Общий файл / Does Force Bind to Responsibility?: 15

Chapter 15

Camrad_RIP 21.10.21 в 16:07

"Why do we have to deal with this crap?"

Camrad_RIP 25.10.21 в 12:48

When the commander retired to talk with the strange knight and the village chief, he did not forget to give orders to his men as well. There were a lot of dead bodies on the patch, a small square in the center of the village. Something had to be done with them. With the bodies of the villagers everything is clear - tomorrow they will be reprieved according to all the rules and buried like honest people in the local cemetery. The farewell before the burial should take place in the square, it is a tradition.

Camrad_RIP 21.10.21 в 17:05

That was not the case with the Imperials. They came to a foreign land and ran rampant like bandits. There was no one to say goodbye to them. Decent burial was out of the question. Of course, they too would be purged before burial, the influence of the cursed plains cannot be discounted. Who would want to wait for a visit of the undead? But they will be buried to the ground, in a common pit, away from the village walls. The peasants have already dug the pit and should be done by midnight.

Camrad_RIP 21.10.21 в 17:08

Gazef instructed his men to haul the mutilated corpses to a future mass grave. And for the second hour, the brave warriors worked hard, throwing the remains of the fallen imperials into the cart. There were a total of two carts in the village suitable for such work. While one load, the second takes the grim load behind the walls, to the pit, and so on in a circle. The work would not be very hard if they were ordinary bodies. Forty-something people, three or four moves. But with the massacre, the stranger swordswoman left behind...

Camrad_RIP 21.10.21 в 17:13

Gazef's warriors were not particularly impressed. Their commander had done something similar before during raids on bandit rookeries. The peasants, who used to haul it all down to the center at the swordswoman's behest, were another matter. Not surprisingly, everyone capable of labor volunteered to dig, away from the ghastly reminder of what had happened.

Camrad_RIP 21.10.21 в 17:14

" Quit your whining, you bore me," replied Vatus irritably to his companion, Irius, rinsing his bloody hands in the bucket by the wall. Something was sticking to them, and it was interfering with his work. "Years of blood and shit, and you still whine like a kid."

Camrad_RIP 21.10.21 в 17:16

"Fuck off, buddy." Vatas took hold of the arm sticking out of the pile and pulled the corpse, which was already beginning to ossify. - I'd understand if there was no one else, but there's a village full of peasants. "And we're at the end of the line again."

Camrad_RIP 25.10.21 в 12:51

A throw and a third of the human torso slammed into the cart.

Camrad_RIP 25.10.21 в 12:52

"Yeah, yeah. The world is a terrible place."

Camrad_RIP 21.10.21 в 17:24

"But seriously, the peasants could have been used!"

Camrad_RIP 21.10.21 в 17:32

"And who's going to dig? And you know, those poor souls went through a lot. First, the Imperials did a real massacre here, and then that chick made them pick up the pieces of bodies all over the village. We've seen worse, but what's it like for them?"

Camrad_RIP 25.10.21 в 12:55

"I don't give a fuck. I'm imagining myself in a bathhouse with a cute little peasant girl. And you know what? It looks like I can only dream about it today."

Camrad_RIP 25.10.21 в 12:57

"There's a lot of quiet places here, you can dream later. Don't worry, after this round, we'll have to go to the guard... Wait a minute."

Camrad_RIP 25.10.21 в 13:13

A warning whistle sounded in the distance. The two warriors abandoned their activities and hurried to the street leading to the gate.

Camrad_RIP 25.10.21 в 13:19

A crowd of local survivors with shovels quickly entered the half-opened gate. The workers quickly scattered to their homes. Following them, the warriors who had guarded the work came through the gate. They were focused and anxious.

Camrad_RIP 25.10.21 в 13:30

"I just knew it," Igo grumbled angrily, and went back to the water barrel.

Camrad_RIP 25.10.21 в 13:31

"Yeah," Vatas answered vaguely, adjusting his weapon belt, and headed toward the sentries. "Something serious, and they left the horse and cart outside."

Camrad_RIP 25.10.21 в 14:42

The rest of the warriors were already gathering in the square, having abandoned their assignments.

Camrad_RIP 25.10.21 в 14:44

* * *

Camrad_RIP 21.10.21 в 17:32

The headman's house was cozy, even though a few hours ago the place had been crowded. The only damage was to the crockery, and the half-empty shelves were conspicuous. But by the time Gazef, accompanied by the swordswoman and the headman himself, got in, the house was cleaned up. The floor had been swept and wiped with a damp cloth, the furniture had been set up, and pots of soup and boiling water for herbal concoction were bubbling on the heated stove.

Camrad_RIP 25.10.21 в 16:00

Throughout the conversation, the headman did not sit down, and stood near the table, half bowed. His wife only served plates and cups silently, trying not to be seen at all.

Camrad_RIP 25.10.21 в 16:25

Gazef himself came from a peasant family. Even after his rise to prominence as His Majesty's private man, he had not forgotten his roots. Whenever he had a few free days, he visited houses like this all over the kingdom. Sometimes on duty as well. Listening to the common people, when they are not afraid to speak, and relaying their words to their suzerain is also an important part of serving the crown.

Camrad_RIP 25.10.21 в 16:26

And such behavior, as the headman showed, would have been understandable if the lord feudal lord had come here. But Gazef was not a feudal lord, but a well-known hero who, if not personally known, was certainly heard of. He was not accustomed to being feared by the common people.

Camrad_RIP 25.10.21 в 16:27

As he asked the headman about the events, he noticed the way he looked at his guest. Sneakily, immediately averts his eyes, bowing at every opportunity. The headman, answering his questions, chose his words very carefully and often clenched his hands so that he could not see them trembling. He was obviously very afraid of this woman.

Camrad_RIP 25.10.21 в 16:28

And she didn't care about anything. With the polite, weary indulgence, she sprawled back in her chair, picking at the soup with a wooden spoon without appetite. She paid no attention at all to what was going on around her, thinking about something of her own. Gazef couldn't help but notice that the woman who called herself Draga was surprisingly good-looking. A fine, sturdy figure, without any unhealthy thinness or excessive muscles. Agile, smooth, precise movements. Face, very pretty even without makeup. Not the first youth, but young, not even 25.

Camrad_RIP 25.10.21 в 16:30

He even remembered for some reason that at almost forty he was not yet married.

Camrad_RIP 25.10.21 в 16:31

/Perhaps this is a case where women are asked out on a date? She's not one of those elegant ladies His Majesty has asked me to marry. She's sure of herself, knows the beauty of the sword and the ugliness of death, and doesn't turn her nose up at poverty, though she's obviously rich. Only how to approach such a case...

Camrad_RIP 25.10.21 в 16:32

With some effort, he pulled himself away from irrelevant thoughts. The first thing to do was to get a better understanding of who she really was. Yes, she has the badge of an adventurer, but there was no way an adventurer of such power could remain unknown until now.

Camrad_RIP 25.10.21 в 16:40

The headman confirmed her version of what had happened. The imperial scum were already about to set fire to the house. full of women and children, and then execute the men cursing their helplessness. And at the last moment, a rider on a stallion as black as night appeared. Without engaging in pointless negotiations, she simply killed all the imperial mercenaries who were in the square. And then methodically slaughtered everyone lucky enough not to be in the center. Although, how to say lucky. Those who were assigned the role of executioners died quickly.

Camrad_RIP 25.10.21 в 16:43

The mercenary commander, the only survivor among them, was of little use. Gazef interrogated him right after the headman. The older, gray-haired man, kneeling with his hands tied, answered all his questions briefly and at once, staring dumbly at the floor. But he didn't know as much as Gazef wanted him to know. A mercenary, a landless knight from the Baharut Empire. Hired by an unknown person for a quick punitive raid on villages near E-Rantel. He did not know who the hirer was, only the money was important.

Camrad_RIP 25.10.21 в 17:35

Listening to the mercenary, Gasef really wanted to strangle the bastard with his own hands right there. The only thing that kept him from doing that was to leave it to the executioner. An experienced master torturer would surely be able to squeeze out something more important. And the execution would have to be public, so people would know that retribution had taken place. There was also something else that troubled him.

Camrad_RIP 25.10.21 в 17:36

Something was wrong. Someone had provided the imperials with a detailed road map and the exact route. And also - the mercenary knew exactly in this village they had to linger. How he was so sure - the mercenary did not remember, and a cup of embers behind the chest did not help to remember. From his experience, Gazef knew that problems with the memory of the doers always pointed to problems with those who paid. And those who were paying had not yet shown themselves in any way.

Camrad_RIP 25.10.21 в 19:37

His thinking was interrupted by a rude, quick knock on the door and a lieutenant who immediately burst in

Camrad_RIP 26.10.21 в 19:23

"My Captain, the village is surrounded by an unknown enemy!"

Camrad_RIP 25.10.21 в 16:33

* * *

Camrad_RIP 21.10.21 в 17:32

"Sir Nigun, the summoners of the Solar Scriptures are in position, the phantoms are summoned!"

Camrad_RIP 26.10.21 в 19:26

Sir Nigun gave a brief nod to his assistant.

Camrad_RIP 26.10.21 в 19:28

"Have you been spotted?"

Camrad_RIP 26.10.21 в 19:29

"Yes, sir. The alarm is sounded and the enemy is on alert."

Camrad_RIP 26.10.21 в 19:29

"Very good. Tell the summoners, the first wave of phantoms into battle. The goal is maximum damage, do not take care of yourself. Have them ready to summon the second wave at once."

Camrad_RIP 26.10.21 в 19:30

"Yes!" the assistant spurred his horse, galloping off to carry out the order.

Camrad_RIP 26.10.21 в 19:31

Sir Nigun once more checked his equipment. He was very proud of the fact that the Council had entrusted him with the ancient relics of the Church. They had once belonged to the same deified Heroes who founded the state that would later become the Theocracy.

Camrad_RIP 26.10.21 в 19:31

Artifacts of unimaginable power that left the Arsenal only for great deeds. The Aegis of Justice, the Chainmail of the Celestial Guardian, the Diadem of Iron Will, and, finally, the absolute weapon, which was only to be used in exceptional cases. A crystal with a sealed summoning spell of a High Angel. And something else, too, which Sir Nygan tried not to think about. The latter was to be used only if the operation had failed.

Camrad_RIP 26.10.21 в 19:33

Each of these items had a rich, glorious history and endowed the bearer with great power. This operation was bound to succeed. The Council of Six put in not only ancient artifacts but many other relics that could only be used once. It is impossible to replenish their supply. Scrolls [of concealment], for example, no more than a dozen remain. The Otherworld Potions that the ancient heroes brought with them are slightly more. The crystal, carefully guarded by Nigun, was the only one of its type.

Camrad_RIP 26.10.21 в 19:36

Sir Nigun prayed briefly, broke the seal of the crystal vial, and drank its contents, carefully memorizing every moment, every nuance of taste. Not in every generation would there be one to whom such an honor would be bestowed. His body swiftly poured with a heavy and confident power beyond the reach of mere mortals.

Camrad_RIP 26.10.21 в 19:42

He stepped forward, leaving the undergrowth. The [concealment] spell had just begun to fade. Now another scroll.

Camrad_RIP 26.10.21 в 19:42

* * *

Camrad_RIP 21.10.21 в 17:33

Gazef kicked open the second-floor balcony door, jumped out, and glanced around.

Camrad_RIP 25.10.21 в 13:14

The village was indeed surrounded. In a sparse chain, at twice the distance of an arrow, stood men in chainmail, cloaks unmarked and helmets concealed. Worst of all, looming over them were tall figures of angels in fancy armor, with spears and shields. Their snow-white wings fluttered in the wind.

Camrad_RIP 24.10.21 в 16:31