Chapter 123.

Chapter 123.
123\. Ethan.

I sat in the armoury, supervising the distribution of weapons and assigning jobs to my subordinates. I was also checking weapons, seeing if they were worthy for our operations.

"This gun isn't combat worthy," I said, examining the weapon with a critical eye. "The pin has rusted and the parts aren't available." I handed the gun to a junior officer seated at the table, who took it with a mixture of caution and curiosity.

"That's how many faulty weapons we have found?" I asked, my eyes scanning the room as I waited for an answer. The junior officer took a moment to scan his jotter, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Three hundred and fifty-five guns are not combat worthy, sir!" he replied, his voice crisp and formal, like a soldier reporting for duty.

I smiled slightly and tapped his shoulder once. "Relax, you aren't in boot camp," I said, trying to put him at ease. The tension in his shoulders eased slightly, and he nodded, a small smile on his face. I placed my hands on my waist, surveying the room with a sense of concern.

We had just enough bullets and weapons to fight the war, which was a problem. A surplus was good, a surplus of weapons meant that it would be easier to fight without thinking about shortages. But with over three hundred guns out of commission, we were running perilously close to the edge. I couldn't afford to have my troops worrying about whether they'd have the firepower they needed to get the job done.

I walked over to the table, scanning the array of guns and equipment laid out before us. "What's the plan to rectify this situation?" I asked, my eyes narrowing as I searched for answers. The junior officer looked up at me, a hint of determination in his eyes. "We're working on scrounging up replacement parts, sir. And we're also looking into alternative sources for ammunition."

"Alternative?" My brows furrowed.

"Sergeant McLean is working with a plant to make locally made bullets, because he suspected there would be a shortage."

"That's very smart, but it won't be enough. We won't be able to process everything on time. And rushing things would only reduce the quality." I rubbed my chin thoughtfully.

I nodded, my mind racing with possibilities. We needed a solution, and fast. The war wasn't going to wait for us to get our act together. I turned to the junior officer. "Get me a report on our supplies and equipment. I want to know exactly what we have, and what we need to make up the difference." He nodded, scribbling down notes as I continued to think out loud.

"We need to prioritise repairs and maintenance. We can't afford to have more guns going down due to neglect or poor maintenance."

The junior officer nodded, his eyes wide with understanding. I could see the gears turning in his head as he calculated the task ahead of us.

"My lord, you have a visitor!" Someone called from the entrance. "It's the lady!"

I wiped my hands clean and dusted my clothes, the smell of metal and grease lingering on my skin. "Please let her in," I said, nodding to the guard standing at the entrance of the armoury. The guard nodded and stepped aside, allowing Rachael to walk in.

Rachael entered the armoury with a bright smile on her face, her eyes sparkling with warmth. I couldn't help but smile back at her, feeling a sense of joy at her presence. I pointed to a bench at the corner of the room, and we both walked over to it, sitting down side by side.

"And to what do I owe the visit?" I asked, cocking my brows in curiosity. Rachael's smile didn't falter, and she folded her arms across her chest, her eyes never leaving mine. "Nothing, I guess I just miss you," she said, her voice soft and gentle.

As we sat together, I became aware of the distinct scent of oil and incense on her skin. It was a familiar smell, one that I associated with Lyanna's chambers. I turned to Rachael, my curiosity piqued. "Are you coming from Lyanna's?" I asked, my eyes narrowing slightly as I waited for her response.

Rachael's smile grew wider, and she laughed softly. "Wow, how did you know?" she asked, her voice filled with amusement. I smiled, feeling a sense of satisfaction at having guessed correctly. "You smell of oils and incense," I replied, my eyes locked on hers. "It's what gave you away."

Rachael's eyes sparkled with delight, and she leaned in closer to me, our legs touching as we sat side by side. The proximity sent an electric sensation down my spine, and I felt a sense of comfort at having her near. We sat in silence for a moment; the only sound was the soft clanging of metal and the murmur of voices from the other side of the armoury.

"Yeah, I've been doing some training with her. I'm trying to get up to speed with my powers." She smiled brightly.

My guard was lowered around her. She made me feel at ease talking to her. "Oh really? And how is that going?"

"I took a break. I still have about—" she glanced at her little watch. "I still have like twenty-five minutes until my break is over."

I just laughed and clapped my hands together. "So you are spending your break with me?"

"Is that a bad thing?"

"No, I think you should do that often." Two men moved a heavy box of ammunition into a large vehicle. "It keeps me sane, having you around." I glanced at her.

Her face lit up like a tomato, and she covered her hands with her palms, her eyes wide with embarrassment. "You should stop saying things like that," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's embarrassing!" She looked like she wanted to melt away, her cheeks flushed a deep shade of pink.

I chuckled and gently pulled down her hands, revealing her flustered face. "It's the truth," I said, my voice soft and sincere. "You keep me sane, after everything that happened." My words seemed to catch her off guard, and for a moment, she just stared at me, her eyes searching mine.

Then, without warning, she suddenly got to her feet, her movements swift and decisive. She planted a quick kiss at the corner of my lips, her touch sending a spark of electricity through my body. "I have to get back to training!" she exclaimed, her voice breathless. "See you later!"

Before I could say anything, she turned away and jogged out of the armoury, her long strides eating up the distance. I watched her go, a smile spreading across my face as I caught a glimpse of her red ears as she ran away, totally embarrassed. Her reaction was adorable, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of delight at the way she had responded to my words.

I touched my cheeks and turned back. "Alright boys, let's get this over with!"