BXBX NOVEL Chapter 56: Commander Hannah
Just looking at the woman, without a doubt, Blake knew he was staring at a third-order being and now he understood why it was said that the chasm between the second-order and the third-order was not just the difference between two stages of ascension, it was a difference between beings on completely different playing fields, the ways of one unable to be comprehended by it's lesser.
With her horse stopping about three steps away from him, the woman observed Blake's carriage and then proceeded to look at him and his coachman before looking at the soldier who had come to salute her.
"Name" she simply said.
"Yong Harl, leader of the squad sent to guard the eastern entry of Ladascar village." the man answered with a shout which Blake felt was unnecessary.
"And them."
"Civilian travellers whom we just stopped, we were about to interrogate them before you arrived commander," Yong said, his body still stiff and Blake internally nodding his head to never having desired to be in the military.
Looking away from the squad leader, Hannah's eyes fixed on the seemingly average young black-haired man who was staring at her horse with curious interest and ignoring her presence.
"Your name" Hannahs asked but a second later there was no reply from him and Yong decided to intervene.
"Young man the commander asked for your name, you better reply to her."
"It's courtesy to give your name first, especially when you command such rude subordinates" Blake said his voice calm and eyes still on the horse in front of him.
Hearing Blake's words, Hannah's eyes slightly narrowed at him, and she was just about to open her mouth and speak when Blake cut her off.
"He's a fine gift, what is his name"
"How did you know it was a gift" Hannah asked forgetting her question as the sudden words of the young man had caught her interest.
"I was a stable boy before my upliftment, despite your rank and accomplishments this horse breed isn't something you can attain on your own," Blake answered with a shrug and then looked up at Hannah with a resigned expression.
"Commander Hannah, I am sorry to infringe on whatever operation you and your men are carrying out here, but my lady and I are pressed for time and we really must be on our way."
"Where are you going"
"I can't tell you."
"What is your name."
"Blake Homer" Blake answered after a second.
"Well Blake, I am Hannah Montreil, the commander of the 1st brigade of the third division of the royal army, and now I would like to know as who do you speak to me."
Nodding his head, Blake made a sword appear in his hand and though his sudden act of pulling a weapon from out of nowhere had the soldiers, going on alert, when he showed the hilt of his weapon to Hannah and they all saw it, nothing could stop them all from gulping and trembling.
In this world, power was the supreme language and currency and it didn't matter whether Blake was on the right or wrong but for him to speak to Hannah the way he had despite her making known to him her status, then he had better have an identity that gave him this right and thankfully he did, Blake even making sure to go a little extra mile.
Sighing within as she saw the immaculate golden glow of the sword, a sign that Blake just charged it a bit of his power something only the true owners and a blessed could do, Hannah came down from her horse and gave Blake a small curt nod before looking to his carriage.
Why isn't the emblem of your house or church on your carriage?"
"Our movements are something meant to be kept hidden," Blake said his words making Hannah look to the carriage and then nod back at him.
"I understand, but unfortunately I still can't let you go."
Hearing the woman's words, though Blake kept his face calm he raised his eyebrows to let the woman know she had better have a good explanation for keeping hold of him and she did as she handed him a thick brown golden wrapped paper.
There was a lot of stuff written on the paper but the main information on it read.
[I Archbishop Arran hereby give Hannah Montreil, the commander of the 1st regiment of the third battalion of the royal army the power to command all forces of the churches of light below the third order as she sees fit for the next two days.]
"How can I be sure it is real," Blake asked.
"Whether you want to believe I had such a paper made up or that I truly did ask for the help of the church is up to you because you either follow the orders of this letter which is your duty as knight of the sun god, or you don't and I kill you for deserting your faith."
"And what about my charges," Blake asked, looking towards the carriage
"How many are there"
"Two"
"Is there any ranker amongst them?" Hannah asked.
"No" Blake fluidly replied, silently taking note of how much of the sun fell down on this region and wondering how much it would weaken Kate if she came out as he refused to allow his mind to think of whether Hannah would catch his bluff.
"For the time when I will be conscripting your help, they will be at a location not too far off where they will be well taken care off" Hannah said,
"Now say goodbye to your Lady, I will personally be taking you with me."
Blake stayed silent, initiating an eye-staring battle with Hannah for several seconds before relenting with a tired sigh
"What are the chances I will die in this event I'm participating in," Blake asked
"Given that you're a knight, with our current information you have a 70% survival chance."
Giving Blake this piece of information, Hannah turned and walked back to her horse mounting it with one swift motion and having no idea, the huge gulp Blake had just taken after he saw the amount of friction that had been generated between her ass cheek as they rubbed against each other when she moved.
Thanking Hannah for letting Kate and Lena stay in the carriage, Blake went back into the carriage and after quickly explaining what was happening, he gave them some orders and after speaking to the coachman, he returned to Hannah who was sitting on her mount with a regal posture, surprise on his face when the woman extended an arm to him and lifted him onto the back of her horse.
Hannah saw the surprise on Blake's face as he sat behind her on the horse, she spoke a few words to Yong and then with a tap had the horse thundering away, resuming her journey with an additional person.