Page 35 of Tethered Thrones

That seemed to shock the humans enough that now no one knew what to make of me. The human soldiers all looked at the nocs one by one, and then at me.Finally, I saw more than disdain on their faces. Some of them looked confused, some impressed, some even lookedhopeful.

Taking charge, their leader finally nodded.

“You stay in position,” he told the ones Bracken had been fighting. “The rest flank us.”

Then turning to me, he nodded.

“Follow me,” he told me.

He waved two others over and together they began to walk. My nocs fell into line behind me and the other humans around them.

For some time, we walked in silence until the patrol leader glanced back at me without missing a step.

“You know, we heard rumors that you had defected and joined the nocs.”

The very idea made me feel sick and perhaps he could see that on my face because he snorted.

“I should have known there was more to it than that. General Hideyoshi told us not to trust rumours, and I should have guessed that our most revered warrior wouldn't sway so easily.”

He glanced back at my nocs with great interest.

“Tell me, how did you come to get these nocs under your control? It could be beneficial in battle to make them fight their own kind.”

Kiar hissed softly behind me, and I shot him and the others a warning look.

“That is a story for the general's ears first.”

General Hideyoshi, my long-respected mentor and friend… I couldn’t believe I was about to reunite with him. My stomach knotted as we neared the camp. What would he think when he heard the news? Would he even listen, or would he order the entire army to descend upon me?

The answer became clear as we neared. The sight of us, humans and nocs–including the former spider king–walking straight into the human camp must have been too miraculous to be real.

Instead of a battle, a crowd formed, soldiers emerging from their tents and gathering to watch in awe. Perhaps me and my harem appeared to the others to already be prisoners.

I searched the faces as we were led through, recognising some, but not seeing the one I wanted most. Finally, I saw his tent before us, adorned in the green of the Naran flag.

My heart was beating hard as we drew near.

This could be a trap. It could be the end of our mission and the disastrous completion of our quest if he didn't believe me. Why had I listened to Atlan and come here?! I almost wanted to turn around and tell Bracken to carry us far, far away. Somewhere where the entire future of our land did not fall on our shoulders. But that wasn't me. I had been weakened by finding out the truth. Without my hatred of the nocs to fuel me, I was different. Now my strength had to come from the knowledge that no matter how this ended, I was doing the right thing.

The tent door flew open. General Hideyoshi stood there, right before me, older than I remembered. His hair was almost entirely white, and he looked so very tired, with bags under his eyes I could see even from a distance. He looked out in shock, his sharp eyes skimming the scene, not lingering on the nocs, instead settling on me.

Something crossed his face, and I was reminded of a father seeing his son for the first time in too long and my chest ached.

As long as I had been in this life, General Hideyoshi had always known me. He had taken me under his wing and given me respect simultaneously. I owed him so much and seeing him now, knowing with one look that he would at least listen to what I had to say warmed my heart.

Covering his expression, he lifted his chin and walked forward to meet us, this time focusing on the patrol leader.

“What is this?” he asked as we reached each other.

“Batu Sun has returned General, and he comes with the god stones and the power to control the nocs–”

“Sh!” the general chastised, glancing around. Others had clearly heard though and a murmur ran through the people now watching in awe.

General Hideyoshi met my gaze.

“Come, we must discuss what has happened in private.”

Relieved, I nodded, following him as he led me toward his tent. Only at the door did he stop and glance back, looking surprised to see that Clem, Hadi, Kiar and Bracken were also following.

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