Headed by a Snake

Centurion Cyrac leaned over his fist. He wondered what Duplicarius Zehr had said to manage to turn Fortuna in an even worse, blathering mess. However, it seemed a bit... beneath him, to ask such a thing, himself.

"What did you say, Zehr?" Decanus Justus asked. "Was that... Elven?"

The boy was quite helpful sometimes. Cyrac was glad they promoted him.

"Hm? Indeed it was." The Duplicarius responded, slight confusion in his tone, "I merely noted that purple eyes are auspicious in elven culture."

Justus furrowed his brows, "Is that... a good thing?"

That was most useful, as well. Cyrac had no idea what that word meant. Glancing around the table, it appeared that no one else did, either.

Zehr nodded, "Indeed. Because of it, her beauty is blessed--"

"Stop! Stopstopstop stooooopppppp!!!" Fortuna held her palms out, then clapped her hands together and bowed, "Don't continue!! I won't question you anymore!!"

The Duplicarius squinted his eyes, lightly tilting his head, "There is nothing I said to be ashame--"

Fortuna slammed the table again, except this time, with mana-coursing through her fists, "I am Healer Fortuna, I can give life aNd i CaN tAKE it AWaAAAAyyYY!!!"

The young woman bosom was heaving with angered, ragged breaths. Her pupils were dilated and shaking.

...She wasn't... at all intimidating, though. Surely, she must have known that?

Cyrac averted his gaze. He had only realized just then that because he'd always posted Munifices to guard her, the not-so-young lady was not at all versed with romantic relationships. It seemed it had turned into... a social vulnerability.

Duplicarius Zehr didn't even seem to be trying, a look of uncertainty clear on his face.

Cyrac entertained the thought of playing "matchmaker." The cool, calm, collected Zehr could perhaps temper Fortuna's willfulness...

Ah, that wouldn't work. He recalled that the young Duplicarius was mourning a certain crossbow archer in his tent group-- his former lover, it seemed.

"I... see..." Zehr relented.

Sixtus took the lull in conversation as a signal to continue, "Duplicarius Zehr, here are 67 remaining Rhodoks, including the injured. The tent group size is because we expect the caverns we will be searching are too small to effectively use Shield Wall tactics."

Zehr nodded, "Very well."

"And your second question, Duplicarius?" The Optio smiled.

"For the second... forgive me, Optio, Centurion--" Zehr twisted his lips to the side, meeting Cyrac's gaze.

Cyrac felt a knot form in his stomach. He already knew what the question was, based on the phrasing, "Go ahead."

"With our numbers so reduced..." Zehr paused to gauge everyone's reactions, including the silent and stewing Fortuna, "--Why are we continuing the mission?"

There it was... It was the question Cyrac was certain was in everyone's mind, yet only Zehr had the testes to ask.

"I will answer the question, Duplicarius," Cyrac sighed... "There are two reasons...

"The first is honor... our duty to the fallen. The Rhodok adventuring company has a reputation to uphold... and I would have the fallen remembered for being unfortunate casualties on an otherwise successful mission."

Zehr nodded, "Indeed. The road to success is paved by the corpses of our soldiers."

A pang of guilt struck Cyrac deep in his chest. That was... poetically stated.

Cyrac continued, "The second is... finances. If we cannot complete the mission, the Rhodok adventuring company cannot afford to pay our troops-- notably the pensions to the bereaved families"

The young, green-haired gentleman nodded, "Then it is as I surmised... The fate of the Rhodok guild is decided on the next sun... Thank you, gentlemen."

...

Justus caught up with Zehr as he was leaving.

"Zehr..."

The visored warrior turned, "Yes, young Decanus?"

Thankfully, the Duplicarius had again donned his helmet. It was still a bit difficult for Justus to look into Zehr's eyes.

Justus looked down at the rocky dirt, hesitant... "What you said back in the command tent... are you... going to back out? We... we could really use your help."

Zehr flipped up his visor, "Though I do understand the wisdom of abandoning the mission, I do plan on accompanying you all."

That was a relief. Justus was fairly certain he could rely on Zehr for that, but still... he had a feeling that something had changed since Rena's death... He knew he, himself, would never be the same, but... Zehr? He seemed really... hurt. And Justus really couldn't gauge his friend's feelings without asking.

Then there was the other burning question in Justus' mind... It was the question he truly didn't want to ask. If it had an answer... he... wasn't certain he wanted to know.

Zehr seemed to sense his hesitation, "Speak your mind, young Decanus. I wish to return to my tent and wrap myself up warmly."

Justus grimaced... "Tomorrow... are we..."

He gulped. Justus tried to calm his frayed nerves as Zehr waited patiently.

Bah. He was just going to say it.

"Tomorrow, are we going to be fighting a dragon?"

Zehr narrowed his eyes.

Oh, no... was it true, after all?

The Duplicarius leaned closer with a serious expression, "Dragons don't exist."

"Tss hahaha," He scoffed and straightened his back. Chuckling, he gave Justus a smirk, "Don't take your young wife's stories to heart, young Decanus. Their value is in entertainment, imparting morals, and scaring children into behaving.

"Have no fear, the creature we seek in the cave is no dragon." He added seriously.

Justus breathed a sigh of relief. For the briefest of moments, he felt... indescribable danger, but that was all dispelled with Zehr's laugh.

The Duplicarius placed his finger upon his visor, clacking it back down into place, "Let us return, then."

"Oh," Justus rubbed the back of his head. "The Centurion had something he wanted to talk to me about. I'll see you at our tent."

"Very well," Zehr turned on his heel and walked away.

Justus reentered the command tent, his spirits lifted.

"And what did he say?" Centurion Cyrac asked, "Will he be accompanying us?"

Justus nodded, "Yes, Centurion. He will be."

"Oh, good... Good." The old man took a deep breath. It seemed he was as relieved by the news as he was, "We'll be relying on him... Both him and you, Hero of Leopardon."