Book 5 Chapter 19 - Through Fire and Flames (Final)

hello everyone- just quickly posting the rest of last weeks stuff tomorrow, wanted to get this out first though cause damn, its over 5k words, my longest chapter not split in two parts... hope it was worth the wait! 

Rynard had found himself in plenty of dire situations over his lifespan.

Belaying orders between foolhardy commanders and unwitting rangers, keeping himself from the thick of danger without disobeying direct intentions. Ship raids to crowd control, he had managed to keep himself alive, if not in one piece.

He had never willingly thrown himself into a terminal situation, he didn't fear it, couldn't fear it due to his design, but something inside him prevented him from being completely reckless.

That preservation was long gone while Jasmine shouted orders from atop his shoulders.

He didn't mind though, as he charged ahead toward the Rajavan assault, he wasn't going because he was told to, he went because they needed to.

The ambush would have been even more devastating had two of the most powerful commanders on Branch not brought along them along as extensions of their pride. The size of the invasion was too much for the contingent of knights and soldiers, it was pure luck their superiors had even brought them along in the first place. Worst of all, they had no battle statistics for their enemy, the Vassals were made from unknown DNA, without knowing what in the universe the knights were fighting, everyone was at a disadvantage.

With every Ranger death and Vassal defeat their regalia computers collected ways on how to destroy the vassals faster. Structural weaknesses, pressure points, speed, strength, striking range, and production quantity, analysing everything but the information was coming at a very high cost, . Rynard's helmet screen and internal computer voice began spewing out more data on the vassals they were up against, faster then the commanders could implement  They needed to buy everyone time, time to recover, time to reinforce and process information.

The giant ‘Sharkcantulas’ and ‘Batigers’ were formidable enough, but the combat computer system had picked up several more unidentified amalgamations. Rynard had seen several strange creatures from the human homeworld back working with Essander, none of which matched anything on his computer screen. Humans were scary enough, what other kinds of horrors existed on that isolated planet?

“We need to get back up on deck!” Jasmine informed her small crew, making their way around to the yacht without getting in the line of fire.

“What's the plan?” Itsuki asked, holding onto Letu’s arms for dear life as the arvas soldier flew him behind Jasmine’s charge.

“Hook up the speakers to the yacht's entire p.a system.” she answered, “the louder we get the better!”

“And then what? Scream at them?!” he cried exasperated.

“Pretty much!” Jasmine grinned sardonically, “But with feeling,”

Itsuki didn't put up a fight after that. Everyone there had been on the receiving end of Jasmine's Freq-pulse at one point or another and the prospect of her unleashing it with combat purposes was, in Rynard's mind, thrilling.

Most commanders used anger, fury and domination to fuel their pulses, to make their Knight/Ranger units into weapons of destruction. Humans were different, in their short time together he had experienced painful sadness, overwhelming joy and shadowy memories come to life, he never thought those emotions could be used in such a way. He wanted to feel the unfettered anger he knew was inside the small human.

Rynard didn't bother trying to use the gangway, building up enough speed he launched himself up onto the deck, destroying the wooden finish and denting the steel underneath. Xant and Jasmine both jumped off the minute they had securely landed with Itsuki and Letu following after. Jasmine ran over to the stereo system, unplugging wires, speakers and devices, handing what she could to Itsuki.

“If we plug these into the P.A. and we should be able to increase the blast radius,” Jasmine explained her plan, “at least-” she paused, turned to her alien companions “Does volume affect freq-distance?!”

“Messengers amplify freq-pulse,” Rynard answered, standing guard, “We don’t have one here, but if you're loud enough and they're not stupid they should broadcast you once you're signalling,”

“Got it!” Jasmine nodded and began running up the stairs to the command tower of the yacht, Xant, Letui and Itsuki following after.

“Wait! Why do you need the phone?!” Itsuki asked.

“Music helps,” Jasmine responded, leaping up the stairs and ladder with the help of the guard rails, before Itsuki could respond he felt Xants hand on his shoulder, firm and threateningly.

“It works,” the doctor insisted. Itsuki nodded his head and gave up asking any more questions.

Rynard was too large to make it up past the main deck, his priority now was to ensure nothing from the Rajavan ship made it anywhere near the yacht. Reaching to his shoulder he unclasped his weapon. A light, portable melter gun, the acid tanks already filling up as he aimed it toward the chaos. Letu, despite not being told, had both his remaining segmenter swords drawn and dialled in the incinerate function. The swords became plasma cutters, emitting a slight humm as they waited to be plunged into unsuspecting flesh.

Rynard tuned his combat computer to filter through the command pulses on the field.

Nako and Karakts were already waning, the pair had been going full pelt on their nervous systems for the entire invasion without proper support. The old soldier counted seven downed Sharkantulas, dead bodies became slush in the acid pools beneath the warzone, a mass of blood and bones unrecognisable from what they were before.

The stench would greet them soon enough.

A sudden and deafening crack struck through their air, like lightning, or fighter bolt missiles, Rynard pointed his melter at the source and saw a sight to freeze him in place.

The Praetor was falling from the sky.

And his hundred of soldiers falling unwillingly with him, scattered by a hazy swarm of needle-like invertebrates.

The black hole of fury vanishing in the air, leaving only Nako’s presence on the field, diminishing the council's presence against the invasion.

Without the Praetor to draw attention, the vassals would be seeking to swarm the location and devour any stray unit. They were already turning their attention to the yacht.

“Jasi!” Rynard shouted over Comns, “The Praetor is down and we're out here with our tails in the air!”

Rynard aimed his melter at the side of the yacht and began spraying a pre-emptive wave of acid down the hull. The paint sizzled and peeled as the neon green liquid dripped down the steel walls, with any luck the acid would prevent vassals from climbing up leaving them to focus on any incoming air-borne.

He scanned the car yard for any oncoming enemies, slipping through the masses of cars determined to be unseen, two black, sleek-looking vassals had come sniffing.

Rynard bared his teeth, they were suspiciously human-looking…

After several failed attempts to kick in the command tower door on her own, Jasmine stood aside and let Xant with his regalia on brute force his way through.

The door basically broke off his hinges.

“Right, Itsuki! Plug in the phone and microphone, turn every speaker on and up to 11, Xant,” she turned to her friend and lowered herself down to one knee, “I need you to turn off the limiters on my translator,”

The doctor hesitated, pushing himself off the floor to face her.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked gently, “you won’t be able to control the flow of your output,”

“We don't have a choice,” she replied, “if I don't do this, we might not make it out alive, better to hit them with everything we’ve got once,”

Xant nodded, opening the gloves of his suit and connecting the organic wires from his dataslate to Jasmines translator circuit to see what he could do. The lines of chemical code keeping the unfiltered thoughts out were ornate and extensive, he copied over what he could to his dataslate’s memory before deciding the quickest course of action was to just delete it all and return the translator to vat-setting.

Jasmine winced in discomfort but didn’t stop him from the procedure.

Xant stepped back, Jasmine looked over at him.

“[Xant]Did it(the procedure) work(successful)?[quirey/concern]”

Xant nodded, she had reverted back to the interrupted speech patterns with a dozen context accents layered on top. His own translator struggled to understand her with so much information loaded into the question.

“Simple sentences,” he reminded her, gently removing the wires from her skull “don't explain, just talk,”

She nodded in return, Itsuki thrust a microphone into her hand.

“All set, Sunshine.” he replied.

Jasmine took hold of the mic and walked to the large wide windows of the bridge, she could see the battle before her, the Rajavan monsters and the diminishing Imperial and council forces. They were dying in large numbers, she could feel their presences disappearing, tingling on her skin like the bubbles in soda. Small and too many to count.

Now or never…

Jasmine tapped her suits comns collar, broadcasting to everyone in range.

“[Nako]Knight commander(Conflicted/authoritive), [Jasmine/Namegiver]I’m going to set off (I’m going to try)a freq-bomb(with everything I’ve got)[Worry/sincerity], prepare your troops(brace yourself),”

“Jasmine?!” Nako’s panicked voice ran down her spine “get out of here! Your need to evacuate-” She disconnected the comns, and with one deep and urgent breath, pressed play.

[Play](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15JCb6P60Vw&ab_channel=Jensv12)

The music came in harsh and LOUD. Xant and Itsuki both covered their ears in a desperate attempt to ease the pain, the open and empty engineer's hanger did nothing but amplify the yachts speaker system. Xant watched as Jasmine stood bouncing her head to the beat, attuning herself to the bombastic music, before launching herself into the Freq-Bomb.

(Right now)On a cold winter morning(a day like any other),

In the time before the light (while waiting for relief)

In flames (suffering) of death's eternal reign(lifes certain end),

We(those against the Rajava) ride(fearlessly) towards the fight

When the darkness(Enemy/evil) has fallen down(surrounded us)

And the times are tough(dangerous/uncertain and understated) alright(I understand)

The sound of evil laughter(the Rajava’s arrogance) falls

Around the world(us/counil/imperium) tonight(a time without sunlight)

Jasmines freq had cast a shadow across the area, purposely her light was dim as twilight, cold as her words but confident and righteous. Crafting and shaping the scene around her as though the battle was hopeless as they stood, the Rajava was the darkness and they had indeed surrounded them.

Fighting hard(with all your might), fighting on for the steel(fighting for your brothers in arms)

Through the wastelands(space/void/empty space stations) evermore(endlessly)

The scattered *****(lost soldiers) will feel the hell(inflicted anguish)

Bodies wasted(destroyed) on the shores(on the ground before you)

On the blackest plains(bleakest circumstances) in Hell's domain(war and terror)

We(Humans/citizens) watch them(Knights/Rangers) as they go(as YOU fight)

Through the fire(suffering) and pain(wounds) and once again we know(I understand your purpose)

So now we(you the soliders) fly ever free(unleash your true might!)

We're free(unfiltered) before the thunderstorm(the battlefield)

On towards the wilderness(unknown victory before you!)

Our quest(to end Rajava/ bring peace) carries on

The Knights and rangers stood in the blood of their fallen companions and for the first time in their lives felt the futility of their existence, the waste of potential and the loss of their companions. The cold fury that Nako channelled through them was replaced with their own fires, the cohesive unit broke away in their own inferno of anger and desperation. The Rajavan vassals screeched and wailed in pain, their movements interrupted by the hundreds of new freq-pulses shooting off in all directions unable to focus their attacks.

Far beyond the sundown(far beyond the threat of death)

Far beyond the moonlight(far beyond the goddess’s influence)

(the power lies)Deep inside our hearts(emotion/empathy/freq) and all our-

Xant felt a millenia of knowledge poured into his brain. Dreams, memories, emotions, empathy, pleasure, pain, choice, morality, actions, guilt, redemption and Frequency. Humans did understand Freq. An ancient memory of the sensation passed down through generations through song, strong enough that it persisted beyond the flesh. They could not feel it, but knew, subconsciously it existed… and of course, it was a single, simple word.

-SOULS!

The dim twilight gave way to the breaking dawn.

The blinding sun fueled those fires, the darkness around them faded and with it the Rajava’s chance at victory. Itsuki and Xant had to leave the bridge, the unfiltered translator freq was too painful to be standing so close.

So far away(for a long time) we wait for the day(wait for the end)

For the lives(those who fought before you) all so wasted(killed needlessly) and gone(dead)

We(Rangers/Knights) feel the pain of a lifetime(the damage the rajava caused) lost in a thousand days(in the painful dynasty)

Through the fire(pain) and the flames(war) we carry on(we must fight on)

Nako wings failed him as exhaustion set in.

He barely had the energy to land behind the front lines as the iridescent light swept over all the messenger comns. One by one he felt his troops pulled away from his influence, the glacier he created crumbling, replaced with sparks of interfering emotions. The messengers chose to turn from his orders and broadcast the alien maidens' song, bringing with it an invigorating sensation unlike any he had ever felt.

It was so powerful it shattered even his own pulses, so beautiful in its sentiment and passion that it brought him back to the serene sounds of the pink tablet. He lay there on his knees, his eyes drawn to the light dazzling on the yacht as a sour bile formed in his belly.

This was not the first time she had brought him to his knees in defeat, even after all this training he could not withstand such a pulse. Why now, at the pinnacle of his achievements must he be overshadowed by such a phenomenon? The bile formed into acid, spilling out his mouth as he forced his wings to beat, swords drawn he unleashed the last of his wrath on the rajava, joining his men in their revelry.

As the red(human blood) day is dawning(our time has come)

And the lightning(our power) cracks the sky(unleashes terror)

They'll(the rajava) raise their hands(use all their might) to the heavens above(arrogance to control us)

With resentment in their eyes(we/humans are stronger then they are)

Running back through(as I remember) the mid morning light(the happy memories of my past)

There's a burning(pyshically painful) in my heart(my emotions)

We're banished(stolen abducted) from a (peaceful)time in a fallen(undiscovered) land(planet)

To a life(unwanted) beyond the stars(to your[council/imperium] space)

In your darkest(most terrifying) dreams(imagination) see to believe(it is all too real)

Our(Humans/mine) destiny(calling) is time

And endlessly(tirelessly) we'll(i’ll fight) all be free(from tryany) tonight(at the end of the fight)

The Rajavan units were disoriented, Jasmines freq signal was messing with their own broadcasts, the once cohesive swarm now flailing, unable to direct themselves in any direction and the rangers and knights were taking advantage of that.

They were going absolutely feral.

Gone were the disciplined lines and squad formations, they begin tearing into the monsters without any hesitation, working together to crush and liquefy anything that stands in their way, swarming like ants over prey. Many had torn off their helmets in order to better bite into the enemy, some had reached for the weapons of their comrads and fired several weapons at once. One enterprising soul had torn off a fighter artillery gun and began firing projectiles at the larger vassals.

A blast of nausea enveloped the area, the rajavan monsters jerked and shuddered, a signal strong enough to bring them back into the fold. Their disorientation ceasing and priorities shifted, the vassals began to ignore the soldiers before them and turned their attention to the yacht…

And on the wings(power) of a dream(my Frequency)

So far beyond reality(you couldnt understand)

(I was)All alone in desperation

Now the time has gone(But I am NOT alone now)

Lost inside you'll never find(I will NEVER give up)

Lost within(even doubting) my own mind(thoughts)

Day after day this misery(internal suffering) must go on(I will endure)

So far away(from home) we(Humans) wait for the day

For the lives(men, women, children, animals) all so wasted(abducted) and gone(stolen)

We feel the pain of a lifetime(lives on earth torn from us) lost in a thousand days(how far we are from earth)

Through the fire(trials) and the flames(pain) we carry on(we will live on!)

Woah, woah, whoah

Woah, woah, whoah

The lurking vassals made it to the edge of the yacht. The songs extended solo caused a break in the freq-bombs intensity, they used that opportunity to make their strike.

Rynard was waiting for them.

With practised precision, he blasted them with acid, aiming for their heads, to blind and their feet, to make the ground beneath them unsteady. The creatures snarled and dashed to outmaneuver the large captain, but rynard was not acting alone. The second the monsters head peered over the guard rail Letu was ready to cut them down. The plasma blade seering as it sunk into the beasts black shimmering skull.

It howled in pain, before reaching up to hold the blade in place, Letu tried to pull back but the creature was too strong, watching in horror as the creature twisted and snapped the segmenter sword's frame like cheap acrylic.

Move out the way!

Letu’s body involuntarily threw itself back, Itsuki jumped down from the deck above.

Aluminim baseball bat in both hands, he brought it down with all the weight and strength he could on the back of its skull.

A sickening dull thud echoed as the weapon collidied, crushing the creature's throat and snapping its neck as it wrapped around the guard rail. The body bounced off the hull and fell limply to the ground below.

Victory was short-lived as the creature's partner jumped on deck with a vengeful hiss. It stood tall on two legs, the acid dripped right off its protective-coated skin. Ink black and shiny, it was covered from head to individual toes, its head turned, looking at each one of them intensely from a blank face.

Rynard kept his gun raised, Itsuki held his bent bat up protectively, his internal voice broadcasting loud and clear.

“It's (not) human…”

Letu raised his last remaining sword, learning from his mistake, taking aim and thrust the plasma blade into the vassals throat. The beast dodged, sidestepping into a combat roll and lunging straight for Itsuki, arms outstretched to tackle him.

Rynards tail thwarted the efforts, flinging the human vassal across the deck with a single sweep. It let out a very human-like wail and scrambled to make a second attempt, moving too fast for Rynard to hit it with a shot from his melter.

Itsuki gripped his bat and let out a scream of fury, sharp stabs of glass sliced through the vassal, stalling its movements just long enough.

Letu copied Itsuki’s tactic, divebombing from above to pierce the creature in the neck. Red blood poured from the burning wound, it choked and spluttered but still tried to claw its way over to the human.

“Withdraw!” Rynard shouted, Letu flew back just in time to escape the shadow of Rynards foot. The human vassal was crushed under the weight of the ten-foot-tall, power suited dinosaur.

The guitar solo died out and Jasmine's voice returned.

The blinding sun graced with a gentle touch. A blessing and a bond as she poured out her heart for the final verse.

Now here we(humans/council/imperium) stand(together) with their(Rajava) blood on our hands

We fought so hard(we have all felt pain and sacrificed), now can we understand?(can we share that hardship together?)

I'll break the seal(I will destroy the rajava) of this curse(for the pain they have inflicted) if I possibly can(I am only one life)

For freedom(from pain, fear, suffering,needless death) of every(one) man(human and alien)

The freq-pulse was more than just orders or anger, it was a promise to those who fought alongside her, hope that the fight and every fight then on would end in victory. She offered a final peace, an end reward to their sacrifice…

Nako stood exhausted, his legs and swords dragged through the sludge of battle.

So many had died where he had stood, nameless and forgotten, yet he had lived.

His chest swelled with pride, it wasn't all for nothing, he would live to see another day, he would fulfil his calling and achieve everything once thought beyond his means.

He held a hand to his chest, the cold that consumed him was refreshed, a spark of… something precious burned inside. Something that was wholly and undoubtedly his.

Nako lifted his head, assured in his victory, only to stop as he felt another pulse.

Of the hundreds of rangers and knights that once stood on the battlefield, now only a couple of dozen stood in their place but each one was… different.

So far away(in years to come) we wait for the day(we will reach the end)

For the lives(those given to protect the innocent) all so wasted and gone(dying before they could live happily)

We(everyone here) feel the pain(understand their sacrifice) of a lifetime lost in a thousand days (the world we could create without their evil)

We carry on! (we will fight on! For them!)

Jasmine stood after the power ballad, arms collapsed by her sides, her voice worn and body weary but not ready to give in. Even from so far away she could feel the burning passion in the army before her.

It was confronting.

Not only did she have the power to turn the tide of battle but she didn't feel nearly as exhausted as Nako or the Praetor seemed to be, she could keep going for hours if need be.

Jasmine stared down from her tower, The straggling vassals were dying and shaking from her bomb, where once they tried to reach her now they left themselves open to assault from the soldiers below.

It wasn't over yet, her thumb hovered over the phone screen and her internal voice sent out a signal to all those who could hear.

She was going to do it all again.

A wail of pain screeched through the air. Jasmine and everyone else had to cover their ears.

The vassals quivered at the sound, and all at once began to scuttle away in retreat back towards the mouth.

Jasmine stopped and blinked.

They had won?

Xant cheered from the outside, informing her with a bright smile.

“You did it! You turned the wave away!”

Jasmine stood there stunned… it couldn't have been that easy… could it?

At the mouth of the ship, the last of the vassals tried to scurry inside.

But those that were not cut down by the rangers and knights would not find sanctuary in their ship. As the crippled and injured tried to cross the threshold a flood of blue gas flowed out of the orifice, the vassals choked on its fumes, they fell over writhing and twitching in nerve decay.

Nako ordered his men to clear the area, rushing back towards the yacht to steer clear of the gas. Only a few were caught in the crossfire, they too fell down, stiffed, but not dead.

As Nako looked back at the clearing entrance he spotted something…

A figure stood at the mouth's base, watching as the chaos subsided, a figure too close to human to not be one.

They were covered head to toe in a black environmental suit, sleek and tailored.

The figure raised its hand and threw a device towards the empty battlefield. The small black cube rolled several times before coming to a stop, flickering blue and white lights.

“DESTROY THE OBJECT!” Nako screamed but his orders were too late.

The flickering lights burst out from the device, a hologram, giant in size and scope looked over the engineer's wing.

It was grainy and damaged, but its subject was captivating.

The being was unlike any species seen before, a face ethereally beautiful, created to please any that looked upon it. A humanoid figure draped in long flowing silks, gracefully slender with multiple arms and a tail framing its presence. A golden crown sat upon its head, glittering like the rays of the sun, it opened its six, black eyes and smiled.

The hologram’s voice spoke on all frequencies, a soothing and gentle voice that made Jasmine's heart race.

“Children of Earth, we-” the hologram jittered, a recording damaged, “-have heard your cries of anguish, I, the Lady of the Arc,-” the image repeated itself, a swaying motion before continuing its message, “offer you sanctuary from the- ***** -forces of the old empires…” she held out all four arms, a gesture of acceptance and kindness, “please, you need not suffer any more…”

The hologram flickered a final time and died.

When Nako returned his gaze to the Rajavan ship, the humanoid figure had vanished inside.

“Rangers!” Nako ordered, struggling to stand, “Retreat! we have won this day!”

His swords were planted firmly in the ground, using them to prop up his shivering shell.

But to his confusion, nobody moved, stranger still, not one came to his aid, he tried again.

“Council Rangers! You Knight Commander has ordered you to retreat!”

The scattered soldiers turned their heads toward him, stared and did nothing.

Nako froze.

His heart began to race and panic.

“I said, RETREAT!” fear strained his voice, they were staring at him and ignoring his orders.

The looked at him as though he were… nothing!

Their heads turned away.

Nako looked towards the distance and saw where their attention had been drawn.

Jasmine arrived on Rynards back, with Xant, Itsuki and Letu, her entourage in tow. The soldiers were all turning to her for commands.

Nako stumbled back, falling from his swords, outnumbered and without influence.

Jasmine looked down at him, her ocean eyes unyielding in their pitying glare.

“[sadness/insulted/relief] Nako…(you’re alive)” Nako shook his head, so much was said with so little, it was hard to concentrate when she spoke…

Her voice held a command for him, “(please)Give me my (grieving)recording back…”

Jasmine’s hand outstretched to him, an offer and a request.

Hand the recording over, obey her command and give yourself over to the light.

The knight commander hesitated.

He looked to the Freq-band still attached to his wrist, the source of his strength training, and the only known recording of the human freq-bomb.

“[Sadness/dissapointment] Nako, Please…(Don’t make me do this…)”

All eyes were on him, they expected him to yield.

Nako refused.

HE WAS THE KNIGHT COMMANDER, NOT HER!

“Jasmine you don't know what you're doing!” he pleaded his case, puffing out his chest with a burst of cold air, “I am the Knight Commander! This glory should be for both of us-”

His legs gave way and he fell once more.

Letu’s sword was lowered to Nako’s chest, above where his heart rested.

He felt the gentle rays of sunlight turn painful.

“[Pleading/angry/sadness/regret] Nako…”

His name held so much conflicting emotion, it knocked him down even further, threatening to destroy the last of his cognitive nerves.

“[sadness/refusal/sympathy]You are injured, (you won't survive) you need to get medical aid ” she continued, “[pleading/insulted] that(my) recording isn't for you to use(as a weapon)-”

Nako’s body began to convulse, Xant placed a gentle hand on Jasmine's shoulder, stopping her from speaking.

“He can't handle anymore,” he explained.

“...[guilt/sympathy/frustration]” Jasmine nodded and stepped back.

Xant stepped over to Nako’s body, administering the chems needed to stabilize the knight commander. When his body finally lay still, Xant lifted the device from Nako’s wrist and unceremoniously crushed it under his boot.

The doctor leaned his whole weight in, twisting and scraping, only satisfied when the band was nothing more than a smear of blue blood and silicone shards.

Nako looked to his men, a silent order for compliance.

The silence from the soldiers said more than the human could, they did not stand to defend their knight commander.

Jasmine looked between her friends and then announced to the crowd of soldiers surrounding her.

“[trust/sincerity]The Rajavan(Hologram), the so-called [false]‘Lady of the Arc’ took(abducted) me and my friends from their homes(earth). Stole us(humans) from happy, fulfilling lives and caused your people(council/Imperium) no end of misery and pain.” her eyes drew to the gaping and silent maw, “And we(all of us) still dont know why, I think, (at the very least), she will need to answer for that crime.[Anger/caution]”

She raised the sword above her head, as any commander before her would have done,

“(Loyal)Soldiers of the council, (Brave)Knights of the imperium, if you would(please) lend me your strength, we(together) can put this(nightmare) to rest once and for all!”

There was a roar of triumph, new life instilled in the men as they parted for the Namegiver to lead them into the unknown.

Nako lay and watched them follow her, he couldn't summon a pulse to reclaim his men.

His victory hollow, his pride bruised, the great Knight Commander could only lay in wait…

Vowing to never be this humiliated again.