[sandbox]

[furiousmaximus]

Antillar Maximus stands at the far end of the Elinarch. He is the ranking officer out with the cohort on guard for a surprise attack from the Canes. They'd be beaten back, but there were a lot of them out there, and they might come again. Tavi would have been the ranking officer, but Max had finally convinced him to get some real sleep four hours before. Without furies to draw on, the commander couldn't push himself as hard as his troops could. Besides, Max knew his business.

His eyes scan across the terrain in front of him taking in the still-smoldering ruins where the firetrap had done less than they had hoped. Behind him he hears the steady rhythm of the Legion's engineers improving the fortifications along the bridge.

For one long moment, Max closes his eyes as he thinks about all the men they lost. But they had held. They had held.

Comments

[calderon-crow.livejournal.com]

"In the manner of things I'd rather leave to the crows," he says with a faint smile of his own.

[chala-alera.livejournal.com]

Kitai's silent movement, coupled with the distraction of an ongoing conversation, mean that the first hint of her approach comes when she speaks, "What is it you would rather leave to the crows, Aleran?"

[calderon-crow.livejournal.com]

He doesn't startle. That's the last thing her voice does to him.

The tips of his ears, however, go a little red.

"Nothing important, Kitai," he tells her with a smile.

[chala-alera.livejournal.com]

Her expression doesn't change as she stares at Tavi for a long moment, then she shakes her head, "I don't think I will ever understand you, Aleran."

[calderon-crow.livejournal.com]

"Probably not. It's my only chance, after all."

He gives Max a sideways look before returning his attention to her.

"Anything around the camp I should know?"

[chala-alera.livejournal.com]

"Other than that you Alerans are all crazy?" her tone is serious. "The camp followers have been discussing leaving. They are glad that you have won, but I do not think they believe you can do it again."

[calderon-crow.livejournal.com]

"Bloody crows," he growls before shaking his head and running a hand through his hair. Too short, still.

"What does Mistress... I mean, Tribune Cymnea have to say about it?"

[chala-alera.livejournal.com]

"She is doing what she can, and many listen to her, but there are mutters that of course she wants everyone to stay since you made her Tribune." She shakes her head, "Your people are too divided, Aleran. None of the clans could survive if they spent all their time arguing over who was in charge and whether or not to obey them."

[calderon-crow.livejournal.com]

"But they're still my people," he points out quietly. "And their difficulties don't make it any less my duty to lead them."

And take care of them.

"Find out some of the leaders of this so called 'deserters' group and tell them they've been promoted to Subtribunes under Tribune Cymnea. If they're going to organize the camp followers, let's have them do it for us instead of against us."

[chala-alera.livejournal.com]

Kitai shakes her head in doubt rather than refusal, "You would put those who oppose you in positions of power?"

[calderon-crow.livejournal.com]

"It'll keep them in sight," he says with a smile. "And it'll turn their own rhetoric against them. Add to that the fact that they'll be so busy doing their work that they won't have time to inspire others to leave and it's the best solution I can see. Fear isn't going to work, because I can't make them more scared of me than they are of the Canim. And as we haven't actually gotten anything from the capitol, yet, I can't use that. So I'm going to have to tire the insurrection out of them."

[chala-alera.livejournal.com]

Still shaking her head, this time in bemusement, Kitai answers, "You are often right about these sorts of things, maybe it is because you yourself share the same sort of craziness."

Her tone and stance shift suddenly, "And what are you doing out here anyway?"

[calderon-crow.livejournal.com]

He slings his thumb towards Max.

"I was getting a status report and about to go looking for you. Why?"

[chala-alera.livejournal.com]

"Because," she reaches out to poke him squarely in the chest, "You should be asleep."

[calderon-crow.livejournal.com]

He doesn't stumble back. Privately, he's proud of himself for that considering how close to falling over he feels.

"I slept. You can ask Max. I slept."

[chala-alera.livejournal.com]

"Not enough, Aleran," she says. "I know." She was there for part of it...

[calderon-crow.livejournal.com]

"I know you know," he admits, not even attempting to deny it.

"Why aren't you in bed then?" he counters.

[chala-alera.livejournal.com]

"Because," she smiles slowly, leaning in close, "You weren't there."

[calderon-crow.livejournal.com]

The rest of his ears joined the tips in their colorchange.

"Oh."

[chala-alera.livejournal.com]

Kitai's hand rises up to grip the back of his neck and she rises slightly on her toes to kiss him, then leans back a bit. "Yes. Oh."

[calderon-crow.livejournal.com]

Amazing how his face was joining the act.

"I suppose... I could go to bed again. Since I've just given out a few orders and checked on things."

[chala-alera.livejournal.com]

"You suppose?" Kitai arches an eyebrow. She leans in and kisses him again, then repeats, "You suppose?"

[calderon-crow.livejournal.com]

"I should."

He nods. Very emphatically.

"It is, in fact, my sacred right. And duty. That as well."

[chala-alera.livejournal.com]

"At least your not stupid all the time," she says with a slight grin.

[calderon-crow.livejournal.com]

He holds out his arm.

"To bed?"