***Boots***
Boots led the cohort of felinians into the square. Forming them up along the eastern edge. Their march had been unimpeded so far. The search team was still rifling through houses and alleyways. The cradle was following up the rear.
Boots led his people into the centre of the square and commanded them to spread out. His plan was to hold here, while the search teams finished clearing the southern half of the town.
They were making good time; he had received reports that both the water gate and the northern gate had both been closed. They had encountered some resistance at the water gate, but the enemy quickly surrendered once the search team had started turning up en-masse to clear the area. Boots surveyed the square.
The square should make a good headquarter location for the cradle, they could spread out but keep everybody in one place. The square was also central to the town and would make a good area to keep a reserve force, that could then be deployed anywhere in the town quickly.
There were a multitude of wrecked shops lining the square. There was a tavern that had been devastated by the occupying force, on the centre of the northern edge, flanked by a bakery and grocers. Along the southern edge to his left, there was a butcher's shop and a blacksmith tucked into the far corner. On the far side of the square, was the town hall, which spanned the length of the western edge. It had a low fence which contained a small garden around the entranceway.
The town hall gave Boots an uneasy feeling. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, something about the way it looked seemed out of place. Many of the buildings around them were damaged to some extent, but the town hall seemed solid, almost reinforced. Upon closer inspection it appeared as if there were boards on all the windows.
Very curious indeed.
Boots suspected he may have found the group of lycanthians that he had seen on the street earlier. They had clearly made good use of the time it took the spearhead of his forces to arrive. They would have to wait for now though.
He would wait until the southern buildings were clear before he extended across the full length of the square. When his forces were level he could move in comfortably, knowing his left flank was completely clear.
He had people informing him of their progress.
Apart from the pocket of resistance at the water gate, there had only been a few drunken stragglers found in the streets.
The enemy had completely over-committed their force to the search outside the wall.
This news was good, but not great in Boots's mind. He would have rather encountered a reasonable portion of the enemy within the walls. That way they could have been easily overpowered, then the force outside the wall would have been smaller and Boots's numerical advantage would have been even greater.
His current situation wasn't ideal, but it was workable. Amazingly they'd had no casualties up to this point. Which of course was great news.
But Boots still needed more.
Their current efforts would not be enough.
A siege would be inevitable at this rate. Boots needed to rout his enemy here, send them packing back to Javos. He needed breathing room and he needed to come up with a plan to deal with whatever forces the King would send his way.
Regardless, he needed options. Dawn was nearly upon them and no doubt the enemy forces would be returning shortly.
He needed to have people on the walls by then.
Boots spotted the first few groups of searchers coming through the street entrances on the southern edge of the square.
"Forward!" he barked at his horde, "Clear the square and form up by the town hall!"
The men and women around him dutifully obliged, marching forward across the open ground.
It was time to see what the town hall had to offer.
Boots grabbed the shoulder of a nearby felinian with a bow, "Try to find at least ten people with a bow and head to the northern gate. Send Roman and his team back to me. If the enemy close to within striking distance, do not hesitate to fire. Keep me updated on their movements."
The young man gave him a nod before disappearing into the crowd around them.
The searchers continued across the edges of the square and even round the back of the town hall. After a while, a small group emerged from the rear of the building and started making their way towards him. They seemed to be in a hurry.
A felinian woman with a scar on her lip and a bow over her shoulder was the first one to make it to him. She nodded politely before giving her report, "Sir, there is a group of lycanthians shacked up in the town hall. They've boarded all the windows and sealed the doors. We couldn't get in but there were voices inside. They are definitely in there. No idea how many they number."
"I see, thank you.."
"Maria, sir."
"Thank you Maria." Boots said, sizing her up. Her fur was so dark it was hard to make her face out in the pre-dawn gloom. She did however look to be in excellent shape, athletic build and a decent amount of muscle mass. Boots was surprised, if he hadn't known that Fenniton had no garrison, he would have thought she was a soldier. She was clearly no stranger to physical exertion to say the least.
"What kind of background do you have Maria?
"I was an adventurer before the occupation, if that's what you mean?"
An adventurer?
What kind of profession was that?
Some band of mercenaries perhaps?
"Hmm…"Boots was intrigued, "how good are you with that bow?"
"Above average I'd say," she smiled politely, "I can hit a rat at fifty paces and I can also use a little fire magic."
"That certainly is above average." Boots admitted.
'Hang on…bows, averages? Since when did I know anything about bows?' Boots frowned to himself, he had seen one of those contraptions before, but only in the shrine. He didn't even know what it was called back then. Let alone what it did. How did he know what it was now? Better yet, how did he know how to use one? Or what the average abilities of an archer were?
Again, the more he thought about it the more the answer danced away in his mind. It was annoying, but he would have to save finding answers on that particular topic for later.
Perhaps he could find a way to communicate with Fenix and ask her?
Wait, she was a god wasn't she?
Was there other stuff he could get her to do?
"Hmmm,"
"Sir?"
"Oh sorry, yes, come with me, I may have a use for you."
They finally made it to the town hall. Boots got everybody to spread out and wait for the cradle to arrive. He then sent the search team into the northern area of the town. They were to report back to the square when done.
Piece by piece they were securing this town. But there was still much to do.
Roman and the rest of his group finally made it to the square, immediately heading over to Boots.
"Boots, good to see you," Roman said looking around, "Things are certainly progressing!"
"Good to see you too Roman," Boots acknowledged, still weighing up the town hall in his mind, "Roman I need you to organise guard rotations. I want a reasonable portion of the wall covered around each gate. Please ensure people are getting relieved to rest as well. Most of us have been up all night, I don't want anybody falling asleep on watch."
"I'll get on it now."
Boots dismissed him with a nod, "Simeon, grab some people, set a cordon around the town hall. I don't want anybody getting in or out. There are lycanthians barricaded in there that may try to escape."
"Aye." Simeon said gruffly, moving off to collect some troops.
"Oswald stick with me for now. I may need you to scribe for me in the near future."
Oswald gave him a simple nod; he was clearly quite tired by this point. They all were.
The rambling clatter of carts could be heard, the cradle had arrived in the square. They immediately started setting up in the centre, unloading supplies and people. Gerald and Fiona could be seen helping the children and elderly disembark the wagons.
"Right, time to get this out of the way."
Boots walked towards the town hall, stepping past the freshly posted spearmen that had encircled it. He stood at the end of the small garden. Looking at the entranceway.
He cleared his throat before addressing the ominous building, "We know you are in there. Surrender now and no harm will come to you from me. If you remain inside I will burn you out."
He was greeted by nothing but silence.
"Maria." he said over his shoulder.
She fell in beside him.
"Could you knock a fire arrow and shoot it between some of those boards on the window for me please?"
"With pleasure." she said as she pulled an arrow free from her quiver. Muttering into her hands before clicking her fingers and igniting the tip.
She barely bothered to take aim before loosing an arrow straight through one of the windows. She made it look like child's play.
Boots was quietly impressed. This woman was the real deal.
There was a muffled cry of shock that emanated from the building. But still nobody addressed them.
"Prepare another one."
"Wait! Wait!" a cry came from the window.
Boots narrowed his eyes at the voice.
"We wish to discuss your terms!"
"They are simple, surrender or be set on fire. There is nothing more to discuss."
Maria scoffed at this, trying and failing to keep a straight face.
Boots didn't see what was so funny.
Gerald had made his way over to them to see what the fuss was all about and to give his report.
"The cradle is set up, what would you like us to do now?" he offered with a tired smile.
"Wait for the search team to arrive, then instruct everybody who is not currently assigned a task to get some food and sleep. Tell them if their houses are near they may go and collect bedding, but they are all to sleep in the square. I don't want anybody going home just yet, it will make it too difficult to call them back if we need them. Also ensure nobody goes anywhere alone, groups of two at the absolute minimum."
"I'll get the word out." he turned to leave but caught himself, "What's happening here?"
"Just some stragglers that have shacked up in the town hall."
"What are you going to do?"
"Burn it down, probably." Boots shrugged.
Gerald's face turned into the picture of indignation, "You can't do that!"
"Why?"
"Well, all the towns administrative documents are in there, birth and death records, family trees. There's a lot of history and tradition in there!"
"There's also a pack of Crusaders."
Gerald opened his mouth in protest, but just sighed in the end, "Do what you have to. But please don't destroy it needlessly, it will take us a long time to replace its contents. Some of it can never be replaced." he gave Boots a pat on the arm and headed off towards the wagons.
Boots furrowed his brows. He didn't have time for this sort of distraction.
There was significant grunting coming from behind the main door. The sounds of furniture being moved.
Boots narrowed his eyes again, absent-mindedly reaching for his hammer.
"We have something we wish to trade!"
Boots sighed, "What could you possibly have that I would want?"
The door creaked open and a rather proud looking lycanthian in officer's regalia emerged through the doorway.
He had the look of a German Shepherd.
"Me." said the important looking man.
"Who are you?"
"I am Major Anmar of the Crusaders. I wish to negotiate the release of my men."
"Well Major Anmar, it is nice to finally meet you." Boots said with a sinister grin.
An interesting card had just been added to his deck.