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Dead promises
Ch 53: The Terms of Occupation

Ch 53: The Terms of Occupation

The sun begins to set on Kelinrask with Yorun standing upon the remnants of the wall he cleaved the Scythe of Raeknar through, he looks down on the damaged city blood runs through the streets and the body's that would be amongst the blood walk through the city with their jobs to keep their former neighbours under watch. Yorun teleports down into the city watching as the undead take up places around the city to properly protect it and keep the inhabitants inside but they are not Yoruns current focus as he heads towards a large fortified building with a sign on it denoting it as the city guard headquarters. Undead stand outside it keeping watch on the people who once protected the city inside, Yorun walks in, quickly flanked by undead to keep him safe. The living guards of the city who had just been fighting against the man now before them think of attacking him but as they see him up close they see how damaged his body is, their minds are distracted by tales only they imagine of what may have caused these these injuries, this gives Yorun enough time to stand before all of them with the undead soldiers who followed creating a protective line between the guards and Yorun. Koraz is in attendance amongst the guards and he is not distracted, he quickly stands up and looks at Yorun.

"What will this occupation of yours be to this city?" Koraz asked almost spitting venom with his clear distrust and hate of him

The question refocussed the rest of the guards who's eyes were drawn to the one who conquered their city, their gaze alone just as distrusting and hateful as Koraz's own yet filled with more fear of what Yorun may do for the questioning.

"Your city can go back to its normalcy yet certain actions will be altered for the new management so to speak, the city will no longer trade with cities or villages outside of my army's territory and any ship that is seaworthy right now and able to be fitted for military use will be taken for said army. Any person who dies within the city will have their body turned over to us to be raised, some of my forces will remain here to guard the city and keep it under control" Yorun said

"Other than all that we're back to normal? Are we seriously supposed to believe that?" Koraz asked confused and not believing what was said

"Deranel is within our territory if you are so distrustful I can get someone from there to tell you things have gone normally there. They allied with us instead of being conquered, I'd have rather done that here but all intelligence suggested your leadership would not cave to such demands and given their attempt at a last defence at the ports it seems we were right" Yorun said and the guards mutter to each other as they discuss what they hear

"Are you working with the elves?" A guard from the back of the room asked

"I have visited the Woorailian capital city for a time, we are not directly allied however our interests align when it comes to the Fiernian Empire" Yorun said hiding the whole truth of Sunhales involvement as to not make them more irritated than they are

"You said Deranel allied with you, why?" Koraz asked

"A simple reason, where do you think the magic that allows me to raise the dead comes from?" Yorun asked them

"Demons?" Koraz asked

"As chaotic as demons and their magic are no, it's not demons you are fairly close however. Try again" Yorun said as he makes the scythe appear in his hands and it takes a moment before Koraz realises

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"That isn't just a getup to mess with your enemies is it?" Koraz asked as he sees a small near imperceptible smirk on Yoruns face

"Now, you've got it. Anyone else would make this city a decently worse place to be after conquering it, my terms are as fair as can be as I was sent to bring justice to this land by Raeknar themself" Yorun said and the mood of the guards quickly changes to overwhelming fear

"...So that's how you got through the barrier and wall, you asked Raeknar" Koraz said now also more afraid of the man before him while simultaneously amazed yet there lingers still a little anger

"Close but this cloak and scythe are Raeknars own, this scythe can do things no normal weapon can with ease. Now head on out of here and work alongside my undead, spread the word to the people of the city so they know what is happening, if any ship leave that port without my knowing I will not be happy" Yorun said and the guards quickly filter out leaving only Koraz there

"Why did you stay?" Yorun asked

"A lot of good people died here for this, I hope it's worth it in the end" Koraz said before tossing a small crest to Yorun

"What is this crest?" Yorun asked

"It's something we give to soldiers who died protecting their city, that one is for Feirhel. You killed him somehow on the walls and brought him back in an instant killing a mage. He was young far more so than either of us" Koraz said

"I do not applaud the deaths of those on the opposite side from me. I have blood on my hand that I can't deny but I know it's for a good purpose at the end of it all no matter what this blood incurs for me as a result of it being shed" Yorun said as he tosses the crest back to Koraz

"The dead deserve to rest you know" Koraz said

"And they do, their body's however do not need to, regardless of what happens to the body their soul ends up in the afterlife. Feirhel is likely in Artiel as we speak now get out of here Koraz someone will start a fight without you around" Yorun said before Koraz walked out

Yorun looks out of a window still overly unsure about how the occupation of Kelinrask will end up but all the same he teleports back to the mountain fortress where he is quickly greeted by Golanier and Sunhales oddly proud faces.

"You really showed a level head in that siege Yorun" Sunhale said

"And you figured out the quickest way to make the siege end so well done there" Golanier said

"It won't work on cities after Kelinrask though, even from Kelinrask I could sense the divine power coming from the next cities especially the capital, there is no breaking through that divine protection even with Raeknars scythe not without calling Raeknar directly for aid anyway" Yorun said

"Don't focus on the negative here Yorun you won, the siege went well and while lives were lost as well as a good number of undead we have access to the ocean now, we can use the ships for many purposes namely military against the empire of course but there are plenty of criminals on the seas who avoid justice out there" Sunhale said

"Ok, ok fair point. We should be careful of the oceans though les we anger the god of water" Yorun said

"No much about that particular god?" Golanier asked somewhat curious

"Nayhram is the human name for them but suffice to say they are one god even Kurinet did not feel abandoned by after all we were farmers, crops need water and that is the god who provides it. I certainly made a few prayers to them from time to time back then but anyway not the point, all I'm saying is when we get those ships and get some undead on them we be very careful" Yorun said

"Agreed, the God of Water aside there's many creatures within the oceans of the world that could stop our advance so we'll need to gather more knowledge about that, the people of Kelinrask would be a good place to start" Sunhale said

"I didn't mention you to them Sunhale, despite it all elves are still seemingly a threat to them even if from their perspective I was the one conquering them I'm at least human so I'm more familiar to them than the elves" Yorun said

"It's fine you know shapeshifting is a magic I've trained in, I'll go find some things out" Sunhale said before teleporting away

"Go and rest Yorun, you did a lot in that siege" Golanier said

Yorun nods as he heads away to the room he took as his own in the fortress, as he closes his eyes he dreams of his family alive and well, a dream within his grasp yet it all still feels so far away no matter how well the army does...