Chapter 407 The Archons Summons (2/2)
Barric seeht, as he cast an annoyed look at Do?”
”I just think a Ranger should be in charge,” Donant now
At that e supplies, set a guard schedule, supervise provisions, and plan our route, I will gladly relinquish the task”
A small smile crossed Kaleesh's face ”I do not believe that will be necessary As I said, it's only a two-day rew harder as he looked at Domar ”Of course, if anyone here has a probleest they depart now Once we leave the safety of Sacrifice, I will not tolerate disobedience”
Domar offered no further objections, and froretted his earlier words
Kaleesh paid the young Ranger no more mind As he turned his attention back to the others, his sest we 's ransoo to waste”
His words were enough to break the tension, and the Rangers soon rejoined the troops Although some still appeared uncomfortable with the captain's decision to leave ��� if only for a few days — a week's worth of travel arer to enjoy the fresh supplies
That night, the troops did little but eat and drink, singing bawdy songs as they celebrated their unscathed arrival in Sacrifice Though there had been no battles along the way — none but Arran's duel with the Knight, at least — it was now plain to see that the troops had been
And no wonder With the Desolation di the feeble and vulnerable — a state that did their confidence in facing the dangers of the Desolation no favors
The next h he easily could have gone several more days without rest, he'd decided to take what sleep he could get before traveling to the city Even if he didn't expect to do battle, a conversation with an Archon would be at least as dangerous as a duel against a Knight, and likely ave Sassun some brief instructions, then handed the commander several fat coin purses ”Make sure the troops eat well,” he said ”And if anyone causes trouble…”
”I'll have Barric and Arjun handle it,” Sassun replied Though his expression was severe as always, his tone was unconcerned But then, after years of helping lead the Wolfsblood Company, he likely knehat he was about
Arran and Kaleesh left the ca to the road before most of the soldiers were even awake When the first rays of sunshi+ne appeared, they were already an hour underway
As daylight appeared and they left the town behind, Arran could see that Sacrifice was filled with seely endless far the landscape as far as his eyes could see There were nue
”With lands like these, you'd think the food would be cheaper,” Arran said ”Though I suppose feeding all the armies is no easy task”
”That,” Kaleesh said, ”and the church takes a hefty cut of all that is sold here The income from Sacrifice and the other bulwarks is one of the pillars of the church's power, and most wealth in the Imperium finds its way into the priests' hands sooner or later”
Arran cast a long look at the bountiful lands around theood business of the Gods' sacrifice, then”
”Indeed,” the captain said ”Though I would suggest not saying so where anyone can hear”
They , straight road that led to the city — aptly nah a patchwork of fares held a variety of taverns and inns to acco armies, and they stopped at one of these for a quick ht's events
”Do you expect Domar to cause trouble?” he asked in between two bites of stew
”Perhaps,” Kaleesh said Then, after a ht, ”Probably”
”Then why allow hi him,” the captain replied, ”but there is no need to be hasty about it We won't depart Sacrifice for another month, so I have plenty of time to reach a decision”
Arran furrowed his brow as he looked at Kaleesh ”Why not disht away? He's a talented swordsman, but other than that, he's more trouble than he's worth”
Kaleesh sreeing co the most valuable allies Barely a month after Sassun joined the Wolfsblood Coainst my command”
”Sassun? A ht not have the sunniest of dispositions, but theif not loyal
Kaleesh nodded ”We were hired by some noble in the borderlands to hunt down a band of raiders When the time came to collect our payment, Sassun decided that he would prefer to have the captain's share and stabbed ht be the one leading the Wolfsblood Army”
Arran cast an incredulous look at Kaleesh, but he saw not the slightest trace of insincerity in the captain's eyes ”Then what happened?”
”I repaid the favor by beating him to within an inch of his life,” Kaleesh said ”He ended up saving me from a spear to the back barely two ether ever since”
For so at the thought of Sassun stabbing Kaleesh Finally, however, he said, ”I bet Sassun didn't whine as h”
Kaleesh chuckled ”I will admit that his manner so far has been less than pleasant”
The afternoon's travels proved as s the wide road, Arran had ample opportunity to observe the other travelers
Most of these were farmers and merchants who transported food and other supplies between the villages, but there were uards as well, and twice, they passed small armies
The first of the armies had clearly just arrived in Sacrifice, with its soldiers looking fresh-faced and excited, their uniforms so spotless that Arran doubted the soldiers had ever worn theers, however, showed little of the soldiers' enthusiaslanced at the troops, as if they already knew that many would not return
The second ar eastward froh to know that the soldiers had already seen azes were hard and weary, with ry red and pink of freshly healed skin
Although this army counted over a thousand soldiers, Arran had little doubt that the nuher half a year earlier
While Arran observed the people who shared the road with them, not many of those they passed had eyes for hiave theood sign, at least Arran had worried that they'd encounter , but it appeared that their enemies had not yet learned that they had left the Wolfsblood Arht, they slept in a s at least fivefold for a simple meal and two equally simple but unexpectedly clean rooms
The next day, as they set off in the earlylook
”If I didn't know any better,” the captain said, ”I'd allad to be rid of the army”
Arran briefly pondered the question before answering, ”I suppose I ae, really Whenever I travel alone, I findthe company of others But when I' by ht, but as he spoke the words, he realized they were true In his years of traveling alone, he'd oftencompanions at his side Yet now that he had an entire army to keep him company, he almost found himself overwhellance at Kaleesh ”But what about you? You seehed ”It's not the quiet I' away from the soldiers You saw the army we passed yesterday When they first entered the Desolation, they must have numbered hundreds more, maybe even thousands When we leave Sacrifice for the last time, how many of our soldiers do you think will still be alive?”
Arran shrugged ”More than there would be without you to lead the, however, as the brightfarht And while that did little to ease their probles
Another day of travel was followed by another night in a costly inn, and on theof the third day, they finally saw their destination appear in the distance — a sight that briefly brought them to a halt
At the very center of Sacrifice lay a large, clear lake, and across the lands surrounding it stretched a large city, with nu both the flat area beside the lake and the low hills surrounding
It was as great a city as Arran had ever seen, yet what caught his attention wasn't the city, nor was it the lake that lay at its center Rather, what drew his attention was a walled coe enough to be called a town itself
”I assume that's the Sanctuh it's bigger than I expected”
”What is that?” Arran said, pointing to a walled coe of the Sancturay rather than white
”That should be the Citadel,” the captain said ”The seat of power of the Imperator's forces in Sacrifice Should you wish to visit Lady Merem, I expect you will find her there”
A shi+ver ran across Arran's spine as he recalled the Iht Even now, the memory of her power still left him uneasy ”I don't think that will be necessary Let's head to the Sanctureement ”Do you want to find an inn in the city, first?”
Arran hesitated briefly, then shook his head ”I'd rather get this over with as quickly as possible”
It took the streets, and Arran soon realized that it was a city ers and hts, the vast majority of the people he saere co their wares as laborers and the like e,” he said, ”to find a city like this within the Desolation If I couldn't feel the suppression weighing down on me, I'd think it no different from any other place”
”Supposedly,” Kaleesh replied, ”the eastern part of the Desolation was at one point fully controlled by the I the lands even hundreds of ht overran thehtful voice, ”If we find any of those abandoned cities, there ht be treasure to be had”
When they finally arrived at the Sanctuates open, a steady streaers, and others continuously roup of white-clad soldiers and a single Ranger stood guarding the gates, they paid those who passed little attention
Arran hesitated only a er ”I have a question,” he said as he walked up to the ht answer”
”What is it?” the Ranger asked, his expression irritated as he glanced at Arran
”I received an invitation frolare ”And I wonder where I ht find hier's expression instantly softened ”You can find hi Arran's blank look, he added, ”Just follow the road, and you will eventually reach a second gate The guards there will show you inside”
Arran gave the ates, Kaleesh at his side as they slowly h the masses
”Tread carefully,” Kaleesh said in a soft voice ”We've just stepped into the lions' den”
As they passed through the gates, however, Arran found that the Sanctum resembled a peaceful park more than it did a lions' den On either side of the road were carefully rasslands that held nuravel paths connecting theate, the crowd on the road quickly grew thinner, withthe road to follow the small paths to the various temples and pavilions Many bore reverent expressions, and Arran guessed they had come here to worshi+p their Gods
”It doesn't see around with so, I'd say it looks pleasant”
”It does,” Kaleesh aderous for that There are few in the Imperium ould dare oppose the church, and piety is the least of the reasons for that”
They continued on for a quarter-hour, until finally, they approached the white walls of the Inner Sanctuate had looked disinterested , the ones here appeared wholly different — if only because all but one were Rangers, with the only exception being a Paladin
By now, the traffic on the road had dwindled to a mere trickle, and as far as Arran could see, only priests entered and exited the Inner Sanctu respectfully to the Paladin as they passed
Kaleesh cast a single look at the guards, then came to an abrupt halt ”I think I ait for you outside Perhaps explore the grounds for a bit”
”You're not coht the captain would eagerly seize the chance to get a look at the Inner Sanctum
”I doubt they'd let me enter even if I wanted to,” Kaleesh replied He smiled cheerfully, then added, ”Besides, if you don't return, you'll need soh it was a joke, Arran could not help but wonder if the captain's words ave a small nod ”I'll meet you here when I return Soon, hopefully”
When he approached the Paladin, thethe Living Shadow dagger he carried ”What's your business here?”
Arran lare with a calm expression ”Archon Roshan suh the Paladin's expression was still far frolanced at one of the guards, and ordered, ”Fetch souard hurried off, the Paladin turned back to Arran ”In defeating a Knight, you've drawn quite a bit of attention to yourself”
Arran shrugged ”Better than the alternative”
”Perhaps,” the Paladin said sih he had no intention of causing the Paladin offense — not here, certainly — he would not let himself be intimidated, either And that the h he could only guess at the reason
They faced each other for several uncouard returned, a young white-robed priestess in tow
”You're to be my escort?” Arran asked
”Yes,” she said ”Please follow”
Arran gave the Paladin a sates and into the Inner Sanctue area inside the walls looked ardens and no small number of tee differences
For a start, while there had been ers, and — especially — couards here, all of them clad in white And where most of the temples in the outer area had been s here were built like palaces, vast and elaborately decorated
Arran followed the priestess for several , circular in shape and topped with a massive dome
As the priestess came to a halt, she turned to Arran ”I ait here until you are ready to return”
Understanding that he was to enter alone, Arran stepped through the entrance, finding a single rooe and circular The floor, he saas covered with an intricate mosaic, and the walls were lined with a series of tall statues, all carved from white marble
A man stood before one of the statues, his eyes focused on so Like the priestess, he wore a white robe, but at his side was a Living Shadow dagger Archon Roshan, Arran knew
”I take it you are Arran” The man did not take his eyes off the statue as he spoke, and he continued, ”I expected you to arrive earlier” There was a trace of irritation in his voice, though it was only barely noticeable
”My apologies,” Arran said cautiously
Finally, the Archon took his eyes off the statue and turned to Arran ”No matter,” he said ”Come, let me take a look at you”
Arran h he hadabout thisthat had been absent in the other Archon
As he approached Roshan, he saw that the ht eyes despite his dark hair And although his hair held soray, he did not seeer that killed a Knight,” the Archon said, giving Arran a long appraising look
”He challenged me,” Arran said ”At least, his commander did”
Roshan held up a hand ”Do not worry — I do not hold you responsible for his death, nor would it be a crie was his, and you ave a relieved nod Though he'd been unconcerned about theabout this matter that unsettled him — an aura of power that re hi you should not have — soreat value to the Imperium Which forces me to er,” Arran said at once Though the dagger had soht think — he did not value it nearly enough to riskan enemy out of an Archon Especially not this one
Roshan shook his head ”Do not be so hasty in relinquishi+ng your possessions As I said, I have yet to decide what I shall do” He paused to cast a long, studious look at Arran Finally, he spoke, ”Tell me, what do you know of our bloodlines?”