High Mages think of themselves.” He sighed. “If I didn’t think it would get me hung for treason, I’d bury the thing myself and never give it up to them.” Now, he chuckled. “That would get under their skin.”
That admission startled me. Like most, Balak hated the High Mages. They treated everyone poorly, especially soldiers, whom they called an “ugly necessity” even in public. Still, I had never heard him consider going against king’s orders to defy them. Whatever he had seen or heard from the Geneshans must have convinced him they weren’t lying.
He drained another cup. “Anyway, let’s get off this sorcery nonsense. That’s not why I wanted to see you.”
“Sir?”
“You did good, Sergeant.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“You’ve been a big asset to me since the war began. Even with the treaty signed, we still have a lot of clean-up. We need to make sure the Geneshan army disbands their southern forces along our border. I was thinking of promoting you to captain to help with the process. We’ve got a busy year ahead of us.”
A year? I’m not sure if it was because I still felt the effects of the concussion or not, but my stomach lurched and the room spun. I hadn’t expected the entire army to pack up and go home, but I also knew that not everyone would be needed to wrap things up. Rumors were already circulating that a very small group of people, important figures in the victory, would be discharged over the coming days. The king felt that patriotism and goodwill would be strengthened by the heroes returning home first. I had hoped that my unit would be among that first group to leave.
“Sergeant? Do I need to call for a healer?”
I shook my head, breathing slowly. “No, sir. I’m all right. It’s just . . .” I paused, knowing I needed to be careful how I phrased things. Balak was in a good mood, but his mood soured quicker than milk left out in the sun.
“It’s just what?” he asked, the slightest edge coming to his voice.
“My family, sir. I—“
“Yes, your family.” He cut me off, spitting the word out like a swear. “Gods be cursed, Tyrus. After all this time, I thought you had hardened up. You’re telling me you’d rather go home to a bunch of strangers? At this point that’s what they’ll be.”
Strangers? The word struck me. I had already prepared myself for things being different at first upon my return. A period of getting used to each other again, sure. But to say my family would be strangers? I couldn’t believe that.
“Yes, sir. I’d like to go home more than anything else if it’s all the same to you.”
“Well, it’s not,” he snapped, glaring at me beneath those caterpillar eyebrows. “You know, with the war over the king might be interested in looking east to Noval. He has the war machine already created. Why not take advantage of it? It could mean big things for people like us.”
“That sort of thing doesn’t really appeal to me.”
He swore, picked up a piece of paper on the table, and threw it at me. It bore the king’s seal.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“It’s what you want. Release papers for your entire unit for playing a significant role in our victory. The king sent them through one of the High Mage’s transfer portals shortly after terms with Genesha were signed.”
“Then why did you ask me to stay on?”
He shrugged. “I thought I could count on you.”
I balled my hands into fists, trying to control my anger. If I hadn’t mentioned my family, I wondered if he would have even given me the king’s orders. “I guess there’s no need for you to count on me anymore now.”
He looked at the papers in my hand. “I guess not. You’re no longer any use to me, Tyrus. Dismissed.”
Balak poured another cup of wine. My mouth hung open at his attitude. Hamath always said Balak took me for granted. I knew he did on some level, but the callousness in the way he treated me after almost a decade of service staggered me. In a matter of minutes, he went from treating me with respect to acting as though I was no better than a dog.
I left when Balak turned back to his reports, hopeful I’d never see the man again.
* * *
My anger waned as I walked back to my unit’s section of camp. The general could say what he wanted, but he didn’t really know