“Relkir?”
Relkir was rushing around their office, clearly looking for something. They were so lost in whatever it was that they were looking for that they hadn’t noticed both the High General and their beloved forever partner standing at the door.
“Relkir…”
Relkir still wasn’t paying attention.
“Relkir!”
The change in tone snapped Relkir out of whatever it was they were doing.
“Oh… Gath… Rethais… How… how long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough!” Rethais tutted. “What in the Light are you doing?”
“I cannot find my partnership dagger!” Relkir exclaimed. “I do not know where I…” Relkir suddenly trailed off and looked at Gath. Gath was holding the dagger Relkir was looking for. “Oh…”
Relkir sighed, and only really calmed down when Gath approached, put an arm around them and handed back the dagger.
“You gave me the dagger to look after before you went into that meeting with those Vrekans, because they requested that everyone be unarmed.”
“I did, yes… Because Vrekans believe that weapons should not be allowed in diplomatic meetings, but they forget that many Rethans carry daggers or are otherwise armed, because they symbolise our partnerships, and Rethan Generals are also normally armed, because they are Generals. Vrekans though, they make little string bracelets with unique patterns and beads, that they tie to their tails.” Relkir sighed some more. “I am sorry. I… I got carried away.”
“It is alright, my dear!” Gath smiled. “I forgive you. But we do need to talk, because you keep on getting worked up and overly protective.”
Relkir paused again. “Is… is this about me snapping at General Vaksavar when they commented that you have put on weight?”
Gath and Rethais both nodded.
“Relkir, little sibling, while you were absolutely in the right to correct Vaksavar on their behaviour, you need to temper your tone a bit!” Rethais explained. “You have been oddly snappy with everyone, ever since Gath became egg-ridden. Yes, Vaksavar is abrasive and occasionally rude, but Vaksavar is also your superior, and needs to be treated with some level of respect.”
Relkir snarled. “Well perhaps Vaksavar should treat those on the same level as them with some damn respect! My gentle giant is a Titled General and Lepidas is the Vice-General, they are both the same rank as Vaksavar, yet Vaksavar is rude to both of them! They are even occasionally rude to you! Their ways are outdated and we would be better off with a younger, more caring and more accepting Master of Generals!”
Rethais grunted back. “Relkir, that is true, but you are not sound of mind right now. You are incredibly stressed and cracks are showing. Which is why I am telling you in person, as a gentle warning, that you need to calm yourself down and speak to a doctor to sort yourself out. Not just for your sake, but for Gath’s sake as well.”
“Hmph…” Relkir tutted. “Did you just come here to tell me off for being both angry and correct?”
“Normally you are just correct and a little angry. Lately, you are all over the place. You are a Below Two Hundred General now. You need to act like it, all the time. This is not normally a problem, you are generally very well behaved, but I am pointing this out now before I have to get formal with you.”
Relkir paused, then took a deep breath. “I am sorry. I have not been right. I just… I just… I need to protect Gath. And I am not doing a good job of it. I… I need to sort myself out.”
“You do, yes. But you have accepted that you are not right, and now you can work on fixing it. Relkir, please take Friday off and speak to your doctor, maybe speak to a therapist as well. This weekend, we are running smaller shifts and have less work because of the Day of Love on Thursday and Labour Day on Friday, and I want you to take advantage of that to sort yourself out.”
“Yes, High General…” Relkir sighed, their shoulders dropping. “I will… Is there anything else you need?”
Rethais paused briefly. “Oh. There was, actually. And it is to do with you being a General…” Rethais eyed Relkir briefly. “You do not have a General’s Blade yet.”
“But…” Relkir glanced at Gath. Gath always carried a General’s Blade, but it wasn’t a traditional sword, it was a broken blade from a broken gun-staff. But Gath had multiple General’s Blades, including a massive, golden gun-staff that Gath carried during official ceremonies. “But I run a pacifist legion. It is literally my duty to prevent pain via spoken words and intelligent thought.”
“That is true, but like your General’s Insignia, it is tradition that you carry some sort of weapon. You are a General, after all.”
“Do I have to have a weapon designed?” Relkir asked. “Or is there a certain blade I have to use? Or what? And does it have to be a sword? I am not a user of swords or gun-staffs, if I have to use a weapon, I prefer the smaller, more discreet blade.”
Rethais shrugged. “If you do not want to carry a standard General’s Blade, then you may have one designed. But for now, I would like you to designate a weapon as your temporary General’s Blade, until one can be officially made and granted to you. Do you have a blade you can use?”
Relkir thought for a moment, then smiled a little. “Are there any restrictions?”
“Is the object you have in mind a blade?”
“Yes.”
“Then that shall do. I will have one of my captains deliver a General’s Ribbon to attach to the handle of your temporary General’s Blade, to distinguish it. You are to wear the General’s Blade at all times when you are out in public. Understood?”
Relkir settled down and nodded. “Yes, Rethais.”
“Very well…” Rethais turned to Gath. “Gath, my friend, please look after Relkir for me, and also look after yourself. I have other duties, so I must leave, but, perhaps, if you are free this weekend, we could meet up for cookies?”
Gath grinned. “I would like that, yes. Have a good one, Rethais.”
“You too!” Rethais bowed slightly as they left the office. “Behave yourselves. And stay safe. Both of you…”