I fell silent and General Naldero spoke up, "What then?"
Studying each of the generals I said, "We will retreat from the walls and let them have the city."
"That's it? That's your plan to just give them our ancient city!" General Sanjo stormed out angrily.
I shook my head no. "No General Sanjo losing the city is an inevitable fact we can't change. However, the way in which we let them have the city and what follows after, well you see gentlemen that is entirely within our ability to control. This is what I propose and it is for your ears only."
I then explained our retreat from the city to them and they listened in rapt attention not even asking a question, as I laid out the plan before them. When I had finished they stared at me in silence and then glanced meaningfully at each other for a moment.
General Sanjo's hard old eyes rose to mine, "In my long years as a soldier I have learned more than I care to acknowledge about the ways of war and the endless killing it involves. I do not question the legitimacy of your plan, as crazy as it may be. It illustrates to me that you know what war is all about and that quite simply is winning at all costs."
He then looked down at the map and added, "Even if it makes monsters of us all. We must preserve the innocent even at the loss of our own human decency and honor. My troops are at your command Roric, as am I. All will be done even as you have said."
Both Generals Nadero and General Santaran echoed General Sanjo's pledge of soldiers and allegiance and after grasping their sword handles in a warrior's salute, they left the room and I was left alone with the responsibility and ownership of my own thoughts.
It's easy to dream up a battle plan, but knowing what the cost in lives could be…..would be, well it was the worst self awareness moment that I had ever encountered.
The cold calculated precision of the plan bore evidence of the hardness of my own soul. My plan could be my people's saving grace in their gravest hour of need, but did that justify its methods?
One Month and three days later
It was raining softly. The pity patter of the rain drops splintering off of the armor of the men standing silently in rank behind and around me made its own pleasant music as we waited. Then like the obtrusive sound of a crow shattering the melody of a songbird in full trill came the sounds of heavy drums from further down the pass.