The Price of Peace

Meanwhile, Adam climbed on the wall and, head held high, scanned his army. A mask of charisma and authority veiled his face as the 850 soldiers that would follow him in his first conquest registered in his sparkling eyes. But inside, a storm brewed as beads of sweat tickled his back.

Trepidation and worry gnawed at his pounding heart with doubled ferocity now that his carefree subjects stood before him. Yet, he clenched his fists and narrowed his eyes into fiery slits.

'I can't ruin their morale, but I won't change who I am.'

With a deep breath to fix his voice and banish his doubts, his lips parted to let his commanding voice reverberate.

"Someone dared to threaten our peace and asked for our surrender. What do we answer?"

The morning wind ruffled his hair as he pointed his finger north.

"We raze their place to the ground!"

A thunderous roar erupted from the ranks as the soldiers raised their fists in solidarity.