The War Princess Book II

Chapter 287: The Two Sides

"General Leon, scout from Maranth has arrived. He wished to speak with you directly. He said he brought message from the King."

Leon look at the messenger. Did something happen at Maranth?

"Keep an eye on those bastards. Don't let them get near to us."

Leon instructed the Captain before he left the front line.

"Yes, General!"

Leon's concerns are more of the overnight seige. They are obviously stopping them here using the hostages. Leon walk to the scout who bow to him.

"The catapults are on the way, General."

"Catapults?" Leon didn't expect King Edmund to send such a thing. Did he plan to attack Arethea?

"Your Majesty ask me to inform you to use water barrels to repel the Black Powder."

"Water barrels?"

"Yes. Your Majesty mentioned that Master Marley once teach him that the Black Powder are unusable if they are wet."

Leon look up to the starry night. It is obviously no rain tonight. The odds are not in their favor.

"King Edmund has said that in the event that Arethea managed to march to the bridge, he will destroy the bridge at all cost."

Leon understand well what he meant. If he fail, Edmund will left them on their own. His mind goes to the whereabouts of the Queen. She is not yet back to Arethea and he want to solve this before she become the hostage, but the civilians barricade is not what he expected. How despicable of them to use women and children as defence...and he knew well if they attacked them they will make rumors to start the war again.

"Send the message to King Edmund...Arethea has used women and children to stop us at the gate. Ask him to prepare what is necessary."

"Y-yes, General.." the messenger seems startled with Leon's message but he is grateful that he is not to stay on this side.

"Prepare the catapults with water barrels when they arrived. We will throw the water barrels at those human barricades if they try to move forward." General Leon instructed.

He didn't know how many more of those wretched soldiers they have. He need to save the water barrels for their last defence. They are obviously planning to wear them out overnight. He will have to arrange their soldiers to rest in shifts.

***
"What's the commotion about?!" Hein asked in annoyance as the soldiers seems to be running towards the Church's direction.

"The people are angry. They heard about the barricades at the gates...we are trying to stop them from..."

"Hmph...morons! Tell them if they don't stop then I will blow their useless wives and children right at this moment. Tell them to give me Garin!"

"But, Your Highness, if there is a riot..."

"I don't give a damn! Is it very hard for you to control unarmed civilians?!"

"Your Highness!!" A messenger run to him. Hein narrowed his eyes.

"What else this time?"

"There is a n-news from..eh...grave news..."

"Speak properly!"

The messenger told him in almost an inaudible voice.

"Lady Josephine bled, Your Highness, they said she has lost her child..."

Color drained from Hein's face.

What did he say? The child is lost?
Josephine...did she purposely kill his child? But she knew the consequences of that, it is unlikely she dare to do that.