Asmund stood unfazed, his gaze fixed on the walls of ereen and the large, looming pyramids beyond them.
Just monts ago, three barrels filled with slave collars had been launched into the city. The ssage had been sent, but they all knew it would not be enough for what they wanted.
Despite the fact that nearly the entire populace was seething with rage and simring for revolution, they would not act on their own.
The people, the slaves, and even the masters and wealthy rchants who might have preferred to surrender lacked the ability and the courage to take the first step. Soone else needed to seize the initiative and give them that final push.
Asmund glanced back at his n and gave them a nod before turning once more to face the walls of ereen. Not before, however, casting a brief look at Lord Aeos, who stood a short distance away along with his two lady companions and Grey Worm.
His n, seeing his nod, imdiately sprang into action. The soldiers parted, and seven more catapults were brought forward.
The masters on the walls and atop the pyramids squinted their eyes, trying to make out what was happening. Were they about to launch ten more barrels filled with slave collars?
Although the sight of the slave collars spilling across their city and the slight reaction it had caused among the slaves had unsettled them, it was still far less dangerous than what they had originally feared. It almost seed as if the Astapori army was preparing for a long siege. If it was this, then they had a better chance. For outside help could be called.
Ten barrels were again loaded onto the catapults, and the levers were pulled. But this ti, the trajectory was different from before. The barrels had been aid to land just behind the walls.
As soon as the barrels were launched, ten n stepped forward with bows in hand.
Flaming arrows had been nocked, on their bows and, in unison, they drew back their strings. With a sharp twang, the arrows flew and struck the barrels midair.
No. Do not expect so loud, wall cracking blast. Jon had not suddenly invented an explosive technique or gunpowder or dynamite.
The barrels had simply been coated with a mixture of animal fat and wax, both highly flammable. Inside, they were packed with cloth also easily set afla.
These were not ant to cause so heavy disturbance or havoc. While, the fire may cause so chaos, it was more of a signal. Signal for the spies inside the city, to give that final push.
The mont the arrows struck, each barrel burst into flas as it soared through the air toward the city, destined to fall just behind the walls, close to the city gates. Exactly where the main army of the city would be positioned.
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(Random POV)
My na is Jan Deacras. Around six months ago, I was nothing more than a slave to a cruel master in the city of Astapor.
During what ca to be known as the fall of Astapor, my Good Master had foolishly tried to resist the great Lord Aeos and was killed.
I should have been happy and I was, thrilled to so extent but unlike many other slaves who were given the option to continue working for their forr masters for a monthly wage, I had no such choice. I was simply rendered unemployed.
I had a wife and a little boy. My wife too had been slaves under the sa good master, and like , my wife now found herself without work.
For the first few days, it was hard to survive. Thankfully, Lord Aeos was kind enough to distribute enough food to keep us from starving.
Then opportunity ca knocking. I sohow learned of army officers looking for people willing to take on high-risk jobs in exchange for high pay.
I readily agreed and my life changed. Because of the dangerous work I accepted, my wife was given a safe job by the army. And if anything were to happen to , she would receive compensation. I was assured of that. I did not doubt Lord Aeos or the n working under him.
My job? I was trained as a spy. My company worked under the direct supervision of Lord Aeos himself. Our company commander reported straight to him, and Lord Aeos had even taken personal interest in training us.
My forr master had been a greedy rchant, which ant I have had had the opportunity to visit ereen several tis before.
I was already familiar with its culture, the way its people thought, and how their lives worked. Thankfully, the gods had blessed with a sound mind.
I perford well and quickly rose in the esteem of my company commander and the other senior officers. So, although my commander was a combat veteran, and I had only the barest minimum of fighting skills, I was appointed vice company commander.
No, our spy company of 500 n was not purely military. It included around 300 non-combatants and 200 combatants.
For the past few months, we had been fanning the flas of the revolution that was about to engulf ereen. And the past seven days had been exceptionally tense.
I knew the people were just a nudge away from erupting into full rebellion. Our job was to guide that eruption and help the combatants seize control of the city gates.
Right now, more than a thousand n and won had gathered in a square not far from the walls. Tense faces and anxious expressions were everywhere. Everyone was worried about what was about to unfold.
I could even spot a few familiar faces, my comrades from the company. We did not need to speak. We all knew we had been given the sa instructions.
I was well aware our job was risky. If the crowd did not rise with us, we could be killed and our mission would fail. But deep down, I believed in our success. I had seen the fla of revolution burning in their eyes. I had fanned that very fla with my own hands. In inns, in shops, everywhere.
Since we were not high atop any pyramid, we could not see Lord Aeos or his army. But we knew he was at the gates.
We had seen the three barrels flying through the air and spilling the slave collars. Now, I was simply waiting for the signal.
And then it ca. I spotted ten flaming barrels arcing through the sky, destined to fall just inside the walls near the gates, right where the army had assembled in a protective circle.
I took a deep breath and pictured the faces of my wife and my child. Maybe I would die. Maybe I would live. But I was going to spark a revolution. Hopefully.
I raised my hand, clutching a large stone.
"Friends!" I shouted. "Lord Aeos is here!"
"If not now…" I roared, "then never!"
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