Chapter 397 The Wolfsblood Army (1/2)
The sun stood high above Knight's Watch as Arran and Kaleesh h Arran had arrived shortly after dawn, their conversation had taken up , and now, they found the fields were e their mid-day break
Kaleesh eyed Arran warily as they approached the fields ”What are you planning to do?” he asked — the fourth time in as many minutes that he'd asked the question
”As I said,” Arran replied, ”you'll find out soon enough But first, show ave a reluctant nod ”Very well Follow , there were nearly two thousandThey were divided into separate groups, each consisting of around two hundred soldiers and headed by a single Ranger
”I've assigned roups,” Kaleesh explained ”Not all of them are cut out for command, but it's best to find out now, before we head into the Desolation”
Arran nodded thoughtfully, wondering how he'd even begin to organize an arers would be the roups, he knew that power did not necessarily translate into leadershi+p Yet to spurn the Rangers would create its own proble the co it briefly, he decided that he was glad that he did not have to lead the aranize all these men and women nearly caused him a headache
Kaleesh, however, appeared well-suited for the task
As he guided Arran past the groups, he effortlessly alternated between exchanging banter with the Rangers and issuing theers' personalities h looks, they nevertheless treated the captain with respect
Arran, ers as well Word of his encounter with the Band of the Dragon had already spread through the caers were curious to leeful reactions, it was clear that there was no love lost between them and Matas's troops
”There have been soroups,” Kaleesh said ”And none of thosetoo serious,will have earned you quite a few friends a the troops”
”I hope I haven't caused any proble as nobody gets killed, the Governor turns a blind eye to any fights As for Matas…” He shrugged ”That one is lory he expects to win in the Desolation Atdefeated”
Arran nodded, relieved that he hadn't caused any issues for Kaleesh Ashad deserved a lesson, Arran did not care so ht it worth a real conflict
They inspected several rew convinced that Kaleesh had h though the ht look, it was plain to see that each of them was easily worth at least two Darian peasants
As they approached yet another group of soldiers, however, the Ranger who led the group immediately rushed toward them Tall and dark-haired, he had the build and confidence of an expert fighter, though there was so in his features that Arran did not like
”Captain, we need to talk about—” he began, pausing mid-sentence when he finally noticed Arran ”Who's this then?”
”This is Arran, my second-in-coh his tone was pleasant enough, the look in the captain's eyes suggested there was little friendshi+p between the two of theave Arran a curt nod, then promptly turned his attention back to Kaleesh ”Captain,” he said again ”About the rewards you've promised… I've been here for over a month, and—”
”Doht this past month?”
”None, captain But I've been here for over a month You said ould be rewarded”
Kaleesh faced Domar with a weary expression that er had made this demand Nor the second, for that matter
”As you well know, there are no rewards without battle Once we venture into the Desolation, you will have plenty of opportunities to earn the bounties you seek”
”What about the Blightspawn you fought on the way here?” Does, did you not?”
At this, the captain's expression hardened ”I promised a fair share of any rewards you earned,” he said in a tone that suggested his patience was quickly wearing thin ”Not a share of the rewards earned by others And I do not recall you taking part in those battles” He paused, then added, ”Besides, those badges are worthless until we reach Sacrifice”
”I suppose,” the Ranger said reluctantly ”Just don't go back on your word”
”I won't,” Kaleesh replied curtly
As the Ranger ave Kaleesh a questioning glance ”He seems a troublesome sort”
”I wasn't exactly spoiled for choice, when it ca the question Arran had left unspoken ”And troublesoh he is, Domar is unusually talented If he spent half as , I wouldn't be surprised if he surpassed even you”
Arran cast a long look at the Ranger as he resuroup, and soon realized that Kaleesh wasn't er was, there was no denying the man's talent for swordsmanshi+p
”Coroups to inspect”
Much to Arran's relief, the next three groups' leaders all proved erly introduced thelint of pride in their eyes as they showed their soldiers' skills
Yet just as Arran and Kaleesh were about towoman stepped forth She was short and dark-eyed, with dark-red hair despite her Darian features, and her expression was one of concern
”Captain,” she began as she approached ”We need to talk about the equipan, his tone uncomfortable ”This is not the—”
”He needs to know, Rafi,” she interrupted hiry look on her face
Kaleesh raised an eyebrow ”What do I need to know?”
”Our equipment,” she answered ”It's trash”
”Trash?” The captain frowned ”It may not be quite as lavish as what some of the other armies have, but surely it—”
He fell silent as the woman tossed him her weapon — a sword so rusty the steel could only barely be seen underneath, with a visibly crooked blade
Kaleesh looked at the weapon with obvious distaste, as if he was holding a thoroughly rotten haunch of et it?”
”That's the sword I was given when I joined your army,” the woroup”
Kaleesh frowned, then faced the Ranger ”Is this true?”
The Ranger gave an uncomfortable nod ”It is, captain”
”Then why have you not told Sassun about this?” Kaleesh asked, soer replied ”Twice He said he'd take care of it”
”Is that so” Kaleesh's expression darkened, and he gestured to Arran ”Let's go It seems Sassun and I have some matters to discuss” He held up the rusty sword, then said to the young wo this”
As Arran and Kaleesh made their way to the center of the carily ”He should know better than this,” he said, giving the rusty sword an annoyed swing ”What was he thinking? I can't send soldiers into the Desolation with this…” He glared at the sword in frustration, unable to find the words to even describe the weapon
”Trash,” Arran finished the sentence ”And if Sassun is handing out such weapons, there must be a reason He doesn't strike s”
Kaleesh hesitated, then gave a slow nod ”The s, but I've never known hiave the sword another look, then shook his head in wonder
They reached Sassun some mo his troops — inal Wolfsblood Cohts envied
”Arran,” Sassun greeted when he noticed theh the coiven his normal dour look even that could be considered an unusual display of cheerfulness
Before Arran could return the greeting, Kaleesh held up the rusty sword ”What is this supposed to be?” he demanded
”It appears to be a sword,” Sassun replied He tilted his head as he regarded the weapon, then added, ”Though not erous look in his eyes, ”are our troops equipped with trash like this?”
”Because we ran out of coin,” Sassun replied, unperturbed by the captain's angry glare ”Which I already told you about teeks ago”
At this, a frown crossed the captain's face ”Didn't I give you htly ”And that—” he gestured at the sword ”—is what your additional funds bought us Which is why our newest troops are using equipment that is more rust than steel”
Astonishave you could have bought equipment for an entire army!”
Sassun nodded calmly ”So it could,” he said ”In any other part of the world But here in Knight's Watch, coin is as plenty as weapons are rare And if the stories I've heard are true, the situation is even worse in Sacrifice”
For several one from his expression, and now, his eyes held concern”Then we have a problereed ”Unless, of course, we part with some of our starmetal armor I know soesture ”Absolutely not Not unless there's no other option”
Decisive though the captain sounded, his voice nevertheless held a sliver of doubt, as if he found hiht To equip an are was no small matter, and to keep them fed besides would strain the purses of even the wealthiest nobles
Of course, Arran had theheld treasures enough to equip every single man and woh left to outfit a second army should the need arise
But the treasures he carried could not be revealed Even if he trusted Kaleesh to keep the secret, it would not go unnoticed if the Wolfsblood Company suddenly came into possession of a vast hoard of treasure
Yet after giving it a ht, he saw another path And while it would draw just ashe'd already accepted as unavoidable
”Kaleesh,” he said, ”the Darians like to bet, don't they?”
The captain gave a short nod ”They do, but a few sh The coin I've taken from them so far hasn't even covered our food”