Ch 17 - The city of Catun

This port is different from the last one where we stopped to replenish our stores and fix the ships.

It’s incredibly organized and well built. Who would have thought to make ports of heavy stone, so this is the distant continent eh?

So Jumon suspicions weren’t unfounded hmmm, I guessed that just by bringing a strong contingent of men with me was more than enough, guess I was wrong?

It is a prosperous city, the architecture is robust but weird, huge ramparts can be seen even from here covering the 3 exposed sides of the city, yet it has a single point of entry at the southern wall in center.

Strange red stones make up the walls of the buildings, some using wood and others using stone to make the roofs, it is a very different and more advanced architectural composition than in my continent.

I wasn’t expecting this.

The roads - streets they call them here - are made of oddly flattened and leveled stones, not of normal soil like in our land.

It is a whole different culture.

So that’s what that old woman Clovea meant when revealing her vision... ‘unfamiliar country’ - those words echoed in my mind -

Our order has spent thousands of years slowly gathering loyal followers, training them so they can infiltrate the kingdoms in the Gailyra continent.

We have already taken over eight city-states and kingdoms under our thumb out of the seventeen there, placing puppet kings and nobles our control expands steadily.

There are some still outside our grasp but that’s not my assignment, now what I have to do is work in taking over this continent.

“As if”

I whispered to myself.

This land is a lot different than I thought, I was expecting to find salvages or an undeveloped country as many in our continent.

This is not going to be easy work.

“Are my men ready captain?”

“Yes Lady Morea, they are awaiting your orders”

This man walking down the port with me is one of our 12 captains, he commands one of our fleets to cross the dangerous oceans.

He is a tall and strong dark skinned man, always running his left hand through his brown beard. The slight wrinkles on his face show he is about 45 years old, and he have been sailing since he was little. Going out on fishing boats with his father, another faithful follower of our order.

It took us 6 years to get there, as the captain recommended, we took the long way. Sailing as close to shore as possible yet far enough to not be seen.

We had to sail up to the north for months, then move from west to east until we reached the Cobalt Sea and then navigate down to this City’s port.

It seems crossing the Sea of Zite, North Sea and the Dragon Sea is too dangerous due to the large amount of marine beasts. The captain told me that if we attempted that we could have lost many, if not all our ships.

“Then start unloading them slowly as planned, every two weeks from the ships anchored out in the Cobalt Sea”

North of this city is the Cobalt Sea, that connects both the northeastern continent, and this south-east continent.

Our fleet is anchored there more than 10 ships carrying my 600 men.

The plan is to unload every two weeks 50 men bringing goods from the northern continent.

“As you wish my lady. For the Fallen ones return”

He chants as he starts to turn back towards the boat.

“and the darkness spread eternal!”

In six months I’ll have my army ready, mingling in the city posing as merchants from the north, with wishes to migrate here in search for a better life.

I’ll gain war-funds and strengthen our position here, once all it’s done I’ll start my work, infiltrate this City’s castle and from there start the takeover.

----------------------------------

It’s been a week since the trial ended and now here we are, leaving the city of Imil, the capital of our kingdom.

The mission this time? Transport and escort the exiled Rawkin family, who got everything taken away from them, properties, riches, titles and assets (harsh i know, even their clothes were taken away, they are wearing farmer’s clothing now) to Catun city-port, then load them into a ship so they can be dropped at the Island of the Forgotten.

Gat has been in a somber mood for a while and not even Ali has been able to soothe her. Dan has also tried but... he lost all hope when Gat told us that she will marry the prince soon after the Trial!

Aww aww why couldn’t a prince pick me eh? Don’t get me wrong I don’t envy Gatriel at all, getting married and keeping her mind about her vocation is tough.

Juls and Azer have been trying to take him to ‘those’ places in the slums, but Dan is not really spirited and hasn’t accepted... yet.

As for me, I’ve tried to talk to Gat and Ali but there isn’t much I can say, since the rumors that the city-port of Catun is behaving oddly, Gat has been fierce - and somber - and it makes me a little afraid of her?.

Well the scout that came this morning as we were crossing the eastern rampart, told us that a large number of men migrated from the north and things have been changing in the past six months.

So taking this trip to Catun that will take us no less than three month to complete, to transport and escort and make sure the exiles get on the ship towards that island is taking a toll on Gat’s mood.

“We will camp at the ruins of the old Jade Fortress close to Catun, spend two days there to rest, gather intel and plan our moves. Azer and Gali come with me, Ali go scout for monsters and any other dangers, Juls keep an eye on the traitor and his family”

After traveling until mid-day she said in her commanding tone, Uwaaa those eyes Gat, those eyes! Scary scary *shiver* why does Juls has to keep an eye on them? They are bound and tied in the carriage!

I start following Gat and Azer trots a bit and reached my side.

“What is it General?”

“Gene... Azer!”

“Present! General?”

Azer’s salutes putting his right punch to his chest, but his wry smile makes me chuckle, he’s teasing her, it’s bold but it’s funny, at least her mood is clearing up.

“Have you read the letter that Ali ‘received’ from the scout?”

“‘Received’ General? That was sleight of hand! *cough cough* You mean the one with contents which he did not voiced when we questioned him? Yes I have”

Azer’s expression changed and now is in completely serious mode! Uwawa I’m not good with this Azer, when he slightly close his brown eyes like that means he's plotting something.

“General do you plan on invading Catun? Just the six of us?”

Gat nods looking straight at me, why? Are you asking my opinion?

“Gen... Gat, I’m not against it, but Juls leg...”

She looks up at the sky and took a deep breath then lowered her head again and looked at me.

“So will you cover for him? Or you think we should go back?”

“Uh? Why are you asking me and not Azer? Eh?”

What’s this? I went stiff for a second.

Why is she asking me? Isn’t Azer our strategyst? I turn my head and look at Azer but there is no change in his expression, what’s going on?

“Is Azer my only friend present here Gali? Or is it that you believe I only trust his advice?”

Eh? No, uh, well no, aaaaaa, let me take a breath and calm myself here a bit, think my answer carefully first.

“No of course not, so then this is my advice. I think we should request reinforcements General, at least a small platoon of 150 men to cover for Jul’s injury”

Azer smiled and looked at me while nodding, wha, what? What did just happen?

“I Agree with Gali General, tho instead of mere soldiers couldn’t you ask some of the Knights that your Lord father left behind to protect your family? Of those, a hundred would be more than enough”

Gat puts her right index finger between her eyes and ponders for a few seconds.

“Good plan, If we carry the banner of The Pegasus behind us there is nothing to fear, let’s go with that. Azer if you see Ali first send her my way”

Oi oi oi, why elite knights? What’s the content of the letter?

“Gat, could you let me read the letter?”

Gatriel handed me an open envelope, and I took the letter out.

“

Emergency request for reinforcements from the Capital city of Imil

City of Catun has been captured

Large number of assailants

Unknown origin

*seal*

“

An impromptu communique with the seal of the Gerfast family, a white wolf howling.

Whats going on? my surprise must be very clear seeing gatriel puts her hand on my head, I look at her while trembling a little.

“Don’t worry Gali ok?--”

She let go of my head and straightened her back then asked

“Who am I?”

“Our general”

“O Our G, General”

Azer answers, I stuttered a little

“Then trust me as you always have ok?”

As we always have, those are indeed reassuring words, just as we got into the second course, the last 4 years of the Royal Academy. She handpicked us and asked us to party with her.

I felt amazing that day you know, that Gatriel Decebal asked me personally to be a part of her party, who would say no?.

We will graduate once we get back of this last mission, we have already completed our requirements for graduation, but due to the nature of the issue that happened, the king himself ordered Gat to perform this last duty.

Transport, escort and make sure that the now exiled Rawkin family gets to the Island of the Forgotten.

A place under our kingdom, where the exiled are thrown into. With no port and three full months of travel by fast ship, exiles are planked on its shores and forced to swim to the island.

It’s a bit too cruel if you ask me but I’m no lawmaker, and it’s true, that only those who are marked as traitors from noble families get the luxury to choose between exile and execution.

I was turning around with Azer when gat called my name, I turned back towards her.

“Keep me company Gali would you? Azer will go to Juls while we wait for Ali”

“Yes general”

I answered and walked behind Gat while she talked to me about her worries, it seems her bad mood is because she wants to form her own Knight Squad upon graduation and she also wants to leave for the northernmost border as soon as possible.

She is worried about her father and fiance, I had never seen this face on her, it’s... vulnerable.

Completely different from the fierce expression she always has, it suits her somehow? Hehe I’m glad she is talking to me about personal stuff, makes me feel closer to her.

“So then, when I do, would you accept being one of my wings?”

Hu? What was that? Are you recruiting me into your new squad?

“I’m sorry gat, what are you asking of me? Are you recruiting me?”

I’m surprised I never thought I was good enough to be on this team, yes indeed I’ve grown a lot since I joined Gatriel’s team but...

“I’m back ~pyon~”

Standing behind me is the shadowy Ali, as soon as I heard her voice I relaxed a little, I wasn’t scared because she didn’t just appear, she walked towards us and I could hear the steps closing in behind me.

“Ali, welcome back! Save me the report, we are going back to Imil”

And just like that we returned to the capital.

Thanks for reading my fiction! I hope to get your comments and help from now and in future issues.

Give and Take you know undefined, you help me, I help you! isn't that the main reason why most of us gather here in RRL? to learn from each otner?

Cheers.