The scene was even more shocking than before. Roasted pigs fell from the sky in the middle of the night.
General Yves stood barefoot in his pajamas. His face was calm and serious. He stood in front of his bed.
The servants heard noise from inside the house. In such emergencies they did not need permission to enter. They suddenly pushed open the door and saw two roasted pigs inside the big house.
"Master!"
General Yves told them to clean the roasted pigs out of the house. Then he walked toward the courtyard.
Halfway there he stopped and said, "Wait. Check if there are any letters or messages attached."
Because this happened suddenly in the middle of the night both General Ulric and Howell were not around.
General Yves sat quietly in the courtyard for almost an hour. Every time a roasted pig fell the servants quickly cleaned it away.
Two men checked the pigs and the ground for any hidden letters or notes.
There was nothing.
Later whole roasted sheep started to fall but again no messages were found.
General Yves's expression was hard to read. Not finding what he wanted he told the servants to keep all the roasted pigs and sheep in place and decide what to do the next day.
Still the smell of the roasted pigs was very good. It filled the whole mansion with a delicious smell.
It was late at night and the servants fell asleep surrounded by the rich smell.
Early in the morning General Ulric and Howell received messages from their trusted men.
They hurried to General Yves's mansion without eating breakfast.
Following General Yves's orders the servants took them directly to the kitchen.
The kitchen was so full they had to put some food in the nearby storage room.
Before reaching the kitchen they smelled the strong smell.
Inside the kitchen the smell was even stronger.
"Are these the gifts from the gods last night?" they asked, surprised by the large number of roasted pigs and sheep.
They quickly made plans.
"Eighty roasted pigs and eighty whole sheep will be sent to the military camp. Today they will have a special meal. Keep twenty roasted pigs and twenty sheep here. Cook one roasted pig and one sheep for the kitchen today. The rest will be stored in the ice cellar."
The mansion's previous owner had enjoyed comfort. Despite the hot weather and lack of water outside there was a large ice cellar inside that stored plenty of ice.
General Ulric had the kitchen staff cut the roasted pigs on the spot. The sheep were cleaned but still needed to be stewed.
General Yves finished washing up and came out. He already knew Ulric and Howell had arrived. Early in the morning the table was filled with meat. Pork hocks, pig ears, shredded pork, large bowls full.
He motioned for them to sit down. The kitchen had just finished cooking a large plate of flatbread.
The chef who normally cooked for several commanders was casual with General Yves and General Ulric. He smiled and said, "Today's flatbread was made from very fine flour. It smells great and goes perfectly with the meat."
The chef's apprentice brought a plate of chopped green onions and a bowl of thick sauce.
General Yves and Ulric were used to rough meals from years of fighting. They did not expect special service. They started eating by rolling the meat into the flatbread.
Taking a big bite of meat General Yves nodded with approval. Then he took a piece of flatbread, dipped the green onions in sauce, spread the sauce on the bread, then added pig ear slices and pork pieces.
Both generals ate quietly. Howell was a bit more particular.
"Check how the stewed sheep is coming along. Bring a bowl of mutton soup."
After giving the order to the chef General Yves and Ulric had already eaten two flatbreads each. Half of the pig ears and pork were gone. Each was holding a pork hock biting into it with big bites.
Howell was satisfied with the food on the table but ate more politely.
By the time the mutton soup arrived, General Yves and General Ulric had almost finished eating. They quickly drank the soup in two or three gulps and quietly slipped away.
Taking the handkerchief the servant handed over, Yves wiped his mouth and hands and stood up. Ulric followed him.
Howell, who was only halfway through his meal, saw them leave and naturally didn't continue eating. Yves said, "You keep eating. General Ulric and I are just going for a patrol."
After speaking, Yves strode out.
When the two left, Howell lost his appetite.
---
Yves and Ulric only brought a few guards and rode horses around the city.
The streets were orderly, but because of days without enough water and food, people looked pale and weak, like walking corpses. Sometimes, someone was lying on the ground, life uncertain.
They slowed down, observing the city's situation.
They felt something seeing the city, but they did not feel much sympathy.
As rulers, they had to see the city and its people from a higher perspective.
There was little food, and most had to be given to the soldiers, not the common people.
At that moment, a woman carrying a child suddenly ran in front of their horses. If Ulric hadn't pulled his horse tightly, the mother and child might have been trampled.
"Sir, please save my child! Please give some water and food! If not, my child will die!"
The woman knelt on the ground, holding her barely breathing child, begging.
"Enough!" Ulric's face darkened.
The guards immediately pulled the woman away.
Neither Yves nor Ulric had mercy after fighting on the battlefield for so long. Even if they wanted to help, it wasn't the time now.
Ulric cracked his whip at the slowly gathering crowd, quickly scattering them.
Just then, a silver needle shot toward Yves.
Yves's eyes sharpened. He bent low and avoided it.
A short man in brown clothes in the crowd tried to run, but his calf was pierced by a sword, pinning him to the ground.
Unless he was willing to lose his leg, he couldn't escape. Even then, he'd need help to get away, which would expose more people.
Sure enough, as the man tried to pull out the sword, three or four others appeared from the crowd. Two charged at Yves, while two others helped the pinned man try to escape.
But they underestimated Yves and Ulric's skills.
The two quickly defeated the attackers. The guards caught the three trying to run.
The people in the crowd seemed inspired by the failed attack and tried to stop them, but those who resisted were quickly dealt with by Ulric.
More guards arrived and controlled the restless crowd.
Ulric's clothes were stained with blood. Yves ordered the city to be sealed and left first.
Ulric stayed behind to handle the aftermath.