Chapter 333 To The Mines (1/2)
”Your Lordshi+p,” Captain Kaleesh said, eyes fixed on the ground as he remained on his knees before Lord Kadun ”I did not intend to cause you trouble”
”But you did,” the Lord said ”Explain yourself”
The captain remained silent for a moment, and when he finally spoke, it was in a soft voice ”Your Lordshi+p, their attack was a clear provocation To let such a thing go unanswered would have tarnished your honor in the eyes of the world”
”Is that so?” Some amusement sounded in Lord Kadun's voice ”And ould an outsider like you know about that?”
”Your Lordshi+p,” Captain Kaleesh said again, his voice firmer now ”I know little of the Imperium and its custoo unpunished would th demands respect, and with your power, none should dare insult you”
At this, the Lord let out a loud laugh ”Hear that, Payam? Even this outsider thinks you're a coward”
”My Lord,” the steward said, speaking in a respectful tone that carried just a hint of frustration, ”I merely attempted to protect your interests, to avoid a costly conflict Your lands' finances are—”
”Bah!” Lord Kadun interrupted hiht of it Insults must be answered”
”Of course, my Lord,” the steward said ”As always, I bow to your wisdom”
”As well you should!” The Lord said sharply ”As for you outsiders, you did well For that, I will forgive your insubordination — but only once”
Without any further words, he turned around and headed back to the Knights and Rangers, then ordered theain
Still, Captain Kaleesh remained on his knees for several htest offense But finally, he rose to his feet again, and after a final bow at the Lord's turned back, he led his coroup of mercenaries at the back of the column
None of them said a word as they hts they had, they kept to themselves — at least until they ell out of earshot of any Darians
When they'd finally rejoined the lanced at the captain ”That was…”
He struggled to find the right words Even now, the Lord's power filled hin of the wisdoerous fool you'll ever meet,” Captain Kaleesh said in a low voice ”Do not th for wisdoerous as he appears, but a simpleton all the same”
Sassun cast a worried look at the soldiers in the distance ”Captain…”
”You're right,” the captain said ”We shall speak no le Lord within the Iht, and even the least of the Arran did not need Just the glih to tell hi able to match And if the other Lords held siement to steer clear of the column of soldiers and mercenaries set into motion once more, only noith Lord Kadun and his troops at its head
Another week of slow travel followed While Lord Kadun's presence ht have inspired the soldiers and mercenaries to move faster, the mules that drew the supply carts were the ones that set the column's pace And to them, a Lord was no different from a common farmhand
Eventually, however, the column cae city But Arran's hopes of seeing more of the Imperium were quickly quashed, as only Lord Kadun and his troops departed for the city
The rest of theroup of guards joined theed some words with the soldiers' leaders, after which the soldiers set off for the city as well
After that, the much-diminished column set into motion once more
If the soldiers had shown little interest in conversing with the uards barely even seeh the roup of Body Refiners no attention whatsoever
Instead, they ly unconcerned hatever happened behind the so would have been as si away