Sergeant Goki entered the main tent of the White Beard Regiment at midnight while spitting out the blade of grass from between his lips. From the light of numerous candles he could see that the soldiers were sprawled about the tent, none of them asleep. Four were seated around a barrel playing Jakata with several pieces of stripped bark. Five were in a heated argument concerning the complexities of the Talisi military system and its lack of sanitary regard provided how close the latrines were always dug to the junior officers' tents. The topic surprised Goki but not enough to muffle his rage and his fear. Ten sat on blankets spread upon the ground with their eyes fixed on what obviously appeared to be a slim young man with large ears and a protruding nose who danced to nonexistent music while clad in a red robe that was once common with the Talisi women during the first days at camp before the Gift Giving. The sight of the young man dancing, swaying nonexistent hips as the other men looked on was enough to capture Goki's attention.

"What the bloody fuck is going on here?" Goki asked. Everyone turned to him.

"Uhhm.. Sergeant." Memo said from among those playing Jakata. "We were waiting for you, sir.".

Goki pointed with an outstretched arm at the young man dressed in a woman's red robe. "What the fuck is this? Who is this?"

Segu, who was one of the men participating in the latrine debate pointed at the dancing young man who hadn't stopped dancing. "That's Pep. The Barrel chest Regiment kicked him out so we decided to take him in.. Uhmm.. Sir."

"WHAT THE FUCK!" Goki's fury was plain to see.

"He was also kicked out by the Big Fist Regiment, Stinky foot Regiment and the Nose Hair Regiment." Memo said while interlocking his knobbed fingers.

"Then why the hell did we take him in?" Goki asked. He couldn't claim insubordination. What made his Regiment unique despite it being one of the smallest in the army was the freedom he gave those who followed him. Freedom to offer their perspective on matters, freedom to critic an order and freedom to add a member into the Regiment if said member reflected the values within their core. He'd woven a kinship among his men and none had ever departed his Regiment in the years that followed its creation, for everyone felt like they belonged.

"Well, the other Regiments claimed him to be useless." Memo said.

Segu nodded and added. "Lad can't hold a spear even if his life depended on it, he can't run a league to deliver a message.."

"He can't clean or sharpen a weapon," Memo continued. "Pep can't learn any new skill plus he has poor eyesight so he can't be a scout."

"Boy can't see beyond his big arse nose." said a soldier who sat beside Memo.

Goki rubbed at the bridge of his nose. "Then why the hell did we take him in? Dammit! Did Dhiliaf approve of this? Where is the big goon anyway?"

"Here sir!" Dhiliaf said and raised a hand from amongst those seated on the blankets watching Pep dance and wiggle his butt.

Goki gawked. "Why did you approve the addition of this new member?"

"Well, sir, the lad's useless, military wise." Dhiliaf said, eyes still on the dancing Pep. "But nobody ever asked him what he can do. He just got thrown into various roles of which he failed at."

"So we asked him what he can do." Memo added.

"He said he can dance in women's clothing." Segu said.

"That was a deal breaker for us." Dhiliaf concluded.

"MAYBE HE'LL FUCKING DANCE VAYIN VIGON AWAY." Goki shouted. Pep stopped dancing and turned to him together with the rest of the men. Goki let out a sigh while tugging at his white beard. "We need to have a talk, men." At his words all the men stood up and faced him at attention save Pep who bent forward awkwardly. Gods! Lad can't even stand straight.

Before Goki opened his mouth the tent flap behind him opened and in came Nohj and Mairek. The latter looked nonchalant, there'd always been a gleam to Mairek's eyes, one that played between pain, sadness and hope. Now there was a calm that was synonymous to the surface of still waters. It frightened Goki for he knew the waters held deep depths. Nohj briskly saluted, "Sir! Mairek has something to say to the men."

Goki's eyes never left Mairek and the young man met his gaze without wavering. He'd seen the lad at the King's meeting, standing next to the Binorian Commander and the Remu woman both of whom the King had claimed that he trusted. Goki had an inkling of what Mairek had come to say. Mairek Raised his hand to his forehead in a Regiment salute, acknowledging and yielding to Goki the floor.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Nohj and Mairek made their way to the rest of the men, joining their ranks and mimicking their stance. Goki faced his men and his heart felt the pain inherent with what he had to say. "Alright men, we've been together for years, been through a lot, remember the time we had to eat a Yendw wolf to survive up North?" His words were followed by grunts and chuckles. "Wasn't easy to bring done a lone Yendw wolf, Gods know it!"

"Aye." Dhiliaf and Memo said in unison.

"Nobody can claim us to be cowards, we aren't cowards. We are fearless soldiers of the Talisi army!" Goki said. Several cheers rose.

"Damn right we are!" Pep said. The cheers cut short and everyone turned to face the young lad. Goki's eye twitched.

"Anyway," Goki continued, "I will be brief. King Gans wants us to march against Binoria, an army of five hundred thousand strong while our numbers are but a fraction of theirs. It is a battle that will most likely end with all our deaths."

Pep fainted, collapsing to the tent floor like a sack of Galiu meal.

"Permission to speak freely, sir?" Memo asked, standing as stiff as the rest. Goki nodded at him. "What the fuck?" The man asked. His words were immediately followed with nods from the rest of the men.

"It's suicide. Hence why the King has personally asked the Sergeants of each Regiment to report to their men and discuss the choice between two options. We are to either march with the King to our deaths or to help the women relocate back to their homes. We have been given a choice between life and death, men, choose wisely and keep in mind that your choice will not deem you a coward."

Silence engulfed the tent. Goki need not look at his men's faces to see the fierce battle at play within them. Gans was marching towards glory, sure it was suicidal and manic but the King would be forever commemorated for what he was going to attempt to do. Goki remembered King Gans's words at the recently concluded meeting, 'I am tired of living on my knees, tired of being called weak, tired of the Talisi being degraded and looked down upon. Tired of communing once a year with the man who'd killed my father. The time to act has come, he is coming to place a boot upon our necks as one does a dog. Let us show Vayin Vigon that this dog can bite.' But with the choice of following the King came certain death.

"Those women would definitely need someone to accompany them safely back to their homes." Segu said to numerous 'Aye.' from the rest of the men. Goki let out a breath of relief. Someone kicked Pep and the lad rose from the ground while dusting the red robe he wore, he stood on shaky legs while peering at those around him.

"Sir?" Mairek caught Goki's attention. Everyone turned to him. "I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for what you've done for me. You guys practically took me in and made me feel right at home here. You taught me how to wield the spear and how to scout. You gave my life meaning, no matter how brief it will be. And for that I'm grateful." Mairek concluded with a salute to Goki and the Sergeant returned it. His heart swelled with pride but a question rose from within him at the lad's words... No matter how brief it would be?

"Won't you be joining us, Mairek?" Dhiliaf asked from behind. The towering man's worried face could be seen despite the rows of men before of him.

Mairek turned to Dhiliaf with a pained smile. "I'm sorry but I won't be going with you to deliver the women. My place is next to Ishar, I don't think he'd be able to succeed without me at what's to come. I watched him face Binoria once on his own, I won't let that happen again." Pep scratched at his naked arm and Mairek turned to face him. Goki thought he'd seen Mairek's eyes glow blue for the briefest moment as he regarded Pep. "I am glad all of you have taken this decision to help the Talisi women, it has been a pleasure knowing you all." Mairek said with his eyes still fixed on Pep.

Goki cleared his throat, "Well, the decision hasn't been tallied yet." He turned to his men with his hand raised. "All in favor of accompanying the women?" What appeared to be everyone raised their hands. Goki nodded with satisfaction. "All in favor of accompanying King Gans to battle against the Binorians?" Mairek raised his hand. Slowly as if hesitantly, Pep raised his hand too.

"What the bloody hell is wrong with you Pep?" Memo started.

"Did he raise his hand twice?" Nohj asked.

"Lad's confused. Can't hold a spear, can't vote." Segu answered with a sigh.

"I don't think he raised his hand the first time." Dhiliaf said. All heads turned to him. "I didn't see his hand up."

"All our hands look the same man! They are all black!" One of the men retorted.

An argument ensued based on whether or not Pep had raised his hand the first time. Goki cleared his throat to gain everyone's attention but the argument continued. "BLOODY SHUT UP!" He shouted and the ruckus died down. Goki turned to Pep. "Explain yourself."

Pep scratched at one of his giant ear lobes, his large eyes darting all over the tent. "Well, the lad there," He pointed at Mairek with his sharp chin, "said that the Ishar boy will be with us against Binoria? Well, that settles it for me. We have a chance as long as the Kolotian is with us and that's all we need, a chance."

Goki felt shame weave its web upon him. Here was a lad willing to join the fight yet him, a veteran, sought the easy way out. Mairek cleared his throat. "Pep?" The lad in a woman's robe turned to Mairek. "What you're doing is honorable. Gods know it is. But you will die, I can hear that army coming, Pep, it's not something small. They march tirelessly through the day and most of the night, within three days they will be here. Please reconsider your choice."

Pep smiled at Mairek, a third of the teeth in his mouth were missing. "I can hear them too." Pep said and pointed at his massive ears. "I will definitely die but maybe my spear might find Vayin's neck with my dying breath, and that's enough for me. I shall go to Tabrimas and dance upon the golden halls in a beautiful dress. I can see myself there, beside you and the Kolotian."

The men shifted their weight from foot to foot, obviously distraught by Pep's words. Mairek nodded at Pep and turned to Goki. The Sergeant ran his hands through his thinning hair, thoughts warred within him. The Kolotian offered hope yet Ishar hadn't even been present at the meeting. Can I place my faith in him? Goki wondered. "I'm giving y'all till the morrow to think over your choice. There shall be another tally at noon." Goki's eyes surveyed his men's somber expressions as he spoke. He saluted and they returned the salute.