Standing amidst the dead and the dying, he looks out across the bloodied field.

“The butcher’s bill is going to be high”
Looking down at his gloved hands, The leather soaked with the blood of years of conquest and battle.
He can still see a glint of crimson in the metal, try as he might, to clean them throughout the years.
Maybe it’s some form of remorse.

“Is this what I saw myself doing twelve years ago?”
Already, those whom he assigned, are carrying out their orders.
Gathering the dead, and clearing out the field.
Taking down the names of those who have fallen, so that he can enter their names into his book.
His tribute to them, a sign that he will always honor those who have served under him, bled and died for him.

“I wonder what will become of us when all this is said and done? Will there be a place for us, for me, in this… thing, this world that we’ve created? The years of all this weigh heavily upon me, how much have I changed? What have I become?”
At the sound of his name, he pulls himself away from his thoughts.

“Yes captain?”

“We’re awaiting your orders Sir.”

“Standard procedures, don’t forget to collect the skulls. Send a message to the Generals to meet me in the TacTent in two hours time.”

“Yes Sir.”

After he leaves, he turns to the Captain of his guard, “Juxtare, gather up the girls, we’ll be leaving immediately after the debriefing. We are going to finish the negotiations with these people. Perhaps, they might be less likely to fall under the two percent rule and actually listen to what we have to say.”