Captain Liehold and his officers had made it to the destination. The trip was long, wet and muddy, and the captain spent his time silently cursing the spell casters for the trouble they were giving him. Now, again, he was just simply cold, wet, and miserable. He was sure all his troops felt the same as him, but nobody had said anything. He was proud of their self-discipline, but he also never knew anything to silence his usually talkative men like this before. They must be especially disheartened.

During the ride, the weather had turned from rain to mist, but that only made his vision worse. The lanterns only exposed about twenty feet before them; thus, when they suddenly came upon the mass of men, it was a surprise to everybody. They halted before them.

“Holy Kami, what a sight!” exclaimed the lieutenant, and Captain Liehold could not agree more. All the prisoners were lined up like a battalion of men, but instead squished together and standing completely still. They did not react to the sound of the group or to the lieutenant when he moved forward and poked one with the butt of his sword. The prisoner simply swayed little bit. “How eerie is that?” the lieutenant said, “Lieutenant Fallow was right; we are going to need the spell casters to move them again.”

“Lieutenant, let’s keep moving.” The captain said. They rode off again and the group trotted alongside the statues, each person keenly avoiding looking at them, except for the lieutenant who gawked and exclaimed as they rode past. To them, the wilderness had never looked so dangerous before.

When they reached Lieutenant Fallow, they allowed the guide to take a short rest. He bowed and departed with a tired haste. The remaining men faced each other in a tense circle, still on their horses. None of them were too inclined to speak. Lieutenant Fallow broke the silence. “Captain, how did the battle fair? Did General-Commander Soul clean up those filthy barbarians?”

“Yes he did, Lieutenant. It was a clear victory on that front. None will be left alive to report our position to the enemy.”

“Kami be praised.” The lieutenant said. He paused and then asked, “Do you have any word on the spell casters?”

The captain sighed, “No, I was hoping you would be able to answer that question. They had not made any contact with the caravan when I had left.”

Lieutenant Fallow swore. “For such a thing to happen, this is a disaster.”

The other soldiers broke in, revealing their thoughts and anger about the situation. They spoke in turn, “Those spell casters have been nothing but trouble from the start, we shouldn’t have brought them with us in the first place.”

“But we needed them for the visual deception of the caravan; otherwise, we would be seen from afar by our enemies.”

“What enemies?” another officer piped in, “We are in the middle of this godless wilderness! The natives are hard to find as it is, much less the enemy.”

“Have you lost your eyes, fool?” Lieutenant Fallow said angrily, “Didn’t we just get attacked by the enemy?”

“We didn’t get attacked; they simply stumbled upon us and then ran away!”

“Regardless,” another soldier added, “we had a confrontation with the enemy here, and if we hadn’t had the visual deception, the whole encounter could have been worse!”

“Maybe if your scouting groups were doing a better job, they would not have been able to walk up right next to us.”

“How dare you blame this on me?! You and I both know that we didn’t have the resources to create effective scouting groups. We have been out here for six months and all the men are exhausted!”

“Still, it flows that if we had appropriate scouting squads in full effectiveness, we would not have the need for the visual deceptions for the enemy! It was a rare chance we ran into them, the first time in six months! If this assignment had been over in the assigned four months, it wouldn’t have been an issue, and we could have done this without their help!”

“But you are forgetting all the other things the spell casters do; how can we secure the prisoners without their help?” the man was jabbing his fingers at the words recipient as if he was wielding a knife. “Or all the other small things they do around camp? Your naivety is due to your ignorance and laziness around the caravan!”

The insulted officer suddenly leapt from his horse with a bellow and tackled the officer who was yelling at him. The man fell off with a curse and the two started wrestling and fighting in the mud beneath them.

“Officers!” exclaimed Lieutenant Fallow, “Are you men or are you swine? Stop fighting this instant or you will both be court-martialed. NOW!”

The two men stopped fighting and glared at each other instead. They climbed on their respective steeds dolefully, sporting new bruises and covered in mud. Captain Liehold spoke, “Men, I understand that you are all on edge. Everybody is frustrated; the wilderness has taken its toll on all of us, and today has been especially stressful . Right now, though, we need to dig down and get the job done that is in front of us. Lieutenant Fallow, I want you and the men you have searching for the spell casters to continue. It is unlikely they will find them, but we can’t give up looking for them. The rest of you will be looking into any other possible way of transporting these prisoners back. Understood?”

The group responded with an affirmative, and before they broke, Captain Liehold added, “And you two,” he said pointing to the officers who had fought, “clean yourselves up first, if you can. When all this is over, you two are to put yourselves on probation. Dismissed,” he ended with disgust. The group split according to their different functions, discussing possibilities and issues. Lieutenant Fallow watched them leave and then rode up to the captain and spoke to him.

“You know that all of this is pointless. If the spell casters don’t want to be found then they won’t be found. They will probably appear at the least convenient moment.”

The captain sighed again and responded, “I have got to have them do something other than sit around sucking their thumbs. Kami’s Chair, this whole thing is ridiculous. How can we be at the mercy of these people like this? They make us look like such fools with their wizardry. I wish I could wring their scrawny little necks.” He got off his horse and the lieutenant did the same. They started walking them toward the operations tent not far off. The captain let out a big sigh.

“Sighing will let the happiness inside you escape, Captain.” Fallow commented idly.

That Captain just laughed and asked, “Where did you hear that jewel?”

“Its common knowledge. Everybody knows that.”

“Lieutenant, I have never heard anybody say that before.”

“Lies! Next person we see we will ask and you will come to understand your own ignorance in this matter.”

The captain merely chuckled. They continued walking toward the command tent. “Will things be all right at the caravan?” the lieutenant asked, “Even when they had the mounted legion with them, the defense was stretched thin.”

The captain waved the point away with his hand, “There isn’t any real threat to it. No natives have ever tried to confront us and the scouting legion should be the only enemies for days. It is not in any real trouble. I left Sub-Commander Jawa in charge.”

They walked in silence for a bit, but then Lieutenant Fallow asked the question that was on his mind. “Why do you think the spell casters did this? They must have a reason, of all the things they are, they are not without reasoning. But what could have been the purpose of them breaking the containment spell and sending the prisoners all out here? I know the spell casters hate us, but they wouldn’t do something this drastic just to upset us, right?”

“I honestly do not have a clue.” The captain replied with a tired expression, “I stopped trying to understand them a long time ago and now just accept their actions as they come. But you are right; they probably have a reason for doing this, a crazy and stupid reason, but a reason nonetheless. Kami-sama, give me patience. They will probably just show up randomly and spitefully. I wish the general-commander was here. He would straighten them out in a moment.”

Lieutenant Fallow would have smiled at the thought of the general-commander yelling at the spell casters if he wasn’t so exhausted and cold. They reached the command tent, which was really only a small shelter that’s only purpose was to keep the rain out. It wasn’t doing a good job at it anyway. In front of the lieutenant again was the horde of dead eyed prisoners. The shivers he felt were not just from the cold and wetness. He wished he had set up the tent on the other side so that the prisoners stared away from him. They bothered him endlessly.

“What do you think of the prisoners?” the lieutenant asked, trying to be nonchalant.

The captain gave them a quick appraisal then returned to securing his horse, “If they all don’t die from this, there will be a fair amount of them. About two-thirds more than was expected on this trip. Of course,” he added half-jokingly, “this trip is taking about two-thirds longer than was expected to.”

The lieutenant laughed along with him but continued, “That’s not what I meant. I mean, do you think it is a good idea to do this. Will they become good soldiers; will they be able to fit in inside The Endless City? And do we really need more soldiers?”

The captain gave the group a serious look this time and then responded, “Far be it from me to question the Will of Kami, but you ask excellent questions. I shudder to think that these wildmen could ever become part of the greyhoods defense force. It is truly due to the miraculous power of Kami that they can be transformed into usable men, but I wouldn’t trust them further. We should be using them as simple foot soldiers or guard duty, nothing more. I wouldn’t let one onto my staff if I could help it. I do not see the need to do this kind of work either, but orders are orders, and the Will of Kami is reality. I will see to it that it is completed, even if I die trying.”

Lieutenant Fallow was not surprised at the captain’s response. Most of the native citizens of The Endless City felt similar. There was a lot of controversy within the city when the program was started 20 years ago, after the battle of Crushed Snake. The Will of Kami may be reality, but the hearts of men are as well. Still many people believe that it is a mistake to infuse The Endless City with the indoctrinated beings, and they also do not see the need for it. For this reason, Lieutenant Fallow has kept his origins a secret. It was due to his intelligence as an officer and his perseverance that he secured the rank of lieutenant. He would not jeopardize that for anything.

Fallow decided to change the subject, “The officers might have expressed their ideas carelessly, but I think they brought up some valid points as well. Especially concerning this incident, I believe that the spell casters are more trouble than they are worth.”

Captain Liehold paused a moment before answering. “It is true that it seems like that right now, but I think they have more value than you realize. The tasks they perform are many and varied... and powerful. In many areas, they simply cannot be replaced. The most prominent being, of course, their ability to get us back to the city. Kami knows we can’t create a portal.”

“But that can be bypassed, can’t it?” protested the lieutenant, “We don’t need to carry them around with us the whole time. Why don’t we just station them at the destination zones and they can transport us accordingly?”

“You are not the first or only person who thinks this way. There have been a lot of complaints lately, and the issue has already been brought up to the Commander-General. He promised to look into it. I believe that eventually we will be able to operate independently of the spell casters. A good riddance I say.”

“The words of the naive and foolish,” a voice hissed from nearby. It came from a small person completely covered in a black cloak and hood standing in the doorway of the tent. “Your ignorance offends me Captain” the voice continued.

“Vorash!” the lieutenant exclaimed. The captain’s eyes simply narrowed, “You brazen spellcaster. How dare you betray the caravan like this! You have gone too far this time. The manpower and resources it has taken to confront your madness this time is intolerable!”

Fallow was practically spitting in agner. “And you simply walk on in here like you own the place? You magicians are nothing but trouble. When the general-commander gets here he will-.”

Vorash interrupted him menacingly, “Captain, silence this idiot before I do.”

Fallow swelled in rage and looked like he was going to physically assault Vorash when Captain Liehold said, “Enough, Lieutenant, calm yourself. You are an officer; behave like one.” Abashed, the lieutenant quieted down, but he did not stop glaring at the spell caster.

“Now, Vorash,” the captain said, with eyes flashing, “Explain to me, why you and your spell casters have undone the containment spells and brought the prisoners out here.” Vorash did not speak. “ANSWER ME, VORASH!”

“I do not owe you any explanation, Captain.” Vorash sneered. “I do not report to you. The deeds of the highland priestly order are our own.”

“Do you betray the Will of Kami, Vorash? Surely you know that your spell casters have been assigned for support under General-Commander Soul. Surely, you also know the penalties for disobeying the Will of Kami, perhaps more so than the rest of us even!”

“I know well the penalties for betraying Kami-sama!” Vorash spat. “Do not presume to talk to me about such matters. It is I and my spell casters who perform the executions. And let me tell you,” he continued with a horrifying smile, “I do enjoy a good execution.”

Those words sent a chill up Fallow’s spine, but the captain did not appear affected. Vorash added somewhat reluctantly, “I report to the General-Commander, not to one of his many Captains.”

“You also report to me, Vorash,” a new voice chimed. The figure stepped into the tent and fit in nicely along with the other spell caster. He was wearing similar garments as Vorash, but he also had a blue sash that had an ornate gold pin attached. On it was an engraving of a circle with a dot and line through it.

Vorash made a sucking sound, and when he spoke, it with much more politeness. “Sir, I did not know that you had returned. I thought that you were with the General-Commander.”

“I still am,” the figure responded, “he is outside with the mounted legion at the moment. He will be here soon.”

“The general-commander is here, Gatal?” the captain said with surprise. “I must go out and report to him.” He took a quick step outside.

“Don’t bother, Captain. He is spending time with his men. He will come here soon enough.” The captain stepped back inside hesitantly.

“Now, Vorash, I would like to hear the captain’s questions answered as well,” commented Gatal.

Vorash appeared to struggle for a moment, but eventually he spoke. “Our orders come directly from Kami-sama. When the general-commander is not present, we must interpret and follow those orders according to how we see fit.”

“That is absurd,” Lieutenant Fallow objected, “Just because the general-commander is not present doesn’t mean that his authority is not. He invests it in the people he appoints to command in his absence. Their orders are therefore the same as the orders from the general-commander himself. There is no way you do not understand that. your explanation is simply an excuse to avoid and circumvent the orders of the officers here!”

Vorash gave the lieutenant and terrible glare, and he suddenly decided he wasn’t going to say anything again soon. The captain took over, “The lieutenant brings up an excellent point, Vorash. The general-commander will teach you the meaning of that later, though. For now, I want to know exactly why you brought these prisoners out here.”

Vorash didn’t look like he was going to cooperate, but when Gatal insisted, he broke. He responded with a hiss, “Our primary orders from Kami-sama are to secure and protect the prisoners until they reach The Endless City. All of you seemed to have forgotten that. I felt that the security was compromised at the caravan during the enemy attack. Sub-commander Jawa consolidated her forces around the supply wagons and did not provide any protection for the prisoners. And even if she did try to stretch her forces to cover the holding wagons as well as the supply ones, I would not have felt it was safe enough. Our esteemed General-Commander apparently did not think the caravan was worth protection and did not leave enough forces to secure it properly.” He paused and straightened himself, “I decided to take matters into my own hands and bring the prisoners to a safe location until I deemed it safe for their return.”

“You did not have the authority to break the spells on the holding wagons.” The captain said with anger.

“I was given the authority the moment the general-commander and Gatal left the caravan!” Vorash spat. “I will recreate the confinement spell when I bring the prisoners back. Do not worry about that.”

“Sure, we can recreate the confinement spells again,” Gatal added, “but we will not be able to recreate the mind binding spell. That took the combined efforts of an entire dynast while we were at the city. We will not be able to create that now.”

“It was a necessary sacrifice for the safety of the prisoners,” Vorash stated, “besides, we are near the destination point. It should not matter now.”

“I fear, that will not be enough.” Gatal observed, “You compromised the integrity of the prisoners. The indoctrination will not proceed smoothly anymore. I am afraid that this will have far reaching consequences. Have more faith in the general-commanders’ abilities next time.”

Vorash was adamant, though, “I did what was necessary, and the damage from the loss of the mind-bending spell will be minimal. Do not overreact, Gatal.”

“We will see.” Gatal said simply. “Please wait outside until the general-commander arrives, Vorash.”

Vorash hesitated for a moment, but followed Gatal’s orders. He left and Lieutenant Fallow felt much better for it. “Now, tell me Captain,” Gatal said. “How are your wounds doing?”

“Well enough,” the captain responded. “I will not die from them.”

“I wouldn’t be too sure, Captain. You almost died on the field today. It would have been a severe loss for us if you had.”

“It would be an honor to die for Kami-sama.” He responded flatly.

“Oh, I’m sure it would be,” Gatal said sarcastically, “Honor for dead people is very important. I keep telling everybody, but they never listen. You shouldn’t die for Kami, you should live for him. Is that so difficult of a concept? Did you at least get this checked out by a medic?”

“No,” Liehold admitted, “there wasn’t enough time for that.”

“Tssk. All you soldiers are the same. You care more about your duty than your ability to carry out your duty.” He stepped closer to the captain. “Please let me look at it now at least.”

The captain hesitated, but sat down so Gatal could get closer to it. He started to unwrap the bandages. “Sir,” Lieutenant Fallow said, “How did you and the general-commander get here so fast? How did you even know we were here? We had a hard time finding this place, and we had a guide who had already been here.”

“You forget who you are talking to, Lieutenant,” Gatal responded without pausing in his work, “I am Gatal and I am better than a guide.”

Fallow was still confused but he decided not to pursue it. He asked instead, “How did the battle turn out? I only heard as much as the captain knew. If the general-commander is here, then that means it was successful, correct?”

“You assume correctly, although it was trickier than we first expected. The enemy force we had first spotted was only half of the real force. The other half was nearby and joined into the fight halfway through it. Fortunately, the general-commander had seen through their plan already and had a force prepared to ambush them. Casualties were light on our side, except for the esteemed 1098th mounted Battalion, in which our brave Captain here almost got himself killed. Casualties there reached 40%. That was expected though; they did their job well and will be greatly honored when we return to The Endless City.” He turned his attention to the captain, “Alright Captain, it seems you will not die today. I have cleaned and dressed the wound again for you and I can tell you that it is not life threatening. However please take it easy over the next few days so it can heal properly.”

“Thank you Gatal,” the captain said, bowing to him, “You bring sanity to this world. Has anybody ever told you that?”

Gatal laughed, “Actually I have been told that, but thank you.”

“And in the meantime, I have a question myself,” the captain added, standing up again.

“By all means.” Gatal responded politely.

“My lieutenant here tells me that it is common knowledge that the action of “sighing” lets happiness escape. I told him I had never heard of such a saying before. I would like your input on the matter.”

“It is true,” Lieutenant Fallow insisted, “I have known that saying my whole life.”

Gatal smiled and gave the lieutenant a queer look. Fallow didn’t like it. “Actually,” Gatal responded, “I have heard that saying before. But it does not originate in The Endless City. I am not surprised the captain has not heard of it before.”

“Well, it seems like we will need a truce between us, Lieutenant.” The captain said heartily. Fallow merely nodded, a cold dread seeping into him. How could he make such a mistake? He was lucky the captain did not read any more into the communication, but how much did Gatal know or guess about him? Another unpleasant feeling stuck itself into his stomach. Today was not a good day for Lieutenant Fallow.

Before anybody else could speak again, though, there was a gust of wind. It blew the door flap open and the gust flew around the tent in a swirl. It brought an unpleasant cold mist with it as well. When everything settled, a new figure was in the doorway. The two officers snapped to attention and even the tent itself seemed to straighten up before this man.

“Welcome to the 967th Mounted Battalion Company headquarters, General-Commander Soul.” The captain said stately as part of the greyhoods formal response in this situation.

The general-commander merely nodded in affirmation and said, “Report.”