* * * *
As dawn broke over Lizard Hill, two Federation generals met inside the large command tent. The acrimonious exchange was loud enough to be heard outside the tent.
“The 9th Corps carried the weight of battle yesterday,” scowled General Kolling. “Today the 25th Corps will take its turn.”
“There was no reason for battle yesterday,” retorted General Gertz, “and there certainly isn’t any reason for battle today. We should bypass the bloody hill and be on our way to Ongchi. You were the one trying to avoid delays. Why now are you intent on fighting for a hill that has no meaning? There are only a hundred or so Lanoirians left alive up there.”
“Then it shouldn’t take a full corps of Aerta’s finest very long to conquer them,” spat the Baroukan general. “Stop arguing, Gertz. I am the leader of Team Barouk, and you will follow my orders. I want every last one of those Lanoirians destroyed. Get out there and get your men ready to assault that hill.”
Before the Aertan general could respond, the tent flap flew open and Colonel Ednor of the 9th Corps of the Empire of Barouk entered the tent.
“A flag of truce flies at the base of Lizard Hill,” the colonel reported. “Perhaps the Lanoirians have realized that there is no hope for their position.”
The eyebrows of General Gertz rose with hope, but General Kolling was not pleased.
“You tend to the parley, Colonel,” he snapped. “I have no time for such nonsense. When she offers to surrender, tell her no.”
“That is not right,” objected General Gertz. “You are either the team leader or you are not. It is your responsibility as team leader to negotiate with the enemy. You cannot delegate that to an inferior officer.”
“I can do whatever I want,” snarled General Kolling. “Do not tell me my place.” The tent fell silent for a moment and then the Baroukan general continued in a more controlled manner. “Although, it might give me pleasure to watch Rut-ki’s face when I refuse her offer of surrender. Let’s see how she controls her emotions then. Come along, Gertz. We have a parley to attend.”
General Kolling stormed out of the tent. General Gertz sighed with frustration and then turned to the colonel.
“Join us, Colonel. I think it is time for you to become more informed of the affairs of the 9th Corps.”
The colonel’s brow creased at the general’s odd offer, but he dutifully followed General Gertz out of the tent. The two men hurried to catch up to General Kolling, but they slowed again as they drew near, leaving the Baroukan general walking several paces before them. Colonel Ednor glanced across the valley as they descended the hill. He saw a lone woman and her mount.
“Is that the one called Rut-ki?” he asked the Aertan general.
General Gertz nodded. “Do not mistake her mount for a horse,” he warned softly. “That is the unicorn you saw flying through the sky yesterday. It almost killed General Kolling the last time we met with Rut-ki. First it threw him to the ground and then it almost gored him with its horn.”
“Is it that hard a creature to ride?” the colonel asked in confusion.
“Not at all,” answered the general. “They are beautiful creatures, far superior to even the Occans back home. Kolling made the mistake of using his spurs. He said that the creature spoke inside his mind and threatened to drag his body along the road if he ever did that again.”
“It spoke to him?” gasped the colonel.
“It did,” chuckled the general. “You should have seen his face. I am not surprised that he did not share that with you.”
“He shared nothing about the last parley with me,” frowned the colonel. “I guess he no longer has confidence in me.”
“Do not take it personally, Colonel,” the general said sympathetically. “I don’t think this war has been going the way he expected. I think we have all underestimated our enemy, and Kolling has a hard time accepting that.”
General Kolling glared back at the other officers, and they fell silent, fearful that he might have been able to hear their words. Nothing more was said before they halted a few paces in front of Rut-ki.
“Good morning, General Kolling,” Rut-ki opened with an impassive face, “General Gertz, and…” Rut-ki paused for only a moment as if sifting through the faces in her memory. “Colonel Ednor. Thank you for coming so early in the day.”
The colonel’s eyebrows rose. He was sure that he had never met Rut-ki before yet she seemed to recognize him.
“There is little time before the start of battle,” General Kolling said brusquely. “What did you want to talk about?”
“Surrender, General Kolling,” answered the Knight of Alcea. “It is time to end the bloodshed.”
“It took you long enough to realize that, Rut-ki,” General Kolling said with a slight smile, “but I will not accept your surrender. Your people have inflicted great harm on my army, and I demand my revenge. Return to your people and tell them to prepare to die.”
General Kolling watched Rut-ki’s face closely for any sign of emotion. He was disappointed when it showed none.
“My people were prepared to die yesterday, General,” Rut-ki replied, “and far too many of them did, but you continue to misunderstand me. I am here to offer you one last opportunity to surrender.”
“You should at least learn to smile when you joke,” scowled General Kolling. “You can’t have more than two-hundred men left alive up there. You expect me to surrender to that?”
Rut-ki half turned and waved her hand towards the summit of Lizard Hill as she spoke. “One-hundred-fifty survived your attack yesterday, but we accomplished our goal. We have delayed the advance of Team Barouk, and now you are left with only two choices. You may surrender here and now, or you will all die.”
Colonel Ednor gasped and the two generals turned to see what he saw. They followed his gaze to the top of Lizard Hill and saw it lined with Lanoirian soldiers. For several moments the three Federation officers scanned the ridge of Lizard Hill. From the head to the tail, thousands of Lanoirian soldiers stood shoulder-to-shoulder. Finally, General Kolling spat defiantly in Rut-ki’s direction. He turned abruptly and strode off towards his tent. General Gertz and Colonel Ednor stood staring at the thousands of enemy soldiers. Eventually, General Gertz lowered his eyes and met Rut-ki’s gaze.
“The men from Hun-lo Heights?” asked the general.
Rut-ki nodded. “You are outnumbered, General. Worse, your men are starving and exhausted. We have the high ground, and you have nowhere to run. And if you did have somewhere to run, we have the cavalry to run you down. Your cause is lost. Accept the inevitable, and let your men live to return to their wives and children.”
Colonel Ednor raised an eyebrow when the Aertan general asked Rut-ki for an hour to think about it. She quickly agreed, but the colonel knew that General Gertz did not have the authority to surrender. Only General Kolling could do so, and Colonel Ednor knew that was not going to happen. When General Gertz turned and started back towards the camp, the colonel raced after him.
“Surely you aren’t thinking of trying to persuade General Kolling to surrender?” asked the colonel. “You must know him well enough by now to understand that he will never surrender.”
“What point is there in continuing the fight?” asked the general. “We will not win. Everything Rut-ki said is true. The 9th Corps demonstrated that yesterday. Men cannot fight when they are weakened by fatigue and starved for lack of food. Our morale couldn’t get any lower than it already is. What is the point?”
“Even if we lost,” posed the colonel, “we would take a good deal of the Lanoirian army with us. That would leave the way open for the other teams.”
“There are no other teams, Colonel,” retorted the general. “We are all there is in Lanoir.”