Chapter 396 Decisions (1/2)
A half-hour after his return, Arran found hiarden of a wooden mansion, not far from the barracks that housed the Wolfsblood Army spacious and well-maintained, it more resembled a noble's home than it did a soldier's quarters
”I didn't expect they'd give outsiders so warrilled meat and flatbread that stood on the table before hiht have returned sooner”
Kaleesh grinned ”The Governor provides barracks and training fields to all groups that pass through the city,” he explained ”And the areas for the larger groups come with some luxuries for their leaders I don't think they expected an outsider to end up in here”
Arran nodded thoughtfully as he took another bite of food With hters of Lords, it reater luxuries than others Yet while that explained why the Wolfsblood Ar to clarify how Kaleesh had amassed so many troops in the first place
”How did you do it?” he asked ”This army — I knew you'd succeed, but this is far beyond what I expected How did you find all these soldiers?”
The captain gave him a small smile ”I'd like to credit my charm and leadershi+p,” he said, ”but the truth is that I simply e of foreboding rise from the pit of his sto an eyebrow as he looked at Kaleesh
”In the Imperiu in the Desolation for a single year Those who choose to do so are taken to border cities like Knight's Watch, where they wait to be recruited by groups heading into the Desolation”
Arran narrowed his eyes He understood nohy Kaleesh's soldiers had such a rough look to theroups had looked like that ”Then why didn't I see any prisoners aroups recruit a few dozen prisoners, at most,” the captain said ”Any more, and the Darians fear that they will rebel A reasonable fear, since there aretheir co the Desolation”
For several seconds, Arran remained silent Finally, he said, ”I assu our throats cut in our sleep?”
”Of course,” the captain replied, and as he spoke, there was a hint of excitement in his voice ”Most criminals in the Imperium are outsiders, born in poverty without any hope of improvement It's hardly a surprise that they resent the Darian nobles But we're outsiders, as well”
”You think being outsiders in us their loyalty?” Arran cast a doubtful look at Kaleesh While being outsidersthe prisoners' respect, they would certainly need more than just that
”Don't take me for a fool,” Kaleesh replied in an irritated tone He took a deep breath, then continued in a calmer voice, ”I've also offered them a fair share of the rewards — a chance to not just win their freedom, but to build a future And unlike the Darians, I will not use theh Arran remained unconvinced, he saw in Kaleesh's eyes understood that he would not be dissuaded The captain had grown up as an outsider in the Imperium, and for him, these er self
It was obvious that the captain's purpose in recruiting them wasn't just to build an army, but to offer the outsiders the opportunities he himself had been denied And while Arran wasn't certain whether the idea was a wise one, he could tell that Kaleesh had long since made up his mind about the matter
”What about the Governor?” he asked instead ”He didn't object to an outsider eht,” Kaleesh said ”Which is why I sent Rangers to every prison at the sah the city, the deed was already done Since then, I've done ers”
”And with the prisoners already freed,” Arran said, now understanding the situation, ”you figured that capturing an entire army would be more trouble than it orth for the Governor”
”That was my hope,” Kaleesh replied with a nod ”So far, it seeerous bet you made What if the Governor had decided to take action?”
Kaleesh hesitated before answering, and when he finally spoke, there was sorounds to step in There are no laws li into the Desolation may recruit”
”Just common sense,” Arran replied ”But clearly, those rote the laws didn't have you in mind”
At this, Kaleesh rolled his eyes ”You wanted me to raise an army, didn't you? And whatever you may think of hters than the farmers and shepherds I would have had to take without them”
”I suppose they are, at that,” Arran admitted Despite his doubts about the captain's plan, he could not deny that the prisoners seeers he had seen in soers? I take it you didn't find theeons?”
”If the prisons held treasures like that, they would have been plundered long ago,” the captain said with a laugh ”Most of the Rangers in our aretting a fair share of the rewards we earned And others have joined, as well — caravan guards and mercenaries, mostly, many of them outsiders like us”
Arran nodded, then asked, ”Are there enough?” Although he'd seen several new Rangers within the Wolfsblood Army, he hadn't failed to notice that there were far fewer of theroups he'd seen
”No,” Kaleesh replied flatly ”We have just over two dozen Rangers — roups, but nowhere near asArjun out to recruit others, butan army of prisoners”
”Can't say I blaht not need as ress these past feeeks has been better than I expected”
”Is that so?” The captain narrowed his eyes as he gave Arran an appraising look ”Just how ht for aKnights — norhts But if I'm correct, it's only a hts in earnest”
”You—” Kaleesh stared at hione for under two th?”
”Near enough,” Arran confir, and resolving those brought soers never becohts, and those that do usually take decades You're telling uidance?” The captain looked at Arran in disbelief, then stood up froave a small nod, then stood up as well That Kaleesh would want to see his progress was no surprise While the captain wouldn't suspect hi, he probably feared that his coiven the outrageous claieous, even Arran had to adhts, but that step represented a vast difference in ability — a difference that was far larger than the one between Rangers and coht have soer, but no such hope existed for a Ranger who faced a Knight
Both Arran and Kaleesh had experienced this when they had joined forces against a Knight Although Kaleesh's speed had far surpassed their opponent's and Arran's body had been aith the power of battle, that they had even survived the confrontation owed more to luck than it did to skill
And so, if Arran wanted Kaleesh to believe that he had bridged so large a gap in so short a time, mere words would not suffice
The two faced each other silently, Arran's expression relaxed while Kaleesh eyed hinaled that the fight had begun
Kaleesh was the first to attack Without warning, he struck forward, his sword shooting out toward Arran's chest like a bolt of lightning The h that Arran could only barely see it — clearly, the captain did not hold back in using his true insight into speed
Yet Arran didn't need to see the attack to stop it His opponent ained in fusing his insights h the strike even before it was even launched And so, a lazy h to deflect the thrust, and a second casual swing brought his sword to a stop against the captain's throat
Kaleesh looked at Arran's blade ide eyes, then quickly stepped backward ”That could've been luck,” he said, though his tone ain”
Arran shrugged ”If you wish”
Again, they faced each other, and again, Kaleesh was the first to move This time, however, he did not rely on speed alone Rather than blindly rushi+ng forward, he began an elaborate series of movements, a rapid series of strikes that formed a near-impenetrable defense as he cautiously approached his opponent
But near-ih As Arran observed Kaleesh's nize the flaws in the captain's defense, ht be Once more he moved lazily — a sih Kaleesh's defenses and caoat!” Kaleesh cried out, his eyes ith a ain!”
Arran raised an eyebrow ”Really?”
”Yes, really,” Kaleesh replied gruffly ”I'll adress, but I refuse to accept that the difference between us has grown this large”