A Warrior's Redemption (The Warrior Kind)

Two groups of horsemen pulled out of concealment in the moors to either side of us and started forward toward us riding along the river. I debated for a brief moment about grabbing Larc and throwing him and myself into the river, but even if we survived the raging current of the river we wouldn't make it far without horses. I hated the feeling of helplessness that washed over me. If I had been alone I would have made a try at getting away, but I had the boy to consider now. I had to do what was best for him. Our best option it would seem was to bide our time and be patient and wait for an opportunity to escape, if the opportunity came. I'd had to wait nine years the first time to get an opportunity to escape. I don't think I could do that again.

They evidently wanted us alive, as they had not fired upon us. That was at least something positive. I sat where I was and watched as the Zoarinian soldiers closed in on us. It was one of the hardest things I had ever done to just sit there and do nothing. I felt Larc's arms get tighter around me as they closed in on us, "It's okay Larc we'll get out of this. You wait and see."

After we had been disarmed they mounted us on separate horses and tied us to the saddles. A cloaked figure rode up and flipped back his hood chuckling as he did so. I recognized the Valley Lander warrior, who had recruited me for this assignment. At my look of surprise on recognizing him he said, "I know. I know. You're surprised aren't you. Roric, it's really very simple to understand my perceived betrayal. The Valley Landers and their pathetic allies the Tranquil Islanders don't stand a chance of winning against the power that the Zoarinians can bring to bear against them. It may seem that I am betraying my people in the here and now I grant you, but once this nasty conflict is over I'll be able to help my people rebuild our nation better than it was before. We'll advance on as a people, as we will no longer be hindered by the out of date practices our culture is fairly choked to a standstill by. I've been promised an administrator position over Artanis itself!" He finished confidently, looking as if he genuinely expected me to agree with his position of treason as a point of fact statement of nationalism, when all his actions amounted to was cowardice wrapped in a cloak of power hungry envy.