Chapter 24 I know a lot of things, friend
Ira’s POV
The meeting room is larger than any place I’ve entered in the base. A long table sits at the center, already surrounded by a couple of warriors and guards on their feet.
They do look to be over fifty but certainly not up to a hundred.
The mixed colors of their uniforms finally seem to blend as guards mix in with the warriors.
Until now I do not fully understand their dynamic. But I do know guards mostly secure equipments within the base and well the servants too.
The warriors? They look the deadliest, all fit and firm with determined faces. They definitely are the ones who stay in the fire front of every battle.
Cortis guides me in, looking just as serious as the rest of them. I follow behind her with very light steps.
If I'm ever going to be a successful spy, I'll need subtlety. What better time to train than now.
She takes me to the wall where two other servants stand in wait, with trays of water jars.
I join them silently, dropping my head timidly as Elric had instructed me earlier. A sigh escapes me when my back presses into the cool wall.
Eyes turn. I swallow, trying not to think too much about why they are staring. I've prepared myself for this.
Agreeing to wear a different dress than the rest servants was surely going to draw attention… I knew that. So why do I suddenly feel uncomfortable in the thicker sky blue dress I'm wearing?
Yes, its intricate cut and design is symbolic and portrays me as Commander Ruel’s slut but that barely matters.
I lift my head, frowning when I realize not only the warriors and guards are staring.
Ruel’s eyes drag over me like I’m a loaf of freshly baked bread hanging in a market stall.
My stomach tightens when he doesn't pull away his gaze. Elric who's sitting beside him nudges him slightly and I watch as Ruel freezes and swiftly diverts his gaze.
Elric hands over a file to Ruel and as if on cue, the whole room falls silent.
“Sit,” Ruel orders.
“Yes Sir!” Everyone obeys instantly, their voices in unison.
I keep standing, trying not to shake. The lonely deep neck cut at the center of my dress does little to keep the cold away.
“Finally tasted the commander huh?” A servant whispers behind me.
I ignore her… I also ignore the pinch I feel at her words.
“Hey, I wasn't trying to be mean. I think you're lucky. If you play your cards well you won't have to starve and work like the rest of us. And who knows… you could eventually put in good word for your friends… like me?”
I lift my head slightly, turning to the slightly taller woman beside me.
I immediately remember her as one of the ladies in room A. I don't know her name but everytime I see her, she's either talking, or working and talking.
“Catherine, that's the name. I know you were wondering… dear friend.” She smiles, showing off a pair of white clean teeth.
“This meeting will be quick but we must exhaust every complaint for the week here,” Ruel’s commanding tone pulls me back to the table.
Elric passes a folder to a familiar face. I look closer, realizing it's the blond man who'd chosen me to be the commander's sex toy.
“Scarface, second sergeant. He's the commander's biggest competitor but the man doesn't even know it yet.” Catherine whispers again.
I nod then pause, glancing at her.
“And how do you know?” I shoot back.
“I know a lot of things, friend.”
I roll my eyes at that and focus on the table once more.
“Last week patrols spotted signs of scouting near the east border. These rogues leave tracks we cannot identify easily and smells that vanish at a point in the woods.” Scarface reads.
Ruel frowns. “They are mocking us but are still not sure about their techniques and so haven't attacked yet.” He mutters.
A warrior lifts a finger and Ruel nods, giving him his approval. “Commander, do we have reason to believe they’re planning an attack? They probably were just travelers or a bunch of uniformed teenagers.”
“We are assuming nothing, but preparing for the worst.” Ruel answers.
This time a lanky guard raises his hand. “Commander Ruel, permission to ask… have you sent a message to the Alpha King about this?”
Ruel’s jaw flexes. “I have.”
“Three messages,” Elric adds, tapping the folder.
A young warrior clears his throat, hesitant. “Sir… then why hasn’t the King responded? Not even to reports of rogue sightings?”
Even Catherine stills as a quiet tension drops across the room.
Another young warrior sitting beside the first lifts his hand. “Like David just said, have you also sent word that someone may be poisoning our food stock. Our wolves are weakening. About twenty fainted last week and they all showed a very low recuperating time. Yet…”
“Nothing,” another interrupts. “Not even a better qualified doctor has been sent to check on us.” the woman who speaks looks furious, her shoulders stiff, her angry eyes locked on the commander.
Ruel doesn't speak immediately, maintaining his calm but silently building the tension in the room.
The guy who I now believe to be David lifts his hand, looking a bit unsure. “Commander… we don’t mean disrespect… but the only letter we know the Alpha King answered was… the one about your, uh… sex slave.”
Every head turns toward me and I instantly drop my head. My chest constricts, and although I don't see their faces, I can feel their hatred for me.
Ruel’s gaze snaps toward David, who doesn't look to be more than twenty. “I never requested a sex slave.” he says with so much control in his voice that if you don't listen closely you wouldn't pick the annoyance underneath.
The second young warrior bows his head immediately. “Forgive us, Commander. But that’s what the King’s reply said. And since the other letters about rogues and poisoning were ignored… it makes it seem like maybe…maybe the letters were never actually sent? Or that someone tampered with them?” He swallows hard.
“Or that you didn’t send them,” another trembling voice adds.
Everyone stays silent, proving how this boys have just spoken their minds. But one person looks uncomfortable… Scarface. He keeps shifting in his seat, his fingers constantly toying with his beard.