(Drakken's POV)
"What is this supposed to be?" I asked Sylas as I crouched down next to him
We were outside in the courtyard, and he was drawing something on the dirt with a stick. It appeared to be some battle formations, but I really couldn't recognize them.
"Nothing much." He said as he kept drawing, "Some things I was thinking of."
I looked at the formations; they looked like some sort of pincer attack, but the flanking was a bit awkward. It is not a tactic that I was used to seeing or using, but it seemed like they were splitting off too much, giving the target a bit more space to spread out and defend.
"Hm." I said as I pointed at the front of the formation, "You're allowing them to push forth and advance, why?"
Sylas shrugged, "That's what I want."
"What?" I asked with a raised eyebrow
He pointed at a small rectangle, "They will push the center of the formation." He said, "Spreading outwards....and will separate the front from the rest. The others will attack the rear and leave the front isolated."
I looked around the drawings, seeing that he was right in what he was saying. There was a large rectangle that seemed to be pushing forth, and the other small ones were flanking pincers, but they seemed to be focusing on the center, resulting in the isolation of the front. But the only problem was that there was nobody to pick off the others. I didn't see any archer formations that would pepper them with arrows.
I was a bit perplexed in what the purpose of this tactic was.
"Who will finish the front then?" I asked him
"Nobody." He said, "They will be given a choice: to turn around and fight or keep pushing forth. Once they abandon the others, they will move on to the actual fight, which will leave them crippled completely. Depending on where the main fighting is, they will be obliterated completely. Or they could do the smart thing and run away."
"Hm." I said
"Are you used to open field battles, father?" He asked
I shook my head, "While they are more common, I have used several types of warfare. What I am not used to is whatever you came up with." I said, "I typically like to finish my enemy in a dominating fashion."
He stood up, "Sometimes, it is best to leave some alive." He said, "To break their spirits."
"That is true." I said as I looked at him
His face then hardened, and he looked away, almost as if he had thought of something.
"What's wrong?" I asked him
"Father....." He said, "Why did you bring those people back....?"
"Well, there is a reason for that." I said, "I need to-"
"Can't you bring Mother back?" He asked me
I froze, not being able to say anything. I simply stared at him with a look of surprise.
I then cleared my throat and straightened up, "What do you mean by that, Sylas?" I asked him, "What are you trying to say?"
"Don't you want to bring her back?" He asked as he looked at me
".....More than anything." I said as I looked away, "But I will only say this once and will not repeat myself, son; There are things that cannot be done. So do me a favor and do not bring her up again."
"But.." He said
"I said what I said." I said seriously, "Go to your chambers."
"Come, my love." I heard Mya's voice
I turned to see her walking up to us with a smile on her face.
"Mother....." Sylas said as he slowly walked over to her
Mya took his hand, "Let us go eat some pastries." She said as she patted his head, "Your Father has things to do."
"Fine...." He said
Mya looked at me, "My Lord." She said, "I wish to see you later tonight."
I nodded, "Fine." I said,
"I'll see you then."
************************
I was sitting on a chair next to the table, seeing how the Priestess was on her knees, scrubbing the floor with a bucket of water next to her. Mya told me that she has both her and Jocelyn keep the sub-basement nice and clean these days.
"Hm...." I said, "So she's nice and obedient now, huh?"
"Yes." Jocelyn said as she was standing next to me, "There is no issue."
"Shame." I said as I tilted my head, "I wanted to torture her more. I suppose I will find myself another Priestess or something."
"There is no need to do that." Jocelyn said softly, "You already did what you could with her."
"When you lose what I've lost....you will understand....." I said as I gave her a serious look, "Do not tell me what I need to do, Jocelyn."
She nodded, "I understand, My Lord." She said softly, "But....can I ask you a question?"
"What is it?" I asked
"D-Did I..." She started, "Was I really married to Prince Aemon?"
I looked away, "Why does that matter? You died." I told her, "He is currently married to Princess Daella."
"Daella....another of my nieces..." She said, "But the way he spoke to me....the way he looked at me...."
"You were dead, Jocelyn." I said, "I brought you back."
"Yes, I know." she said softly, "And I am eternally grateful for that....but..."
"What is it?" I asked with an annoyed tone
"Ever since....meeting him...." She said as she looked down, "My body has been stirring...."
"What?" I frowned, "The hell does that mean?"
"I cannot explain it." She said, "It is as if....my body remembers something...."
"Your body is one thing." I said, "What does your mind tell you? Your memory."
"I don't remember anything." She said softly, her cheeks getting red, "But....I don't know..."
She stepped closer to me as she looked at me strangely. She then placed her hand on mine, the touch of her soft palm was unsettling to me.
I raised an eyebrow, "What is this?"
"I don't know." She said softly, "I do think.....we were lovers...."
"Who?" I asked, "You and Aemon? I won't repeat-"
"You and I." She said softly
"Oh." I said, "Well....why would you think that?"
"I don't know." she said, "But.....my body feels strange when I am with you."
"I cannot explain it."