PS: Ahem, today's chapter is a medium-length one of a full 5,000 characters!
The grand temple of Eldath, Goddess of Springs, in the Anauroch Great Desert.
Ever since Merciless Harald had announced his surrender, the submission of the Bedine tribes had become only a matter of time. Thanks to Harald's prestige, the influence of the Netherese Seven, and Aaron's personal reputation, all forty-five smaller Bedine tribes came over to his side. Harald's scattered followers regrouped as well, and soon an army of more than twelve thousand barbarian horsemen had pledged themselves to Aaron.
For this expedition into the Great Desert, Aaron had brought ample supplies of food and water, if nothing else. Combined with the formidable military strength he had demonstrated, his cold-blooded massacres along the way, and his generous promise to let bygones be bygones after surrender, this finally dispelled the Bedine's hesitation. All of them submitted to him.
Inside the grand temple, Eleanor had just given Robert a fierce dressing-down. Miss Cleric was clearly very displeased that Robert had allowed his troops to massacre the Bedine cavalry. She had marched up and slapped him so hard that half his face swelled up, but Aaron's cousin remained defiant. He firmly maintained that he had done nothing wrong and declared himself willing to accept punishment.
Aaron also imposed a very harsh punishment on Robert, announcing that his cousin would forfeit three months' salary for his failure to maintain discipline.
Then Aaron announced that the left-wing army had advanced the fastest and achieved the greatest victories. Its commanders, Maximian, Baron of Suplin, and Robert, Baron of Welf, would each receive an additional ten thousand shi in their stipend and a reward of ten thousand Golden Lions.
Wasn't that a reward rather than a punishment?
When Merciless learned of Aaron's generosity, he