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By the light...

Chapter 15

Aftermath

Note: Chapter 15 of By the light, written by RuthofPern

Moans of pain and confusion filled Simeon's ears from all around him, mainly from Lupine and Feline throats. He could see nothing, the thick grey dust from the cliff fall making it hard for him to breathe, never mind walk through the tangled and stone strewn undergrowth near where the second vale's entrance used to be. He had come across no one yet, the constant shifting of the rocks as they still settled masking any ability of his to home in by sound alone ineffective.

A scrap of tail under his paw then, and a scent that was all too familiar now of blood and bile filled his clogged nostrils as he tried to identify who he was bumping against... and if he would be any use to them. Robin... No breath left to take. He would rue having to tell Helewys if he could find her, and if she was not in the same state.

A blacker part of the cloying landscape moved then, Balthazar appearing at his side, silently but with pain etched on his muzzle, "You need me Alpha?" Simeon queried.

Balthazar looked at him for a second, trying to identify him with his red rimmed eyes, and dust blocked nostrils, shaking his head, "Can't hear you Simeon... Ears ringing in pain. Not injured, and I was the closest I think. No idea where anyone else is... " He squinted down at Robin's corpse, "Oh... "

Simeon nodded, "I can't cure that," he shouted, "I hope that most of what I can hear around us is because of ringing ears. I will continue my search... probably wounds from flying rocks and stones, breaks etc."

Balthazar nodded, "I will search as well... Rouster was at the treeline when the cliff went, so there are still humans on two feet I imagine... watch your flanks!"

"Yes Alpha... Oh... If you find Portia or any of my offspring by her still alive... corral them if you can, cripple them if you can't. Nolan tried to kill me on the way back, but Pawline intercepted his arrow instead. We have our traitors!"

Balthazar's eyes widened, but nodded, "I will gather everyone I can find who can walk back past the dust line... this could take a mark or two to settle enough to gauge who we and Rouster have left."

Simeon ducked his head, "I will scent mark where others who can't walk lie, so they can be recovered. Any who are fit and whole, try ducking their heads under water and get them to snort to clear their nostrils, and then follow my scent with stretchers."

"Will do... this part of the war is in your paws healer... "

"I hope that this is the last part of the war... " Simeon responded, before turning and vanishing deeper into the murk.

~~~~

"How many?" Simeon queried as he wearily brought in the last of the stretchered Weres he could find into the temporary holding zone Balthazar had set up... His tired voice picked up slightly at the sight of Helewys, Furdinand and Henry working in the background amongst the injured.

"Not enough if Rouster still has a force... You?" Balthazar replied.

Simeon grimaced... "I administered the knife to seven wolves, fourteen cats and three humans that were beyond help. There are dead humans everywhere, and one horse. They must have taken the brunt of the blast... I found no other bodies of our own though."

"As was planned... ' Balthazar replied grimly. "We wolves are missing another five then including Cassius. Purrsimon is dead... Purrdita is trying to get an accurate count of the remaining cats. Most of us are either still deaf though, or near it. Fleur, Jacob and Portia are being held under crossbow by the cliff by some of the cats... Though they want to pull their triggers after hearing why, not that I blame them, they have agreed to hold off until a hearing circle can be held. Burley is one of the unaccounted for."

Simeon sighed, "Those suffering deafness, should regain their hearing in a few more marks, if no one has bleeding ears... that they are unlikely to recover from. I know a few of those in the Inn suffered the same fate when the forge blew up. What of the townne?"

"Don't know yet... none of those Werecats have returned as of this moment," Purrdita said, dropping from the canopy, her ear bandaged heavily.

Balthazar turned to face her, "News?" he queried.

"We have twenty-nine more unaccounted for. Rouster is in the hands of one of his junior medics who is the only one with a crossed tunic left alive. He has at least a broken arm, and there are maybe sixty fighters still on their feet, though most are injured in some way," Purrdita reported, her whole body posture deflated.

"Fifteen unaccounted for," Simeon corrected quietly, "I administered mercy on the field to fourteen... I am sorry for your loss... "

Purrdita nodded, "We have all lost someone, and we will all mourn when this is over... But well enough on the count... That is without the townne party of course, whom we don't know about yet. Furrn was leading it despite her disgrace... she was the best archery teacher."

Balthazar grumbled under his breath, "Get everyone together as one force now, with bows if we can... we must go and pin Rouster down and force his surrender before he can send a messenger."

"He already sent a messenger... They did not make it back to the clearing, but Rouster doesn't know that of course," Pawsson butted in, walking over.

"I just hope that it won't be necessary to stop any human from crossing that clearing again... " Balthazar replied, "Send the most agile of us up by our vale path and see if there is anyone still moving on the other side of the trap. The rest of us including you Simeon, come... let us end this!"

~~~~

Rouster shoved the junior medic aside with a growl, "Leave it! I will worry about it later if there is one. Any sign of Holden?"

One of the foot soldiers who was still standing shook his head, "Nothing Sir. We can't climb those rocks at the moment to see if any got through the slide, they are still shifting... "

"Ha... !" Rouster spat some dust greyed saliva out, "Slide my arse. Smell the air if you can Private... that was a bloody trap and explosion using the stuff the boat-builders use in their fires... I would love to know the trick they used to pull that bang off though. I'd bet that they didn't plan on blowing half the fucking escarpment away. I hope that black bastard was hoist by his own deviousness... "

"I was not... " Balthazar stated, materialising out of the cloying air, the branches above the remaining soldiers rustling as steel tipped bolts and feline faces appeared grinning down at them. Several of the Werewolves including Gregor filed out of the dust behind Balthazar with bows straining as well. "I would suggest that you have exactly half a time part to order your men to drop their weapons!" he threatened.

Rouster assessed the situation quickly and nodded, "Do as he says... Drop your weapons... Now!" he ordered as every human scrambled to obey.

Balthazar turned human with a sigh, throwing another piece of white cloth at Rouster, "Clothes and armour stripped off as well, it is warm enough. I want no concealments... I promise that no-one here will die, and your injuries will all be treated. I am not an animal like you all are."

Rouster picked up the cloth, laying it to his side as he began to unbuckle his clothing, the men following his example reluctantly, "You want my surrender then?" he asked.

"Unconditionally. As a general in the King's forces, you have that authority." Balthazar stated. "This could all have been avoided if you had just listened."

Rouster shook his head, "You know I couldn't have done anything this morning... and besides we vastly outnumbered you."

Balthazar grinned slightly, "Yes you did, and now you don't... If you retain your command after this, remember that in the future. Lack of clothes and weapons aside... surrender now or you will leave me no choice but to send you and the rest of your force to follow the others to wherever they may be now."

Rouster sighed, "What of the others?" he asked, picking the white cloth up and waving it with his good arm, despondently.

Balthazar relaxed slightly, "At ease," he said turning his head in the direction of both the Werecats and Werewolves, who let the tension out of their strings. "We are checking, but I wouldn't hold any hopes up. You were right when you said we were not anticipating the extent of the cliff fall. The vale your second in command charged into is not very long, and is completely blind. Judging by the distance the rocks were thrown out from the cliff here, no one in it could have survived if it detonated evenly. We lost quite a few ourselves, with more injured than even in our drag and run on you."

"So what now?" Rouster asked.

"Your messenger is dead... sorry," Pawsson said descending from a tree, "We couldn't take any risks until your surrender was guaranteed."

"Garddetownne is no more as well. We fired it immediately after we attacked you in the clearing," Helewys added.

"You killed civilians and children?" Rouster asked, appearing horrified.

Helewys just laughed in his face, "Oh the false horror... what do you think you have been doing to us and ours on your fucking Crown sponsored quest?" she mocked.

"And as for civilians... they have no roofs over their heads, and I strongly suggest that the injured men you sent back that way and their escort take the civilians that you are so concerned about now back to Geresby. Our archers were instructed not to shoot to kill anyone. If they try and rebuild from the ashes, they will be ashes again. We will extend our pack boundaries to encompass the ruins as soon as the last human is gone." Balthazar stated.

"The capitol will send another even larger force... " Rouster bluffed.

"With the trouble your King is having on the Southern borders? I don't think so... " Purrdita added, joining Pawsson on the ground next to Balthazar and Helewys. "What? You look shocked that we know of this? You and your force were the only thing worrying us, and you could have quite happily marched away from that clearing, intact and unharmed had you chosen to. The deaths of all you commanded are on your conscience alone General... as are those of all the Werewolves you murdered on the way to here, and those of my clan that fell today. If it were up to me and my clan, you would be dead... and every last one of you as my Mate fell to your pikes... But Balthazar says we need an avenue to negotiate with the Crown."

"So what do you plan to with us now then?" Rouster queried again.

Purrdita turned to Balthazar who just smiled, "You will become our 'guests' in our home. You will remain there until we get back word from your leaders. Escapees will be executed without hearing if they are found past our vale entrance unescorted... so do not think of that as an option," his heavy eyes ran across the ranks of naked men, "I can assure you that we are rather better at tracking, than any of your hunting hounds... "

"So we are to be prisoners?"

"Be thankful it is not the alternative," Helewys growled, "You never offered one to our kind... "

Balthazar turned to Simeon, "I will leave this in your hands now Healer while I go and alert the cub and kitten carers to the situation. Do you have any tents on the horses you left dead in the forest Rouster?"

"No... we did not break camp... "

"Silly... You will be cold at night then until we can organise a party to go and raid the Townne grounds then. Do exactly what Simeon says... he won't hesitate to kill you if you disobey. We will return your clothes as soon as we have checked them for knives." Balthazar stated, turning and heading back into the dust.

Simeon nodded in agreement, "Get everyone who can't walk onto stretchers Rouster, and the ones that can, to carry them. You will be escorted to our Vale under guard where I and my colleagues will ensure that you are all treated as equals... after I have ensured the health of those we have injured ourselves."

Rouster nodded, "Do as he says men, we have little choice," he ordered as he levered himself to his feet.

The men complied without a word, Simeon doing a cursory examination on those that were designated to stretchers before walking over to where Rouster stood, leaning against a tree, "You are going to lose three more. Though I am good, I can't help with internal bleeding."

"You can do nothing?" Rouster asked.

"I would if I could... I take my oaths seriously you know. The only thing I can do is ease them on and end the suffering. I was trained by the late Garddetownne Healer Merek, so I hold nothing against humans, unlike others who have been taken by the pack... I was happy there but for a twist of fate."

"You are that Simeon? The Townne said you had died from a fever a few months before Merek died. I thought it odd that a place as isolated as Garddetownne had no healer. They mentioned something about he had taken on a crippled serving wench to train after your death, but he died before she was useful." Rouster replied thoughtfully, "So you say you were happy? Do you hold a grudge against the pack then?" he whispered.

Simeon grinned, "You will have to meet Gussalen... we took her in as well when they threatened to throw her out. As for a grudge... I could quite happily have killed the one who turned me at first without my permission... but here I get respect... I have a wonderful Padwarmer... and a whole slew of pups and youngsters. All of which I would not have had if I was still in the townne. Healers as you well know are regarded as not much above serving wenches unless they are needed, even those lucky enough to be serving in an army."

The junior medic who was standing close by nodded in agreement.

"Do not look to me for help Rouster; you will not get it," Simeon continued, "Unless of course it is medical. I will set your arm properly when I have operated on and sewn up those that are injured more seriously. You will still be able to wield your sword or pen as competently as you always have within a few months. That I promise... The Ledrene of the pack can confirm that as it was she who turned me after I healed her unknowingly in the woods on a plant gathering expedition... I thought her to be only a wild animal in pain at the time. Now are you going to do your duty and ease those not worth carrying, or shall I? I am impatient to return to my hut for supplies, and then I have to deal with an issue that arose while we were fighting."

"Barlton can deal with them... " Rouster started, the young medic who was eavesdropping going pale at the words.

"I think not... he has seen enough death today and is still young. It is you, or I... I give you the choice on if a fellow man or a wolf ends their suffering. I may even take Barlton on and further his training while we wait for the capitol's next move. Now, what do you want to do?"

"Give me a knife then... " Rouster growled, "Tell me which ones you can't save."

Simeon nodded, "You have some honour then. Come... First is the youngest, he has a punctured lung, multiple broken ribs and a broken pelvis. I am surprised you had such young ones in your forces... "

"Belton?" Rouster whispered as he approached his young orderly. His lips were speckled with blood as each drawn breath bubbled in his throat.

"Your son?" Simeon asked.

"No... but may as well have been and I would like one like him one day... He was my orderly. Good lad. I am not a father yet that I know of... this campaign has denied me little home leave."

"Well you won't become a father while as our guest, but you will certainly have a good leave of absence so to speak. Ah ah... Not the throat... too much suffering, not that I think Belton here would wake. Turn him and push the blade in just below the skull, into his spine." Simeon corrected as Rouster was about to make the wrong cut.

Rouster nodded, doing as instructed watching as Belton's eyes suddenly snapped open for a second before his chest stopped moving. Rouster closed the open lids, maybe a hint of moisture showing on his own from his actions.

"Good," Simeon murmured moving onto the two other soldiers who were beyond help.

"What happens with our dead?" Rouster asked wiping the blade on the last soldier's trews before handing it back to Simeon.

"I will talk to Balthazar and the Werecats about escorting the more physically able of your men out to bury or burn them over the next couple of days. There are too many littering the woods and I won't risk disease. The horses that are salvageable will be butchered, salted or smoked and stored in one of the caves, winter is not far off and it will save on lean hunting, maybe a few of the bitches will go into heat out of normal season with bountiful food supplies... plus we have all you to feed. Our dead will be taken care of in private. The ones under the rocks... well they have already had their burial, but this area will stink for a couple of years I imagine... "

"We burnt the other packs... " Rouster replied.

"We don't... trust me with noses like the one I have now, burning fur and flesh is far worse than you can imagine. We can talk when I have attended my duties in a few days. You will find Balthazar and Helewys a fair and true Alpha and Ledrene... be thankful you are not dealing with his predecessor. Come... the longer I dally, the more chance there is that the blade will be needed again." Simeon turned back to wolf and headed away with a look over his shoulder as the mobile men picked up the stretchered ones and followed, all too aware of the amount of pointed steel that was still aimed casually in their direction.

~~~~

Next morning...

"Every one that needs immediate attention has received it," Simeon reported exhausted as he approached Balthazar where he was supervising the setting up of the human's camp area, "Including the humans."

Balthazar nodded, "We still have not located Burley or Cassius... however we cannot hold off any longer. Guarding Portia, Jacob and Fleur for even this short a time is causing friction between the pack and the clan."

Simeon nodded, "Call in everyone then... Burley's life hangs on the decision over the others if he is still alive. I will go with whatever is decided and not stand in your way."

Balthazar grunted, "You know this will be but a formality?"

"Of course... though I must point out that we lost three bitches of breeding age. I do not know Fleur because of the restrictions Portia put upon me... but... " Simeon left the words unspoken.

"It shall be brought up then that she be allowed to live for that reason... but if the cats say no, I will not argue."

"As it shall be then," Simeon agreed.

****

"There is not a building left standing in Garddetownne. There were some civilian casualties, but not from our bolts, more from panicked livestock and the stupidity of some who put their property above their lives." Furrn reported to the circle of gathered wolves and cats. Everyone who could have gathered, had gathered as one mixed group many deep to hear all the reports. The three traitors sat silently, muzzled in the middle...

"And those injured I sent back escorted?" Rouster asked from where he sat, arm in a sling.

It had been a last minute decision to include him in the meeting by Balthazar, but Purrdita and Pawsson both agreed that maybe he should have some input as his future and his men's rested somewhat on the outcome of the debriefing.

"We allowed them to pass unmolested, though I talked to the man in charge and warned him that their lives were forfeit if they tried to resist us. I believe he was trying to gather the civilians together on the camp fields when I left to report back here. My group is watching them in shifts," Furrn replied.

Rouster nodded, "I ask permission to send a runner to inform them of my circumstances?"

"When we have decided what we want them to be told," Balthazar growled, "The same runner will be the one that will be charged with heading to the Capitol. Only one of your men will be allowed to leave here until such time as your council sends a representative and a treaty to be agreed upon."

Rouster tilted his head on one side in agreement, remaining silent.

"Did you see any signs of Cassius and our missing fugitive on the way back in?" Helewys asked, "They are the only ones out of both our species that are unaccounted for."

Furrn shook her head. "No one living on the trail that I saw... just the bodies of the fallen."

"That is because I am still alive... " came from the back of the crowd, "And Burley is dead... "

The circle parted as Cassius staggered in, bleeding from one of his flanks and limping heavily. He walked up to Portia as Balthazar began to move, and spat a pair of torn ears at her feet, "I trust as Simeon sits on the front row bitch and you sit here in the centre of the circle that Nolan also failed."

"Explain yourself," Balthazar growled.

"I overheard what she had planned as well... When all went to pot as the cliff blew, I followed and tracked Burley when he bolted... couldn't leave a loose cannon. Those are his ears... his body lies twenty furlongs to the East, past our boundaries... " Cassius coughed once, and collapsed.

"Why not report your findings to us?" Helewys asked.

"Would you have believed me?" Cassius spat out, as Helewys and Balthazar looked doubtful "Nah... didn't think so. I wouldn't have either. I saw one of the cursed cats follow Nolan out, and you two were too busy winning this war. No distractions... so I did what I could. Problem is solved now anyhow."

"Do you want medical attention?" Simeon asked, stepping towards the exhausted wolf.

"I made it this far... stitch me up and set my leg later Healer, if the will is still there. Get this mess sorted out now." Cassius growled, crawling away from the muzzled Portia to the side of the circle.

Balthazar glanced at Purrdita, "Suggestions?" he asked.

"Death of course... The conclave met on the fields last night and we can see no other acceptable solution for the charge of treason," Purrdita replied darkly.

"I was asked earlier by Simeon to put forward that us wolves are now desperately short of breeding bitches... Helewys and I think that Fleur should be spared for that reason, but that any pups that she begets for the rest of her life are taken from her at birth to be nursed and raised by others. She would have no rights, no pleasures and would be kept pretty much a prisoner by her own crimes accept whilst in heat, where she will centre circle and free for all who want her. The rape law would no longer apply in her case, and by being open, no male can know who sires her pups. If she runs, she is outcast." Fleur's eyes widened at the words, ears flat and posture scared at her possible fate.

Purrdita glanced at the other conclave members, "And the other two?" She asked eventually.

"We have enough males... and Portia has squandered her second chance of life," Helewys growled.

"I think we can agree to that then," Purrdita replied, the other cats all nodding assent.

"Get out of the circle then Fleur unless you want to die today." Helewys ordered, the indicated bitch standing on shaky legs, one final glance at her dam as she slunk over to the edge, a gap parting around her in a silent shunning.

"Those two are yours," Balthazar declared, "The clan were the ones that were most affected by their sabotage and planning, though we all lost some as a result."

Purrdita smiled evilly, "True... " she drew her knife and weighed it in her hands for a second before turning to Rouster and handing it to him hilt first, "But had they have succeeded their deaths would have been at the hands of a human if they had stayed around. I think it only fitting that no Were should end them now... make it a final humiliation so to speak."

Rouster looked at the knife in his hands for a second, glancing at Balthazar and Helewys for tacit permission, "If it is the clan's choice... they are no longer Werewolves in our eyes." Helewys replied quietly.

"It is... " the conclave all answered together.

"Their deaths are not to be clean though," Pawsson added darkly.

Rouster stood, pacing to the middle of the circle and the two Werewolves, bending and cutting Portia's muzzle binding free, "It is traditional that in the human courts, last words are granted." He stated.

"Fuck you all in hell you bunch of brainwashed fools! I tried to stop the rot that fucker started!" Portia growled, glaring at Simeon.

"I think those are enough," Rouster muttered, bringing the hilt of the knife down on her cheek with a sickening crunch as her jaw broke. Three quick stabs later, two between her lower ribs and one to her belly had her gasping and moaning as she collapsed onto her flank. He turned to Jacob, cutting his muzzle free, "And you?" he asked coldly as some of those assembled cringed as Portia's breathing turned bubbly.

"She forced us to do what we did... she would have killed us if we didn't do it!" Jacob pleaded fruitlessly.

"You could have come to me or your Sire at any point and informed us of her plans. You were free enough to move around the clan grounds, so you were free enough to report to us!" Balthazar snarled.

"But... " Jacob protested.

"Just do it Rouster," Purrdita hissed, "Or I will!"

Rouster turned and shrugged, "Sorry kid... " he muttered, driving the bloodied blade into the side of Jacob's neck without warning, and leaving it there, plugging the mortal wound before walking away as the werewolf's eyes widened in shock.

Jacob's mouth opened and closed silently for a few seconds, before his front legs collapsed and blood began to mar his lips. His agonised eyes met his dam's, locking with hers as the circle broke apart and abandoned them both, bleeding in the dust. None could say afterwards who's shut for the final time first... but then again, no one cared.

Epilogue.

Three months later...

Simeon looked up as Balthazar's call to assemble echoed around the Vale. "Go love... you are needed to sign as well a one of those who was once human," Ysmay said, nosing his flank.

"But... " Simeon protested weakly.

Ysmay chuckled, "I can assure you that I and our offspring will still be here when you get back... after all they are less than a day old."

Simeon grinned ruefully, "They did time things rather awkwardly," he commented, his eyes drinking in the sight of the five bundles of fur that were latched onto her teats.

Ysmay nodded, "Go... Ensure they have a future along with their many siblings to come."

"I will love... " Simeon remarked, getting up and stretching before shifting the privacy curtain to one side and slipping into the main healing hut where the fire pit was still smoking from the previous night's banked embers.

Herald stood in the common area, holding the curtain opposite back as a still rather shaky, three legged bitch walked out hesitantly, "I still don't know why I should be involved in this Simeon... I mean I was no higher than a tavern whore! I couldn't even hope to have serviced any of those waiting out in the circle, never mind facing them as an equal!" Gussalen protested.

Simeon grinned, "You hardly need to worry you know... I mean look as all. A black ex-slave; Helewys, A Healer, An abducted child... We are all low-born or less. The council has to have the signatures of those who were once registered as citizens of the Kingdom for their records. The clan has no changelings, so they have had to accept the conclave's prints, but for us at least, we have to seal this treaty ourselves for the Werewolves and everyone else."

Gussalen sighed. She had not taken the change fever well as had been feared due to her age, and was only now just about beginning to get her strength back in her new form... But Herald had stuck by her and it seemed that despite the odd rumble from Ysmay still, their relationship might at least ensure that the end of her life would be happier than the beginning of it.

Alice appeared then, walking in through the main doorway, "Benedict will look after our lot while we sort this out," she commented.

"Let's do it then," Simeon stated, turning to lead them all out into the frost.

Balthazar turned to face them all as they approached the shelter that had been erected near the vale circle once the winter had set in with earnest, "Good... everything is in place."

Rouster sat next to Lord Milton and his scribe on the other side of the table. "So we are all agreed then on the terms?" Milton asked, shivering in his heavy furs as Balthazar and the others changed human and took seats opposite them.

"We are... We will hold the Northern border for you and the Prince Regent until your reinforcements get here. In return, we are to be left in piece with this forest and everything we hold North of here as our territory. We will send runners to Geresby if anything threatens." Balthazar replied gravely.

Milton nodded, "Then place your signatures or marks on the document, and we will consider these last few years of the old King's misjudgements closed."

"It is a little late for most of the Were people to call it closed... Lord... But well it is better than a continued animosity between our peoples. You will find us better allies than enemies," Balthazar remarked, signing at the bottom of the scrolls.

"You will have to give us at least a decade though before we will be able to even consider helping you in your battles on the other borders," Helewys commented as she signed her own name.

Milton tilted his head in acknowledgement, "Understandable... Ma'am," he replied as the others all completed the treaty.

Rouster stood then, walking around the table to face Balthazar, face to face. "Well this is it then." He remarked.

"It is... as it could have been the day I met you on the starflower meadow. Now... well... " Balthazar replied, shrugging.

"The others would never have had your foresight you know," Rouster stated quietly.

"You never gave them the option to talk though," Helewys replied from the side, "So how do you know?"

"I was only following orders... "

Balthazar glanced over Rouster's shoulder at Milton who just shook his head in silence as a plea not to respond to the parroted argument Jacob had used before his execution. "Think on your actions before you take them next time... if Lupinius forgive there ever is a next time for all of us. Go... take your seat on the council and try and teach the young Prince Regent some of the things you have learned here and maybe the Kingdom can regain the strength it has lost under his guidance."

Rouster held his hand out without saying another word, waiting for Balthazar's response. The black wolf just looked down silently, before taking it in his own slightly misshapen one, shaking it once.

"Until next time then... You are free to go." He said before turning and returning to wolf form and walking back towards his hut, the other gathered wolves and cats in the audience melting away into the morning mist to hunt, patrol or love... worry free for the first time in years. The fact that some pairs consisted of both species remained unremarked upon by all for now.

As Rouster turned away Purrdita walked forward slowly and handed him a leather wrapped bundle, "Just do us the favour of ensuring that we here have the time to rebuild before we are called upon... " she said quietly before turning away and re-joining Pawsson.

Lord Milton looked over Rouster's shoulder at the package. "What is that?" he asked.

Rouster shrugged, "I don't know Sir," he replied as he opened the leather, his eyes jerking upwards in surprise to follow the retreating tails of his former foes as a perfect example of the small and incredibly lethal crossbow the cats used was revealed in the first shafts of winter sunlight to reach the bottom of the vale's cliffs...

FIN.