Punishment

More soldiers died later in the morning; those whose injuries were too grievous to be saved by magic.

Despair. That was the first emotion that gripped Naomi's heart when she draped a white sheet over the body of one of the fallen soldiers. Her brief happiness with Daegal at dawn had completely disappeared.

Then despair turned to hate. Hate directed at Babatunde, Faizar, and Nezetta. Valiant, honorable men and women died because of them and their evil ways.

Naomi brushed away a tear that dropped from her eyes and collected the tag of the soldier she'd just covered. She didn't even know her name or whether she had dreams and aspirations other than fighting for the continent.

Just another nameless soldier... But Naomi swore that she would never forget her or her sacrifice. Would never forget the sacrifices of everyone in all their camps.

After a mass cremation that morning, the portion of the army that was to go to Volcaris started preparations for the journey in three days.

The ten