Chapter 371 Delivery (1/2)
The first thing Arran did when he returned to the cah bath
In the three , he'd barely even paused to have a proper reatly from the effort, but the same could not be said for his s remedied this problem, and when Arran was confident that the stench of stale sas entirely gone, he headed into the ca the previous months, and when he had, hisfor his-on
But now, his training was over, with nothing left to do but wait And as he waited for the blacks up conversations with the mercenaries ere still present
From what they said, Arran surmised that Kaleesh had been no less busy than he
Much to the mercenaries' dis the in preparing them for the battles ahead
Arran listened attentively, knowing that if even thesemust have been particularly harsh
After all, these were the ones who had chosen to accompany him into the Desolation — his most loyal followers, each of them prepared to face death at their leader's side
He spotted a familiar face, as well — Ervin, the older eant And at Ervin's side, he saw a youth who'd been aroup of borderlanders he had commanded
He'd believed all his troops had left, but it see them who had decided to stay
As he approached the two, Ervin gave him a friendly wave ”Good to see you, coht the earth had sed you”
”I was busy training,” Arran replied ”And there's no need to call me commander anymore Unless I'roup”
Ervin smiled wryly ”So it would appear”
”Can't say I bla ”They calanced at the youth next to Ervin, then added, ”But it seems you're the exception What's your na Arran a bow that was slightly too polite
”Call me Arran,” Arran said ”Saief, is it? An unusual name, for the borderlands”
”It's fro man said ”That's where my parents were born, before they s you here?” Arran asked, his curiosity sparked after hearing of the young round
A sorrowful look crossed Saief's face, and he replied, ”My parents were killed when our village was attacked by a group of bandits I orking as a caravan guard at the time, but when I returned to ave the youth a sympathetic look The story was one much like his own, and he could not help but recall how he'd felt after losing his father Even now, years later, the memory still felt like an open wound
”Why did you decide to travel to the Desolation with us?” he asked
Saief hesitated in answering, but after a erous as the captain claio unless there was a reward to match the risk”
”Perhaps there is,” Arran said, a sht was power
Yet there was no chance for him to ask any further questions, because just then, he heard Kaleesh's voice
”Arran! Get over here!”
With a quick goodbye, Arran hurried off in the direction of the captain's voice, where he found both Kaleesh and Sassun looking at a large coluuards that had just reached the camp's entrance
”They're here,” the captain said in a cheerful tone ”And right on tiuards a quick exaers, there were no Knights Instead, it seeth in nuuards present
Auards, Arran spotted the burly blacksmith he'd met three roup, he hurried over ireeting, his voice excited
The captain gave him a polite nod ”Your punctuality does you credit And from your expression, I take it you succeeded?”
The blacks you required, and I think you'll be most pleased with the results”
”Let's see if you're right,” Kaleesh replied, in a calm voice that nevertheless could not fully hide his excitement
It was obvious that he'd been filled with anticipation at this day, and now that it had co his birthday gifts
”Of course,” the blacksroup of guards without delay, clearly sensing that the captain had little interest in exchanging further pleasantries
As they approached, Arran saw that auards stood half a dozen heavy carts — the captain's new treasures
When they reached the first of the carts, the burly blackse sheet of oilcloth that covered it at once, revealing that it was full of starh Arran had already Sensed that the cart was full of starht of fifty masterfully crafted starmetal swords still filled him with a sense of awe He knew that each of these weapons orth a fortune, and fifty of them represented a priceless treasure