Chapter 377 Words of Warning (1/2)
Much as Dalia had predicted, it soon becae Before the banquet was even over, he joined Arran and Kaleesh at their table, excitement written across his bruised face
”You're staying, right?” he asked ”At least another few days?”
Arran cast a cautious glance at the captain, who gave hiain toer tone ”Other than Knights, I've never seen anyone fight like you”
”We can train together, if you wish,” Arran replied ”But I don't kno ” He looked at Lady Raina and her husband, then added, ”And it seeot better teachers thanman responded with a firm shake of his head ”Father always says that every teacher has so to show, I'll gladly learn”
Arran could not help but nod in agree he'd found to be true as well He'd had many teachers over the years, and he'd benefited from all of them
”Very well,” he said ”I'll teach you what I can”
After the lesson he'd received froive the man's son what little he could offer Not toLady Raina's favor
The young Ranger lingered for soerly to their stories of the battles in Kadun's lands And in return, he offered stories of his own — stories about the Desolation
Much to Arran's surprise, Raina's son had already spent a year in the Desolation, fighting the Blight to earn his status as a Ranger And he spoke of this tied to return
”You have to understand,” the young Ranger said, a glint of fervor in his eyes, ”in the Desolation, you're never safe You h it's htspawn, there's also—”
”That will be enough, Kalin,” Lady Raina interrupted his so openly In fact…”
She cast a glance around the hall, then continued in a louder tone, ”As ht, I fear it is tih the announceuests dared object In a h none left before offering their thanks to Lady Raina
When the last of the guests had departed, the Lady turned to Arran and Kaleesh ”The two of you, come with me There are matters we h the keep's hallways before they reached Lady Raina's chaestured at a pair of velvet-clad chairs
”Sit down”
Although they did as she said, the Lady herself rehed deeply, her expression suddenly one of extreme weariness
”Had the two of you not been outsiders,” she said, ”I would have had you hanged tonight”
”Hanged?” Kaleesh looked at her ide eyes, and shock crossed Arran's face as well ”What for?”
”For enteringabout the part you played in the murder of one of my allies”
”Kadun was your ally?” Arran stared at her in shock ”We didn't know… If we'd known…”
”Then you wouldn't have come here,” Lady Raina said ”But you did, and so, I am faced with a dilemma Tell me the truth — what is your relationshi+p with Rannoc?”
Before Arran could answer, Kaleesh spoke up
”He was a tool to us,” the captain said, his voice now deathly serious ”Your ally would have kept us as slaves, working the mines until we died Rannoc offered us a chance at freedo our place in the Imperium”
The Lady raised an eyebrow ”Honesty, at last” She smiled wryly, and continued, ”I will admit that Kadun was neither just nor competent But he was an ally nonetheless, and in recent years, our carown too weak for comfort”
”Your camp?” Arran asked, brow furrowed as he stared at the woave a weary snorant of the conflict you unwittingly entered But then, you are outsiders, and there are feho know of this matter even within the Imperium”
”What matter would that be?” Kaleesh asked From the frown on his face, Arran could tell that he was none too pleased at havingso i, but only for a rave look on her face, she spoke