Chapter 354 Lord Rannoc (1/2)
As they moved to leave, Arran cast a final look at the body of the Knight who had co them
”Shouldn't you take his weapon?” he asked, a frown crossing his face when he realized that Kaleesh hadn't touched the Living Shadow dagger
Kaleesh shook his head ”Rannoc wouldn't let hts and Lords” He raised an eyebrow, then glanced at Arran's sword ”Or so I believed But either way, Rannoc ant that weapon, so we cannot take it”
”Shaht have had sorinned broadly in response ”They'll give lance at Arran, then added, ”Though I suppose you'll have two of them”
”That's not how they work,” Arran replied
He'd already given up on the idea of hiding the nature of his weapon froh a starmetal sword, and no aerous though it was to have that secret exposed, there was nothing Arran could do now but hope he could trust the captain And fortunately, the ive him a reason not to do so
”You'll have to explain that later,” Kaleesh said ”This topic… it is an ih he did so silently They had alate, and he could Sense that Rannoc's troops were only roup was headed by Rannoc hi a Living Shadoeapon
When they stepped through the gate, he sahat he had already Sensed — Rannoc's troops, hundreds of soldiers and Rangers, led by the Lord hiht wasn't unexpected, it still caused Arran a moment of pause
Rannoc held the sa power that he'd felt from Kadun, but while Kadun's appearance was otherwise unremarkable, the opposite was true for Rannoc
The Lord who approached them was nearly seven feet tall, barrel-chested with broad shoulders and a neck like an ox He was handso dark hair, he looked like a hero straight out of legend
But eventhan his appearance was his weapon Instead of a sword, he carried a ed frole piece of starmetal
That alone would have been a priceless treasure, yet Arran knew that the weapon was even more formidable than it seemed Because while it appeared to be made from starmetal, he Sensed that this oversized polear Shadow
”Kneel!” Kaleesh hissed
Arran quickly did as the captain said — he'd been so distracted by Rannoc's appearance that he'd forgotten the Darians' customs
Yet even as he sank to his knees, Rannoc spoke in a loud voice, ”There's no need for that The two of you have done reat service today Stand up”
They hurriedly did as he said, rising to their feet once more to face the Lord
Rannoc came to a halt sohts He remained still for several seconds, eyes filled with curiosity as he examined them Then, he turned to Kaleesh ”You are Captain Kaleesh, I take it?”
”I am, your Lordshi+p,” the captain replied in a cautious voice
”Your servant has told me much about you In fact — where is that sour-faced little man?”
Sassun stepped out froave Rannoc a polite bow ”I am here, your Lordshi+p”
Rannoc nodded at Sassun before turning his gaze back to Kaleesh ”The ht outsiders capable of devising so bold a plan,it out successfully”
His eyes briefly wandered to the gate and the battlefield beyond it, and he continued, ”But it seeht, did you not?”
”We did, your Lordshi+p,” the captain said He held up the Knight's broken weapon, then added in a puzzled voice, ”Though he soh a starmetal sword”
Rannoc smirked ”The Imperium holds many secrets You can expect to see more when I face Kadun, if you decide to witness our battle”
A flash of eager anticipation crossed his face at those last words, as if he could hardly wait to face the other Lord in combat
But a moment later, the excited look turned to a frown — likely because he also felt the two Knights Arran had already Sensed nearing the gate
”Fools” He gave a dishts ”Take care of thehts followed the co forithout even a second's delay And as they ran through the gate, all four of them drew their weapons
Frohts an even fight
As the Knights rushed forward to ate as well, albeit at a ,” he said ”This shouldn't take long”