Deep under flagstones can be found
Times, things, and places which abound.
Where comes our savior and friend
And let no other of you pretend
To know and understand and see and feel
Yes, you are all relegated to kneel.
There she comes, her beauty overwhelms
And can bring war to the fairest of realms.
Yes, that is…
–from the ravings of Siegfried the Sighted. This is largely discredited as not prophetic in nature by the Blackened Sanctuary.
"At ease!" I commanded, and hundreds of my people fell into sagging heaps with their partners. Honestly, I was exhausted too, but I remained standing upright through [Spear of the Many]. In the next life-and-death fight I had, I was looking forward to the benefits that [Victor's Spoils] would give me in keeping me going for longer. Even so, I was able to take a miniscule amount from every one of my people nearby and not affect them while keeping myself looking entirely ready to keep going.
"We will continue to drill this way, but those who are drilled will be given the opportunity to rest that afternoon and night, so that you can recover from this training. There will be a cycle and schedule to this, which your Alphas will receive from those in charge of them. Be listening to it, because this will dictate most of your lives for now. There haven't been any signs of the Misti Hawar recently, but we have good reason to believe that their attack was merely exploratory this time. We will need to be ready for a full assault whenever they manage it. Dismissed."
My people didn't cheer, showing how exceptionally exhausted they were. Instead, they groaned as they rose to their feet and struggled towards sand pits that had been kept indoors and wouldn't be nearly as frigid as the icy mud they'd been drilling in for hours. I wanted a bath, myself, and as I watched the troops file away, Took stepped next to me.
"They aren't sure what they're doing. It might be better to just put them in the positions they're familiar with." She said simply. "Better that they be exposed than alone and stabbing their allies."
"No." I replied as I listened to a couple of the more driven Alphas speaking with their several groupings of fighters. They talked about where they'd struggled and how to improve. Though exhausted, I could see which would be the most promising, and I flicked my tail.
"They will be fine. I'm sure." I repeated. Then, I turned to walk back to the wall, Took following silently behind. Sybil had retreated an hour before, at least, gone to take care of whatever was necessary for her plans, and I'd stayed, serving as the apex "Misti Hawar" as other Keel fought as more rank and file types of our enemies.
It was exhausting but rewarding work. Seeing the panicked groups flounder but then become more ready to face the next was glorious. They were still unimpressive, and would sustain notable casualties, but there'd been progress, and the longer it took for that nameless murderer to return with "her" people, the better suited we would become to fighting them off.
"Should we train them against the wyrms?" Took asked. "Percral could say better than I, but I think that the similarities might be outweighed by the differences. The wyrms are a hunt, while the Misti Hawar are enemies."
"His view would be useful." I agreed. "However, I won't take it absolutely in either direction. Getting more used to enemies that can dissolve into shadow and have their bodies become resistant to their attacks will be greatly beneficial for our rank and file. That way, they'll be able to understand how they're going to be counterattacked. However, I leaving the vicinity of the city could very well be a suicidal move, depending on how close the Misti Hawar have been staying."
"There would be hunts of at least 100 with two Keel in charge, and staying within two miles of the city's walls." Took said.
"You've been planning this." I said to her, appreciating the quick response.
"Yes." Was the simple reply.
"Okay. If you've gotten this planned like that, you have my permission. Be sure to keep an eye out for whatever is coming."
"Of course, Zaaktif."
I flared my frills as she turned to go towards Percral. They'd coordinate something with the squads they'd trained. Brutus walked along behind me as she walked away, his attention on our female friend.
"You could go." I said, flicking my tail in their direction. "I'll be fine without you for a little while."
He clacked his teeth, his attention settling fully onto me once again. "No, I could not do that. Regardless of everything else, I have dedicated myself to you. I will find opportunities to resume my pursuit of her. Do not concern yourself with this paltry concern of mine."
"I don't have to," I allowed, "but I want you to find happiness."
"Ensuring the safety of my people and my country through protecting its most important assets is something that brings me fulfillment and lasting happiness. Thank you, Zaaktif. I am happy."
I sighed but didn't debate the matter further with him. Instead, I walked through the piles of snow tossed flippantly in every direction, cleared out just enough for the Kha, the smallest of my people, to make their way through the streets of the capital. I still waited for whatever possibilities I could to progress on the creation of the temple for Nievtala as well as progress on my [Quests], but I'd had minimal luck so far. Beyond that, as I looked at a pack of Khatif and Kha following one of the newest Keel in the country, I laughed to myself.
"What is it, Zaaktif?" Brutus asked.
"I… ever since I declared that we wouldn't call ourselves keelish any more, we've all just been referring to people by their castes. I haven't come up with a term to use to refer to our people as a whole."
"There… is already one. Sometimes it's used." Brutus said. I nearly stopped in my tracks, confused, but as soon as the words were said, I understood.
"The Saharliard."
"It means something that referred to those of us that came before," Brutus agreed, "and it is obviously intended as a more respectful manner of address."
I nodded before asking Nievtala her thoughts.
It is a term that is carried over from eons past. It is a good name.
I laughed at myself. It'd been there for so long, and I just hadn't thought about it. Continuing to chuckle, I walked into my home, ready to see my children, when Vefir called out, "Zaaktif, hurry!"