Chapter 4

• The strategic use of nature’s gifts turned the reposeful prairie into a sanguinary landscape, being the daunting weapon. It wasn’t the first time, but it left the enemy stupefied and triumphed over.
• When the battle was brought to an end, Vice-General Ril’m inspected the aftermath. It was nearly a surreal scene of fallen warriors in the midst of the red petals. The florets, once tools of treachery, now lay as a silent attestation to her innovative utilization of the beautiful nature in the art of war. It was thanks to her late mother, who taught her about the beauty and danger of exquisite things, such as the flowers.
• “You see this, sweetheart?” her mother softly said. Her golden brown eyes, which she had gotten from, twinkled mischievously.
• “What is it, Mother?” her young self asked. They were in her mother’s greenhouse, wherein special and unique plants were grown by her own hands.
• “It’s the veinneux flower. It especially grows in the north, in Viforie Town, and only blooms every summer. It is rare, but you can grow it if you want. It just needs extra care if it’s not planted in the north. You need the northern soil for it to grow.”
• “Is that why it’s special, Mother?” the nine-year-old girl queried.
• “No. This kind of flower is deceitful. You should know, sweetheart, that some beauties are venomous, just like veinneux.” Her mother went on to explain its nature.
• It awed her more than she could say.
• Ril’m almost sighed. She looked up at the gloomy sky, and it began to rain. The wounded were taken care of by the infirmary unit, while the corpses were gathered to be burned later.
• “Vice-General, what are we going to do with Prince Kanikous’ corpse?” one of the troops asked.
• “Bundle it carefully with linen and use a gi’z to deliver it to King Kixik,” she replied. Her hands tightened at her sides.
• “Why don’t you just have it burned with the others?” questioned the Commander-in-Chief when he ambled to where she stood.
• “No, My Lord. I’d rather that King Kixik can mourn his brother properly.”
• “Why do you give him such an opportunity to do so? You must let him suffer,” suggested the old man, logically.
• She shook her head slowly. “This is neither pity nor remorse, because he was also my enemy. I just don’t wish to stoop so low like these barbarians, My Lord,” she explained. “They always leave their enemies to rot in battlefields and don’t even send them off properly, as if they killed beasts for sport to brag their prowess.” Her eyes were hooded, letting the rain soak her.
• General Hild’m put his cape around the Commander-in-Chief’s shoulder.
• After a few minutes, the cool summer rain ceased, as if it was just washing the bloody battlefield and buried the flowers in the mud. When the following day came and dried the battlefield, her men burned the carcasses. She silently prayed to the gods to take care of their souls in the underworld.
• ***
• “King Xarius sent us a message, calling us to the capital for your special promotion,” Commander-in-Chief General Daramir told Ril’m one night to the latter’s surprise.
• “What? Do I need to, My Lord?” She watched as a trooper cleared the table. They had just finished supper. Her mask was back on her face. Only a few of their men saw her without it. These were mainly General Hild’m, Heceq, and a few men working at the kitchen and baths.
• “If he says so, yes. He wants to see the one dubbed as Flower General that I raised myself,” Daramir said proudly. There was a hint of smirk in his usually unsmiling face.
• “I think it’s absolutely unnecessary, but whatever,” she uttered, deadpanning.
• Daramir clasped her shoulder. “It’ll be your first time to visit Karavil City, Ril’m. Why don’t you take this opportunity to see how the capital city looks and how it operates? You can’t be too ignorant about these things.”
• She wanted to protest, but she held her tongue.
• “Who knows? You might find something interesting in the capital?” He winked at her good-naturedly. It seldom happens, actually.
• She sighed and moved her shoulder to take his hand off her. “Interesting things can also be found in Gezzo or Merilla City, if you know what I mean. By the way, I’m off. I’ll be back tomorrow evening.”
• “Of course. You deserve some time off. You can rest for two days, and we’ll be on our way to the capital,” agreed the Old Man of the Northern Border. Understanding was in his eyes.
• She immediately set off in her civilian black garb, using a black scarf as a mask. The wind beat her face and body as she rode. She used the usual black horse for riding incognito whenever she went to the city to take some time off. This was just her one guilty pleasure after a successful mission. Her promotion was already handed to her, but she had to properly receive it in the capital as ordered by King Xarius, who was called by his subjects as “Crown Usurper.” Well, it wasn’t her business what were the goings-on in the royal court. All she had to do was defend her kingdom and its children, keep the innocents safe. She didn’t want these children to become orphans like her. There was nothing more miserable in a child’s life but this. The pain, the loss, the lonesomeness, and other unnameable things were unspeakable. To thrive alone in this world at such a young corruptible age was incomparable to youths shielded by their parents, their family, and friends.
• Unfortunately, she had zero in that department. She had no one but the Old Man in the Northern Border and his men.
• Perhaps, she had to count herself lucky. But still, what she had undergone all those years were not easy. This was an understatement actually. She had suffered a lot all through those years just to get where she was now. Natheless, she was grateful to the Commander-in-Chief for all her life, and it was beyond words she could cry. But her heart was long hardened. Maybe her tear ducts were already blocked after that tragic night. The old man gave her a chance to live a better life than those other orphaned children in the kingdom. For that, she could never complain but be thankful.
• It was almost dawn when she reached Gezzo City. It was one of the cities that never sleeps in the whole kingdom. The other was Karavil.
• She entered the familiar inn. The proprietress herself greeted her with a huge smile.
• “This way please,” she said to the right stairway instead of the left one.
• She almost raised an eyebrow. “Why not my usual room on the second floor?” she asked mildly.
• “My apologies, I had no idea you were coming today, My Lord. Hence, it’s being occupied by a gentleman from the capital.”
• She nodded. “Take care of my horse, and bring in the usual lady, please,” she requested politely but with an authoritative tone.
• “Of course, My Lord. I’ll send someone to fetch her right away,” the proprietress replied with a wide knowing smile. Her dark eyes twinkled and opened the door to a suite.
• Just before Ril’m stepped into the vacant room, the tall and well-built man that occupied her usual room stepped out and saw her. His silver-blue eyes immediately caught her slender form and her side profile, as though she moved in slow motion. Her mask accidentally came off when the proprietress turned her back to follow the patron’s order.