Artanne, Laetitia, and Habib had rejoined the camp.

The madman was holding his stomach because of a few small wounds.

"That little rascal was annoying," Artanne mumbled.

"For pity's sake, Artanne," Laetitia sighed wearily.

There were no more cannons, and some of the men were missing.

"What happened?" Habib asked, "Our battle is over, isn't it?"

"Your brother, he said we had to keep the element of surprise. He left for the second outpost right away."

"The idiot! What's he playing at? Does he want to put us in the wrong?"

His brother yelled. That wasn't the plan for him to leave with our mens!

"The bastard! He wants to get all the kills! Ruh only thinks of himself!"

[...]

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Sorry, O Brother,

I see you're burning with passion,

But I'm only thinking about the one who brightened my darkest days.

We come from the same land,

Today you're in love with one,

And you forget the other,

Who is nevertheless doomed to have your image engraved since her silent tomb.

Since when have we become so different when we were just poor?

Is it since you've had an army in your hands?

Tonight I'm leading my own assault.

Because I feel it deep in my bones.

My time is running out and I'll soon be in the linen.

"Chief Ruh, target in sight, what do we do?"

"I only brought woodcutters with me.

Do you see that small palm forest?

Divide yourselves into three groups.

The first one cuts the wood.

The second one shapes it into terrifying projectiles.

The third one places them in the cannons and aims at the load-bearing walls of this little castle.

The shot will set the wood on fire, we'll spread the fire in this outpost and corner the enemy."

The shots ring out. The element of surprise is unstoppable.

I feel it, deep within me.

Like an evil that devours and ravages.

My movements are hard as if I had a lot of weight,

My breath is like it's trapped in a putrid cage.

My legs struggle to stand,

Like Sisyphus unable to push this rock any further,

The end of my ascent is near.

I can at least admire the seeds of my vengeance for Léa, a carnage that seems blurry to me.