Winter 4986, 10 Ginmoth
Her assistant -a Second Lieutenant- trailed a few steps behind Rasnah from the chapel back to her office. He tried to stifle a yawn, and Rasnah grinned at the failed effort. She'd been working far too many late nights and would need to return to a normal schedule soon; if not for her sake, then for her subordinates.
The General cleared her expression as the young assistant past to open the door. Rasnah made to step in, only to stop in her tracks. The assistant went for his sword, and Rasnah just managed to bring a hand up to stop him, "What in Hengist's holy name are you doing in my office, old man?"
Veon-Zih reclined in her chair, though he'd resisted resting his feet on her desk. The Monk grinned, and Rasnah's lip twitched as she struggled to maintain her stern professionalism.
"Well, last time I didn't come right away, you accused me of skirting my duty," Veon-Zih explained.
Standing smoothly, he made a sweeping gesture at her seat before rounding the desk and taking his own on the proper side. Rasnah sighed, but her assistant still gripped his sword, "At ease, Sir Selv. Master Veon-Zih is a friend to me and the Temple, he is always welcome." She reassured the knight, who finally relaxed. He bowed formally to Veon-Zih, who merely rested his fist in his palm with a nod. The junior Paladin followed with a salute to Rasnah before taking his position outside her door.
The fact that Veon-Zih hadn't stood to bow to the young Paladin had Rasnah taking a moment to study him a little closer. His grin didn't reach his eyes and had faded as soon as the assistant turned his back. His normally smoothly-shaven head had a few days growth and his jaw seemed tight.
Veon-Zih waited for the door to close but started talking before Rasnah reached her desk, "It's all dead ends, Ras, literally." he gestured to a new pile of papers on her desk, stacked next to the mound from before, "Most were pronounced deceased years ago, the last was missing but presumed dead. A few of the surviving relatives were truly surprised to hear that their loved ones only died recently, and none of them ever suspected them of making a pact with an extra-dimensional being." He ran a tired hand over his prickly head, "Maybe this was the end. Maybe that fire killed them, and we're hunting ghosts."
Rasnah sighed, rubbing her face with both hands and thinking out loud, "Except that we know at least two survived. The attack..."
"Attack?" Veon-Zih interrupted, leaning forward in his chair. Rasnah realized her mistake but didn't expect the Monk to glare at her before she could rectify it, "Something you don't want to tell me, Rasnah? What happened while I was busy watching those Horsa bastards torture innocent civilians?"
This wasn't the Veon-Zih she knew. He didn't grin or banter, and his questions were terse and demanding. He seemed... exceedingly stressed.
Though she'd never felt the need to use her 'General face' with Veon-Zih before -except in jest- Rasnah did her best to clear her expression. Resting her laced fingers on her desk she started, "Draken attacked a little over a week ago..."
"Where?"
"Hamerfoss."
Veon-Zih narrowed his eyes at her. Rasnah had never seen him like this. The ordinarily smiling Monk's eyes were angry, and that anger was clearly directed at her, "And you're just now telling me? I know they're bloodthirsty but even draken wouldn't stage an attack on a fortress full of Paladins. What else?"
"We believe they were organized by the Warlocks, or Warlock, the same one you faced six years ago."
Rasnah was truly at a loss for what to expect. But she'd taken too long trying to figure it out, after a few heartbeats of silence, Veon-zih stated, "They're mad, but even they would know they have no chance." He actually stood, resting his hands on her desk and leaning over her, "Don't do this to me, Ras. Don't make me question you for every detail..."
She didn't know if Veon-Zih meant appear threatening -she hoped not- but it didn't stop her heart from racing. She'd seen this man fell giants with his bare hands. Hands that were now resting on her desk. With his speed... Her sword was ever-present at her side, and Rasnah had earned her considerable rank through combat experience. Yet still, she knew she would be hard-pressed against the man glaring down at her now.
The General stood to match him, "Calm down, Master Monk," she startled him out of his animosity and he leaned away from her, "Now sit down and compose yourself, Master." Veon-Zih sat and buried his face in his hands. Rasnah sighed, resuming her own seat and speaking kindly to her friend, "I've never seen you like this V..."
"I've never felt like this before..." His voice was muffled by his hands, but the next moment he dropped them, his eyes closed, "Just... give me a moment." Still seated in his chair, the Monk lifted his feet onto the seat and took up his usual cross-legged meditation position, his hands cupped in his lap, thumbs touching at the tips. He breathed slow and steady. In through the nose out through the mouth.
After only three breaths, Rasnah could see the change in him, though he kept his eyes closed as he spoke, "The Ryukyu Monastery teaches detachment." breathe, "To that end, we take vows to support that. Like poverty and..." breathe. He didn't continue to list his vows -he didn't need to- instead, he explained, "It makes it easier for us to keep our emotions separate, controlled."
"But you did form an attachment... You're worried about Shon." Veon-Zih nodded calmly, -breathe- and Rasnah kept going, speaking softly, "He's more than a student to you, but none of your vows...." She was there when Veon-Zih had met Velona, and she'd heard what happened when he confessed to breaking his vow to his Monastery. She didn't approve of their reaction. Or his subsequent decision. The last thing she wanted to see was a repeat of the incident.
Rather than answer her statement Veon-Zih continued to breathe slowly, eventually saying, "I don't have any experience dealing with this kind of worry Ras..."
Rasnah forced a snort of laughter, trying to lighten the situation, making sure to grin when the Monk opened an eye and arched an eyebrow. "I don't know if I should be offended or not. You mean to say you've never worried about us before?"
"This is different. He's a kid. A teenager," he corrected himself, closing the eye to breathe again, "And out of the blue, you tell me he rescued a girl from a burning tower full of dead Warlocks after he awakened as a Sorcerer. I was already worried," he opened both eyes, and his look was full of steel. He knew what the government usually did with Sorcerers. "Now you say Warlocks attacked the fortress where he's training. Training, Rasnah. You were all tried and tested fighters well before we met."
Leaning back in her chair, Rasnah gestured to her piles of papers, "Well, Shon is too now. To help ease your worries, allow me to preface this by reassuring you that there were no casualties on our side and all injuries were minor and healed the same day."
Veon-Zih nodded, returning his feet to the floor, "Tell me everything, Ras."
And so she did. About the draken attacking as a distraction for the Warlock riding a wyvern and about Shon's role in bringing and keeping it down so Danaus could land the killing blow.
Veon-Zih laughed, though it was forced, "So he finally got his wyvern. He must be proud."
"As I'm sure his father is, in the heavenly planes." She assured him, "He wants to give Shon a commendation, but Sir Selibra thinks it would be best to save such awards for after he takes his Oath. We really are taking care of him, V, and he's shaping up to be an outstanding Paladin. He isn't ten anymore. He's nearly sixteen. Though I realize it's hard for every father to admit that their little boy isn't a little boy anymore."
"I'm not his father,"
Rasnah snorted for real this time, "Keep telling yourself that, Master..."
Veon-Zih hurried to change the subject, "So we know at least one survived, and she escaped again. Where do you want me?"
"Hamerfoss," Rasnah answered, reaching for the papers he'd brought her.
His hand came down over the stack, "Don't take me off this Ras."
"I'm not," She looked up to reassure him, "But we also don't have any leads yet. Go check in with your..." she cleared her throat, "... student. I will call you in as soon as I have something for you to punch."
Veon-Zih finally gave her a genuine smile and even shook his finger in mock anger at her, "See that you do, young lady! No more of this paperwork crap. That's for you retired types."
Rasnah groaned loudly, "Don't I know it, and you just keep bringing me more." she laughed, wrinkling her nose at the Monk, "Now go shower and shave. You're just in time to take the supply wagon in the morning. You might even get to hit something if there are still draken in the area."
***
