The Value of a Hero (1)
I felt a damp cloth touch my lips and opened my eyes.
I lost.
I'd known from the start there was no way to win. It was impossible to defeat an enemy force far exceeding a hundred thousand with barely five thousand troops, most of them slaves.
Not even the walls of the fortress could change that.
But we had to fight. Killing even one more enemy would help our comrades in the north and the empire.
My mouth was parched. I asked for water.
The slave who'd been wiping my lips fetched a waterskin.
He held it to my mouth, and I drank greedily. Only when I'd nearly emptied it did I have the leisure to look around.
I spotted a few familiar objects and realized this was the governor's residence.
As I scanned the room, an Ersian entered. The man strode in, stared at me intently, and crossed his arms.
"Ain, commander of the empire's Praetorian Guard. You truly live up to the boasts you made to our king—brave and skilled."
"Who are you?"
"I am Gaerstan, captain of Ersia's royal guard."
"To think such a great man would visit a mere defeated general."
Gaerstan smirked at my words.
"But you deserve it. Now that you're conscious, get up. His Majesty wishes to see you."
I nodded and tried to rise, but my body burned and throbbed—I couldn't move properly.
Seeing this, Gaerstan summoned slaves to help me up.
I followed him to the governor's office. On the jade throne sat a familiar man, wearing a crown of pure gold. Shapur, king of Ersia.
The slaves forced me to kneel before him.
"Are you Ain, commander of the empire's Praetorian Guard?"
Shapur's voice was surprisingly gentle.
I answered with proper respect.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"You rejected my offer and fought to the end. Why?"
"Our eagles have never learned to surrender."
Shapur leaned back in his chair.
"An interesting answer. Let me ask one more. If I offered to make you my vassal, would you accept?"
"No."
"Why? Swear loyalty to me, and you'd gain not just your life but riches and glory."
"I've never imagined life outside the empire, nor do I want to. And I serve nothing but the empire's golden eagle."
"The empire is a waning moon, while Ersia is the rising sun. The day I—and Ersia—rule the world is near. It's not a nation worth your loyalty."
"Your Majesty may think I can choose my country, but I can't. Loyalty to the empire is as natural to me as breathing. Telling me to abandon it is like telling me not to breathe."
"No room for choice, then?"
"None."
"Remarkable. Truly remarkable."
Shapur smacked his lips.
"Your Majesty, the Praetorian commander has no intention of surrendering. He's a lion of a man—considering his honor, why not behead him?"
Gaerstan suggested.
Shapur shook his head.
"That's not an option. Think of it: how many soldiers and how much time we've lost here in Atica. That's profit stolen from our war gains.
To squeeze even one more grain of advantage from peace talks, killing him would be unwise."
"My thinking was shortsighted."
Shapur turned to me.
"What do you think of my reasoning?"
"I ask that you behead me."
I answered without hesitation.
Better to die than live as a burden to the empire. I wouldn't cling to life at the emperor's and empire's expense.
Shapur burst into laughter at my firm reply.
"A lion's heart indeed. Thinking of your nation even with death on the line. Spare you for negotiations, and the future worries me; kill you, and your valor goes to waste."
I closed my eyes as Shapur's laughter echoed.
After a moment, he rose from the throne.
"Very well. We'll keep Praetorian commander Ain alive. His fate will be decided after negotiations with the empire."
As Shapur turned, his cloak swirling, Gaerstan shouted.
"All shall be as the Padishah wills!"
I bit my lip at Shapur's decision.
It was pragmatic, but no ordinary man could make it easily.
I later learned nearly thirty thousand Ersians had died or been wounded by my hand.
Inflicting such losses with barely five thousand ragtag troops—emotionally, beheading me wouldn't have been amiss.
By Shapur's order, I was confined to the city prison.
Fortunately, familiar faces were there.
"Excellency!"
"Rikius!"
I was surprised to see many of my men who'd charged with me still alive.
"You're safe too. But how?"
Rikius gave a bitter smile.
"When I saw you fall from your horse, I raised the white flag. Forgive me. I've stained your honorable record. I have no face to show you."
I closed my eyes at his words.
"No. I'm grateful you survived that way."
"Excellency."
The soldiers knelt in the cell.
"You have nothing to be ashamed of. You're the empire's proudest eagles.
No one will point fingers for raising the flag there. Rise, soldiers of the empire."
They didn't move, tears streaming down their faces.
The empire's invincible symbol, the great golden eagle's champion Ain, sat in a cold cell. That grieved them.
I clenched my fist amid their sobs.
If only I'd been wiser.
If I'd paid more attention to the Eastern Army's defenses.
If I'd deceived Shapur better.
I thought these fine soldiers wouldn't be weeping in a cold cell if I'd done better.
The thought made my chest ache sharply.
I knelt.
"The one who should be ashamed is me, not you. I failed to turn your eagles' struggle into glorious victory. I'm the sinner. Had I not fallen, you'd have taken Shapur's head. I'm sorry."
My words made their cries louder.
"Excellency. S-sob."
"Rise, then. Straighten your shoulders. You're not prisoners—you're the empire's proud eagles. My finest soldiers. Don't you trust my word?"
They rose one by one, wiping tears. I gripped the bars and staggered to my feet.
"Rest now. You've fulfilled your duty to the empire. No matter what anyone says, you've done your duty as soldiers.
The emperor and our comrades will avenge us. Wait with heads high and proud. You deserve that."
I saluted the men in the cell, arm to chest.
"Praetorian commander Ain salutes the great eagles who devoted themselves to the empire."
They wiped their tears and saluted back.
"The empire's legionaries salute the Imperator who shared life and death with us."
I comforted the soldiers and sat.
As I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes, Rikius asked.
"Excellency, can our Northern Army comrades defeat Shapur?"
"I believe they can. You know how tough the northern legions are—the ones we saw and lived with."
Rikius smiled bitterly.
"Yes. I believe so."
I sensed he didn't truly believe me. His strongest commander, Ain, had fallen.
But I trusted the reinforcements from the north.
Rubiot, Cogol, Boruman, Bofiadus, Riti, Ershiang.
The northern eagles who'd crushed the mighty Thunder Tribe and tens of thousands of barbarians could surely avenge me.
Expecting good news soon, I tried to sleep.
A month passed since we became prisoners. We'd heard little of the outside.
Atica still in enemy hands suggested the war wasn't going well. Then an Ersian noble visited the prison.
"Praetorian commander Ain. Come out."
"What's this about?"
"Imperial envoys have arrived. They heard you were among the prisoners and requested confirmation."
I followed the noble out. After a month without sunlight, the light blinded me; I shaded my eyes. He draped a cloth over me.
I followed blindly, cloth over my eyes.
Soon, in the governor's reception room, I met the imperial envoy.
"Ain!"
"Rubiot!"
I rubbed my eyes at my unexpected comrade. I'd never imagined him here—a legion commander.
"I was shocked to hear you'd been captured."
"Bad luck."
Rubiot looked incredulous.
"Making jokes now? You held twenty thousand with three thousand regulars in Atica for nearly a week.
And the damage you inflicted was immense. Thanks to you, the Ersians haven't advanced a hundred kilometers from Atica."
"I see."
I smiled, knowing our soldiers' sacrifices weren't in vain.
"His Majesty is amazed at what you've done for the empire. He'll pay any price to get you back—that's his intent."
I dropped my smile at Rubiot's reassurance.
"Can't do that. Sacrificing the empire's gain for me? Unthinkable. Tell His Majesty not to consider my safety."
"Ain!"
"This is a request from a friend and comrade, not the Praetorian commander. Don't waste the blood and sweat of our soldiers."
Rubiot bit his lip.
"Can't you yield?"
"Of course not. An empire without you isn't our empire. You're its bulwark. How could we plan tomorrow abandoning you?"
"Wrong. The empire is guarded by the legions, not me."
"You are the legions."
Rubiot gripped my arm tightly.
"Don't say that. Promise you'll do your utmost for the empire, the emperor, and the golden eagle—not for me."
"Ain!"
"Otherwise, I'll hang myself in this cell. Is that what you want?"
Rubiot sighed deeply.
"Fine. As you wish."
"Thank you."
I gripped his shoulder firmly.
"But promise me. No matter what, you'll fight to survive."
"I promise."
"Swear on the golden eagle and the legions."
"I swear."
Rubiot nodded at my vow.
"Good. I believe you."
Rubiot confirmed my face and left the reception room. We could have discussed the war, but it was too risky. Sharing secrets with a prisoner could lead to torture, endangering the empire.
Rubiot wasn't so foolish, boar-headed as he was.
Watching him go, I realized anew the immense weight I carried in the empire.
(To be continued)