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Monday, April 26, 2021

Hidden Kingdom: Chapter 4

 

Chapter 4

General James Allison was happy after the battle. He had forgotten how much he enjoyed fighting. He had not done it in a long time, since before he became a general. He remembered the ferocity that had earned him advancement in the Delland Army and eventually the eye of King Childs. As a soldier, James had been a fearless warrior, known for the most kills of his peers. He remembered one commanding officer telling him that he felt James enjoyed the killing and blood a little too much. When James became First General, he sought out that commanding officer and had him killed, covertly of course. Facing death and killing those men had brought back those feelings long since suppressed. He enjoyed the interrogation of the captured men and was still upset that Colonel Holms had killed them. James felt the only way to make sure you had extracted all the information was to take the torture to its full end. If they died in torture, then you knew for sure there was nothing else to get out of them. It was just another reason he felt the Carriland army was weak.

He spent the morning sharing his experience with the men. He felt it would help him bond with these men, and they would trust him more. Besides, he loved sharing stories about battles and killing. He was a little bothered when these men did not seem that interested in his stories. In the Delland Army, his men would stop what they were doing and listen to what their General had to say. However, he did not let that bother him; he was in too good of a mood.

It was not until around noon that he realized that he had not talked with the queen or General Lateaf since the battle started. As he looked around, he noticed they were over talking with their guide. He guessed they were talking about the way to Lake Luka and planning the day'smarch, and it was something he clearly felt he should provide input. Of course, they should have contacted him to join in the conversation, but he was in too good of a mood and decided to let the faux-pas slide this time.

As he got up, however, the Queen and General turned and left the Woodsman. James walked up to them.

As he approached them, he said, "What a glorious battle. If we fight like that, Queen Hellicus will not stand a chance." He was bothered when neither of them seemed to share his smile. When it was clear they were not going to respond to his compliment of the battle he said, "So, what did you learn from the Woodsman? How long until we reach Emos?"

Topher responded after a deep breath, "We do not know. We found evidence of a possible ambush up ahead. We have a scouting party checking it out. We were talking with our guide about a possible alternate route."

Sara was glad that her general had managed to tell this man only the basic of information.

James was not happy. Evidence, what evidence and why was he not told sooner. He was supposed to be part of the decision-making on this mission. He was a general after all. Finally, he said, "Evidence, what evidence?"

"We found some badly burned papers in the tent. Plus a patrol could be a forward scout of a larger group."

"Why was I not told about this? I want to see this evidence." James demanded.

"It was badly burned and crumbled into nothing when we touched it. We are not sure that is what it said, so that is why we sent Captain Walch and a few men ahead to scout it out," Sara said.

James was still upset. "Why was I not consulted? I am part of the leadership of this mission. I am a General for Elven's Sake!"

Sara looked him square in the eye. "No, you are not. Remember you agreed that on this mission General Lateaf and I out rank you. We make the decisions on this mission." She could see he was getting mad, so she decided to soften the blow a bit. She could ill afford to have this man angry, given his proclivity for killing. "Besides, this was pretty straight forward and not very strategic."

James did have to agree that given the possibility of an ambush, a scouting party was the logical choice, but he was still not happy. He looked at the two of them and then turned and marched off in a huff.

His morning joy was now gone, turned into anger. Any regret he had about killing the queen existed no more. In fact, he was sure he would make sure she suffered. He would make her death last as long as possible. He would then kill that general of hers. These two did not respect him. He had earned the rank of general, and he deserved to be treated with the respect that went with that position. It did not matter that they were in a different army. Rank is rank, and if they would not respect him, then he would make sure their deaths were as horrible and painful as possible.

He walked back to his bivouac with a sinister smile on his face. The hate and thoughts of what he would do to them filled him with a sick warmth.

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