Callie's Heroes

Chapter 72 Part 3 - Honorary Leaders



PART III: HONORARY LEADERS

It was several minutes before two flying forms landed not far away. One had been nearly silent, being an owl, while the second, a hawk, made enough noise to pull the two recruits out of their introspection. Magics flittered, turning into the standing forms of Maugra and Rowani. Both were wearing comfortable, civilian garb and nothing on their feet. For Maugra, she was in a simple cloth tunic and pants, but Rowani was actually wearing a darker-red, lightweight summer dress which seemed completely out of place for her normal personality, and contrasted oddly against her all-black fur. It honestly was a very strange look, but at the same time, felt warm and happy.

"Sorry we were late," Maugra said, rolling her eyes a bit. "She wanted to wear a dress tonight, so had to go back to change." She then glanced at her partner. "Of course, she doesn't actually own a dress, so we had to find someone she could borrow one from. Thankfully Cheena had something she didn't mind a tail-hole being cut into."

"I just feel like being pretty tonight," Rowani said with a bit of a huff directed at her girlfriend. "It's been a few decades since I've had the body to do that, and I didn't want to miss the opportunity, with the holiday and all. I didn't have a lot of choice on the color, but I don't care."

"Makes me wish I'd had a dress for last night, too," Jesca lamented. "Or tonight. Callie was the only recruit that thought to simply go ask for one. Although, it was quite black."

"It may have been black, but she was also quite starfire," Maugra laughed. "She's strange, even for a Gnome, but we all have to admit that was a great dress."

For a moment, Rowani put on an obviously fake show of insulted jealousy at Maugra praising Callie's look, before conceding the point with a nod and having to agree. "She really was quite starfire. It was what inspired me to seek a dress out as well."

Clapping her paws together, Rowani continued, refocusing to get down to the topic at hand. "So, Tazrok said there was something the two of you wanted to speak with us about. Something about leaders? I was in a hurry so couldn't inquire further, save to get a sense it was quite important to you both. How may we help?"

"It's … it's a little hard to explain," Jesca said with a frown. "And we're worried you might think we're crazy, especially Tazrok, but we need insight, and we thought the two of you might be the most helpful."

"This does sound important. Would you like to sit? We'll try to keep an open mind."

Jesca nodded, and together the four returned to the top of the lookout rock, each of them taking a seat and getting comfortable.

"Stars, I love this place," Maugra said, leaning back on her hands as she faced the forest below. "This site here, and your meditation grove, Rowani, are two reasons why I almost don't mind being stuck here for another year." Then she winked. "You're one of the other reasons."

"Stuck here?" Jesca asked.

"Our penance for the unicorn blood," Rowani said. "Reactivation of our commissions and commitment for at least a year here as trainers. Worth it in the end, I suppose."

"Oh."

Seeing the look on Jesca's face, Rowani cleared her throat to try and change the subject. Even those that weren't angry at them any longer for drinking the unicorn blood still tended to have an uneasiness about it, and both she and Maugra had learned to avoid the subject. It just usually got too awkward. "So, what is on your mind?"

"Um …" Jesca hedged, glancing up at Tazrok. "What do you know about Ogre spiritualism?"

"Nothing," Rowani said simply. "I knew nothing of Ogres before Tazrok's arrival. As an Adventurer I never worked with them, and I'd seen some fighting on the battlefields, but never talked to any of them, or even needed to give them healing. Previous Ogre recruits weren't Druids, so I never got to know them, either." She looked at Maugra. "You?"

The Goblin scratched the back of her head in thought. "Not a lot, and what I do know is based on campfire stories and vague rumors. Before the Slaver War, the Ogres were still tribal, but by the time I was born that war was over and they'd started to move more and more into the cities. At that point, the chieftains were done away with, and a lot of the Ogre traditions went with them. It was said that the tribal Ogre Shamans could communicate with the spirits of those old chieftains though, but I've never known any Shamans that could communicate with the dead. I know I can't do it, although I've never tried and wouldn't know where to begin. I never learned much about ritual Shamanism; I didn't need it as an Adventurer."

"I remember learning about Ogre Shamans growing up; that they could speak with the dead. I assumed it was just stories, too," Jesca said. Slowly, as if wary, she continued. "There might be something to those stories, though." She looked at Tazrok. "Go ahead. Tell them."

Tazrok swallowed nervously. He tried to start once, and then again, before getting the momentum the third time. "Have a power … a skill," the Ogre said. "It called Chieftain's Inspiration."

"I know. We've felt it," Rowani said. "When you sang for us before the fight with the Stone Elementals. I also felt it on your first day of training, in the grove when the unicorns came. Tasi had told me what it was called." Puzzled, Rowani cocked her head. "I've asked you about it several times. In fact, a lot of people have. You've always said you don't possess the skill. Why were you lying to us?"

Tazrok frowned, and then frowned deeper. "Not lie, but not all truthness. Don't know skill but …" His deep voice trailed off and he took a shaky breath, worried and finding it hard to continue.

Jesca reached out and touched the Ogre's arm. She smiled up at him, nodding her head. "It's okay. You can tell them. They said they would listen." She looked at the other two. "Please, just let him finish before you make a judgement."

"Alright," Rowani said, her face growing quite concerned. She shot a look to Maugra, who was wearing a confused but interested look herself.

"Don't know skill," Tazrok began again. "But … ancestors in head do. They … try to teach me."

"Ancestors? In your head?" Rowani said.

"Yes. In head for many years. Say I must learn skill. I do not listen."

"You hear voices in your head?" There was very much a skeptical tone in the Druid trainer's voice.

"Yes. Many voices."

"Tazrok," Rowani continued, being very careful with her words. "Hearing voices is not normal. In fact, it is considered a sign of …" Her words were cut off, though, as Maugra reached out, putting a hand on Rowani's arm to stop her.

"What happens when you hear these voices?" Maugra asked, seeming to be far less skeptical than Rowani.

Tazrok shrugged. "Sometimes just talk. Or try to teach skill, or teach smart words to make me chieftain. Sometimes take control to use smart words, or use skill. Always get headache if I fight against control."

"And if you don't fight against them?"

"Always fighted against voices. Always got headache. Until today. Decide to listen and get no headache." The Ogre sighed, and then looked downcast. "Know voices in head is sign of crazy. Hope am not crazy."

"These voices … these ancestors … they want to make you a chieftain?" Rowani asked the question slowly and carefully, skepticism still in her voice. At least normally, hearing voices of any kind was a sign of insanity, and a whole lot of worries came into her head about what that could mean. Was Tazrok mad and a danger to anyone? Was he only a Druid because of that madness? Ancestral chieftain voices? That made no sense!

"Yes. Say must lead Ogre people. Must be chieftain and lead in war and in peace. Don't want to."

"So that's why you fight against the voices?" Maugra asked.

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Tazrok nodded. "Say must learn Inspiration skill, and must learn smart words to be leader. Do not want to lead." He looked at Jesca, swallowing hard. Then, almost as if ashamed, he said, "Am afraid to lead, just like Beastmother Jesca."

"Huh?" Maugra said, now refocusing back to Jesca. "Explain."

"He and I have the same problem. We're both afraid. Afraid to be leaders that is."

"They're calling you the Mimarnae," Rowani said flatly. "That's what you are afraid of?"

Jesca nodded. Seeing the confused look on Maugra's face, she clarified. "The Mimarnae was said to be a great Beastmaster during The Escape. An oracle general. A leader. The whispers are saying I'm the Mimarnae reborn, because I'm the only Beastmaster."

"That's just nonsense," Maugra said. "It's just a word."

"But it doesn't matter," Rowani said, "does it? Once a rumor takes hold, it soon becomes prophecy. Once something becomes prophecy, it becomes impossible to escape from."

"I have a skill, too. It's called Beastmaster's Inspiration," Jesca said, unable to look at the two trainers, and instead just staring at her lap. "I received it when I reached Bronze this past week, and I accidentally used it a few days ago. It almost killed me."

"When Lhawni saved her," Maugra clarified for Rowani. "Thorn told me when they decided to promote her, although he didn't say it was this skill. So you have a skill, just like Tazrok?"

Jesca nodded. "Tazrok's is very similar, although mine becomes stronger the more people it affects. Mine also only affects Beastkin and animals, at least at this tier. According to Master Trainer Thorn and Trainer Reynard, it is almost the same as Command Aura."

"Tell me," Maugra said. "What is the description?"

Carefully, Jesca read it out to the two trainers. It was hard to do, just like it had been every other time she did it. It was a brutal reminder of the power the fates were asking her to wield, and a brutal reminder of her own inadequacies.

"It is almost the same as Command Aura," Rowani said after mentally comparing the two. "That power amplification component is different and interesting, though. Just imagine if the aura were to grow large enough and she were to lead an army of Beastkin. That army would become unstoppable! If the Mimarnae at the time of The Escape had this power, it is no wonder they triumphed over the Mad Wizard."

Those words just served to unnerve Jesca more, and she looked away, her paws fidgeting to keep from shaking. She'd had that same realization over the last few days; that it was because of this skill that the Beastkin of legend had been able to rise up. Hundreds of Beastkin all super-powered by a Beastmaster's magic, with that magic feeding back into that Beastmaster to increase their own mana regeneration and power. Rowani was right, they could become unstoppable.

"I don't want the power," Jesca said quietly. "This is why I am afraid. I don't want the responsibility, but I have it and I'm going to be expected to use it. I'll be expected to lead. I don't want that, because the people I lead could die."

"Have same fear," Tazrok said, again ever-so-gently resting his hand on Jesca's back to comfort her. "Is why come to you. Hope could help."

"Why … why us?" Rowani asked. "Thorn or the Major, or even better, Natala, would be the people to talk to about this."

Jesca gestured toward Maugra. "She's a Shaman, so we thought she'd be more likely to believe Tazrok. And you're a Druid and know about animal magic, so we thought you might be helpful for me. You were also both Adventurer's, so you've seen weird things in your days. Master Trainer Thorn and Trainer Reynard are focused on my potential, not so much on me and my worries."

"And you both know Commandering Aura," Tazrok added.

"What you really need is a Listener," Maugra said. "Both of you, for that matter. We're not qualified to teach you about leadership. We're barely officers ourselves."

"Huh?" Jesca asked, perplexed. "Aren't you both captains?"

Rowani started to laugh, Maugra soon joining in with a few chortles of her own. Finally, Rowani's giggles faded and she said, "Our rank is largely honorary. We're both experienced Adventurers, and at the beginning, the army was desperate for knowledgeable Healers. When qualified and experienced Healers were conscripted, they were commissioned as captains, so we'd have authority on the battlefield if it was needed. It's still done today, if the person is Platinum tier, or in some cases, depending on the level of real-world experience, very high Gold."

"I received only two weeks of training," Maugra laughed. "All of it was focused on learning Command Aura and on how to give orders, although I couldn't speak very well, so it didn't do much good for me. They didn't teach us to lead, mind you, just how to give orders in the moment. The army largely assumed we knew how to lead people from our Adventuring days. We're honestly soldiers in uniform only. I don't even know where the Officer Academy is, let alone have I ever been there."

"It's in Imor," Rowani snickered.

"Well, I know that! No idea where in the city it is, though."

"Oh," Jesca said, a tone of apparent disappointment in the word. Next to her, Tazrok also looked disappointed as he picked at a few tufts of grass.

"I would be happy to teach you what I can about Command Aura," Rowani said. "But I'm not an expert, so I don't know how much it might help with your own Inspiration skill. They are very similar, but yours has far, far more potential." She saw the look on Jesca's face. "I suppose it doesn't help to remind you of that. Sorry."

"And as for you," Maugra said, grinning up at Tazrok. "In my opinion, the very fact you are afraid speaks to how good a chieftain you could become. Anyone can lead, but the good ones are the ones that care about their people." She gestured between the Ogre and the Cheetakin. "That goes for both of you."

"Voices say that, too," Tazrok mumbled. "Say I have 'heart'. Other Ogres will think 'heart' is weak, though. Can't be chieftain if weak."

"What do we do?" Jesca asked, her eyes almost pleading for some kind of a direction. She knew she couldn't continue with all this self-doubt eating at her. It was already a distraction, and she was sure it would soon affect her training, if it wasn't already.

"I assume you don't want to go to Thorn? Or Reynard?" Rowani asked, directing the question primarily to Jesca, but meaning it to apply to both. Then she answered her own question. "No, they are too focused on making weapons of you both, which is understandable. If they even knew someone was working with you directly, they'd meddle. Galin and Xera, too."

"What about Natala?" Maugra suggested. "I don't know her, but she's been in the army forever, and has seen everything there is to see when it comes to wartime leadership."

"I only know her from the bunkerball game." Rowani said. "Typical Dwarf in some ways, so quite intense, but very, very knowledgeable. She's Emerald tier. Did you know that? And not a combat class either. She's a Sigilist; a Scholar specialist. If anyone knows anything about being different as a soldier, it's her."

"Emerald?" Maugra gave a low, slow whistle. "I had no idea."

Rowani nodded. "She doesn't generally wave that fact around very much, unless you get her talking. She's taken an interest in Callie, too. Thinks she can turn her into a field sergeant, apparently." Then she added as an afterthought, "You know, Natala would have enough personality to keep the officers from getting in the way."

Jesca couldn't help but laugh at the image of Callie commanding people in the middle of a huge Demon battle. She'd probably need to stand on somebody's shoulders. Then the laugh faded as the image became suddenly much less ridiculous. It actually wasn't hard to imagine at all. She'd seen it at the bogwump nest, and Callie had done an amazing job.

"I have one other person I think you should both talk to," Maugra continued. She held up her hand, as if to forestall any objections before they were even made. "He's actually quite pleasant, despite the fact he's also intimidating as fuck. I want you both to talk to the Arkan before he leaves. Probably not tonight, but tomorrow for sure. When he came to me to explain why he wanted to promote Lhawni, he had some very interesting observations and insights. He has at least a century's worth of military knowledge and experience, and would certainly have some advice."

Jesca swallowed hard, the idea of talking about this with the Arkan actually a bit terrifying, and Tazrok's face showed almost as much nervousness. They were just a pair of no-rank nobodies with petty little problems. What possible interest could he take in them? Still, Jesca recalled the secret he had shared when she had been recovering in the medical tent, and the look of respect he'd had on his face. He knew her confidence problem, and hadn't chastised her for it. Maybe deep down he wasn't as scary as he seemed?

"Okay," Jesca finally croaked in a whisper, seeming to speak for both herself and Tazrok with the answer.

"I'll tell you what," Rowani said, reaching forward to pat Jesca on her leg in comfort. "I'll talk to the Sergeant-Major tonight, to let her know you'd both like some time with her. Would that help? If she doesn't seem receptive, then I'll let you both know."

Maugra glanced at Rowani, and then scowled a bit at being put on the spot. "I suppose I can do the same with the Arkan," she grumbled. "I'll see if he'll agree on a time to speak with you both tomorrow. But, whatever you do, you better not be late!"

"Thank you," Jesca said, a huge weight seeming to lift off her shoulders at not having to initiate the meetings. While he didn't show it on his own face as much, it was obvious Tazrok was relieved a bit, too.

A plan of action agreed to, the four stood, shaking their legs a bit to get blood flowing again. Taking a few minutes, they stood side-by side just looking out over the forest below them, drinking in the serenity of the sight in silence. Jesca and Tazrok hadn't found a solution to the issue that was vexing them, but they'd found two people that were willing to help them in the search for one.

"Alright you three," Maugra said, clapping her hands once. "I'm getting hungry and the food should be out soon. Shall we head back?"

"Thank you," Tazrok suddenly said. "Your assistance in helping Tazrok find his way is greatly appreciated. He has a grand role to play for our people, and a long way to go until he is ready to do so."

Everyone stared at the big Ogre as a great sense of … something … seemed to wash over them. It was a deep, primal, and pure magic. Magic that each of them had felt flowing through them before, and a magic impossible to forget. The great spirits of the Ogres were here, there was no doubt of it now. Maugra took a step forward, trying to find words to say, feeling suddenly that, as a Shaman, she should have some. The words couldn't come, and she simply stepped back, bowing her head in reverence and respect instead.

For his part, Tazrok waved his arms wildly in the air, as if fighting off an annoying cloud of gnats, and snarled, "Enough! I let you say smart words. Now, go away until wanted!" He sighed, mumbling under his breath, "Annoying, too-smart ghosts!"


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