A Kaskian Story: Leaon, the Kings General

Chapter Six

"Sir! Are you okay?" A soldier asked as he reached a hand to help Kerd get to his feet.

"Get the woman! Bring her here now!" Kerd yelled as he swatted the soldier's hand away. "I want a report!"

"It looks as though the children were escorted out of the village before we arrived here. There was another Bermion and Kaiine with them on the other side of town." A soldier replied to him.

"So that's two Bermion and two Kaiine with them?" Kerd asked as he pulled the arrow out of his shoulder. "What happened to the two who ambushed us?"

"They escaped to the north." The soldier replied. "The others went to the east."

"Ignore the ones to the north! Have scouts follow the ones going to the east!" Kerd ordered as he tended to his wounds. "Where's the blasted woman?!"

"They're down the road. They're almost here General."

Kerd glanced in the direction of the soldiers bringing his prisoner. He watched as she surveyed the scene and grinned as she realized that her children escaped. Anger taking over his emotions as the failures over the past few days replayed in his mind, Kerd walked towards his captive, shoving aside the soldiers in his way and reached his clawed paw around her neck, lifting her off the ground and slamming her into a wall of a nearby building. His eyes narrowed as they locked on to hers, the grin never fading from her face as he tightened his grip on her.

"Sir..."

The General continued staring at the Lightning arrow as her face started to turn blue, his grip getting tighter and tighter.

"Sir... I have the casualty report."

Kerd finally took his gaze off Brittany and bore down on the soldier who dared interrupt him. "What is it?!" He yelled as he turned to face the man, dropping the prisoner to the ground as she gasped for air. "Get her out of my sight!"

"Twenty three dead and five injured from the blast and the ambush. Another squad dead on the east exit of Cosan from the other group with the children. Last word we have, they went south east towards the desert."

"Prepare everyone to leave. We're taking our guest to Prison City. We will get more soldiers there and head towards Toogal and cut them off! We leave before noon!" Kerd ordered as he walked away from the soldiers to attend to his injuries.

"Welcome back." Jarrant greeted the General.

"How has it been since I left Dealay?" Leaon questioned as he sat on a cot in the barracks.

"The camp has been completed and sustained. The rebels have all necessary supplies to stay healthy, even during the storm we had the other night. Only two casualties since you left." Jarrant replied. "They tried to escape and would not go back peacefully."

"That's acceptable." Leaon stated. "What about the Nobles, did they cause any trouble?"

"We believe they're responsible for the rebellion." Sali added. "We caught them trying to get letters to the rebels within the camp, we did not intercept it completely. It said for them to be ready."

"I guess it's time we take Dealay in the name of the King." Leaon sighed, wanting a day of peace without any unnecessary battles. "Get Reshmi, Garneth, and four squads. We will take out their compounds and put an end to this rebellion today."

"You are under arrest." Sali stated as she neared two Nobles walking together in the market district. "You are surrounded, surrender your weapons and come along peacefully."

"What are we being charged with?!" The old Nobleman questioned as his guards drew their weapons, preparing to defend their leaders.

"Treason." Sali replied flatly. "We know about the Nobles' connections with the rebellion. Surrender now, this is your last warning."