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58 - No Right Answer

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Theo

Commander Ozdemir could have killed us. We were bound and captured, after all. Instead, he was polite, formal, and careful with his words. Senesio even seemed to like the wretch, chatting with a politeness that hardly befitted the situation.

Ozdemir was the enemy, damnit. A Bospurian, even if he had clipped his accent back a bit, was forcing himself to speak with less of the wispy, airy accent of his people. He may have been treating us cordially—after his men had beaten us senseless—but even through my pounding head it was apparent why. He was following the rules of how to handle prisoners in war.

And if he was doing that, it meant he’d given up on any idea of keeping what had happened here under wraps. He’d come to the conclusion that word would get back to Lekarsos, then Cyphos, and then war between empires was inevitable. That didn’t mean it had to be uncivilized, and from the looks of things here, Commander Ozdemir was trying to set that precedent.

“Corporal Theo,” he said, turning to me. “As a military woman yourself, I think you understand the situation I’m in here.”

“And what situation is that, exactly?” Wasn’t going to make this easy for the bloody Bospurian. I didn’t remember much after his soldiers had stormed in the night before, only that I’d woken up here, bound and sat in a chair on the front porch of what looked to be the officers’ quarters. We weren’t in the buildings at the center of the Bospurian camp, but a smaller, secondary collection of structures tucked up along the northern stretch of palisade. A physician had been called to treat us. At the present, he was sewing up a tear in Maritza’s scalp.

Commander Ozdemir sat in a chair across from us, the camp’s stakewall towering at his back.

“The situation is this,” he said, looking none too pleased about it, “my superiors have a vested interest in this land. As it is owned by no empire or kingdom, we have exercised the internationally acknowledged right of first claim. For all intents and purposes, this is now Bospurian territory. Your presence here is thus an illegal military action, in violation of our sovereign land.”

I spat to the side.

“We’re only here because you attacked unprovoked. Shot our skyship down, as well as the Panagia. Captured or killed our people. You picked this fight.”

Commander Ozdemir sighed at that. “My men on the Needlethroat reported you shot at them first and they acted in self-defense.” He spread his hands as if to say what can I do? “Nevertheless, the history of our two empires is rife with misunderstandings that have devolved into skirmishes. In each instance, level heads have prevailed, and outright war has been avoided. I would very much like for that to be the case here.”

Sweet sounding words. Seemed the commander was more a politician than he was a soldier.

“And what about Clearwater Outpost, huh? Did they shoot at you first, too?” Maritza said, leaning forward and pulling away from the physician stitching her scalp closed.

“I wasn’t there,” he said simply. “Though, believe me when I say I have ordered an official inquiry into what really happened.”

Maritza laughed.

“Well that’ll make everything better,” I said with a huff.

“Theo,” Senesio hissed from two chairs over. “I believe the good commander is attempting to find a peaceful solution to this whole ordeal. Perhaps it would be best if we didn’t antagonize him?”

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I spat at him, too. “We get captured and suddenly you’re all buddy-buddy with the enemy?”

He smiled, but it looked forced. Like he was fighting to hold it together. For the briefest of moments, something flashed in his eyes. Was that anger? But it didn’t feel directed at me. And didn’t seem accidental. Almost like he wanted me to see it.

“Think of Elpida,” he said, his words measured. “How would she handle this?”

With piss and vinegar and a fair bit of spite, no doubt. She’d be looking for vengeance. I opened my mouth to respond, then paused.

Senesio had been acting a bit off ever since the guidemaster had—well, since we’d lost her. And come to think of it, she was the only one on the expedition he’d known beforehand. The thought hadn’t previously occurred to me. Had her death affected him more than I’d thought? More than he’d let on?

Before I could linger on the thought, he nodded.

“Elpida would have wanted us to handle this gently and with compassion.”

An obvious lie, but not one that the commander would pick up on.

Senesio nodded all the more. “Let us act in a way that would make her proud, huh? Do justice by her memory?”

“I think Master Nicolaou has the right of it,” Commander Ozdemir said. “The past few weeks have been regrettable, but as civilized individuals, we must put that behind us.”

“Well, it’s what Elpida would have wanted,” I said, nodding along now and finally understanding. A sound carried from far away, some sort of animal call. Sounded angry, but the commander was speaking again.

“We’re all in agreement, then?” He smiled. “I’ll have my clerks draw up the documents. We’ll each sign testimonies that declare this a most unfortunate misunderstanding and relinquish both sides of blame. War will be avoided, and you’ll be returned to Lekarsos, unharmed.” He clapped his hands together. “Simple as that.”

Yeah, simple as that. We’d just forgive Aristos’ death. And Leda’s and Gabar’s. Elpida’s. The sergeant’s. All of those deaths—those murders—forgiven. Just like that. The thought churned my stomach. Soured the spit in my mouth. It was all I could do not to vomit right then and there.

“I will, of course, need everyone’s explicit agreement on this matter,” Commander Ozdemir said, “before I can begin the process of releasing you back to Lekarsos.” He looked at Demetrias first.

“Look, I’m going to be honest. This doesn’t make much sense to me.” And he did look completely lost. Though, after all the dehydration, reduced rations, near-death experiences, and then being beaten senseless, I suppose I couldn’t blame him. Either way, I caught his eye and gave a slight nod.

“But... I’ve always understood machines better than people,” he said in response. “So, uh, yeah. I agree.”

Maritza was next and she seemed to have picked up on what was happening. “Best to settle this all rationally.”

Commander Ozdemir looked at Senesio next.

“My good man, throughout this entire misadventure, my grandest aspiration has been to avoid outright conflict. I wish for nothing more than to return to Cyphos with good news. With a gift for the emperor. I cannot imagine a greater gift than the news that war has been averted.”

Except maybe a stolen Bospurian skyship or two. Something told me that wasn’t yet off the table.

“You’re a man of reason. I respect that, Master Nicolaou.” The commander turned to me last. “Corporal Theo?”

Senesio had no intention to honor his word, that much was clear. And I’d egged the others on, understanding that. But now... now doubt was beginning to creep into my mind.

Agreeing to sign a testimonial relinquishing the Bospurians of blame would be an injustice to everyone they’d killed. To everyone who was watching from the world of the ancestors now, judging our actions, ensuring we did right by their memories. But there was also a chance it’d stop a war. And if this turned to war, how many more would die? I was a soldier, first and foremost, but that didn’t mean I wanted war. I wanted revenge, sure. Justice even more. But war between empires wasn’t justice, not for anybody.

But signing a false testimonial would also ensure justice was never done. Those responsible for the death and suffering of the past days would go unpunished. And what had started this in the first place but the search for more magnesia ore? Only a fool would believe that search would cease after this ordeal. No, if anything, both sides would redouble their efforts in the Far Wild. And inevitably, that would lead to war, wouldn’t it? Signing these testimonials would dishonor the memory of the dead, and war was coming anyway. Was that not twice the injustice?

But there was a chance. A chance to save countless lives. I gritted my teeth, clenched my fists. But this wasn’t something I could fight my way out of. There was no right answer, only the lesser of two evils.

Senesio was planning whatever he was planning, but now I’d made my decision. Maybe it’d haunt me for the rest of my days, but there was only so much I could do for the dead. As much as I wanted to honor their memory, I could still save the living.

“I’ll sign it,” I said, and it felt like a victory and a betrayal all in one. “Did you hear me?” I said it louder this time. “I’ll sign it.”

Commander Ozdemir was distracted, though. He’d turned, was looking at the gate in the palisade in front of us. It was closing, and the guards were shouting and pointing at... something.