An Ill-Fletched Arrow

Remain within the keep, he had told them.  Rest.

A simple order. 

Clear as crystal. 

A storm had been brewing – always perilous, this far East in the Hithaeglir – and up until that point, his scouts had been working tirelessly, alternating between watch and patrol.  There had been no need for extra eyes in a blizzard.  He had wanted them to take the opportunity to rest, regain their strength.

Yrill had disobeyed him. 

Tancamir had disobeyed him. 

Luthelian had disobeyed him. 

Yrill had claimed that ‘rest,’ to her, was the hunt – but when Dolthafaer had told her that two Arrows had followed in her wake, one of whom had suffered an injury because of it, she had shown deference and remorse.  He had set her on her task and let the matter lie.

Tancamir had been concerned for the other Arrows, lost in the snow, and had been quick to offer apologies and bow his head to Dolthafaer’s harsh reprimand.  He had given him leave to find the others.

Luthelian, however…

You disobeyed my order, Luthelian.  The order was to remain in the keep until the storm abated.

She had stared at him wide-eyed through those long lashes of hers, in turns surprised and pouting at his tone.  The look had raised his ire at once.  He had known then that this discussion would end poorly.

And it had.

I came outside for a bit of air, that is all.
The storm was more… extreme than I thought.
I just came out to think, and then…

Poor excuses. 

This was not the first time he had doubted Luthelian.  She was young – absurdly young – and he had found himself with that excuse on his tongue more than once in the previous days.  His heart had seized in his chest when he had seen Tancamir carry her into the keep, pale and lifeless, found beneath a snowdrift.  Too young.  Far too young. 

For the remainder of this mission, your duty is to watch the camp.

That is unfair, my Lord!
You do not understand!
I did not ask for the tree to break in the wind or the storm to push me away from the keep!

All the petulance of a bratty child. 

He was fond of Luthelian, and proud of her accomplishments and improvement thus far within the Arrow.  But he could not suffer her attempting to manipulate him with soft eyes and pouting lips.  He could not afford to show weakness in the middle of a campaign.  He did not need children by his side. 

If you do not wish to follow my orders, Luthelian, then I will release you from your duty.

A warning unheeded. 

Dolthafaer’s heart sank when he caught the look on Parnard’s face as the Ambassador approached him.  He could see Luthelian glowering at him from across the camp, looing affronted and rebellious.  He felt his control of the situation slip from his fingers the moment his fellow lord addressed him. 

“A word, Lord Dolthafaer.”