87 (IN) Chapter 09 - Rudon and Waxer Part 01

14th of Craving, Year 09-435, Evening. Four days after the stampede cleared out, a fight within the Hunters division of the Pendragon Army was putting every Hunter on edge.

The Hunters were the assigned scouts of the army, and as the army was nearing the rally point that the Emperor (Varhys) had indicated, crossing the Western Border, where larger and wilder animals roamed, a disagreement between Rudon and Waxer erupted.

Splitting the hunters in two.

"I keep tellin' you, that area is too DANGEROUS to send tha boys!" Waxer grunted in his guttural voice as a vein angrily popped on his bandit-leader looking head.

"So you're telling me, that we should stop now when we're already THIS close to the rally point?! Are you fuckin' insane?! We were expected to reach there by yesterday! And who are YOU anyway to decide where and when my men go to, huh?! You're just a fuckin' prisoner!" Rudon too burst as his pent-up stress and anger came flying out.

The Pendragon Army had been delayed quite a few times due to the slow pace of its scouts (The Hunters), and every time it was Rudon who had to report to Duke of the disappointing news. Though Duke didn't really mind nor blame him, the fact that he was the assigned leader of the Hunters weighed heavily on Rudon's mind, and it embarrassed him a bit as he felt it was their fault the army was being constantly delayed. Heck, even the supply caravan caught up to them quite a few number of times, indicating just how slow they were going.

As the argument got heated, the other Hunters surrounding them didn't know what to do or whom to side with as both men were equally respected among the scouts.

Even though Waxer was first a prisoner, because of his willing and cooperative attitude over the past few months, Byran decided it would be best to bring him along on the expedition as the Hunters (The scouting and ranged unit of the Army) seemed to benefit greatly from Waxer's wealth of knowledge regarding the forests and mountains all thanks to his past as a bandit.

In truth, Waxer was arguably a better leader than Rudon who was quite new to the whole leading thing. It was Waxer who trained most of the newbie Hunters in Archery and Forestry/Geography.

Whilst Rudon was a newbie leader who had the official title (And Duke's Favor), Waxer was the person who had the most capabilities of a leader, but was also the one with the least social status of Prisoner. Hence why although officially a prisoner, Waxer could still debate about things with Rudon.

"A PRISONER?! So what if I'm a Prisoner, huh?! Are you going ta' send these boys to their deaths because of your lil' ego?! If they die, it's on you, Rudon..." Waxer said in a grumpy voice, but with less anger than before as if resigning to Rudon's decision. Rudon Was the official leader after all.

Rudon stared at Waxer and Waxer stared back, both still seething with rage.

But as Rudon heard Waxer's words, a sad look flashed on Rudon's eyes as he whispered to Waxer in a low yet sentimental voice:

"You don't have the right to lecture me on the value of human life... Waxer... You don't..." Rudon said as he turned around and shouted to the Hunters: "We're camping here for the night boys!" following Waxer's decision to not send the Hunters to scout at night when the beast roamed and the monsters lurked.

Waxer, on the other hand, stood there... silent. A nerve of his was hit by Rudon's words, and the look Rudon gave Waxer shook him to his core.

Waxer had seen many angry and vengeful people towards him over the years, and Waxer also knew that Rudon's Daughter, Annie, was one of the casualties during the raid he first met Duke on.

Waxer was used to the aggressive and angry way people vengefully treated him, much like how Rudon normally acted. He probably would've ignored Rudon if Rudon suddenly punched him right then and there. In truth, maybe Waxer would've preferred it if Rudon had punched him...

But he was met with that mournful stare instead. And that... haunted Waxer.

Remembering his past life, and the life he's had whilst training with the Hunters so far, especially the Junior Hunters who'd come to respect him without knowing of his background... A thought flashed in his mind...

Waxer knew he wasn't a good guy, he knew the despicable things he did, although he doesn't regret most of them, he doesn't deny them either.

Waxer had already accepted he'd die by the vengeful hands of a person he'd wronged someday...

Sitting on a log, Waxer watched as the newly recruited Junior Hunters fired their bows happily. Some who were passing by even saluted him even though he told them many times in his guttural voice that it was inappropriate for them to do so.

It was a first in a long time since Waxer could relax this much whilst surrounded by people. Normally he was constantly on edge because of his past bandit crew's unsavory demeanor and treacherous ecosystem.

But now, all he had to worry about were the older Hunters who knew of his past, and maybe someone attacking him for revenge or because of a grudge, but because Waxer had already made peace with his fate if he does get attacked due to his past, Waxer was pretty much relaxed about the whole thing.

[This is nice...] Waxer thought. But this is also the reason why sometimes Waxer just couldn't help but wonder:

[What if I'd met a Lord as decent, or fuck, even half as decent as Duke sooner... Maybe I would've been in Rudon's cozy ass position right now...

Or better yet, if I'd only been born to a nice cozy home... Wit' a nice mom n' dad... Yeah...] Waxer began daydreaming of such possibilities.

[Maybe... Just maybe, I wouldn't have become this... this monster] Waxer thought as he stared into his dry and rough hands, soaked in blood and innocent life.

[I did what I had ta' do... Anyone in my position would've done the same things I did... Right?

...Right?]

Waxer's thoughts lingered on in his mind, disturbing his thoughts as he tried to make peace with who he was... But like always he couldn't.

*Tak Tak Tak*

Duke kept tapping his quill on the table, asking Byran: "When do you think Vivian's reply letter will come?... Not that I care though..." Duke pretended to not care...

Which obviously didn't work as Byran replied: "It's only been four days, Duke! How lovesick are ya! Gahahaha, the letter's probably still getting there in a day or two..."

"Oh, I see... So she still hasn't received it yet, huh..." Duke disappointedly sighed as a knock and shout came from outside:

"Rudon ENTERING my liege!" Rudon stiffly asked permission despite the fact that only Duke and Byran were there, and that Duke had many times told him not to be so stuck-up, yet all that flew from one ear to the next as Rudon's views on Duke was... let's just say a little skewed...

Piercing eyes that looked like that of a predator's, a posture fitting that of a king, and finally, an iron-bound belly, large and full of girth, that seemed to symbolize his power and vast appetite to lead!

YES! We are talking about "Duke" here!... Or at least how Duke looked like in the eyes of the overzealous Rudon...

If you were to think that Bran was Duke's number one fan, then you would be sadly mistaken, as after Duke flawless handling of the Bandits, the expansion of Maine's economy (This was also Vivian's doing, to be honest) where most of Maine's citizens could now eat with expensive condiments like salt or sugar in their dinner table, and finally how Duke, despite being given by the Emperor a pardon for not joining the war, STILL JOINED! For his men, to lead and protect them against the tyranny of other Nobles who might want to use them as cannon fodder (Or at least that was Duke's fake explanation how he ended up on this expedition), Rudon's view of Duke only grew larger and larger, as if he was almost a God-Like entity to him...

"Milord! Rudon, reporting for duty! I am here to report that it is too dangerous t-to send out the men in this darkness, milord!... A-And so I ask you to give us till the break of dawn to start our scouting activities again, milord!" Rudon stuttered as he felt simply at awe from Duke's overbearing posture!

Meanwhile, Duke's actual posture was laid back and slightly laying down on his chair as he was too sad that he hadn't been able to see nor talk with Vivian for a while now...

"Is that so? Well, the lives of the men first I guess, good job Rudon..." Duke tiredly (tired from not seeing Vivian) replied as he sighed a little bit.

*Sigh~*

"Yes. milord. Thank you for understanding!" Rudon bowed on one knee as he thought to himself: [Ohh milord, DUKE! Such benevolence! Such understanding! Such mercyyy! Even though he is obviously stressed by how the Army has been delayed so many times, he still prioritizes the men's lives first above all! URGH! As the Head Hunter I have failed my Duties milord!] Rudon thought to himself, misinterpreting Duke's sigh for a sigh of disappointment...

Meanwhile, Duke on the other hand was thinking: [Huuuuh... I wonder when Vivian will receive my letter... I-It's not like I care though! I don't... I really don't] Duke thought to himself in a stereotypical tsundere manner.

Quietly looking at the floor, thinking once more of Vivian...

"Milord~! Please excuse ME!" Rudon shouted out as he ran out of the meeting tent as he could no longer see his liege's disappointed expression... determined to make a positive change as he zoomed out of the tent. Filled with determination and will.

"Well... He's a... weird one. Dedicated, but weird..." Byran stared as the whole thing unfolded, speechless.

"Yeah... he's a really hardworking guy... Though he can be a bit weird sometimes... He's cool most of the time... But sometimes weird" Duke agreed with Byran's words as the two stared down at the floor.

Thinking of things.

"Like you're not a weird one yourself... Milord" Byran quietly sighed as he watched Duke strike poses at the mirror nearby... pretending to be a local lord leading some local army (Which he actually was... I think)