Murukans.
‘Lord DeVile, are you willing to accept responsibility for this charge? Will you aid the Empire in this quest to name the Prince’s killers?’
Declining was never an option and Chase smiled to himself. He’d be dead before he could leave the palace if he failed to accept an order that appeared to be decreed by the Emperor.
Focusing solely on the Emperor Chase answered, ‘Of course my Lord, there is nothing I wouldn’t do for you or the Empire.’
The only reaction he got was a slight nod, barely a fraction of movement. That was more than Chase expected. He saluted once more, turned on his heel, and walked out of the room, taking his offered belt and strapping it on mid stride.
‘Are we screwed now, Chase?’ Abe asked in a hushed whisper as they hurried through the hall.
He turned slightly over his shoulder to catch the man’s eyes. ‘We now have a target on our backs. If we don’t find the right information in a timely manner, we won’t be making it home.’
CHAPTER NINE
The parley was in place to allow both sides to collect and bury their dead. The seventh day was chosen, mostly to respect the Kyzantines’ religious practices but the Murukans also loved a good seventh day off.
Pollux had ordered his men out at first light under the protection of a yellow flag of truce that fluttered high from the tower top. The enemy had assembled their own flag and a man stood within eyesight at all times holding it up. Weapons were not to be drawn under any circumstance but Cygnus had given permission to his men on the walls to have their bows at the ready. Pollux swore under his breath if the man ordered them to fire on unarmed soldiers there would be hell to pay.
Pollux stood with Ara at the gate, her arms folded across her chest, leaning back against the shadows watching events unfold. Pollux counted the number of men that went out, he didn’t want to leave any out there for the enemy to find.
Octans led the pack out and was the first to come back with a dead Murukan over his shoulder. He dropped the body in the designated area and went running back out, flashing a quick smile at Pollux and Ara. He was in jovial spirits despite his grim task.
Once all the dead had been collected — there weren’t many Murukans outside the walls and some had been destroyed in the fires — Pollux counted the numbers off inside his head and once he was sure that there was no one left outside he ordered the gates closed.
‘Octans, do you want to organise men to dig the graves? I’m going to look over the Kyzantines on the tower top to make sure Cygnus doesn’t do anything stupid.’
‘Always give yourself the tough jobs huh?’ Octans said with a smile. ‘We will have the dead ready to be buried in a couple of hours and I’ll let Byrn know to start performing the last rights for the baron.’
‘Coming with me, Ara?’ Pollux asked, admiring the way her face looked in the shadows. He was suddenly concerned that she wouldn’t come and wondered just how he would feel about that.
‘You’ll need someone up there to break up the testosterone or else you might kill each other and leave Octans in charge. Then we’re all fucked.’
‘Hey, that’s not fair. I haven’t lost a man in two days,’ Octans replied.
‘Octans, you were stepped down to rest yesterday and today is the truce. You haven’t seen action for those two days,’ Ara replied.
‘It doesn’t matter, any more of a body count and we will have no one left on the walls to defend it anyway,’ Pollux interrupted. ‘Octans, get those graves dug, and Ara, stop being a bitch and follow me.’
‘Acolytes show magi greater respect than that.’
‘I’m not an acolyte, just the guy who puts his body on the line every time to protect your ungrateful arse. So I think now and again you can do as I ask and come protect me from killing someone I shouldn’t.’
‘You know, I kind of like you when you get all serious and in charge. Alright, let’s
‘Lord DeVile, are you willing to accept responsibility for this charge? Will you aid the Empire in this quest to name the Prince’s killers?’
Declining was never an option and Chase smiled to himself. He’d be dead before he could leave the palace if he failed to accept an order that appeared to be decreed by the Emperor.
Focusing solely on the Emperor Chase answered, ‘Of course my Lord, there is nothing I wouldn’t do for you or the Empire.’
The only reaction he got was a slight nod, barely a fraction of movement. That was more than Chase expected. He saluted once more, turned on his heel, and walked out of the room, taking his offered belt and strapping it on mid stride.
‘Are we screwed now, Chase?’ Abe asked in a hushed whisper as they hurried through the hall.
He turned slightly over his shoulder to catch the man’s eyes. ‘We now have a target on our backs. If we don’t find the right information in a timely manner, we won’t be making it home.’
CHAPTER NINE
The parley was in place to allow both sides to collect and bury their dead. The seventh day was chosen, mostly to respect the Kyzantines’ religious practices but the Murukans also loved a good seventh day off.
Pollux had ordered his men out at first light under the protection of a yellow flag of truce that fluttered high from the tower top. The enemy had assembled their own flag and a man stood within eyesight at all times holding it up. Weapons were not to be drawn under any circumstance but Cygnus had given permission to his men on the walls to have their bows at the ready. Pollux swore under his breath if the man ordered them to fire on unarmed soldiers there would be hell to pay.
Pollux stood with Ara at the gate, her arms folded across her chest, leaning back against the shadows watching events unfold. Pollux counted the number of men that went out, he didn’t want to leave any out there for the enemy to find.
Octans led the pack out and was the first to come back with a dead Murukan over his shoulder. He dropped the body in the designated area and went running back out, flashing a quick smile at Pollux and Ara. He was in jovial spirits despite his grim task.
Once all the dead had been collected — there weren’t many Murukans outside the walls and some had been destroyed in the fires — Pollux counted the numbers off inside his head and once he was sure that there was no one left outside he ordered the gates closed.
‘Octans, do you want to organise men to dig the graves? I’m going to look over the Kyzantines on the tower top to make sure Cygnus doesn’t do anything stupid.’
‘Always give yourself the tough jobs huh?’ Octans said with a smile. ‘We will have the dead ready to be buried in a couple of hours and I’ll let Byrn know to start performing the last rights for the baron.’
‘Coming with me, Ara?’ Pollux asked, admiring the way her face looked in the shadows. He was suddenly concerned that she wouldn’t come and wondered just how he would feel about that.
‘You’ll need someone up there to break up the testosterone or else you might kill each other and leave Octans in charge. Then we’re all fucked.’
‘Hey, that’s not fair. I haven’t lost a man in two days,’ Octans replied.
‘Octans, you were stepped down to rest yesterday and today is the truce. You haven’t seen action for those two days,’ Ara replied.
‘It doesn’t matter, any more of a body count and we will have no one left on the walls to defend it anyway,’ Pollux interrupted. ‘Octans, get those graves dug, and Ara, stop being a bitch and follow me.’
‘Acolytes show magi greater respect than that.’
‘I’m not an acolyte, just the guy who puts his body on the line every time to protect your ungrateful arse. So I think now and again you can do as I ask and come protect me from killing someone I shouldn’t.’
‘You know, I kind of like you when you get all serious and in charge. Alright, let’s
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