Chapter 352 Defending The Gate (1/2)
As Arran made his way down frohout the city
Only uard had spotted the approach of Rannoc's forces, but already, the city was in an uproar And although ate stood open, it wouldn't take long for word to spread
When that happened, every soldier in the city would co that there wasn't much time, Arran hurried down the stairs and iate, where he found Captain Kaleesh facing over three dozen guards
Despite the uneven nuuards looked at Kaleesh with uncertain eyes They must have heard the calls of alarh the captain's disguise And now, they found theer's orders
”Master Ranger,” the guards' leader said in a pleading voice, ”please, allow us close the gate Whatever orders Lord Kadun gave you, surely you can see that the situation has changed I beg of you, step aside”
So focused were the guards on the captain that they didn't notice Arran's approach Yet Kaleesh was lance
The gesture was barely noticeable, but Arran understood it at once — the captain wanted hiuards, to cut off any who tried to escape ould come next
As Arran silently moved into position, the captain's voiced sounded, ”Our Lord's orders are not to be questioned Stand down at once”
”I… I can't do that,” the guards' leader replied, a slight tremble in his voice as if he could scarcely believe what he was saying But then, ate”
Arran could not help but ade To openly resist a superior's orders required no small aer, the guard's act of courage uard's bravery only earned him a quick death The ate, Kaleesh attacked, striking hiuards
Arran followed the captain's exa down a handful of guards before they even realized he was there
What folloas a slaughter rather than a battle, as brief as it was brutal Both Arran and Kaleesh could have easily defeated the entire group the to resort to such cheap tricks
But their goal wasn't uards Rather, it was to defeat the any the chance to escape
When the last of the guards fell, barely a h ”It was necessary,” he said, al to convince hi the guards had only bought them a sht mean the difference between success and failure
”It won't be long before others arrive,” he said ”We should get into position”
The captain nodded ”One of us will have to defend the approach,” he said, ”while the other defends the gate”
Afterthe captain's uess at the man's intentions — not for a battle as simple as this one
Between the walls and the city proper lay an empty area, at least fifty paces wide If they both reate, Kadun's troops could use that empty space to form ranks and riddle them with arrows from a distance
The only way to stop that froroups as soon as they arrived, causing enough chaos a a coordinated attack on the gate
”I'll take the approach,” Arran said ”You take the gate”
Kaleesh gave hi look ”Are you sure?”
”I am,” Arran said ”Let's erous one, but with the Blood Ruin already strengthening hi at the hands of the soldiers and Rangers he would face
His real concern were the Knights And the more enemies he killed, the better his chances would be if one of those appeared
”Good luck,” Kaleesh said
”The same to you,” Arran replied
There was no need for further words They both knew their tasks, and neither of them lacked experience in battle