The General paced up and down his new quarters, after the havoc caused by the Giants and their monstrous boars the main camp lay in ruins and would have to be restored. Maximo had been compelled to therefore establish himself in their Western Camp instead. Brandubh as usual seemed quite nonplussed by it all, a recurring theme in the man, an increasingly frustrating one at that.
“What was it you said? The Giants are nought but an inconsequential group of hermits lying in recluse high up in the mountains. Leave them be and you will hear nothing from them, if needs must they can be dealt with after. After the Druaidíi. Does after mean something different here in Aileann? For it seems we are dealing with them here and now, with no after in sight.”
He scowled, “We should be in Dún na Rí by now celebrating our success, instead we sit here wasting time scrambling to make ourselves ready. With those damn Giants at their heel and the greater part of our siege machines destroyed the Druaidíi will no doubt be drunk on hope and resilience, enough to last months if needs be.”
Brandubh swilled the wine at the bottom of his cup. “I said that you would not need worry about the Giants so long as you prevented any Druaidíi reaching them and treating with them. If you’ll recall I warned you to make sure your men found the body, no body was found. It would seem then that our rogue Druaidíi did indeed make it through, elsewise the Giants, way up in that mountain hold would never have made such a bold move.”
Maximo closed his and exhaled slowly, “My men reported three bolts weighing this Druaidíi down, with still miles of heavy uphill terrain to pass no man could have survived such a journey-”
“No man yes,” Brandubh interjected tersely, “but this was no man, it was a Druaidíi, they are not like us, how many times must I tell you, General you are the veteran of a hundred battles but the day you stop comparing Druaidíi to men is the day you will begin to defeat them.”
“Your respect for Druaidíi borders far too close to admiration Brandubh, Milesia is your future, how many times must I tell you not to forget that.”
“I have not forgotten nor am I likely to, when it covers half of the known world it becomes rather difficult to do so.”
Brandubh leaned forward in his chair, “But I still struggle to see the value in this dogged pursuit of a spent people. So they will not bow or give in to your demands, let them rot away I say, save your men, Gods know they are needed elsewhere in the Empire. Meet with them and negotiate.”
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The General paused and examined Brandubh, a difficult one to judge, everything he does and says is preordained.
“Do you truly believe that an option? Truly? I command here, Lord Brandubh, I am in charge, if I fail, if I waste precious time then it is my head on the line, and yours will follow shortly after. You are not the only one eager to reap the benefits of Milesian rule, you would do well to remember that. We may meet with the Druaidíi if they are smart enough, however know this, there will be no concession or compromise on our part, they must meet my demands or suffer extinction. They are the only options available to them, I need and will have Dún na Rí and all it brings.”
“You will have it yes,” Brandubh set his jaw and sat back steadily into his seat, “Giants or no they paid dearly in their defence of the city. My men have reported several 100s of Druaidíi dead, we may have lost many it’s true but on each of the four camps we yet have some 1800 men penning them in. You’ve questioned my loyalty in spite of where I stand now and what I’ve done but I have not risen so high for nought. I have learned to plan, for whatever may happen, which is why as we speak 800 additional Aileanners march up Belvoir along with enough resources to construct fresh Rams, catapults and whatever else we may need. A day, maybe two General and Giant and Druaidíi alike will fall, victory will be yours.”
The General sat down and peered at Brandubh. “And you did not deem it necessary to tell me?”
“It did not seem important at the time, now however….”
Maximo smiled shaking his head, “Rather shrewd of you Brandubh, your insurance may be the difference between a lengthy arduous siege and a swift success. As it is I have sent also for more of our men, they however may need some days extra to arrive. It was intended for them to serve as the newly formed garrison.”
General sighed, “In spite of it all I must admit it is a pity they refuse to cooperate within our sphere, the Empire would have great use for a people like the Druaidíi, and the Giants too for that matter, small numbers or not they are powerful and vicious in equal measure. For tonight though there has been events enough for my men and me to ponder and sleep on. Tomorrow under the morning sky we will call on the Druaidíi to parley. If they are wise then perhaps they will answer and may yet listen to reason. I much desire to speak with the leader, Ardgal, if he must die then so be it but I would hear him speak first. He has garnered a considerable amount of interest from those back in Milesia. For some unknown reason they insist I do all I can to keep him alive.”
Brandubh shrugged, “As you wish, they may meet with us but they will never bow down to you or anyone else for that matter, particularly not with Ardgal or his kind in charge. But who knows some benefit may come from it. For now I bid you goodnight, the Druaidíi are more cunning than they portray, we will need what sleep we can get for the days ahead. Good night General.”
Maximo nodded in response and gazed into the embers of the fire at the center of the tent’s enclosure. Sleep would not come easy tonight he knew but Brandubh was right, he would have to be wary tomorrow. His eyes went outside as he watched Brandubh fade away, it was not just the Druaidíi needed watching.