Chapter 15

As the commander of the hundred legions of Binoria, Rehny was required by the customs of the commanders that preceded him to always wear armor while in the palace of the King of Binoria. It was a tradition that ran deeper than most, it was a symbol of readiness to do battle no matter the state of the Kingdom, whether in a time of peace or war, the armor was a sign that he, as commander of the Legions, was always ready to take up arms and serve his King.

Rehny wore a white shirt and brown breeches. He was sick and tired of wearing his red armor and the mere thought of strapping the plates onto himself came with an urge to impale himself on his sword. He hated the weight of it, the feel of it and the metallic smell of it. Sure there was the possibility that war might occur against the Talisi and there was the surety of the oncoming war against the Remu, but Rehny found himself not giving a single fuck.

He smiled at himself as he took long strides towards the hall of meeting within the palace where the captains of the Legions held a meeting to discuss how they would split their troops for the Talisi and Remu missions. He took note of the white walls and the high domed ceiling across the hall he walked that had murals of past Kings posed in various stances of war. A part of him wondered where King Vayin's mural would be placed once he died. Knowing the King he'd definitely fix himself somewhere near the throne room as a subtle reference to the fact that he thought himself similar in greatness to Selarch Vigon, the first King of Binoria. Fuck him! Rehny thought.

Rehny hated his position as commander of the hundred legions. The position was the highest among the nobility and it was a position of envy. Thousands wanted his spot yet none of them could take it for only the King appointed the commander and it had come as a shock to Rehny when he was called into the throne room before all the Captains of every Legion and declared the Commander. "I see aggression in you, an aggression unlike any other and that just happens to be the symbol I wish my armies to march behind." Vayin had told him when he'd appointed him. They were young then and Vayin had taken quite some time in choosing a commander with the excuse that he was looking for someone who'd be a symbol.

A part of him knew that Queen Lamical had played a major role in his appointment as Commander, not directly though but through her marriage to King Vayin. The battle against the Talisi after their wedding was the battle that had King Vayin taking note of him. Rehny had gone charging into war ahead of King Vayin's entourage, something that never happened before. It had come as a surprise to all those who witnessed his charge including the Talisi themselves.

Rehny had plunged into the first line of Talisi soldiers alone, his hair in a disarray, his eyes bloodshot with murderous rage and every swipe and thrust of his sword had drawn blood. The Talisi had tried to rush him, get him to trip so they could pile their assault on him but whoever had gotten close to him had suffered the cruel blow of death. They had tried to use spears to stab him from a distance but he'd caught the spears with the nook of his armour at the armpit, pulling their wielders out of their defensive line and dismantling their defense. Other spears he'd simply sheered through their shafts with his double edged blade.

He had been alive with fury, charged with determination and overwhelmed with the immense need to die. Rehny didn't admit it to anyone once he was appointed as commander due to his acts of valor on the battlefield. "I just hate the Talisi." Was his reply when questioned on what had driven him to such superb feats such as to charge an army alone. But the truth was simple. Rehny had really wanted to die.

He was young, with his life ahead of him and with a promising future within the army, but that didn't change the fact that he had wanted to die. Lamical was the reason he'd done it all, joined the army in the first place. Tried to make a name for himself, she had been the reason for everything he'd put effort into and when he saw her wed the King he realized that he'd lost his muse. Rehny had wanted to die in the glory of battle and have his spirit transcend to Tabrimas, the realm of the Valiant. He didn't want to exist in a world where Lamical wasn't his.

His charge against the Talisi had opened their defense and King Vayin together with the seventh legion were able to spear through the Talisi from the opening provided by Rehny like a knife through butter. Sadly for him, he hadn't died and instead he'd gotten a promotion to the highest position within the army. Meaning that he would have to suffer summons to the King who most of the time had the Queen beside him. Surely, there was a demented God who enjoyed clothing him in robes of irony.

Time went by and his urge to die in battle was replaced with a comatose state of mind and being. He just went through the phases of life without any passion or drive other than a hatred for who he'd become and everything around him. His hair had started to turn grey and the mere thought of charging into battle made him want to throw up. He was tired of it all, tired of being a puppet to the man who'd taken his most valuable possession. Tired of having to wake up everyday not knowing if he'll ever taste the thrills of joy that were once familiar to him but now foreign.

It's not like he could turn down his position though he'd thought about it. In the history of Binoria not a single Commander has ever stepped down. An appointment to that position is only ended by death preferably on the battlefield and even the slightest suggestion that one didn't want to serve the Kingdom as Commander would insinuate that the King was wrong in the appointment and suggesting that one with the Jojoh Meena had made a mistake was an act standing in the same line as treason.

"Excuse me, Commander." A handmaiden who looked familiar to Rehny interrupted his train of thought and bowed low enough that Rehny thought her nose might touch the ground. She was dressed in the grey silk common to servants of royalty.

"What is it?" Rehny asked sternly.

"Queen Lamical requests your presence in her chambers, she has sent me to find and tell you that the matter is urgent." The servant said with her head still bowed. At the mention of her name Rehny felt a chill travel up and down the entire length of his spine. He hesitated, unable to speak or act, the handmaiden turned her face towards him. Rehny fought to hide his reaction and nodded at the servant, asking her to lead the way.

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