"You impress me time and time again.", said general Voorhis as he set foot into the cave wirh a small unit of men.

With a satisfied smile on your face, you watched as man after man passed behind your back, his pockets filled with coins, on his way to safety.

A good half of the rebels' forces was gone, either because the money made them return to their farms or they took the opportunity to run for the hills before the army of the empire ran them to shreds.

You had promised them a safe way back to the next village. After that it was their own business what happened with them and the money the empire had given them to leave.

With a satisfied smirk on your face, you crossed both arms in front of your chest and leaned against one of the trees to watch from afar.

"I promised them a few moments to get over the edge of the hill.", you said to Morvran as your eyes followed another group of men ran for the hills. "But we should send a group of soldiers after them. Hidden. Just in case they change their minds and want to aid the rebels from the other side."

Agreeing, the young general nodded and gestured for a few soldiers to walk up the hill so they would have an eye on everything.

It surprised you how easy it was to make Voorhis follow your orders.

Of course it was a nice extra, kept unnecessary discussions away and left more time for the important decisions.

Yet it still didn't sit right with you.

It felt like the general knew something that you didn't. And that was unsettling.

"We should try and use your tactics first. Trap them in the cave.", you returned to the topic. "But we need to be careful. They might be badly equipped but hardship makes creative."

With one eyebrow raised, he gifted you a look that was something between approval and disagreement.

Clearly, he was more skilled on the battlefield than you. It would have been idiotic to think that your ideas were a match to his experience.

Yet you couldn't help but feel like he fought war after a pattern. He wasn't expecting the rebels to be skilled fighters themselves.

And surely they weren't. At least not all of them.

They weren't an army. But even mercenaries knew how to hold a sword the right way.

"What do you expect to happen?", the general asked.

Your eyes jumped to the exit of the cave to check if someone was still escaping.

Nobody could be seen.

Your ears didn't pick up human sounds either.

"I checked the cave.", you said. "It's quite moist, which will make it hard to cast magic with fire nature."

Struck by that information, his eyes darkened.

Obviously, he had counted on your magical abilities as a trump card up his sleeve.

Now whoever plan he had sorted out didn't add up anymore and he needed to find another plan.

"Will you be able to cast magic at all?", he asked, audibly unsure.

"Yes, but we shouldn't count on it."

"Then why do you worry about the rebels?"

Your gaze darkened.

"They seem to live off the empire's remains. Broken armour, weapons. Fabric. It might be unlikely, but if they got their hands on things like those, they might be in possession of more dangerous goods."

Now it was Morvran who couldn't hide his displeasure about the situation.

For a moment, his eyes jumped to the cave in an attempt to catch a glimpse inside.

Thoughts crossed his face. He was thinking about all the possible things that could ruin this victory.

"Whatever they got their hands on or not, we can't shy away just because of possibilities.", he finally said, determined as a general was supposed to be. "All of my men are ready to die today."

You couldn't help but huff.

"Are you as well?", you asked.

His eyes flinched.

Then he nodded.

"If this is my dusty, I'll fulfil it.", he said.

"Good.", you pushed yourself from the tree to get back on your feet. "I'm honest with you, Morvran. If they got their hands on explosives, the entire cave will collapse. Don't send all your men, only the ones you can do without."

He nodded, already on his way to make his picks, but stopped after a few steps and threw a glance back over his shoulder to meet your eyes.

"You will go in as well, won't you?", he asked with his hand on his sword as if he was expecting an attack any moment.

With a hum, you closed your eyes and nodded.

"I'm not as skilled in warfare as you.", you gifted him an encouraging smile. "The army will need you to win this war. And the emperor wouldn't want to pick a replacement for such a capable man as you."

His eyes moved away to give him a moment to think. Then he glanced at you again. But this time his eyes were a lot darker, almost grim.

"The emperor wouldn't want you dead either.", Voorhis said while turning his gaze away again. "I'm sure he sees you as capable as me. We're both of use to this empire."

You chuckled, almost amused by how serious he was. Judging by the look on his face, he really and wholeheartedly believed every single one of his words.

There was no reason for him to put you on the same level as himself, someone who served the emperor for almost an entire decade already.

The only logical explanation was that the emperor himself had told him to have an eye on you.

Perhaps because he wanted you long enough to be used for his cause. Or because he wanted to enjoy your suffering as long as possible.

Either way, it upset you that someone had power over you without you knowing anything yourself.

Letting out a deep breath, you nodded.

"I'll try my best to stay alive.", you bowed your head out of politeness. "But even you need to admit, my magic gives me a higher chance of survival."

He turned his gaze away.

"Very well.", he walked off. "I'll give my men the command to position themselves."