Leaning on the side of a wooden building, which had been turned into a makeshift first aid post, Yakeru had listened to the speech Jared had just given. Like a general rousing his troops. The towering figure of the knight looked in the light of the flames of the many campfires, like one of the heroes of old. Yakeru could see it in the eyes of the soldiers. A glimmer of hope which had turned into a flame itself, burning with a passion. During the speech many had gotten up from their feet, their voices sounding louder until by the end of the speech they roared with their weapons in hand. Even the wounded had come out of the building to listen and let their voices join in with the others. Yakeru wondered that if they had gotten the order from Jared to march back from where they had come from, they would just do that. Yakeru glanced at Jared. Was this why they had been awoken in this world?

Earlier Yakeru had been sitting at one of the campfires, eating and talking with some of the refugees. An older man, one of the people he had saved even came over to thank him. Though he did not feel that he should be thanked, he had nodded with a smile at the old man. Then he got pulled away from the campfire and asked to help out with the wounded by a stern looking young woman and some linen was pushed in his hands to bandage the wounds where needed. He did not know anything about first aid and he had tried to explain this to her but she had merely shook her head and had started to order him around. So he had run around fetching water and wrapping bandages, which she showed him with a sigh as his first attempt was just poorly according to her. In a way had found it funny. The young woman was shorter than he was and she looked not older than eighteen but she walked around and ordered people like a veteran nurse would do in a hospital. She had narrowed her eyes as she had caught him looking at her with a smile, which promptly made him turn to the soldier he was binding who in turn shouted in pain as the bandage was too tight. After that she had shooed him out of the building, there was nothing he could do any more anyway, and he had leaned against the side of the building with a sigh of relief. In time to hear the speech of Jared.

The knight was right of course but if they wanted to take on the Witch, they needed an army. An army the Emperor could perhaps provide. The same Emperor who had ordered all of them to be awakened but did not even sent a delegation to welcome them or take them to the capital. And if Robert Avant had been chosen to be the delegation, the Emperor clearly did not know his subjects. If they truly had been sent to this world to help, Yakeru had expected something more.

[i]Where was the man anyway?[/i]

He had not seen him after they had arrived in Hildegard. And Dexter also seemed to have disappeared. He did not dwell on the matter for long. Both were more than capable to take care of  themselves. Probably. He would search for them later.

Yakeru had heard from some of the wounded soldiers that there was a city nearby called Pelinor where a decent military force was stationed and would be the place they were going to regroup soon. Something he should tell Jared later. The feeling of certainty this would turn into a full blown war did not leave his mind.

War. He thought back to the words of Chatak. Goblins had joined the Witch because of their mistreatment caused by humans. If the Hume Empire would march their entire military might against the Witch, the goblins would most certainly be decimated, Yakeru imagined. Or was her might so grand, her force so powerful that it would turn the other way around? Would the Empire lose the fight? In any case many lives would be lost and Yakeru did not know if he wanted to be part of an army responsible for that. But could a peaceful solution be possible? 

Peace or war. Yakeru knew that he had to become stronger so he could at least aid those in need and to prepare for the times of great strife that were sure to come.

He felt in need of a drink. He had been old enough to drink in his old life and he sincerely hoped he was old enough to drink in this world. 

"What about a drink, big guy? I'm sure there is a place somewhere where we can enjoy...whatever they are brewing here." He said as he had made his way to Jared. His eyes caught a glimpse of David and Mackensie and he beckoned them. "Any of you guys seen Dexter or Robert?"