if I had known what was about to happen, would I have been capable of preventing it? Sometimes, I wake in the dead of night, sweating. I sit up in bed and feel the darkness press in on me, the erratic breath of alien bodies and the musk which surrounds me wherever I go. At those times, what frightens me the most is not whether I could have stopped that madness, but weather I would have tried to stop it if I had known. Would I have done what was right, or would I have bowed my head to the inevitable as I'd done countless times before?
The strategy for that last battle was particularly complex. Whenever I caught a glimpse of him, Aghar carried a furrowed brow and spoke in urgent tones to his counsellors. I saw a runner come and go from the citadel, probably to seek council from the King. I guess it was one last attempt on Aghar's part to bring the nobles to our side.
I didn't understand the formation, but that wasn't new. I was placed in the centre of a circle with the Sworn Maidens, surrounded on three sides by eunuchs and conscripts whose numbers directed the enemy towards our central chisel.
Aghar waited until the battle was well under way before launching his plan. He had hand-picked a few dozen men, chosen from different units so that they wouldn't be missed. These men stayed back, and when the Maidens were deep in battle, they raided their camp. The girls on guard were dispatched with difficulty, but even the Sworn can't hold out five to a one. Still, one of them managed to sound the alarm. The Maidens realized what was going on and tried to get back to their camp, but they were surrounded by enemy on one side and by traitors on the others. No matter how much they pleaded, the men wouldn't let them out of the formation.
Even betrayed, the Sworn didn't become traitors, and wouldn't kill their allies even to save themselves. They had to cut through the Farong to get out of that battle, and by the time they made their way to camp, their potion had been stolen and there were five hundred superhuman men charging at the Farong.
In one day, they used the monthly allowance for the whole Sworn camp. They crushed the Farong and forced them to retreat to the other side of the city. Back in their camp, for the first time since anyone could recall, Sworn Maidens were seen crying.
The citadels walls opened and even the noblings came out to congratulate us on our success.
The Maidens wouldn't enter the city. They sent Lea as an emissary and stayed in their camp.
“What have you done?” she whispered once we were inside, pressing her stiletto under my belt. I bowed my head, and she seemed to remember my defect, because she poised the stiletto on my stomach instead.
“We were going to lose!” I said.
“So what?”
I stared at her in disbelief. Her face softened and she ran her hand through my hair, but her knife didn't budge.
“I forget that this is your first war.” Was that pity on her face? “Yes, we would have lost. The Farong would have looted the city; a few people would have been killed. The city would have been up on its feet in a couple of years. It's worse when the battle drags out for months.”
I stuttered a justification.
“Poor Telora! You have been sorely used. Aghar is devious and he is well known for his schemes.”
To this day I don't know if Aghar manipulated me or not. It is a possibility that haunts me. My face must have reflected my agony.
“Come, I must show you something.”
She guided me towards the hill where the Gong stood. I watched it start to swing, gathering momentum. I was in awe of the instrument that had chimed the beat of our death and our life for the last sixty days. Lea led me up the hill.
“The Gong must be played one last time. The chime of peace releases the Sworn Maidens from their duty. The Sworn will leave the city tonight. Your men have not been careful with the potion and are sharing it around. In the morning there will be a hoard of men and noblings aching to test
The strategy for that last battle was particularly complex. Whenever I caught a glimpse of him, Aghar carried a furrowed brow and spoke in urgent tones to his counsellors. I saw a runner come and go from the citadel, probably to seek council from the King. I guess it was one last attempt on Aghar's part to bring the nobles to our side.
I didn't understand the formation, but that wasn't new. I was placed in the centre of a circle with the Sworn Maidens, surrounded on three sides by eunuchs and conscripts whose numbers directed the enemy towards our central chisel.
Aghar waited until the battle was well under way before launching his plan. He had hand-picked a few dozen men, chosen from different units so that they wouldn't be missed. These men stayed back, and when the Maidens were deep in battle, they raided their camp. The girls on guard were dispatched with difficulty, but even the Sworn can't hold out five to a one. Still, one of them managed to sound the alarm. The Maidens realized what was going on and tried to get back to their camp, but they were surrounded by enemy on one side and by traitors on the others. No matter how much they pleaded, the men wouldn't let them out of the formation.
Even betrayed, the Sworn didn't become traitors, and wouldn't kill their allies even to save themselves. They had to cut through the Farong to get out of that battle, and by the time they made their way to camp, their potion had been stolen and there were five hundred superhuman men charging at the Farong.
In one day, they used the monthly allowance for the whole Sworn camp. They crushed the Farong and forced them to retreat to the other side of the city. Back in their camp, for the first time since anyone could recall, Sworn Maidens were seen crying.
The citadels walls opened and even the noblings came out to congratulate us on our success.
The Maidens wouldn't enter the city. They sent Lea as an emissary and stayed in their camp.
“What have you done?” she whispered once we were inside, pressing her stiletto under my belt. I bowed my head, and she seemed to remember my defect, because she poised the stiletto on my stomach instead.
“We were going to lose!” I said.
“So what?”
I stared at her in disbelief. Her face softened and she ran her hand through my hair, but her knife didn't budge.
“I forget that this is your first war.” Was that pity on her face? “Yes, we would have lost. The Farong would have looted the city; a few people would have been killed. The city would have been up on its feet in a couple of years. It's worse when the battle drags out for months.”
I stuttered a justification.
“Poor Telora! You have been sorely used. Aghar is devious and he is well known for his schemes.”
To this day I don't know if Aghar manipulated me or not. It is a possibility that haunts me. My face must have reflected my agony.
“Come, I must show you something.”
She guided me towards the hill where the Gong stood. I watched it start to swing, gathering momentum. I was in awe of the instrument that had chimed the beat of our death and our life for the last sixty days. Lea led me up the hill.
“The Gong must be played one last time. The chime of peace releases the Sworn Maidens from their duty. The Sworn will leave the city tonight. Your men have not been careful with the potion and are sharing it around. In the morning there will be a hoard of men and noblings aching to test
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