Lieutenant Fallow was part of the 32nd Mounted legion, an ancient and proud legion among the various possible positions on the frontline. Its origins dated back to even before the war against the enemy, it was from a time that only existed in the record books in Central Library. The legion served additionally as a symbol military might and prestige. It was an honor for every soldier of Kami to be able to ride in such an elite group. Captain Liehold had brought Fallow into the frontline and into this legion from his position on the wall, but despite the glory and joy Fallow had as part of the legion, he was not sure he would have rather had stayed within the city.

Since the revelation Fallow experienced in Central Library, Fallow had a hard time grasping some of the metanarrative questions that now dogged him. The Defensive Mandate had created an attitude among the citizens of the city and the soldiers of the army that Fallow could not partake in. He had once felt that the city was stagnate before, merely waiting around, getting fat, and believing that the salvation of Kami was coming in some place far in the future. This atmosphere had created a lax political setting inside the city, a place where men like Captain Grisly thrived despite his incompetence as an officer.

But now, a new belief like fire had spread around, energizing even the land at their feet. This was to be the last battle, the men said to each other, the final fight to bring an end to the war with the enemy. They, with their own hands, could seize the glory and triumph. Victory was inevitable to them and the soldiers were alive like never before. They believed, as they never had before, that they would live to witness the triumph of Kami. There was faith; faith and duty. At every dawn the men had cried out to Kami’s Great Lantern, “Is this the day? Will today be the day of Kami’s salvation?”

In Fallow’s first month on the frontline, the 32nd mounted legion had been sent out many times to help rout enemy forces that had made their appearance within the territory. With swift judgment and power the legion had punished the offenders heavily for their trespassing and with every outstanding victory the men were reinforced in their belief that the war was drawing to a close. The men saw the strength of Kami’s military and wondered to each other only how long it would take to drive away the enemy completely. Days, weeks, Months? They all knew in their hearts that it would all be ended soon.

Fallow too, had been caught up in the joy and energy of the men, and while he may not have been totally convinced in the power of Kami, he felt that the strength in the men would perhaps be enough to finish the battle. It was such joy to be with them, that he let himself believe. Great choruses of cheers sprung up at the end of every fight, exultations in the strength of men and the power of Kami. But Fallow failed to notice the resistance of the enemy increased with every incursion. He did not listen and he did not pay close attention to the realities of the war and instead drank the soft wine of ignorance.

Fallow had woken up violently on the first night of the second month. Once again, they had been sent out along with other armored and unarmored legions to push back an enemy incursion. As they had every time before, they expected to swoop in and cut off the heads of their enemy in a flash, throwing them into chaos. Then, with coordinated efforts with the other legions, they would push back the remaining enemies back to darkness from where they came from. It had happened many times before.

But when the 32nd had arrived late and carelessly the enemy had already entrenched itself within the land. Kami’s foot soldiers were engaging in heavy fighting near the center, duking it out with the opposing armored legion and were making no leeway. The 32nd was to cut in across the enemy’s right flank and disrupt their line and when they did so, the enemy was prepared.

The enemy had managed to craft and plant great stakes in the ground all around them, creating an unforeseen wall of death to the riders. Furthermore, the enemies on the flank were armed with long spears with large cruel hooks on the end meant to tear down riders from their mounts. In their confidence, the 32nd rode in and many promptly met their death on top of the wooden stakes. The rest suddenly found themselves floundering in the land and suddenly attacked by a battalion of the enemy wielding the cruel hooks. Fallow felt the true horror of battle and his friends around him were ripped off and skewed by the merciless enemy. Captain Liehold quickly ordered a withdrawal, but not soon enough to save the hundreds of men and horses that had already fallen to the enemy’s traps.

During the rest of the battle, the 32nd gave only a minimal amount of support and it was largely thanks to the steadfast armored legion that the enemy was eventually pushed back again into to their land.

For the men of the 32nd, this was a reminder of the harshness and strength of the enemy they were fighting. For the men who were confident in the salvation of Kami, the event emboldened their hate of the enemy. They had lost much of the joy of the fighting and replaced it instead with a hard determination and hatred for their enemy.

For Fallow, this was instead a crash in the night waking him up from his quickly forgotten dreams. He now saw the true position of the enemy; despite every loss they suffered they always came back stronger and fiercer. They were better armed and better organized. They learned and matched Kami’s tactics. Fallow remembered again that they were on the losing side of the war, that instead of fighting the last battle to ensure the victory of Kami, they were instead fighting desperately to keep what little territory they had under their control.

Fallow had approached his captain the night after. “Sir?” he had asked, coming into the small and dank room that served as Liehold’s quarters on the frontline. The 32nd’s home base was a fort near the center of the territory called Fort Credent. There was a small lantern in the room that gave light for Lieholds paperwork. “May I come in?” he asked lightly.

Liehold looked up from his work, weary eyed, “Yes please, lieutenant Fallow,” he said, leaning back and abandoning his work. “I could use a break from this.”

Fallow came in cautiously, unsure how to phrase his thoughts. He studied the boot marks left on the dirt floor. After a moment, he looked said, “I would like clarification regarding the purpose of the defensive mandate.”

Liehold looked at him and then chuckled softly. “Why am I not surprised?” he responded. “You always ask the strange questions. What is there to be curious about, Lieutenant? As the name suggests it’s the military operation meant to counter the increasing threats and attacks by the enemy. If I have my numbers correct, I believe we have already tripled the amount of men in the frontline so far. We are here to defend and keep this territory, you know. More men and materials are soon coming, too.”

Fallow let the answer hang in the air and then said quietly, “The men believe that this is Leasnal, the battle prophesied to end the war forever and usher in the full coming of the Kingdom of Kami. They believe this will be the final defeat of our enemy.”

Liehold said plainly, “Yes, I’ve heard that rumor spread around too. It is not a problem, why do you bring that up?”

“Because I do not believe that this is Leasnal,” Fallow had said bluntly. “Again, as the name suggests, this operation is simply a defensive battle meant to maintain our position, not an attempt to reconquer all of Kami’s territory.”

Liehold waved his hand, “Let the men believe what they want. If they believe that this is the war to end all wars, they will fight all the harder, will they not? That is better for everybody.”

“Is it?” Fallow challenged, surprising the captain. “We are giving these men false hope!” The captain merely shrugged. “What do you believe this operation is, Captain?” Fallow asked in a tone serious enough to give Liehold pause.

Liehold spoke after a moment of consideration, “Far be it from me to limit Kami, you know? I do not know the future Fallow, I am no prophet. I am a military man; I follow my orders and perform my duties to the best of my abilities. Is this operation Leasnal? Maybe, maybe not. It could be, you know, if Kami willed it to be.” He rested a moment and then said suddenly, “I can see it now!” He stood energetically up and gestured to Fallow. “Imagine it with me. With every battle from now on, we push the enemy back, further and further, taking ground and killing the enemy. Soon, our feet are walking on the old territory, reclaiming land back from the enemy. Our boots march across the old sacred land once again and Kami restores it with his blessing and fruit! Every barbarian outpost we overrun we burn and remake new with Kami’s standard flying on the top. From the top of the wall men could look out and see only green and light upon all the territory around them. Until finally, the enemy is completely vanquished from the land and men are able to walk and explore the entirety of Kami’s territory once again. What a great day that will be! Can’t you see it, Lieutenant?” Liehold ended eagerly.

Fallow frowned, apparently he could not, “We have only been fighting defensively up till now and the enemy is getting stronger each time too. What makes you think that we will be able to turn this around?”

Liehold shook his head, giving up, “If only you have been there 20 years ago Fallow, and seen what we accomplished back then, then you wouldn’t be so doleful.”

“At the battle of Crushed Snake?”

“Yes, Yes!” Liehold responded eagerly again. “If you think that things look bleak now, it was worse then. The enemy had completely surrounded the city, and had done so hundreds of years prior. But look at what Kami had accomplished, look at what General-Commander Soul had accomplished! I was there, Lieutenant, it was such a sight! The roars and cries of the enemy still ring in my ears as we charged against them. The towers on the walls all sprang to life at once, hurling their loads at the enemy, wiping out hundreds on single blows. The magicians had organized themselves under General-Commander Soul and performed miracles against the enemy. Against all odds, we had succeeded against the enemy then and set up this frontline, this little window outside of the city. It can only grow from now on, General-Commander Soul will see to that. The spirit of Kami is with him like no other man before!”

Fallow responded quietly, “It’s not General-Commander anymore, Captain.”

Liehold brushed the point aside, annoyed, “Still, have some faith Fallow, have faith in the power and salvation of Kami. This might very well be the war to end all wars. I certainly hope it to be. May Kami be praised!”

Fallow didn’t respond immediately, but looked down at the floor. Liehold turned back towards his work. “You know what I am doing now, right?” Liehold replied, picking up his papers.

Fallow looked up, “writing done the names of those who fell in the last battle?”

“Yes,” Liehold responded, looking down the list he had just created. “For every man lost under my command, I need to record it so that their families might know what happened to him. I have done it many times before; it is something every commander has done for the last thousands of years prior. Well,” he added almost humorously. “I doubt Captain Grisly ever did this; he has never been in a battle, I think.” Fallow smiled slightly and Liehold continued. “I don’t do it just for the families. All these men,” He said, displaying his writing. “have died for the glory and victory of Kami, they are all already in his halls. When we have finished the war, all the names will be honored for their sacrifice for the city. It comforts me to know that their deaths will not have in vain, even if they all are in a better place now, tasting the fruit of Kami’s salvation. I wait patiently for the day I will do the same.”

Fallow stood up suddenly and said with a tight smile, “Yes, there are in a better place now, sir. Thank you for your time, sir, and thank you for answering my questions.”

Fallow bowed and left and as he shut the door Liehold called out to him, “The salvation of Kami will be realized Fallow, just you wait and see. It will be glorious!”

Despite the words of Liehold, the battles did not turn suddenly in their favor, but grew harsher. Fallow spent much of his command time keeping his men alive rather than in engaging the enemy. Until finally, during the last attack, they were not ordered to go out at all.

Many captains from all over the frontline had gathered in their Fort Credent, instead. The captains were discussing the situation inside the fort’s large hall and were shut away from the rest of the soldiers. The men muttered amongst themselves as rumors spread around, rumors of the enemy’s strength and the loss of many of the edge regions. Staying away from the men inside the stables, Fallow waited impatiently for his captain to return from the meeting.

One of Fallow’s few joys out here was his horse he was now grooming. After his repositioning in the frontline, Fallow had first gone to retrieve his beloved horse from the training barracks where it had been lent. Of course, his mare was treated with respect in the training halls, but she was used and worked much harder and with less love than Fallow would have liked. Now his cool gray horse stood patiently with Fallow as he took extra care to groom and feed his horse. It was one of the few things that calmed him down these days.

“There you are, Carla, good girl,” he called out soothingly to her, patting her neck. The stables were near the hall that the captains occupied at the moment, and he kept a close eye on the doors.

He heard somebody come up behind him. It stopped short, and seemed to wait for Fallow’s attention. Fallow ignored it though and after a moment the person said, “Having fun petting your beast, lieutenant?” Fallow turned around quickly and wondered what soldier could possibly have the audacity to insult his horse. It was Vorash.

“Vorash!” Fallow exclaimed, forgetting the offense in his surprise. “What are you doing here?”

“My comings and goings are of no concern to you.” Vorash responded without hesitation, like automatic lines. He stood in the shadows of the stable, letting only a small amount of light hit his frame.

Fallow ignored his words. “If you are here then that must mean that the executive captain is here as well!” Fallow exclaimed again, following his logic and forgetting his horse in his awe. “And he must be here for the captain’s meeting!”

Vorash responded with an annoyed grimace. “Well deducted, Lieutenant. One of the unseen consequences of being the Magician Head Commander is that I have to follow Soul around like a lost mugrat. But the meeting was becoming dull, so I left. Humans are so trivial, they are often not worth my time.”

It was Fallow’s turn to scowl and he returned to brush his horse gently. He said politely though, “What can I do for you sir?”

Vorash smiled. “Nothing, I just noticed somebody I recognized around and wanted to talk to him.” Fallow didn’t respond. Vorash continued playfully, “You want to know what is going on, don’t you? I can tell you if you want. The truth, that is.”

Fallow paused and turned, “Why would you do that?” he asked cautiously.

Vorash said easily, “Because I want to. Also, to have you please tell the executive captain that I have returned to the headquarters at Central Hill when I am done.”

Fallow scowled again and said, “Should you be leaving without him?”

Vorash shrugged, “No, but it is such a bother to leave with him. There are rituals, and meetings and follow ups; it’s so bothersome. It so much easier just to slip away, but I generally get scolded when I do. That is why I want a third party to relate the news.”

Fallow scowled at the man. This is the character of the man who commands the magicians, on whom so many lives depend on? “I believe that you came over here just to harass me actually, Lord Magician.” Fallow said, suddenly using the magician’s formal title.

Vorash laughed, “You humans are so amusing already; I hardly need to make fun for myself.” He stepped into the stable and reached up towards Carla. Fallow almost told him to go preach to Kami, but he restrained himself. “Besides,” Vorash continued, “Why can’t I do both? I have got to relieve some of my tension.” Fallow tried to ignore him, but he pestered him again with his sneer, “Don’t you want to hear the truth?!”

Fallow said stubbornly, “I will learn it all from my captain when he returns; I do not need to hear it from you.”

Vorash laughed again, but this time more cruelly. “Do you really believe that your Captain will tell you everything, and not filter it to you? I am giving you the opportunity to know what is really going on. The truth behind all the facades put in place!” Vorash leaned in close suddenly and said, “I know you are different from all these other men Fallow, don’t try to hide it! I know you see more clearly than that human trash. Tell me Fallow, what is it like to visit the Librarians? Those withered up old fools, clinging vainly to the past. What did you learn from them, I wonder?” Vorash’s eyes stared at Fallow intently as if to summon the answer to come out. Fallow knew that with but a word of magic from the man, he could be made to answer those questions forcefully. He shivered slightly and remembered why he was so uncomfortable around magicians.

Fallow snapped back quickly, “Tell me if you want to. Or don’t tell me! I do not care either way. I will relay your message to the executive captain as you wish, even if you had only requested it.”

Vorash smiled and gave in easily. It was clear he wanted to speak anyway. “The defensive mandate is too little too late,” He declared. “The enemy has been preparing for this assault for years, probably since we first broke out 20 years ago. We have only been preparing for a little while now, we do not have the men and resources to hold the frontline. How can we expect to combat this enemy force? These last few months of attacks have just been probing strikes, nothing more. They were finding out positions, strengths, and our tactics! The real assault is beginning as we speak. Scouts report immense troop movement. The officers decided it would be best to fall back and regroup!”

Fallow nearly shocked at the words, and Vorash seemed amused by it. “How can you say such things like that?” Fallow protested. “How can you smile? What kind of magician are you to spell out such dark words?”

Vorash grew hot and responded in kind. “This frontline, from the beginning, was a vain and irresponsible waste of our city’s resources and men!” Vorash shot back. “There had been insufficient time, insufficient men, and insufficient magic work done to make this Frontline a viable location for a counter offensive. The whole idea was folly from the start! We are safe behind our walls, are we not? We have been safe for hundreds of years, of what use has this frontline been? We will lose this battle as well as many men and resources but I will do what I can save as much as possible. Soul may have won the hearts of the city 20 years ago, and inspired great thoughts of glorious victory,” Vorash said bitterly. “But this will be his great shame! The whole city will know of his failure in this battle, they will know of the true weakness of humans! It doesn’t matter if we abandon the edges and concentrate our forces in the center, we will lose this battle in the end!” The door to the hall burst open suddenly and Fallow immediately departed in an escape from the man’s words. Vorah called out to him, “Don’t forget to relay my message!” Vorash disappeared.

The captains exited the halls, but they all seemed cheerful and attentive, not as though they had grave meetings about serious concerns. Fallow thought that maybe Vorash was lying to him; when he spied his captain he went quickly to him. Many other lieutenants we doing the same for their commanders, but Fallow was the only one from the 32nd.

“What’s the news, Captain?” Fallow asked, putting up a fake smile and hoping that Vorash was a lying rugnut.

Liehold lost his smile and considered Fallow. “We have pulled back our forces from the edges in the South and West and repositioned them on the key defensive regions,” He said plainly. “From there, we will be able to better defend our territory.” He saw the look on Fallow’s face and added heartily, “Don’t look so grim Lieutenant; this was within our Executive Captain Soul’s calculation! There is no need for worry, the casualties will be minimal and we will be at a better strategic position.”

Despite the captain’s light words, Fallow felt a deep dread. He asked aggressively, “So the main offensive of the enemy is starting now and we are already giving up more territory?” Liehold frowned made to answer but the appearance of another man stopped him short as he approached.

“The answer to your question is simply yes, Lieutenant,” Executive Captain Soul answered. He looked as regal now as he did in the wilderness when Fallow first met him despite his demotion. His uniform was adorned and stately as usual, but it was the aura about him was what made him unmistakably awe inspiring.

Liehold and Fallow bowed in his presence and Soul continued calmly, “I believe you have a message for me?”

“Yes, sir!” Fallow said quickly, losing his fire and suddenly wondering how Soul knew and how was he going to tell the man that his subordinate was insubordinate. “Lord Magician Vorash said to tell you that he has gone on before you.”

Soul sighed. “Not surprising,” he said dryly looking up into the night sky. The golden light of the city played off him like a jewel. “He was always one to skimp out on the minor details. I regret already leaving Gatal off on his own.” He turned to the lieutenant and said, “Thank you for the report. Now just as the Magician predicted, there are bothersome duties I must now perform.” He turned to leave.

Feeling bold, Fallow stopped Soul before he could take a step. Pleadingly, Fallow asked, “Sir, Vorash also said that the Defensive Mandate in an exercise in futility and that the frontline will be lost no matter what we do. He says the enemy forces are too great and too well prepared!”

Liehold, tried to shush Fallow and wave him off, but the lieutenant remained steadfast. Soul answered sternly, “I do not discuss strategy with lieutenants, I do not have the time.” But he considered the lieutenant and then his expression softened. He said gently, “From the beginning we were outnumbered. The enemy has always have overpowered us and outplayed us. That is why we do not trust our strength, for we are weak, so weak before the terrible power of the enemy. We trust in Kami to deliver us from this evil, we are only his instruments and we can only do what is best at the moment. Trust more in Kami and have some faith lieutenant.” With a nod to Captain Liehold, Soul left to perform his duties without another word.

Fallow was silent and pondered Soul’s words. Liehold prodded him, “Are you oaky? What possessed you to ask such things? You nearly gave me a heart attack.”

Fallow looked back and said with force, “I will do the same Captain. I too, will do what I can do with my utmost effort.”

The captain scratched his head, “Excellent…”

The next day, Fallow rode out with his legion again on the southern plains. After the attack by the enemy last night and the subsequent withdraw, his legion was sent out to scout and note the enemy’s progress and make sure they haven’t ventured further than they were designed to. Fallow could see the rolling black smoke across the way from where the enemy burned the land. He gritted his teeth and wondered, what would Havign say about the situation? Would he be like Vorash and believe that the forces of men couldn’t last, or would he be like the Executive Commander and trust in the strength of Kami? At this point, Fallow felt lost and confused, he didn’t know what to believe.

His group reached a designated point and his squad split off to the west, closer to the smoke. He shouted to his squad, “Keep your eyes open for anything unusual! We are looking for any of the enemy trying to sneak in. We are not here to engage the enemy, just scout. Remember that!”

The five men he had with him nodded in response and followed his orders. It was a hot and uncomfortable day and the wind they had against them didn’t make them feel any cooler, it only made the riding harder. The horses sweated in the heat.

With Fallow were the same officers he had under him in the wilderness. It was nice to be with them again, the trust and relationships they had created there added comfort to his work now. They rode with grace and confidence beside him. The marshal called out suddenly, “I see movement over to our left!”

The marshal directed the group to the spot and Fallow soon saw the figures moving across the land. There were eight of them by his count; they looked like scout class troops. He and his men turned and intercepted them, pulling up alongside them. Their horses snorted in the dust.

The men looked exhausted; their leader held a long spear and eyed him wearily. Looking around, Fallow wondered where they had come from. Judging from their uniforms they were clearly members of the greycloaks.

Fallow called out to them, “Greetings scoutsmen! What reasons have you to traverse these lands? These should already be empty.”

The leader answered, “We are making for Camp Newhouse! We have come from the 1032nd scouting legion that was positioned on the front.”

Fallow waited for more but the leader didn’t continue so the man next to him did. He had a large bow and quiver on his back and said sadly, “Our legion has been wiped out by the enemy. It is only by the grace of Kami that we made it out alive.”

Fallow responded in wonder, “Your scouting legion faced the enemy last night? I was told all legions were to fall back to the second perimeter.”

Another man stepped forward and to Fallows surprise, it was a magician. The man spoke, “Our lieutenant choose to stay and fight despite the orders. We are all that is left of our legion. Are we near to Camp Newhouse? We were to be positioned there if we had left our region last night.”

Fallow considered the words and the men for a second and turned to his subordinate and said, “Sub-commander! Give them men some water! They look thirsty and worn out.” The man did so, taking their extra water rations and distributing it. The scout soldiers accepted it gratefully. Fallow said to the travelers, “I am sorry for your loss, it must have been very difficult for you. You are still some ways away from Camp Newhouse, I am afraid. You will not make it before nightfall.”

The leader looked uneasy and asked, “How is the progress of the enemy? Will we make it in time?”

Fallow shifted on his horse, “You know more about that than I do, I am afraid. My mounted battalion is out here checking that out right now.” The man looked around, uncomfortable.

Another voice called out that Fallow instantly recognized with a shock like he had been struck with something. It said, “Lieutenant Fallow, aren’t you going to offer an escort for us?”

Fallow zeroed in on the voice, unable to believe what he was seeing. “Gatal!” He shouted after a moment. “By Kami’s arched chair, what are you doing out here!”

“My business is my own, actually,” Gatal responded. “But we would appreciate an escort nonetheless.”

Fallow sat on his horse in awe, staring at the old magician. He said angrily, “You magicians always say that, never explaining yourselves!” Gatal opened his arms up in a shrug. Fallow then made a snap judgment, “Marshal, please take command and continue with our mission. I will escort these men back, personally.”

The marshal squawked back, “Sir, this is highly irregular, leave me to escort these men if you must.” He added with dismay, “What will I tell the captain if you stay?”

But Fallow was all eyes for Gatal. That magician was out here for a reason, a very good reason, Fallow felt certain of it. Fallow wasn’t going to let that treasure go. He jumped down from his horse eagerly while the leader of the group looked at him with distrust. He paid him no mind. “Tell the captain,” he replied to his marshal. “That the esteemed General Magistrate asked for an escort. It would be rude of me to leave him out here alone.”

Gatal responded lightly, “What an honor it is to be recognized out here.”

Fallow leaned in close to Gatal and said, “Tell me what you are planning out here, magician! You surely know more than that rotten Vorash and you are plotting something.”

Gatal eyed him with a surprised grin and said back softly, “Only the rescuing of this land, nothing more! You want to help?”