Chapter 348 A Lords Mercy (1/2)

To Arran's surprise, neither he nor the captain suffered any serious abuse froers occasionally insulted thelad not to suffer any beatings — in no ser — but he had little doubt about the reason for their restraint

The Rangers looked at them with dismissive conte that remained was for them to realize it Whatever they expected to happen once they reached their destination, they clearly believed that Arran and the captain were already as good as dead

The overseer didn't seem to think much of their chances, either While the tall man showed no hostility, the pity in his eyes was every bit as worrying as the Rangers' contempt From his somber expression, Arran could almost think the man already believed them dead

And yet, Captain Kaleesh showed not even the s, he looked to be in better spirits than before

Once, Arran even heard hilanced over in wonder, the man's lips held the hint of a smile

Their journey was as quick as it was peaceful The two Rangers maintained a pace that left the overseer and the soldiers struggling to keep up, and whenever they stopped to eat, they were ain only minutes later

After less than a week, Arran saw a large city appear in the distance

It was the same city they had passed on their way to the ht for it Apparently, this here they would face Lord Kadun's mercy

Despite his concerns, Arran could not help but be eager at the prospect of seeing a proper Darian city Histhe I arrived limpses of the true Ie

As they neared the city, Arran's eyes sloidened in shock He'd only seen the city walls froher than he had realized

The walls towered at least eighty feet in the air, and they were ray stone that looked to be utterly iic in the walls' construction, he knew instinctively that these were barriers to stop ic both

”Darian cities are unrivaled fortresses,” the captain's voice sounded ”With the gates closed and Lord Kadun's troops inside, no army can pass these walls Even another Lord's army would break if they tried And the city has supplies to weather a siege for years, if not decades”

”You know a lot about our lands,” the overseer said, his breath heavy frohed ”Never mind You made your choice”

The overseer spoke no ates, Arran soon found his attention draay froates ide and massive, several feet thick and shod with layer after layer of steel While the walls were thicker still — twenty feet, if not h either

There were nuate and taking soers, however, were spared that suards saw the out of the way

Arran barely noticed this, however, as his attention was still drawn to the city's massive defenses There was no doubt in his ht — no army could breach these walls

And yet, even as he looked in awe at the bulwark, a question arose in his mind

This deep into the Ierated barriers? These were clearly defenses built for full-scale warfare, meant to withstand entire armies And while he already understood that the Imperium was not without conflict, the effort seemed disproportionate

They soon left the walls behind them, however, and as they ventured onto the city's crowded streets, Arran's attention shi+fted to the people he saw

Many of the about the streets with the air of soldiers even if they lacked the armor and uniform This was true even for the youths — there were some who carried the weapons and derow a full beard

But there were h there were soh the streets with downcast looks, appearing al anyone with their mere presence

”The armed ones are the true Darians,” the captain explained ”The others are outsiders, like us Or their descendants”