Why had his dreams and the legend of the curse claimed she was the last of the great battle-witches, the one who would guarantee his victory across all lands that were supposed to be his?
They gazed at each other, the witch looking at him in a combination of fear and resentment, while he debated what to do.
"M'lord," his second returned with the box.
The Shadow Knight accepted it. "Go." Aware no one among his men would dare disturb him, he knelt beside the battle-witch.
She shrank away.
"Eat." He held it out to her.
With an expression of dread upon her pretty features, she took it and opened it. Her frown softened. She reached in and withdrew one of the sweet cakes made in White Tree Sound. The Red Knight sent a steady supply for his sisters. They were flat and round, decorated with dried fruit and drizzled with honey. Sweet cakes had won his battle today; maybe they would help her accept her world faster.
"Thank you," she murmured, withdrawing one. She handed the box back.
"I cannot have you starve," he said. "An army can ill-afford to waste food, but if the nectar of queens is all you will eat, I will have it brought."
She sighed and nibbled on the sweet cake. "I'm sorry. This is new to me."
"So 'tis."
They studied one another. Pink rose in her cheeks and she turned her gaze towards the fire. Situations were rare where he hesitated to act. This woman was different. Worse than a page new to battle, she had no understanding of war, the kingdoms, his world, and he had no real experience guiding him with where to start.
"You won a battle. How are you not happy?" he asked finally, bewildered by the tears she shed this day.
"I don't like hurting people," she whispered, troubled. "How many men did you kill today?"
"Less than usual," he mused. "You slowed me down."
"Barbaric." She shivered. "What happens to the ones who remain?"
"They are given a choice of serving me, slavery, or death."
"What do most choose?"
"Depends on the kingdom. There have been whole armies that chose death."
"How awful."
"Necessary."
She lowered her gaze to the fire. "Because you have to save the rest of their kingdoms."
"Finally you understand aught."
"I understand everything," she replied, bristling. "I'm not an idiot." Her cheeks flushed. "What I don't get is why you can't try a different approach. You have a noble cause. Surely -"
He held up a hand. "I shall not humor this discussion again," he said sharply. "Do you think a thousand years of Shadow Knights did not try every other way possible to prevent what comes?"