A Warrior's Redemption

  *****

  They evidently wanted us alive, as they had not fired upon us. That was at least something positive. I sat where I was and watched as the Zoarinian soldiers closed in on us. It was one of the hardest things I had ever done to just sit there and do nothing. I felt Larc’s arms get tighter around me as they closed in on us, “It’s okay, Larc, we’ll get out of this. You wait and see.”

  After we had been disarmed they mounted us on separate horses and tied us to the saddles. A cloaked figure rode up and flipped back his hood, chuckling as he did so. I recognized the Valley Lander warrior who had recruited me for this assignment. At my look of surprise on recognizing him he said, “I know. I know. You’re surprised aren’t you. Roric, it’s really very simple. The Valley Landers and their pathetic allies, the Tranquil Islanders, don’t stand a chance of winning against the power of the Zoarinians. It may seem that I am betraying my people in the here and now, I grant you, but once this nasty conflict is over, I’ll be able to help my people rebuild our nation better than it was before. We’ll advance on as a people, no longer hindered by the outdated practices that force our culture to a standstill. I’ve been promised an administrator position over Artanis itself!” He finished confidently, looking as if he genuinely expected me to agree with him that he was, in fact, loyal to his country and not a traitor, when all his actions amounted to was cowardice wrapped in a cloak of power hungry envy.

  “Is honor so cheap a sentiment that you're willing to squander it all for a position of power and influence? You are, by this one act of treason, wiping out the efforts of all your ancestors before you to be free. The noble ideals that they’ve fought and died for, for countless generations before you, all gone now because of you! Just so you can have a bigger piece of a pie that in reality doesn’t even exist!” I looked him over contemptuously, wishing for a weapon so that I might slit his traitorous throat.

  One guard leaned over in the saddle and backhanded me across the face. It hurt, but I smiled back at him in return. He made as if to do it again, but the traitor motioned him to stop. “Roric, if you live much longer, which I doubt, you will find out that honor has very little to do with helping one get through life comfortably and besides what would you, an escaped arena rat, know of honor in the first place?”

  The soldiers around us laughed as if it was a good joke, but I gave no response, which seemed to anger Lent a little because he pulled his mount around abruptly and rode to the head of the column.