The veteran chuckles. "Aye. I get it, Marshal."
The ranger citendent tells Velinor, "I'm a hunter too. It's damn tough to do out here in the jungle, but the reward is great."
Velinor grins. "Is that so? Maybe when this all over, I's come down 'ere." He chuckles. "If me wife allows it."
The citendent laughs. "Aye, I understand. I've six kids back home and a wife of me own."
The group around you breaks into laughter.
The citendent smirks. "It's a lot sometimes."
All fall silent once again.
Next
You watch as Obren sits against a tree, sharpening his blade with a whetstone. He's staring east into the jungle, where Rade's army waits only six hours' march away.
The camp is still alive with pre-battle merriment and preparations. Yet the knight is sitting out here, alone.
You approach him from behind.
Obren continues to stare out into the jungle. "No. At least… not in here."
You lean against a tree next to his own. "I understand."
Both of you fall silent. After a few moments, Obren says with a grim chuckle, "Strange we're doin' it all again."
"What do you mean?"
"We're going out to fight again. I was so focused on getting to Krorid that I almost forgot the war wouldn't end then." He laughs. "We still have work to do, Marshal."
"Aye… we do."
"I'm already getting back into fight mode. Sharpening my sword, readying my mind… making my peace. Doubt it'll actually help, but I gotta do somethin' or I'm gonna go stir crazy."
He throws his whetstone into the air and catches it with his left hand, still clutching his sword in the other. "I just want to get this over with."
You chuckle grimly.
"We will, soon enough."
Next
On your way back to your tent, a familiar voice says from behind you, "Hey… Marshal… I got something to say."
You turn to see Lada standing behind you. Before you can reply, she continues, "I don't know what's gonna happen tomorrow. I've been putting off doing this for a long time, 'cause… well, I'm really bad at it." She takes a deep breath. "I'm sorry for what I did before."
"What?"
"I wouldn't leave you alone," Lada says. "I just… wouldn't accept your obvious answer. I don't have an excuse. I don't have some fuckin' justification. I… I'm sorry."
She sighs. "Both, I guess."
"So… you able to die happy now, then?" you ask dryly.
She chuckles. "Perhaps."
With this final statement, she offers you a salute and then walks off.
Next