Axton slowly walked through a makeshift hospital, with the few medics that had been assigned to him, and the enemy, working tirelessly trying to treat the multitude of injured soldiers from both sides. As he watched the medics do their work, he noticed one soldier was being intentionally ignored by the nearest medic, who was treating a soldier with a much less severe injury. Quickly walking over to the medic, he cleared his throat. “Excuse me, is there a reason why you’re treating this man before the man behind you? I’m no medic, but he seems to be much more in need of medical assistance than your current patient.”
The medic looked at the man and then back at Axton. “I’m prioritizing the needs of our soldiers over those of the enemy. If he wanted quick treatment, he shouldn’t have become a traitor to Eshal.”
Axton glared at the medic. “I believe I ordered you all to treat patients based on how severe their injuries are, NOT on which side they fought on! You had better quickly finish up here and begin immediately giving the man the proper medical care he needs! Am I understood?”
The medic quickly nodded and immediately increased the rate in which he was trying to finish up treatment of the first soldier. Seconds later, he had finished and ran over to the other soldier. Axton watched the medic for the next few minutes to make sure the medic wasn’t disobeying orders before moving on. Several minutes later, content with how the rest of the medics were performing their duties, Axton made his way out of the hospital and to a corner in the outpost. At the corner, he saw his six soldiers, swords drawn and pointed at the woman who was sitting down.
As the soldiers spotted Axton approaching, the tension in their bodies eased a bit as they stepped to the side, allowing Axton to walk up to Kailyn.
“At ease everyone! Good job with your guard duties. Go get something to eat. I’ll call for you if I need you.” The guards saluted Axton before walking away, leaving just the two of them.
Kailyn sighed. “Aren’t you afraid that I’d use this opportunity to make an escape attempt?”
Axton chuckled. “If you wanted to make an attempt to escape, I’m not stopping you. However, good luck trying to get through an entire outpost of soldiers that are still on high alert.”
Kailyn was silent as Axton sat down next to her. “I’ve read what information we have on you, and I must say, your rush to end the battle without a siege was definitely a surprise to me.”
Kailyn shrugged. “What can I say? I was under orders to pacify or eliminate your resistance as quickly as possible. A prolonged siege wouldn’t have accomplished our orders. Besides…I have a feeling that strategy wouldn’t have worked anyways, considering you had the bulk of your forces hiding in the forest. They would have just attacked our rear flank when we focused all of our attention into infiltrating your defenses. The results would have been the same.”
“I’m not so certain about that. Your troops were also quite well trained, especially a few of them that would have absolutely destroyed me in a one on one fight. In fact, had you not surrendered when you did, I’m pretty sure one of your troops would have struck me down.”
Kailyn slowly nodded. “In direct violation of my orders too. I explicitly ordered that you were to be captured alive. Though I do have an idea about who you’re talking about though. He was always one of my strongest soldiers, but he has a mind of his own.”
Axton chuckled. “At least he wasn’t so independent that he ignored your surrender.”
Kailyn didn’t respond, looking around the outpost. “So, how in the world are you planning on imprisoning all of us?”
“Hm?”
“From what I’ve seen, the outpost isn’t exactly built for imprisoning prisoners of war. You could comfortably keep maybe fifty of us, but any size larger than that would be…problematic to say the least.”
Axton nodded. “Yeah, it would be quite the venture trying to keep all of you in a prison camp. Not only do we not have the manpower to properly guard you all, but we just don’t have the facilities or supplies. Which…brings me to my reason for approaching you. Why not switch back?”
“Switch back?”
“You know, switch back to our side.”
Kailyn gave Axton a confused look. “Okay, let me get this straight: it hasn’t even been five hours since our battle has ended, and now you’re wanting to have those same enemies suddenly ‘switch back’ as you call it? I’m not sure if you’re genuinely crazy, or extremely naive.”
Axton chuckled. “Sorry, I’m not exactly the greatest when it comes to important conversations. I have a friend who always teased me whenever I was awkward, especially when he took me to a bar after we were of legal age. He tried to have me flirt with the, quite frankly, beautiful bartender…only for me to completely fail in the end. Didn’t help that my friend was having a hard time holding in his laughter during the entire ordeal.”
Kailyn tried to contain her laughter. “So at least I know you aren’t a playboy, but what I said still stands. It just makes no sense.”
“On the contrary, it makes perfect sense, at least when the odds are so stacked against us. Having all the help you can get, during a period in which this would probably be the only time in which to do so, is the most important task.”
“What do you mean?”
“I can only assume that General Killian is spending most of his resources in trying to capture the capital, effectively trying to bring an end to the war before it can start. That’s probably why he only sent enough troops that are equal to ours, hoping that your experience would be enough to sway the battle in your favor, bringing an end to what he probably only considers to be a nuisance. However, that’ll eventually change.”
Kailyn nods. “Most likely, considering it was just me sent, but he’s also ordered two more division of troops to attack Norvstrom and capture Governor Urep. However, that’s all the troops he’s ordered into the immediate area.”
“Which means that I’ll need all the help I can get in ensuring Governor Urep’s safety once he arrives here.”
“Wait, Governor Urep is coming here?”
Axton nodded. “I received the letter letting me know a while back. On top of that, we’re also awaiting the arrival of reinforcements that were sent before war broke out.”
“How many troops?”
“A hundred fifty, with some much needed archers among them.”
“I see…”
Kailyn’s eyes lowered as she was obviously deep in thought. She looked back at Axton. “May I have permission to ask my troops about what they think about this? I’m more loyal to my troops than anything, which is why I originally sided with Killian. I was under the impression that by joining him, my troops would have the least amount of danger presented to them. However, that impression was dashed almost immediately when he sent us alone to try to put an end to your resistance. I want to talk to them to see what they think.”
Axton stood up and nodded. “Follow me.”
Kailyn stood up and followed Axton as he waved over five guards who were guarding the entrance to the makeshift hospital. “Take Kailyn over to where we’re keeping the prisoners. However, keep your weapons out and pointed at her at all times. Once she’s finished talking to her troops, bring her back to me in my office. Understood?”
The guards nodded as they unsheathed their swords and began the short trek to her troops. As Axton watched them walk away, he heard a familiar voice behind him. “Looks like you’ve been busy.” Axton looked back and saw Eric walking up to him, with Jaylee slightly behind him. Axton sighed heavily and nodded. “It’s just a never-ending list of tasks. Anyways, I was just about to head to my office. If you two could follow me, I would appreciate it.”
Eric nodded, but Jaylee didn't give any sign of affirmation or denial. She silently followed behind Eric as they trailed Axton to his office, who shut the door behind them. Sitting at his desk, he looked at the two of them. “So, I’ve been interviewing some of our troops about what they thought of your performance in the previous battle, and I’ve come out with a generally positive impression, especially with you Eric.”
Eric tensed up and straightened out his back as Axton continued. “I was told that you were calm throughout the battle. You very clearly ordered the troops to tasks that needed to be done, and as a result, the troops knew exactly what they should have been doing. I see your experience sorting out information let you see the battle clearly and effectively. Good job.”
“Thank you!”
Axton turned his attention to Jaylee, staring at her for a couple seconds, trying to figure out how he should tell Jaylee the feedback he wanted to give her. Jaylee sighed, annoyed that it was taking so long for Axton to speak.
Axton looked at her for another second before speaking. “Your strategy wasn’t the wrong decision so to speak. I was told that you immediately began combat with Kailyn in a duel, and that the reason you did was to try to bring a quick end to this battle. It’s a smart tactic if you’re able to execute it quickly. However…”
Axton stared at Jaylee as she slightly squirmed under his piercing gaze. “Didn’t we learn at the academy that once it’s become clear that your current strategy isn’t yielding the results you’d like, you’d need to switch to a backup strategy?”
Jaylee glared at Axton, scoffing. “I don’t need you trying to remind me about lessons the academy taught. We were both near the top of the rankings after all!”
Axton remained calm as he nodded. “Indeed, we were. You always did do great at the theoretical side–”
“Just. Shut. Up.”
Axton raised his eyebrows in surprise at Jaylee’s now blatant hostility. “Just because your precious daddy got you your job here, doesn’t give you the right to look down on me or try to say you know more than me! You think that just because you're the commander that you know what I did right or wrong? That you think you could try to say you’re more experienced when we both were in the same class? Cut the crap!”
Axton glared at her, keeping control of his anger that was quickly building inside him. “Ms. Hayes, this is just standard procedure, whether it’s after a training exercise or after a battle. Such hostility for just performing my job is completely unwarranted, and I will not tolerate it much longer. You WILL drop your attitude, or I will have you arrested for insubordination.”
Jaylee’s eyes were full of hatred as she dismissively shook her head. “Remember what you were told when you were given command? I’ll write a letter to–”
“And what would he do right now? We’re surrounded by enemies, and he’s in no position right now to even try to intervene in the internal matters involving this unit. Considering how much danger we’re in currently, would you want to keep someone second in command that shows open hostility to their commander?”
Jaylee was silent as Axton stood up. “Answer the question, Ms. Hayes.”
Jaylee was silent for several moments before slowly nodding her head. “I…wouldn’t want someone like that as second in command…”
Axton nodded. “Then we’re under the same page then. Take some time to cool down. At nineteen hundred hours, you’re to report back to my office to continue your feedback, and of my decision about whether or not you’re going to continue in your role. Dismissed.”
Jaylee slowly walked to the door, opened it, and shut it behind her. Axton collapsed onto his chair and shook his head, his hands shaking from the anger that had pent up inside him. Eric stood awkwardly in front of Axton. “That…um…”
Axton shook his head. “Sorry that you had to witness that. It seems that Jaylee still just can’t seem to bury our rivalry during our school days, despite my attempts at peace with her.”
“Do you know why she holds such hostility towards you?”
Axton nodded. “It started with me beating her team during one of our earliest mock battles. Ever since, she never wanted to lose to me and used my family’s name against me. She’s not wrong that my father got me this post, but it wasn’t by choice. I want to show what I’m capable of by my own abilities, not by a meddling father who constantly looks down on me.”
“That doesn’t make sense though that she’d have so much hostility over such a simple school rivalry, regardless of your lineage.”
“Yeah…and I’m thinking that my family is the source of this hostility from her, though I’ve never been able to think of why that could be the case, and considering how terrible our relationship is, there’s no possible way I can ask her.”
“Well, whatever her reasons are…I don’t think you should relieve her of her duties just yet.”
Axton nodded. “Yeah, I know. I have no plans on demoting her as of now, but I did have to let her know that I am her commanding officer. We need to have at least a functional working relationship. However, should she continue to show hostility, and so openly while others are present, I’m going to have to replace her eventually.”
Eric nodded as a knock sounded on the door. “Come in!” Axton shouted.
The door opened and the guards ushered Kailyn into the room. “Ah, Kailyn, that was quick! I was certain that it would take a lot longer.”
Kailyn nodded. “Well, considering how unanimous their decision was, it wasn’t really much of a conversation to begin with. After asking what they thought of your proposition, it was a unanimous yes. From what some of them said, they never wanted us to agree with Killian to begin with. So, with that, I’ll be more than willing to join you.”
Axton breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good…”
Eric looked at Kailyn and then at Axton. “Does this mean what I think this means?”
Axton nodded. “Yeah…we just received some much needed reinforcements, and it gives us a chance to recapture Norvstrom after the governor arrives. Once we do, we can use Norvstrom as our base of operations.”
Kailyn nodded. “Makes sense as it would be easier to receive supplies, and with any luck, we could even recruit enough people to form another squad. We’ll need all the men we can get, considering even with my troops joining, we’re still vastly outnumbered.”
Axton nodded. “Agreed.” Standing back up, Axton walked over to Kailyn and stuck out his hand. “Well it’ll be a pleasure to work with you. With any luck, this is just the first step in helping bring an end to this war.”
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdE2I8QBnmM
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0EX02WG5c
