The lizard hunter

General Kitchiner, of the Red army, was celebrating 55 years of age. 

He was past his prime. His fighting and hunting days were behind him. Now he only rode for leisure. 

He left Terrouge as a young army recruit 35 years ago, traveling from land to land and across battlefields, fighting and killing in the name of his king. 

He first set foot on Khentii 20 years ago. He was a senior lieutenant at that time, sent to Khentii to hose down a small uprising before it metastasized. He was handpicked by the king for this mission. 

He was still young back then. Decisive and excessively unforgiving. He saw black and white, ones and zeros, and acted on it without forethought. That attitude was what got him to where he was at that time, and he had no intention on changing it.  

He crushed the rebellion instantly. Mercilessly executing the leaders in the central square, earning himself the title "The lizard hunter" in the Red king's court, and being anointed governor of the region. Since then, some attempts to overthrow his regime have occurred and some skirmishes here and there around the region, but they were quickly squashed.

His wife was a distant royal cousin, married to him following his military success. Together they had 2 elder sons and a young daughter, 5 years of age. Both their sons have joined the army to follow in their father's footsteps. He lives with his wife, daughter, and their domestic slaves at the new quarters, constructed some 5 years ago on the outskirts of Darkhen. 

His marriage was political in nature, but he has grown to love and appreciate his wife. His daughter was "the jewel of his eyes" as he said repeatedly, his most beloved. Rumors have been around that he took to bed with some of the slave girls every once in a while, although nothing on the surface would give credence to such rumors. He had also become softer on the dragon folk over the years, his attitude shifting from staunch indifference to sympathetic pity. 

At the age of 55, he had a lot more free time and desire to reflect. His blade has gone dull, and domestic life suited him. He was a general at times of war, but a ruler come peace time. For better or worse, he has become a consistent and integral part of Darkhen, and Darkhen a part of him. He did grow to appreciate the lore behind the dragons and develop some sort of respect towards the idea of faith, something that is not so present at Terrouge. He was almost humbled by the faith of some of the people in the dragons.

But today, he will have to set all that aside. Some noises involving three known criminals are getting louder and louder, and this time he has an ominous feeling about it. The now-peaceful ruler will have to once again put on the jacket of the war general. The reds can not afford to let faith run loose in Ghentii. He thought about that and realized that it made his heart heavy. It will take a toll on him. It will undo years and years of good faith he had so patiently accrued. But it does not matter. He was a man of duty, and his duty was for the king.

He saddled up and set out to Darkhen.