The soldiers stood in formation beneath the blazing noon sun, their eyes fixed on me. The gleam of their armor reflected the light like shards of fire, yet on their faces lingered both exhaustion and curiosity. After all the bard's tales, this would be the first time they heard me speak to them directly.
I cleared my throat and raised my voice so that even the furthest man on the line could hear me.
"I am not Ironheart Mike. So I hope none of you are expecting some stirring speech from me," I said, stepping forward.
"In a book I once read, there was a line that never left me: He who fights monsters must take care not to become one himself. For if you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you. I grew up believing it to be a wise saying."
A silence fell. A shadow of doubt flickered across their faces. But I pressed on.
