Tightening The Noose
On the march back to Greatfoot I could tell that most of the troops were happy to be on their way to a hot meal and a soft bed. Some felt as Chezeleste did, that they were leaving unfinished business behind them and regretted leaving under such circumstances. Others simply didn't care one way or the other, to them this was simply another order to follow, another place to march to. But mostly it was a quiet march with a bunch of tired and weary guards that could definitely use a warm bed and hot meal. Nobody was openly complaining about the march, though some of them regretted leaving before seeing the rebels dealt with.
Chezeleste did not like the march one bit and I knew that. She was pleasant on the exterior however, even if she was bothered on the interior. I respected her professionalism and decorum around the troops and the fact that she did not openly cross me in front of anyone. It would have made my job to lead her troops harder if they were torn between respecting her and their duty to me as Captain. I understood why she was upset and I too felt like I was leaving behind some unfinished business. There were loose ends at Kincaid that we would tie up before long, but other matters needed tending to first.
Felleona needed to be dealt with and I had no intention of letting her slip away from me. While she was my friend and someone whom I thought I knew well, I could not let my personal feelings interfere. It was my job to see justice done and treason of the Captain of the Guards was no small matter. More than likely I knew it would end up with her head on the block for what she had done. I also knew that she would not give up easily and her years as Captain would make her a formidable foe. I still hoped to talk to her and find a bloodless solution to this whole mess. I hoped that she could be brought from under the Mistress's spell; I hoped that her life could be spared.
I knew Chezeleste would understand my reasons for secrecy and discretion once she knew the true reasons for the changing of the Guards. Once I knew I could trust her, I would let her know whom we truly faced. I felt as if I could trust her but I had to be careful, my instincts had been wrong before. As a Commander of Guards and a lieutenant, she needed to know what lay ahead of us. I needed her input on the situation as well as her knowledge of Kincaid and the lands surrounding it. I needed to be sure of her loyalties first and foremost as too much was at stake. All of Tania as a matter of fact could suffer if I was not careful. That thought never left my mind as I weighed each and every decision that I had to make those days. It was a heavy burden to bear, knowing the fate of a nation rested on my shoulders.
Once back at Greatfoot we escorted the Guards over to where Felleona's Disciple/Guards had been separated from the rest of the Guards. We had them stay in this area and told them not to leave this area until told to do so. We then informed them that it was for the "medical exam" that they would be going through in the next few days. With a little puzzlement they accepted this odd order and obliged with little fuss. Some wondered what it was all about but none the less with the Guards, discipline was not a problem it seemed.
Over the next few days we ran them through light drills, giving them ample time to rest and relax. They had earned a good deal of rest and I saw to it that they were given plenty of that. Not to mention however that we needed to separate the Disciple/Guards from the true Guards. The "medical exams" went as quickly as possible but these things take time, as you can understand. Eventually however, all the Guards were checked and the Disciple/Guards were locked away. I remember well when the final tally was brought forth to me a few days after the "medical exams" had been completed.
Treabilla entered my office first and looked quite distressed at the news she brought. Pelluluka came next and looked concerned, but not overly so. Shelea was right behind her and also looked a little worried, but kept to herself so as to let the others take the lead. All three women bore grim news; that much was certain by the looks on their faces. At that moment I did not welcome their presence, though normally I would have cherished it. I wanted no more ill news, for I had already had my fill of troublesome tidings. However, dismissing the messenger no more deals with grim news than walking away from a loved one moments from their death.
"Good morning ladies." I said with a forced smile, trying to keep an upbeat mood in the room.
"Good morning Captain." The three women replied calmly yet with a drained tone.
"Doesn't seem so looking at the lot of you." I sighed, starting to give in to their black mood that started to hang over the room. "What news do you bring?" I asked not knowing if I wanted that question answered or not, though pressing on anyways into seemingly dark territory.
"The exams are completed, and we have some results from our initial reclamation efforts." Treabilla said with no lighter of a heart or look on her face.
"How does it look?" I asked with a raised eyebrow, hoping for some measure of good news.
"Well, not good frankly." Treabilla sighed and started to crumble under the weight of news she held in.
Treabilla sank into the nearest chair and a tear ran down her cheek. She buried her face in her hands and started to sob. In an instant I rushed to her side and put my arm around her, to comfort her as her friend and betrothed and not her Captain. She gripped me tight and held onto me, not wanting to let me go, finding some measure of comfort in my arms. Pelluluka and Shelea also rushed to her side and tried to comfort their friend and fellow Guard.
"It's alright honey." I said soothingly as I stroked her hair while she rested her head on my shoulder.
"No it's not!" Treabilla sobbed while not lifting her head from my shoulder. "So many of them! Too many of them!" Treabilla sobbed snapping bitterly at me through the tears and cries of sorrow.
"C'mon sweetheart, how many are there?" I said as I held her still, stroking her hair in a soothing manner.
"Seventy! There are seventy of them!" Treabilla snapped with a frustrated cry. "Most of them are hard to deal with! Most of them don't want to change!" Treabilla sobbed with an especially bitter round of tears as she clutched me tightly.
"Don't think of the numbers dear." I said as I stroked her back while she rested her head on my shoulder. "Just work with them a few at a time."
"So many of them! I don't know if I can handle all of them!" Treabilla said angrily with a tear stained face.
"Just let us know how best to help these women, if you need others to help you that can be arranged. I don't expect you to personally work with every Disciple on Tania!" I said looking into her eyes as she lifted her head off of my shoulder. She then looked me in the eyes with fear and apprehension that lingered there, almost untrustingly, sceptically.
"That's what I've been telling you." Pelluluka added tenderly, let me know what to do, how to help them.
"You're doing too much on your own." Shelea said as she stroked Treabilla's back in a soothing manner.
"I suppose you're right. I just don't want to fail them." Treabilla said as she sobbed into my shoulder once more and my heart started to crack at the sound of it. "If we can't undo what the Mistress has done then they are all doomed! I'm trying so hard not to fail them because I know what it means to fail! My failure is their death!" Treabilla said with still great fear and sorrow as she thought of what my happen if she fails.
"You won't fail dear." Pelluluka said tenderly and paused for a moment. "You helped me sort a lot out." Pelluluka said in a quieter tone. "You helped me see things much more clearly. You helped me become more like my old self once more." Pelluluka said and waited for Treabilla's eyes to meet hers before she continued. It only took a moment before the two were looking deep into each other's eyes. "Thank you Treabilla, I won't forget what you did for me. Let me help you, help these women." Pelluluka finished and waited for Treabilla to respond.
