Chapter 68: Garden of Cheers (Kaval)

It has already been a week since the death of that cunt Dog king, and people in the palace courtyard are already drinking away like it is the final day of the year. If only it didn’t hurt to shout, because those fucking fools forgot that the South needs to be reclaimed.
Oh, fuck it! Why does it even matter? Let the blasted fools who hid behind the safety of these walls cheer, let those fuck-heads drink their wine made in some shit valley. I hope those vineyards burned to the ground. That will give me the last laugh.
But still, the war is over. Hooray for that! Volas, the dastardly little shit, killed the king in an ambush. Even if the king wanted peace. Is it really necessary to slaughter an entire army like that? Even when they are not even prepared for battle, and instead are already prepared to put an end to the fighting? There is no honour in that, no glory in slaughtering an enemy like that when they wanted to discuss peace. They were not ready or eager to fight, yet he did it, he murdered them.
Perhaps I thought wrong about the kid. A brilliant leader, but a corruptible bastard in the end. When I meet him in hell, I shall be the first to spit on his boots.
I take a deep breath and enjoy the garden. It is good to be back here, even if it is for one last time. Despite how brutal the war is on everyone, at least the people here looked after this place. Gods, fuck! How I miss the smell of pastry in the morning!
With the news of the war being over spreading like wildfire, and how the Dogs of the North are retreating South. There is no need to make the capital a fucking fort anymore. Even from here, the city has colour again. Coloured cloth now hangs over every home and building, breathing life into what will perhaps be those cunts hardest.
The flowers catch my eye. I wonder what Bell will think of this place. I can’t seem to think of anything to hate about her. She always, well, almost always gives me food and talks to me about anything that isn’t military shit. If she were here, would she be mesmerised by the garden or die from its glory? Is she even alive?
No… I hope she is dead. Their people are defeated, and there is no chance we will treat those cunts well. I suspect a lot of mines and plantations will need new slaves soon. She doesn’t deserve the fate of being a broodmother in some backward mine. Bell has a gentle soul, and it is a miracle that she wasn’t horrible to me during my capture. But if she goes back, there is a huge chance that my people will shatter the good left in her like a ceramic pot.
Gods! Look at me! Wanting a damned slave some mercy. What the fuck is wrong with me? Why do I even care about her? She is a Dog, a runt and pest of the world. Even when she was kind to me.
But for now, I wonder, what happens next? This whole slave system can’t work for shit anymore, not when those Dogs proved us all wrong. Competent bastards made those weapons that fucked over everything we ever came up with. Is there even a point in keeping them around anymore? I hope not. The best we can do is get rid of them and rely on our own to get the shit we need.
Maybe I should go to a brothel, fuck some gorgeous woman just for the hell of it. Actually. Come to think of it, that might not be the best idea in the world. A lot of young men and women were sent to fight in this fucked war. Some needed to have their first moment before dying at the hands of slaves. I don’t blame them. Some want to pound a cunt, others want to ride a cock. It is just the way the world is. I prefer to die without contracting some disease.
And imagine my luck, the cunt General is here. Fucker sits next to me with some gloomy expression. Ha! Dickhead lost more hair than the last time we talked. Thank fuck my face is bruised, makes it easy to hide my smirk.
‘Pleased to meet you, General.’
‘Just call me Volas.’ He modestly replies. ‘You don’t need to be formal around me anymore.’
‘Fair enough. So what brings you out here? Enjoying the view?’
He shakes his head. Is the fucker upset? ‘I just want to see how you are doing.’
‘I’ll be fine,’ I chuckle. ‘Took you long enough to rescue me.’
Volas sighs before responding, his voice heavy with regret. ‘Everyone thought you were dead. After Fort Watch, I didn’t imagine you would live after that attack.’
‘What? Didn’t expect them to take me captive?’
He smirks, ‘I thought they would kill you for being too stubborn.’ Volas’ expression darkens, like he is aware of what will happen to me. ‘It is good to see you again, Kaval.’
‘Just call me Jon. No need to be formal around me, not anymore at least.’
‘Alright, Jon. Again, it is good to see you. I just wish we could talk more. Preferably during a better time.’
It hurts, but I smile at that fucker. Yeah, in some way I wish I could talk to you a bit more as well. Share a pint of ale, how many Dogs we killed… our regrets. Fuck it! Might as well go out with a blaze of glory.
‘I assume a cunt like you knows what will happen to me?’ Volas darts his head to me, utterly in shock at my profanity. ‘Let’s not play dumb. I didn’t come out of my mother’s snatch to be fucking stupid. I will go on trial, I will be judged, and I will be executed for being captured. Some bastards are still bitter over me burning down Ol Shire and escaping; they will use my defeat at Fort Watch against me and make me an example for future generations. They want to make it a civilian matter, not a military one. Funny, isn’t it? But let’s get to the fucking point, the writing is on the wall, I just have to face the music with some dignity. Even if they will strip the last bit of pride I have in myself.’
‘I…’ Volas stutters, still in disbelief that my professional facade is now removed. The mask of being a Commander was all a ruse. What is he going to do? Punish me? The best I can do is enjoy the look on his face.
‘Jon. I’m sorry that I can’t do anything to help you.’
‘You couldn’t do shit.’ I laugh, ‘you’re smart, smart enough to know that some people don’t like failures. I fucked up. I failed to hold the line. A fort shouldn’t collapse in a day, yet it did. So, no matter what, I will die. No point in complaining when I know the outcome of my actions.’
‘Even when it isn’t right?’
‘Volas, there is nothing right about this fucking war.’ I stand up with a prideful smile. ‘I will be honest. You look regretful. Why?’
He pauses, trying to come up with a response. Maybe he despises choosing to kill the Dogs, besides talking to them about peace. Oh well, he will have to face his own music. Having fucking morons judge you is one thing. I suppose it hurts because they will never understand the nuances of what has happened. However, the most brutal judge will always be yourself, someone who knows everything that happened and knows deep down how wrong it is. He chose the easy option. He wanted glory so his name could be remembered. A young prodigy. Volas is no different from the ones who came before.
He opens his mouth, but I raise my hand to shut him up. There is no point in hearing excuses. I’ve heard enough from my own mouth when I killed my own people to survive.
‘You know what?’ I calmly say to him, ‘don’t say it. I think it is best that I don’t hear it when I am facing my own death. But I will give you some advice. If you are willing to listen.’
Volas gives me a nod. ‘Okay, I’ll listen.’
‘If you are fucking someone’s vag, but you accidentally stick it up their ass instead. It isn’t too late to put it back in the right hole.’
He looks at me in disgust as I walk away to head to where I will be held on trial. Fucker is innocent at the moment, but I think he will figure out what I mean when he matures.
We all make mistakes, and we all make regrets that we are never proud of. But if you make a mistake, there is always a chance to do what is right. Maybe he will never do it, only the Gods know. I just hope he isn’t a pussy and continues to make the same mistakes.
However, that face he pulled was pretty funny. Might pull the same stunt during my trial. What else can I possibly lose?