Chapter Fourteen: Trouble in Greatfoot
Those next few days were not ones that that I particularly liked, for it was non-stop riding with not much time for anything else. Now I like to ride a horse as much as the next fellow, but everyday we got up early and rode till long after sundown. Like the first few days of the ride, we ate on the move and stopped only briefly to let the horses rest. Everything was go, go, go, push, push, push, onward to Greatfoot.
We wanted to get to Greatfoot before anyone lost their lives needlessly. Our plan, like before was to advise the local Commander of the situation and who they really were fighting against. Once that was done we would work with them to find a better and less bloody solution to the problem of The Rebels. Our greatest hope was in the capture of The Mistress. For once she was captured we hoped that the loss of their key controlling figure would make them lost and unable to function. At the very least we hoped that it would distract and disorient them long enough for us to capture them without a single loss of life.
When we finally arrived at Greatfoot I remember feeling an immense sense of relief as I saw that town nestled at the foot of the grand Mount Augustus. The mountain looked tall, grand and quite a spectacular sight to see as it towered over the town and landscape.
The town itself was designed like the other towns that we had passed through. The whole town was under lockdown as they called it, and was in its most defensive stance. All of the gates were closed, both the inner and outer ring of gates were locked tight. The bridges that closed the gap from one of the outer buildings roofs to another were deployed. Guards were posted on every second building rooftop or so to watch for danger. In short what should have looked like a pretty little town at the base of a beautiful mountain looked anything but. It looked like a foreboding fortress that could repel a sizable force and I was glad that we rode to it as friends.
As we rode closer and closer to the fortress that was the town of Greatfoot we were noticed by more than a few Guards standing watch. They watched us intently and motioned us to stop a few paces away from one of the gates. They looked us over from atop their rooftop lookout posts and waved a friendly greeting. One Guard in particular was in a joyous mood to see us.
"Where are you mangy looking, sorry excuse for Guards think you're going?" The nearest Guard said with a broad smile and a hearty laugh.
"We may look a little road weary but that is only because we have ridden hard for over a week to come here and save your pathetic asses!" Cheriphala, the leader of our troop of Guards said as she laughed in return and the rooftop guard joined in the laughter.
"If you're here to save us then we are in more dire straights then I thought!" The rooftop Guard laughed even louder than before. "Come now!" She shouted over her shoulder presumably to someone who was out of sight. "Let them in before they fall down." The Guard finished saying to the hidden person and turned back to us. "Make your way to the town centre, your mounts will be taken care of and the Captain will review you." The Guard said to us in passing before returning to her vigil against intruders.
"Did I hear her right?" I whispered to Jealile beside me. "Did she just say that the Captain is here?" I asked with a little more panic in my voice.
"I heard her as well. This is not good news." Jealile whispered in reply with equal distress in her voice.
"You lot, keep your heads down, and stick to the back of the formation when we're inspected." Cheriphala said quickly and quietly as she turned back only briefly and indicated the Band of Misfits.
The gates then opened up and finally we were allowed in and rode slowly through the double sets of gates. Straight on we rode to the centre of town and looked over the pleasant looking town, quaint buildings and lovely people as we rode. The mood of the town was a mixture of tension and subdued resentment for their town being overrun by uninvited Guards. A rare few unpleasant looks were glared in our direction as we passed them by but for the most part the townsfolk welcomed us.
Eventually we found our way to the centre of town and to a modest grassy patch of ground we found there. We could see that a large building on the other side of the grassy clearing was where the activity was. We rode over and dismounted near the tall building that I guessed was the town hall. Some Guards took our horses and led them away after we had removed our gear from our mounts. We were told by one of those Guards that the Captain would inspect us shortly.
"Trouble in Greatfoot" Jealile said as she looked at the flags that flew high above the watchtower. "That's what the flags say." Jealile said as she pointed to the Watchtower that stood high above our heads and rose out of the large building that we stood in front of.
We assembled in a formation four abreast and five rows deep and awaited the Capitan to review us. As we stood there, with our Band of Misfits mixed in amongst the back two rows, I hoped that Felleona would not be there. I hoped that she would not be the Captain that they were talking about; I hoped instead that someone, anyone else would walk out before us. I didn't like the thought of having to deceive her and liked the idea thinking of her as an enemy even less.
Facts were facts and my fears became a cold hard reality when Felleona walked out from inside the large building that we were assembled in front of. I swallowed hard as I looked at her in the new light of knowing what I knew, that she wore the mark of a betrayer. She should be anywhere but here, someone else should be leading the Guards into battle if she were truly innocent. However when Tania is faced with the greatest threat it has faced in years the place for the Captain of the Guards is in the thick of it. She stood a few steps from the bottom of the stairs and looked us over with a keen eye without saying anything for a moment.
