" My prince, I beg your forgiveness. We were cowards. We ran for our lives…" His tears streamed down his face, weighed by the knowledge of his failure and cowardness.
" There is no shame in running from a stronger opponent. You fled to fight another day," Harun tried to comfort him, yet the man shook his head.
" I ought to feel ashamed when the youth risked their lives to save our fellow soldiers. I wish to find a burrow to crawl into and hide my face from the sun forever." His grasp of Harun's robes tightened. " I won't live with myself if I don't ask you this. I beg you, my prince, save the young ones who were taken by the thugs."
It took a moment for his words to settle in their minds. " Come again?" Sindbad asked him impatiently.
" The younger ones stayed back to fight off the thugs and allowed most of the soldiers to run away. Last I've heard, many of them were held captive, including Tallal," the man mumbled shamefully. Harun's eyes narrowed at those words.
