Difference in Ideals

The air was shrouded in smoke from burning corpses when Ava stormed into Guk's tent with fury written across her face. The Ork king was watching a ceremony his bodyguards had carefully arranged for executing prisoners of war.

The surrendered soldiers were stripped naked and thrown into a large pit. They were given only a dagger, while the pit was filled with starving Jumpy.

"Guk!"

Very few dared to call him by that name anymore.

"What?"

Guk replied carelessly.

"What have you been doing here?"

Ava cursed him, all kindness gone from her usual gentle tone, buried beneath seething rage.

Then a squad of Ork warriors in silver armor rushed in. Guk immediately sensed the tension in the air and waved his hand, signaling his bodyguards to leave.

"Teaching 'em a lesson."

Guk looked down at Ava, whose cheeks were nearly puffed up with anger, and answered coldly.

"Reforging order."

The Harpy prince shook her head.

"This is not order, Guk. This is murder. You promised me. Order your warriors to release them. We will take custody of these prisoners."

"Why?"

Guk asked curiously.

"Ain't they enemies?"

"Not anymore."

Ava glanced at the pit. Aside from those disgusting round creatures, it was filled with chunks of flesh and shattered bones, a scene too horrific to describe.

"They are prisoners now, but soon they will become your subjects. Have you forgotten the purpose of this war? Have you forgotten that you still have an Imperium?"

"This is conquest."

"No."

Ava stepped forward and placed her hand on the back of Guk's hand.

"You can be a conqueror rather than a destroyer, Guk. If you want the people here to acknowledge your rule, you must govern this land with compassion."

Guk tried to avoid Ava's reaching hand. He suddenly found himself disgusted