Commander Caeris and Commander Jaskil knelt before High Commander Havertz. Both of their heads were down. They avoided meeting his gaze. Though he was the same rank as them, there was a subtle difference. It was in his bearing and his presence. The second son of Auryck was a wealth of strength and experience. Today, they had gained experience of their own.

And now, they would get their reprimand. The tent of the High Commander was large, but felt small with his dark face towering above them.

“Two divisions lost, two more too damaged to put back together in any fighting capacity. Two altient rank nobles of the Great Ambient Empire killed without witness as another two retreated,” said Havertz, pausing as the causality toll sank in.

“There are crimes associated with abandoning your post. There are crimes associated with failing your task. There are even crimes associated with failure to represent the might of the Ambient Empire… But none of these will be your charge. Your charge will be negligence. Gross, extreme, stupid negligence.” His voice began to rise as it infused with anger.

“Pushing the front was never a race, yet you rushed your progress. The axtls have never been weak foes, yet you underestimated the enemy. And despite having access to dozens of scouts, including one at the altient rank, you failed to uncover one of the highest tier monsters The Empire has confirmed in over two decades.”

“In the name of the Great Ambient Empire, I hereby relieve you of your current assignments as commanders, for what are commanders with no one to command. Return to your families and await further orders. This campaign will not likely see further success. Maybe you will fare better in the war against the coalition.”

Caeris and Jaskil left the tent without raising their heads.

*****

Nyalla walked along the narrow path that was called a road in the Southeast district. Despite the heat, she wore a loose shawl that covered her hair and face. It was conspicuous in the city proper, but here, it was best for a woman to reveal as little as possible about herself.

She continued her walk towards the nearest plaza, in search of a herald, one who would bring the people news of the empire and its exploits. Such was her daily routine. The heralds were not often detailed, but they often shared news of the 72nd company of Auryck, many of whom would have other family members in the throng of people gathered to listen to the cries of the herald.

As she grew closer, the street began to grow in width as she started to see more shops and homes instead of stacks of shacks and tents. She was soon surrounded by people in a densely packed square. She watched as the crowd parted for the herald to come to the center, where he stood atop a small, brick platform there that lifted his head over the crowd.

He appeared to clear his throat, but Nyalla couldn’t hear until she felt the small change in ambient that marked the beginning of the herald's spill.

The herald's voice was incredibly loud, the result of some interesting application of ambient to the voice. The technique was not hidden in any way, simply not useful to anyone who would have no role in public speeches.

“On this day of the ninth month of the calendar of the Great Ambient Empire, may its glory forever be known, I bring you these tidings.”

Stolen novel; please report.

“The Allied Coalition to the south is expanding its army and cowardly sending attacks of demi humans and bandits into the border territories of our great empire. The Coalition claims that these attacks are not a result of their doing, but their lies and falsehoods have been well documented by the moderators of the Emperor, may ambient surround him always. The four great ducal families encourage the people to ready themselves for tough times, for even a swift victory will affect the supply of necessities and trade.”

“The expansion of The Great Ambient Empire has been put on hold as a result, and the remnants of the divisions will be recalled to reinforce our border.”

The word remnant caught Nyalla’s attention as a hole opened in her heart, draining it of feeling as her breath caught in her throat.

“On the western border, the axtl threat has been contained; however, in their treachery, they summoned forth a great monster from deep within the Kelston Great Wood, which has devastated demi human and Imperial forces alike, cutting off the Great Wood. Two Commanders lost their lives in battle with the creature, Germaine of the Great Warlskill Family, and Nastael of the Great Darkhart family. The 70th and 73rd companies have been devastated and will be reformed into a new veteran company assigned to the border. The 71st and 72nd companies have been lost, may they find eternal rest in The Ambient.”

Nyalla did not fall to her knees or burst into hysterical tears. There were many who did so, but Nyalla simply felt hollow. She knew that when she arrived back home, she would not come out for a while, but she had felt like this since Rane had left. She worried for him, surely as any mother would, but she had never felt that The Ambient had treated her kindly. She expected to hear the news of her son’s demise on every trip to the plaza.

To her, the herald was never a herald of The Empire, only the herald of death.

She wrapped her shawl around her head as she made her way away from the crowd.

*****

Klein stood motionless outside of Kelston. His lustrous gray hair had grown long in his time away. He had never visited the graveyard here… But there was a first time for everything, and he carried with him six thin stone slabs. Each stone bore a name etched into the roughly hewn surface.

Mack. He had actually agonized over this one quite a way. He struggled to remember his captain’s real name. When he did, he wondered if he would have wanted it on his grave. He thought not.

Sven. He would have done well after the expansion campaign. He could have convinced some merchant's daughter to marry him and split their wealth. Klein smiled a bit at the thought of him getting away with such a plot.

Aabe. He had been the first to go. He wasn’t cut out to be a soldier, but it was never their place to tell him that. He was stronger than most of the general populace would ever be.

Mud. Klein never knew his hometown. He was a stoic type, older than the rest of them, and Klein didn’t know his real name. He hoped that he wouldn’t be upset that he never asked.

Erick. The image of his death flashed in the eye of his mind. He almost dropped the tablets. He was of good humor, and strong to boot. Well, as strong as any of them could have been. No one was strong in the face of that.

And finally, Rane.

Klein flared his ambient, using it to create six clean patches in the grass in a circle around his position. He laid each tablet into the ground with great care, and when he finished, whispered a prayer for them all, “may the ambient be with you always.”

He looked around the tablets, his eyes coming to rest on one in particular. He quite liked Rane, but now, he was conflicted. He left them to die. He ran. Klein understood his action, which was, all things considered, the most rational thing to do; however, that was not what Puddles had done. That was not what Erick had done. They had fought to their last breaths.

He left them there to die. If Rane was dead, which was the most likely situation, Klein could forgive him. He would bear no grudge against the dead, who have already paid the highest price… But if he is alive, Klein thought, I will hunt him to the edges of the world to make sure that the price is paid.