Commotion reigned in the Bastion's corridors; the families of those mourned on the western front's most recent defeat would cross eyes with fresh meat marching in for their recruitment. Amidst the mercenaries and medics alike, a herald shouldered his way past the crowd and onto the upper floors, where Generals were negotiating their following moves.
Yet, there was more to this last refeat than the tiresome nuances of a century old debate between the Empire and their neighbors from the West. An oversight on the overseeing warlords' part had left their frontlines exposed to flighted cavarly — a fatal mistake. Moreso than the lives sacrificed without cause, in that case; a convenient handle to latch onto for the sycophants and the politicians; and all those lurking to dig their teeth into the Trifarix' ribs. The bellmen were already climbing on their stools outside, profiting off of the widows' misery and the soldiers' fear...
And so, in that tense climate the herald was all too conscious of his position; and when he reached the throne room, in which the appointed officials had gathered in the Grand General's presence, his hand trembled before the Trifarians standing guard. One of them met his gaze and raised her palm, then subtly dragged her thumb across her neck in a straight line. He narrowed his gaze, as if trying to make out the speech travelling through cracks in the granite.
"No, I refuse! I will not fight as a mere cadet, on the front I have been personally securing for over a decade, now, General. I earned my place, and I acted upon the information I was given! You would blame me instead of the informants?"
Albeit not knowlegeable enough to distinguish whose voice that was, conclusions were easy to withdraw. There was no pleading tone, of course, and even a mere herald could guess the people in that room were not the type to mewl and grovel when faced with their own deeds. The voice that followed, however, was unmistakable; albeit, rarely as loud.
"And it is not part of your job to filter the information you are given? Your foolishness exceedes my expectations, even; and it is dangerous, to give a foolish man power. You have failed the Empire with your naivety-"
"I can restore our progress, I will—"
He caught glimpse of a red flash between the hinges; a thud was heard.
"You will do as you are told! You will return to Nockmirch, and pray to the Wolf that you do not make it back to Prime alive, for if so I will see to it personally that your lapse in judgement is immortalized; by mounting your head on the wall!"
Within the blink of an eye, the doors slammed open, knocking the guards aside on their wake. Something came flying out with a thundering screech and landed on the nearest wall before collapsing in a bundle of plating and fabrics; a grown man in full armor.
