She Waits

Desdem
JP with Omni and mdmanosfan

Ch’Truta’s eyes narrowed, slits in the midst of the dark paint about his eyes. Inwardly, he felt as if he were truly betraying the one he loved. The dark thought emanated from him, creating a mood that he channeled to appear as confusion.

“I seek your thoughts, Silina of the Aroka,” he solemnly announced. He had to convince Silina that he was having unwholesome thoughts toward the Twins’ selection of Islana. Ch’Truta realized he had one chance to convince her. “I questioned you,” he continued, turning his darkened eyes toward Silina, “when I should question why the Twins would choose to cast these people from our shores with one of their own.”

“I do not question the judgement of the Twins… and I dare not speak for them.” Silina sighed. “I thought your… spirits… led you to Sister Locust.” She wondered what the painted shaman was getting at.

Ch’Truta squatted on powerful legs. His face was downcast. He felt like he was actually betraying Islana. He felt blasphemous speaking thus, like he was muddying Sister Locust’s holiness. And, she was holy to Ch’Truta.

He feigned confusion, shaking his head, as if no longer sure. “It is true the spirits of the swamp have led me here.” He paused, as if gathering thoughts. “They grow weary of the waiting. The horde is great enough now to cast utter destruction upon the enemy. Yet, she waits. She is slow to act. Why? For them to become reinforced?”

Ch’Truta looked about them, ensuring no one was hearing their conversation. Then, he looked toward the tree, needing its balance.

Silina's eyes narrowed, her gaze sharpening as she studied Ch'Truta, trying to figure out this brood man. She knew better than to outright disparage the leader of the Ozainae so openly, but she was curious where this was headed and lowered her voice.

"And what do you think? You think Sister Locust is hesitating?"

Ch’Truta looked up from his crouched position. He had drawn in the sand a map, showing the three-pronged attack he had seen in the vision. He had shared this with Islana, aware of the victory that would result from it.

“In a vision, I saw this attack,” Ch’Truta foretold. “We attack on three sides, leaving only the sea as an opening for them. If they choose to fight we crush them. If they choose flee by the sea, we are rid of them. It foretold certain victory.”

He left out the red dragon leading the attack in the middle. This was certainly a symbol of Islana…Sister Locust. The woman he had come to love.

Silina looked over the scrawling in the dirt.

“Still she waits. For what, I do not know, but the spirits have shown certain victory,” Ch’Truta confided, as he wiped away the map with his hand.

“Your spirits tell you the army will split? Or… what are these points? Other armies? Perhaps she waits for the others to join.”