Chapter 40 - Kor

I can't stop staring at it. The physical proof that I'm a father. Ever since we read the letter a few days ago Bel and I have been trading the drawing back and forth between ourselves. We both find ourselves taking it out often as though in the hour or so since we last looked we'd forgotten what our baby looks like.

*

Much like when we'd first got the news about the baby Bel has been running around the base telling everyone who would listen about our son. Many people have been asking me to get him to stop but why should I, our son is perfect and everyone should know. On the first day we found out and informed everyone there was a base wide celebration that mainly involved everyone getting very drunk.

As soon as Bel and I had told the other generals, including Asaroth who returned to base early after not encountering any enemy for several days, about the birth they'd declared that we needed to celebrate and ordered for food and alcohol to be prepared. In very little time we are all gathered in front of a large crowd of soldiers all watching us expectantly likely expecting news to do with the war.

"Brave soldiers! Today we have gathered you here not for new orders but to deliver joyous news. We recently received word that a few days ago Queen Emilia delivered a healthy baby boy, a half-dragon Prince named Nazeph. Tonight we celebrate!" Shouts out Halmed which is answered by a deafening roar from the soldiers. Drinks are quickly handed out to everyone and Borgan steps up to take Halmed's place.

"A toast to Prince Nazeph!" He roars out prompting everyone to take a drink. I'd thought that would be the only toast but then Asaroth walks forward.

"To the Kings and Queen!" He toasts to the crowd's approval who return the shout. That seems to end this more ceremonial part though as we disperse then and mingle with the crowd.

All around me there are drunken soldiers calling out congratulations as I walk around trying to find Bel. He'd wandered off not long ago with the drawing of Emmy and Nazeph muttering that he's going to go and show it to people. Not a specific person just people which means that every person I walk past has been shown the drawing, at least it's giving me a trail to follow.

"Kor!" Someone shouts and turning around I find Asaroth approaching me a drink in hand, somehow managing to weave his way through the crowd without spilling any of it. "Congratulations my friend on the birth of your son."

"Asaroth, good to see you back. Have you seen Bel around?"

"I'm afraid not although I have heard that he's running around here somewhere with a picture. I'll help you look for him I want a look at the little prince." Nodding in acceptance the two of us set out to find my wayward mate. It's not difficult though as we find him not far away from where we met up.

"Look isn't he just the cutest. He's so perfect don't you think?" I hear Bel ask the soldiers around him as he practically shoves the picture in front of them to get their opinion.

"Yes, your Majesty." They chorus in a monotone that suggests that it's not the first time they've said it.

"Bel come on leave them alone. Asaroth wants a look at Nazeph." I call getting Bel's attention and as soon as he turns away the soldiers he was talking to scatter. Not caring about them anymore Bel comes over to me and Asaroth happily showing him the picture and continuing to babble on about how perfect our son is.

Eventually Bel moves on to show Nazeph off to new victims although it's telling how many soldiers spot him coming and practically run away before he can get to them. It seems word is spreading quickly on Bel's new habit, he's just a proud father though so I'm not going to make him stop.

"How long do you think he'll be doing that for?" Asaroth asks slightly bewildered after being talked at for at least half an hour. Gods only know what Bel will be like once we start getting letters about what Nazeph is actually like, for the moment though his greatest accomplishment is being born.

"For as long as he wants." I shrug in response to his question, "He's just happy and wants to share our joy. Could be worse, he could be shouting from the top of the castle." That gets me a chuckle as we head off in search of more drinks so that we can continue celebrating as well.

*

As much as we've wanted nothing more than to fly back to Hadlau and see our son for ourselves we've instead been working on a plan to attack the nearby towns. After reviewing a map, together with our scouts' reports, we've concluded that it'll be better to attack a few towns simultaneously so that they can't improve their defences after news of the first attack reaches them. The plans are finally finished and tomorrow we'll set out to begin re-taking Nerkise from Rhistel's control.

"What do you think they're doing right now?" Bel asks from where he's lying against my chest admiring the drawing as well.

"Probably sleeping." I reply after all it's fairly late and with the baby they must be tired. Lilas had mentioned in his letter that Emmy had agreed to a wet nurse but just for the nights so that they can both sleep.

"Wish we were there with them. I miss them and Nazeph must be so cute when he's asleep. Do you think Lilas will send more pictures with the next letter?"

"I'm sure that he will. Hopefully more than one at least then we don't have to share just in case we have to split up." I tell him. At the moment we've been lucky to be together when we've gone over the border but it might not last. The longer things go on the more likely we'll be deployed separately to increase the overall efficiency of the army. Bel might prefer to just be a common fighter but he is capable of leading men if he needs to, which eventually we might need him to.

"We should probably sleep before tomorrow. A big day." Bel remarks but still neither of us move to get ready to go to sleep. With how late it is though we soon reluctantly get up and change into our night clothes before climbing into bed holding each other close as we fall asleep.

Roughly an hour before dawn we're woken up by knocking on the door, a squire being sent around to make sure that we've got time to get ready before we set out for the town we've been assigned to re-take. Bel and I are leading the soldiers to re-take the town slightly north-west of the base and set up an outpost there that we can work out of.

"Enter." I call out sleepily shaking Bel awake. As I'm busy waking Bel the squire enters with our breakfast placing it down on the table for us before bowing and leaving us to get ready. We're used to getting ourselves ready for battle without the help of squire so he'll be better put to use helping others rather than bothering us.

"Is that breakfast?" Bel asks sitting up rubbing his eyes. I nod and urge him out of bed towards the food where some blood is waiting for him. It doesn't take us long to finish off our breakfast so that we can start getting ready to leave, pulling on our armour and boots.

Bel doesn't bother with any actual armour favouring boiled leather instead claiming that he can move better in it. He manages to get dressed quickly and is able to help me with my armour buckling up the chest plate with ease after helping me with it for so many years. Dressed and ready for the day we then have to wander around the room picking up our weapons which have some how become scattered everywhere. Bel even finds one of his daggers in our small bathroom with no idea how it got there.

"Ready?" I ask him as he finishes putting away his daggers. Even after all these years I don't understand how he manages to hide so many daggers on himself. He nods and we head out to meet up with our men.

"You know once we've taken over this town we might finally get some privacy. Could be fun." Bel comments giving me a lust filled look. It's true though, staying here in base there are so many men in the halls at all times that we've had very little privacy. And after a battle we both tend to still have a lot of pent-up energy and frustration that's best resolved together in bed.

I give him a small nod more than willing to finally have true privacy although nothing will ever beat the privacy we manage to get at our own castle. There not even servants bother us unlike at Hadlau where the risk of us being interrupted is higher although most of our staff know by now to wait for us to give permission before entering the room. It doesn't take the newer staff long to learn that unspoken rule or maybe more experienced tell them to knock first.

The two of us meet our men outside and set off quickly. We'd planned that we'll try to reach the town by the end of the day so we can set up camp for the night just out of sight of the town. That way we can rest and attack at dawn fully rested, maybe if we're lucky most of the enemy will still be sleeping and be caught unaware of our attack.

To meet our timeline we set a brisk pace that should get us there in time although we can only afford a few short breaks. Knowing that a battle is looming keeps the men motivated enough to keep going despite the lack of rest. Most of them have families that they want to protect and return to just like us, after so long fighting together we've gotten to know our men very well having spent many evenings talking to them while camping out.

Just as planned we get near the town we've been assigned to take as the sun is beginning to set. We have just enough light to set up a basic small camp for going tents and fires though to minimise the risk of being found by any passing patrol. With an early start we settle down to sleep apart from the soldiers assigned to first watch.

It's taken us quite some time to reach this point but we're finally on a proper counterattack against Rhistel which while only getting us a tiny step closer it's still something. We still have a long way to go as the towns we're taking back aren't worth much in the grand scheme of things ahead of us we still have properly defended castle towns not to mention wherever it is Rhistel has holed himself up in.

Someday though I will take his head and end this war so we can all go home. Hopefully that day isn't too far in the future as neither Bel nor I want to miss too much of Nazeph growing up but the sacrifice is worth it if it means that he'll be safe. Tomorrow though is the first step to being able to return to Hadlau.