A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor

"You've got a foolishness to you. But there's also a clumsy strategy, from what I've seen in the village. In short, you have use to me, so I will make exceptions. I do not believe in the same way that you do that peasants are worth as much as the Serving Class – but not because I value the Serving Class. Merely because my men are soldiers, and they are capable of combat.

That skill in combat is what I hold in the highest regard."

"Let me see… what can I offer you, hm? Do I even need make the offer, for you were quite contentedly dealing with the monsters on your own… That little splash of monster blood on your sleeve makes that rather evident," Lombard said.

Beam glanced at his sleeve in alarm. Sure enough, there, just below the elbow, was the tiniest splash of green blood. Not even that anyone would notice, but apparently more than enough for the Captain's perceptive eye.

"Hm. Well, I suppose if you manage to deal with the monsters to an acceptable degree, I do not mind extending my own information network towards your own, and helping you look for that little girl that you claim to care so much for," Lombard said. "Though that too depends on your worth. If you do not have something equal to offer, in some area, then I will not make the exchange."

"Deal with the monsters?" Beam repeated. "You mean, solve the heart of the problem?"

Both Lombard and Tolsey shared a look of surprise, as Lombard broke into a wry smile. "It seems so foolish now to have been cautious around you. You would make for a very poor mage's thrall with your propensity for honesty. Tell me, then, what is this heart of the problem? Our intel gave no mention of such an abundance of monsters. We have our own theories on why that might be, but what is yours?"

Beam bit his lip hesitantly. He wasn't used to talking to such an astute man, where each word he said was being so carefully measured.

Seeing his hesitancy, Lombard waved a hand. "Fear not, I will not take it for free. All that you contribute to my cause will be paid back in due time. As you've stated your goal, know mine: I will complete the extermination of these Yarmdon men as soon as possible.

I made such a promise to Lord Blackwell, for he knew as well as I do that our men should be resting this winter, before they return to the eastern front."

"Captain…" Tolsey said, surprised that he had begun to speak so equally to a peasant.

Knowing what he was getting at, the Captain merely shrugged. "His attitude is one thing, but his usefulness is another. I know my duty. I will not let allow my pride to get in the way of it."

At those words, Tolsey raised his eyebrows in surprise as though he had been enlightened. If he had a notebook on hand, Beam was quite sure that he would be writing those words down.

At that, Beam decided to relent. It was not as though he was keeping information on the Shadows a secret on purpose. He told the Captain what he had seen the other night, leaving out the parts of his slaying, but the Captain ended up inferring those anyway.

As he listened, the Captain's expression darkened, and a grim look took over. Even Tolsey grew pale, realizing the significance of it.

"So, those are the mage's thralls that we've been looking for," the Captain murmured, the fierce look of a military man overtaking his expression. "If we assume your words to be true, then the majority of the threats we are facing are the products of mana crystals… but to have such an amount that there seems to be no end to the monsters… that seems borderline preposterous."

His words were quiet enough that he could have been talking to himself. The room went quiet for nearly a minute as the Captain fell into thought. Tolsey knew not to interrupt him.

"Hm," the Captain spoke up finally. "I will have to ask for your assistance more immediately now, boy. If I have overestimated your strength in any way, you had best speak now, lest you face an early grave."

Beam said nothing, for he didn't know how highly Lombard was rating his strength in the first place.

The Captain took that to be a positive sign. He arose from his seat. "Good. We need breathing room from these monster attacks. We need to free up our men in preparation for the expected future assaults. Tolsey, relieve three squadrons of men from duty – take their place yourself.

I will bring the boy in a moment.

"Sir!" Tolsey saluted, and moved to leave the tent. Before he left, he spared a cautious glance toward Beam, as though wondering if he should really be leaving him alone with the Captain.

"Your worry is unwelcome, leave," Lombard said, returning to his usual gruff manner of speech.

As the canvas flap of the tent entrance swayed, and Tolsey disappeared, Beam was left alone with the Captain.

"You are not well rested," Lombard noted. "A product of your nightly activities, perhaps? Despite the orders that I put out. The men did wonder why there was such a small trickle of beasts to deal with, up until early afternoon."

Beam said nothing. The Captain took that silence for affirmation, and did not press him. "Show me your sword," the Captain said instead.

Beam drew it as he was told.

"Mm," the Captain said, taking it from it. "A rather cheap blade… But you've cared for it well. It should get the job done. Do you wish for any armour?"

With a shake of his head, Beam declined. "It would only slow me down. I'm used to wearing it."

"Does your master not wear armour?" Lombard asked, curious.

"He says that the enemies that he would require armour against are the same enemies that armour would not work against," Beam said, repeating Dominus' line nearly word for word from when Beam had asked him the very same question.