Marcus walked with Adam at his side, looking at the leftover carnage of the battlefield. Crouching down by the bodies of the empire troops, he sacrificed his face and didn’t show a hint of emotion.

"They knew what the mission was, Sir," Adam said softly, from behind Marcus.

"Every time I lead a battle, I understand more what General Flander’s tries to teach me. The difference between solider and leader." Marcus stood up and looked around. He had lost fifty men, and whilst it could be called a win, a 10% loss was still something they couldn’t sustain until the main invading force arrived.

"It a horrid thing, isn’t it?" Hearing Adam’s question, Marcus just sternly nodded and turned around. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"Have the names of those who died sent back to the Empire. Have others come and collect the bodies. They deserve a proper send-off. Not being fertiliser in this field." Marcus and Adam walked back to the camp they had set up.

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Kacper sat with his legs crossed, taking deep breaths. He tried to keep himself calm after the loss he had suffered. He had to be calm. He let himself get swept up by emotion in the last battle. He had failed spectacularly. It was something he couldn’t do again.

"Kacper." With a gentle voice, a man out of place on a battlefield walked in. His lavish clothing and clean appearance told of his noble status, but Kacper didn’t mind, smiling and getting up.

"You shouldn’t be here, Ludwick." Despite his words, there was a noticeable softness in Kacper’s tone. "But I’m glad."

"I wasn’t far when I heard the news. It’s already spread to the nearby towns." Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Kacper grabbed his head in shame.

"I messed up. I knew it was the Empire I was fighting but treated them like rebels." Kacper looked out into the distance, his eyes unfocused. "They were different, Ludwick. They were a real army, not the rabble we have. Snowid has taken the best for himself. What do I have? A bunch of leveis and a few men who actually trained for war."

"It will be fine, Kacper. You can come back."

"I don’t know. I wonder if the rebels were right. Maybe sticking with the Empire was the right call." Ludwick walked closer and slapped Kacper around the face, stunning him.

"Don’t talk like this. The soldiers can, but not you. A leader must stay firm, even if they have differing thoughts. These men are here for you. You can’t betray their trust, or you will never win."

Stroking his cheek, he smiled softly at Ludwicks words. "It easier said than done." Getting up, Kacper grabbed Ludwicks shoulder, "But you’re right. I need to prepare. I haven’t lost yet." Ludwick looked at him and smiled proudly, following him out of the tent. The two walked through the camp towards a large one in the center. Inside, a couple of men stood around looking at a map.

"Your grace." All bowed towards him with respect, and Kacper took his place at the head of the table, with Ludwick behind.

"We suffered defeat, and I know this was my fault. I underestimated our enemy. But we learn from our mistakes. Tell me. Do we have any news?"

"Your grace." One man spoke up and looked him dead in the eye. "We have received word of who is leading the Empire’s troops. It’s Marcus Hardly. Second in Command of the Ammary Military."

"Hardly," Kacper said grimly. "It’s a surprise they have already sent someone like that here."

"We must prepare, Your Grace. The man has a good reputation on the battlefield. He has earned his place in the Empire from merit. Nothing else." Kacper grabbed his mouth and looked down at the map.

"Our intelligence was wrong," Kacper said suspiciously and looked at his council. "I was told 200. Yet they had more. At least an extra 400. What happened?" Kacper looked at the man in charge of his scouts, and he slightly sunk.

"I don’t know. It was definitely 200 marching towards us. He must have hidden his men using the night as cover. But it is not a bad situation, Your Grace. The front is massive and Hardly will be forced to spread thin."

Kacper sighed and shook his head. "I don’t know. Our enemy is a cunning man who will sacrifice the lives of his men to win. We can’t think that this will be easy anymore. Those incompetent fellows aren’t in charge anymore."

"But he will spread thin." The man reiterated his point.

"Let’s think. The center of the island is forest. To push through it is hard but not impossible. The northernmost part faced little damage during the pirate invasion, and its fortifications are still mainly intact. Only the south was damaged beyond repair and has been where we made most of our advance."

’What would he do?’ Kacper tried to think like Marcus. He needed to understand the man to defeat him. "He doesn’t need to push us out. Only hold. The Empire will invade soon." Thinking back to the battle, Kacper had a dangerous idea. "If he only needs to hold, why don’t we encircle him?"

"Your Grace?" The men question, looking at Kacper, who reached over the table.

"The northernmost part has been the hardest to attack. So why don’t we force everything through the forest? If we go around, we avoid Hardly and force him to spread thin. Then, when he has, we launch an assault in the south." The men looked at one another, giving small nods. They felt it could work but required luck.

"We will need support. If we take manpower from the North and South, we threaten to be encircled ourselves. In a forest no less. Supply is hard enough to get." Kacper nodded in agreement and looked at Ludwick.

"Can you send the request? We need it within the month." Ludwick sighed but nodded.

"I know a few guys. They may be able to send support." Everyone happily nodded, and Ludwick left the tent, hearing the low muttering as they discussed the next steps.

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Marcus stood at the head of the row of dead bodies, all evenly spread apart. The Commonwealth soldiers looked at it with confusion, wondering what was happening. The Ammary soldiers, however, had grim looks on their faces. How many times had they seen the sight? Of their fellow brothers ready to be sent off. The only grace they had was that their bodies were intact. They at least had something to bury and show.

"Today." Marcus started with a heavy voice. Looking at the men, he felt the weight of his actions but accepted them. "Today we honour the fallen, remember their memory, sacrifice and honour. They lived and died with the dignity one would expect from a soldier of our great Empire. I look at them and wonder if things should have been different. But I can’t. That would be the most shameful thing I could do for them. They knew what I ordered. You all did. They gave their lives for the mission. They died for the Empire’s cause. They died for something they believed in. They trusted me to finish it."

"I look at them all and feel proud. Proud knowing they were my men. Proud of who they were. But I’m sad that the Empire lost some of its finest. They will be returned home to their families. And those who had none will be buried with their other brother who have fallen."

Marcus lifted his hand and slammed it on his chest piece, the rest of the Ammary soldiers following. All of them saluted the dead, yet not one felt any hatred for Marcus. They all knew what they were. They couldn’t afford to hate him. He wasn’t a man who hid in the back. He fought with them and bled with them. He risked his men as much as himself. They respect that he made the hard choice for them. A group of soldiers slowly, carefully pick he bodies up and move them towards the coast, ready to be returned home.

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Walking into the tent of the rebels’ war council, Marcus took his place at the head of the table. The way some of the men looked at him changed. Instead of seeing an enemy, they saw a leader. One who could get victory. But not everyone changed. Some still saw him with annoyance and hate, feeling they had been usurped from command.

It was pathetic to Marcus, recognising them as the ones who didn’t fight. It was obvious from how they dressed to how they held themselves. They had no idea of the reality of war and only wanted the power that came with it. "Gentleman," Marcus spoke sternly. "I hope my victory has shown my ability. I know many of you were in doubt."

There were a few nods, causing him to smile. He needed followers, not sycophants. "We have a few months until the main force of the Empire arrives. Arek, how has the preparation started for the forts in the forest?"

"The peasants are ready, for a price. But with a promise of gold, we can have them ready in days to begin."

"I will send word as we send back the boides of the men. They will have their gold. The enemy we are dealing with is not stupid but impulsive. I can see that. We will leave the North be. Their defence is easy. First we prepare. We have no reason to attack. Wear them out and counter. It’s simple."

One of the men who still disliked Marcus scoffed and smiled slyly. "I didn’t think the great Marcus Hardly would be this cowardly. We have the upper hand now. We can strike and retake the Island." The other who thought like him nodded and looked at Marcus.

Sighing, he could only shake his head. He didn’t want to work with these men but was forced to. He needed their manpower. "We do not have anything. I can win battles, but this war. No. It’s impossible with what I have now. So shut up and listen to my orders. The Duke has told you to trust me, so do it."

The man scoffed again and shook his head. "Cowardice. I wonder what the Emporer would think of you. I may not like him, but he is a conquer. What are you?"

Marcus could see around the table the men against him rallying behind the noble. ’They still think like this.’ He hated it—the politics of nobility, the self-centredness of it all. He needed a united front to defend, but he wouldn’t get it like this. Enough of the Commonwealth rebels still hated Alfred and the Empire, or at least distrusted it. They needed something to protect themselves for its eventual rule. They didn’t want to end up on the chopping block.

With all that, Marcus smiled. He just had to play the game they played. "You do not like the Emporer. That is a dangerous comment." Marcus walked around and stood before him. "Treason, some would say."

The noble scrambled, not expecting that. "This is not what he meant, Commander." One of the noble’s followers jumped in quickly. "We all have respect for the Emporer. He just meant he didn’t like how the war is being treated right now. It feels like we are not his priority."

"Oh. So you know how the Empoer thinks. Are you implying you could do his job? Surely not. That’s a terribly dangerous way to think." The noble felt his rebuttle get trapped in his throat and backed off.

"None of you are traitors, are you?" Marcus moved his hand over his sword, ready to draw. Everyone quickly shook their heads, causing him to smile. "Perfect. Follow my orders. We hold the line until the main force arrives. Do not disappoint."

"ADAM!" Marcus walked over to the tent entrance and called out to the man. He arrived quickly and, invited in, Marcus looked at his council. "I have suddenly learnt that these fine gentlemen are under threat of assassination. Place a guard on each of them. From our camp."

Adam opened his mouth in confusion, but seeing the eyes of a few of them, he quickly caught on and saluted. "I’ll have some of our best on them. Nothing will be unnoticed."

"Good." Slapping his shoulder, he walked past. "I’ll be in my tent if you need me."