Chapter 50: The Weight of Command

Status of Dikun Silver:

Name: Dikun Silver

Age: 21

Rank: Captain of the Silver's Warband

Reputation: Defender of Rithgar, Rising Leader, Potential Ally of House Carlin

Health: Healing (Minor wounds)

Equipment: Steel Longsword, Reinforced Chainmail, Leather Cloak

Mount: Brown Destrier

Morale: Resolute

Status of Silver's Warband:

Total Soldiers: 90 (Three Killed, Five Wounded)

Ranks:

60 Privates (Bronze Triangle Insignia)

20 Corporals (Crossed Triangles Insignia)

8 Sergeants (Crimson Belt and Pyramid Insignia)

2 Lieutenants (Silver-Trimmed Cloak and Silver Star Insignia: Revan, Harlon)

Supplies: Moderate (Grain, Dried Meat, Water, Basic Medical Supplies)

Weapons: Spears, Swords, Bows, and Reinforced Wooden Shields

Armor: Basic Leather and Chainmail

Morale: Mixed (Pride from Victory, Mourning the Fallen)

Current Location: Rithgar Village

Next Objective: Bury the dead, tend to the wounded, maintain morale.

---

The Aftermath

The battlefield smelled of blood and damp earth. The bodies of the fallen lay scattered, the cries of the wounded mingling with the distant caws of circling crows. Despite the victory, the sight weighed heavily upon Dikun.

He stood in the center of the ruined field, his hands stained crimson. The adrenaline had long faded, replaced by a cold emptiness. Around him, his soldiers worked in silence, dragging the bodies of both friend and foe to a mass burial site.

Revan approached, his face solemn. "Three of ours lost. Five more are wounded, but the healer says they'll live."

Dikun nodded, though the weight of those numbers bore down on him. "Their names?"

"Garlen, Hroth, and Fenric." Revan's voice was low. "They held the line until the end."

"They will be honored," Dikun said firmly. "Ensure their families are compensated. Double shares from the loot."

"It will be done, Captain."

The silence lingered. Dikun's gaze flicked to the darkened horizon. Though the enemy had been defeated, the presence of the black banner — Varrin's mark — gnawed at him. This battle had merely been a message.

"Varrin will come," Dikun said, more to himself than Revan. "And next time, he won't send a rabble."

---

Tending to the Wounded

The makeshift infirmary was nothing more than a shaded corner within the village, lined with hay and wooden benches. The scent of herbs and blood hung thick in the air.

Dikun knelt beside a young private, his left leg bandaged tightly. Sweat slicked the boy's forehead, his teeth clenched against the pain.

"You fought well," Dikun said softly. "The wall held because of men like you."

The boy's pale lips curled into a weak smile. "I just… did as I was told, Captain."

"And that," Dikun replied, "is what makes you a soldier."

He rose, his gaze shifting to the others. Harlon stood nearby, tending to one of his sergeants. Despite the fatigue etched into his features, the massive man moved with surprising gentleness.

"We'll lose no more today," Harlon grunted. "Not on my watch."

Dikun clasped his shoulder. "Good."

---

Burial and Remembrance

At the edge of the village, three graves were dug — simple mounds of earth marked by wooden crosses. The entire warband gathered in silence, their faces hardened by loss.

Revan spoke first, his voice steady. "Garlen, Hroth, and Fenric. They stood with honor, fighting not for gold or title, but for the man beside them. In their sacrifice, we stand here today."

Harlon stepped forward, placing a battered shield atop one of the graves. "Their courage will not be forgotten."

Dikun's gaze remained fixed on the graves, the weight of responsibility pressing down upon him. "We live because they gave everything. And we will honor their memory with every step forward."

The men bowed their heads, a moment of solemn silence passing between them.

---

A Leader's Resolve

That evening, Dikun retreated to the warband's tent. The air was thick with the lingering scent of battle, but his mind was far from rest.

Revan entered, his brow furrowed. "You should sleep, Captain."

"There's no time for that," Dikun replied, his voice low. "Varrin's forces will not wait. We need to rebuild, train, and prepare."

Revan nodded, though concern flickered in his eyes. "And the men?"

"They will follow," Dikun said firmly. "But not just because I command it. I will stand with them. Fight beside them. Earn their loyalty not with words, but with action."

Revan smiled faintly. "You already have."

Dikun's gaze hardened. "Then we will be ready. No matter what comes."

To Be Continued…