Chereads / Moon Fangs / Chapter 4 - Chapter III

Chapter 4 - Chapter III

"It's the bride selection banquet the King and Queen are hosting in the coming week that we have to be on guard for, correct?" smiles Silas.

Our uncle continued, "That's correct." He alternates his gaze between the two of us, "so in a weeks time, on the coming fire-day we'll be protecting the Royal family. We have to be on full alert! The King and Queen have informed me that some Royal family members will be coming from neighboring villages we have alliances with."

"How about the police?" I question.

"Some will be in the shadow, but they're mainly for protecting the villagers if something goes wrong. So it'll be our full responsibility of protecting the important members and guests at the banquet."

"Yes, Head General," I said,

"We'll be on full alert!" Silas nodded.

"Also, the banquet will be held over a course of two days, so the guests from neighboring countries will be staying in the Palace, during then we'll be allocated in certain areas within and around the Palace for whole day protection." commands the Head General.

"Understood!" both of us said in unison.

"Let's discuss the guard positioning at once." We began walking towards the main desk with the layout of the whole village, but uncle hesitates for a bit and questions, "Say why is my seat a bit warm on the sides, I don't usually sit on these two sides?" uncle exclaims, while using the palm of his hand to feel either side of his long wooden chair.

Silas and I were dumbstruck for a few seconds and we were about to make up a witty excuse, but someone intruded the main tent in a rush.

"Head General, General Leona and General Silas. Sorry for my intrusion, but there has been an outbreak of an intense brawl between swordsmen." It was one of the loyal swordsman working under General Silas.

General Silas quickly demands, "Show me the way!"

"Silas, wait, it's alright you stay, I'll go and settle this." I declare with a big smile, "I need to make up for being late," I slur on those few words with emphasis.

"Alright you go." agrees Silas. "I'll inform you on the positioning later"

I place out my left arm in front of me in a 90 degree angle and bow slightly. My forehead almost touching the top of my hand as I bowed. It's a traditional symbol of farewell and respect to others. It would be treason if I used my right arm, the bow with a right arm is only for the Royal family.

After the bow I begin walking out of the tent with the swordsman. Behind me I hear uncle and brother beginning to discuss the swordsmen placements for the bride selection banquet. Thank goodness uncle has drop the topic: of why his seat is magically warm when clearly he only sits in the middle of his long chair.

I walk out with the swordsman into the big training field that's now crowded with swordsmen. I swiftly slide down the grassy hill and run towards the crowd of people.

I roar, "What's happening here? Clear a path."

All the swordsmen obediently open a clear path for me to walk through. In the middle of all these people are two swordsmen. One bruised in the eye and his mouth dripping with blood. The other that seems fine and only has a few scars on his face.

"Explain yourselves?" I shout.

The one with a bruised eye drops the dagger in his hand, "This disloyal werewolf is unfit to be a swordsmen. I was just teaching him a lesson."

The other warrior hisses, "Who are you calling disloyal you filthy human!" Abruptly his wolf ears and tail emerge from where they were hiding.

They seem to be walking closer to each other, and preparing for another round.

"Warriors stop this child's play, explain not fight!" I eye them two down, our distance drawing closer. I step almost in between them to stop if anymore fighting goes on.

"My name is Filbert, I've worked under General Silas for as long as he has been General. Recently I've seen this disloyal swordsmen wondering around at night. The other night I saw him wondering around General Silas' tent and was acting quite suspicious. I didn't take much note on the first night but then as time went past, every night when I stay on guard outside General Silas' tent I would see him wondering about."

I set my eyes on the werewolf, "What do you have to say?"

"I'm innocent." he plainly blurts.

Filbert continues to exclaim, "He's new and hasn't been in the camp for long. Only a swordsman in training, and not working under someone." He stares directly into my eyes, "He must be a spy, we must punish him at once."

"We should indeed," I walk straight up to the werewolf, although from his werewolf genes he's a head taller than me, I eye him down like a puppy, but his glare doesn't falter, "Gulliver arrest Filbert at once. Take him to the dungeons, strip him of his clothes and lash 10 whips to start off." A man steps out among the crowd - Gulliver, Silas' loyal swordsman who guided me here. He rapidly takes down Filbert and pins his arms behind his back so he can't move.

"What?! What are you doing General Leona? The criminal is him not me. I'm loyal to the military, how could you arrest me?" he pleads as he is slowly taken away, but he continues to try and struggle out of Gulliver's grasp.

I yell, "Do you want me to expose to the whole camp what you've done? You know that you're using a newcomer as the victim when clearly you're the one sneaking around in the middle of the night." I pull out a piece of fabric in my jacket and lift it high in the sky, "This is your's correct?" Gulliver takes the sleeve of the man and pulls out the layer underneath that has a piece of fabric missing. "And overhearing conversations between the Generals, and most importantly abusing werewolf team mates. Do I need to continue that endless list, you shameless fool!"

Speechless Filbert gets taken away slowly, but I could see the hate that marks his eyes - the hate that has already been engraved. If he escapes prison he'll be the greatest enemy to us. But... what a shame he once was the loyal swordsman of brother, and now from his greed of wealth. He has chosen a risky path and finally, he has been caught.

I look around to find everyone startled, "Come on! Don't stand around, there's another day ahead of us!"

"Yes General," says all of them in unison. The crowd slowly disperses and each swordsman heads towards their stations for everyday training.

"You newbie!" I exclaim towards the werewolf.

"Yes General?" he questions.

"Go get your wounds treated, they may be small but Filbert likes to smear poison on his daggers. Most importantly, you should go check it to prevent infection." I hand him over the dagger that Filbert had dropped on the grass.

A bit startled, "Thank you General, I'll go at once," he gives me a bow and walks off towards the medical tent.

I begin to head back towards to the main tent to inform brother of the arresting of his loyal subject. The one he has been suspecting from the start of time - he has been punished.

Walking up the hill with ease I make my way back to the main tent, but another loud ruckus from the front gate fills my ears. I march rapidly towards the front gate, and the same swordsmen as this morning greet me.

"General there's an injured man at the front gate!" says one of the swordsman.

Quickly, I walk through the open gates to find - a wolf.