The tent fell silent for a moment over Heshima's concerns. Before long, a Commander of Ten Thousand spoke up to break the silence. "Great Chieftain, there is no need to worry. Both Commanders of Ten Thousand possessed unwavering resolve in battle and were utterly loyal to you and the Iron Bone Tribe. If they had not led the remnants in holding off the enemy pursuit, these routed soldiers would not have escaped so easily."
The Legion Commander hurriedly nodded, feeling that this Commander of Ten Thousand made perfect sense.
After hearing this, Heshima's expression eased somewhat. He believed he had treated both Kuba and Shikele very well, regarding them as trusted confidants all along.
As outsiders, their current standing within the Iron Bone Tribe had entirely depended on his favor. Thus, he did not believe either of them would betray him. Besides, their families were still at the main camp.
Since neither had escaped back, they had most likely fought to the end and died in battle, just as this Commander of Ten Thousand had said.
Heshima's judgment was only half right. Kuba had certainly been utterly loyal to him—after all, he had died fighting in the end.
But Shikele had been a Commander of Ten Thousand for far too long. He had experienced the value of power and the preciousness of life. Moreover, he had once been a bandit, unlike Kuba, who had been a wandering Barbarian warrior. Even after all these years, Shikele still retained the cunning he had possessed as a bandit. Therefore, Shikele chose to surrender, while Kuba chose to die in battle.
Heshima pondered for a moment, then said to the Legion Commander, "You have worked hard these past few days. Go back and rest properly. Although you are a defeated general, the intelligence you