104 Survivor (1/2)

Of the twenty thousand soldiers remaining in the Darah center army, maybe a quarter of that was able to follow our column down to join the fifteen thousand survivors of the right army. The rest were scattered to the wind, fleeing west like Vardoom's left army, or more likely, dead as dead could be. So, in a way, I guess you could say that my great escape plan was successful. Despite the heavy cost it took to make it work.

Theren Everleaf's death was just one of many. And the sting of all the sacrifices made to get Great General Darah out of the Scarlet Moon's trap was akin to a shadowblade spear tip piercing my heart, an icy wound that drained me of warmth.

As soon as Darah arrived in the right army, she took command of our combined forces, and following my recommendation, ordered the retreat south to the borders of Lover's Embrace.

I was pretty much useless by then. I'd over used Fool's Insight to the point where just keeping my eyes open was painful, and with our healing potions depleted or reserved for the gravely wounded, I would have to remain an invalid for the rest of the trip south.

Perhaps it was a good thing that the last thing I saw before Fool's Insight finally crapped out was the final death rattle of the Magesong clan's army.

Their entire right army and center army had been devoured by the hungry maw of the Scarlet Moon forces and what remained of their left army had decided fleeing for their lives was the best option.

Darah sent me along with my Foolhardies ahead of the army fleeing south. Aura and Luca had taken command while Berrian Berrygrove tended to my many wounds.

The scent of herbs floated up to my nose as I watched him swab my injuries in healing paste.

”You're in luck, Commander,” he said as he found another cut on my arm to bandage. ”There won't be any scarring after these wounds have healed.”

”Sure…” I said distractedly.

I hadn't meant to sound unappreciative of his efforts to keep me from dying of sepsis or any other number of diseases brought about by festering wounds, but my mind was adrift, numb to most things besides the counting of our dead.

This was the part I hated most after a battle, the survivor's guilt. It was even more intense now than that time on the hilltop where I kicked Azuma's butt. This time, I had been responsible for three hundred souls, and now, barely a hundred had survived. Even worse, many of the dead had been with me when I kicked Azuma's butt.

Ashley had come around to the wagon they stuffed me in and given me a rough count.

”Luca's Ravagers are mostly intact, but they've always been a small insertion team. We only lost Wiggs and Bedge, the two dwarves in Varda's magician unit,” Ashley glanced down at the paper she was reading from. ”Qwipps is back on his feet and as loud as ever. His Talons are still around too,” Ashley was shaking her head, ”But that would be due to Pike's leadership. Girl's got talent.”

”Remind to promote her,” I replied in a deadpan voice. ”I'm assuming that was the good news. Give me the bad.”

”We've lost more than half my shield unit. I'd sent those who couldn't ride along with Edo when… when he and the Bastards went up against that heavy cavalry…” Ashley sighed.

”Aw, man… I'm sorry Ash… if I was a better leader—”

”—none of that now, you here me, Dean,” Ashley pointed a finger warningly at me. ”Those soldiers gave up their lives. The least we can do is be proud of them.”

”A heroic is its own reward, huh?” I sighed.

”Exactly,” Ashley nodded.

It took a while longer for Ashley to compose herself before she continued with the breakdown of our losses.

”Oh, here's some more good news,” she chirped. ”Xanthor Xor's crew didn't lose too many centaurs.”

I breathed in a sigh of relief. It was one thing to be thankful for. I wouldn't know how I'd face the ghost of Commander Kadash if I told him I let the survivors of his Dash Kadash unit die after they joined up with us.

”Thom's Hazy Moon unit lost a few drow but sending them to the backline to escort our prisoners kept most of them alive,” Ashley noted.

”Hazy Moon?” I asked confused. ”Didn't we call them the Bats?”

Ashley looked up from her piece of paper to tell me, ”Well, now that the Scarlet Moon is on our tail, he's requested we change his unit's name to that of the dead clan he was part of. You know, just to piss the Scarlet Moon off in case they find out they hadn't actually wiped out all the other drow clans.”

”Great,” I said, shaking my head. ”Yet another reason to make the target on our heads bigger…”

I sat up straighter and locked the fingers of my hands together.

”And the prisoners?” I asked.