Chapter 307 - Volume 3
Chapter 86 – Omens of war
Approximately ten days ago on the battlefield near Firburh—
A faint scent of soot, smoke and burnt flesh permeated the air.
Even though it was winter, Brendel had given strict orders to the Nightsong Tiger to deal with the bodies properly. A rampant plague was something that the youth did not want to risk, even if the weather was cold enough to start snowing.
As time was a factor, the Nightsong Tiger split up the mercenaries into various groups to set up multiple burning sites. Corpses were gathered and tossed into pyres to be burned, which poured trails of choking black smoke upwards into the sky.
Lord Palas’s scouts entered the forest a few days later to investigate the news of Lord Macsen’s defeat. Their heartbeats quickened when they found occasional armor fragments, shattered blades, and darkened blood spatters left in the forest, proving that a fierce battle had taken place.
While they found burnt remains at the site, they were not certain whether they belonged to the rebelling party or Lord Macsen’s men.
Since the rumors stated that the rebels had won a victory, they made their way to Lord Macsen’s region instead of going to Firburh directly. While it might be true that the latter was defeated, they thought Lord Macsen had escaped safely.
During the ambush against Lord Macsen, the biggest problem they had was that youth, Carglise. His combat abilities were truly remarkable. The Nightsong Tiger, Raban and Cornelius engaged him in a three-way fight, yet the youth’s swordsmanship was brilliant enough to keep them at bay. If it was not the fact where Lord Macsen was captured, it was actually possible for that youth to pave a bloody road for his escape.
Fortunately, Carglise surrendered.
Lord Macsen and Carglise were put under house arrest and they were treated considerably well, but the latter kept yelling for a rematch and demanded duels. The three mercenary commanders avoided the place.
Ciel had told Brendel that someone needed to be taught a lesson; that was Carglise.
“What are your thoughts on them?” Ciel shook his head with a smile after seeing the silence from both men and changed the topic.
“…… Did our lord predict the scouts?” Cornelius asked as he looked at Ciel pointing to the scouts.
Tagiv was starting to be dissatisfied. It was the one who alerted the humans that the enemy scouts had entered the area, yet was it was being ignored.
“Oh, right, the credit of discovering the scouts goes to Tagiv.” Ciel suddenly said and nodded to Tagiv, spotting its discontent.
Tagiv immediately puffed up its chest.
“And?” Raban frowned and asked.
“We’re to capture the scouts heading to Firburh. As for the others, we’re to let them go.”
Cornelius and Raban exchanged glances.
[Letting them return will let Lord Palas be on his guard. He will prepare an army much bigger than Lord Macsen.]
[What is our lord thinking?]
But Ciel raised his head to the sky and mused to himself thoughtfully. He had guessed what Brendel wanted to do; it was going to be an all-out battle.