Anger and failure (Kaeli POV)

Niran was in a towering rage. Ever since his return, he had lashed out at everyone, unsurprising, considering the state he returned in. Kaeli had been there when he appeared, clutching the stump of his arm. He ignored Victoria’s questions, and stormed off to his quarters.

In the days since, his anger has only grown, and today it was coming to a head. The three of them were meeting, in an attempt to salvage something from Niran’s spectacular failure. Inwardly, Kaeli was happy it happened, though she kept those thoughts buried deep, away from easy notice by Victoria.

She needn’t have worried, however, as Victoria’s focus was entirely on Niran. “Explain all of this, Niran! Two dreadnoughts lost, the entirety of the Thalberg garrison dead or scattered, and your arm? And no major victory to offset the losses? How could you fail so horribly?!”

Niran’s wasted fingers clench into a fist, and he speaks with a voice tight with anger. “Maybe if your garrison wasn’t so incompetent, we could have done better. Besides, whose idea was it to release the hunter? He took my arm!”

Victoria slams an armored fist onto the table. “I told you to bring whatever you needed! Where were your vaunted sorcerers? This should have been easy!”

Niran snarls from the depths of his hood. “Why should I waste their time on something that a decent army could handle. Besides, even Kaeli’s device barely worked!”

He tosses the device on the table with disdain. Kaeli immediately picks it up, checking it for damage. “I did tell you that the golem is far to strong for this.”

Victoria rounds on her. “You remain silent! The only reason you’re still here is the devices you created, and because for some reason you still have the Great One’s favor.”

Niran scoffs. “The Great One becomes less of an asset and more of a liability every day. Didn’t you say you were going to figure out what he’s been mumbling about?”

Victoria sighs. “He refuses to say. But don’t change the subject, Niran. You stripped a frontier city bare of protection, and for nothing!”

Niran shrugs. “The nobles have enough troops to fend off the rebels, and the east is a wasteland beyond our borders. There’s no credible threats out there.”

Kaeli, remaining quiet, considers his words. While it’s true that the forests and plains give way to deserts as you go east, it’s also true that it’s largely unexplored. There are a few smaller nations to the north, left alone mostly because there’s no real threat there. And to the west are forbidding mountains, though there are paths through, and the area beyond has been largely tamed by the Order. All told, the Order territory is fairly safe, at least from invasions.

Victoria sighs. “We need to deal with these rebels. If the hunter has joined them, as you say, then they’re becoming exponentially more dangerous. We need to stamp this out. Will your arm recover?”

“No. Healing magic no longer works on this body.”

Victoria shrugs. “If Kaeli made you an arm, would that suffice?”

Niran glares at Kaeli. “Can we trust her?”

Kaeli bows her head. “I can make you an arm. I have no choice but to obey anymore.”

Victoria nods. “Good. Get to work. Niran, get in contact with the Thalberg nobles, see what they can do to help. I will continue to consult with the Great One.”

Niran stands. “Very well. I’ll be in my lab.”

With that, he leaves without another word. Kaeli stands as well. “I will go to my workshop and get started, with your permission.”

Victoria sighs and nods. As Kaeli leaves, she glances back at her former friend. Victoria remains seated, her head in her hands. Kaeli wants nothing more than to be able to comfort her, but she knows that there’s nothing she could do. With a final glance, she turns away and leaves the room.