Contains Male on Male sex, some willing, some not, and (gasp) fighting. Do not read if offended by such things or under the legal age!

 

King's Cat Part 7

 

 

       Rassnor gathered his Captains together in his tent, he’d spent the day going over the list of the captured equipment and taken part in the interrogation of the captured Gundorian heavy cavalry. He smiled over at Balizar, his pet was sporting a few minor bandages from some cuts he’d taken in the attack. Overall the losses had been light considering the caliber of troops they’d taken on, and most of the wounded would be back in the field in a few weeks, if not sooner.

       “So milord,” Hennesy, the Captain of the Southern levies asked as they all settled down, “what is our next course of action?”

       Rassnor smiled looking around the table, letting his fangs show, “Ah yes, our next move…”

       Balizar’s ears perked up and he leaned forward with sudden interest. Rassnor’s expression was vicious, the one he often worn when planning his more daring attacks, or when beating the living shit out of Balizar in private during some of their more nasty sex play.

       The others leaned in as well, they were also familiar with that hunting look.

       “We’re months away from attacking the Capitol, there are two forts that lay along the road. We’re looking at a siege and battle that will take at least a month for each one. All the time we’ll be raided on our flanks, our supply lines will be harassed, and we’ll bleed troops. Right?”

       They all nodded.

       “I mean to take the first fort tomorrow. The second the day after. We’re going to attack the Capitol the week after that!”

       Balizar felt his own jaw drop as the others looked at each other in equal dumbfoundment.

       “But, but Sire!”

       “How can we…?”

       “Next week?

       Rassnor smiled and leaned back in his seat, letting them all babble for a minute.

       “Quiet!” Balizar growled and everyone shut up. He looked at Rassnor, his Master and smiled, “What do we do Master?”

       “What, no questions Pet?” Rassnor laughed.

       “Questions are for the unbelievers, if you say we can do it, we will do it.” Balizar laughed suddenly, “But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to know how!”

       The others nodded, “Yes how? Those two forts are getting larger garrisons as we speak,” Captain Schorky said.

       “All the more reason to take them now, so we can divide and conquer those garrisons, or ambush them on the road at our leisure.”

       “I know milord, but if you don’t tell us how I’m going to start to wonder if my dear cousin hasn’t lost his mind!” Captain Schorky growled.

       Rassnor smiled, “Simple. We dress our men up in the armor and uniforms of the Heavy Cavalry we captured. We even use their mounts. We send them riding hell bent for leather up to the fort’s gates with a contingent of our army trailing them.

       “We’ve seen this before, they’ll open the gates and let them in, then close the gates and regroup to drive off our attackers. BUT, if the group riding in takes the gates and reopens them, all of our forces can enter the fort.”

       “Risky my lord!” Hennesy said. “But if it works!”

       “But it’d only work once, they’ll be ready after that,” Schorky pointed out.

       “That’s why we have to take the second fort the next day. Before they get word,” Rassnor replied. “Logistically this is going to be a nightmare. We’ll have to split the army in two and start forces marching on the forts tonight. Forced marches for both, no sleeping, nothing. We’ll strip the baggage train down completely, use the carts for carrying soldiers. We’ll attack the first fort just after sunrise tomorrow.” He pointed to the map and the force deployments he’d made on it.

       “Once we have the entrance secured our imposters pull out and set off for the second fort. The dangers are two fold. If we don’t succeed in taking the first fort, the army at the second will be unsupplyable and on their own. The army attacking the second fort will be tired, and even if we win the first fort will not be able to count on re-enforcements for at least a week. I’ve already sent a rider to request a new supply train be sent up from the rear, but that will take time.”

       They all nodded.

       “A very bold plan milord,” Hennesy said, “I’d like to volunteer for the second fort. My troops are young, all in prime shape. I think they’d be able to carry off a two day forced march and still be effective fighters.”

       Rassnor nodded. “Any others?”

       “I think I can find enough men among the guard to fill out the ranks of the cavalry,” Schorky said. “There are more than a few of us who know how to fight mounted in such heavy armor.”

       The different Captains each put in a word for what they felt they’d be best suited for. Balizar by now had gotten up and walked over to examine his Master’s plans and notes. Nodding as he went over it, making some small notes in the margins and pointing them out to Rassnor as his Master and the others decided on the troop deployments.

       It took an hour and then dispatches started to flow out of the tent as Rassnor started writing orders and dispatching units. Much of the camp would be left behind, if you couldn’t carry it yourself, it wasn’t going. The baggage handlers and stevedores were given the chore of defending the camp and making it look lived in.

       “One last thing,” Rassnor said standing. “I’m taking the army to the second fort. It’s the more risky enterprise and I need to be there to see it through.”

       Several of the Captains began to protest, but Rassnor waved them down. “I’m also placing Balizar in charge of taking the first fort. I cannot afford to have that effort fail, or my second army will have no place to retreat to shall things go awry.”

       “Master?” Balizar gasped his head snapping around to stare at Rassnor, “You can’t do that to me! I want to fight with you!”

       Rassnor grabbed Balizar by the neck and growled at the others. “Dismissed, you have an hour to get your troops on the road. Now move it.”

       Balizar tried to gasp, Rassnor’s paw was cutting off his breath. The others cleared out quickly, not wanting to be a target of Rassnor’s suddenly aroused anger.

       “Now listen to me, and listen good pet.” He growled, “I need that fort taken, and I need it more than anything in the world right now. You will take that fort for me, no matter what! DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?” He growled and threw Balizar against the desk.

       “Y…yes Master,” Balizar gasped catching his breath. “I’m sorry Master, I just want to be there with you, to watch you fight, to fight along side of you.”

       “Don’t think I don’t want you by my side Pet!” Rassnor growled, “Who else am I going to fuck the shit out of after we kick their asses? But the only person here the troops respect in combat as much as myself is you. I need you to lead them. You are MINE Pet, to do with as I damn well please, remember that. Take that fort for me, and I’ll reward you, don’t worry.”

       “But I don’t want any rewards Master, I just want to serve you.”

       Rassnor laughed and jumped on Balizar, “And that shall be your reward my little fuck slut. You’ll serve me alright, just like you’re going to serve me right now,” He growled and pulled his loin cloth off, flipping Balizar’s out of the way as he pushed the smaller cat backwards onto the table, forcing his legs apart with his knees.

       Balizar grabbed onto Rassnor’s weapons harness and pulled himself up against the tiger, crossing his legs behind the tiger’s back as Rassnor fell onto him. The table collapsed under them not being made to take this kind of abuse and Balizar cried out as three hundred plus pounds of tiger not only flattened him, but drove Rassnor’s rock hard cock straight to the hilt in his ass.

       “Take it slut, take it all” Rassnor growled, “and take that damn fort as well!” he laughed and started to thrust against the pinned leopard, enjoying the pained gasps of his pet. It had been a while since he’d been this brutal to Balizar and he was enjoying it.

       Balizar panted and wiggled under his Master, the fierceness of the attack taking him by surprise, but he pulled Rassnor closer, and kicked at the tiger’s broad strong back to urge him on.

       “I exist for your pleasure Master, if you want that fort, I’ll wrap it in a bow for you.”

       “That’s better my Pet. Much better. Now twist that tight ass for me you little slut.”

       Balizar groaned and did, bearing down with his ass muscles as Rassnor buggered him hard and fast, his massive shaft pulling at his insides. “Harder Master, harder! Hurt me! Harder!”

       Rassnor laughed and used all his weight to pound into the leopard, grabbing the ankles that were behind him and pinning them back by Balizar’s head. With that sexy ass bent up for him he just slammed home hard, growling and panting as Balizar’s moans became louder and lustier.

       “Cum in me Master! Take me, fill me with your seed! Cum in me!”

       Rassnor could feel his balls tightening as he neared his peak. A quick violent fuck like this was exactly what he needed. “Take it you fucking slut, take it all!” he growled out and then roared loudly into the room as his orgasm hit him, his cock swelling in the tight confines of his leopard’s abused ass, not even noticing the answering roar of Balizar as the leopard’s own cock start to shoot cum all over his own face so bent back was his body under the tiger’s.

       Rassnor savored his orgasm and the twitching ass around his thick ebon shaft for several minutes before releasing Balizar’s legs and letting the leopard stretch out flat on the floor beneath him. He chuckled to himself at the white streaks of cum in the facial fur of the cat, kissing him deeply and licking up a few of the strands in the process.

       “Someone needs to clean up, get their armor on, and get their ass in gear,” Rassnor chuckled, flexing his cock a few times to get the last drops out and into his toy’s ass.”

       Balizar sighed, “You too Master. I’m gonna punish those assholes in that fort for coming between us, if even only for two days.”

       Rassnor smiled, “That’s what I wanted to hear.” He withdrew then and laughed again as Balizar winced a little.

       “Sore?”

       “A little.”

       “Good. It’s been awhile since I’ve left you sore.”

       “Well maybe after all this is over you can do that again?” Balizar said hopefully.

       “Oh you can count on that. I might even have the healer on call!” he growled, tail lashing at the thought of putting his pet through his paces.

       Balizar rolled back on to his shoulders then unwound like a spring, popping to his feet in one of those fluid moves that only leopards ever seem to pull off successfully.

       “With your leave Master?” he asked bowing to one knee before Rassnor.

       “Go Balizar. Kick ass, take names, and show no mercy.” He commanded.

       “From your lips to my heart Master. I swear on my life it shall be done!” and with that Balizar left the room.

 

*      *      *      *      *

 

       They’d marched all night and into next morning. Now the fort was only a few miles ahead. Scouts would surely have reported some of the commotion going on, so a heavy cavalry unit harassing the troops should be expected.

       At least that was what Balizar hoped. He had everyone mounted that could be mounted, his light Cavalry was only 500 strong, Rassnor had taken the larger share. But Balizar had four thousand foot. The only problem was they were spread out over several miles following him. It would take an hour just to get all the troops up to the fort, but they just didn’t have the time to wait for a massed attack.

       “Okay, here’s how it’s going to play out,” Balizar told the mounted officers. “Jaren takes the heavy Cav out, five minutes later I’ll lead out the light in hot pursuit. Immediately after, Sean and the rest of you follow on. I want everyone running as fast as they can. I don’t care if they drop of exhaustion when they get there; a thousand dead tired troops are better than no troops at all, understand?”

       They all nodded.

       “This is a full out shock assault. We’re not going to be able to hold the gates for long against the combined forces of the fort. So spread the word, the first hundred foot in the gates after the attack starts gets a hundred gold apiece. Fifty each for the next hundred, got it?”

       Yessir!”

       “Good. Now Jaren, go meet up with your guys in the woods, ride down here then peal off and make for the fort like we discussed.”

       They all split off then and Balizar noticed shortly thereafter that a lot of the soldiers were lightening their loads, making him smile.

       Ten minutes later Jaren’s men, disguised as the Gundorian unit came down and made a mock attack along the lines. This was for the benefit of any scouts that might be watching. It wouldn’t do for them to report the whole thing was a set up. Balizar rounded up his men and charged off after them, thundering down the road and raising an impressive amount of dust.

       When they topped the last rise before the fort, he could hear the alarm being sounded, see the men scrambling to the walls, and see the gates half closed, but holding for the Heavy Cavalry. A smile of delight came to Balizar’s muzzle as the fake unit rode in through the gates, the tail end riders attacking the gate guards as the rest started to attack the guards at gate to the inner keep and force their way through.

       “Charge!” Balizar yelled at the top of his lungs and led his troops down the rise towards the gates. Arrows started to fall around them as they drew near, more and more archers were mounting the walls and the strength of the volley picked up as they drew closer. Balizar ducked down closer to his mount’s neck and spurred him on harder. A few arrows sped by his head, and then he was inside!

       Grabbing the reigns he turned the horse and ran it up the stairs towards the wall, drawing swords and leaping from his mount’s back when he could ride no further, wading into the archers to lessen their deadly fire on his troops. Several others followed his lead up onto the walls, and they quickly plowed through the archers, as the ones farther away turned and ran for their lives.

       Balizar turned then and let the tigers and wolves who had followed him up chase after the archers as he made his way back down towards the courtyard. Quite a few of his light cavalry had made it into the inner court yard where the heavy cavalry was also taking a heavy toll on the defenders. The fighting was vicious and bloody, a number of the heavies had been wounded and a much larger number of his light were already dead or wounded. He pitched into the fray with a will, exhorting his people to fight on harder, killing enemy soldiers one after the other as he moved from one fight to the next, looking for places his people needed bolstering.

       “Heavies out! Heavies out!” he cried continuing his attack.

       “But we’ve not won!” Jaren yelled back.

       “You have your orders!” Balizar yelled, “Out now and take your next point! Go!”

       Balizar gutted the fox before him and moved on to the wolf that was harrying one of his own wolves and was wearing a Captain’s rank.

       “Surrender now Captain,” Balizar growled, “I have an overwhelming force, you’re done.”

       “Bullshit!” The wolf growled and turned his attack against Balizar, finishing off his previous opponent.

       Balizar had to give ground at first, the wolf was clearly a better than average swordsman and had the advantage of the ground over him. They fought hard and several times Balizar had to deal with a second opponent as well, picking up more than a few wounds in the process. Each time he was able to kill the second fighter but the Captain backed away each time he pressed letting Balizar pick up more wounds from those foolish enough to get that close to the deadly leopard.

       “You’re going to die here Leopard!” The wolf laughed pushing Balizar back closer to the inner gates. There were less than twenty of Balizar’s troops left fighting inside at this point, and Balizar was starting to wonder just where the hell the foot soldiers were.

       Zhinatao do not die so easily Captain!” Balizar growled and pushed forward again himself, unleashing a flurry of his own attacks on the wolf and using the opportunity to slash the throat of another enemy to the side.

       “There are only a few of you left! Zhinatao or not, you’re not going to win this…” Balizar suddenly noticed the eyes of his opponent start to widen as he suddenly stopped speaking.

       “Order your men to surrender, and I’ll give quarter. But if you don’t order it now, I’ll not show any mercy Captain!”

       Balizar could hear the shouts of his foot soldiers entering the fray. His second wave had arrived at last.

       He smacked the Captain in the side of the face with one of his swords, he could have killed him, the Captain was starting to falter. But an ordered surrender would save him time, vital time.

       “Surrender now or die Captain! I’ve got you, save your soldiers!”

       The wolf looked up at him and Balizar could see it in his eyes, he’d lost and he knew it. Hundreds were pouring in through the gates now. The fort’s garrison might be close to a thousand, but in moments that number would be equaled, in minutes surpassed, and he’d already lost at least a quarter of his men.

       The Wolf dropped his sword and shield and raised his hands. “Quarter! Hold all and ask for Quarter! The Fort is lost! Quarter!”

       Balizar stepped back and nearly slipped in a puddle of blood beneath him and fell. He watched as the other enemy soldiers started to throw down their weapons and surrender. He put up his own weapons then and grabbed the wolf Captain to drag him around the fort, so the other defenders could see their cause was lost and end the fighting.

       “Commander, your thigh!” One of his men said running up to him. Balizar looked down and saw his thigh was gashed wide open and bleeding heavily. He hadn’t even felt it.

       “Take this officer and let him order his men to stand down.” He turned to another soldier, “Get my Captains up here. And send in the healers.”

       And then he passed out.

 

       He woke up still in the same spot, another soldier had bandaged his leg and a second was helping him to sit up.

       “You okay commander?”

       “I will be now that the bleeding has stopped. Get me something to drink and help me stand.”

       Balizar got shakily to his feet and surveyed the situation as his Captains came up to him.

       “We’ve won the day Commander,” Sean told him, “They’ve all laid down their weapons and I have squads securing the buildings.”

       “Good, how many of our foot have made it up here so far?”

       “About two thousand. We expect all of them to be here within the hour.”

       “Good. I want you to detail a squad to gather up our mounts and all the mounts that the fort has. Have them report back to me on how many we have. Then gather what’s left of our Light Cavalry together and let me know how many effectives we have there. Also gather up all of our dead and wounded. Deal with the wounded first. I want to know what this victory cost us.”

       He turned to the others there as well. “Continue securing the fort, and the perimeter. And get some scouts out there to cover the countryside. No one knows we have this fort yet, there may be some opportunities to be had.”

       They nodded and headed off to their duties and Balizar propped himself up on a cart and sent a soldier off to find him something to eat. His body was going to be making demands soon enough.

 

       Three hours later and he had moved into the office of the fort commander. He had Sharr chained to the side of the desk, with his muzzle bound so he wouldn’t have to listen to anything the fox had to say. He had several of the enemy commanders brought in to be questioned, they all eyed Sharr warily, recognition in their eyes of just who he was. The outfit he was wearing made it clear just what his position was now however.

       The Captain of the fort, the wolf he’d fought with the longest was the only one to comment on it.

       “Should I expect the same sort of treatment for myself or my people?” He asked.

       “No, of course not. Sharr here is a special case, besides,” Balizar said and turned to look at the fox, “I think he likes it!” He smiled broadly at the glare that the bound fox returned to him.

       “However that may be, I still don’t want that to happen to any of my soldiers.”

       “Don’t worry Captain, we don’t treat our citizens like this. Once the war is finished you’ll all be sent home to your farms or Mansions to enjoy productive lives as subjects of Sarajat.”

       “You mean Gundor.”

       “No, I mean Sarajat. This is all property of Sarajat, Gundor will cease to exist before the year is out Captain. Your former country has been spoiling for a war for ages, and when they invaded its fate was sealed. Fortunately my Master and your future King, King Rassnor, does not hold any of the citizens to blame for the attack and attempted conquest of Sarajat. The royals and some nobles such as Sharr here shall pay that price alone.”

       “I don’t think you’ll be finding us willing subjects Commander,” the Captain retorted.

       Balizar shrugged, “Insurrections give the troops something to do to keep from growing bored. I’m sure some of your former countrymen will be causing problems, but by and large King Rassnor rules with a much lighter hand than King Tuttle ever has. I suspect the working classes, craftsmen, or merchants won’t be much interested in any fights.”

       “We will see commander, we will see.”

       He then negotiated the terms of their captivity with Balizar, there would be no parole given for these soldiers while the war was on. Though Balizar did make it clear that once the war was over, the rank and file would be free to go home, the officers would all be reviewed and cashiered only if they agreed to never take up arms against Sarajat again.

 

       Balizar stood up and stretched looking over at Sharr after the Captain had been escorted out and smiled. “Your country is history fox,” he purred and undid his loincloth, letting it drop to the floor.

Sharr pulled back away from the desk as far as the chains would allow, Balizar had a rampant hardon and he had no doubt at all as to where the leopard was going to bury it.

       “Time I broke you in some more,” Balizar laughed and grabbed the chain, pulling Sharr to him. “Lets see if you get as good as you once gave, hmmm?” he teased and seizing Sharr by the shoulders forced him over the desk.

       “Commander, will you be…”

       Balizar looked up and saw one of his Sergeants in the doorway, a grin on his muzzle. “Oh sorry, I’ll see to it that you’re not disturbed Sir.”

       “Thank you Sergeant”, he smiled and kicked Sharr’s legs apart, sliding in between them. “I wonder how many times,” Balizar whispered into Sharr’s ears, “You did this to some poor unwilling girl or boy, and told them to trust you, they’ll like it.” He sniggered as he saw the Fox’s ears droop. “Well trust me, you’ll like it!” Balizar said and seizing the fox’s tail he jerked it up out of the way and ran his cock in between the fox’s tight asscheeks, spearing Sharr’s assring with the tip of his shaft immediately.

       Sharr twisted and struggled trying to keep from the inevitable. A strong fist to the back of his head stunned him a moment though, and then suddenly there was a sharp pain in his ass and he felt it once again. Balizar’s cat cock drove up into his tight asshole, spreading him wide once more. A moment later the leopard’s balls bumped against his sac, the big black cat hilting inside of him causing his eyes to tear with shame. He’d hoped he wouldn’t be used by this demonic cat again, but apparently his hopes had been in vain.

       “Now that wasn’t so bad, was it Sharr?” Balizar purred and grabbed the Fox’s hips. “I bet you like it hard and deep, so let’s get started…”

       With that Balizar started to fuck Sharr nice and hard. He wasn’t going to take his time and be gentle, he just wanted to use this fox’s ass and use it well. The battle had been fought, he’d won, and it was time to claim his due once more from this slave. He was already heavily preing inside the tight fox, lubing his way and making it easier. He used his claws to ‘encourage’ Sharr to keep his ass tilted up, enjoying the tightness, and the angle. As he drew near he seized the fox in a breeding bite and really let him have it. In time the fox would learn, he’d see to that. Sharr had this coming after all.

       For his part Sharr couldn’t have felt more humiliated. Balizar was right, and was using him as he’d used so many other unwilling or drugged victims over the years. He tried to resist and got cuffed in the head when he did. He tried to sag down and got a claw pressed into this sheath to force him to keep his ass high and his back arched. The Cat knew all the tricks and was using them to good advantage. He felt even more ashamed as once again his body betrayed him. The thick cat cock rubbed heavily against his prostate, the bumps and barbs stroking it and causing his sheath to stiffen. As his body got pounded harder and harder against the desk he felt the leopard’s paw caress his sheath and give it a squeeze just as the cat froze inside of him, and the warmth of his hot cat cum poured out of his prick to fill Sharr’s bowels with his seed.

       Balizar arched his back and held himself deep inside of Sharr as his orgasm washed over him, pumping shot after shot deep inside the fox, stroking at the stiff sheath teasingly, letting Sharr know he knew. As the last of his cum oozed out he leaned down and gave the fox’s ear a nip. “See? I told you you’d like it,” he whispered throatily. He pulled out then and admired the white bead of cum he left on the fox’s asshole.

       “Sergeant!” he called, wiping his cock off on Sharr’s butt.

       Yessir?”

       “Any of the men want to use Sharr tonight, they’re welcome too. Just don’t undo his chains or the strap around his muzzle. Well, not anymore than to get their cocks in it if they’re willing to take a chance on getting bit.”

       The Sergeant smiled, and Sharr quailed inside. “Oh I know a few tiger and wolf kin that have been eyeing that pretty toy of yours for some time now Commander.”

       “Well, try not to break him. See if you can’t learn him how to move that cute little ass of his though, he’s way too still for my liking now that he doesn’t fight it anymore.”

       Yessir! I’ll personally see to it myself,” the wolf said licking his chops. Like a lot of the wolves he had relatives in Gundor, and he was more than familiar with the antics of this fox. One of his distant cousins was believed to have even fallen prey to him. Oh yes, he’d see to it all night long if he could.

       Balizar smiled and summoned his Captains once again, while the Sergeant took the fox away. Balizar could see Sharr was torn as he was led out; stay with the demon cat, or get gang raped. Neither alternative was enticing he was sure.

 

       “So we lost two hundred of the light Cavalry, plus another eighty which are too seriously wounded to ride. The foot did better, only twenty three dead, and about sixty wounded.”

       “How about enemy casualties?” Balizar said.

       “Two hundred and fifty six dead. Another three hundred or so wounded. Of the wounded there are about forty or so that the healers aren’t sure will make it.”

       “I want those soldiers put in with our men. See that they get the same treatment as ours do. I don’t want any of the prisoners to be given anything less than ours, understood?”

       “Yes sir. I’ll see to it immediately.”

       “What about mounts?” Balizar asked turning to another one of his officers as the previous left to follow his orders.

       “Well combining ours and theirs we have about six hundred light cavalry, fifty draft, and ten messenger carriers. The fifty or so dead I’ve ordered slaughtered and cooked over the next few days to keep us out of our pack rations. And we’ve got about a hundred with different injuries, which the horse leaches think should recover.”

       Balizar nodded. It was late afternoon now, they’d been in possession of the fort for about six hours.

       “Captain Sean,” he turned to face his senior most officer. “Do you think you could hold this place against an attack?”

       “With what we have in here now Commander? Easily. We’ve got four thousand soldiers, at least a thousand of which are skilled with bow. As long as the food situation holds out, I could hold this place forever.

       “What about with half that number?”

       “Half?” He scratched his head ears flicking, “If you leave the bowmen I think it wouldn’t really matter. Though the King’s orders I thought were clear.”

       “They were when they were given, but now the situation has changed. We took the fort faster than he had expected to, and with considerably less loss of life. I want the word put out right now for volunteers. I’m going to take five hundred light cavalry out of here within the hour. I want you to take the other hundred light along with the draft and send a force out to recover the camp and bring it here. Tell them to concentrate on the supplies first and foremost, I want this place well stocked in case of siege.

       “Next I want you to put together a battalion of five companies. Get them ready to travel as early as tomorrow, I’ll take two messengers with me and if I need them to react I or the King will send word. Keep a strong contingent of scouts in the area. If you find any bodies of Gundorian troops, mount an immediate ambush.

“As we’ve already learned there are three small scouting outposts around here, send a company out to each of them tonight and take them out. Use overwhelming force wherever possible.”

       They all nodded. “Good,” Balizar stood, favoring his leg a little. “Now let’s see who’s willing to ride.”