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On the evening they arrived in Great Swamp, Duke Kenness sent people to welcome them and arrange their lodgings. The duke himself was still vacationing at his estate. He expressed his regret over the incident and punished those responsible.
Finally, the duke sent an officer to Aaron who had been beaten black and blue, his back a bloody mess. The duke's envoy told Aaron, "We have punished those who deserved punishment. Now we hand this negligent officer over to you, Lord Aaron Salian. You may decide what to do with him."
In other words, the man's fate was now in Aaron's hands.
Duke Kenness's move was quite interesting. He did not want to meet Aaron directly, since that would force him to apologize in person and undermine his prestige as a duke. Yet handing over one of his generals for Aaron to deal with as he pleased demonstrated considerable sincerity.
But although he said Aaron could do whatever he wanted with the man, the duke had already punished him. If Aaron truly took action, that would mean punishing him twice.
Duke Kenness had played this cleverly. When his armored guards dragged the officer into the room, the man looked utterly listless. Blood still dripped from his body, the flesh on his back and both legs had been beaten to a pulp, and two armored guards could barely hold him up.
"My lord, I'm sorry! This was my responsibility." The general knelt dejectedly before Aaron. "Please judge me as you see fit. I, Joachim Pope, will have no complaints!"
Aaron sat in his chair,