Degrees of Delusion — Lindsay Buroker

After being publicly shamed and kicked out of the imperial service academy, Fortis chose to serve in the only other way possible: as a mercenary.

Working far from the boundaries of his homeland, he never thought he'd have anything to do with the empire again… until a powerful wizard hires the company to destroy an imperial outpost. Fortis must choose between betraying his captain and comrades or firing on the very men he once dreamed of joining.

Degrees of Delusion is a 9,000-word short story.