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Things had become quite interesting between the two human captains, and Ehan was able to comfortably watch the goings on from his own standpoint – outside the conflict entirely. The orc captain – Ehan did not know how to say his name, so stayed with the generic title – had decided to get himself involved in the inner battle between Koran and Herding. Obviously their little vendetta had become visible enough for others to decide to take advantage of it. That means that it has gone too far for a strange situation such as this, Ehan realized. When others are able to profit from such distaste between two captains, no good can come of it.
The story of betrayal had often been told by his sister, countless variations where a loyal subject is forgotten or a haughty king killed in mutiny for his trespass. Ehan had never heard a tale quite the same as the one unfolding in the camp among men – and orcs – of such high rank and reputation. Because there had never been an ending to such a story, as far as Ehan knew, all the boy could do was watch and wait for the result of all the battles of words.
But what are words, when actions will decide who is left? Ehan wondered, his mind racing as he and Koran left the orc and his captain pondered the words of both man and beast. What would happen next could only be guessed, and until the end was revealed Ehan would do what he could to make certain that he remained unaffected, and unattached. Surely, Ehan felt some sort of bond between Koran and himself, but Ehan had quickly learned in his life that bonds and ties were broken more quickly than flesh. If he let his mind slip and his heart take over, things would get ugly…as they already had between Koran and Herding. That is their problem, the Southron mused, they let their feelings and their anger and their pride get in the way of things. Koran would surely save his own skin before saving mine, so why should I not be willing to return the favor? Relations between Herding and Koran would have certainly made for a heart-wrenching and enticing tale, and Ehan still wondered who would come out the victor…the hero.
“Captain?” Ehan inquired, gently requesting the attention of the older, but still rather young Southron captain. Koran looked up, his eyes dazed and his face filled with pockets of indignation and contemplation. “Captain, do you know where it is we go next, and what it is we are going to do?” Koran had mentioned before in Herding’s tent that he had ‘business to attend that cannot wait’. Ehan was nearly sure that this had indeed just been a ploy to get Koran out of Herding’s stuffy tent, but still the boy wondered what Koran would do next in the game.
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