Chapter 71: I Have My Regrets (Volas)

For days, we continued our way south. We march to the capital, determined to take it back from the Dog’s clutches. Everyone has faith that we will face little resistance from them. Every village and town we pass is already liberated. They all tell us the Dogs were heading to the capital or further south. Either way, they are running from us.
It makes me wonder what I will see. Will the Dogs put up their last stand near the Crystal Kingdom? Will I need to lay siege to the capital of the South to put an end to the war and let it drag on for years until they run out of supplies? Perhaps they will fight it out on the field till the end. They’ll want my head if they hear about how I killed their king. There is no doubt about that.
As the city gets into view, my army forms up to prepare for any eventuality. Then there it is. The purple spires of the kingdom. The city is in our sights and within our grasp; our battle will be the conclusion of the Dogs and their rebellion.
From behind the hill overlooking the city. My army halts as I raise a red flag. Our blood urges that I rush into battle and take the Dogs by surprise, but procedures must be followed. I will not waste my army and rush them into a trap unless we have a strategic advantage over the enemy. And if the Dogs are expecting me and we have to parlay, I can lie about my numbers to give us some sort of edge.
Huson and I rush in front of the army to get a better view of the city and its defences. Olivia holds on to the horse’s mane tightly. Letting out a sharp yelp as she was taken by surprise by the horse going into a sprint.
Olivia’s eyes sparkle as she gets the full view of the city and its mighty walls. Thousands of Dogs march out of the gate. But they are not soldiers; instead, they are all civilians pushing carts of food and supplies. Some have armour and weapons, sure, but it is more of an escort than being an active threat to me or my army.
They aren’t staying; the Dogs are not interested in a fight. They’re fleeing! It never occurs to me that their will to fight is already gone after news of the death of their king has spread among their population. But where are they heading? There is nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. They are trapped on this island with nothing but the clothes on their back and what little remains of their fighting force.
‘Something isn’t right.’ I turn to Huson. ‘Stay with the soldiers, keep them hidden until I talk to their leader and figure out what is happening.’
Huson nods, ‘wouldn’t they just be mustering to build the last bastion of resistance? This just seems like a mass of refugees running to a designated location.’
‘But why…’
‘Shush!’ I nudge Olivia lightly to shut her up before looking back at Huson. ‘If that is the case, we will cut them off and demand a surrender. But I need to find out what they are planning first.’
‘Do you need any further assistance, a personal guard?’
‘No, I can handle this on my own.’ I reply before riding down the hill, waving a white cloth to indicate my intentions to the Dogs near the city.
The Dogs notice me, they rush into some sort of defensive formation, aiming their crossbows in my general direction while the mass of civilians bolt in the other direction. There have to be only a few hundred able-bodied fighters, none of them look as battle-hardened as the Dogs who fought up North. This really is just a reserve force, maybe a militia haphazardly put together to garrison the city.
I stop in the middle of the field to wait for their leader. They’re scared, all of them are, watching me intently as if I am the bringer of death. I can understand the superstition if that is the case.
Breaking from the crowd, a lone Dog walks towards me. He is skinny, has black fur and an eyepatch over his left eye. I expect the new leader to be a lot bigger, but I shouldn’t complain. Maybe he is a coward, and I can use his fear to prevent a battle altogether.
He eyes my black armour and frowns at the sight of Olivia. I stop myself from pulling a face at the realisation that I have forgotten to take her off my horse and leave her with Huson. It seems my focus on the Dogs is making me blind to my surroundings. Oh well, I’m sure I can turn this to my favour.
‘Who are you?’ The Dog demands.
I sigh before regurgitating what I’ve practised for the past few days. ‘I am General Volas Regali of the Cinaris Army. I’m here to speak with the current leader of your people.’
‘You’re looking at him. I am Alex, the Regent...’ He shakes his head to correct himself. ‘The King of the Dogs.’
Of course you are. It has to be you and no one else. Gods, I just hope he is not as stubborn as his former king.
‘As the General, I need to ask what you are doing with your civilians. Why are you leaving the city?’
‘None of your business, Cinari.’
‘We are still at war, Dog. I demand cooperation and answers.’
Alex scoffs, ‘and you won’t get any from me. There is no point speaking with the likes of you.’
Shit! Well, I won’t get anything out of him. Not that I should be surprised by his response. He doesn’t have a reason to tell me. But it does indicate that whatever they are doing, I have to put a stop to it now before it gets out of hand.
‘Then you should know what this means if I turn up,’ I continue. ‘My army is near and we are ready to combat your forces if necessary.’ Alex straightens his back. I can tell what he is going to say. ‘Alex, I beg of you, don’t do this. Our people have fought for long enough, and there is no reason for any more bloodshed. Please, don’t fight. I’m asking for your surrender, not because I am sure of myself, but because I grow tired of this war. Too many have died, and I don’t want to weep over the deaths of my soldiers.’
‘We both know I can’t accept the offer. I know how this will end, General. It is not a peace I or anyone here desire. So let’s make this short, go to your army, we’ll fight you here and end this if we have to. Or, if you have any sense of mercy or dignity, you’ll turn around and leave.’
My heart sinks. A battle is on my hands. It will not be one where they have a chance of winning. The war is over for my people, but it seems it will never end if they have an ounce of freedom. I commend them, I admire that spirit of theirs.
‘We will not be slaves again.’ Alex explains, ‘we can’t give up our freedom without a fight.’
‘This is a fight you can’t win!’ I plea. Gods, listen to me, you fool! Don’t push my hand. ‘Everyone here deserves a future.’
‘Future!? What sort of future is there for my people?’ He points to Olivia, ‘what sort of future is there for her?’
I keep my mouth shut. There isn’t an answer I can provide. Alex is right, there is no future for his people. He will know that from now on, his sharp gaze will stare straight into my soul. Battle is inevitable, and the Dogs don’t have the means to beat me here. It will be a slaughter… and it will be far worse than the ambush against their king.
‘Volas…’
‘Shush!’ I sharply say to Olivia.
‘Volas!’ She repeats while pointing. ‘Look, one of you.’
In the distance, a Cinari is running towards me and Alex. Panting and already out of breath from his long run. Alex doesn’t seem unfazed by the person; he just seems more annoyed than anything else. I squint to get a better view of who it is. What are they even thinking, and how did they get past the Dogs without any problems?
Wait, I think I know him… is that Simon?
The man collapses in front of us, raising a hand as he gasps for air. ‘Wait… General…’ Alex reaches down to help the Cinari up onto his feet. A display of kindness I never expected from his species after what has happened in this war.
‘Simon! I thought you died. It is good to see you.’
Alex glances at me. ‘You know him?’
‘I’ve sent him south to assist in political matters.’ I casually respond before turning my attention back to Simon. ‘What brought you here?’
‘You have to let them go.’
‘Simon, you…’
‘I know what this looks like!’ Simon interrupts in a raspy voice. ‘But in truth, the Dogs don’t want to fight, they only want to leave the island.’
Leave? They want to leave this island?
‘You idiot! Why did you do that!?’ Alex wraps his right hand around Simon’s neck and is ready to tear out his throat for revealing the only hope the Dogs have.
‘I can help.’ I blurt out, ending Alex’s sudden burst of rage.
Alex raises a brow at me while his hand still clings to Simon’s neck. Even when Simon is choking, he is taken aback and stares at me in confusion. It seems his request is more of a fluke and spur of the moment than an actual plan.
‘You are fleeing,’ I ask. ‘How?’
The Dog pauses. He eyes me and Olivia for a moment to determine if he should tell me. After letting go of Simon, he growls at me. ‘By boat. We have an entire fleet and we are heading east.’
‘Don’t. If you head east, you will be in contact with our fleet. Don’t head west either, you’ll have the same issues.’
Simon’s face drops like he has been hit with a mortal blow. ‘Then where can they go?’
‘South, they only have a few scout ships patrolling the area, but they will flee once they notice your fleet. If you want to leave the island’s borders, you have to go through there.’
‘Why are you telling me this?’ Alex demands.
Because I want to make things right. I need to do the right thing and let you walk away. The war is won. We are invading in every direction and taking back what we lost. Most importantly, your kind doesn’t deserve a fate that waits for you.
I am complacent. I fought for the wrong side and doomed every Dog on this island. But by letting them go, letting them flee. Maybe, and only maybe. Will I be proud of myself? I can’t fix my mistakes, but I can change their fate.
‘My reasons are my own.’ I reply, trying to put on a stoic voice.
Alex shakes his head, unsure whether to take me by my word or to tear me down from my horse to kill me. But as his body loosens its tension, he nods. He can see I am telling the truth, and I want to help them. He just needs to deal with the fact that I can’t voice my reasons.
‘What about her?’ Alex says, referring to Olivia.
‘I’m staying.’ Olivia definitely responds. I think she is trying to impress me. I want to smile, saying my praises for her loyalty when I don’t deserve it at all after putting her through so much. But it is not meant to be.
I lean toward Olivia to whisper. ‘This is where we go our separate ways.’
Before she can figure out what I mean, I lift her off my horse and put her on the ground. ‘What are you doing?’ She cries out as she scrambles to hold her art supplies in her arms.
‘I’m keeping a promise I’ve made with your mother.’ I gesture to Alex. ‘Be with your people, be free.’
Olivia blankly stares at me. She then tugs on my leg as a way to tell me to put her back on the horse. But I can’t. I have to let you go. You’ll be safer with them than with me, even if escape has its own risks.
‘But, I don’t want to go.’ She whimpers, her eyes almost about to water. To her, I am abandoning her and leaving her to my former enemies. ‘Please… don’t leave me. Is it my art? I promise I’ll do better, I can improve, I can fix myself.’
Alex leans down to be levelled with Olivia. ‘It’s okay, you’re safe. I won’t hurt you.’ He has the voice of a father, soothing and calm, while he reaches a hand to her to offer her his trust.
Olivia glances at me like she is seeking permission to go with him. I put on a false smile and gesture for her to take his hand. He is the best chance she has to escape, to survive what my Empire will do to her people.
She’s shy at first, but she takes his hand. She is willing to go. Perhaps Olivia doesn’t understand it at first, but I hope… I pray she will one day. They will give her some chance, a hope for a future.
‘Thank you.’ Alex says to me before heading back to be with his people. Olivia turns back a few times to face me, her eyes watery from leaving me. She needs a brave face, someone to show her that everything will be okay. I smile so she knows she is in safe hands, though I can’t be sure if she will ever be okay.
Simon clears his throat to get my attention. ‘Volas, what will happen now?’
I take a breath to hide the croak behind my throat. ‘I leave. My army will head east to regroup with the amphibious forces. I will give you some time.’
‘What about the rest of their people on the island? Will they stay as slaves?’
‘They won’t be slaves.’
‘Oh…’ Simon replies with a heavy tone. Picking up that their time won’t be long in this world. ‘I’ll leave with the Dogs. They need my help.’
I nod along before turning my horse around. ‘They need every help they can get. It is good to see someone cares about them.’ I let out a pained sigh. ‘Goodbye, Simon. May the Gods favour you.’
‘May the Gods bless your soul, General.’
Riding back is difficult. My shoulders are steady, but my head is slumped over. Every second is more difficult than the last. I can’t turn back, I can’t look back.
Huson looks at me sceptically. ‘Where is Olivia?’
‘Gone.’ I harshly say in my General’s voice. ‘The Dogs there have agreed to surrender and are heading to Ruby Mine for processing. The city has already liberated itself and is currently escorting the Dogs to their location. However, there should be Dog forces east from here. If we move now, we can crush them before the fleet arrives.’
He eyes me. Huson can tell I am lying and making up an excuse to divert our attention away from the Dogs fleeing the city. He can call me out, kill me right here and label me a traitor for aiding the enemy in their escape.
‘Understood. We are ready to move out when you are!’ Huson replies before saluting. He then rushes in to gather my army to prepare them for the long march east. It will be a tiring journey and a waste of time. But it will give the Dogs a window to escape.
Thank you, my friend. I will forever be in your debt. Gods, if you can hear me. While they were our enemy, give them safe passage. Help them find a home they deserve. My people have wronged them and denied them justice. What I wish is that they have a chance that we refuse to give to them.
Gods, hear me beg for them. Gods, do not give them ill or curses, for we have robbed them of everything. Hear me, the Gods of my people. Spare them.
For I am the one who brought them ruin, the one who ended their hopes for a future. For which, I am sorry. I can pray for mercy to relieve my guilt upon this world. But I will not, for I desire the boons of mercy to be given to a people I have wronged.
Though the Gods are silent, I hope they are not silent but kind to the Dogs. They fought well for their freedom, for their right to be among us in this new and strange world. They broke the empire, but most importantly, I have broken them in return and doomed their kind. And that shouldn’t happen.