rather tasty..eat up an enjoy yourselves and see to it that our guest is well looked after" he said to them, knowing Rayne had more than enough pent up energy.
Rhapsody stood up along with Rianne and bows, watching the girl bow as well. Rhapsody hesitated and leaves the tent to go lead the woman to the mess hall.
Rayne remained in her seat, surprised that Ullari had not dismissed her as well.
Gurthar, taking his leave with a bow headed off to the armourers.
Ullari whaching him go, turned to Rayne "You have barely said two words this evening, and i thank you for sparing me the usual headache" he said flatly "Now what is it Rayne?"
"I still do not understand why the Crusnik has control of your armies." She said, not angry, just irritated.
"He is relliable, skilled even keeled...reall
y all that one could ask for in a general" Ullari responed noting her irritation.
"There are others like that, others who have served you longer, others who have earned your favor. You know that I do not speak of myself, I would not dream of asking that of you, all I wish is to see your cause succeed, to see you prevail." She began softly, but as she spoke her passion put an edge on her words.
"Gurthar has not lost a battle against the Alliance, in fact the border fort incident is far from the worst disaster that i have suffered...the worst of whom being under those who you would deam more competent than Gurthar Rayne" he said his voice elevating slightly. "You have much to learn Rayne, and for your information i would never dream of giving you comand of more than one or two hundred" he added, not liking chiding his pet but at the same time fed up with her immaturity.
"You don't think I know that?" Rayne mumbled, "My lord," She said, "you know that I would never ask you for power, that is not what I wish. As I said, the only thing I wish for is to see you prevail." She said earnestly.
"And yet despite this you continue to be a thorn in his side. I really am amazed that he hasn't killed you or done worse Rayne, because of which i have all that much more respect for him as i would not have been so patient and kind" he said flatly to her.
Rayne hung her head, her white face flushing red, "My apologies my lord, I should not question your judgment as I do." Though he was more of a demanding older brother, Ullari was the closest thing to a father she had known since her own father's death, to hear him rebuke her so felt like a blow across her face.
"Do not think of yourself as irreplacable Rayne" Ullari cautioned "No one is irreplacable" he warned echoeing the same words that Gurthar had to her. "You are dismissed unless you have anything else to say"
Gurthar, sat quietly outside across from the command tent. To hear Ullari raise his voice saying that to her he hung his head "Poor kid" he sighed sitting on a stump underneath the tree a mug an plate in hand.
"I don't." Rayne said softly, referring both to believing herself irreplaceable, and to having anything else to say. She rose from her seat, bowed, and left the tent, without ever looking back up at Ullari. Once she was outside a single small tear slid down her face.
Gurthar walked past her on her way "I'm sorry Rayne" he said softly to her. Gurthar turned to go, not expecting anything from her.
Rayne stopped a moment at the sound of his voice, "It is my own fault." she whispered to him before continuing to Rayne's tent
Gurthar continued past her tent, making no sound as he wandered off muttering "Why can't life just escape me? i have lived longer than any of my race" he said mournfully continuing on. Gurthar was begining to grow weary of life.
The command tent
Stumble!