Sacrifice: 3

"Colonel de Laiden. We expected to meet you on the Sea of Grass."

Trindai glared at the general, regimental class. Arrogant prick, but he was still ranking. "What are you doing here with a full regiment?" he asked. Stole the food, stole the horses and stole someone's home while they were at it.

"I heard you deserted your command." Not even an attempt to answer a valid question put forth in a polite manner.

And all for the comfort of a pitiful excuse of a man who should never have been born, much less made it through Imperial Arms. "My men are with the outworlders. Now, again, why..."

"Shut up, Colonel!"

Trindai glared but kept his voice to himself.

"I have new orders for you." He walked over Trindai's frayed and dirty uniform with his eyes. "I'm certain the Twelve will demand an explanation from you when you get back."

Trindai grabbed his sealed orders. Fuming, but he forced his murderous thoughts to stay in his mind.

The seal was not from the Ministry of Art. War? But by the unholy demon spawned piss brained gherin who fathered you why are you transferring me to de Saiden? He broke the seal. He read his orders, and glee as unholy as his oath spread through him.

"I asked you a question earlier. Answer it Regiment General!"

"How dare you..."

Trindai's fist cut him short. "Now you fat little pig. Why, I think you're questioning the right of a superior officer to ask you a question. In my book that stinks of rank insubordination."

"Guards!" The pig didn't even bother to crawl up from the floor before he cried for help.

"Belay that order!" He heard the shuffling of feet, but no one entered the room. A coward. A mean little coward. Despised by his own men, even those he bribes. Keen had its share of failures as well, even though Trindai had never seen enough in one place to fill an entire company of cavalry. But everyone knew Ri Khi excelled in stupidity.

He leaned over the officer. "Now, you will see the farmers paid. You will continue to pay for every single loaf of bread you politely ask for." He's not broken yet. "And you will do all this, not because I ask you, not because I order you to, but because it is an imperial decree." He shoved the orders in the face of the stunned general. "When you meet the caravan you will detach a company strength unit to escort it back. Is that understood?"

Trindai received a shudder, a nod and his orders. War? Why me? Markand is enough, we don't even have troops enough for a second.

Imperial General Trindai de Laiden left the house.

#

Something moved in the night.

Nakora woke from an uneasy slumber.

Gring? No, more than one. She rolled over and came to her feet. Too silent. Her sword was out of reach. She drew a dagger and searched for it in the dark. I wonder...

Tent flaps pulled aside and two shadows entered, then another, and another.

"What is the meaning of this?" Fear ran through her.

Outside the silence was broken by a predator's fury, and she knew.

"Whore!"

She slashed with her weapon, but two shadows already lunged for her. She stabbed at the closest and heard him grunt. Then she was thrown to the ground.

"You get what you deserve. Whore!"

Someone tore her clothes. She would not survive the night. That was knowledge. She was afraid of the unknown, but now she knew. No fear, only rage.

She screamed.