Page 17 of The Last War We Ever Fought

“Whose? Yours? Theirs? Hers?”

Adam’s shoulders pulled back and he stood straight as if he’d been called to salute. “There are rules in war, as you must know, your holiness.”

He almost winced at the way he was addressed. “On the contrary. There are no rules in war,” Elijah replied. “And you at least have to be smart enough to not accept food from someone you have wronged or attempted to wrong. I’d say those soldiers did not have a very promising future as it was.”

Elijah had her attention then, lifting her widened eyes to him, and he shot her a faint wink that her superior missed amidst his attempt to find words for a reply.

“It does not justify taking their lives,” was all Adam could come up with.

“Nor does your war to Gobresh. But that is how it is. War does not simply care. Many unjust things are done in the name of war.” He grinned at the general who uncomfortably shifted a few steps back as if he’d snarled instead. “In my name. And as far as what Rowan did goes, it was entertaining. I’m very entertained. Aren’t you glad?”

The general’s mouth parted as he stared at War as if he’d grown another head. “I…I—” He glanced at Rowan first before replying. “Yes, well, I am glad if that is the case.”

With that, he bowed at Elijah and left towards the tents as if his soles had caught on fire.

“I don’t need you to defend me,” Rowan sneered.

He picked her water cup and drank from it, thankful it had been only water not the piss coloured poison the rest consumed. “I didn’t defend you. I defended dividends.” Elijah couldn't help himself but say, “You just happen to be one of them.”

Suddenly, she looked so well rested and energetic, ready to pounce over the small table between them. “I am not something you own.”

His eyes flashed. “How can I greatly persuade you to reconsider?” he asked, leaning on the table, bringing their faces closer. “I treat what I own with utmost care.”

She slapped his hand away when he reached to touch her face, making him chuckle. “So very violent,” he crooned, his eyes dropping to her mouth, enjoying the flustered look on her face.

“You haven't seen the half of it.”

“Then show me.”

She looked ahead at where Adam had been joined by the other general, and winced—possibly because the two had just witnessed her slapping him. Her head lowered, breaking Elijah’s streak of fun. “Go. Away,” she gritted between her clenched teeth.

“Go where?” he asked, picking up a piece from her bread and she shot him a bewildered look.

Elijah found out bread didn’t taste like much either in this realm. And he also found himself curious to taste something else. He’d had some of her anger. He wanted some of her frustration now. Up until that moment, he had not realised how much he enjoyed being glared at.

“To hell, for all I care.”

“I already am in hell, Rowan.” She was all the way across from him. Staring at him with so much hate. Hate, not just anger. How could the one who reminded him of his lost peace hate him? Especially when he needed his peace back.

“Well, enjoy your stay,” she said, pushing off the stool and leaving.

He resisted following after her—never had such an urge of his been suppressed before. He wasn’t a God who held himself from getting what he wanted, but she wasn’t a human who’d give herself up without a fight. Dropping his head back, he shut his eyes and murmured a silent curse. His ears itched, as if already feeling the ridicule of Gods at his misery.

Someone dropped back on a chair near him, and he sat up straight, expecting the same pair of angry eyes to be looking back at him. Not the big brown doe ones belonging to the boy she somehow tolerated better than him.

“Hi,” Daniel casually said to him.

Hi?

Elijah leaned forward, not wanting to escape the opportunity since the boy was already so docile and compliant to him. “Tell me about her.”

Daniel stopped chewing; his cheeks swollen with bread. “Who?”

“Rowan.”

For a moment, the boy chewed his bread very slowly, looking at him as if he had now grown a third head as well. “Rowan? My Rowan?”

A nerve jumped on his temple. “She’s not your Rowan.”