Read Online Against the Empire: The Dominion and Michian by Jeffrey Quyle - Free Book Online
Authors: Jeffrey Quyle
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to their homeland to try to end this war, and they know there are people here they can trust.
“That’s why Colonel Ryder and the others let the rest of the lacertii escape without pursuit,” she continued. “When Alec awakens, he’ll explain it better than I can. I didn’t believe it was the right decision at first, but now I think Alec knew what he was doing.”
“If he saved my life, I’d support him too. Nonetheless, we should have followed the lacertii in retreat and wiped them out,” the nobleman said.
“That’s enough for now,” the Duke ended the exchange, without revealing his own thoughts.
Imelda was dissatisfied with the exchange, but said no more until later, when the Duke’s guard pulled her aside, and she found herself in the hallway with the ruler. “We’ve received reports about the outcome of the battle, but you’re the first officer I’ve met who was in the battle. Tell me truthfully if you think it was wise to let the lacertii escape,” he said to her.
“When Alec didn’t kill Rosebay, I was angry at first,” Imelda began.
“Who is Rosebay?” the Duke interrupted.
“She is a lacertii noblewoman who we captured on one of the supply barges. She told us she belonged to a faction of lacertii that opposed the war against Goldenfields; Alec worked things out so she got her own lacertii army, and he sent her back to her home to put a stop to the war,” Imelda hurriedly explained.
The Duke raised an eyebrow inquisitively.
“There were two lacertii armies coming towards our outpost, when Alec led a fight against the leaders of one army until it agreed to follow Rosebay, then he let it go fight the other lacertii army until they agreed to follow Rosebay too,” she tried to expand.
“Kinsey trusted Rosebay, and Alec trusted Rosebay, so Nathaniel and I ended up trusting Alec to make the right decision,” Imelda added. “Kinsey is a spirit ingenaire, and Alec trusts her. I do too,” the guard finished.
“So the Crown Protector told Ryder and the others not to pursue the lacertii we were fighting?” the Duke asked one last question as he prepared to move on to his next appointment.
“No, Alec didn’t give that order. He was unconscious after all the energy he expended on the battlefield. I think the others who survived on the battlefield with him told the leaders what we had done out in the wilderness,” Imelda explained.
“Did Alec agree when he awoke?”
“He hadn’t awoken by the time I left camp, but I believe he’d agree with the decision. Our own army lost a lot of men on the battlefield as well, you know. I saw so many corpses when we rode through the battleground, your grace. I’m not afraid to fight and die, but that battle, well, I don’t have words,” Imelda trailed off.
“I understand. That’s enough; I didn’t mean to grill you,” the duke responded. “You did well I know, and your service is greatly appreciated, as is your willingness to plunge right back in and go help our friends in Bondell. You’ll be sufficiently rewarded when you return, I assure you. Keep yourself and your people safe over there, and come back soon.” He walked off with his guards, leaving Imelda alone in the hallway.
After that exchange, Imelda did not see the Duke again. She felt uneasy that both Ryder and the Duke implied some criticism of Alec’s decision to send Rosebay home safely. If they had been on the battlefield they would understand so much better, she was sure. Instead, Alec, who had fought so hard, so far above any other warrior she had seen, was somehow subtly seen as weak for making a compassionate decision.
When she got back from Bondell, she would straighten things out for Alec and with Alec.
Chapter 6 – Alec in the Wilderness
Alec let Walnut ride at a gentle pace through the night. Alec didn’t have the energy to try to guide the horse through the hazards of an unknown terrain in the dark, and Walnut had spent the past
“That’s why Colonel Ryder and the others let the rest of the lacertii escape without pursuit,” she continued. “When Alec awakens, he’ll explain it better than I can. I didn’t believe it was the right decision at first, but now I think Alec knew what he was doing.”
“If he saved my life, I’d support him too. Nonetheless, we should have followed the lacertii in retreat and wiped them out,” the nobleman said.
“That’s enough for now,” the Duke ended the exchange, without revealing his own thoughts.
Imelda was dissatisfied with the exchange, but said no more until later, when the Duke’s guard pulled her aside, and she found herself in the hallway with the ruler. “We’ve received reports about the outcome of the battle, but you’re the first officer I’ve met who was in the battle. Tell me truthfully if you think it was wise to let the lacertii escape,” he said to her.
“When Alec didn’t kill Rosebay, I was angry at first,” Imelda began.
“Who is Rosebay?” the Duke interrupted.
“She is a lacertii noblewoman who we captured on one of the supply barges. She told us she belonged to a faction of lacertii that opposed the war against Goldenfields; Alec worked things out so she got her own lacertii army, and he sent her back to her home to put a stop to the war,” Imelda hurriedly explained.
The Duke raised an eyebrow inquisitively.
“There were two lacertii armies coming towards our outpost, when Alec led a fight against the leaders of one army until it agreed to follow Rosebay, then he let it go fight the other lacertii army until they agreed to follow Rosebay too,” she tried to expand.
“Kinsey trusted Rosebay, and Alec trusted Rosebay, so Nathaniel and I ended up trusting Alec to make the right decision,” Imelda added. “Kinsey is a spirit ingenaire, and Alec trusts her. I do too,” the guard finished.
“So the Crown Protector told Ryder and the others not to pursue the lacertii we were fighting?” the Duke asked one last question as he prepared to move on to his next appointment.
“No, Alec didn’t give that order. He was unconscious after all the energy he expended on the battlefield. I think the others who survived on the battlefield with him told the leaders what we had done out in the wilderness,” Imelda explained.
“Did Alec agree when he awoke?”
“He hadn’t awoken by the time I left camp, but I believe he’d agree with the decision. Our own army lost a lot of men on the battlefield as well, you know. I saw so many corpses when we rode through the battleground, your grace. I’m not afraid to fight and die, but that battle, well, I don’t have words,” Imelda trailed off.
“I understand. That’s enough; I didn’t mean to grill you,” the duke responded. “You did well I know, and your service is greatly appreciated, as is your willingness to plunge right back in and go help our friends in Bondell. You’ll be sufficiently rewarded when you return, I assure you. Keep yourself and your people safe over there, and come back soon.” He walked off with his guards, leaving Imelda alone in the hallway.
After that exchange, Imelda did not see the Duke again. She felt uneasy that both Ryder and the Duke implied some criticism of Alec’s decision to send Rosebay home safely. If they had been on the battlefield they would understand so much better, she was sure. Instead, Alec, who had fought so hard, so far above any other warrior she had seen, was somehow subtly seen as weak for making a compassionate decision.
When she got back from Bondell, she would straighten things out for Alec and with Alec.
Chapter 6 – Alec in the Wilderness
Alec let Walnut ride at a gentle pace through the night. Alec didn’t have the energy to try to guide the horse through the hazards of an unknown terrain in the dark, and Walnut had spent the past
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