Chapter 137 - Yastiel

The air was beginning to thin and the trek was tiring the men as they trudged onwards through the snow as snowflakes billowed about.  No word from their capital Lumemor had reached Yastiel or her legion and so she had continued to press onwards, never before had the cities of Lumenorei seen foreign boots tread upon their streets and she would be damned if it happened for the first time on her watch.  Minutes had past since they had crossed over the tens of thousands of dead men, remnants of Commander Actas’ battle with the dwarves only two or three weeks before - though they couldn’t be certain of exactly how long ago it was that their allies had met with death.  Snow had covered much of the dead but evidence of the struggle had been evident and passage through the old battleground had been cumbersome.

Peaks rose up majestically as otherworldly behemoths to stare down onto the columns marching through the pass.  A lone eagle soared not far in front from Yastiel, riding the currents up into the vastness of the cloudy gray sky.  Leading the cavalry at the front of the columns Yastiel held one hand up to signal a stop as one of the scouts was seen out into the distance - straight ahead into the pass - rushing back from whence it had once disappeared around a bend in the jagged snow laden cliffs.  Patiently Lueth waited beside Yastiel as snowflakes accumulated onto his armor wherever they could find a foothold.

Before the scout had cleared the long distance between them, a sound echoed throughout the mountains to land upon the ears of Agnude’s holy army.  The sound repeated itself soon after and continued to do so at intervals.  Dwarvish war drums.

Lueth signaled and the war horns of Lumenorei were blown to boom out their challenge in response.  As one the legion began to position itself.  The pass was narrow so that only around a thousand men could take the front at one time - probably a tactic the dwarves were going to use to their advantage if they did indeed have lesser numbers -  and their legs were almost a foot deep in snow.

Yastiel yelled orders as her officers repeated them, shouting to the soldiers under their command.  “Have the men take staggered positions and get them ready to reform ranks as soon as we see what the enemy has in store for us!  Get the supplies back and set up as many scorpions as you can onto that ledge above with a range of at least 350 yards in mind before firing!  Heavy infantry in front, shield bearers first, pikes directly behind and archers in the rear!  RHOK DAMN YOU KEEP THEM STAGGERED!”

“Cavalry to the far rear with the supplies and await our signal!  Vetteresies setup formation in the center behind the archers!” Lueth pointed at the groups of wizards waiting for orders, “Mages stay where you are until given further orders!”

Turning to Yastiel, Lueth asked: “The mages are mid ranged at best and have little armor, they won’t be able to outrange enemy archers if they’ve found a way to position themselves along the cliff edge.  Would you have them go with the cavalry for now?”

“Have some of them stand concealed with scorpions under illusions until we choose to reveal our hand,” replied Yastiel confidently.  “Hopefully their scouts have not seen them already.”

Lueth gave the orders.  Looking at the slope leading up to a ledge overlooking the pass, Yastiel watched as soldiers began to roll the heavy siege weapons to the top.  If they were lucky they would manage to fit twenty to twenty five of their fifty scorpions there.  Large bolts were being loaded even now as the first of the scorpions was put into place.  “The others can wait where they are.  The cavalry would be useless in this situation with no maneuverability but the mages we will probably need when close quarter combat starts as support for the infantry.  They should be able to use barriers to deflect any incoming arrows without using up too much of their energy if  needed.”

The beating of war drums was growing louder as the scout finally rode his way at a gallop through the pass to come and stop his horse next to Yastiel.  An arrow protruded from his shoulder and he clutched it to try and stop the bleeding.

“Speak soldier,” commanded Yastiel as she brushed the snow from her straight, brown wisps of hair.  Emerald eyes beneath the edge of her helmet glared out into the man’s soul while she sat there unsmiling - waiting for his report.

“They must have received reinforcements my lady,” said the elf painfully, “Their numbers are greater than ours, I would guess that they have nearly 35,000 men at their disposal.  Most of them are heavy infantry and crossbows, but they also have armored war boars.  Other units are scattered into their ranks but aren’t present in mass.”  He paused to look at his wound, breaking off the arrow shaft halfway with one hand he continued, “They should come around the pass any minute now, their banners fly the oak tree of the dwarvish house of Dul - it is the crown prince that leads them.”

Yastiel nodded.  “Go have your wounds treated.”  The scout rode off and Yastiel turned to Lueth.  “The crown prince.  If we take his head that would mean a very heavy blow to the moral of the other armies of Kag’Dul.”

“It will be most glorious!” said Lueth with a gleeful grin.

Yastiel looked Lueth up and down before commenting, “I see you’ve gotten rid of your shield.  Did it not suit you?”

“You noticed.  I have decided to try my luck with only the broadsword this time around, I had less maneuverability when carrying the heavy shield.”

“That is how I feel about it as well.”  Yastiel again saw the lone eagle fly overhead as it screeched out amid the sounds of the drums of war.  “Armored war boars, heavy infantry and crossbows.  Very well, we will see what tricks you have up your sleeve, short men of the mountains.”

Silently the legion of men and elves waited in position, unwavering in the cold snow.  Green scutum shields and tunics alongside the green banners of Lumenorei, flying high while flapping in the wind and bearing the white star of their nation alongside Agnude’s mark, stood as one against the coming of the storm.   A minute passed before, from around the bend, the front lines of the dwarvish army appeared nearly a thousand yards away and straight ahead.  Brown banners flew the grey oak tree of the house of Dul, the royal family of Kag’Dul, with the crown prince decorated in magnificent dwarvish armor on an armored war horse at the head of the column.  The front lines of the dwarves wore thick steel armor with two small slits for their eyes and even smaller holes for them to breath through the mouth area.  The stout muscular frames bore huge pauldrons and breastplates, with plate armor covering the rest of their bodies as well.  Chainmail was worn underneath and covered up anywhere that the plate armor did not, and with their large, thick and round steel shields, spears and swords - they looked very intimidating.

“Dwarves should not ride upon horses…” muttered Lueth in simultaneous disgust and amusement.

As the dwarves approached the drums began to quicken and as they did so did the pace.  The ground vibrated beneath the marching oncoming opponents and a deep chanting could be heard - rallying them for the battle to come.

“Let them come to us!” Yastiel shouted back to her legion.  “Whoever charges the other is at a disadvantage because of the deep snow, they will tire if they come!  Hold fast!”

At 500 yards down the narrow mountain pass, just out of range from the scorpions, the war drums stopped beating as did the chanting and marching of the dwarves.  For another thirty seconds the two armies stared each other down in silence with only the howling of the wind upon their ears.

Yastiel silently cursed. “They must know of the siege weapons.”

“Do not be hasty,” said Lueth encouragingly, “They might advance on us yet.”

As he said this the dwarvish infantry began to spread out, letting a great number of crossbowmen through to the front.  Forming lines as they jogged forward, Yastiel saw that they wore great heater style shields on their backs with arrow quivers clipped to their sides and heavy metal helmets upon their heads.  She had seen armies of the like before, these archers were often sent out ahead of the army - but within a protective distance - and would fire their arrows in volleys.  As they reloaded their crossbows they would turn around with their backs to their enemies - having their large heater shields and helmets to protect them from returned fire - and ready themselves for the next volley.  Without cavalry being of much use in such tight corridors these crossbows could pose a problem.

And it happened just as Yastiel predicted.

“Condense formations and shields up!” screamed Yastiel as the first volley of arrows soared up into the air towards the legion.  The staggered formations of highly trained and disciplined Lumenorei crusaders immediately came together in six separate but condensed testudo formations - green scutum shields forming a wall and roof over the heads of the thousands of infantry in the front.  The hundreds of arrows fell to collect a few unfortunate souls as the dwarvish crossbow-wielding archers turned their protected backs on the crusaders to reload, but for the most part the arrows were deflected.

“Archers forward!  Plant shields and return fire at will!”

Unlatching their own even larger scutum shields from their backs the crusading archers marched forward to fill the gaps left by the pockets of infantry and, kneeling to place their shields’ spiked ends into the snow and ground, began to return fire at random from behind - taking cover when needed.

As the next volley from the dwarves fell down onto the crusaders, the dwarvish crossbowmen jogged ahead a few yards before reloading.  They did this numerous times with many of their number falling to Lumenorei arrows inbetween volleys as they gained ground on their enemies.

“What are they doing?” asked Lueth in a puzzled state.  “Their crossbows are furthering themselves more and more from the protection of their army… and they’re losing men doing it.  I don’t understand…”

Yastiel sat silently on her horse next to him as they continued to watch the dwarvish crossbows advance.

“Cavalry!” shouted Lueth who turned his horse to face the rear while he pointed, “Prepare yourselves to rush in and flank the enemy crossbows!”

Over two thousand armored heavy cavalry responded as their officers issued orders, two groups of them forming on either side of the rest of the legion where gaps had been left after the infantry had condensed.

“Wait...” said Yastiel looking forward in concern.  “Something’s not right…”

The dwarvish crossbows had stopped now, halfway between the two armies.  Their arrows had become deadlier as the distance increased but their numbers were dropping as well and the protection they once had from the heavily armored dwarves behind them was gone.  Arrows flew back and forth between the opposing groups of archers as they pierced flesh or were deflected by shields and armor.

“They’re trying to bait us into chasing them…” muttered Yastiel.

“What do you mean?” asked Lueth, “I believe you are mistaken Yastiel, they must have an inexperienced commander for a prince.  Why else would they leave their crossbows out in the open - a hundred yards from any protection - and vulnerable to cavalry charges?”

“The cavalry wouldn’t be able to retreat effectively in such tight corridors if something were to happen,” stated Yastiel, “They must have some agenda.  Hold the cavalry back and order the scorpions to open fire on the enemy crossbows instead - if they will not show us their hand willingly then we will force them to do so.”

Grudgingly Lueth gave the signal for the cavalry to fall back, “Drop the illusions and begin firing with the scorpions!”

At once over twenty huge bolts surged out from behind the walls of illusion hiding the siege weapons on the ledge above and pummeled through the bodies of the dwarves - shields and all.  Many of the bolts single handedly killed or maimed multiples of the clumped up dwarves while others only met a target to send the impaled dwarf sprawling into some of his companions violently - knocking them over or injuring them in a less serious fashion.

The stained snow of the battlefield  was already covered in crimson as orders from the prince of the house of Dul echoed out in dwarvish to the crossbows - who began to retreat back to the dwarvish columns as fast as they could run.  Lumenorei arrows and scorpion bolts pursued them to bring death for hundreds of yards until they were out of range as the crusaders cheered in triumph at their small victory.

More shouts were heard from dwarvish commanders and the ranks of their infantry spread out yet again to allow hundreds of huge armored boars to the front.  Beastmasters accompanied them and ordered the brutes, easily ranging from the size of a small horse to that of a large dog, to halt.  Long tusks of the animals were sharpened to fine points and plate armor was fastened to the back and head of each of them as they bellowed in anticipation.

“Pikes forward!  Form lines!” cried Yastiel as the legion began to shift according to her commands at once.  Rows of thousands of pikes took the front lines and menacingly set their weapons forward to await the monsters’ charge.

An unexpected set of explosions from above startled Yastiel along with the rest of her legion.  To her left along the mountainside high above them the dwarves had planted devices that erupted in dirt and flame, hurling snow and boulders into the air and downwards towards Yastiel’s army.

“FALL BACK!” screamed Yastiel while Lueth issued orders frantically to her right.

Coming down with immense force to crush and bury hundreds of her men on the foremost left flank of the army, the huge rocks and snow threw much of her legion into chaos.  Officers were screaming out orders to their men and trying to get them to reform ranks while others of the legion tried to pull their fallen comrades out from the snow that had covered them.  Yastiel looked down the pass and saw that if she had indeed led her army forward or turned her cavalry loose onto the dwarvish crossbows - she would have lost many more than the seven or eight hundred men who had just died.  The dwarves had set the trap splendidly.

Hundreds of yards away the war drums of the dwarves began to beat once more and through the clouds of dust and snow Yastiel saw that the armored boars had been unleashed.  They were rushing at breakneck speed this way with the dwarf army advancing behind them.

“Keep the scorpions and archers firing as they advance!  Sound the horns of war and get everyone back into formation!”  Yastiel began to gallop over to where the Vetteresies’ formation stood undaunted amid the struggles of many of the rest, leaving Lueth in charge of reforming the army.

“My brother and sister Vetteresies!  Come and stand with me at the front until the legion has recovered!”  Dismounting and drawing out her long, curved, beautifully crafted elvish blade she swung around with death in her eyes to face the oncoming enemy.  “TO ME!”

Simultaneously more than a thousand of the elite holy order of Agnude, magnificent green tinted armor glinting against the grey sky, unsheathed their swords together in one motion and followed her lead forward in formation.

Arrows flew overhead from both directions as archers on either side fired frantically at each other.  The scorpions laid waste to many of the oncoming enemy - but still they advanced forward.  A portion of the legion had formed ranks just as the first of the armored boars came hurling into them - sometimes meeting the long ends of the pikes and other times rending their enemies asunder.  By the time the Vetteresies reached the front line less than twenty seconds later there was open fighting between many of the legion and the ferocious armored boars.

The first of the boars she encountered, which was a monster nearly twice as big as Yastiel, came to a swift end as she cut off its head with an effortless motion from her blade.  Beginning to sprint into the madness she launched herself at another - driving her sword into it’s eye and through its brain.  Seeing another boar coming at her from the side she flipped over the beast and landed onto it’s back.  Clinging on for a moment before manipulating gravity to crush the animal’s head Yastiel came to a halt and dismounted the corpse.  The Vetteresies had for the most part dealt with the monstrosities unleashed upon them by the dwarves, but not even fifty yards away the incoming dwarvish army was sprinting to cover the ground between them and the crusaders with battle cries leaving their lips in roars of fury.  The ground shuddered under their approach, and with it the promise of blood.

Pointing her blade towards the oncoming foes, Yastiel shouted out her elvish battle cry while the Vetteresies and legionnaires rallied behind her to meet the dwarves midway at a sprint.  Magics surged back and forth between dwarves and the crusaders as the gap began to close, and when the two armies met the clash of metals rang out deafeningly.

Heavy infantry of both sides struck back and forth trying to find the weak spots in each other’s armor as swords, spears and pikes were thrust against one another.  Wizards and battlemages were joining the fray from both ends as they struck out at one another and the heavily armored men in front of them - the most effective weapons against the armored tanks of the infantry.  Vetteresies at the vanguard were valiantly keeping the dwarves in check as the legion tried to pull together again behind them.

An arrows cut through the air and skimmed off Yastiel’s helmet - throwing her head back and causing her to stagger.  Picking herself up just in time to deflect an attack with her sword she stabbed her opponent in the neck and through the chainmail, but the armor held and her attack only pierced an inch into the dwarf’s neck.  The armored dwarf reeled back clutching his neck and then swung out with his other hand to have the attack deflected once more.  Yastiel disarmed the dwarf and swung over and over in frustration against the thick heavy plate metal which did not easily give in to her efforts.  Cursing she shot out bolts of celestial fire to cook the man alive and went on to the next opponent.  This time as she sidestepped the incoming armored dwarf she jabbed him in the neck with her sword to stun him and ripped off his helmet with one hand.  Thrusting her blade forward into the unprotected face of her opponent she killed him in one blow.  In her rage she swung with all of her might - channeling telekinetic force through her blade - into and through the third armored dwarf, cutting him cleanly in two.

To her right one of the Vetteresies was dismembered at the leg by yet another one of the heavily armored dwarf infantry and was finished off with a downward blow, crushing the elf’s helmet and skull.  Another man of the crusading legion deflected an attack with his scutum shield and bashed his opponent over the head with his sword repeatedly until his weapon made it through the armor of the dwarf and into his brain.  To her left a dwarf mage was combatting two pikemen from the legion, as he deflected a pike thrust with a barrier and shot out lightning - bringing one of the infantry to his knees - the other pikeman skewered him and rushed to bash the wizard brutally with his shield.

The madness surrounding her seemed to never end as Yastiel’s dance of death brought many about her to their ends.  Holy miracles for healing and defending, celestial magics for purging her enemies, and sacred arts to amplify her physical abilities were used in conjunction one after the other to make each cooldown end just as another refreshed.  Looking up and behind her she saw that the dwarvish crossbows had focused fire onto the scorpion operators and the siege weapons lay nearly useless with no one to work them save a few remaining men.  The dwarves were growing confident as they pushed onwards into the legion.  Arrows continued to rain down onto both armies’ back ends - away from the fighting as to not hit their own - while archers pumped the deadly messengers out as fast as they could.

Finding herself amongst her own people as she slew yet another of her enemies, Yastiel looked up into the snowing sky.  Kneeling down with her hands uplifted, Yastiel began to silently mutter as she prayed for guidance.  Her legion was slowly losing ground as the dwarves pressed their advantage.  The moral of her men was lost and had been lost ever since the explosions which had brought down part of the mountain on top of their comrades.  Many of them still continued to fight bravely, the Vetteresies above all were doing fine work in overpowering the enemy.

It was still not enough.

During her prayer… in the back of her mind - Yastiel heard the voice of Agnude whisper in acknowledgement of her plight.

In the blink of an eye immense purple bolts of lightning surged forth from the sky and into the clustered army of the dwarves, scattering thousands of them and killing a couple hundred upon impact.  The wrath of Agnude reigned down upon the enemies of Lumenorei while telekinetic explosions followed by balls of white fire littered the landscape.  Agnude’s attack only lasted a couple of seconds, but after it was done the devastation was apparent.

“That is all I am able to do for now, my most devout child…”  Agnude whispered into Yastiel’s mind as she grinned and picked herself up. “Use it wisely…”

“Yes my lord,” Yastiel reverently replied as Agnude’s presence slipped away back into his realm.

Lumenorei’s army stood in perplexed, and then they began to cheer - a roar that rose to the heavens - as they rushed forward with new conviction of their cause.  The dwarves still outnumbered Yastiel’s legion but Agnude’s attack had obliterated over a thousand of them and had scattered the rest.  Many of the surviving dwarves lay injured and disoriented.  As Yastiel’s legion swept into them the dwarves’ own morale began to drop very fast.

Cutting through the mailed neck of one of the heavily armored dwarven infantry Yastiel turned to look at the prince of the Kag’Dul dwarves, his body broken as he lay near death upon the bloodied snow.  Recognizing him and slowly walking forward to stand before him, the prince began to speak.

“Ahh… the famed Yastiel.  Master of the Vetteresies… I should have known your wicked numen would come to save you.”  The prince coughed as his breathing grew shallow.  “May the day come where you are judged and your numen is thrown down to the dirt where he belongs.  The people of Kag’Dul will never bow to one as ruthless and evil as he.”  Gasping again the prince struggled to say more.  “We still remember.  We remember what he and the Vetteresies did to our people all those two hundred years ago…”

Yastiel smirked.  “If you remember then why do you fight us now?  Give in and accept Agnude as your own.  Or at least that is what you should have done, I fear it is too late for you now.  Maybe your people will make a wiser choice.”

The prince laughed inbetween coughs of blood amidst the raging of the battle.  Metal clashed upon metal and screams echoed throughout the mountain pass as the snow fell about them.  “The gods of light have returned to Nagochus, elf-witch.  May they take proper vengeance for Agnude’s choice to ally with the Infernal Crowns…  I can only imagine how angry they must be!”

Chuckling to himself in his last breaths the dwarf prince died upon the snow covered Kag Mountains, defending his country to the best of his ability, and leaving this life without regret.

“You have gained Xp.  You have gained 1 overall level.”

Yastiel deeply frowned.  The gods of light have returned to Nagochus? Which ones?

Yastiel shrugged and flipped her brunette hair about to look upon the battle in front of her.  The ravings of an insane dwarf would not lose her any sleep.  Stiff white horse hair of her helm hardly moved in the wind as the silver-green wings to either side remained untainted.  The rest of her armor was covered in dirt and blood, so too was her weapon.

The dwarves were beginning to regroup as their officers tried to regain control of the situation.  The fighting was ferocious and many on both sides were dying, but deep into the mountain pass the war horn of Lumenorei sounded out its challenge from somewhere on the other side of the dwarf army - into the pass and out of sight.

She smiled.  The army of 9,000 that had been sent to intervene if the dwarves made for the elvish homeland were on their way to collapse onto the backside of Kag’Dul’s forces.  It looked like Yastiel’s letters had successfully reached the proper authorities.

Looking to another one of the Vettersies who waited upon the master of his order, Yastiel motioned for him to follow her into the fray.  They would claim victory that day, for glorious victory in the name of Agnude.

***

Yastiel had positioned her army just southeast of the pass where the battle with the dwarven crown prince had taken place.  Her army had suffered quite a number in losses, though they had achieved victory with help from Agnude’s prowess as well as the other army of 9,000 that had flanked the dwarves.  They had originally numbered 28,000 when entering the battle, and even after the additional 9,000 - they now only numbered 22,000.  They had lost 15,000 men.  It was a pyrrhic victory, but it had to have been done given the direct threat to Lumenorei if left unchecked.  And now that the dwarves’ largest army was conquered - it was merely a matter of time before their other armies and cities fell.

“His majesty, Prince Jak Mueniel of Lumenorei, has just arrived.  He wishes to speak with you.” stated Lueth upon entering the tent while Yastiel cleaned out the insides of her boots and gauntlets.  She looked up in distaste.

“Tell him that I am busy and do not wish to be bothered.  I have had enough of princes as of late.” retorted Yastiel who began once again to clean off her armor with a rag.

Lueth bobbed his head back and let out a long exaggerated sigh.  “Yes, in fewer words that is what I had told him.  But he insists upon seeing you anyways.  It would be quicker if you were to tell him yourself.”

Yastiel sniggered.  The prince was not one that either of them liked to deal with, he was headstrong and a fool.  Much too arrogant for his own good.  The only thing the prince had going for him was his looks.  “Very well, I’ll deal with this myself.”

“Thank you,” Lueth bowed.  “I will inform him that you will talk with him briefly.”  He turned and left the tent, his armor clinked together with every step as he left.

Yastiel finished polishing her gauntlet and placed it on the wooden table in front of her.  Brushing her long silky brown hair behind her pointed ears, she tied it into a ponytail and placed a green silk robe over her under-armor strappings.  Picking up her elvish blade and tucking it into a belt, and putting on a pair of sandals, she headed out of the tent.  It was warm this day with a slight breeze, and only a number of clouds were to be seen.  Much more pleasant than the weeks past.

Soldiers of all stations went about their daily lives in the camp but stopped to salute her as she trot past them.  It took her less than two minutes to reach the command tent.  Lueth and a number of other officers from her own army stood about quietly as the prince and his escort waited on the other side - looking at the large map on the floor.  As she presented herself, Jak Mueniel bowed slightly and opened his arms to embrace her.

“It has been too long, Yastiel!  I see you are even more beautiful than the last time I saw you!”

She brushed his embrace away with a swipe of her hand and stared cold and defiantly back at the taller man in front of her.  “Why are you here, your highness?”

The prince was outwardly scorned and irritated as she had refused his advances, and brushed his silver hair back with his fingers out of habit.  His facial features soon changed back to one of friendliness though, as to not look the fool.  “Is it so wrong that I come visit my future wife?  I was worried when I heard that you had gone to engage the enemy in the cliff pass.  That’s treacherous terrain.”

Yastiel scoffed, much to the hidden amusement of her officers.  “Future wife?  Whatever gave you that idea.”  She turned to a table nearby containing refreshments and poured herself a glass of wine.  “Are you not supposed to be leading your army to Vardum?”

The prince bounced back without the slightest hesitation.  “I’m sure you’ll come around and see things for how they’re supposed to be.”  He put a hand around one of her hips.  “You’ll be tamed soon enough if your father has anything to say about it.”  He snickered as he traced her curves up and down.  “My second in command has taken over the siege, we have cut off all supply routes and will wait them out until they surrender.”

Yastiel pulled away as the prince began to get a little too handsy for her liking and downed her drink.  “My father has no say in the matter.  I am the mouthpiece of Agnude, and will decide my own fate.  Your authority does not dwarf my own.”

The prince grinned even more widely at the retort.  “Ahh yes… Well it seems that we have a second mouthpiece now.  One that will relieve you of your duties to an extent.  Have you heard yet?  I’m sure that splitting the job with this Carol woman will free up your time greatly.  I know that the other clergy agree with me, and I know they already wish this union to proceed.”

Ugh.

“Ahh yes…” replied Yastiel who sat her cup down and stared back at the man.  “Agnude told me himself.  Quite an interesting turn of events if I must make comment, but it will not change things between us I’m afraid.  I will not be the trophy to stand above all your other whores.”  The two stared back definiantly at one another for a long period of time.  “Is this all you came for, your highness?  To pester me with the intangible fantasies you seem to adore so much?”

The prince grimaced briefly and again turned back to his seemingly friendly state.  “We will see what happens Yastiel.  But I’m sure in time, one way or another, you will bear my children.  Even if it means throwing all of my competitors into prison for… crimes against the throne...  Until next time.”

Prince Jak Mueniel bowed briefly and quickly turned to leave.  His escort followed him out, and he was well out of earshot before the officers remaining in the tent burst out in laughter.  Lueth however was not so amused.

“I would ring his neck and hang it from a tree if he was anyone other than royalty,” seathed Lueth in a low tone so that no one other than Yastiel could here.  “Insolent brat.”

Yastiel smirked.  “It is a shame he rode all this way just to be refused again.  He truly is arrogant.  No matter.”

“Do you think he’ll follow up on his threats of throwing your potential suitors in prison?” asked Lueth thoughtfully.  “Wouldn’t be surprised if he did…”

Yastiel laughed out loud.  “As if I have any potential suitors other than him!  I seem to intimidate every other man on the planet!  And I honestly prefer it that way.  At least for now.  If there does come a time where I wish to court a man, I will deal with it as I go.”  She filled up her glass with more wine.  “I would handle the situation if need be, and have no doubt I am capable of doing so.  Drinks, anyone?”

The officers, along with Lueth, all cheered and began to pour themselves drinks as well.  It had been too long since Yastiel had partaken in alcohol, and she could already feel the effects of the drink starting to kick in.