User blog:AloofComputer/Dark Winds: Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Preparations

“So, they will probably try to blend with the crowd. My estimation is that they will launch an attack in the forest as a distraction and use the panic and confusion to pass unnoticed. Another route are the sewers. That was what I used to set up the distraction before encountering Lady Druella.” Alatar showed the respective places at a rough drawing of the city, while Wilmaria and Koyoi watched in rapt attention.

“Of course, they may even use hostages or living shields. But the ones entering the city are probably those who will go for their main objectives, so dragging someone around will only slow them down. They will probably kill their hostage on the spot and run once they get close.”

“Cowards.”

“Miss Wilmaria, this is how they will fight. They are probably not crazy enough, to go with a frontal assault. That is what I would have done. The problem is how do we counter it or avoid it altogether. This will require taking some risks. So, I propose to leave the sewers unguarded.”

“What!?”

If we discourage them from trying the gates, they will go through the sewers. But still, ambushing them will not be safe. They can detonate the gems there. Although not as bad as the palace or the church, the results will be quite catastrophic.”

He pointed to a specific spot. “I sent to my base a map of the city, when I entered. The quickest method to guide them is to let them through this point in the sewers and collapse this, and this path. We can unblock them later. They will be forced to follow this route, and exit here. They will have quite more distance to cover, and we can also evacuate the area to avoid kidnapping and collateral damages. The even trickier part-”

“What, there is more?”

“Yes. The trickier part will be to pick them off one by one. With extreme speed and extreme prejudice. Disabling them will be hard; I suspect they have sent their best. That is why I will participate on this plan myself. Pallanto also wants himself in this. He wants to use himself as bait. That, although risky as hell, has certain advantages; the invading team will split, and they won’t try to detonate their gems in the vicinity. They want him alive.”

Wilmaria didn’t like the thought. “Why can’t we ambush them at the gates?”

“If you evacuate the gates, they will suspect it and avoid them. If there are people there, they will use them as cover, and they may… no, they will injure or kill. Still, the possibility of trying both is not zero. So you will need to keep watch over these two gates. No matter what you see, don’t leave your post. And another thing.”

“This is something that against all odds, I will hate even more, isn’t it?”

“ Yes, Miss Wilmaria. Pallanto has already told you, they bear blessed weapons. Those weapons… well, if my serrated blade hurt, one nick of those things can be fatal to any monster or incubus. So, you need to protect yourselves and the others. The men of the Order of Shadows are trained for warfare in all kinds of terrains, from forest to desert, from mountain to sea… and in cities and villages. They will be alert. I don’t know if I can take one down unscathed, especially now. And, of course, remember to disable them fast. If they feel they are about to fail their mission, they will detonate their gems then and there. That will require some manipulation.”

“You mean, let them think they have the upper hand.”

“It won’t be easy. I don’t know if those men are rookies or veterans, but the training is enough for even a rookie to take down a regular succubus, if he fights on his own terms. Keep that in mind. This may be our territory, but the training was just about that: fighting monsters on their territory.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in"> He stood up, looking as Pallanto held his own conference with Mimil and Lucella. “I will guard the palace, as Pallanto can’t get too close to it. But now I must consult with the werewolves. They have an equally big chance of casualties. Send some people to block or collapse those sewer tunnels. And let’s hope they take the bait.”

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<p style="margin-bottom: 0in"> The werewolf pack was agitated at the news that their leader brought them. The orders of Druella were absolute, but even then some of the younger ones clawed the ground as they waited the arrival of one of their worst enemies… and fears. Primera stood among them in silence, ready to intervene if any of her pack dared to defy her. The sight of the blue cloak with red robes incited a low grown among them, but Alatar didn’t slow down. He stood before many glowing yellow pairs of eyes. “Greetings.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“Let’s get this over with.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“As you wish, Miss Primera.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in"> The growl intensified, but Alatar looked around calmly, before talking. “Listen up! The men you will be up against, are no mere soldiers, or villagers. They are trained killers. As I was.” He glared around, and some werewolves closer to him backed off a little. “They will not attack directly. They will use stealth, traps, tricks. You’ll need to do -”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“Lady Primera! Why we listen to that murderer? Why don’t we just rip his clothes and rape him? Why don’t we get out and rape the others as well?” an impatient young werewolf growled.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in"> Primera’s eyes focused on Alatar, who just smiled. “Fine then, m iss. If you think you are so better prepared than those men, why don’t you try it?” The growls ended abruptly. Alatar walked to a nearby tree, cut a straight stick and cleared it. “I’ll make a deal with you. You can attack me. No holds barred. If you draw my blood, I’ll stop. I’ll even let you rape me.” He smiled a truly nasty smile, that never reached his eyes.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in"> The werewolf looked at Primera, who gave her a nod. Smiling, she let a short aggressive growl and charg ed to Alatar, who stood before the tree, his only weapon the cleaned stick he cut earlier. She jumped at him, her claws extended at full length.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">Alatar began moving as soon as he saw her her muscles contract. With a fluid motion, he drew his cloak in front of him, letting the werewolf’s claws pierce and grab onto it. Putting more strength in his pull, he put the werewolf off balance, causing her to slam to the tree, and then the ground. She tried to get up, but Alatar’s boot was on her throat, his stick touching her neck. That harmless stick in his hand looked like a blade from hell, as he pointed it at her neck; his eyes pierced her with the cold calculating glare of an apex predator. She felt something hot between her legs, as her heart raced wildly.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“I hope you got a good look. That was how I killed your pack leader.” Alatar said with a cold tone as he stepped off his opponent. The werewolf stumbled to her feet and realized she had pissed herself, and her legs were shaking. Alatar turned to the rest of the pack, with the same eyes that caused her this. “This is a basic move. Every rookie learns it. It requires concentration and reflexes, but the results are obvious.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">The silence was deafening. He continued. “That means, you will have to change your tactics. No one-on-one. But not all together, either. You must spread to small groups, and spread out. Also, don’t trust your nose. You won’t smell these men. Only trust your eyes. Don’t try to hit them with frontal assaults. Also, regarding traps...”

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<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“Long night, pal? What happened to your cloak?”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“Long story. I won’t be using it anyway. What about you?”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“ Oh, it went well.” Pallanto said with a smile. “If you don’t count Lucella trying to stick to me. And Mimil keeping her parfait close to-”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“Pallanto. I have known you long enough to know that you joke when you are stressed.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">Pallanto’s smile slipped. “Oh, fine. Yes, I am nervous as hell. They are coming for my ass too, you know. I know I proposed to be the bait, but still… do you really believe they will take it?”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“ We don’t believe. We know. That’s why we-”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“Are mages, yes. They will have a mage with them for sure, you know.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“I am counting on it.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“ Ever the mysterious guy, eh? Fine, l et’s get some sleep. The sun will be rising soon, and I need some sleep. Badly.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“Did you happen to bring any-”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“Way ahead of you.” Pallanto said with a smug grin. He pulled a bundle from his expansion pouch. “The ladies sent those when they captured you. I took the liberty of repairing them.” He opened it.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">Alatar’s shielded cloak, mask and boots were neatly folded inside, but his hand reached for the sword and bow, shining in the light of the torch. He examined the serrated blade. “Let’s hope I don’t need to use it.”

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<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“ How could you let him escape?! This is unheard of! The knight-commander of the most prestigious chapter of the Order was overpowered by a mere mage!” one of the head priest yelled at Frederic, his bloated face red with anger. He started pacing in front of the commander, his robes stretching to hold his jiggling gut. “This is preposterous! If word gets around that this lunatic is loose, the Order will be utterly shamed!”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“ Your Grace, I was impeded by unknown assailants-”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“I read your report, commander. Still, you had a whole garrison, sitting on their trained… behinds! And you couldn’t stop a single man! Why, I should-”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“Your Grace, let’s not judge our commander so harshly.” A calm, soothing voice called from behind. The head priest looked annoyed.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“This is an important matter, brother Alfonso. The honor and reputation of the Order hangs by a thread.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">''So, Father Alfonso. Who would have guessed. The rational voice. And now comes the good guard bad guard routine. Geez, amateurs.''

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“Still, it is unfair to be so harsh on the commander, your Grace. It is true, the commander had to react to an unusual situation. The mage seems to have gone mad. Wouldn’t it be better if we handle this on our own? We can contain the situation quickly if we act fast.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">''So, seeking to replace me by irking the head priest and calling for action. I have my own cards to play too, Father.''

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">The head priest thought about it. “Fine. Set the knights of the Order to hunt this man. Let them know, they are not to return until they have him. Or his head. As for you, commander, you are suspended from service until this whole mess is sorted out. Then we’ll decide what to make of your failure.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in"> Frederic bowed and left the room, looking sideways at a servant sweeping the corridor. The servant nodded slightly, and returned to his work. Now we set things in motion.

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<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">A/N: Chapter 4 is out. Groundwork, setting, foreshadowing. Maybe boring, if you aren’t into (bad) intrigue. Still, it connects with the next idea. Criticism welcome.