Chapter 42 Mercy for weak

Johnathan opened his eyes with pain while grimacing on the grass to survive. He couldn't feel his one leg and had to drag it on the get up as he looked at his enemies.

" Don't try to get up. It will make things worse. Here drink this and lie down. I only showed you Mercy because your people protected you."

Halfdan threw the water flask to him, looking at the captain who regained consciousness. Both of them silently drank the water, knowing there was nothing they could do except protect their secrets.

" I know you won't talk to us and I respect that. So, you can lower your guard a bit for I meant no harm to defeated."

Halfdan didn't plan to kill them, believing they had purposes for the future. Especially extremely experienced scouts were valuable pieces to any army in existence along with archers.

" Why? You didn't declare war on us. You just charged and killed a bunch of scouts. You probably burn home tomorrow.

Why should we try to survive when there is nothing left but darkness?"

Halfdan slowly put bread in his mouth, looking at them with a calm expression whilst Arthur showed pity in his eyes.

" Because you can decide whether your people will live or not. You see my people can wipe out your army with ease since you lack defensive terrains after we crossed the river.

Within a single day, we can torch your entire territory to ashes. Then we destroy Sussex and lastly Essex to the ground."

Halfdan pulled out a dagger from his back, marking their territories with x shapes, showing how terrifying they could be.

" There is no chance, you will beat them. Even if you did so, the crown won't sit still."

Halfdan snickered at his words, pulling out the leather with the king's mark. He threw it to the captain who caught it with a questioning look.

With every breath, his face soured while his hands trembled from anger. He couldn't believe what he was seeing and what the king told them.

" You are abandoned. We can offer your land to the king and we can become a ducal house in the south to check Wales."

Johnathan looked at his captain, knowing he would scream it was a lie but his captain didn't do it for it was the truth. The king needed a pawn to control his board and surely Kent was a good territory with vast land and military but not powerful enough.

" I will persuade my lordship if you give me a chance. I know you can wipe out our people and my life is already at your hand."

The captain looked at his broken limbs, believing he had no choice but to beg his lordship.

" How will we trust you, scout? Your words can't carry the weight of your people's lives and certainly, your lord won't give his territory to us peacefully."

Guildford was under the control of the royal family despite being locked in Surrey which meant the royal family gave a pass to them but they also sacrificed the guards and scouts in the process to allow Kent's conquest.

" Guildford is under the royal family's control. The city lord will allow you to pass if I show this to him and I swear on my name that I won't harm you and your people."

The captain wasn't a coward and his loyalty didn't lie in lord's life. Although he loved his territory and people, sacrificing them for the war was too much.

" Good. I heard your new Earl is a sensible man and your territory is in turmoil from the inside."

The captain gritted his teeth, not knowing how they got intelligence on them because Surrey was a troublesome territory to manage.

The lords of Surrey always died in the battle, making it kind of a cursed land for nobles. Hence, many avoided getting it as compensation except for their new lord who had a brilliant mind.

" Our people aren't weak but they aren't strong either. I guarantee you that my lord cares more about his people than his wealth."

Arthur nodded at his words with an approving look, freeing the scouts to their home whilst the squad followed them from behind.