Chapter 407: 407
As Arran stepped through the gate that led into the mountain, he found not the simple tunnel he had expected to see, but instead a spacious cavern, nearly a hundred paces deep and half as high .
The floor sloped upward toward the far end, with several rows of low walls with archers standing atop them, while the walls on both sides had stone balustrades that held more archers still . And finally, at the far end of the cavern, there was another gate, also forged from starmetal .
Arran instantly recognized the space for what it was — a killing ground, much like the courtyard one would find beyond a castle's gate . Even if an attacking army somehow broke through the first starmetal gate, its troops would only be able to enter a few at a time, while finding themselves instantly flanked by defenders and pelted with arrows .
It was a place where a hundred men could easily slaughter thousands, and although Arran was not the intended target of the defenses, he could not help but feel uncomfortable as he passed them . If the Darians decided to turn on the Wolfsblood Army in a place like this, it would be all but impossible to escape .
Kaleesh's tight expression suggested that the thought had occurred to him, as well . "Nasty place," he opined . "You could butcher an entire army here and not lose a single man . "
Apparently mistaking the captain's unease for admiration, Arjun nodded eagerly . "If the Blightspawn ever break through, they'll surely meet their doom in these tunnels," he said, pride clear in his voice . "And it isn't just the entrance . The tunnels have numerous spaces for traps and ambushes . No enemy can hope to pass through alive . "
Arran and Kaleesh shared a knowing look, neither of them the least bit reassured by the Ranger's words .
Yet ill-timed as Arjun's words were, they proved to be true all the same .
It took the Wolfsblood Army nearly three hours to pass through the winding tunnels, and during the slow, ever-upward march across the seemingly endless torch-lit passages, they came across at least half a dozen large caverns that held vicious fortifications — along with yet more starmetal gates .
Arran observed the defenses with appreciation and concern in equal measure .
Even if Blightspawn overran the fortress at the foot of the mountain, it was clear that conquering Sacrifice itself would be a different matter altogether . Against determined defenders, every pace forward would take hundreds of lives, filling the tunnels with the bodies of fallen Blightspawn while the Darians could retreat with ease .
Yet impressed as Arran was by the defenses, he also recognized that they would do equally well in preventing one from fleeing Sacrifice . There was no way to pass the tunnels without being noticed a hundred times over, and if the starmetal gates were shut, there was no different path available .
Moreover, if the Blightspawn ever overran the Desolation altogether, the mountain could easily become a prison rather than a bulwark, with the defenders trapped inside by the very defenses they trusted to protect them .
But that was a problem for the Darians to solve .
When they emerged from the tunnels, evening was already approaching, and Arran saw that they had stepped into yet another killing ground — a large field surrounded by tall stone walls, with a single gate leading out of the area .
They had barely stepped onto the grass when a white-clad priest came through the gate, accompanied by a handful of soldiers . He approached them at a casual pace, briefly glancing at the Rangers who headed the group, before coming to a halt before Kaleesh . Apparently, the man had already known they were coming .
"You are the leader, yes?"
"So I'm told," the captain replied flatly .
"Very well . " The priest gave a small nod . "There are grounds at the edge of town where you and your men can set up camp for the night . Past that, you are expected to secure a location of your own . You can find—���
"I'm aware of the customs," Kaleesh interrupted the priest . "I have only one question . "
The priest frowned . "Which is?"
"Where can we find some proper food and ale?"
An hour later found the Wolfsblood Army at the edge of town, where there were several large fields intended to accommodate passing armies . At the moment, there were only two smaller groups aside from the Wolfsblood army, but there was easily space enough for five times their number .
Finding food proved simple . Even as the troops were setting up their camp, merchants and peddlers poured from the town, eager to sell their wares to the army's soldiers . Most of them left in disappointment when they discovered the troops had no coin to spend, but those who sold food and ale soon found most of their stock bought up by Kaleesh .
"It's extortion, is what it is," the captain said, dejectedly thumbing his much-lightened coin purse . "Back in Knight's Watch, that would have fed the army for half a month . "
Arran shrugged as he swallowed a chunk of grilled meat, then wiped his mouth on his sleeve . "Compared to what we've been eating this past week, I'd call it a bargain at twice the price . "
Kaleesh sighed . "A few more bargains like this, and we'll only have grass to eat . " A hesitant look flashed across his eyes, and he continued in a hesitant tone, "That giant sword of yours…"
"Sell it," Arran said with a dismissive gesture . "I do not plan to use the thing in the Desolation . If I ever find myself needing another, I'll have one made . "
The truth was that the weapon's only function was for practice . In combat, letting his Living Shadow sword take the weapon's shape was a matter of a single thought . And while he could not do so with others watching, in the Desolation that also held true for using the giant starmetal sword .
Kaleesh gave a thoughtful nod, then glanced at the Rangers who were sat at the fires near them . "Arjun! Get over here!"
The Ranger got up and approached, a questioning look in his eyes . "Yes, captain?"
"Take some men and go into town to sell that ridiculous sword of Arran's . The stores should be open for several more hours . I expect you to get the best price you can . "
Arjun's eyes went wide with surprise, but after a moment of hesitation, he nodded uneasily . "I'll do my best, captain . "
As Arjun began to gather some troops to haul off the massive sword, Kaleesh had already turned his attention back to the Rangers . "Ifras!" he called out . "I have a task for you, as well!"
The young Ranger looked at Kaleesh uncomfortably . "What is it, captain?"
"I need you to take one of the Reavers' amulets along with a dozen Blightspawn amulets, and sell them in town . " He frowned, then added, "Mind you, getting a good price will require you to visit every shop that might take them . Make sure you get the best price before agreeing to sell . "
This time, it wasn't just the Ranger who looked at Kaleesh in surprise, as Arran stared at the captain in astonishment as well . To sell off Blightspawn amulets was no small thing — those were the very reason they'd come to the Desolation in the first place .
Yet as Kaleesh dismissed Ifras, he immediately turned to Arran . "Come along . We'll need to secure lands in Sacrifice for the next few weeks, and we can do so in town . "
Something in Kaleesh's eyes suggested that there was a motive behind his actions, and as they set off toward the town, Arran gave the captain a curious glance . "I take it you have a plan . "
"Naturally," Kaleesh replied . "You told me you have many pure shadowmetal coins . Would it be possible for you to hand over, say, twenty of them? Thirty would be even better . "
Arran frowned, but he did as asked, producing thirty of the coins and handing them to Kaleesh . "If we're going to be using these, I don't see why we had to sell off Blightspawn amulets . "
The captain smiled knowingly . "We're selling off a few of them so that we can use these coins without arousing suspicion . Between the amulets, the sword, and Nisra's generous gift, others will have a hard time estimating our true wealth — especially once we've visited a few money changers . "
Arran gave him a skeptical look . "Will that be enough?"
"It will," Kaleesh replied . "Don't forget that we already have fifty troops in starmetal armor . As far as most Darians know, we might be wealthier than all but a few lordlings . "
"That's not what Nisra thought," Arran said .
"Which is why we're selling off some treasure," the captain said . "Few merchants are willing to discuss their dealings with others, so after tonight, even she should be in the dark about the extent of our resources . "
As they entered the town, Arran was surprised to see that it was much like the ones he'd seen elsewhere in the Imperium . While the streets perhaps held more inns and taverns — all of them hideously overpriced — the common folk seemed little different . And if there were more priests and guards than one would see in other places, the contrast wasn't so large as to be conspicuous .
They spent the following hour visiting well over a dozen money changers . That was more than Arran had expected there to be in even a town as large as this, but he soon realized that with armies passing every day, they would see no shortage of business .
Kaleesh exchanged no more than one or two coins at each of them so as not to draw too much attention, but after an hour, they already had a decent number of bulging coin purses .
"That should do," the captain said, a satisfied look on his face . "With this, we have no more cause to worry about supplies . Next, it's time to acquire some lands for our stay . " With a small frown, he added, "Though that may prove a bigger challenge . "
"How so?" Arran asked, following Kaleesh as the captain started toward a large, white building in the middle of the town center .
"Sacrifice is divided into four quarters," Kaleesh explained . "The northeastern quarter mainly hosts those aligned with the Lords' Alliance, the northwestern quarter those within the Righteous Alliance, and the southwestern quarter those within the Martial Alliance . Which leaves the southeastern quarter for everyone else . "
"I see," Arran said . "But why is that a problem?"
"Because the church controls Sacrifice . And while it favors members of the Righteous Alliance and avoids antagonizing the other two, we have no such protection . " Kaleesh cast a dark glance at the building before them . "Which means we're about to make a hefty contribution to the church's vast coffers . "
"I don't suppose we'd be accepted in the northeastern quarter?" Although Arran wasn't too concerned about coin, he still disliked the idea of the church taking it — all the more so because he suspected the pure shadowmetal coins could be used as more than just money .
"The Lord's Alliance would accept us, of course," Kaleesh said . "And once word of it got out, we'd be bound to Rannoc and his allies — as tightly as if our armor still bore his sigil . " A wry smile on his lips, he added, "Though I doubt any of them would help if the Martial Alliance took revenge for Kadun's death . "
Arran shrugged . "The southeastern quarter it is, then . "
When they stepped inside the building, they found a large hall, empty but for a single desk at its far end, behind which sat a middle-aged man with a bored expression . Though he was dressed in white, he did not appear to be a priest . Rather, he seemed to be a clerk of some sort .
"Kaleesh?" the man asked as he laid eyes on them .
The captain raised an eyebrow . "You were expecting me?"
"Of course," the clerk said, though he offered no further explanation . "Four thousand troops, correct?"
"Closer to three thousand," Kaleesh said, "if it makes a difference . "
"It doesn't . " The clerk produced a large roll of paper from under his desk, then asked, "Have you chosen a quarter yet?"
"We have . The southeastern one . "
The clerk frowned as if surprised, but said nothing . Instead, he put away the roll of paper and took out a similar one, which he rolled out onto his desk .
"This is a map of the southeastern quarter," he said, motioning for Kaleesh and Arran to move closer . "Now, I can offer you the following choices…"
When they exited the building a quarter-hour later, Kaleesh was red-faced with anger . "Ten!" he said, his voice a near-shout — loud enough that several passersby shot startled looks in his direction . "Ten pure shadowmetal coins! For a month in some farmer's field!"
Calling the estate they'd rented a farmer's field was an exaggeration, but not by much . It lay well over a day's travel from the main city in Sacrifice, and several miles from the nearest town . Moreover, from the clerk's words, its barracks were austere at best .
Arran gave a small shrug . "We could've had our own village near the city if you were a little less stingy . "
Although the price they'd paid had been extortionate, he saw little point in grumbling about it . Overpriced or not, they had needed an estate, and Sacrifice offered no more affordable accommodations for a group as large as the Wolfsblood Army — not for those who weren't in one of the major factions, at any rate .
Kaleesh looked at him with a frustrated expression . "Ten pure shadowmetal coins!" he repeated, as if saying it enough times might somehow change the price they'd paid . "In the east, that's enough to buy a castle!"
"Yet we're not in the east," Arran said, "and we don't need a castle . You, however, look like you need an ale, so let's find a tavern . "
Kaleesh accepted the suggestion reluctantly, doubtless fearful that an ale in Sacrifice would be the price of a farm elsewhere — a concern that proved not entirely unfounded, as the taverns in the town center charged more for a single mug of ale than ones elsewhere would charge for an entire meal .
Yet as they sat down and drank, the anger finally fled the captain's face, and slowly, a thoughtful look took its place . "I'll have Sassun lead the army to the estate tomorrow," he said, "while we travel to the Sanctum together . "
Arran took a swig of ale . "Eager to meet the priests?"
"Eager to see their wares," Kaleesh replied . "The bloodlines we choose will decide our future, both in the Imperium and beyond it . Decisions like those need proper study . "
"Have you discovered anything useful about the bloodlines, so far?" Arran asked . "I've asked the Rangers, but none of them had much to share . "
"That's to be expected . " Kaleesh took a moment to ensure that none in the tavern were close enough to listen in, and continued in a softer voice, "The Darians believe their bloodlines come from the gods themselves, and even the least pious among them don't discuss the matter easily . From what I've heard, though, there are three different kinds of bloodlines — lesser, common, and greater . "
"I suppose none of our Rangers possess greater bloodlines?" Arran guessed .
"Greater bloodlines?" Kaleesh laughed as he shook his head . "Among our Rangers, only Barric even has a common one . The others only have lesser bloodlines, with most possessing just two or three of those . "
"Even the Rangers?" Arran frowned . He'd expected that the Rangers, at least, would have more than that . Reavers were fierce opponents, but not so much that a Ranger wouldn't have a chance of defeating one .
"Our Rangers, at least," the captain said . "Ones with stronger backing doubtless do better . "
Arran pondered the matter for some moments, then asked, "If there are three types of bloodlines, do they correspond to the amulets? Blightspawn amulets to acquire lesser bloodlines, Reavers' amulets for common ones, and Warlock amulets for the greater bloodlines?"
"That is my understanding," Kaleesh said with a short nod . "From what I've heard, the first bloodline from each tier requires only a single amulet, but the ones that follow depend on the strength of one's blood . " He paused to take a sip of ale, then added, "In your case, I imagine that will prove costly . "
Arran smiled wryly, but after a moment, he furrowed his brow in thought . "If what you say is true, we'll have to start with the greater bloodlines . "
"How so?" Kaleesh asked, his expression curious .
"Think about it," Arran said . "If each bloodline makes the next costlier to acquire, then every lesser or common bloodline you gain will make the greater ones much harder to get . "
"Huh . " Kaleesh briefly looked puzzled, but as realization set in, his bemused expression turned to one of frustration . "So you're telling me I can't choose a bloodline right away?"
"Not unless you're willing to cripple your future progress . " Arran scratched his chin . "Which means it must be nearly impossible for commoners to climb the ranks in the Imperium . A common soldier who acquires too many lesser bloodlines will find it impossible to ever gain more than a few common bloodlines, much less any greater ones . "
Kaleesh drained his mug of ale, then sighed as he cast a dark look at the Darians in the tavern . "Knowing the Imperium, I'd say that sounds accurate . "
When they returned to the camp, they found that Arjun and Ifras had already returned, both Rangers carrying fat purses that they were anxious to hand to Kaleesh .
The captain inspected the purses' contents before giving a satisfied — if unenthusiastic — nod . "That'll do," he said . "Not as much as I had hoped, but it's enough . "
Arran suspected Kaleesh could have gotten more himself, but he understood the captain's purpose in sending the Rangers . Having different people visit many of the shops in town, it would be all but impossible for others to discover exactly what had been sold and at what price .
And either way, the proceeds from the sword and the handful of amulets mattered little . Compared to what Arran had handed Kaleesh, the entire sum was barely worth mentioning .
When Kaleesh finished inspecting the two purses, he turned his attention back to the Rangers . "Rangers!" he called out . "Gather up! I have an announcement to make!"
It took some moments for the Rangers to assemble, their expressions curious as they gathered around the captain . Finally, when they had all arrived, he looked around, then spoke .
"I have secured an estate where we can prepare ourselves for the Desolation," he began . "It's located in the southeastern corner of Sacrifice, far enough from the city that we can practice without distraction or disturbance, with little risk of any lordlings interfering in our affairs . "
Arran only barely managed to suppress a laugh . Barely an hour earlier, Kaleesh had scoffed in anger that they had been forced to choose so isolated a location . Yet now, he spoke as if the choice had been a deliberate one .
"The Wolfsblood Army will depart at first light tomorrow morning," the captain continued . "And as the army travels, I will accompany Arran to the Sanctum . We will rejoin you all at the estate . In my absence, I am placing Sassun in charge of the army, with Arjun to serve as his second . "
His announcement caused some whispers of surprise, and the young Ranger who'd demanded rewards back in Knight's Watch — Domar, his name was — spoke up in an indignant tone . "You're abandoning us to visit the city? And you're putting a common soldier in charge?"
"Correct," Kaleesh replied . "I assume you can handle a two-day march through safe lands without me there to hold your hand . But perhaps you disagree with that assumption?"
Some laughs sounded among the Rangers, but Domar was undeterred . "A Ranger should be in charge!" he said in an angry voice . "You can't expect us to follow a common soldier!"
Before Kaleesh could respond, Ifras spoke up . "I trust the captain's judgment," he said, his tone firm even if he looked uncomfortable at drawing so much attention to himself . "And if he says Sassun will lead, then I will follow Sassun . "
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