The Dangerang army tasked with driving away the Kinga army out of Houken and in addition out of Dangerang itself, were struck with demoralising news. Their commander in chief, lapsun, had been killed by the enemy. They were the first to find out as a scout from the city were he stayed brought the generals the news as he asked for help, later this news had spread through the whole army. News that brought all except one unit to tears, even as they marched onwards to Houken, the silence of the army conveyed its depression. In this depression was also a tinge of fear.
The army had to act accordingly, and replace the commander in chief. The one who would fill this role was Shisiu, leader of the Blackrock unit.
It was a day after the news broke that they arrived in the small city were Lapsun died, named Sun, where Lapland and Sunjack would join up with the army. The army would stay near Sun for a few extra hours, so the unit leaders could discuss their battle plan.
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Sunjack and Lapland Joined the Dangerang army minutes ago and were now looking for the Jackmen unit. They got lost in the five thousand soldiers that inhibited the area, they looked for ten extra minutes but somehow they ended up in the Blackrock unit. Lapland mocked, "How can you lose your own unit Sunjack," "hey, you try to find a hundred people in five thousand." "But they are your crew, and they most likely have their banners raised high in the sky so you could find them." "If you where quit maybe I could see it better then." Sunjack put a hand above his eyes to block the sun then looked around some more, but now he focused most on the banners.
The banner of Blackrock unit was black with a white dots in the middle, with the edges of the banner brown. The banner of the Jackmen was red with a orange triangle pointing downwards. But he didn't see their banner anywhere. "What if they forgot your unit back at fort Juman," Lapland joked.
"Don't be stupid, thanks to our achievements my unit has been elected for this campaign by the king himself."
Sunjack said that with doubts in his heart, as all he could see behind where the depressed unit of Antidam, beside them where the depressed unit of OneSun, and in front of him were the squads of the Blackrock unit talking to their teammates.
Compared to the other units though, the Blackrock unit was in high spirits. Though they where modest about their happiness, being as quit as they could, their stance about the army's current situation could not be mistaken.
"General Shisiu is finally going to get his big break." Was whispered among the ranks, "that old farts death was a blessing in disguise." Was said by another goblin, following this comment giggles could heard.
Sunjack stopped looking for his unit and angerly stamped towards where the comments came from, intending to scold whoever made them, but before he could say anything, "Who said that!" Could be heard from behind him. When Sunjack turned around Lapland looked at the Blackrock soldiers with a fury.
With no response heard Lapland yelled, "Who made those comments about my father Lapsun!!?" "Calm yourself Lapland." Sunjack snarled, "A no named soldiers like you will get killed if you mess with superiors." Lapland looked to the ground gritting his teeth.
"It was me who said that about the old fart." A soldier walked out of the masses. He was just as tall as Sunjack, fairly skinny, and his long hair was tied into a ponytail. His face was feminine, with a small nose and big eyes. He smirked as he looked down to Lapland, "I am Lyunn, a fifty man squad leader within the Blackrock, I guess you are Lapsun his son then?"
Lapland walked to Lyunn standing face to face the man looking him in the eyes, he balled his fist as he said, "I want you to take back every single thing you said." Lyunn his smirk turned into a toothy smile, "I apologise for calling him a old fart." "And the rest!"
Lyunn threw his hands in the air, "Me and my men will not apologise for having an opinion," "You bastard." Laplands balled up fist flew at the face of Lyunn but before it could hit anything Sunjack pushed Lapland back so hard he landed on his butt.
Sunjack now stood in front of Lyunn, "I am onehundred unit leader Sunjack, I apologise for my soldiers behavior just now." "Oh don't worry, many people want to the same," Lyunn looked around, soldiers from all directions where now looking at him maliciously, he smirked as he looked at Sunjack, "this is a sensitive topic, especially for you officer Sunjack."
The news from his father dying was still fresh in Sunjack's mind, but he wasn't planning on showing this weakness in front of the soldiers. "What happened happened, how my soldier behaved was inappropriate, that's all I wanted to say." He turned to Lapland, "let's go!"
After Sunjack asked for a bit Sunjack finally knew the location of his unit, they were stationed directly behind the Blackrock unit. After walking for a few minutes they saw them.
"There they are." Sunjack exhaled in relief.
Four men came to them almost immediately. "There he is!" "I told y'all he was going to be late," "Someone owes me a lot of kubricks."
Sunjack introduced these men to Lapland as his twenty-five men commanders. "Your late again Sunjack." Stranger said, Sunjack had an awkward smile on his face as he scratched the back of his head. Stranger was a little younger than Sunjack was, though the way he acted made that seem opposite. His face wore a permanent frown, and his hands were folded. His hair was cut neatly and there wasn't a dirty spot on his on his armor.
Count was another leader, he was clearly the oldest among the leaders, probably even older than Laplands father as he had many wrinkles on his face. That confused Lapland most people at that age retire from the army. Count didn't didn't say anything as he was to busy counting the kubricks in his hands.
Ludu was bulky, his brows were so thick that they overshadowed his eyes. "Sunjack, if your quick you can join our group workout, your little brother too!" "I'll come if I have the chance" Sunjack responded." "Whoohoo!" Count cheeringly interrupted, he threw his arm around Sunjack's neck, "thanks to you coming late I just won sixty kubricks, when this is all done let's get a drink." Sunjack smiled, "You never stop do you Count." "Is it a problem if I don't."
"I have yet to find out Count, yes let's get a drink." Sunjack laughed.
"You guys are probably planning this together," Stranger snarled from the back.
Then there was Piten who came in and immediately shook hands with Sunjack, then then went in for a small hug "We heard the news, I'm sorry Sunjack." then he went in to hug Lapland, but the boy pushed him away, then looked to the ground. Piten retreaded silently and fast, "it's going to be alright Lapland." he whispered. They didn't know eatchother, but Piten already cared immensely for the boy.
Sunjack then asked to keep the sentimentalities till after the war, but deep down he needed that hug, and Piten knew that. "Is there anything I missed Piten?" "yes, your late so the generals started discussing strategies without you, though your presence is still requested." sweat immediately appeared on Sunjack's forehead. "Stranger, your Laplands leader now, Lapland obey his every command, I need to go!" Sunjack ran away.
Later he arrived at the tent were the battle plans were being discussed, but just before he could enter other generals walked out of it, one of them was the OneSun second in command. Sunjack knew him, it was Luitan, a man he knew as an uncle they made long eye contact but didn't speak a word as he passed by.
Sunjack went into the tent.
Shisiu had short hair all and his eyes looked like snake slits, but the most surprising part about him was that his skin, unlike other goblins, was white as snow, Sunjack felt as if that made Shisiu curses. The commander and chief sat in his chair with a table in front of him, on the table there was a map with pawns stationed at different spots. He looked at the map and pawns thinking, not even paying attention to Sunjack
"I see you finally have arrived Sunjack." he said, "Yes, i'm sorry sir, I got a bit lost." Sunjack responded. Shisiu finally looked up and showed an eerie smile, "No matter, as long as this isn't a recurring problem." Sunjack got to look in the eyes of the commander and felt like he was being studied by the man. Shisiu red eyes darted over the body of Sunjack and finally at his face. "It won't happen anymore commander," Sunjack said, he tried to be stoic, but his hands couldn't help but shake from the pressure he felt.
He quickly hid them behind his back, holding his own hands. Shisiu then told Sunjack to sit at the table, "I'm sure you've noticed, my men are happy with your father's death, they call it my big break." "Everyone is entitled to their opinion..." "Yet this is a stupid one, Lapsun was a legend among the goblin people, not only was he one of the most strategic minds in Dangerang, he was also a hailan believed to be blessed by moon, and feared by the souls.
In a way was his presence enough to make the Dangerang people feel safe, and his return to the battlefield was something that gave Dangerang, a state that had been schrinking in size and power these last few years, a surge in morale. His death did the complete opposite for all but one unit." Sunjack understood this opinion, as even though he was in the camp for a few minutes, he already could see that soldiers gave up hope for the incoming battle.
shisiu kissed his teeth, "No matter how you look at it, Dangerang lost a valuable piece."
Sunjack's ears perked up then he got the table, the wood cracking thanks to the force, "He was more than just a piece!" Shisiu quietly looked at Sunjack for a moment, "whatever you want to call him doesn't matter, were in a crisis if this goes on."
Sunjack took an instant to calm himself down again, he already knew that the Blackrock commander was known to be insensitive, but calling his father a piece made him release some pent up emotions.
Sunjack asked calmly, "then how do you want to re ingnite the flame of this army." "Isn't it obvious, I want to do that with you!"