Creative Practice Day 11

"Are you quite sure this war will bring your people what you want, General Halstaad?"  "It must. There is no other course now."  "I see. Such desperation is ever the catalyst to victory or destruction. There is no telling which it will be." "Madam Ilene, in war, those are ever the only two outcomes of any import. You may have edge cases or outliers in your soft station in the academy, but I do not have such luxuries. Desperation is my air. Today is no different. My only regret is that you are here with us this day; I wish that our fates had not been intertwined such."  "I had hoped I could make a difference. Convince them there was a better way. I was naive."  "I do not blame you, Lady Ilene. I had hoped you were right," The general stood, cloak draped like a grave wrapping around her shoulders. "Tomorrow, should destruction be our fate, do not run. The enemy neither take prisoners, nor will they kill someone from behind. Being captured to be executed is a worse fate than you would wish for. If you can, take one of the bastards with you." A pit dropped in Lady Ilene's stomach. This had been a peace summit, and their enemy brought an entire invasion force, with no intention of settling for peace. They had been duped.