A job done, Report Or Trial?

Perched on the edge of her throne, Destael looked like she had just stepped off the battlefield; which was actually entirely true. Leaning forward with her elbows resting on her knees and her head in one hand, the warlord was still wearing her full plate. Hair pulled back in a braid, rebellious strands hung around her face, often sticking to her skin in drying patches of enemy blood. With one wings folded loosely behind her, the other was lazily stretched out and resting on the arm of the throne so she could lean her warpole against it. 

Zell stood before her, every bit the clean and proud general as he gave her his report. He was just midway through when Cinder entered the room. "-losing our forces heavily on the western approach to an unknown enemy. I've rerouted about a thousand swords from Halizar's lines to support them. As far as I can tell most of Balthezar's men are gone or joined a different side, be it ours or..." 

"His." Des finally spoke, rubbing her forehead in frustration. 

When the other fire demon approached, he dropped her hand to rest in her lap and leaned back in her throne slightly. She looked tired, her skin a shade paler than normal, but those golden eyes that rested on Cinder were still sharp and dangerous. 

"Oh, it's you." She spoke with a sigh. "Report." 

"Humf" The warlord leaned forward again, pinching the bridge of her nose. Wildgard usually gaze her a headache...as if she didn't have enough to deal with. Not to mention this demon with the bad attitude. "If you can get your hands on any demonic relics that exist on that plane, do it. Don't worry so much about trying to save the town, I've been there, I've done it, and it's near impossible. As long as you don't kill anyone just let what happens happen, that town and those people always seemed destined to fall."

"Thistle on the other hand..." She sighed, brushing her hair back and tucking it behind a curled golden horn. "He's strong and can take a hit. If you protect him, so be it. If he goes down it's his own dang fault for not watching his back. It's near impossible to kill him, trust me, I've tried. If someone tries, all they'll achieve is him bitching and moaning and then probably him killing them."

Sitting back, she crossed one armor clad leg over the other. "If you desire to go back and assist Thistle, then so be it, whatever gets you out of my way. If not, I'll have you fly out and assist.." She turned her gaze to her general who was giving Cinder the evil eye. "Zell, what front needed assistance?

Catching his attention, he frowned. "The western approach...but my lord, you can't be considering sending h-"

Des raised her hand, cutting the golden demon off before he finished. "I'll have you out on the front lines of the western approach. I need someone strong."

Eye twitching visibly, Zell raised a fist prepared to give the other male demon a beat down. Seeing her generals aura flare, she promptly opened her wing, thwaping him on the side. "If either of you start a fight in here I will very personally show you exactly why I'm sitting on this throne." She grit out in irritation.

Sending a look her direction, Zell let out a low growl before crossing his arms and staring across the room.

"And I'll have you know, in fact, I much prefer the cold." She send him a coy and dangerous smile before continuing. "As for the job, I can't be everywhere at once. I'm holding down not only half of Balthezars land but my own. I'm being pressed by a warlord to the east, who is being thwarted by Halizar. Zell is standing in for me at Balthezars palace because we're taking massive losses from an unknown but apparently strong warlord from the north. And I'm losing a lot of soldiers in the west because apparently the enemy is rerouting his forces to try and take us from behind."

"Do you want to help me or not. If so I'm putting you right on the front lines in direct command answering only to myself or one of my generals." At D's words, Zell visibly blanched, mouth dropping open. "My lord, you have to be j-"

"Stop." D cut him off, giving him a frustrated and tired glare. "I can always pull you from the north, put Halizar on that throne and have someone else take over in the east." Zell's expression became sour then, his showing eye narrowing but rather than argue he only nodded.

"You're current orders are satisfactory, my lord."

"Good." D turned her golden eyes to Cinder. "So? Up for a fight?"

Des rolled her eyes exasperated. "Demon's..." She grit out under her breath. She'd spent so much time on the human plane recently she'd forgotten how untrusting and crude they could be. Violent, vile race; the lot of them.

Pinching the bridge of her nose again, as if she had a headache, she addressed Cinder. "Fire is one of the strongest elements. It's one of the powers that demons have the fewest immunities to. I need someone that can go in, and remove the threat quickly and efficiently." He lowered her hand again, eyeing the male. "This is what I figure. You'll either desert, like the coward you are and I won't lose a thing; turn on my forces, which will result in me ending you quick and bloody; or actually fight for me and I gain a powerful soldier."

She threaded her fingers together. "The catch is this. The enemies forces on the west are powerful. I've been losing a lot of demons, really quickly. It's going to be tough and bloody and tiring. I could even out the playing field if I went myself but I can't clear the field quickly, which is something I need done." Glad that Zell hadn't spoken up again, she raised her brows at Cinder expectantly.

"Why should you?" D asked him right back. "I'm not going to buy your loyalty, you can walk out of this palace and be in the wind for all I care. I have to much to worry about than one male demon." She actually stood then, letting her glaive fall back into her hand from where it had been resting against her wing. "But should you walk out of this palace you don't have protection from me, or my forces anymore. Should you walk out that door you are no longer an ally, and are therefore an enemy. Should you walk out that door..." She turned to Zell, who was holding a fist in his other hand, eyes gleaming dangerously. "You'd be fair game to anyone who wanted your life."

"I don't know your story, or who tried to kill you or why. I dragged you out of Ashen because you were causing her harm and she's my ally, but of course I don't expect you to understand the nuances of human emotion."

Wings folded loosely, she took the few steps down from her throne to circle around the male. The red fabric that hung from her hips swept along behind her. "You do understand that I am powerful, a force to be reckoned with. Fight for me and you have the benefits of my protection. You have a place within the palace should you return and all the benefits that come with it. Should you succeed you would also hold permanent rank." It wasn't often where she came across a demon that was strong enough to be considered for a position of rank. "You're the only one with anything to lose in this deal. Take it, or leave it." She stopped her pacing, standing only a few feet in front of him.

"Gambling?" D raised a brow, letting out a short laugh. "No, not me. If I need to I'll redirect my forces, like I suggested before to Zell. He could easily do the job, it just means a lot of shuffling around and a lot of wasted time. I don't like to waste my time. I certainly hope I'm not wasting my time right here." She narrowed her eyes, though only slightly.

Stepping away, she spun her warpole up so it rested across her shoulder. Slinging both arms up so they rested atop of it, she spoke, slowly sauntering away across the huge expanse of the throne room.

"There's a warlord that's grown to power to the west, his name is one I don't know. As soon as Balthezar went down he made his move. His forces are equal in strength to mine and his threat looms. He's smart, a tactition like me. The difference is that his army is fighting on one front, coming in from the west and gaining ground. He's already stolen a well from me because my own forces are so spread out. Balthezars palace seems to be his goal. His forces are split, pressing Zell from the North of Balthezars palace while the rest come in from the west to get in behind. I need someone to stop that western press. You will only be one man in my army, but you will be on the front line against a considerable force. If I have someone powerful enough fighting on the front, it will halt their advance." Stopping her wandering, she spun the pole off her shoulders again, circling it in her hands until the blade clanged gently on the marble floor.

Des laughed then, the sound echoing across the room and the most feminine thing about her. "Kill the warlord...." She repeated, grinning. "No..He won't show himself, that's the problem. If he stepped into the open this whole thing wouldn't be an issue. He must be strong to hold power, but he's smart enough to lurk in the shadows. I don't know what his abilities are, I don't know what he looks like, I don't know what is name is."

She swept back across the room towards the two fire demons. Zell still had a sour look on his face and was being characteristically quiet.

"I need you to push back his forces." A wry smile crossed her face and she knew her general would not be happy with her next words. "Basically you'd be saving Zell's ass while he pushes back the second army pressing him. Simple enough job for you I think. If you're able to cause them to retreat, fantastic. But by no means should the enemy gain any more ground than they already have." That ground had been hard won in the chaotic battle against Balthezar. No WAY was she losing it to some nobody she'd never heard of. "There's a well half a day in enemy territory that was stolen from me. In the long run my goal it to regain it but for now do NOT try and regain it if that means leaving an opening for anything to slip in behind our lines."

Glancing away from Cinder, she moved back to her throne. Chancing a glance at Zell, she was not wrong about him being irritated with her. The evil eye he'd been giving the other male was now directed at her.

"So I'm only assuming you accept my offer?"