Chapter 22 - Persuasion
That night, Antonius secretly summoned Theodoros.
Officially, they were still on poor terms.
Rather than meeting in the commander's office, the two stood at the edge of a training ground behind the officers' quarters.
No lanterns.
No witnesses.
Only darkness.
"Andri is going to Tatsuno."
Antonius got straight to the point.
"I'll appoint someone else to command the First Unit."
That much was expected.
Then came the rest.
"You'll return to your post as Adjutant to the Commander of the Royal Guard."
Antonius believed the odds of Andri returning were no better than even.
Theodoros lowered his gaze.
Antonius spoke before the silence could settle.
"He served his purpose."
The words came quickly.
As though speaking fast enough might prevent any inconvenient thoughts from catching up.
"He caught the interest of the Dracoserpens. He gave us a foothold for relations with Tatsuno."
His voice quickened further.
"If he remains there, that's fine. If he gains influence among them, it may prove useful to Imresia in the future."
The reasons lined up neatly enough.
One after another.
"If he returns, he may bring back valuable knowledge."
Another reason.
Another justification.
"Either way, Andri will be of great benefit to this kingdom."
There.
A perfectly rational conclusion.
One befitting the Commander of the Royal Guard.
One that left no room for sentiment.
Theodoros said nothing at first.
He knew that tone.
Whenever Antonius resorted to sophistry.
Whenever he made excuses.
Whenever he tried to hide something from himself.
He spoke faster.
"If he can live in a warm southern land, among fellow Dracoserpens, free from prejudice..."
Theodoros's voice softened.
"Then that would be the happiest outcome for him, wouldn't it?"
Antonius looked away.
"...Perhaps."
Theodoros smiled gently.
"You wanted to show him a path that did not require him to suffer."
Silence.
Antonius neither answered nor denied it.
Theodoros drew a slow breath.
"I believe Captain Chaire will return."
That made Antonius glance up.
"You do?"
"I do, Your Highness."
The answer came without hesitation.
Theodoros smiled with complete confidence.
"The men are beginning to change."
He had served under Andri for some time now.
The young captain he had once viewed as a dangerous child was changing rapidly.
"And after the last battle, when Captain Chaire took an arrow in his back to shield one of the men..."
A faint smile touched his lips.
"I began noticing the difference."
The soldiers looked at their captain differently now.
Respect was replacing caution.
Trust was replacing uncertainty.
The unit was still struggling.
Andri was still struggling.
But something had begun to take shape.
A foundation.
The beginnings of a true commander.
Unfortunately, Antonius seemed to stop listening halfway through.
"Wait."
He frowned.
"He took an arrow in the back?"
"Indeed, Your Highness."
"He was wearing armor."
It was not a question.
Theodoros shrugged.
"A leather cuirass."
The sort of armor issued to servants and laborers. Barely protection at all.
"The cuirass ended up with a hole through it."
Antonius stared.
His mouth opened.
Then closed.
Then opened again.
"Does he always do things like that?"
His expression darkened.
"And what exactly are you doing while this is happening?"
Theodoros placed a hand on his hip.
"If it please Your Highness, may I ask what that is supposed to mean?"
His expression turned indignant.
"Do you imagine I spend my days relaxing while my captain risks his life?"
He straightened proudly.
"I have repeatedly advised him not to place himself in danger."
Repeatedly.
More times than he could count.
The problem was that Andri never listened.
His scales, he insisted, could not be pierced by arrows.
Or spears.
Or swords.
No one could hurt him.
Antonius fell silent.
No one could hurt him?
That was absurd.
People had been hurting Andri his entire life.
With words.
With contempt.
With cruelty severe enough to have killed a lesser man.
And Antonius himself had often been among those doing the hurting.
Yet Theodoros shook his head.
"I don't know how long it will take."
His eyes reflected the same certainty Antonius had relied upon for years.
"But I believe he will return."
"To his men."
"And to you."
The same eyes that had found Antonius first beneath the landslide.
The same eyes Antonius had trusted for years.
"Your Highness."
Theodoros lowered himself to one knee.
"May I remain with the First Unit until Captain Chaire returns?"
Antonius said nothing.
The silence stretched.
Eventually he released a long, weary sigh.
"I assigned you to that unit to support Andri."
His tone was resigned.
"If he's gone, there's no reason to keep you there."
"On the contrary."
Theodoros did not yield.
"If another captainr is appointed now, everything they've built together will disappear."
The trust.
The camaraderie.
The place he finally earned for himself.
"Please."
Theodoros bowed deeply.
"Allow me to remain with the First Unit until Captain Chaire returns."
Antonius laughed bitterly.
"Whose adjutant are you, Theodoros?"
The answer came immediately.
"Yours, of course, Your Highness."
A smile appeared.
"And by your orders, Captain Chaire's as well."
For a long while, Antonius said nothing.
Then he looked toward the distant cathedral silhouetted against the night sky.
Finally, he raised both hands in surrender.
