Chapter 859: A Talk With His Son

Before leaving, Henwell goes to see his son after his talk with Whistler.

Pabos watches him uneasily. He expects a scolding.

Henwell gently pats his shoulder. "How are your injuries?"

Pabos moves his shoulder. "Much better! I can move freely now!"

Henwell asks, "What casualties did the Ninth Warband take?"

Pabos's spirits sink. His eyes redden. "Heavy. We lost 1,173 killed in action."

"Another 755 are severely wounded and permanently disabled. They'll have to leave military service. My warband has lost nearly half its strength."

Tears run down his face. "Father, was I too headstrong? Did all those men from Peace Haven die because of me?"

For all that, he is still only a young man.

Before others, he is an imposing young general: decisive in command, brave in battle.

In front of Henwell, he is just a son hoping for his father's approval.

Henwell sighs. "Son, this is war. However honorable or great a war may be, people still die."

"Being sad doesn't make you weak."

"I was just like you. I'd look at the memorial stones for the fallen near the manor, and often I couldn't sleep."

"I kept asking myself whether my ambition had cost those people their lives."

"Slowly, I came to terms with it."

"It wasn't because I'd grown cold-hearted. I knew it was the price of a stronger Peace Haven, of better, happier lives for their families."

"I told myself there was no need for guilt. I'd made sound strategic and tactical decisions. That was the best repayment I could give them!"

"And don't worry that you haven't thought far enough ahead."

"We grow through experience. It takes time."

"There may be born strategists, but we're not among them!"

"All we can do is plan as carefully as our age and experience allow."

"A plan with no chance of failure is a pleasant dream."

"The unexpected will always slap you in the face. Don't lose heart. Don't become obsessed."

"Learn the lesson. Don't fall into the same trap twice. That's how you grow."

"I thought every decision through when I fought my battles. Still, things went wrong that I hadn't foreseen, and people died."

"Neither you nor I can foresee everything. Even the gods can't. Don't trap yourself in those thoughts or torment yourself over them."

"Look ahead and keep moving. Do what you ought to be doing now."

"Do it as well as you can. That alone will spare you many mistakes."

Henwell's words leave Pabos feeling much better.

They talk about the battle for a while. Then Pabos asks, "Father, when did you start watching what was happening here?"

Henwell smiles. "You mean, how did I get here so quickly?"

"Well, how should I put it?"

"I could give you plenty of reasons. I'm a Glory Knight. I could run here on my own two legs in a day."

"Or there's Barbarossa. He could fly across half the continent in a day."

"But the truth is, I've been nearby since you received your orders and set out."

"Don't let that weigh on you. It's just a father worrying about his son."

"Besides, I don't want to go home and get beaten up by your mother."

"When you got hurt, I was frightened. Your mother will probably chase me around trying to scratch my face when I get back!"

The last joke draws an involuntary laugh from Pabos.

Henwell continues, "Son, I can't always be at your side, looking after you."

"As you said yourself, you're not just a son. You're Peace Haven's future."

"I'm the same. I can't be just your father. I'm Peace Haven's protector and leader too."

"Coming here to watch over you is the last time this less-than-perfect father of yours will protect you this way."

"What makes me glad is how much you've grown. You're ready to face what's ahead on your own."

"From now on, you must meet the challenges yourself, whatever storms and towering waves fate sends your way."

"Go on!"

"You've taken your first flight from the nest with me watching over you."

"And I think my young hawk is strong. He flew beautifully the first time!"

Pabos chokes out, "Father..."

Henwell pats his shoulder again. "Go. Show everyone what the men of our family are made of!"

"Go and raise the curtain on an era of your own!"

"Whatever happens, I'll be behind you, protecting you and cheering you on!"

"Remember, I'll bear whatever comes. Don't be afraid. Even if the gods turn up, your father won't back down!"

A few days later, Henwell returns to Peace Haven.

He cannot even get through the gates of Blood Hill Manor. He has to climb the wall at midnight and sleep in his study.

He finds Harry, Pabos's teacher. "Go stay near Pabos. You don't need to coach him."

"Just give him a hint when he fails to see a deeper danger."

"I can tell you're fond of him as a student. Take care of him. Don't let him fall into a serious trap."

"And take a message to your younger brother for me..."

Half a month later, Harry arrives at the Mobile Strike Group's base in Warmflow City.

"Have you no shame? They're walking all over you, and you're still sitting here?"

"Can you do the job or not? If you can't, let me do it!"

"You can't protect your own men. Others plot to get them killed, and you let it happen! What a disgrace of a commander!"

"You've done nothing. Are you just going to let this go?"

"Did you give yourself that title, Eye of the Holy Spirit?"

"You want to break through to Glory Rank? With that sort of cowardice, you'll spend your whole life at Iron Rank!"

Senar's face darkens. "Is that all Henwell said?"

Harry smiles. "No. There was a long stretch of insults after that. I doubt you want to hear them now!"

Senar snaps, "What am I supposed to do? He's already gone there and made a scene!"

"If I go now, who am I going to kill? Everyone involved is already dead!"

Harry's teasing smile fades. "Senar, you haven't understood Henwell."

"He doesn't mean Lumir and Ika. He means you should go after the church and the empire!"

Senar frowns. "At a time like this? Hardly appropriate!"

Harry clears his throat. "Senar, you idiot. You've got troops, you've got power, and you're in the right. What the hell are you afraid of?"

"Throw your weight around!"

"It doesn't matter who you pick a fight with!"

"Make the church and the empire understand that you're no puppet, and that you're furious right now. That's what matters."

"If you're angry, plenty of other people should be unhappy too!"

"If you can't find anyone involved, go to the church and the empire. Find someone you dislike and make an example of him!"

"Let them know you're the Eye of the Holy Spirit, and that you carry pure imperial blood."

"You can fight. Your army can fight. Naturally, you can strike whoever you please!"

Harry spreads his hands. "There. That's roughly what Henwell said next."

"I left out a great many pointless insults and put-downs!"

Senar jumps to his feet. "That bastard! He's gone too far!"

For the next few days, Senar is nowhere to be seen in camp.

He certainly has not gone to Peace Haven to get beaten up.

He has gone to beat up other people instead!