and he hoped that the enemy felt the same. His voice shattered the air, cutting through even the cacophony of the pitched battle. “Hold and stand down! This fight is done!” A cold wind blew across the battlefield as his words faded away.
Most paused, surprised again by the clarity of his voice. Some continued to fight, but Will repeated his command, and seconds later, the battle grew still. A strangely loud silence grew in place of the violence of a moment before. “The battle is won. Surrender and you may return to your homes and families in peace. Our war isn’t against the people of Darrow, but rather against its ruler. The Patriarch will be thrown down and his demon-loving mercenaries cast out.”
A few of the enemy officers shouted for their men to resume fighting, but no one obeyed, and one suffered dramatically as one of his closest sergeants clubbed him to the ground. Some of the other officers dropped their weapons, calling for a surrender, and one by one, the Darrowans threw down their swords and spears. Seconds later, they began sitting and kneeling, both as a sign of surrender, and simply because the fighting had been exhausting.
One man remained on his feet near the center, a tall officer in polished steel and a plumed helm. Slowly, he picked his way through the surrendering soldiers and stopped in front of them. Will did likewise, though he was flanked by an escort of armed soldiers. They stopped when there was ten feet left between them.
The Darrowan commander was a handsome man by any reckoning, with dark hair and a short beard groomed into aggressive lines. He held a sheathed sword in front of him, and as he met Will’s eyes, he tossed it at his feet. “I am Marshal Aaron Gravholt, leader of the Prophet’s Army and commander of these men. Do as you must with me, but I ask for mercy on behalf of my men.”
Will felt a sense of kinship immediately. Would I look as dignified if our roles were reversed? He doubted it, but he hoped he would at least act in the same manner. Keeping his face blank, he asked, “And if I tell you that King Lognion demands the heads of all the Patriarch’s officers, would you still ask for mercy only for your soldiers?”
Marshal Gravholt never flinched. “I would gladly give my life in exchange for theirs.”
“And what of the Patriarch? Your surrender puts him in jeopardy.”
The Darrowan’s face showed obvious disgust. “I’ve done my duty and fulfilled the oaths of service I gave. Sacrificing these men after the battle is lost serves no one, and now that I have been forced to submit, I will readily admit that my only regret is that I cannot live to see you remove the Patriarch’s head from his shoulders and toss his stinking priests into the gutters.”
Will turned to Sub-Marshal Nicht, who was closest to him. “We’ll return to the crossroad to make camp. Take this man prisoner but treat him gently and with honor. Gather their weapons and take the enemy soldiers into custody. Tomorrow we will begin allowing them to disperse.” Then he turned his gaze to the defeated commander. “Rest easy, Marshal Gravholt. I have nothing but respect for those who put the needs of those they lead above their own. The world cannot afford to lose people like you, and I would not ask for a pointless sacrifice.”
The Darrowan leader seemed faintly surprised, but he kept his reaction calm. “Thank you for your mercy.”
Will allowed a faint smile to show. “I forgot to introduce myself. William Cartwright, Royal Marshal and leader of the Terabinian army. We’ll talk more later.”
The Darrowan leader nodded. “I already knew who you were. Your reputation precedes you, else I wouldn’t have risked surrendering my soldiers’ lives into your hands.”
Chapter 47
He would have loved to rest after that, but the life of a leader didn’t allow for such luxuries. Physically, Will was fine, and he’d gotten some rest the night before, but he was inordinately tired. Decisions needed to be made, however, and his was the final say on a vast selection of topics.
First, he had a happy reunion with his assistant, Lieutenant Renly, who commemorated the moment by promptly allowing any and all who had a question in to see him, one by one. Where should the prisoners be kept? Should they be separated into small groups or kept together? Would it be a full camp or