But duty, he had long learned, was a ledger written in blood, not gold.
"Three hours," she whispered. "You held them for three hours alone after the retreat signal."
The construct lunged.
Lyra stepped up beside him. Not behind. Beside . She placed her staff on the ground and drew a simple iron dagger.
Helm's jaw tightened. Old habit. In the legion, his soldiers were numbers on a casualty sheet. Here, they had names. Stories. Children waiting. That was the difference, wasn't it? He had never feared his own death. He feared their deaths, written into his ledger.
But duty, he had long learned, was a ledger written in blood, not gold.
"Three hours," she whispered. "You held them for three hours alone after the retreat signal."
The construct lunged.
Lyra stepped up beside him. Not behind. Beside . She placed her staff on the ground and drew a simple iron dagger.
Helm's jaw tightened. Old habit. In the legion, his soldiers were numbers on a casualty sheet. Here, they had names. Stories. Children waiting. That was the difference, wasn't it? He had never feared his own death. He feared their deaths, written into his ledger.