Interlude (1)

It was with patriotic joy that General Tarkus surveyed the landscape of their beachhead into taking the entire Green Sea in one fell swoop. Though it was a joy tempered mildly by a bitter aftertaste, knowing it might not have been possible without the aid of their guest.

“General?” A timid voice chimed from behind him and Tarkus took his time turning around, looking over the rubble of the uncivilized locale these savages called a city with disdain before letting his black eyes fall on the recruit; one of many who’d joined up for their mission of bringing civilization to the rest of the world.

“The Herald is requesting to speak with you,”

Clicking his tongue against his teeth in annoyance Tarkus rolled his eyes. Heralds, relics from a time before progress closed the gap between the spirits and mortals. But they had their uses, especially when one was as dense as this one.

With a simple nod the recruit was dismissed, eager to be anywhere but under the cold gaze of the general. Tarkus was not unaware of what the others called him, the Vampire. A fitting name given his proclivities, but given mainly due to the emotionless nature with which he executed not just tasks but individuals as well.

He did not move with any expediency across the rubble of destroys mud-homes, watch towers, with the only buildings remaining with only minor damage being the larger ones serving as various warehouses; these were secured, a quartet of soldiers guarding the entrance and patrolling the outside.

Large canvas tents had been established to give the soldiers proper lodging, though construction was already underway on a more secure and durable longhouse. After all this was to be just the first of many settlements for the great Luvall expansion.

His heart beat joyously at the thought of the carnage to come.

Pushing aside the flap of a tent Tarkus stared at the back of the head of their new guest, and briefly he thought of how easy it would be to cave in that head, splatter his brains and that auburn hair all over the tent. It would be so easy.

“You requested to speak with me?” His words were sharp, his displeasure obvious in the tone he used.

“I did,” Evan said without turning around. “I finished reading the book that you gave me, it’s been extremely helpful getting accustomed to this new world.”

Standing up the young man who previously had been dressed in a printed anime shirt and ripped acid wash jeans was now clad in a suit of armour the colour of charcoal—as garish as it was useful with the pointed pauldrons and gauntlets having a dual purpose—he turned to Tarkus with a warm smile.

“I’m thankful that I get to help spread the light of civilization.”

There was an earnestness in the boys eyes that Tarkus found almost endearing, it reminded him of himself when he had first read the scriptures and holy texts. The hints of a smile threatened the corners of Tarkus’ mouth.

“It gladdens me that you see things as clearly as I do. It is unfortunate that some rebellious literature has wormed its way into the recruits heads. It is my hope that seeing a Herald spread our word they may see the error of their ways.”

Evan smiled, it had taken Tarkus no time at all after their first meeting to realize the boy responded best to praise, he longed to feel important and appreciated. Still such a child.

“On your arrival, Master Evan,” Tarkus felt the bitter tang of bile at the back of his throat giving a fool such an honorific. “You spoke of friends.”

“Yeah, well two friends and my girlfriend.”

“Yes, of course. Now while I have sent word for updates of strangers in our lands, I’m afraid I must pose the hypothetical that they have arrived here, in the lands we are set to…civilize.”

Evan’s brow furrowed at the though as he rubbed a hairless chin.

“If they are here then…they’re probably being held captive,” Evan nodded as if having decided something internally.

“You do not think there is a chance they might ally with the locals?” Tarkus raised an eyebrow. He had seen even the most loyal of Luvali citizen fall victim to the manipulations of these savages.

“No…well,” Evan bit his lip.

“Master Evan, I know it must be difficult but you need to tell me if there is that chance. We would need to make extra preparations.”

“Well my girlfriend Midori she’s kind of…well we’ve sort of been like ‘will they won’t they’ for the longest time. I feel she could probably be manipulated, she has a really big heart and some people take advantage of that.”

With a slow nod Tarkus took in the way Evan avoided his gaze, and the way the boys grip tightened as he spoke of this woman. Reaching out he placed a reassuring hand on Evan’s shoulder.

“Keep hope in your heart, Master Evan. The Lord Shozo is a kind god, and with his grace she was likely not brought to this place of savagery.”

A shout from afar cut the conversation short but brought a cruel smile to Tarkus’ lips, the deep gash on the side of his face revealing even more teeth adding an inherent chilling factor to the grin.

“It seems you were right about a second wave.”

Picking up the horned helmet resting at the edge of the table Evan slid it on, leaving only his pale grey eyes visible through the small slits in the metal. He looked like a demon of iron, the blood of others still caked between the joints of the gauntlets.

If Tarkus were capable of being aroused, he would most definitely be by the sight before him.

“I’ll make sure to take more captives this time,” Evan said with voice muffled slightly by the helm. “That way we can build the longhouse quicker.”

Pushing the flap aside Tarkus watched as the young boy raced to the edge of the encampment, no weapon save for his own fists. Grinning with satisfaction he sighed happily.

“Perhaps I have misjudged the boy. He will be the perfect weapon for us to wield against these savages.”