LogFAQs > #884099336

Martin, curious, watched the conversation unfold like a hawk.
His side was burning with pain but he felt he could ignore it during moments like these.

Blackwater looked to Martin. "The Arland militia and resistance forces have been fighting here longer than we have."

Martin nodded. "So what were they saying?"

"These would be Majore's forces. Though no one said they saw him here."
Nine shrugged. It wasn't like he knew what the guy looked like so he couldn't say himself.
"Majore has been the commander of the southern occupation forces for a while."
"They say his soldiers are... different... from normal opponents. Turns the tides of battle."

"Magic?" Blackwater scoffed. "On such a large scale? Sounds impossible."

"It gets creepier," Nine went on. "They say the guy is off in the west right now, in Redgard."
"Say that he's currently working on capturing the Silver Prince," Nine explained.
"But... guys I talked to... they said it wouldn't surprise them if Majore's forces could fight even this far away from him."

"So it's not magic," Martin speculated. "That kind of range and duration would be beyond belief."

"Keep in mind these are Fairies we're dealing with," Blackwater added.
"My reaction was a bit premature. Now that I think about it..."

"Yeah, anything is possible," Martin concluded.
He'd seen Blue Wing cut a ship in half effortlessly.
The idea that there might be a Fairy who could use magic to enhance his troops,
Even from a hundred miles away... well, it seemed ridiculous.
But it might be possible.

Nine looked unsure. "Well, it's possible he just leads a truly elite squad."
"Maybe he sent some of them this way to delay us, or left them behind at some point."

"Either way," Martin said, "The husks you fought... they were... really...?"

"Oh, without a doubt," Nine responded. He didn't even hesitate.
"I don't know if this Majore is responsible or whatever. But I wouldn't contest that point."
"They didn't feel fear or pain. They didn't grow tired. They were stronger and faster than the ones we fought before."
"Heck, I saw them doing stuff that shouldn't even be physically possible."

Martin shook his head. "Shit. This is the last thing we need right now."
Brezwicz would be counting on him to take High Cross.
He didn't want to let her down. He didn't want to let himself down.
He didn't want to lose to this Majore guy who wasn't even around to face him.
That was just embarrassing.
How could he lose a game to a person who wasn't even sitting at the table?
Martin wanted to grab something and throw it.
He kept his emotions in check.

"Did you capture any prisoners?" Blackwater inquired.
"Um...?" Nine hesitated. "What?"

"The Arland forces do take prisoners, don't they?"
Blackwater looked shocked for a moment. "I hope we aren't just butchering everyone."

Nine shook his head. "The husks can't be taken alive," he explained.
It seemed like Blacwater should have known this from previous battles.
But, honestly, Martin didn't know either. He was embarrassed to admit it so he kept quiet.
"We captured some of the turned human soldiers in the past."
"But we couldn't really trust them to fight on our side."
"We weren't sure what to do with them in the previous battles so we been sending them back to Lighthouse."

Martin thought for a moment. "What about at Far Ridge?"

"I don't think so," Nine said. "We were too busy fleeing to take any prisoners."
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