My cats take me to the next world book 3 by D.A. Sanford - HTML preview

The last of the nobles

The army left the manor. We had a modest sendoff. I knew that it was going to be a while before they reenter the manor grounds.

The two generals led the parade. You knew they were the leaders not because they were in front but the way they were dressed. The standard army had normal looking armor. The general’s armor was accented with red and gold paint. It said that we are so skilled that here we are. What everyone knew now was that every one in that army was more than capable of taking over for a fallen leader.

The three followed the generals. The joking in the war room was left there. They look like someone revealed to them that this was a moment in time. Their moment to step forward.

I do not even have the slightest idea on how they would have known something like that. I do warn you, don’t stand too close to me. You don’t know if or when a certain someone will visit a punishment on me for that statement.

After much discussion in their war room, the areas that they wanted to search were divided into sections. Each section would be scouted one by one by their felid and goblin scouts.

Over the course of training, it was found that the goblins were the crafty ones and the felids were the gymnastic ones. The combination of the two rivals the high low twin terror’s reputation. Each pairing had their own synergy. They could, on the fly, almost read each other’s minds.

The army developed, like all armies of old, their own hand language. When I wanted Missy and Abigail to capture that gang spy, I did not say a word. I pointed to the person, grabbed my wrist, then pointed to the floor. That told them silently, Grab that person and bring them here.

Those teams use the same but with their own twist, an accent so to speak. That way if someone was see them signing. They could misinterpret what they see but that never happens. They are too silent.

The teams get in and out with the stealth that only training can bring. They sprint in and out of the area. How could a goblin keep up with a felid you ask, they developed a simple technique used through the ages. It is called piggy back.

When they would reach the general area and settled on a direction they needed to go, the goblin would climb on the felid’s back and hang on. When they reached the area, the goblin would creep in low and the felid would climb various areas.

This combination has led to several marriages. It becomes very personal. Most of the time it is a coworker friendship but in some cases it developed into love. This is neither encouraged or discouraged.

It was one of those teams that found the first clues, a camp for the thugs. It showed signs of repeatedly being used. They were able to ascertain that it was going to be used in the near future.

Now the three are challenged. The generals ask

“What would you do with this information?”

After the three talk to each other, Draco says,

“We would draw back and leave a team on the hill. Hidden from view, they could see when they arrive and how long they stay. In the mean time, we should scout out the other areas. We need to find out if this is a patrolled spot or is it random. Find the group then follow them for a while. Do hand off’s to change the teams. We need to follow them because they will go to the base. It is the brothers we want.”

Rachael and Mazet know that this is exactly what they need to do. They mentally could see the Watcher nod.

Mazet tells them,

“We will leave the ones that found this to watch. They can pick a site of their choosing.

We however need to keep on going. We are using father’s information on other gang patterns, especially Everetts gang patterns. The map showed that there is an area that has not been hit with raids. We really need to investigate that area.”

Now Rachael tells them.

“We have been told that the final assault on the brothers will be under your charge. This is the Watcher’s orders. You need to test your metal. We are to capture the brothers if at all possible. They need to be judged but that will be left to your feelings and assessments. Know this your future reputation will be shaped by your decisions on this mission. The army will find them but it will be your operation at that point. Mazet and I will pull back.”

Mazet again speaks but with a warning,

“This is our orders to you, if one of our family falls, you will be pulled and we take over again. We will not allow you to be foolish and get one of your brothers or sisters injured or killed. Now let’s go find the brothers and make you the leaders that the Watcher has said you will be.”

With that we leave. With what their sisters told them, they realized just how important this mission is. Yes we are going after a thorn in the foot but not done right, an infection could spread and kill. They knew that the Watcher would not allow that. The shame the three would face would take untold years to repair.

They had many discussions with themselves but more important they consulted others.

Use their knowledge.

Just like those five boys that were taken to the camp, the three started this with a flippant child like attitude. Just like the five men that left the first lake camp. That warning struck home. Their sisters could see that they are changing right before their eyes.

That night, in their tent, Rachael and Mazet had a visitor, who told them that they have set those three on the right path. She told them that they will not lose a single person but be vigilant. There may be anger, but logic will rule the day. Her words were

“You need to step in only is Ellenore does not anchor those two.”

After the scouts reported in saying that there was no real pattern to the gangs route, it was the report from the ones assigned to the middle areas, that there is a house there and the two brothers were spotted there.

Those scouts told us that there were slaves there and it was obvious that the majority were females of different species. The two generals could see, well anyone could see, Draco is changing into his full dragon and Justin is starting to hiss.

The generals wanted to step in but remember their warning. They watched.

Ellenore went over to her two brothers and draws them into a bear hug.

“You two need to calm down now. We need to think this through not run amuck. We need a plan to take them alive. They need to stand in front of the king and mother Martha for proper judgement. Anything you would do to them would kill them. They don’t deserve that easy release. Remember what we were told. The Watcher has special places for those kinds.”

Her words and the bear hug causes them to calm down. We come over to them.

“Ellenore is right. Killing them is too easy on them. Remember the tale of Joax and Tiron. Joax is rumored to be in a place where he is alone and immortal. It is a place that Tiron had nightly terrors and it is rumored that even king Draco has those dreams. It sounds like a place for them to exist. We take them alive. Make them suffer.”

Now rational, they see that death is really too easy on them. Both thank Ellenore for her kindly way of calming them. Then they run and an Amazon chases them. You would think that a felid and dragon could escape but. They really did not go all out. They truly respect Ellenore.

Able to creep up to the house, the three use the classic team tactic. Wait until the lights go out. The guards go first, then the female scouts go in to keep the female slaves quiet.

On their signal the three go in and capture the brothers. Draco confronts them as a human.

“How could you be so stubborn at the same time being so stupid?”

Justin says,

“You will be both brought to king Draco for the courts justice.”

With that a certain someone appears. The watcher does not even look at the stupid brothers. She walks over to the three and kisses each on the forehead.

“I could not be more proud of you three. You now are ready to take your real positions. I leave you to clean up the gang but these are coming with me. We will wait until all of you get back to show you why it was the right move to keep them alive. Those slaves, there is a contingent of dragons coming to take them to mother Christine’s clinic. I’m proud of all of the army.”

She, along with the brothers disappear.

Everyone is very happy, then Ellenore says something that everyone agrees with.

“We’re here. There are supplies here and the gang always returns here to report. We have people watching the paths. Once spotted, a simple signal, a cat call and we ambush them. Less effort, greater results.”

It works too well. It seems that everyone was coming back at the same time. It did not take any effort at all.

The Watcher showed up again. This time she brought the dragons and soon the entire gang was gone.

Then the Watcher told all to go home but turned to the three.

“Time to step out of the shadows. Be prepared. You need to think on the way home about your destiny.”

On the way back to the manor, all of them try to figure out just what the watcher meant.

We were all surprised when we saw all the dragons in the yard. There was the entire gang and those two noble brothers.

The king welcomes us in a strange way. The three are singled out.

“We need to put you through a final test. We now need to see your wisdom. You will be presented with the case of these two brothers. You have seen their home personally.

You are technically compromised. Can you set that aside and judge them based only on what is presented? That is your test.”

They were seated at the front table as judges. They were given all the evidence right down to what they saw at the house. Then they were at the Watcher’s mercy.

The three found themselves on that ridge that others have stood. They saw the burnt up world. They were told of the warning that they all got. If they do not act as fair and just rulers, this is the world of the future.

When they return, they are changed.

The king stands and addresses the three.

“With what you have been presented, what do you say?”

The three somberly spoke, “Guilty”

Now for what they knew was going to be the next question.

“What then is your sentence?”

They confer with each other for a long time.

The younger Draco announces the sentence.

“They are sentenced to death in the manner that all other nobles that murdered those that they were to protect. Those foundlings, those orphans. The gang members are to be sentenced to ten years of servitude at the foundling shelters. They will be the labor in the fields.”

The Watcher stands.

“They were shown something that could have been their fate. They have chosen a merciful momentary terror death for the two. The gang did more nuisance crimes that did not warrant death. The farm labor is the appropriate sentence. They have shown wisdom.”

The brothers are taken above the clouds and far away from the manor. We did not even hear their screams or see them fall. That was in consideration of the children.

The king tells them to prepare.