"They did what!?" Lars's bellow of shock attracted attention from all sides.
The young messenger wasn't in much better shape. "Overfall rioted, they've captured their tax farmer and captured or killed his bullyboys. They would have strung 'em up if Vicar Goff hadn't said more people should see it and suggested taking 'em to Lowfells."
Lars quickly began shouting orders. All classes were canceled. Able-bodied rohain should assemble by squads and proceed to Lowfells as quickly as possible. The disabled and trainees would man the walls of the Preceptory. He himself would take a horse and hopefully talk to the Lowfells' mayor before the rioters arrived.
He muttered curses as his horse was readied and another messenger arrived. The riot was expanding rapidly into a full scale rebellion. This was not a good time. He'd have to recall his mercenary troop and hope that the Grand Conclave would permit him to try again in a year or two. The investigation in the Burcany would have to be abandoned, though, by Feroze, he would see the rohain who had disobeyed orders tried in courts martial if they ever appeared again. The anradan would have to cut off contact for a time with the Goblin Kingdom. Lars hated to think what might happen if people heard Exquaestio was dealing with goblins in Tanimbar _and_ rebels in Junder. Lars only hoped that someone would be able to do _something_ to convince people that things were normal. Maybe that plan for licensing mages?
Hopefully, the Free Cities would decide that dealing with a rebellion in the far south of Junder would be too expensive and let the area go its own way. Lars knew his neighbors, though. If they let one part of Junder secede, the rest would follow sooner or later. The only real hope a rebellion had was if Cormenaera decided that secession in Junder would hurt its rival free cities more than itself. If the Free Cities decided to cooperate Junder would be covered in blood and flames for years.
As Lars spotted Lowfells' Mayor he thought, "Listen to me. I'm already thinking of this as a rebellion, not a riot. I only hope that I can make it as bloodless a rebellion as possible."