"There can be," I said slowly before finishing with, "as long as my wounded are cared for."

"Even as we speak!" he said, gesturing expansively, and incredibly, I saw it was true. Cronian soldiers were caring for the fallen recruits.

I shook his hand and asked, "To whom do I have the pleasure of being prisoner?"

The man's face split to reveal a pearly white smile, "Emir Artaxis Zurin at your service!"

"Well Artaxis, what happens now?"

"I take you to my home and perhaps manage to ensure some meaningful conversation for myself to help offset this terrible war."

The man and the actions of his men were a complete mystery to me and I quite docilely accepted my lot for the time being as a prisoner of war.