A Charge of Valor by Morgan Rice Page B

EIGHT
     
     
     
    Kendrick walked slowly through the burnt-out courtyard of Upper Silesia, at his side Srog, Brom, Kolk, Atme, Godfrey and a dozen Silver. They all marched slowly, deliberately, hands clasped behind their heads in a show of surrender.
    The small group worked its way past the thousands of watching Empire soldiers, towards the waiting figure of Andronicus at the far city gate. Kendrick felt all eyes on them as they went, the tension thick in the air. The courtyard, despite being occupied by thousands of troops, was quiet enough to hear a pin drop.
    An hour before, Kendrick had yelled up his surrender to Andronicus, and this group had ascended together, making a show of not carrying weapons as they had marched between the parting crowd of Empire soldiers, on their way to formally kneel before Andronicus. Kendrick’s heart was pounding as they went, his throat dry, as he saw how many thousands of hostile enemy surrounded them.
    Kendrick and the others had rehearsed a scheme, and as they approached Andronicus, and Kendrick saw firsthand how huge and savage he looked, Kendrick prayed the scheme worked. If it did not, their lives were over.
    They marched, spurs jingling, until finally one of Andronicus’ generals stepped forward, an imposing creature with a deep scowl, and stuck out a rough palm, jabbing Kendrick in the chest. They were stopped about twenty feet away from Andronicus, presumably out of caution. Their soldiers were wiser than Kendrick had predicted; he had hoped to march all the way to Andronicus, but clearly that was something they would not allow. Kendrick’s heart beat faster, as he hoped it did not put a wrinkle in their plan.
    As they all stood there, silent, facing off with each other, Kendrick cleared his throat.
    “ We have come to surrender before the Great Andronicus,” Kendrick announced, his voice booming, trying to use his most convincing tone as he stood with the others, unmoving, looking up into Andronicus’ eyes.
    Andronicus reached up and fingered the shrunken heads on his necklace, looking down at them with something like a snarl, or perhaps a smile.
    “ We accept your terms,” Kendrick continued. “We admit defeat.”
    Andronicus leaned forward, just slightly, seated on a huge stone bench, and looked down at them with something like a smile.
    “ I know that you will,” he said, his voice booming back across the courtyard. “Where’s the girl?”
    Kendrick was prepared for that.
    “ We have come as a contingent of our most senior and decorated officers,” Kendrick responded. “We came first, to profess our surrender to you. When we are finished, the others will follow, with your permission.”
    Kendrick thought that adding “with your permission” was a nice touch, would help it seem even more plausible. He’d learned a great lesson long ago, from one of his military advisors: when dealing with a narcissistic commander, always appeal to his ego. There was no limit to the mistakes a commander might make when you flattered them, when you played up their greatness.
    Andronicus leaned back just a bit, barely responding.
    “ Of course they will,” Andronicus said. “Otherwise the group of you would be very foolish to appear here.”
    Andronicus sat there, staring down at them, as if trying to decide. He seemed as if he sensed something awry. Kendrick’s heart pounded.
    Finally, after a long wait, Andronicus seemed to decide.
    “ Step forward and kneel,” he said. “All of you.”
    The others all looked to Kendrick, and Kendrick nodded.
    They all took a step forward and knelt down, before Andronicus.
    “ Repeat after me,” the commander said. “We, representatives of Silesia….”
    “ We, representatives of Silesia….”
    “ Do hereby surrender to the Great Andronicus….”
    “ Do hereby surrender to the Great Andronicus….”
    “ and vow allegiance to him for the rest of our days and more….”
    “ and vow allegiance to him for the rest of our days