Chapter 366 Settling Debts (1/2)
As the five Rangers were unbound and given their swords, their forlorn expressions faded almost instantly Weapons in hand, they had once e in their dele obstacle still remained between them and their freedo the captain If anything, they looked eager for the fight — eager for a chance to regain their honor
Arran, however, knew that their confidence was misplaced
While both the captain's mercenaries and Rannoc's troops looked worried, Arran had seen Kaleesh's true power And if that poasn't quite enough to defeat a Knight, it was far ers could hope to ers were still blissfully unaware of the fate that would soon befall them Weapons drawn, they moved to face the captain, their leader at the front of the sroup
To his credit, the man did not waste his breath on threats or insults While his expression was one of grim anticipation, his eyes remained alert, focused on the outsider who had so casually challenged not one but five Rangers
The captain drew his weapon as he faced the Rangers And unlike his opponents, he still looked every bit as relaxed as he had before
”Shall we begin, then?” he asked From his casual voice and relaxed posture, it al h he looked unconcerned, Arran saw a subtle shi+ft in his nize it, the captain's body now held a hidden tension, like a loaded spring, ready to snap into action
The Rangers' leader did not reply Instead, he gripped his sith both hands, his body tensing up as he prepared to attack And then, with a sudden dash, he rushed forward, striking a vicious overhand blow at the captain
At least, that was his intent But as the Ranger's sword caer could respond, Kaleesh had stepped to the side,so fast even Arran could only barely see the movement And as the captain le viper-like strike
The Ranger's weapon hit the ground an instant later, and although its owner's hands still gripping it tightly, those hands were no longer attached to the Ranger's arms
For a brief er stared in horror as blood gushed froun attacks of their own, they came to a sudden halt when they saw the scene before thelance at the Darian soldiers who had gathered around them Despite their shocked expressions, the soldiers did as told, dragging the er away even as more blood poured forth from his wrists
Then, the captain turned back to the reers ”Abandon your weapons,” he said, ”and I will spare your lives”
The four Rangers, so confident only moments earlier, hesitated for barely a second But then, understanding that they were hopelessly outround
”Sassun,” the captain said, ”please gather an to pick up the Rangers' weapons, the captain turned around to face the priest, not giving his defeated enelance
”No dead Darians,” he said with a ers to add to Lord Rannoc's ranks I assuave the captain a dark look in response ”What you did to him… that's a fate worse than death”
”He chose his path,” Kaleesh said He shrugged dismissively, and continued, ”Now then, with that taken care of, perhaps it's tiranted their citizenshi+p?”
The priest nodded, though his expression was no less grim than before ”It will be taken care of”
”Excellent,” the captain replied, this tienuine sift”
”My pleasure” The Knight grinned, and added, ”Had I known I'd get a show out of it, I athered a few more prisoners See what you can really do”
Kaleesh laughed ”You ht see that yet,” he said ”Who knohat the future holds”
Yet his laugh lasted only a moment, and his expression soon turned serious once more — more so than before
”But if you'll excuse hts, ”there's another debt I need to settle Sassun, Arran, come with me Lasha, please take us to the overseer”
While Arran had alotten about the man who had supposedly spoken for them to Kadun's steward, he now remembered what the steward had said — that the overseer would be punished for his words
He had barely spoken with the overseer during their time in the camp, busy as he ith his studies, but he now felt a sudden pang of guilt From what he little he had seen of Darian justice, he could not ione well for the uided theood,” she replied with a small shake of her head ”I wasn't there to see it, but…” She sighed ”When the Rangers returned, they had hi it upon himself to carry out the punishment”
Arran clenched his jahen he heard her words While a dozen lashes didn't sound likeBody Refiner could kill a rimly ”Will he survive?”
”He will,” Lasha replied ”When Rannoc's troops took the camp, they made sure he received proper care But even so…”
She did not finish the sentence, but from her expression, Arran understood that the overseer's wounds were serious ones
This suspicion was confirmed only moments later when they entered the overseer's quarters They found the uish
Yet despite his pitiful state, he looked up in wonder when he saw them
”You returned,” he said in a weak voice ”I was certain they had…” He paused to sigh ”No lad to see you're still alive I tried the best I could, but the steward… he refused to listen I'ize,” Kaleesh replied, his expression pained as he looked at the gaunt er”
At this, the overseer shook his head ”All I did was speak the truth”
The captain nodded softly ”Your wounds, how bad are they?”
”Not too bad,” the overseer replied, forcing a smile ”The healers say I should recover with a few months' rest”
”I'll make sure you receive proper care,” Kaleesh said ”But I also have a gift for you”
”A gift?” The overseer looked at hi the truth,” the captain replied ”And doing so despite the consequences Sassun, handKaleesh the swords he'd taken froers
”These,” the captain said, putting the weapons down beside the overseer's bed, ”I took froers who did this to you Consider it their repayment for what you've suffered”
At once, the overseer's eyes ith shock ”Starifts!”
Kaleesh se to get out of bed and give thean, the shock on his pale face only growing stronger ”Starmetal weapons… those are worth a fortune”
”Indeed,” Kaleesh replied ”A fortune large enough that you can spend the rest of your days in wealth — once you're out of this bed, at least”