The sky was quiet and the heavens were asleep. The wind was strong with a chill in its currents. From atop the walls, twenty paces high, batteries of guards patrolled and scouted but those with a fear for heights would not have been able to stand without trembling. They were at twice the height of even the tallest townhouses whose roofs appeared like waves of red, washed across the cityscape. Any higher, perhaps from the roof of the gatehouse that rose another five paces, then even a scene of the sea would appear undisturbed. Behind the battlements, there was a lawn of grass that sloped as if it was designed to have been used against the defenders but the truth was the opposite. From the streets, archers would have been able to fire into the swarms of enemies that charged down the ridge without fearing much for friendly fire. If they clashed against a shield wall, then that lawn would become a death trap but there were no signs of it having ever been used. The verdant grass was well-kept having risen from the winter thaw and the soil was still flat. However, it was much unlike what lay on the other side of the wall. There was a moat with the depth of the height of a man and the width of no narrow river. Given the rain, snow, and nearby sea, it was always filled to the brim and should an army choose to assault Haven’s outer walls, it would take weeks before the water could be drained. The only access into the west city was a permanent bridge that most travelers used but considering the slyness of the founder who authorized its construction, it may as well have been another trap. Beyond it were acres of fields, its soil tilled but was not seeded. Its land workers had been forced to evacuate into the city no more than hours ago and it was the thing laid on the horizon that finally convinced their stubborn bodies to pack their belongings and scurry.
Not too far, perhaps a league out, one could not hear them for they were deathly silent. There was not a beat of a drum nor the tootle of a flute, and not a single voice could be heard from an army that was twenty thousand-strong, stretched over fields. By the naked eye, guards on the walls could quite clearly spot out their mortars and howitzers pointed directly at them and the sight of it birthed angst in even Károly, Arnau, and Siegfried. They stared at the Rus army whose banners fluttered as if they wanted battle, not knowing why they were there, and only assuming that the worst had happened with their hands tightly gripped onto the walls as hasty footsteps knocked against the stone battlements. Emerging over the crest of the staircase, Arminius rushed towards his comrades and seeing their lieutenant-elect had come, some felt hope wash over them. Thinking that perhaps he would be able to deter the Rus, Siegfried gave way, letting Arminius take his place behind the crenelations and when the lieutenant halted beside Károly, some soldiers stopped their patrol and gathered behind him.
Arnau crossed his arms, gesturing with his head to the obvious problem at hand. “You don’t think they know about it, do you?” He asked his commander for some reassurance.
“They shouldn’t, even if the king did warn us. We only send off two ships everyday, at random times even.” Arminius thought but he could not have imagined the reality of the possibility. “Surely, they couldn’t have suspected as much.”
“What if someone’d told them?” It seemed out of his depth to mention it but when Károly did so, his comrades felt their spirits waver.
Fearing that it could be true, Siegfried turned to Károly hoping it was not but Arminius did not allow the thought to distract him when before his eyes, there were more pressing matters. He kept an eye on the army from where a single man had broke rank from and was marching towards the wall alone. The journey was a league long so he must have begun his approach a quarter of an hour ago. His features were not yet discernable and it would take another two minutes for him to arrive that gave the garrison time to plan.
Looking north then south, the lieutenant turned to Arnau, wondering. “Was movement reported anywhere else?” Arminius tried his luck in deducing their intent.
Arnau shook his head, unclear also. “No, but we’d be first to know.” The lancer squinted and made sure there were no forces hiding on the edge of the horizon. “What worries me is that they’ve come here with a tenth of what we have.” His eyes scanned the battlements which were guarded every ten paces with countless more patrol squadrons in the city.
Crossing his arms, Arminius frowned, unable to decipher their intentions. “If they wanted to negotiate, they would’ve brought twenty.” He covered his mouth and began to mumble to himself. “If they wanted to battle, they would’ve brought ten times more.” At least, he thought.
“I can go get Gin and Miklós if you wanna.” Siegfried pulled on his sleeve, hoping he could help.
The lieutenant shook his head and rested his hand on Siegfried. “No, it’d be better for them to stay where they are in case anything happens on our flanks.” It was praise enough that he considered his suggestion but it did not answer his worries.
With their weapons kept close, the soldiers on the wall were becoming more disquieted. Squads surrounding Arminius and his comrades muttered among themselves as some dared to poke their heads over the battlements when they spotted that the lone Rus soldier had finally come. Crossing the bridge in a calm and composed manner, he approached with a stroll-like walk that confused the garrison staring at him, not knowing whether they should be standing at the ready or not. Their eyes were simply fixed on the man that was not in uniform but was in the attire of a civilian, of a boy, who was unarmed and unarmored. He was open for attack at any moment however it did not seem like he was there to fight nor could he have been there to negotiate as Arminius thought. The lieutenant moved to the balcony of the gatehouse with his comrades close by and a sizable entourage soon followed him, not knowing what their orders were, gathering above the gate. They looked down upon the messenger and wondered why he had shown himself so casually.
Leaning over the wall, the lieutenant tried to judge his adversary at a safe distance. “State your name!” Arminius demanded.
The Rus’s features came into view when he halted and turned his soft-hearted gaze upward. Arnau and Siegfried froze upon recognizing the man but Arminius and Károly could not despite having fought with him just months ago.
“That’s…” Siegfried felt as though he had lost his voice out of fear.
“Aurelius Radilov, Third General of the Rus, Commander of the Sixth Army.” He introduced himself relaxedly. “I am in your care.” The general held his arm above his waist and drew a deep bow.
Diplomatically, he would not rise until he was given permission, but being as highly-ranked as he was, one would not have assumed that he was this modest. His first appearance captured the garrison who felt their hearts ease yet something had forced Arnau and Siegfried to back away from his view.
It was not out of fear that the lancer withdrew into the shade but he felt that he must not give himself away. “That general who let us go…” Arnau remembered well.
Finding their behavior odd, Károly attempted to recall when that might have happened, “Let you go?” The archer suddenly realized that they were speaking of that one obscure incident that he had completely forgotten about. “You mean that time in the forest?” He piped.
“Yeah, that’s the one.” Arnau’s demeanor tensed and his nervousness had overridden his every sense. “Even though I knew he suspected something of us.” His mentioning piqued the attention of the lieutenant.
Arminius glanced over to Arnau who had said something he could not ignore. If he was to welcome the general, it would have been wise for him to keep it in the back of his mind, but as he hesitated, he is quickly reminded of the situation they had faced before winter not too long ago when they had no home and had to seek refuge with the kingdom, how the captain was too paranoid to decide alone. Now his role had been reversed albeit with the pressure emanating from the twenty thousand men stood on the horizon. Still, he could not explain their presence, and looked on, wondering whether he should follow the example he had to face. His comrades gave him little counsel on how to act and it was clear that it was he who would eventually have to decide. It seemed as though he had developed that same paranoia being isolated from the rest of the world even if the Rus showed more humility that he ever did.
Drawing out his courage, the lieutenant hoped not to repeat the past. “What have you come for?” Arminius firstly asked.
Aurelius slowly raised his head and his eyes were pointed at the boy when a smile surfaced lastly. “Well, now that you’ve asked…” The young general crossed his arms confidently, seeming as if he knew he would not be rejected. “I expect a cup of tea at the very least."13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7dOqZFNkD
