On the charge of desertion...
"They've abandoned us! We've been here for five weeks with no support." Flierol was ranting at his commander, Bannerman of second cohort, but was quite past caring.
"No."
"Yes, they have."
"No." The Fillifer with the plume on his helmet was shaking.
"Why do you deny it."
"No."
"What, what is that?" It dawned on Flitter Flierol, second Spear of Dawn of the cohort, that his commander wasn't saying no to him, but rather, in denial over what he was reading.
"No. It cannot be. Read." The officer seemed to make a supreme effort of will, just to acknowledge him.
"You gave them hope, Flierol, but your plan has little sense. Both our talismans can open the door, but only to the very tribunal that judged us..." "I will proclaim, if I'm alive, that I must speak to my sister. The lineage of fire priestesses carries weight. And, do we have a choice? Having defeated ten-to-one odds with the Ruk, would you give them no hope? Not that we have even reached the gate yet... But to give up in your heart is to surrender to the enemy, and that is the crime we have been falsely accused of! I intend to prove those accusers wrong!" "A worthy desire, I suppose. Where do you need me? I lost my entire command banner, which is why we are excommunicado, but without it, I am not that useful..." "I will need you to testify to that effect, testify to those heroes in fifth banner..." "Should I live, they will be remembered by my song, if I don't, my death-song will be of their prowess..." Right then and there, Flierol knew the challenge would be to keep his commanding officer alive that long. His chances weren't as good without the officer. The man had been a courtier of Dawn... That carried political weight. That was real influence. But... the man was only a century older, and yet, you could tell he felt mortal, unlike Flierol. But I act immortal only because I must, if only mortal Fillifers tried to take that stardoor, they would not make it. But wishes did not make one immortal. "Gurlish?" "Yes, Flierol, you never use my given name, whatever you wish, it must be important." "Gurlish, we must live, we must have that gate. Surely, a prayer to the dawn-that-was?" "The dawn-that-was, the-dawn-that-is, the-dawn-that-comes will remember our names. For what we do is for all Fillifer. This, I vow."
"They abandon us, and charge US with desertion? Where would we go, the Ruk have us surrounded." "That, that is my fault. I should have ordered you to break your spears, when we got surrounded." "No, Fillifer needs better soldiers than that! Better tactics than once beaten, done and die! Don't you see, Banner? We can fight the Ruk, if we do not give up." "But where, there are so many!" "I'd rather fight to a result, but I will fight if all that I do is sell my skin to them at a high price, which of you apes is with me?" Flierol had swung to address the cohort. "We are!" The whole two lines were shouting. "Not like that! Hush, we must surprise the Ruk. Selling our skins must be a second choice, over breaching their lines, and escape, through our stardoor." "But, we do not have a priest, who can open the door?" "Bannermen and Second spears have a talisman, we will be taken to our barracks. Fillifers! To glory!"It is with heavy heart, that we put to paper this decision, having found that the Third Banner of Dawn, Flierol, is in default of its obligations to respond to signals, and as such, is considered to have deserted, or been captured. Both crimes carry a sentence of death, to be executed by the First Resarker corps, at their earliest convenience.
"You gave them hope, Flierol, but your plan has little sense. Both our talismans can open the door, but only to the very tribunal that judged us..." "I will proclaim, if I'm alive, that I must speak to my sister. The lineage of fire priestesses carries weight. And, do we have a choice? Having defeated ten-to-one odds with the Ruk, would you give them no hope? Not that we have even reached the gate yet... But to give up in your heart is to surrender to the enemy, and that is the crime we have been falsely accused of! I intend to prove those accusers wrong!" "A worthy desire, I suppose. Where do you need me? I lost my entire command banner, which is why we are excommunicado, but without it, I am not that useful..." "I will need you to testify to that effect, testify to those heroes in fifth banner..." "Should I live, they will be remembered by my song, if I don't, my death-song will be of their prowess..." Right then and there, Flierol knew the challenge would be to keep his commanding officer alive that long. His chances weren't as good without the officer. The man had been a courtier of Dawn... That carried political weight. That was real influence. But... the man was only a century older, and yet, you could tell he felt mortal, unlike Flierol. But I act immortal only because I must, if only mortal Fillifers tried to take that stardoor, they would not make it. But wishes did not make one immortal. "Gurlish?" "Yes, Flierol, you never use my given name, whatever you wish, it must be important." "Gurlish, we must live, we must have that gate. Surely, a prayer to the dawn-that-was?" "The dawn-that-was, the-dawn-that-is, the-dawn-that-comes will remember our names. For what we do is for all Fillifer. This, I vow."
Type
Record, Judicial
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