Snippet #974290

The legions continued to march on toward the pillar. Malkini glanced at Xeroux, before turning back to the distant army. "The Major General wouldn't blow himself to pieces... nor would he let it even become a possibility. Still, we should greet them."

Malkini, followed by the rest of the group, made their way down the pillar and along the river towards the approaching army. At the front of the marching soldiers stood the Major General, beside him an adviser once again showing him papers bound in leather.

"General Yoff," Malkini said, bowing the man approaching with his army behind him. "Malkini," The General muttered, not looking away from the papers his adviser held. "My friend Oran Oseal gave me an interesting report. He told me that you scanned the village and saw no hostiles, correct?"

"Aye sir," Malkini replied. "The Knights I command seem to think it may be a diversion, to get you, the legions, and us away from the site of another, more pressing attack, and that there were no rebels. I believe that if there are rebels in the area they are now hiding in the wetlands beyond the Highrock area."

"We'll look into that," The General said, giving a nod to his adviser, who ran off into the crowd of soldiers. "But for now we will just enjoy our victory."

"One more thing, General," Malkini added. "The Knights also fear that... perhaps the rebels plan on setting off the explosives with us nearby."

"Don't worry, Oseal and a squad of my most loyals are taking care of that now. In a few hours there won't be any more explosives to set off," The General explained, before turning to his troops. "Gentlemen, the village has been taken, and all enemies inside have been thrown from the cliffs of the pillar and sent to their deaths, as they deserved. Now, the village is yours. Gentlemen, have a good night." The legions erupted into cheering for the General, and then began to march once again towards the village, moving around the ground of Knights carefully.

"Sir, is this really necessary?" Malkini asked as the army moved.

"Oh please, Malkini, you did the exact same thing with your legions. The ones you lost, if I remember correctly," The General replied.

"I gave my legions barbarian villages, not peaceful folk like these ones," Malkini said. "They had a single pikeman for gods sake, that was their militia."

"Morale must be maintained," Yoff said harshly. "Now, if you'll need me for the rest of the night, I'll be in the village. Good day Sir Knight's." And with that Yoff joined the ends of his army marching towards the pillar.

"Shouldn't we join them? Jove asked uncertainly as the Legions surround the pillar.

"God no, you don't want to see what will happen to that village tonight," Malkini muttered. "We will camp as far away from there as possible. Lets move upriver."