There was a knock at the door. She sighed heavily, and muttered a barely audible word. The knock came again, and she repeated it louder "Come in."
Her trusty friend, Zak, came through the door. "General, I came by to..." he stopped short. He looked at her and said "General, you look terrible."
"You are so kind, Zak," she said. She had dark bags under her eyes and her hair was unkempt, a far cry from the meticulous bun she kept it in underneath her cap or helm. "I suppose you'd look just as good after a handful of goblins killed two of your best soldiers."
"No, I suppose not." Zak said. "Have they found Thuellai's body yet?"
"No, but I don't expect them to. Probably mangled up in that infernal water ladder that Shoruke built." She looked at Zak but her eyes couldn't focus. "I can't keep loosing good men and women, Zak. I can't handle it."
"General," Zak said, taking her hand and kneeling by her. "You've been in tougher situations before. We are at war. Thanks to you, those goblins faced a trained military force and were slaughtered, instead of being able to kill dozens of civilians. Larks and Thuellai died heroes."
"Heroism is worthless to the dead." She said bluntly. "They won't even know if we toast them every night or forget about them tomorrow, they are dead. The dead know nothing of our continuing torment."
Zak thought a moment, and had an epiphany. "General, I came to tell you that there is need for you on the crypt level. There is some confusion as to how you want the new tombs designed."
"Handle it, Zak. Just leave me be."
"General, it would do the garrison good to see you out and about, but first, we should clean you up a bit..."
***
Ten minutes later, slightly refreshed and with her hair brushed and flowing behind her, the General walked up the stairs to the crypt level. She didn't notice the newer dwarves avoiding her gaze, nor the veterans looks of concern. She walked down the corridor and stopped after passing Neo's tomb.
"This can't be a new tomb, Zak. What is this?"
"Ah, General...that is something I wanted to give to you on your birthday next week, but since you needed some cheering up..." He opened the door for you and shower her in. On the walls were engravings of her battles and the history of the fortress, as well as the civilization for the last thousand years. In the center was a stone coffin of masterwork design with the declaration she had carved in her room engraved behind it behind a green glass window.. on either side of the cofin were twin pillars of green glass. The General looked at the layout, and said to Zak harshly: "What is this supposed to be?"
"A tomb, General."
"I know that, Zak, I mean what is the design." She dreaded to hear his answer. It would mean that she could not trust anyone at this fortress, even a mute engraver.
"General, it is a dragon skull with green eyes."
"And what significance is that to me?"
Zak sighed. "General, I saw the drawing that was hidden in your bed when I was engraving your room. I also have read parts of your logbook. I know who you are, and I want you to know..."
"Tear this abomination down." She said. "And I never want to hear another word from your mouth. Do your speaking around someone else, soldier. If you are smart, you will stay out of my sight." She turned on her heel and stormed off. Zak stood, dumbfounded.
***
The General slammed her body down on her bed, and did something she hadn't done in well over a thousand years. Tears flowed down her cheeks and she sobbed. She cried, for Malaki, for Neo, for Thuellai and Larks...for herself...for Zak...for everything. She just cried for the first time in a century.
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Topic: The General Reborn {Community Fort} (Read 10658 times)