Capítulo 33: What Happened Last Night
He brought us into a small office in the top of his home. It was quaint and well kept. Not even a spot of dust speckled the air as we walked in. The room mostly just consisted of a small desk with a lamp, bookshelves aligned against the wall, and worn out chair. The room seemed fairly simple with its one tall window and door leading out to the balcony. But despite having mulitple openings, old yellow smoke stains appeared all along the wall. The stench was thick and heavy as well, deaming he had just smoked not to long ago.
With a wave of his hand, the few guards that escorted us left the room. Marquise, Michael, and I where standing before the Chief, watching him saunter slowly to his seat. It was like watching a really old turtle find his way through slick sand. One careful step at a time. Not once did he utter a word, and my patience was thinning with every step. I had to keep my cool. He was an old man, and I needed to represent my kingdom well. I wouldn't let a little fatigue get the best of me.
"Your friends are quite the fighters. I can only presume you are their leader, am I correct?" The Chief said as he sat down. He grunted with effort as he impacted hard against the seat, his entire body jarring from the force.
"Aye, that I am. Princess Alliah of Celestia." I said with a half bow. He grinned, showing us a toothy smile. It was unnerving, but I kept my face firm. The last thing I wanted to do was to be disprespectful. "Can you tell us what happened? They are in danger and I need to catch up to them quickly." I urged him, hoping to skip the niceties and get straight to the point.
"Tell me first, who was the man they where chasing last night? That bastard came through and stabbed a few of our guards before taking off into the forest. We thought your two soliders where apart of his schemes and attacked them. But, they where much stronger, and surprisingly didn't inflict any pain other than a few bruises. Before they left, they told us to look out for a few soliders dressed in a similar fasion and relay a message to them." He paused, watching us for a moment. I pursed my lips, not liking the way his tone dropped towards the end.
"The man running through the woods, his name is Emmanuel. He is a highly skilled mercenary that is part of an unknown organization. Our Kingdom has suffered attacks within the last two weeks from his group, and we finally caught him. We brought him in to interrogate him, but he got away last night. Not before bringing down a few of our men. Nathaniel and Jeremiah are the two of my best scouts, and where sent to chase him down back to Emmanuel's base so we can dislodge them once and for all." I might as well tell him the whole plan, other wise it would just lead to more badgering questions that I wasn't in the mood to answer.
As we speak my legs where starting to rock a little, and the heavy way my eyes lids felt, only made me want to collapse right here and sleep. My stomach was starting to churn as well, since I wasn't able to eat much of dinner last night.
"I see. That is rather unfortunate. The message they gave me feels a bit more disturbing now. I do hope you contain this issue soon. As you could probably tell, our forces are not the greatest, and the only reason why we have survived this long is because we keep our heads down low. I don't want rogue mercenaries coming into our homes because we helped you out." I wasn't exactly sure if they would bother with a low class village, but I wouldn't put it pass them either. If they seemed like a threat, or looked like possible allies, they might want to dispose of them rather than risk us getting the upper hand.
"I will send a message to my troops at home and have them stationed here until we handle the issue at large." Seeming satisfied, he nodded his head once and leaned back in his chair.
"It seems that while Emmanuel was being tracked, they ran into a mysteriously cloaked figure. They told me that they where heading towards Chastewind City just out side of the Western Kingdom. I don't know about you, but if I was into some shady stuff, Chastewind is the place to go. All the big time villians hang around there and deal with their buisness. If your friends aren't careful, they could end up in a lot of trouble."
"I had my suspicions that they where gathered somewhere dangerous. I bet you that's where they have the researcher, Maxwell, as well. If he isn't already dead that is." I mumbled, not able to hide my affliction with the current situation. Marquise was equally as silent as he pondered the new information offered to us. I know for a fact that the three of us going in alone into Chastewind was suicide. But did we really have the time to dwadle and wait for reinforcements? Could I even afford to bring reinforcements and divide us further?
My men where still recovering from the last battle we had. Many where wounded, to the point that they wouldn't be able to fight properly even if they had the stamina to do so. If we walk into Chastewind, we immediately get jumped upon our identities being revealed. Not even the status of Knights or our skills would help us win against an entire horde. It was already bad enough Kalus the drug lord, Kaden the assassin, and Lylia the Vixen where residing there.
They where the three biggest evils in all of the four kingdoms on this continent. Kalus was the biggest slum when it came to buisness. If he didn't like the way you looked, spoke, or acted, he had no problem killing you just for pleasure. He was seen as merciless and dangerous, and his many loyal followers where just as insane. He earned the title Over Lord of the Damned because he has many lives under his belt.
Kaden was just as fearsome, if not more. He was silent and deadly. No one has ever heard him speak or seen his face. His whole background is mysterious and often, rumors pinned him as a small orphan who grew up with wolves. He was more cunning and relaxed then Kalus, and to hire his service, you would have to pay an awfully high price. He never misses his mark, and always gets results. What made him more dangerous, is that he wasn't always killing for contracts, he hunts down nobles and royals like a sports game.
Laylia was known for her biggest prostitute organization. But with each prostitute was a trained killer. You wouldn't think twice about looking upon those beauties with evil intentions. Most men who go in, never go out. She has a way of luring those she wants dead, right to her front door. Her reputation as the Vixen is honestly quite fitting, and she is quick as a fox. No one has ever been able to touch her, even with her trailing reputation. Not to mention, you don't even know you are wanted dead, until you are and its impossible to stop her advances.
"This is troubling indeed. With the location being known, I hope Nathaniel and Jeremiah are smart enough to stay out of Chastewind until we get there. I have no doubts that they will be seen immediately if they are still wearing their uniforms." I palmed my face, feeling the anxiety almost reaching it's peak. There where so many issues to face right at this moment, and I wasn't exactly sure what to do.
"Let's get you rested first before you start formulating a plan. You might not realize it, but your thoughts are going to be to muddled to think rationally. Once we are settled down for the night, we can discuss things further." Marquise said grabbing my shoulder gently. I let my hands fall to my sides and nodded my head. He was right of course, but the dutiful part of me at least wanted to get a small army established. Or at least a small rescue squad.
"Let me know what you need, and we will supply you with it. You have our help." The Chief spoke quietly, his voice a soft raspy sound. I past him a wry smile and nodded once.
"Actually, if you wouldn't mind, we need to change into something less inconspicous. Anything to help us blend in with the slums." The old Chief grinned once again, amusement etched into his face as he started to chuckle.
"I know just the thing. I'll have all the preparations sent to your room, rest assure." With a bow and exchanged good-byes, we left his office and back out into the village.
"Marquise, I want you to send word back to the Kingdom and ask for reinforcements. Pay extra for the carrier birds as we are running out of time. Anyone will do at this point." I hoped the General wouldn't try and force himself here. If he knew what we where up to, he'd come running, especially with his son here. "Leave out everything about what you heard, do you understand. I can't let the General hear about his. Calling for reinforcements is already suspicious enough." I grumbled. Marquise silently nodded his head in agreement. We where in for a long next few days. With the ball around the corner as well, time was becoming even tighter.
Who knows if our efforts was slowing the down or not, because the more we dug into this matter, the more things seemed to be out of my control.
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