Rise of the Horde

265 Chapter 26Rays of light could be seen over the horizon signaling the start of a new busy day for the residents of the town but this morning was clearly different from what they had experience many times in the past as the movements of the soldiers during the dark awakened many of the residents. Orders were soon given that all residents should proceed to the castle and only bring what is necessary with them which confused the people but they had to follow less they be punished by the imposing warriors who were doing patrols around the town more frequently than before.

The newly harvested grains were also moved towards the castle with the use of numerous carts that line up all the way from the warehouses in the town towards the castle while being escorted by some soldiers. Curious looks were directed at the two plain looking carriages that was being followed by servants and mounted soldiers but no one had the courage to take a closer look at them since the imposing auras of the soldiers escorting it were enough to scare most folks away.

Upon reaching the gates, Makalani dismounted from his steed and headed towards where Captain Kertakk was at to retrieve his weapons. After seeing that all his weapons were all accounted for, he silently started returning them to where they were supposed to be at all along his body. “I hope you don’t have any misgivings about us taking your weapons away before. We took good care of them and I had someone oil them for you.” Captain Kertakk had a look of unease after knowing that Makalani was a trusted man of the baron who could easily doom with just a few words.

“No worries, I am not that petty.” Makalani replied and headed outside the stockroom near the gates. As he made his way out, Baron Masud donning his full armor showed up with a servant following him.

“Take this with you and put it in a safe place.” The lord gestured towards the tiny thin box that were in the hands of the servant. Small precious gems lined the outside the box with silver and gold lining up its edges. The item looks expensive and precious which confused Makalani on why would the baron give him such a thing.

As he received the tiny thin box in his hands, the hoarse voice of the lord came. “There is something more important inside the box than the box itself… You can only open the box after settling down my daughter… This is my personal request that I asked of you.” Baron Masud stared at him with all seriousness as he felt that the tiny box in his hands seemed to have turned into a heavy rock that was burdening his hands. Makalani nodded his head in response as he stowed the item away.

“Promised me not as your lord but as your friend that you will only open the box after you have settled down my daughter properly.” the voice of the baron cracked as he finished his words and the tone that he was using made it look like he was pleading and his face covered by his helmet looks like he was embarrassed by something.

“I promised… Not as your trusted servant but as your trusted friend.” Makalani replied with all seriousness as this was the only time that he had seen the baron embarrassed like this. The baron nodded his head then turned towards the outside without another word.

Makalani followed after them then headed towards where his steed was at and quickly mounted on top of it with a single hop. The entire town’s atmosphere was heavy as all soldiers were called to duty as they patrol around the streets of the town and along the walls. There was silence along the residential areas closed to the walls which were usually bustling with activity as the new day starts.

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The gates that had halted him in his tracks last night, slowly creaked open. The convoy led by Makalani soon made their way outside and headed towards the direction of Baron Husani’s territory while being followed closely by the servants and their guards. A quarter of the riders assigned to the convoy was in the lead while the rest of them acted as rearguards to make sure that the one that they were escorting was sufficiently protected.

Denara slowly slid the cover of the small window of the carriage as she took a look at what was going on outside after he heard the hoarse voice of his husband. She knew that this was probably the last time that he will see him and hear from him. After going through the gates of the town, she closed the window as carefully as possible as to not disturb the sleep of her daughter that was on her lap. She didn’t know why but she felt no emotion after staring at her husband, she felt nothing, no pain, no guilt, nothing.

The convoy headed towards the west as they followed the dirt road which connected the territories of the Bulwarks of the Sand. Only the sound that the hooves of the horses and of that of the carriage could be heard as the group went on their journey.

On the walls of the town, Baron Masud stared at the convoy that was getting harder and harder for him to see clearly as the distance between them grew further and further away. “Be safe…” he muttered after he can no longer make spot even the silhouette of the convoy. He turned around and headed towards where the commanders of his soldiers were at to have a word with them.

Along the bridge that leads to the territory of Baron Masud, the group of Commander Lastam and his companions galloped with all haste. The sentries who were assigned to guard the bridge went forward to greet them but their visitors seemed like they had no intention of slowing down as they continued on with their pace. The sentries had no choice but to make way less they get trampled by the steeds of the group. As the fast moving riders passed by them, a guard quickly clutched his neck as an attempt to prevent the blood that was gushing out from his neck.

All the sentries who were standing along the bridge fell down with blood dyeing the stones under their feet red. The group of Commander Lastam continued on their journey as they laughed about what just happened.