Chapter 11: Preparing A Leash

A Chapter by Albert Freeman

Jer's strategy begins to play out as he tries to buy his people time.

(Location: The Witasic Forests, a weeks march from the City-State of Tel-Usanum)

He made his way through the forest swift and silent, the leathers of his booted feet seeming to glide over the moss covered flooring. He glanced up as he passed the great oaks that towered above, taking note of each man or woman that was concealed amidst the foliage in gear that matched the shades of the forest. The Magni was proving to be every bit as ruthless as his reputation had said he would be, and Jer knew he was undertaking a potentially suicidal gamble by taking the fight to the man, but he also knew that sitting back would certainly prove fatal. He cursed those who had refused to join him as they had been amongst the first to fall, forced yet again to bend the knee to the corrupt empire.

Jer made his way to a dip in the forest floor and glanced at Mirkan and the others. He used his hands to make gestures and sign to them that all was going as planned. They would attack as the last of the supply wagons came into view. A guerrila type attacking mode would manage to slow the Magni some, at least until Jer was able to try to marshall the steppe tribes to take the fight to the empire itself.

"Are you sure about this?" Mirkan said with a grunt. He readjusted the double bladed axes strapped across his back, before running his hands over his long horned bow.

"What other choice is there?" Jer replied softly. "With Emronsen and the envoys trying to rally the steppe tribes we have to pay a price in blood to buy as much time as possible. Charles is dead, but the Magni was amongst the vocal who didn't agree with the provisions of the last treaties when we rose up. He won't stop this time until we are all slaves of the empire, even as it crumbles from within."

Mirkan grunted in sour agreement and Jer patted his friend upon his brawny shoulders. He waited for the signal and prayed for Emronsen's to win over the tribes. Without them no matter what they did all would fall before the empire and this time there would be no room to breath.

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