ARTHUR

With no other responsibilities to look after, Arthur can finally participate in the battle. He boards a dinghy three mornings later with a handful of soldiers in Malroix purple. Since the Malroix first reached the beaches, the Busuruli have stopped sending out boats. All Arthur has to say is something bitter about Commander Vonadieu, and the Lieutenant in charge of moving soldiers to shore lets him board without complaint. No one enjoys burning corpses, and that is the duty of the men on this particular boat. They won’t turn away a volunteer.

Just before they reach the breaking waves, Arthur debarks with the others and helps haul the boat ashore, gritting his teeth against the soaking wetness of his uniform when his boots finally meet dry, pink sand. The sand is so deep and loose, he’s only saved from twisting an ankle thanks to his combat boots.

The fresh soldiers take over lighting the pile of Busuruli warriors that their comrades had felled overnight. Arthur lingers outside their huddle, watching boredly as flames take to some poor dead woman’s hair and makes the skin on her forehead turn red and bubble. As the off-goers stumble tiredly back to the boats, Commander Vonadieu arrives to check over the proceedings. She has a quick word with the Lieutenant in charge, completely ignoring Arthur’s presence. The Lieutenant seems surprised to see her so close to danger. She usually commands her army from the ship, but today she’s got a harrowed look to her, like she hasn’t been sleeping. Anyone who knows anything about her can see she's at her wit’s end.

They will report, later, that she’d been reckless in the pursuit of victory.

It’s not ten minutes before the Busuruli come screaming up the beach, a whole thundering herd of them, hungry for the commander’s blood. Arthur is pleased and unsurprised as he tenses in preparation for combat. The Busuruli lookouts must’ve spotted the white on Vivienne’s coat from atop the walls.

He faces a weaponless Busuruli warrior, dodging her fists and kicks with feline grace. He orchestrates their fight so that she backs him up to the corpse-fire. Then, when he is close enough, he falls back into it.

And lets the hot, delicious flames engulf him.