"What?!" I snap at whoever is waking me up hoping my anger will scare them off as I roll over and try to go back to sleep.
"Mary, I'm sorry but we may have a bit of a situation. Akiyama found a specialist in uniform, but no team designation and he saluted with the wrong hand and said 'yes ma'am', apparently. I thought I saw him with you earlier so I need you to clarify who he is. Please my love, then you can come right back to sleep."
He rubs my shoulder and I grumble at him, "It's Bavarthos most likely. He borrowed a uniform so he wouldn't get mistaken for being one of the Erl's forces and so he's not recognized by accident. Now can I go back to sleep?"
I pull the cover over my head and feel John tense at the mention of Bavarthos.
"Bavarthos..." John grumbles before leaning over and whispering into my ear.
"Get some rest my love. I'll figure out the situation with him and explain something to Akiyama."
I return to a dreamless sleep before I even feel him stand up from the cot.
....Barvarthos POV....
'I really need to wash the mess out of their fur later. That's going to be fun, right?'
'Sarcasm is wasted when I use it on myself.'
Looking out over as my pets prowl keeping the distance of the Erl's armies pushed back, I can't help but notice the discoloration of some of their fur. My magnificent beasts could cause terror in even the most hardened Fae soldier. They know they are extremely dangerous and now they'll know that they have help from a powerful one of their own.
I'm lost in thought watching them and don't hear someone approach me.
"Hey soldier?"
I turn when someone places their arm on my shoulder making me start.
It's the Captain from earlier.
"Sorry, Ma'am. You startled me. Is there something you need help with?"
She gives me a calculating glance before replying, "You don't want to be caught off guard, especially here. You're liable to get killed that way."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Akiyama, I've got it from here. Thank you."
'Ah shit.'
I hear Johns voice and look behind me, sure enough there he is.
"Hey John..." I look at him calculating his demeanor to see if he's still as hostile from prior.
"Come on .... specialist. We need to get you some new patches." John seems nonchalant as he motions for me to follow him.
'At least he's smart enough not to cause a scene or use my name.' I think as I follow behind him.
He leads me into one of the few 'buildings' that are located in the area and shuts the door.
"What are you doing in one of our uniforms, Bavarthos?"
"I would have figured your lovely wife would have said something earlier to you about it." I cross my arms and lean against wall of the building as he just looks me over.
"Oh she told me you didn't want to get confused with the Erl's forces and get shot at."
"Since you know why are you asking me, yet again?" I look at my nails bored at where I think this conversation may more centered around his jealousy.
"Well, for someone who doesn't want to get shot at, you came pretty close to it earlier." John's quick and irritated words have me looking at him confused.
"I'm missing something here. Earlier? How so?"
John scoffs at me as he throws his hands up in the air, "Your uniform is missing certain identifying pins and patches for one. Two, you always check the other soldiers rank, anything higher than yours, is entitled to a display of respect. Just 'yes ma'am' is something we don't use. You address them by their rank and name, unless it's Sin. She doesn't care as long as it's respectful. Three, this was your biggest mistake, you saluted with the wrong hand. If Akiyama thought that you were a threat, she would have been allowed to shoot you if we were not here."
He finished his point with a pointed look, like he was lecturing me.
"WELL.." I pause and look away for a second gathering my thoughts. "We were kind of busy, it's not like I could have asked either one of you at the time, 'do I look and act the part?' Now could I?"
"So how do we go about this now? Akiyama knows you're not a soldier and we have to keep your identity hidden." John asks me.
Jasmine and whiskey fill my senses right as I tell John with a growing smile.
"If I gave you all the answers, what would you learn, little John?"
"You asshole."Johns face flushes.
'John looks pissed, how delightful.'
"Both of you are assholes. Now, tell me why I'm not already here for this conversation from the beginning?" Sin walks up startling John.
"Mary, why are you not sleeping? I know you needed your rest." John goes to her arms open to cradle his precious partner.
She leans on his shoulder for a second before grumbling, "Akiyama felt the need to inform me that you were 'calmly' taking the specialist to here. She emphasized the calmly part. I didn't know what was going on, so I had to make sure." She looks over the both of us.
"Glad I did. You two insulting each other, I can't imagine it ending well for anyone." She throws her accusing eyes back and forth between us and I go back to my wall to lean against.
"You didn't miss much other than my uniform was missing some identifying patches and I don't know your army protocols or how to salute. Your Captain, Akiyama, was ready to shoot me earlier. Is this how you treat your ally? I mean, the reason why we are still not battling with soldiers making it through or over the walls, is because of my help."
I take the opportunity to remind them how screwed they'd be without me right now, and I haven't even started with the tricks I have up my sleeve for my father. I've got a score to settle with him, how could I not have plenty of ways to thwart him?
"Yes, thank you Bavarthos." Sin nods her head at me. "We have you to thank in more ways then one. Now we just need to figure out 'what's your story?'"
She folds her arms across her chest and chews on the inside of her cheek while looking me over, thinking.
"Do I really need a story? Why can't I get some patches and be considered someone who others only know if they need to? I do have to get back to one of my places and make sure the next bit of information is gathered and what our counter will be."
I tap my foot softly and slowly as I wait for a response.
She eyes my foot, rolling her eyes before cocking her head at me.
"You see that would be part of the problem. No one knows you or your story. If you disappear and reappear at a whim, there are many who would become suspicious. If you have a story to tell, people tend to trust you a bit more."
"It's better if we keep as close to the truth as possible, that way, you will be believable." John pipes in. "However, what if someone recognizes him? We'd have a huge problem on our hands. Him and Thietian look so similar as it is, I'm shocked Akiyama didn't think it was him."
I chuckle at their naivety.
"What's so funny?" John scowls in distaste at me.
Smiling widely, my cheeks plumped up under my eyes to ensure my teeth are quite visible as I chuckle with disdainful mirth.
"That you think I would come, around people who could possibly recognize me, with out a means of disguise. You two see me how I am, Thietian can too... unfortunately." I roll my eyes at the thought.
"Everyone else sees this." I snap my fingers and they stop and go wide eyed for a moment before I snap my fingers again, dropping the veil from their eyes. "It's called Veiling. It changes my appearance enough that I'm not recognizable, without having to change my actual physical body and be consumed and restricted by time constraints. The only thing it doesn't change is my voice, so I think it best to avoid my brothers and sisters."
I watch them as they nod in confirmation, causing me to internally sneer. I can't believe they thought me stupid enough to not have some means of disguising or protecting myself. They used to be terrified of me, but in just a short amount of time they've become more condescending towards me. I get the itch in the back of my head that they might actually be forgetting the fact of how powerful I actually am. Even without using some of my other capabilities.
"Look, it's touching the way you two are concerned...." my tone comes out like vitriol, emphasizing my extinct enthusiasm to their concerns. "However, you forget, I am more than capable of handling myself and any of these situations we may find ourselves in."
The thought sweeps through my mind, maybe I should set my expectations out there for them.
"While we are at it, it's come to light that I should reiterate points from the contract we all signed that you have let slip from your minds."
Now it is their turn to give me looks of restrained contempt. I feel my lips thin into a firm line before continuing.
"We have an alliance between us. One that I thought I made clear when we agreed to it, that I would be given some form of respect from you all. Prior to signing, you both loathed and feared me, but you still gave me a certain amount of respect. Since the signing your respectful demeanor progressed and suddenly has hit an all time low. Suddenly you have forgotten that I am a Prince, like my siblings, that title alone deserves more respect then what has been given. That I am still vastly more knowledgeable and capable in the magical arts. Older than both of you combined, the reason you both are still able to be with each other, let's not forget that bit of information again, Mr. Lacroix." I intensely glare at John, speaking with my lower jaw jutted forward a degree and my head subtly moving like a metronome.
"Let us also add to the fact, that the only reason you are not retreating or still struggling to keep the army back is because of me. That if I had not formed this alliance, that at least some of you would be safe at your little havens that are there because of ME." I take a breath before continuing now using my hands to intensify my meaning and emotions.
"I've done more for the human race and for you two then your Thietian has and yet somehow I don't deserve your respect?! That you feel that you can treat me condescendingly because I didn't bother in a split second decision to study your military dress and protocols?! That I suddenly do not have the capabilities to protect myself or think of an alternative to what you two perceived to be a problem?!" I stop myself to take a few breaths before my anger engulfs me.
"Even with your knowledge of these things, you're letting lies, rumors, stories, or partially completed pictures and situations to further your bias against me and justify your lack of consideration and poorly conducted manners."
So many emotions are trying to force themselves out of me right now but I swallow hard and grit my teeth before forcing out my last sentence.
"I'm not perfect but I'm actually a good guy in all this."
They're both quiet.