UPRISING

Chapter 5

The little one in Limah's arms cried in fits and starts at the trumpet high-pitched sound which cut through the travellers in their numbers. The travellers were suddenly brought to a halt seeing as the trumpet sound from the city's gate commanded attention. A wave of murmurs spread across the crowd in reaction while everyone of the travellers looked back at the city's gate of Athena only to discover a small troop approaching on their horses. The troop, however, had the inclusion of an arrogant-looking horse--typical of royalty--spearheading them. Of course, it was none but General Bastian.

Bastian was supposedly not content with Ganicus and his squad's search exercise. He had received news of futile attempts to apprehend Limah from the West Gate and different homes within the city. However, the general was hell bent on retrieving Limah and her infant in a bid to deliver the duo to king Gaius.

The Army's General rode slowly on his black stallion--an elegant horse of Friesian breed with majestic gaits--advancing towards the crowd of travellers. His presence commanded attention and an absolute quiet as the Army's General of the city of Athena sliced through the crowd of travellers addressing them for the last time. Bastian bawled at the top of his voice, dishing out a caveat to the crowd, ''this city cherishes kind acts, magnanimity and honesty, as much as we have given you travellers, merchants, tourists and visitors.''

Meanwhile, Bojan and his entourage fretted in their chariots at the prospect of being discovered by the army. We thought we had achieved freedom from the snare of King Gaius, but here, the freedom was slipping out of hands, thought Bojan. They could hear Bastian's punchy words spreading across the crowd, hitting their eardrums with a tone of threat. Bojan's face was engulfed in a mass of sweat, dreading the worst even as he watched Limah struggle to calm her infant who had stopped sobbing. The troubled mother had improvised by frantically pressing her infant's face against the cleavage of her breasts in a bid to drown out sobs and moans that could draw the soldiers' attention towards her.

''It would not be too much to ask of you to repay the legendary king of this city, the slayer of many kingdoms and the bringer of human freedom, would it?'' Bojan asked, examining the reaction of the crowd around him. ''Yes. It's high time you repaid the king by simply returning his missing treasures.''

Bastian's words caused another wave of murmurs and side talks across the crowd. The travellers were obviously displeased by the delay and suspicion they had been subjected to. It didn't particularly sit quite well with the travellers that they had to be subjected to another bout of search; hence the murmurs and waves of grumbles that ran across the crowd in a moment of uniformity.

Bastian continued, addressing the crowd, ''the great king means no harm towards you but goodwill and absolute clemency towards the holder of his missing treasures.''