More Than a Word (Part 1)

"When are you going back to the battlefield, little brother?" Rena asked after Hushing the children.

Between the scare, the food, and the warm fur of their pets, they had started snoring right after eating their dessert.

"Good question. When am I going back to the battlefield, Orion?" Lith passed the question on to the General of the army.

"Were it up to me, I'd send you out again tomorrow at the first lights and wouldn't make you stop until sundown." Orion turned to Elina and Raaz, giving them a small bow. "I'm sorry for putting your son in danger." 

"Don't worry. We know how you feel." They replied, yet their grimaces begged to differ.

"Alas, it would ease my fatherly heart and be a disaster for the Kingdom." Orion sighed. "Before resuming our advance, we must establish a solid foothold in Thrud's territories. A fortress with mud foundations would collapse at the first attack.