Shadow Oath

Chapter 9: Mantum’s Child

Two Gerans stood before General Terrdin.

Ram stood slightly behind, ready to intervene the moment either of them showed suspicious behavior.

The “time to act” the general had just mentioned referred to moments when his life was under threat.

While such a scenario was unlikely in this significant meeting, Ram had to be prepared for the unexpected.

One of the two Gerans was an elderly man.

The old man wore a helmet adorned with two short horns, about the length of a fingertip, and a pristine armor that seemed untouched by battle.

Draped in cloth like a mantle, his attire was humble overall. His white beard, about a hand’s width long, was neatly trimmed, giving him an air of dignity. He looked more ceremonial than combative.

In contrast, the other Geran wore a flamboyant outfit.

The Geran people took pride in decorating their helmets to reflect their rank, with size, height, and elaborate designs as key indicators.

Even Mantum wore a cumbersome helmet with arm-length horns during battles, despite its impracticality.

Kingdom soldiers might have been terrified at the sight of such a helmet, so it wasn’t entirely useless.

The helmet of the Geran negotiator was so massive that it seemed difficult to support with just the neck.

It concealed most of the face, leaving only brown eyes, lips, and a jawline faintly visible. Yet, Ram quickly discerned something.

“He’s young.”

The Geran in the ornate helmet was the first to speak.

“Are you General Terrdin?”

“That’s correct. And you are?”

“I am the new ‘Elhorn.'”

Though his pronunciation was awkward, he spoke in the common southern tongue. However, the term “Elhorn” was unfamiliar.

It seemed to denote a military or official position, but Ram’s knowledge of the Geran language didn’t extend that far.

It appeared the Geran negotiator also lacked a southern equivalent for the term.

Rather than focusing on the difficult conversation, Ram concentrated on scanning the surroundings for any hidden Gerans.

The fear southern cavalry instilled in Gerans was matched by the dread southerners felt for Geran charge warriors.

While neither the boy nor the old man seemed capable of assaulting Terrdin, Ram remained vigilant.

“You know the common southern tongue?”

Terrdin asked.

“To understand the enemy, one must first learn their language,” replied the Geran in the ornate helmet.

“This will soon become your language.”

Terrdin’s voice brimmed with confidence as he continued.

“You just referred to yourself as the new ‘Elhorn.’ Does that mean you’re the new Mantum?”

“Mantum is a title reserved only for the great warrior called by the gods. I merely represent my tribes.”

“The Mantum I know united all ten tribes. How many tribes do you represent?”

“Three.”

Terrdin exhaled briefly.

“And the other seven?”

“They did not agree to surrender.”

“And?”

“They left.”

“Did those who left claim they were prepared to face the consequences?”

“That’s not our concern. You’ll have to ask them directly.”

“So be it.”

Terrdin continued without hesitation.

“Then speak for the three tribes you represent.”

“We surrender.”

“The terms?”

“We will grant the conqueror anything they desire in return for favor.”

Their conversation progressed swiftly, as though following a predetermined script.

It was likely the discussions had been arranged during Adun’s repeated visits to the Geran village and their camp over the past few days.

“Understood. I will demand only what is reasonable for a conqueror to receive, without threatening your survival.”

“To reiterate, we will not accept conditions that endanger our survival. Enslavement is not an option. We are free people. If we must become slaves, we would rather die. If anyone harms our women or children, we will fight to the last, even if it means the annihilation of our tribe.”

Though his accent was awkward and his pronunciation imprecise, Ram found himself oddly moved by the passionate tone, particularly regarding the topic of slavery.

Terrdin responded dryly.

“I’ve emphasized this throughout the negotiations: my aim is loyalty to the Kingdom of Triton. Taxes and war reparations will follow, but there will be no need for battles that risk your annihilation. Nor do I require slaves. You may live as you see fit, among your own people. However, I won’t take responsibility for the seven tribes that chose not to join this agreement.”

“Once again, the tribes that have departed are not our concern. We only seek a promise to ensure our safety.”

The young Geran spoke with unwavering confidence.

“Rest assured. His Majesty King Gallant himself will solemnly swear—”

Terrdin, speaking in his usual monotone, was interrupted as the boy cut him off.

“Swear to it yourself.”

“…Swear to it myself?”

“General Terrdin, you must personally promise our safety. We cannot trust the word of a king who does not come to the battlefield.”

For a moment, Terrdin’s expression seemed surprised, but then he burst into hearty laughter.

“An honor indeed. So, what should I pledge as a token of my promise? The only Geran I trust is Adian Mantum.”

“It was your people who killed Mantum.”

The boy’s voice and gaze turned cold and fierce as he spoke.

Yet Terrdin remained entirely unshaken.

“Isn’t that why I ask? How can I trust your promise not to rally troops after this meeting and attack us from behind?”

“I will remain as a hostage.”

“And do you hold the value of a hostage?”

“My title as ‘Elhorn’ alone grants me worth. I have shared blood with the ‘Ehodins’ of the three tribes, and they acknowledge my legitimacy.”

“In that case, proof will be necessary. I hope you understand the need for skepticism.”

The old man’s tone was stern, but his gaze was warm.

In some way, Terrdin seemed to find the boy appealing.

“My face is the proof.”

The boy removed the imposing helmet, revealing his face.

Long red hair cascaded to his shoulders, paired with brown eyes, thick eyebrows, and thin but resolute lips. His features faintly resembled Adian’s.

“Do you possess Mantum’s head? Then you’ll recognize my face. I am his son.”

Terrdin observed the boy silently for a long time before asking.

“You’re young. How old are you? Fifteen? To my knowledge, Mantum’s son is over twenty.”

“I’m the second son. And I’m not fifteen; I’m sixteen.”

“The eldest?”

“My brother succeeded our late father as Ehodin and passed Elhorn to me.”

“Passed it to you, you say? That’s an amusing choice of words.”

Terrdin chuckled, a smile akin to an adult humoring a child hiding in an obvious spot.

“Understood. The fulfillment of promises will be judged as you meet our future demands. You, in turn, can gradually observe my adherence to my word.”

“As long as you do not break the promise, we will not be the ones to violate it.”

“I hope so. Your surrender is accepted.”

Though only a few words—”We surrender” and “Accepted”—were spoken, Ram couldn’t shake the peculiar mix of frustration and awe over how a week of preparation had led to this moment.

Mantum’s second son spoke indifferently.

“In exchange for our surrender, I want my father’s head returned.”

“As promised. However, our army lacks the proper items to honor Mantum appropriately. If we send it to your tribe in a leather sack, it would undoubtedly be disrespectful. If your side prepares the proper materials and comes to retrieve it, I will allow it then.”

“So be it.”

“When will you do this?”

“Today.”

Mantum’s child turned to the old man and asked.

“Sao, do you have anything to say?”

The old man, who had been silent until now, slowly opened his mouth.

He spoke in the Geran tongue.

“Was there anyone on their side who heard Adian Mantum’s last words?”

Ram understood immediately but chose not to translate. He was unsure of his accuracy and wanted to follow the orders not to speak.

The boy shook his head.

“This isn’t the right time to ask that, Sao.”

“It’s not just important to you but to us as well. If someone on their side killed Mantum, we must know if they heard his final words.”

“There will come a time to learn that, but it’s not now.”

The boy spoke firmly, glancing briefly in Terrdin’s direction.

Terrdin might not have understood their exchange, but the warmth in his previously relaxed gaze turned cold.

The old man, named Sao, seemed to sense Terrdin’s shift immediately.

Without pressing further, he followed the boy, who had already turned his horse.

Ram caught the old man’s regretful murmur.

“I acted rashly.”

The Geran boy and the old man rode back to their original spot.

Only then did Terrdin ask.

“Did you understand what those two were saying?”

“Yes.”

Ram relayed their conversation exactly as he had heard it.

Terrdin only nodded without comment.

The voices of five Gerans mingled faintly with the sound of the wind sweeping across the plains.

“Jeje, are you really planning to go as a hostage? They didn’t specifically demand one.”

“I don’t think they’ll break their promise. If they kill or torture me, it will only unite the tribes that fled. At that point, my brother will become Elhorn, and no one will oppose him.”

“What about waiting for another opportunity? We can’t let it be said that we surrendered to a mere general. There’s always the option of stalling until their king arrives.”

“My father often said that if we were to lose, it would be better to lose to Terrdin. When the king of their kingdom arrives later, he may impose far harsher terms. Even securing a promise to avoid plundering is a blessing. As I’ve emphasized since yesterday, it’s better to surrender while General Terrdin is still here.”

After discussing the procedure for moving Mantum’s head, they turned their horses.

At that moment, all four accompanying Gerans removed their helmets, revealing the faces of elderly men.

Ram was startled.

The individuals he had assumed were barbarian assassins ready to ambush the general were actually the elders of the tribe, escorting Mantum’s second son.

“Farewell.”

The boy rode his horse back to Terrdin alone.

Even alone, he carried himself with confidence.

“You may take me now.”

“Come to think of it, I never asked for your name.”

Terrdin inquired.

The boy answered.

“Jedric.”

Terrdin turned his horse southward and spoke.

“Jedric, your father was a great man.”

“I know.”

Jedric glanced briefly at Ram before asking Terrdin.

“Who killed my father?”

Terrdin replied curtly.

“I cannot tell you.”

“Then there’s no point in telling me anything, General Terrdin. Part of the reason I surrendered was to see who killed my father.”

For the first time, an emotion flickered across Jedric’s otherwise stoic and solemn face.

Anger?

Probably.

“What do you mean by that?”

Terrdin halted his horse.

For the first time throughout the entire surrender process, tension appeared on the general’s face.

It reminded Ram of the expression Terrdin had when Mantum’s head was first laid on the table.

From afar, Adun the adjutant and Count Badio looked puzzled and began to approach.

Knight Boti, noticing the situation, urged his horse toward them.

Terrdin raised his hand to halt them.

“My father was protected by nine guardians. The finest warriors of the northern Gerans. After this tragedy, one of them scarred his face with a cross and was banished to the eastern wastelands. The other eight shattered their swords, abandoning all glory and rank.”

Jedric’s voice grew almost eerie.

“The greatest ‘Hak’ of our tribe cast a protective curse on Mantum. For some reason, the protective curse failed to activate. But the curse of vengeance undoubtedly struck the murderer. The one who killed Mantum will die in the most horrifying way they can imagine. I came to witness that death.”

Jedric’s gaze shifted from Terrdin to Ram, as if he already knew who the assassin was.

“By tomorrow, that person will die. What I’m curious about is how they’ll die.”

“That does make me curious as well.”

Terrdin’s voice carried a hint of challenge, as though accepting the boy’s defiance.

Jedric posed an unexpected question, directed at no one in particular.

“Did anyone hear my father’s last words? If so, what were they? That’s what Sao wanted to ask earlier. Can anyone answer?”

Had Terrdin not warned him, Ram might have reflexively answered with the submissive tone of a servant addressing a noble.

Even trying not to answer risked revealing too much.

Realizing this, Terrdin spoke quickly.

“I can ‘relay’ that there was silence. Nothing more.”

Jedric cast a peculiar gaze, neither at Terrdin nor Ram, then turned his head away.

Ram remained silent until the end.

There had been no order permitting him to speak.