Chapter 415 A Path Forward (2/2)
The priest nodded ”I understand that your cae for you to be escorted—”
”There's no need”
”That won't be necessary”
Arran and Kaleesh spoke at the sa the offer before the priest could even finish his words Having the church look over their shoulders as they traveled was the last thing they wanted
A frown crossed the priest's face Clearly, he hadn't expected his offer to be rejected to easily ”Very well,” he said, a trace of annoyance in his voice ”Then I will see you to the Sanctuates”
A half-hour later, as Arran and Kaleesh found themselves outside the Sanctuh
”Had I knoeak the Guardian's bloodline would be, I would've chosen a different one” He poked his own arm as if to illustrate it, a look of annoyance in his eyes ”This would barely stop a co to a co In truth, he knew that Kaleesh was right He had the Guardian's bloodline as well, and if Kaleesh's version was as strong as his own, then it would offer little protection frohtspawn ”At any rate, as the priest told us, it will grow stronger Give it sorow impervious to blades yet”
Kaleesh narrowed his eyes ”You have the Guardian's bloodline as well?”
Arran nodded ”Roshan came to offer me the Guardian's and titan's bloodlines Naturally, I accepted the gift”
”In addition to the other two?!” Kaleesh stared at him in shock for several seconds, then finally spat a curse ”Wealth truly seeks the rich The things I could do with four bloodlines…”
”Not too much, I reckon,” Arran said ”Haven't you ever wondered why Knights and Lords never take more than a few bloodlines?”
Kaleesh frowned ”Because it's costly?”
”That's what I originally thought,” Arran said, ”but I'm not so sure of that anyer, so the more of them you have, the slower it will be to develop theue, some concern on his face as he looked at Arran ”Then you have a problerin appearing on his face ”Of course not” He cast a glance around, and continued, ”But I'll explain it to you once we're out of the city Toothe busy road to the Sanctuh none were close enough to overhear their words, this was a matter Arran could not let others know about
”Then let's hurry,” Kaleesh said ”We've been away fro already”
It took them several hours to leave the city behind, but when its s had finally faded in the distance, they soon found themselves completely alone
Busy as the route between the entrance to Sacrifice and the city at its center had been, the roads to the more distant parts of the vast bulere decidedly less traveled The only people to be seen were the far the lands in the distance, and even those were few and far between
”So are you going to tell ht be spies as well?”
Arran hesitated for a e…”
It took hiood half-hour to explain what he'd learned about the bloodlines and how he planned to address the matter It was a co to explain various intricacies of ic and bloodlines to Kaleesh, who knew little of either
The captain proved a quick study, however, and it wasn't long before he recognized what Arran intended to do
”It sounds like your strength is about to take another leap forward,” he said, forehead creased in a deep frown
”You say that like it's a bad thing”
”It's not that,” Kaleesh replied ”It's…” He paused, then asked, ”If you were forced to fight the entire Wolfsblood Ar?”
”Completely”
Arran had no need to ponder the question, and he did not hide the truth Even if forced to fight the entire army by hiap in strength was siers, he'd be like a dragon aht Lady Mereain, Arran did not need to consider his answer Just like he could effortlessly defeat the Wolfsblood Ar hith, what little he had seen was already enough to convince him of that
”And Lord Rannoc?”
This time, Arran hesitated, but no ain ”Now, can you tellwith this?”
Kaleesh nodded ”After I left the I for the day of my return” A mirthless smile on his lips, he continued, ”When I cath But I understand the truth now I' olves”
”Perhaps,” Arran ader Lady Merem has invited you just like she invited ht eventually beco as her”
”That's too far away,” Kaleesh said with a shake of his head ”It won't help with the dangers we're facing now”
”And you're worried you don't have the strength to protect the Wolfsblood Army?” Arran remembered that Kaleesh had worried about that before, and he could irown further
”I am,” Kaleesh replied, ”but it's not just that You can protect yourself, but if you have to defend the rest of us—”
”Then I'll find a way to do that,” Arran cut hi what the captain orried about
Though Arran had joined the Wolfsblood Corown that role By now, he was the army's protector in all but name — a position that carried th, he could easily choose to join forces with one of theboth benefits and protection in return for his allegiance
But even if he set out by hi the Wolfsblood Army to protect Alone, he could escape notice far more easily And should hewould still be a simple matter
Kaleesh knew this, and now, he worried that Arran faced unnecessary danger by choosing to remain with the Wolfsblood Army Yet to Arran, the very fact that Kaleesh worried about this
”I do not plan on leaving,” Arran said ”Not until I depart the Imperium, at least”
”Are you certain?” Kaleesh asked ”It would be wiser—”
”I'h of this foolishness We should hurry and make our way back to the arhtful look on his face ”As much as I trust Sassun, most of the troops were prisoners, and not all of theht not like e find e return”