TOPWL 211

“Then we adopt this plan.”

After a long meeting the plan was finalized. Yudit and everyone else let out a sigh of relief. Once they learned that if a plan was good it would be accepted regardless of rank, the captains each rushed to propose theirs, and among them five useful ones were chosen. After every detail of those was examined the choices narrowed to two. A secret vote decided between the two, and in the end Darion’s plan was chosen.

People clapped, the hall quickly filled with thunderous applause. Yudit also clapped toward Darion. Darion’s face showed some bewilderment. He could have looked more pleased, since his plan had beaten strong candidates.

“Officers above the rank of Centurion must study the weaknesses, improvements, and reinforcements of the plan by afternoon. And Darion.”

Yudit’s call made Darion flinch. And he looked at him.

“If you are free let us dine together tonight, and we will also talk of the plan.”

Darion blinked, several people looked at Darion with envy. Darion ‎looked around in discomfort, then lowered his head and spoke.

“I shall obey.”

“No need to be so stiff. Then shall we go now?”

Yudit rose from his seat. Darion got up awkwardly after him. The others began tidying the hall or speaking more comfortably.

The meal was already prepared. Once Yudit sat, attendants brought the dishes. Bread and cheese, thinly sliced ham, olives, honey, and fruit came piled generously on one plate.

“It’s plainer than I thought.”

Yudit spoke in a friendly tone. Darion swallowed his saliva and looked at him.

“No, it is a fine meal.”

“You need not be so stiff.”

Yudit laughed as he placed thinly sliced apple inside half a loaf of bread. Darion stared blankly at his face, then he was startled and lowered his head. Just then an attendant brought wine. The cork popped with a light sound. As the attendant tried to pour, Yudit stopped him.

“From here I will do it.”

The attendant handed over the bottle respectfully.

“Do you drink well?”

“N-no, not well.”

“Is that so?”

Even after hearing that, Yudit poured Darion’s cup to the brim. Darion stared at the golden goblet with ornate relief, filled with wine.

“I found much fine wine in the cellars of the castle. It seems collecting it was the lord’s taste.”

He died before he could finish them, so we should drink them. Yudit murmured as he set down the bottle.

“Commander, do you not drink?”

“Wine is not to my taste.”

Yudit showed his own cup filled with cider. The golden liquid shimmered inside, it was uncertain if it was cider or apple juice.

“To the victory of our plan.”

Darion didn’t dare answer at Yudit toast, he only clinked his cup. Yudit drank first. Darion closed his eyes m and began to drink. As Yudit said, the wine was excellent. The refined sweetness mixed with a trace of bitterness, enough for even someone ignorant of drink to know it tasted good. Darion, who had prepared to feign delight, now gazed blankly at the cup, thinking, so such wine exists in the world.

“It seems the wine suits your taste.”

Yudit refilled his cup. The purple liquid glowed, carrying the deep scent of fermentation. Holding the cup with both hands Darion nodded.

“It truly is… delicious.”

“Good, drink much. When we march the wine will be left behind anyway.”

His words made the guilt of drinking expensive wine lighter. Thinking that since it would be discarded he should savor it, Darion accepted cup after cup. But Yudit kept one fact silent: this wine was strong liquor of high proof. Unaware, Darion became slowly intoxicated by the sweet aroma and flavor. After a bottle, then two, he felt more relaxed.

Through his blurred eyes he saw Yudit eating. Surely Yudit too had drunk one or two bottles, since he kept toasting, yet his posture had not faltered. As always, whether one liked it or not, Yudit stood out. White skin that looked like it would bruise with a touch, a long neck, long lowered lashes. He had seen omegas before, but Yudit stood out singularly even among them. All the more on a battlefield filled only with beta men and a few alphas.

He looked elegant even as he ate bread with ham and cheese. Ashamed at the crumbs before him, Darion brushed them secretly to the floor. Then he clumsily tried to mimic Yudit’s use of fork and knife, but by mistake dropped bread on the table. It had honey, so it left a sticky mark. Shame burned Darion’s cheeks hot.

“Ah, it seems you are drunk.”

But Yudit treated it lightly and called attendants to bring more bread and side dishes. Then he cut his own portion of bread and placed it on Darion’s plate. Such kindness Darion felt like he was floating.

“Where are you from?”

Yudit asked as he spread butter himself on the fresh bread the attendant had brought. Darion chose his words, then opened his mouth.

“I am from a small village in the south called Roten.”

“Ah, I think I have heard of it. I was told it produces much wheat.”

“Yes. When autumn came, everywhere turned the color of wheat. Thanks to that, I never once went hungry.”

Darion added that and looked at Yudit with some embarrassment. Yudit smiled, showing even teeth.

“It must be beautiful. It sounds like a fine place, then why did you leave it?”

“Since the grain storehouses overflowed, raids were frequent. During a campaign against barbarians Lord Noban noticed me, and so I came to the capital.”

“Were you not lonely?”

Darion looked puzzled, then shook his head.

“It was fine. I tended to feel loneliness, yet a friend came with me.”

“A friend?”

“Yes. A fellow centurion, Sir Markel. Do you know him?”

“Ah, that man.”

When Yudit showed that he knew Markel, Darion’s face lit bright.

“He is a capable man.”

“Is he?”

“Yes. He is clever as well. Far more than someone like me.”

As Darion lowered himself and raised Markel, Yudit clasped his fingers and regarded him.

“I think you are the finer talent.”

“No, no.”

Darion startled and shook his head. He clearly longed to say something, yet wavered. Seeing Yudit’s puzzled look, Darion at last spoke.

“The truth is, the herbs I brought you a few days ago were given by Markel. Markel has always been skilled with herbs. To me they all look the same, but he can pick out the medicinal ones.”

“I see. But why did he not give them himself?”

At Yudit’s question Darion hesitated, then spoke.

“Before we went to war we drew lots and agreed to gather credit for one man. He said it would be better for one to gain ten merits and lead the rest than for each to gain five.”

“Are you not being too honest?”

At Yudit’s words Darion rubbed his thick brows.

“I-I think so as well. Drink makes me babble nonsense. Forgive me.”

“No. Thanks to it I am amused.”

With that Yudit poured more wine into Darion’s cup. Three empty bottles rolled under their table.

“Yet, what I said is no lie. Markel is far more clever, capable, and kind than me. In fact the plan I gave… was one of Markel’s.”

After spilling all the truth Darion finally wore a calm look.

“So… truly the one who should sit here is M-Markel.”