Battalion Commander
Velira's thoughts lingered as the man rode away on his twin-horned horse. Shaking them off, she strode back toward the kitchen.
"Who was it?" Mira asked, already half-knowing the answer.
"It was the Battalion Commander," Velira replied without pause, as if such visits were an everyday occurrence.
But for Mira, it wasn't. She had never seen army commanders in this rural area—much less the battalion commander himself.
She gasped. "Battalion Commander?"
Velira nodded while shifting plates from one stack to another.
Mira watched her work, the casual movements at odds with the gravity of her words."It must be normal to you… right?" she murmured—more to herself than to Velira.
"What?" Velira asked, glancing over her shoulder.
"Nothing." Mira turned back to her chores.
Meanwhile, after cleansing themselves at the mountain fountain, the commanders made their way toward the tavern. A knock came at the door.
Velira answered to find General Kael standing there, with several platoon and company leaders behind him—along with the battalion commander himself.
She waved them in. One of the generals smirked."You've taken a fancy to this place?" he teased, implying she might be angling for work here. The generals chuckled.
Velira kept her smile unchanged. "Please, come in."
General Bavrik—The Battalion Commander—took a seat at one of the larger tables, reserved for company commanders. He leaned back comfortably, gaze settling on Velira."Well, Company Commander Velira," he began, "The Flameguards have been searching for you high and low in the mountains. When I told them where you were, they wanted to come right away—but I held them back." He twisted the mug on the table between his fingers. "Don't you want to meet them?"
Velira's eyes lowered. "Well… about that—"
Another commander cut in, studying her. "Commander Velira… why are you covered in bandages?"
At his words, every gaze drifted to the wrappings on her arms and the bandages around her legs.
Velira quickly shifted the subject. "Oh! Commander Morragana, are you interested in hearing the story?" she asked, turning toward her.
"Sure! Sure!" the other commanders replied, curiosity piqued.
"But before that…" Velira glanced at Bavrik. "Shall we take your orders?"
Bavrik cleared his throat. "I can't ask for much luxury in a rural town. Any meat—just properly cooked, well-spiced meat. Anything better than what the battalion cooks serve will do."
Velira's smirk sharpened. "No luxurious meat, you say?"
Bavrik looked puzzled. "Yes?"
She grinned. "Then don't fall off your chair when the meat comes." And with that, she disappeared through the tavern's back door.
The commanders exchanged amused looks. What could Velira be planning?
Their curiosity was soon answered when she returned, carrying two large buckets—one in each hand—and balancing plates along the backs of her wrists. She set them beside Bavrik and began serving the plates to those seated at his table."Don't start yet," she said. "Wait."
She darted back to the kitchen, reappearing moments later with plates and mugs for the rest of the commanders. Then, with two more trips, she returned with more buckets—this time filled with steaming Hornbeast meat—and served them out generously.
Settling into one of the only vacant seats, she gestured. "Why don't you try it now?"
The commanders, maintaining courtesy, glanced at Bavrik first. He dipped his spoon into the gravy and took a sip.
"The spices are good," he said with a small smile.
Velira leaned forward. "Not the gravy—that's just the beginning. Try the real thing." She pointed at the meat.
Bavrik, intrigued, lifted a piece. "Smooth texture… looks familiar. Almost like—" He laughed. "No, it couldn't be that." He took a bite.
The moment the flavors hit his tongue, his eyes went wide. "It couldn't be…" His gaze darted to the other commanders' servings, each identical.
Then he turned to Velira, a grim look replacing his surprise."Is this what I think it is?"
"Indeed," Velira replied. Then her smirk deepened. "And that's just the tip of the iceberg. There's meat from twenty more Hornbeasts in the kitchen."
Every jaw around the table dropped. Velira simply leaned back, enjoying their shock.