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Message: <blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 5065502" data-attributes="member: 3285">City Under Siege: Part 8a – AftermathGeneral Menisis ran down to the area of collapsed wall and wrapped Roderick in the banner of the Pride of Chendo.  In moments, the young man’s eyes fluttered to life.All around Vlad and Quintus, il’Huan bodies lay motionless.  Ichor was splashed everywhere, mixed with human blood. Most of Quintus contubernium and almost all of Vlad’s canton were dead.  Quintus, battered and bloody, limped over to pick up Precision.  He handed it to the General.Menisis smiled but shook his head.  Quintus offered it to Roderick, who turned away, tears in his eyes.  “Then it goes back to the Order of the Blade, I suppose,” said Quintus. Menisis saw Vlad slowly walking towards him, but he made no move to defend himself.  “I have a note for your Emperor. Listen well.  It is but this: I am coming for you.”Vlad nodded.  “I’ll pass that along.”Menisis gave him a curt nod.  The battle was over.  Enpebyn had not been taken, but there was little left worth conquering.  The il’Huan had evened the odds for both sides.  In the end, they had fought and won nothing.Both armies no longer had the stomach to fight.  Mountains of il’Huan bodies were piled high, forming their own sort of hilly terrain on the battlefield.  Men who had been slaughtering each other moments before helped their enemies to their feet, just as Vlad and Quintus leaned on each other for support.  Such was the way of war.Vlad and Quintus limped off the battlefield together.  “Now what?” asked Quintus.“I think I might go back to Freeport.”  He smiled.  “It’s a shame you don’t visit more often.  You’d be surprised by what you can find there.”Quintus was haggard.  “I’d retire to my farm, but I’m afraid I’m not much of a farmer.  The crops haven’t been good this year.” He looked out over the battlefield.  So many of his friends were dead.  “But still, anything is better than this.” He looked hopefully at Vlad.  “Have you heard from Ilmarė?”Vlad shook his head.  “I haven’t been back to Freeport since the war.  But I’m sure she’s safe.  I’ll give her word.”Quintus shook his head.  “Don’t.  Perhaps it’s best if she thinks I died.”Vlad slapped Quintus on the back.  “Don’t be so glum, my friend. I think things are going to start to look up for all of us.”</blockquote>

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