Here is a truth: that no man acts without believing himself correct. Even in doing sothing he knows is wrong, there is a circumstance invoked within his mind to excuse that trespass. Every evil upon this earth is inflicted with the sa conviction as the acts of greatest good.
Here, too, is a truth: good and evil remain distinct. The good man performs his works knowing that he is on the path of the divine, and that no action taken in service of that truth may be evil. The wicked man acts in the knowledge that he is lost, however, and feels in his heart the futility of each footstep. Hedonism, greed and excess are not evil, for even the divine leads n to such ends in the turning of their paths - but like the needle of a compass, the man who has strayed finds his steps bent towards animal instincts.
To find the divine requires mindful thought; do not fear the base impulses of your form, nor neglect them, but ensure that at all tis the path is beneath your feet.
- The Book of Eight Verses, the Verse of Truth. (New Kheman Edition, 542 PD)
Contact reported, a lieutenant called out, his hand pressed against a pair of bulky headphones. Left flank again. Another Ardan company, theyre surrendering without resistance.
Antolin snorted. Probably more of the 81st Infantry. At this rate well have more of them than the Ardans. He made a weary gesture to one of his senior officers. Well bring this batch with us, were going to have to set up a new holding camp at Leik anyway.
The officer nodded, and the grand marshal turned his attention to Michael. You werent wrong, he said. Not much fight in the Ardans today.
Michael shrugged. Every group weve co across has said the sa thing - either they got lost during the withdrawal, or nobody bothered to tell them they were supposed to retreat. Point them towards food and shelter and most wont argue.
Our estimates of their officer corps were apparently quite generous, Antolin remarked, shaking his head. My junior staff could have orchestrated a better pullback. I find myself in disbelief that such a force could have held out against Saf for so many years.
Have any of the captured n been ensouled? Michael asked.
Antolin raised an eyebrow, then looked to one of his staff; the man shook his head. So few, the officer said. Nothing but low-level durentes and potentes - perhaps a dozen n in total.
Michael sighed, then looked up at Antolin. There you have it, he said. They made their withdrawal; they took every resource that mattered.
A dark look passed over the grand marshals face for a mont, replaced quickly by dull fatigue. Erona, he sighed. With n left to slow the Safid, should they advance. Or us, I suppose, but were better-equipped.
My father used to say that even if a common man should gain a soul, his labor would still benefit others more than himself. Michael ran a hand through his hair, grimacing. I dont imagine those soldiers rited consideration as anything more than a diversion. The withdrawal of the ensouled would have been their priority over the expendable common troops.
The officer that had replied nodded, stepping forward with a sheaf of hastily-organized notes. It matches what weve been hearing. In the past few dispatches weve received assessnts from dical staff at the northern camp; most of the n bear signs of heavy obruor influence. Confusion, anxiety, gaps in mory. So of them are - bad, sir. Theyre beyond our care.
Antolin made a low, rumbling noise of disapproval. Didnt count on them to stay at their posts while their commanders fled, he muttered. Spread that report to the advance. If they did this everywhere, its only a matter of ti before their recovery turns to mass panic. After such manipulation theyll be irrational at best, and almost certainly violent.
Michael watched muscles work in the grand marshals jaw, his normally-inscrutable emotions showing plain disgust. Antolin turned to stare out the window; Michael turned the other direction. The crew of the airship had taken note of the shift in their commanders mood. A slow drip of tension began to color their professional mien, fed with the steady reports of Ardan forces on the ground.
Another company appeared on the flank, lost and practically begging for capture. A patrol found a dozen n dead, with bloodied tracks leading away into a field. Farmhouses burned along the road, horses dead or straying la in the tanks path.
There was a ripple in the air for the barest mont before Sobriquets avatar manifested in the center of the bridge; she went directly to Antolin, her posture rigid.
I have a report, she said. About an hours ride southwest of our position, theres a village that serves as a regional hub for the resistance. They signaled trouble, said that Ardan soldiers were massing in their outlying fields. Theres no fighting yet, but the Ardans are raving, crying, talking to nothing - its only a matter of ti before it turns to violence.
Antolin turned slowly to look past the blurred image, then sighed. I had hoped I was wrong for once, he said, beckoning his staff closer. Our advance will have to slow while we reinforce our supply train; these Ardans werent abandoned at all. Theyre caltrops, ant to harry us and plunge the countryside into chaos.
He began to issue orders to his officers in turn, only returning his gaze to Sobriquet when the last had departed. And while they shift to deal with this basakeria, we will secure this village. For a temporary local command on the ground, this seems as good as any. Spread the word to the resistance that the Ardans have made weapons of their n. His eyes narrowed. Any arms youve been keeping hidden, now is the ti to use them.
Sobriquet inclined her head, then vanished. Antolin turned to Michael. Youve dealt with n like this before, he said. Michael saw the brief shimr of his soul as it twisted around him; a whispering dust of glass blended in and out of existence before he could blink. The grand marshal cocked his head to the side. This will be one of two things, a rescue or a massacre. My options lean heavily towards the latter. I would like you to try first.
Michael licked his lips, his vision crowding with the vacant eyes of Sparks victims, with Peters broken-toothed smile. So things you cant fix, he said. Depending on what was done, there may be no path forward.
Antolin nodded. Even so, he said, his eyes defocused; Michael saw the sharp glint of light from within, deadly snowflakes reflecting things half-seen. It would be best if you tried first. If your way fails, well- He looked back toward the officers on the bridge, each grim-faced and walking with purpose.
The light faded from around him. My way will work, he said. But it wont be pleasant.
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