ARTHUR

Surrender is a swift affair. They shove Arthur out the gates, his dark hair hanging loose over his shoulders. He looks ridiculous shirtless, in borrowed pants, and with no shoes. Still, he comes out the steel gates carrying a child in his arms and his head held high. His promises of Busurul’s surrender send relief dancing across the faces of his fellow junior officers. A new commander arrives a few hours later. Arthur writes up the terms of agreement to be reviewed by the Councillor Generals, the girl asleep in his lap the whole time.

The letter comes back by nightfall with the Commander General’s approval alongside a letter of advancement and a gold medal for Arthur

Arthur came to Busurul as a lieutenant, but he leaves as General Cendrillion, the newly appointed Golden General of Malais. He’d be happy. But rather than advance him to the rank of Councillor General, as they would’ve with anyone else, they have made up a flashy title with no attached authority. The flighty weight of reputation is a hard pill to swallow. He is a general and he is a war hero, but he is still not worth their pride.

That’s alright. He can work with it.

But, one day, Malais will regret not giving him his due.