The Man from Eden (3)

The courier walked slowly, counting every step it took to get between the various floors. one jingle, two, three and more. his spurs sang a solemn serenade as he made his way down. tipping his hat he clicked his tongue in greeting to all those he met on his excursion. 
there at the bottom of the stairs, down a long winding corridor was a man. a man who looked as though he was constantly hunched over to look everyone in the eyes, a man with nervous eyes. grey hair, and dark circles. the tall man extended a hand. 
"Kuro. great to put a face to the name" 
"Aye, same to ya mate! well here's ya letter--" 
"hold on...would you like to stay for a moment to have a drink? I have a couple questions about this letter" 
"oi mate...look I gotta get going...one'a yours told me--" he clicked his tongue and motioned. "in and out" at the reply Aits seemed to hunch over just a little more with each breath. he knit his brows--from his expression alone he had taken offense on Kuro's behalf. crossing his bosom with his hand the man recoiled. 
"Who! it wasn't the man who greeted you was it? nor his platoon?" 
"Sad to say it was mate...perhaps a nice glass of scotch could smooth this whole thing over" Kuro flashed a smile. Aits returned the grin yet there was something in his eyes, they wandered to the letter and back to the courier. "curious thing innit? but I just make deliveries not ask questions--" he chuckled. "ain't exactly paid to think" turning the letter over in his palm, Aits' eyes wandered, examining every small detail, every fold in the paper, down to the last smidge of dry ink. 
"Savenzu...Tokyo, Japan" he quoted. as if commanded by some preternatural force Aits' hand instinctively reached for the envelope's seal.  Kuro however had--other thoughts. 
"oi...just letting ya know...everyone who's received a letter like that comes out a changed man.." 
"what...what do you mean?" 
"well for starters ya may not wanna open it in the hallway...i'm sure no one wants to be cleaning up paper scraps" Kuro suddenly dropped his pretense, the smile he wore fading "hand delivered the letter to that bloke..." dragging his hand across his throat, his tongue clicked. "not too great--but...again. I'm just the courier and this is your mail mate" 
"r--right...uhm if you don't mind me asking what kinda man was Savenzu?" Aits asked softly. simply Kuro shrugged. 
"Mate...I'm just the courier...I dunno a damn thing 'bout my clients--and I wanna keep it that way" The courier watched silently as Aits staggered, seeming to slouch more and more he threatened to bring his entire center of mass down to the floor. silently the general sighed, swept back his hair, swallowing down his uncomfortableness and pursed his lips--trying desperatly to find the words to speak yet he just couldn't. he merely gasped and choked out an insufferable whine. 
"save that Scotch mate...given ya reaction ya'll need it more than me" Kuro laughed--a pure sweet laugh, waving a hand he went on his way. the chime of his spurs--a death knell to the sanity Aits once knew. a minefield of pearly sweat lined the front lines of Aits' forehead, covering the no man's land of his wrinkles in shimmering sweaty streaks. his eyes turned again to the letter held betwixt his fingers. reading over every detail once more in agonizing detail, annunciating every single syllable like it was given to him directly from God. there however on the right hand corner of the letter where a stamp normally would be there was a small symbol etched into the paper and the word: Gungrave beside it. 
"Gungrave?" Aits questioned. 
                                                                                    ***
I had nothing to be afraid of--God had blessed me after all. the blade drew closer and closer, that shimmering silvery saber--how I anticipated it plunging deep into my windpipe; yet the blade stopped abruptly, clattered to the ground, the cacophony was followed by a procession of sobs. 
"I..." he murmured to himself. "what kind of a man am I? I nearly killed you...I" Crokus' voice shook. a man of middle age sobbing in my old life it wouldn't have been odd to spot yet...this was a world of war, and strife. A man so emotional...touchy--trigger happy.  Ah...alas I can smell it. Despair! 
"raised your weapon against me? you must be aware of the consequences Sir Crokus?" 
"Aye Lord Consul...I...I know" he sobbed. 
"no, no...Crokus my dear boy this is a moment of retribution--"
"r...retribution" the word was a cold clammy terror that seized the man's neck and refused to let go, his eyes become pearly disks of abject horror, his breathing hitching it was a marvel he didn't slur any of the words that followed.  "wh...what do you propose?" prostrating himself before the consul, his hands clasped in prayer, risen above his head as his face was planted into the asphalt. 
"nothing too crazy" I spoke softly "You, Crokus will abandon your post, and leave Kaiz. simple as that--" Before the sentence could even be punctuated Crokus' voice spilled into the air. 
"But...but" He sputtered, rushing to his feet. "I---I can't do that! Wh--who will lead the Knights. Protect the king" there was no reply, once again that smile, accursed cheshire illuminated my face. I took a hand, pressed it to my bosom and bowed.  he simply pressed a hand to his bosom and took a bow. "I---I can't do that M'lord! I ca...I can't" 
"Would you rather die...death before desertion and dishonor?" I could see the effect my words had on him, his squirming and writhing. Yes--his despair was far too malignant for his own good.   "I can give you a quick painless death...either way...the knight's would be under my watch" a sickening laugh weaseled out from my smiling teeth. "and you will be known forever as a coward who attempted to kill the consul!" he laughed again. "should you leave...you'd be branded a traitor to the crown and hunted down like a dog--the choice is yours" 
"But th...the kingdom doesn't have money for something like....y...you're bluffing" 
"soon...in two months time this kingdom shall be breathed new life--our tariffs and embargos will be lifted. and our money shall runneth over" 
"O...Odin would never....never willingly do that" 
"who said anything about willingly...I'll kill him if I have to" my smile faded, my tone become absolutely clear, direct and calm--hauntingly calm. "Now which do you choose, death, or desertion?"