75 Last Meal (1/2)

”We are doomed aren't we?” Lady Maria asked as she took a bite from the grilled pork on her plate. She chewed and then pointed the fork towards the officers. ”We survived today but their attack tomorrow will surely break our defenses. Let's get that straight. I don't want anyone having false hopes.”

Food was served in front of the officers but none of them ate. Everyone was worried about the battle tomorrow. Only the Lady was the one brave enough to admit that everyone's going to die tomorrow.

Ryon himself was hungry. The battle which lasted until sundown robbed him of his strength. But he can't eat. He was not in the mood to eat. In the end, he just found himself fiddling with the spoon.

”Lady Maria, I have a proposition” Ryon said.

She was about to put the spoon into her mouth but she stopped after hearing Ryon. She lowered the spoon and looked at him. ”And what might that be Prefect?”

Ryon hesitated because what he had in mind will dishonor the Connel family. Lady Maria may get angry. But he decided to tell her anyway. ”I think you should flee the city tonight. You can seek refuge from King Timothy. He will protect you. My Lady, you must survive.”

Ryon prepared himself for her sharp words, but she gave him a smile instead. ”Thank you Prefect” the old Lady said. ”But I can't leave. I'm old and frail. I can't even ride a horse now. There's no way for me to reach Solon without dying along the way.”

”A carriage then” Ryon immediately said.

She laughed. ”A carriage. And do you think they don't have scouts scattered on the road? Do you think they hadn't thought of that? They will capture me and only the heavens know what they'll do to me.”

After hearing her words, one of the Centurions couldn't hold his anger anymore. ”Bloody Calgarians!” he screamed.

His anger was contagious. Another Centurion cursed. ”Bastards! Rotten eggs! Attacking us just like that!? Striking us when we are down. Where is their honor?”

”I say King Timothy will avenge us and raze their cities to the ground!” A captain exclaimed.

”You wish. King Timothy still needs to win the civil war. After that he needs to face the Tulosans. What Lady Maria said was right. We are doomed!”

”Defeatist talk!” A Centurion pointed at the man ”People like you shouldn't be in the army!”

The once quiet dining room was filled with the rowdy argument of the officers. Slurs and shouts were exchanged. Ryon spied Lady Maria and saw that she was quietly enjoying her dinner. This situation remained until an officer pounded his fist on the table.

Lady Maria cleared her throat. ”I really don't mind you arguing, but can you please leave my table out of it?”

All of the officers looked at her and behaved. Those who were standing went back to their seats. The room became quiet again until one of the officers started laughing. Little by little, the other officers joined him. Ryon laughed too and the tension in the room vanished.

”Fool, Lady Maria's table is worth more than your house!” a Captain pointed at the Centurion who pounded his fist on the table.

The Centurion looked at Lady Maria. ”You may be right.” He said laughingly ”Lady Maria, don't take this from my salary this month”

”I won't. You salary won't be enough anyway” she shrugged.

Her answer drew more laughter from the officers. They then started to eat. Ryon also found the current atmosphere more pleasing. The officers ate like they don't have a single problem in the world. They talked like old friends.

After remaining like that for a while, Lady Maria then asked the heavy question. ”So, any suggestions for the defense tomorrow?”

Unlike before, the officers were now able to respond to her question. ”Caltrops, spikes and boiling oil” a Centurion said while chewing.

”I can also order my men to repair the broken ballistae.” Another officer added.

”What if we lure them into the villa and then attack from behind?”

”Attack with what? They outnumber us maybe thirty to one.”

”Oh I know! We should repeat what King Timothy did at Knightsend. We can let them through the breach and then seal it with, er, something.”

”There's no way they will fall for that. Everybody had already heard about what happened in Knightsend. Also we can't seal the breach”