He hated it here.
No matter how many times he reminded himself that he was following his prince's orders, Alpheo's orders, it did nothing to ease the bile rising in his throat. Duty was no balm for misery, and every part of this cursed posting stank of it.
He hated how deep behind enemy lines they were, hated the constant knot in his gut that warned him an Oizen patrol could stumble upon their camp at any moment. He hated the vermin he commanded, half-bandits, half-scum, none with discipline, and above all, he hated how far he was from his wife and child.
Five months.Five months without hearing his daughter's laugh.Five months without his wife's hand in his.Were they safe? Were they well?
Well obviously they were, the prince would have made sure of that, but still that did not justify his absence!
His brooding was broken by shouting, sharp, panicked voices outside, and the unmistakable sound of a heavy body hitting the dirt like a sack of meat.
Lucius didn't flinch.
