Chapter 350 Prison Break (1/2)
While the captain's plan sounded good on the surface, it wasn't long before some doubts arose in Arran's mind
Intricate as the plan was, its success relied on a great many assumptions, several of which seele one of them turned out to be incorrect, the entire plan would fall apart
”You don't like it?” Captain Kaleesh asked He looked at Arran curiously, apparently not the least bit offended that his commander did not blindly accept his plans
Still, Arran hesitated before speaking Not because he thought the captain would take his doubts as an insult, but because he realized that there was still much he didn't know about the Imperium and its Lords
”Out with it,” the captain said ”If you see any mistakes that I've overlooked, I'd rather you tellthat Kadun will send out his army,” Arran said ”But if he expects the a Lord, they'll be slaughtered like rats”
”A good question” The captain nodded in approval ”You are quite right, of course — Kadun's troops would stand no chance against Rannoc himself But Lords do not ave the captain a puzzled look ”Why not? If Rannoc is stronger than Kadun, why give up such an advantage?”
”As you said, the soldiers would be slaughtered like rats,” the captain explained ”Just a few such conflicts could wipe out half the Imperium's population On the battlefield, only Lords face Lords, only Knights face Knights, and only Rangers face Rangers That's hen Rannoc's troops attacked us on the road, their Rangers did not join in the assault”
He paused for a moment, then added, ”I should note that they do not extend the sahtfully Now that he thought about it, it hter their own so needlessly If they did, their numbers would soon run out
Still, some of his doubts remained, and he asked, ”So you're certain that Kadun will send his army to meet Rannoc's troops?”
”He has to,” the captain replied ”Even if his men have no chance of victory, he cannot let Rannoc take his lands too easily, or other Lords will get the same idea Even if Rannoc is victorious, Kadun needs to make the victory a costly one — too costly to be worth it”
This, Arran understood at once Soth even in the face of certain defeat, simply to deter other attackers
”What about Rannoc?” he asked ”How can you be certain he'll attack the city?”
”Because I invited hi eyed Kadun's lands, and since we've already given him an excuse, he won't hesitate to seize the opportunity I've offered him”
”An excuse?” The question had only barely escaped Arran's lips when he found the answer ”Rannoc's niece?”
”Exactly,” the captain said ”The I one another But since Kadun has already spilled the blood of Rannoc's fae”
Seeing Arran's concerned look, he chuckled, then shook his head ”There's no need to worry Rannoc will not look too hard for the actual killers — not when bla Kadun benefits him so much”
As Arran looked at the captain in wonder, he could not help but be awed by the ht He understood now that the dark-eyed man had not only planned out every last detail, but had also changed his plans continuously to adapt to the changing circumstances
There had been plenty of unexpected events that the captain could not possibly have foreseen — the presence of Rannoc's niece and their posting to the mines, to name just two — and yet, Kaleesh had adapted to the theh to cause Arran sonized fully just how dangerous the captain was
”Another hour,” the captain said, ”and we'll leave this cell The ar the city by then” With a look at Arran, he continued, ”I have been hiding th so far, and I know the same is true for you”
Arran responded with a s it
”That ends today,” the captain continued ”Going forward, we'll need every shred of strength our bodies hold” A flicker of hesitation appeared in his eyes, and in a low voice, he added, ”Though if you have any est you keep that well-hidden”
It took all Arran had not to gasp in shock It was no surprise that the captain kneas hiding his strength, but apparently, the e
Quickly, to hide his shock, he said, ”I'th, it will draw attention”
The captain s today, ill no longer pretend to be cohed and gave the captain a ser have to hold back his strength
They spoke h Arran's mind was already focused on the battle ahead And that there would be a battle, he knew for certain — because although he could Sense that the keep was far emptier than before, it still held plenty of people