A Most Dangerous Weapon

Chapter 19: Return to Steppe

We arrived in Steppe a few days later, but it wasn't the same town anymore.

Our horses took us down the winding roads that once sang with life and freedom. The trade stalls were in disarray as abandoned goods and rotten food littered the streets as some of the structures sat in shambles. Wild dogs shuffled through the mess for food, and a few small orphan children grabbed whatever goods that they could later barter with. They all ran away at the sight of our weapons. Adults remained in their homes, closing their shutters after getting a peek at the new arrivals.

I readjusted the sash around my face, feeling self-conscious as prying eyes looked on.

"What happened here?" Rowan asks as he takes in a blood stained wall to our left.

Kilgorian squints at the red splatter. "So I'm not the only one seeing this? That's a relief..."

Of course he was drunk; it was becoming his natural state as of late.

We ignore his idiotic comment and ride on. He drops his newly emptied bottle of rum on the street. The shattered glass blends in seamlessly with the mess.

Things got worse as we pressed forward. Buildings were in shambles as black smoke continued to rise from the rubble. Dead bodies have been pushed into piles on the side of the road, but the noticeable blood stains show the spots where these people actually took their last breaths. There were men, women and children pushed aside; no one was spared.

It reminded me of the raid on Kent all those months ago, but on a grander scale.

"This is Gaius' doing." I proclaim to the others. "Galacians must have attacked the town recently, but they should be long gone by now; they don't stick around after taking what they need."

As if to prove me wrong, a small cavalry of Galacian soldiers seemed to appear out of nowhere. They came riding down the street towards us with their swords at the ready.

"You were saying?" Kilgorian spits out mockingly.

There's no escape, so we draw our swords and stand firm.

The head soldier pulls his reigns to stop his horse a few feet in front of us. I counted eight other soldiers following his lead, ready to fight at their leader's command.

"You have entered Galacian terrain with malicious intent!" The head soldier proclaims as he points to our drawn weapons. "Surrender your weapons, or we will be forced to kill you."

"This is a Romallian town. You have no authority here. Surrender your weapons, or we will be forced to kill you." I spit back angrily.

The man frowns at my impertinence. "It is no longer run by Romallians. We have taken control of the town-"

Rowan cuts him off. "How did you manage that?"

"The Lord of this town is loyal to the Galacian Emperor." The man states smugly.

I scoff with disbelief. "Lord Remus would never betray Emperor Maximus."

"Lord Remus is dead." He hisses maliciously. "We take orders from Lord Sextus."

If I weren't wearing a sash over my mouth, my gobsmacked expression would have been enough to convey my complete astonishment at his words. But since I had to keep my identity hidden, I only let slip the following, "You have got to be shitting me!"

The man ignores my inappropriate vocabulary. "For the last time, I order you to drop your weapons and surrender to the Galacian Empire!"

I shake off my disbelief and give our group an order of our own, "Kill them all."