The savage brutality that the women fought the possessed with surprised Arthur. Within minutes they had killed all of the possessed and Grace's cackling laughter boomed around the street. The other women immediately broke rank and slumped onto the ground exhausted. The women seemed like they hadn't stopped moving since Arthur last saw them, they were strung out and exhausted, some more than others thought Arthur glancing at Grace and a few others who were celebrating their victory.

"If not for you Arthur they would have ambushed us again," said Mira.

"Have they been following you?" asked Arthur.

"Yes for some time now, they've got the front gate to the city locked down we need to find a different way out of Finepoint," said Mira.

"Perhaps you can try your luck at the docks," said Arthur.

"All the boats were taken by the rich when they first fled the city."

Arthur had seen that was true, "Well what will you do?" he asked trying to adopt a softer tone.

"I don't know Arthur," Mira looked around to make sure that no one else would hear her "I'm at my limit, I don't want these women's lives in my hands anymore".

She looked desperate as she spoke the trials of the past few days finally catching up to her. Arthur was sympathetic, it was never easy to lose people you had grown close to and it was worse when you had to see their violent end with your own eyes.

"I can't take you where you want to go Mira I told you there's someone I need to find," said Arthur.

"Why, who's so important to you that you must abandon us time and time again." Tears welled in her eyes as she spoke. He couldn't help them he had a responsibility to the High Prince and he was not a man to go back on his word. Still, Mira's words moved Arthur and he found it hard to hold his resolve.

"I'm sorry Mira," said Arthur, for a moment she silently sobbed covering her face.

Arthur turned away to give her some privacy. He scanned the area for Els and spotted her talking the group of women still on their feet, as he walked over. "-ou ladies are quite fierce on the battlefield, these possessed were dispatched with ease. I'm on a perilous quest through the city and I would be honoured if you would join me."

Arthur heard, only catching the end of her speech.

Grace spoke first, "I would be honoured to join you Lady Weimaer", with that statement the rest of the women joined in with a chorus of agreement.

Arthur moved to speak to Els, "Recruiting another army now are we," he said glancing at the women, now glowing with new confidence that Els's words instilled in them.

"They will be useful for us, Finepoint is a dangerous place after all," said Els.

"Us?" said Arthur.

"Well we're in this together aren't we," said Els, unconsciously brushing her braided hair.

"Don't quickly forget the men who died under your command the last time you tried to play the hero," said Arthur his harsh words quickly draining her face of it's previous satisfaction.

"I'll never forget what happened at that gate," she said her voice a quick whisper.

"See that you don't, with your status and charm you are more dangerous than any possessed."

"Arthur," came Mira's voice.

He looked up from his ritual sword cleaning. "What is it," he said.

She slowly walked over to him looking more stable than she did before, "I've spoken with Lady Elsbeth and she agreed to take control of this little band," she said breathing a sigh of relief.

"She won't lead you out of the city, you will be going straight back into the fire," Arthur said his heart dropping at the news.

"She's a Lady and a Weimaer at that, it's her right to lead us," said Mira.

"The normal rules hardly apply here, you don't have to roll over and submit to her whims," said Arthur getting to his feet.

"I can't do it anymore, I won't. She can't do worse than me," said Mira, her voice was wavering slightly.

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"So be it," said Arthur, he could see the resolve in her and knew he would not convince her. Not everyone is made for war thought Arthur and it was admirable that she would step down voluntarily, if only Els would do the same. Arthur saw Els inspecting the women who were stood in ranks as if she were a general on the eve of battle, he wondered if she did this when she led the guardsmen into that bloodbath. Arthur knew he was being unfair, there's not a commander alive today who could have won that fight. It was Els's noble birth which irked Arthur, it had since the moment he met her and the arrogance and self-confidence only made it worse. The day light was slowly fading and soon night would be upon them, Arthur marched over to Els's side.

"We need to move soon," said Arthur.

"Yes, we make for the upper city gate if we keep up a fast pace we should make it before daybreak," said Els turning and setting off.

A disorganized line of armed women haphazardly marched down a wide street. Els stood at the head leading them forward confidently, and Arthur stood in the front row at the side keeping his eye on the less stable members of the march. The fast pace that Els wanted only lasted for a few minutes before the injured and exhausted members of the group began to fall behind. Mira had performed the last rites on a number of the critically injured, they had no time to find a place to bury them so they could only cover their bodies in sheets. Apart from Grace and her cronies the rest of the party was in low spirits, silent tears were cried as they pushed forward and Arthur heard the occasional sob from the crowd. If Els noticed this she showed no sign. Day had broken and the sky grew dark soon they would be marching blind and that would only make things worse.

"Els we need to stop soon, we can't march in the dark," said Arthur.

"The gate's nearby, we can make camp there for the night," said Els.

"How close?" he asked.

"Close," she replied turning away from him.

Arthur felt that something was off, Mira told him they had been constantly harassed by the possessed when they fled from the upper city and now there were no possessed in sight. It made Arthur uneasy and years of experience had taught Arthur to trust his instincts. His hand wrapped around the hilt of his sword. As they made their way further through the city Arthur's concern only grew, he heard sounds of movement through side streets and saw signs of large groups having moved through the the area. Soon his fears were realised when the gatehouse came into view. It was being besieged by a force of possessed, Arthur could hear the sounds of fighting as the possessed placed makeshift ladders onto the wall to swarm the fortifications. The whole scene was bathed in a thick layer of smoke as the defenders of the gate fired muskets into the mass of possessed. It was unclear how many were in the attacking force but he could see it was not enough to take the gate, a man defending from a wall was worth four attacking, the only equalizer was black powder Arthur had yet to see a possessed using those expensive weapons. There was no way they could be of any help here he thought, they were too few and too tired to put up an effective fight. Right as he was about to call on Els to sound a retreat they were spotted by some of the possessed.

"Form the line," shouted Els drawing her sword.

The women quickly formed into a line. Arthur walked down the line pushing women into better positions making sure there were no gaps that could be pushed through. A fraction of the possessed force broke off and advanced toward their small defensive line. Arthur was surprised how few possessed were sent to dispatch them, it paled in comparison to the force they faced at the baron's keep. He took a place in the front row and waited for battle. Suddenly the line burst into battle cries and screams as the women hacked into the possessed. Arthur cut down two possessed in an instant his sword slashing at the gaps in their armour. Els gave a good account of herself the teachings of a master at arms were clear in her fluid technique, but Arthur noticed an eagerness to her style which resulted in a number of near misses, any of which could have ended her life. Grace went wild with her pole axe, smashing it into possessed without any regard for armour. Her screams echoed around the battlefield. Soon they had slain most of the possessed sent against them and few of their number lay among the dead.

Els was energized by the quick victory, "Look how they fall to our might, we need to press the advantage. Forward!" She shouted pointing her sword toward the enemy.

The women were taken with battle lust and gladly pushed forward following Els.

"Steady, hold the line," Arthur shouted at them blocking a few of the more eager women with the flat of his sword.

They wouldn't last long if they fell out of formation thought Arthur having to herd them back into line. Up ahead there were columns of possessed waiting to climb a crudely made ladder. When they spotted the small line of pole axes slowly charging toward them, they all broke off and moved to meet them. Arthur tried to spot who was fighting on the wall as a number of the ladders were pushed off, the defenders taking advantage of the momentary distraction they caused. The attack was more fierce than the last, the possessed pushed through the pole axes and reaped a number of lives before being cut down themselves. The battle fever was wearing off and Arthur could see fear spread across the women's faces. He fought harder knowing if they lost faith in themselves they were all as good as dead. It was not looking good for their dwindling force, more possessed were getting through the lines and ripping into the flailing women. Arthur saw Els take a wound and fell back from the frontline, the sight of their leader falling from sight was the turning point and Arthur could feel the line slowly buckle. A loud bang sounded on the wall and a score of possessed were shredded by musket shot, whoever was on the wall had spotted them and was providing aid. Arthur exploited the sudden loss of enemies and crashed through the thin line of enemies. He turned and began to cut down the possessed from the rear his sword arm heavy as he form the constant fighting. He was almost mechanical as he ploughed back into the fray, he killed one possessed with a quick slash and smashed the pommel into the exposed face of another cracking its skull. Soon the tide changed and the women pushed back the possessed again. Blood ran down Arthurs face as he split open the old wound on his cheek from the exertion. Els jumped back to the frontline, she had a gash across her shoulder which was slick with blood.

"They're spent, there's none left!" Els shouted to the women who let out a weary cheer.

Between heavy breaths Arthur glanced up to the wall, knowing that during their battle a much larger one was happening on the wall.