Chapter 26, Was it Really Victory

(Ardivar)

After Ardivar had killed the Darvan Kuran he had waited in the conquered city rounding up all of his new pack members. He allowed them nearly two days of rest and waiting. Ardivar wanted to leave the city and pursue the column of humans. But he received orders from the Darvan command. A young Darvan scout with light brown fur and deep black armour had approached Ardivar on the second day.

All the pack members had lowered their ears to the young scout. The scout told all the gathered warriors and scouts the main Darvan force would reach the city in one day. The scout told Ardivar, who was the acting commander, to remain in the city until the army arrived.

Ardivar hissed, grumbling impatiently.

And thus Ardivar waited on the edge of a crumbling building. He watched from the conquered human city as a sea of Darva marched in groups of five from the forest. Ardivar couldn't believe his eyes. The sheer number of them took his breath away. A stiff breeze rustled against his leather skin, bringing to Ardivar the thick sweet smell of magic. Ardivar shivered in both delight and apprehension. So much magic in one place? For the third time in a week, he felt something akin to fear grip his heart.

Ardivar licked his lips in excitement. What luck? There were many smells of mana on the wind, some sweet like honey, while others made him want to hide and wait for them to pass. Ardivar watched for nearly an hour as the Darva created a camp. They erected round tents with long poles to hold the fabric aloft. The tents were a deep hue of green, blending in with the surroundings.

Whoever thought the Darva were mindless creatures would have changed their minds at the sight of the camp. The straight lines of tents and the roving patrols around the camp made Ardivar's hair raise on his neck.

" Number two, contact the army. Let me know where they want to meet." said Ardivar.

" Yes Harut Ardivar." replied number two, rocks tumbling as the armoured Darvan warrior descended the broken rubble to the street. He watched the dark form of his number two cross the open field to the vast army camped outside the walls. Several minutes of waiting and Ardivar could relax, as the familiar dark furred form of number two left the army.

Ardivar waited for his pack member to get in range.

" Harut Ardivar, the Kurans of the army demand your presence immediately." said Number two, his voice sounding nervous.

" How many Kurans are here?" asked Ardivar. Descending towards his subordinate. Ardivar crossed the distance and fell instep of number two.

" There are five Kurans leading the army." said Number two.

" What do you think they will say to my takeover of the two hundred and fifty Darva in the city?" asked Ardivar.

" Either they will promote you to a Varsuth, or they will punish you and take away your new pack." replied Number two, his ears flattening. Ardivar snarled. He would need to be careful. Ardivar approached the edge of the army and passed by the outer patrols. Ardivar received no end of attention. The curious stares and wayward glanced of the Darvan warriors and scouts followed Ardivar.

" When I get in trouble, try to get me out of it. I have a problem with being nice." said Ardivar grumbling.

" Yes Harut Ardivar, I will do my best to keep you alive." replied number two.

Ardivar caught snippets of conversation drifting to his mind. The Darvan warriors around him were excitedly talking to each other. And therefore Ardivar could occasionally catch what they were saying.

" Thats the pack leader that conquered the city." said one warrior.

" No! You 're joking. He is just a pup. What rank is he?" replied the other.

" Its true. I heard the scout reporting to the Kurans. He said it was a young pup that leads the vanguard to conquer the city is already a Harut." replied the first warrior.

" We will see. To think a pup could become a Harut and lead the assault to conquer a human city." said the other in awe.

Ardivar saunter amongst the tents. He left his leathery skin bare to the afternoon sun. Revealing his dark leathery skin hooked claws and the two small horns on his head pointing straight backwards.

Ardivar approached a group of five Darva, dressed in deep black leather armour. He drooled at the differing smells of sweet and strong magic radiating from the mages. Ardivar's heart skipped a beat as they turned their hard gases to him.

Ardivar head swam as all five of the Darvan mages channel mana, each eyeing him. He to channel mana, eyeing the various subtle runes hanging in the air. If Ardivar could have run away, he would have. The smell of each of these five Darvan mages made them feel on equal terms with that human monster. It took all of Ardivar's resolve not to show weakness.

" Venerable Kurans, I would like to introduce you to my pack leader. He is the one who lead our warriors to conquer the city. This is Harut Ardivar. " said Number Two, flattening his ears and lowering his tail. Ardivar swallowed hard for once, deciding to show respect. Ardivar flattens his ears, lowering his tail, copying his sub ordinant.

" Greetings Venerable Kurans. It's a pleasure to meet you." said Ardivar. The rush of mana subsided, as all the Kurans lessened their pull on mana. Ardivar did his best to remain standing, the pull affecting him much more than he liked.

" What are you? You do not look like a Darvan pup to me!" asked a Kuran, its light brown fur in stark contrast to its dark black leather armour.

" He is not one of us. But I was there when he was given the position of Harut by the late Varsuth Telanthera.

" I can see that he is not one of us. I am asking what he is." replied the light brown furred Darvan Kuran.

Ardivar tensed, He was sure the Darva was vicious. But would they accept what he is? He swallowed hard, trying to come up with a convincing lie. Ardivar ran his forked tongue along the flat of his razor-sharp teeth, wondering what to do.

" I am an enemy of your enemy." replied Ardivar feigning calmness.

" An enemy of our enemy? That does not make you our ally." replied another of the Darvan Kurans baring its teeth.

" He is an ally. Without Harut Ardivar we wouldn't have been able to capture the city and rid this area of the vile humans." said Number two bowing his head to Ardivar in respect. Ardivar grimaced to himself as he felt gratitude and pride in his number two. Such weakness could not be allowed, he told himself. Ardivar sighed in relief at number twos words. But noticed the baleful gaze of the Darva with light brown fur and dark black armour.

" Very well, pack leader. I heard this Pup killed the Kuran in charge of the vanguard? Is that true Harut Ardivar?" asked another of the five mages.

" He challenged me to a fight for command. I accepted and won." replied Ardivar cooly.

" And now you think you should be raised to the rank of Kuran your self?" replied the light brown furred Darvan Kuran. Three of the five bared their teeth and growled menacingly towards Ardivar. Ardivar glanced frantically to his number two, at a loss for what to say.

" No! I will only take a rank that you the commanders of the army did not assign to me. I hope that my capture of the city makes you look kindly on my Pack." replied Ardivar, using the words Number two whispered to his mind. The growling lessened as the gathered Darvan Kurans calmed down..

" At least he knows his place. We can keep him in charge of fifty warriors." mused one of the Darvan Kurans. Ardivar felt their gazes drift to each other as the Darva debated his fate.

" He led the capture of a human city. That at least gives the pup something?" replied a Darva, its pitch black fur blending perfectly with its dark leather armour.

" What do you all say? Do we give him a promotion to Varsuth or punish his insolence?" asked one of the Darvan Mages.

" I have a suggestion. I will duel this pup and test his strength. If he meets the standard of a Varsuth, we can grant him the command of one hundred of the warriors in the city." said the Light brown Furred Darvan Kuran. All the Darvan Kurans shuffled, but none of them objected to the challenge.

Ardivar stepped forwards. This was very reminiscent of his fight against the Darvan pack leader. Only this time Ardivar was fighting against a Darva that made his skin tingle and fear reach its vile claws for his heart. He faced the Darvan Kuran, for once feeling small. As his back barely reached the chest of the Darva when the large canine was on all fours. Ardivar prepared himself and readied to attack.

Ardivar stagger to his feet and hissed, he stares through blurry eyes at the five Darvan mages. His head swam as he tried to grasp what had just happened. One moment he had been preparing to fight and the next he was staggering to his feet. All Ardivar remembered was the sickeningly sweet smell of mana as the Darvan Kuran channeled runes. Ardivar stood shakily and glared at his opponent.

" The new pup has some strength after all. He can stand after taking that attack." Said Ardivar's attacker, yipping in laughter.

Ardivar channeled his mana, forming three runes in a dome around him. He created a rune above his attacker. Green flame shot into the sky, a pillar of dark green fire. The Darva Kuran disappeared, vanishing in the torrent of fire. Ardivar swayed once again, his body pulled to the side, the draw of mana like a physical weight.

Unsure what to expect, Ardivar lept from his position. A light purple rune vanished as though it wasn't there, disappearing from the place Ardivar was standing. Ardivar blinked and swiveling his head, spotting the Darvan Kuran laying on the ground. The Darvan Kuran yawned playfully at him, flicking its tail in a manner suggesting it was bored.

Ardivar hissed, placing a rune directly beneath the Darvan Kuran. His pillar of fire hit the place where the Kuran was laying. But when the flame faded, there was nothing. Ardivar whirled around, his heart racing as he tried to find his deceptive opponent. How was the damned Darvan Kuran keeping out of his sight? Ardivar smelled the air. He caught sight of the light brown furred Darvan Mage. On the wind he caught the sweet smell coming from his right, not in front of him. Ardivar hissed in excitement and created one rune under the fake. He created another high in the air, pointing right where the sweet scent of mana was coming from.

His first rune shot into the sky. Ardivar grinned, watching from the corner of his eye as his other rune sent a head sized pillar of fire scorching the ground. Ardivar heard a satisfied yelp as the Darvan Kuran appeared, its shoulder slightly smoking. Well, he had almost hit the Darva, next time the Darvan Kuran wouldn't be so lucky.

His opponent snarled at him, and Ardivar's mind exploded in pain. His wobbly legs fell from beneath him, and Ardivar fell to the dirt. Ardivar tried to channel mana, but his runes kept breaking, falling apart before he could form them. Runes formed around him, solidifying. The light, wispy runes were faintly glowing as Ardivar felt the anger and the hate drifting from the Darvan Kuran. Unable to move, Ardivar collapsed to the ground. His muscles acting on their own as his body bowed his head in defeat. After a long few seconds, the pressure on his mind faded, leaving his limbs numb and trembling.

" He wounded you, Randy. What do you say? Was his performance good enough to advance to a Varsuth?" asked the Darvan Kuran with pitch black fur. Ardivar's opponent snarled at him, shaking itself, with the scent of burning hair drifting on the slight breeze.

" We can give the pup a chance. He caught me off guard with that lucky attack." replied Randy.

" All in favour of promoting Harut Ardivar to Varsuth?" asked the Darvan curiously. Ardivar winced but smiled as three out of the five Darva voted to have Ardivar be promoted to A Varsuth.

" Congratulations Varsuth Ardivar. If you wish to remain breathing you would do well to stay inline and not attack another Darva with higher rank than you." said Randy Growling in warning. Ardivar grumbled. He had gotten what he wanted. Now he just needed to make it back to the city without offending anyone stronger than him.

" Return to the city and collect your force of one hundred. We will take the rest. We are going to be moving on the nearby city two days to the east." order the pitch black furred Darva. Ardivar's heart skipped a beat in excitement. He didn't enjoy following orders, but the thought of more humans to kill made his mouth water. So many human mages. And all he needed to do was follow the orders of these Darva. One day Ardivar would take their magic, too. All it would take was time. He hissed in excitement, licking his lips.