The young lieutenant stormed towards the general in rage, his eyes hostile. A guard noticed him approach and he halted in his path, but even the six-and-a-half-foot-tall iron golem was easily pushed aside. No other guardsman dared restrain the lieutenant having heard rumours of his background.
He anchored his heels in the soil, his breath hotter than a dragon’s, but a rational one, as his bellow grilled the general’s nerves and boiled the blood near his ears. “What’s the point in bringin’ ‘em back alive?” Skowroński asked him, threateningly. “I would’ve happily left ‘em be.” His words were sharp, vexed that his time had been wasted in saving his former cadets from the jaws of death only to deliver them into another.
Nikola was unswayed, and he showed courage to rebuke the man he thought would be his army’s saviour. “You test my patience, lieutenant.” The general snarled, his eyes glaring at him.
Among the bystanders was a lieutenant general who leaned in, interested. Sensing that it was near time to act, he searched around for those he considered ally and foe. His comrades returned unsure glances, while others remained undaring. It was perhaps not his moment, he thought, when laughter caught them off guard. They recoiled and saw the lieutenant swaying on his heels and keeping his hands on the sheaths of his blades.
His fingers reddened and his grip did not relent even if his expression had yet to change into anger. “I could send ‘em back. Vasilevsky’s prob’ly still interested—” The lieutenant told the general, knowing that he would finally burst.
“Major Codrington!” Nikola summoned the commander of the squad charged with crimes and stepped away from the lieutenant who stood his ground. “You are to lead the execution by my command, and it shall proceed here within the minute!” He thrust his spear’s shoe into the ground and declared.
Bracing up, the major had mistakenly assumed that he was finally out of the maelstrom, and when his name was called out, he froze, wondering if there were any loopholes in the law that would exempt him from having to follow the general’s orders as his squad looked up in horror. Their hearts raced, and Alexandria could no longer sit still, bringing her hand closer to her sword. Skowroński unbuckled his blades from his belt, his actions leading to clouds of doubt forming among the general’s staff. They took a step back, their gaze shifting between friends and comrades as the cyclone of madness and infighting raged on. Though they did not see the Alber as allies at the time, the general’s decision would lead to their demise. The more reassuring prospect of mutiny came to their thoughts.
One man, soon braver than the others, stood up and confronted his commander. “Do you think it not wise to consult with the Commonwealth, or do you seek retribution from the alliance as a whole?” The bitter lieutenant general, who had suffered from the general’s erratic decisions, openly expressed his thoughts, which he hoped would serve as a warning.
Murmurs filled the air, and even the most faithful and loyal advisors to the general came to Nikola’s side, unable to appease his commander with fiction when the fact was that this predicament would exceed the bounds of the military code that the League had sworn by.
The brigadier approached the general with his hand on his sabre, keeping a wary eye on his comrades as he spoke to him softly, trying to water his flames. “Discipline must be kept afloat within our ranks, but we cannot risk drawing the ire of our allies over something as trivial as some children forgetting their orders.” He looked over his shoulder and found the lieutenant making ready for battle, and he returned to his general, trying to wane his outburst wherever possible.
“Gen’ral. For their rescue an’ yer men’s lives, I exchanged six hours fer this army t’retreat before Vasilevsky unleashes all hell on us.” Skowroński interrupted the brigadier, pointing to the ground to alert everyone present of what he had done.
Astounded by his roguish behaviour, Nikola turned around, having no respect for him any longer, and approached Skowroński, who kept up his arrogant poise. “And you negotiated this without my command?” The general raised his voice, his patience thinning on every word that the lieutenant uttered.
“You are no commander of mine!” Skowroński roared with smoke escaping between his teeth, his throat illuminated with a fiery glow.
Whispers surfaced, speaking of defiance, and Žižka burst out in laughter. True as it may be, it was rare for Skowroński to embarrass a man before his men unless he found him worthy of disrespect. Before long, the general was suddenly reminded of his aides’ treasonous conversations earlier. Detecting the air changing into that of enemies, the hairs on Nikola’s back stood up, and he cautiously revolved around, finding his men averting their eyes out of guilt for what was most likely going to come.
Scoffing, he seemed to believe that his paranoia had become reality. “You conspire behind my back as I do what is best for our king and country.” Nikola addressed them as if they had already committed betrayal. “Perhaps in their stead, you all should be burnt for treason—” To their bafflement, he made a groundless accusation.
“Now now, Adrien,” An old man stepped out of the crowd and calmly spoke. “Must you torture their poor souls with your temper?” His voice eased the storm.
“They have threatened the hierarchy, the very structure that defines—” Nikola responded heatedly, albeit confused as to why a soldier would dare speak up to him, but when he turned around to see who it was, his words got stuck in his throat and his eyes widened in shock.
“Any man who speaks of the hierarchy is no general.” The elder berated him during his abrupt pause.
Colour escaped the Bohemer’s face, and he felt his heartbeat stop, his demeanour frightful as he subconsciously retreated. “Warneńczyk…” His hand loosened around his spear as he addressed the old gentleman who had come uninvited.
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and then Add to home screen.