“So you are what has that young druid so nervous.”
Ghalati was standing in the doorway to the den, looking into the darkness there and spying a leopard. It looked at him with dangerous eyes and growled at him, hissing and spitting in his rage. Ghalati had been using his skills to watch the young Druid, ever since their nervous encounter at the market one morning not too long ago. He knew that the young lion was not a bad guy, not a typical druid, and probably didn’t deserve the title at all. He was as Toka as they came, loyal and studious. To see him acting so strangely put Ghalati on edge, and the soldier realized it was not Glaurung’s choice to be acting so strangely.
He was being forced, and this leopard was the source. He was sure of it.
Tailung was furious that Glaurung had sold him out.
“I told him not to speak with the King! Is that you, you fat lump of lard? Come at me, then, and show me the justice of your pride. I will take you down with me, if you wish to drive me out.”
“A charmer. Good. I am glad you will make this easy for me,” Ghalati sighed, as if he was being told to do some bothersome chore. His sarcasm was dry and not delivered expertly, but it was not meant to be a joke and there was no levity in the situation. He watched the leopard with suspicion and with his muscles tense, despite how leisurely looked as he sat down in the mouth of the den. “I am not the King, but a soldier in his employ. I am charged with upholding his laws, and you are breaking them by forcing one of our citizens to bend to your call. Glaurung said nothing to me, but his profound efforts to do exactly as you said made me suspicious.”
Tailung snarled. The soldiers here were more clever than he thought, if they could simply observe their people and notice changes in their behavior so easily. He was not sure he believed it, but it did not matter. He would make the Druid pay for his transgressions. But first, he had to deal with this soldier. He got to his feet, strong enough to do that now, and prowled the short distance between him and Ghalati, grinning and growling lowly. Ghalati remained where he was sitting, watching the other impassively.
“I suggest you leave this kingdom while you have the chance, and never return to these lands. This is your only warning. If you do not cooperate, I will be forced to escort you.”
Tailung laughed.
“Is that your fancy way,” he asked, his voice an icy drawl, his words dragging out as he snarled, “of saying I am not welcome here? I will show you what happens for prejudice against those that are stronger than you. You have every right to fear the leopards.”
“I don’t know what story you have created in your head,” Ghalati said blandly, watching Tailung without moving, “but you are living in a fantasy.”
Tailung lunged and it was a mistake. He thought he could surprise the soldier, but it seemed that Ghalati had far more training and skill than his portly and bored appearance betrayed. He reared back onto his back legs, raising his heavy front paws high as Tailung fell short in his lunge just in front of him. If he hadn’t pulled back the leopard might have gotten his throat. Instead, he got a large lion slamming his paws down into his back, which had been badly injured in his fight with Ulfric only a few days before. The leopard let out a horrible roar of agony and Ghalati stepped back slowly.
He regarded the writhing leopard passively, not looking pleased with himself for having to hurt him. Really, he preferred to find the peaceful options if he could. Some creatures, though, refused to respond to anything but violence. Ghalati had a long history of dealing with such beasts, and he was no longer capable of pitying them. Still, he was not so hard hearted yet to simply wish their deaths. Besides, it was not his place to kill, unless ordered by his King or facing a threat to the crown and the people living under it. Ghalati believed he could get rid of the leopard without having to end his life.
If Tailung was smart.
“I did give you plenty of warning, friend. Now, I will take you to the borders and you will make your way from these lands. You will not look back, or even think of stopping, for a full day’s journey. Do you understand these orders as I have given them to you?”
“I listen to no ones orders!”
“I thought you would say that…”
He sounded put out, but he moved to grab the leopard by the back of his throat. He was impressively strong, and he dragged the leopard across the ground like an overgrown cub. One that he clearly did not like, as he was not taking much care in the transport here. He kept stepping on Tailung’s limbs while he walked, and the whole transport was ungainly and uncomfortable for them both. But Ghalati had to do his duty, and so he did. He dragged the bloody leopard far from the pride lands, dropping him at the mouth of a stretch of dry savannah. It had been hours of walking, and one or two fights between the two, always ending the same way. Ghalati now dropped the leopard down and stepped back, avoiding a swipe of claws he had known would come.
“Leave, leopard, while you can still walk. If you refuse one more time, I will break your back and leave you for the hyenas that prowl these lands. You are not welcome in the Tokakinji, and the guards will receive your description. The King will order their response, but I will tell you now that it will likely be to kill you on sight. This is the last mercy you will receive from me. To run with your life.”
Tailung looked up at the lion, hatred boiling inside him. But he had no choice: he had to retreat for now or he was certain the soldier would make good on his threats. So far, Ghalati had not been lying. Hissing, Tailung dragged himself away from Ghalati, away from the pride.
Hopefully for good.
(Word Count: 1,085 in Word)
