Caell gave him a questioning glance. He didn't seem too willing to leave the place they had considered their home for so long. Gaerwen was lost, Ironstone was the only thing standing, and there was plenty of room for all of them to live while they began rebuilding.
" Food? How much have you salvaged?" Dakran broke the silence as he walked around the makeshift beds in the camp, studying the wounded. Some were severely injured, but most of them would make the journey to Ironstone without much trouble.
Caell sighed, his shoulders slumped. It wasn't a good sign. His glum demeanour spoke for itself " Not much. I don't know for sure. We are rationing as much as we can. I have to have a look. I doubt there's much left. Maybe a week's worth if we are careful." he finally answered, uncertainty laced his voice or pain he couldn't tell.
Dakran hummed. They had more than Ironstone, but his people were wounded. They needed food and a warm bed.
" Return home!" Dkarna halted his steps and looked at Caell and then around the camp. Everyone could still move, cared for the wounded, dressing wounds, feeding them.
" Caell! Tell me you'll go to Ironstone so I can move towards the Southlands. I will not leave until you give me your word that you'll do as I asked." Dakran gruff voice became more intense than he intended it to be.
" I need to know that my people are taken care of." he continued in a softer tone.
Caell nodded " I'll get everyone ready and set for Ironstone as soon as we can." He conceded half-heartedly. He didn't seem overly eager to go to Ironstone, but then again, he couldn't blame them. Gaerwen was their home, but now it was gone.
" Very well. I trust you'll keep your word." Dakran gently placed his hand on his shoulder, and Caell hissed in pain. Dakran swiftly removed his hand, letting it hover in the air for a bit and dropped to his side. Caell was in bad shape, and he could only assume that, so we were the rest of the injured, but the shikari had already broken through their defences. It was done. Them being there, it was redundant.
" Good!" Dakran said in a harsher tone, turned on his heels, and sauntered to his horses.
" Would you like some of the men to come with you to the Southlands?" Caell asked from behind, his voice dropped as he spoke, and now he knew it was because of the pain and defeat.
" No!" Dakran paused for a moment to gather his witts. He didn't want to sound harsh again. The sight of the decimated camp had a stronger effect on him than he had desired. Images of disembodied bodies, ripped limb from limb and his parents, who had passed in the same manner as many others, flashed in front of his eyes. Dakran mounted the horse and briefly closed his eyes. They've resurfaced again. He has had peace since he'd met Maya. She was his solace, soothing his wounded soul, but at that moment, they came rushing back like a tidal wave.
" Safe travels, milord." Caell rasped and bowed.
" Thank you, Caell. Call me Dakran! How many times do I have to tell you?We've fought together, shared gritty food, and washed in the dirty waters. You're more like a brother...." Dakran's last words hung in the air but he didn't finish what he had in his mind.
" As you wish." Caell bowed again, and Dakran rolled his eyes. A habit of a lifetime would be hard to shake.
Dakran nodded and nudged the horse and trotted on the edge of the camp with his eyes on the people lying on the makeshift beds. Some loudly groaned, and some suppressed the urge to scream the pain, purging it out of their bodies.
Dakran closed his eyes and sighed. He had to distract himself from the daunting memories. Maya was his solace and his peace-bringer. A sliver of light crept into his dark world when he had held her for the first time and had to hold on to it at all costs. Her bright smile, fierce eyes and those breasts. Oh, Lord! She had fantastic breasts! His lips spread into a wide idiotic grin at those salacious thoughts, and eagerness to explore more of her quickly spread through his whole body and pooled in his groin.
Frustrating! He cursed himself at his own stubbornness to wait. She was more than willing to give herself to him. Stop It! You're getting ahead of yourself. You have to respect her. She will be your wife! Dakran scolded himself.
Dakran sighed and tried to chase the unholy thoughts of him buried between Maya's legs and her perky breasts bouncing up and down, sprawled under him. His soured mood brightened up. Not long now! All he had to do was to return from the Southlands safe and sound. And as fast as he could.
As he walked through the darkness and the eerie silence surrounding him, apprehension crept into his gut. It was too quiet. He already knew this route. He had travelled on this path many times, and he knew it like the back of his hand.
A crack resounding in the distance made Dakran flinch, and his body stiffened. It wasn't a shikari. They weren't known for their stealth. Must be a hungry beast, he told himself. Volsas used to roam these lands once, the ultimate predator. Robust, agile and big enough to knock a grown man on his ass in one lunge.