Chapter 360 Rannocs Orders (1/2)
With Kaleesh expertly guiding Arran through the city's cra before they had returned to the gate where they'd faced Kadun's troops earlier that night
Though only a few hours had passed, little evidence remained of the battle The bodies had already been taken away, and several groups of guards were hard at ith broo the blood from the cobblestone as best they could
By sunrise, Arran thought, there would be barely a trace left of the battle that had claimed so many lives
The cityfolk would awaken to a new ruler, but few of thee of power had truly been And even those who did would only know because they'd lost friends or faht caused him some worry He'd slain hundreds of Darians in the battle, and if word spread — as it certainly would — he would gain no s used to having ene unknown ene one
Yet there was little he could do but to wait until they departed for the Desolation, where he should be out of reach of any Darians seeking vengeance for their losses
Until then, he would just have to keep his eyes open for danger
While ate appeared to be Kadun's forroup overseeing their efforts, led by not just one but two Knights And anized Sassun
The ed man hurried over as soon as he saw Kaleesh and Arran, one of the two Knights following several paces behind him
”Captain!” he said as he approached, a rare look of relief on his norlanced at Arran, and added, ”You, too”
”Rannoc didn't return after his victory?” the captain asked
”He did,” Sassun replied ”He told me to wait for the two of you, but when you didn't return, I feared you ht have run into trouble”
At that ht — a tall, dark-haired woroup, she looked at Kaleesh and Arran with soht?” There was a trace of doubt in her voice as she asked the question, as if the idea was almost too absurd to be true
Kaleesh shot her a broad s is possible”
”This is Muna,” Sassun interjected ”Rannoc instructed her to accompany us back to the mines” He spoke with barely veiled annoyance, clearly not happy with the idea of having a Darian Knight along
”Indeed,” the woman said ”But Lord Rannoc told me that the three of you are to be made citizens without delay So before we depart, we shall pay a visit to the temple”
A hint of annoyance crossed her face at those last words, as if just the thought of visiting the teh to sour her mood Not a pious woman, it seemed
Arran, however, could not help but feel some relief at the news
That Rannoc wanted then that the Lord intended to keep his word Not enough for Arran to drop his guard entirely, but a good start nonetheless
The temple turned out to be near the center of the city, barely a stone's throay fro that lacked any atteance or subtlety, the temple was its exact opposite
Tall and hewn entirely froant, with several slender spires that reached up into the sky If the keep was intended to intimidate, then the teht, however, seeh the ten of reverence, her demeanor that of a seasoned soldier on an unpleasant task she wanted finished sooner rather than later
The temple's interior was even more marvelous than its exterior had been, with a wide hall whose walls were lined with intricate statues And higher up, Arran could see masterfully painted murals which depicted various scenes of battle
The Knight ignored the sights Instead, she cast a quick glance around at the handful of people ere present in the hall, then i man in white robes
”Acolyte,” she said in a fir an, a treht All the priests are asleep”
”Then wake one,” Muna replied ”Now”
The acolyte gave her a fearful look, apparently still hesitant to wake a priest froht's expression was as fir nation in his eyes
Given the choice between angering a priest or a Knight, it seeerous option A wise choice, Arran thought, given the Knight's mood