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Atros Imperium
Chapter 061 - Questioning

Chapter 061 - Questioning

Chapter 061:

Bodies littered the streets, more than he remembered when he first passed through. Very few were the green and white of the Qaiviel soldiers. Overall, the Qaiviel forces had come off quite well through the invasion. Verona walked at his side and picked up on his feelings.

“After you left a few more of those splinter groups came back and tried to fight us.” she poked a dead Orc with the butt of her spear. “There weren't that many but it gave everyone quite a surprise.”

There was nothing in her voice to hint at what she was planning for later. Whatever it was she was keeping it very close to her heat. She caught him looking and smiled, a mixture of her normal wide smile and her strange grin, before looking forward again. She retained a quick pace and made sure they followed close.

Slowly the civilians of Nonbu'rn emerged from their homes. Their dirty, tired and terrified faces greeted them as they stepped out into the ruined city streets. They looked at the dead littering the street and gasped. A few murmurs quickly turned into a chorus of shouts and yells. Qaiviel soldiers and mercenaries looked oddly at one another, hoping to avoid whatever was building around them They moved away from the dead bodies and gave them lots of room.

The civilians picked up whatever weapons they could find and ran towards the Orc and Clansmen corpses, the soldiers darting away in surprise and fear, and began beating them with all their strength. Dead bones broke and blood sprayed out from the beaten corpses with every swing. Everyone else watched in silence. More civilians joined in with the venting, quickly becoming a new chorus of battle. Anton made sure to keep some distance from them. He didn't want to get dragged into this.

“If they're so angry why didn't they help in the defence?” Verona asked very quietly. “Less might have died if they helped.”

“The soldiers that fought and died might be their friends and family. They could be dead.” Anton said, Verona humming and looking more closely at their faces. Tears streamed down the faces of the attackers as they barred their teeth in rage. There was no limit to their strength as they unleashed their anger. Names were being screamed at the dead. Of the lost friends and families. “I'm guessing that they've lost sons and daughters, fathers and mothers. It's...It's probably best just to leave them be.”

Verona grimaced slightly. “I can relate to that.”

Anton did not want to bring up any more bad memories. She did not need the worst days of her life brought back.

She sighed and began walking again. Nobody spoke as they continued towards the inner wall. On the way they passed quite a few soldiers engaging in the revenge beatings on the dead Orcs and Clansmen. Some of the Qaiviel soldiers had parted from the main force and began joining in with the civilians. They seemed like they were from Nonbu'rn. Many looked away and allowed the venting to continue in peace.

The venting had seemingly finished by the time they reached the inner wall. Many soldiers manned the walls and kept a keen eye out into the sprawling and still smouldering streets. All of the gates had been raised, not that security mattered since two large holes had been blasted through the wall.

Many of those, on top and those either side of the iron gate, saluted as they passed through. Inside the large space and scattered throughout the marshalling yard were bodies being hauled away and stacked in a large pile. There was a distinction between Qaiviel and the enemy. Everyone was being stripped of anything of value, their weapons and armour, and the odd coin. He remembered how their religious teachings said the dead were meant to be burried. He doubted it applied to the Orcs or Clansmen.

Being buried in according with the teachings of the 'Holy Father' doesn't include your armour and weapons. I suppose that's fair in a time of war.

A soldier at the front of the mansion waved desperately to catch their attention. Anton returned it, much to the man's relief.

“My lords.” He, and the other soldiers, bowed deeply. “Alfred and the other commanders have taken residence in the highest room of Governor Eilis's mansion. They have asked anyone to guide you there.” A smile formed on his dirty face. “We've got a few high ranking prisoners that they need you to look over.”

“Umm. Please, lead on.” Anton found his words came out a little awkward. However the soldier seemed not to mind.

The inside of the mansion was a complete mess. What was once a well and lavishly decorated mansion had been brought to ruin; all the windows broken, paintings torn, books and ornaments scattered and destroyed. Dead Orc and Clansmen bodies littered the interior. They looked to have succumbed to wounds before the mansion was stormed by the soldiers. At least they didn't kill them as they lay wounded and dying.

They continued up many flights of stairs until the soldier stopped at the entrance to a large meeting room. The room looked quite damaged on one side, the side with the windows. This was the room that the Clansmen was blasted out from.

Inside was a large wooden table with the leaders of Qaiviel peering over it. He did not recognise a few of them but those that travelled with him were present. Behind them was an impressive library of colourful and bound books. Everything screamed of how much wealth this Governor had. Even the large plush white carpet stained with a massive pool of blood. Not that Anton knew where the Governor was now. No one had said anything about him.

Several mercenaries stood either side of the door, relaxed but alert, their weapons in positions where they could rapidly respond to a threat. It seemed they had done this sort of work before. The soldier knocked on the wooden door frame.

“My Lords. Anton, Verona and Kal have arrived.”

Without waiting for a response the soldier bowed and moved away, heading back down the stairs. Anton shrugged, getting the same response from Verona and Kal, and walked in. His feet squelched on a white carpet, filled with very fresh blood. There was no dead body present in the room. It must have already been removed. Verona scrunched her eyes but endured the iron smell.

“Good to see you three.” Alfred turned and smiled. He gave a wave and the others moved around to make space. “How did it go?”

“Alright. A few things happened but we're dealing with them.” Verona said, taking her position at the table. On the table was a detailed map of Nonbu'rn and the all the border forts. “We got most of the Orcs and Clansmen. The Clansmen have surrendered but the Orcs managed to escape and have fled the city.”

Hemiskr grunted. “They hacked down the few defenders there and poured out. Now they're just running north.” He smiled. “I think they're trying to head home.”

“Any still left inside the city?” Anton asked.

Non committal shrugs greeted him. Conrad was the first to speak up. “There's not going to be too many left. I've sent my company to scour the city. They won't be able to hide for long.”

“What about those outside?” Verona asked. “When are we going after them?”

“Let them run.” Alfred said with a wave. “They don't have any siege weapons and have lost nearly all their numbers. They obviously don't have the ability to destroy the walls with magic either. They'll be cut down by our soldiers there. I think that it's safe to declare our victory!”

Everyone cheered. He found himself getting a little caught up in their celebrations. Verona laughed and he was sure that Kal was smiling. He was glad to be done with the pursuit and fighting for now. To be able to head back to Atros with whatever they could get from Duchess Belinda.

Alfred raised his hands to stop the limited celebrations.

“Drinks can wait, though I'm sure it will flow when we start celebrating.”

“Governor Eilis has a whole bunch of really good wine.” Conrad chuckled. There were no bottles present. He must have already scoured the mansion.

“Although.” Alfred continued. “We are still left with quite a few questions and decisions we must deal with before we can truly celebrate.”

“Of course there is.” Anton mumbled.

Alfred frowned and looked back at the map. “We've got a message back from the Border Forts. And they're thankful for the warning.”

“They've only just found out?” Anton asked.

Alfred looked at everyone present. “It seems so. Quite interesting.”

“Where is the Governor?” Kal asked. “If...If he got the message-”

“I'm afraid that we don't know where he is. We can't ask him.” a female soldier spoke up. It was the soldier that they had seen at the breach in the outer wall.

“I don't believe I got your name.” Anton asked the woman.

She straightened up and gave a salute.

“Rosanna....Grand Mage Anton. Currently Acting Commander of the City Watch.” a difficult smile on her face. “I'm the eldest that survived. So...”

She did not look to be that old. The dirt and grime on her face muddled his guess at her age. Not that it really mattered.

“Thank you, Rosanna. Sorry I interrupted you, please, continue.”

She looked around in disbelief. People of his 'rank' were evidentially quite rude and arrogant going by the surprise on her, and a few other Qaiviel soldiers next to her. She coughed awkwardly.

“Umm, Thank you. We don't know where the Governor is. We've been asking around and we can only find out he, and his family, was here two days ago. After that he sort of disappears.”

“Nothing from the servants?”

“Nothing. Those that survived just say the same thing. He just disappeared.”

“That's very...worrying” Alfred mumbled.

“But you're sure they got the message?” Verona asked. “You said that you sent them out when they first attacked in Maxill.”

“I did.” Alfred nodded. He looked to Rosanna. “Did the Governor do anything odd before he left?”

Rosanna shrugged. “A day before he disappeared I think he was acting a little odd. Maybe.”

“He ran?” Hemiskr asked. Verona nodded in silent agreement. “That's a shame.”

“Governor Eilis won't be able to get far.” Alfred looked back at the map. “If I remember that fat little stump correctly he'll come running back. If the city was destroyed that would excuse him but, if the King finds out that he ran from his duty like this...”

“What's the punishment for...what he did?” Anton asked.

“If he turns up...” Alfred trailed off at the end. Anton suspected that it was not going to be good for this Governor. But potentially quite beneficial to Belinda. So long as it helped him in the end.

“The other problem, while we wait for news from the Governor, is what to do with our prisoners.”

“You're not going to do what you did at the Gravestone?” Verona asked, part of her gaze directed at Conrad. Kal nodded in agreement. Conrad remained stoic. For him it seemed to just be a part of his job.

“No. No, we're not going to do that.”

Rosanna, and the other soldiers, looked a little lost. Perhaps it was best that it was not explained to them.

“I think we have found someone very important that we should talk to before making any decisions. The Clansmen, that was thrown out of this room by the white magic. However he is in a bad state; most of his bones are broken, he's been blinded and I don't even know if he can hear us.”

“Sound like a job for you.” Verona smiled up at Anton.

“Indeed it does.” Alfred looked at everyone else present. “Continue organising the sweeps of the city and start repairs of the walls as best you can. Conscript the civilians to work if they are not willing. Everyone needs to work.”

Rosanna tensed but did not offer any objections. Everyone saluted before moving out very quickly. In a second they were already gone.

How willing will the civilians be once they've calmed down after their outburst of revenge against the dead? I remember stories from the wars that civilians were forced to do some of these things. Dig trenches and burying the dead...I hope they do it, and that the soldiers aren't just aggressive about it.

That left Alfred, Anton, Verona and Kal alone. Alfred clapped his hands, a warm smile on his face.

“So. Shall we go meet this person?”

---[]---

The Clansmen that lay infront of him, on what he assumed was Governor Eilis's bed, was a total mess. His body was essentially held together by his armour. Blood continued to stream out of his bleached eyes, only pathetic whimpers escaping his lips. His skin was red and raw, some of it already starting to turn a dangerous shade of purple and blue. Anton honestly had no idea how he was still alive. Everyone else seemed to be of a similar mind. A few green and white soldiers, who looked like medics, shook their heads as they tried to tend to him.

“Can you heal him?” Alfred asked.

“Sure. I don't have a problem with healing an enemy.” Anton said, He winced as the man weakly coughed up blood. “And, this is just painful to see someone like this.”

The Clansmen wheezed again. Anton moved closer to the Clansmen, the closest medic making room.

“Can you heal him?” A voice from a hidden corner of the room said deeply.

“I can.” Anton said, turning to see the owner. “I-”

His voice clamped down in his throat. Verona growled, activated her power and drew up blood crystal shards. Kal drew her new blade and moved infront of both of them.

Sitting in the corner, and surrounded by four Qaiviel soldiers, was an Orc. A very large one. He had a large axe next to his chair but did not seem to be willing to use it. He kept his arms folded on his massive muscled chest, staring directly into Anton's eyes.

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“Who's this?” Anton asked, readying magic in his mind. The Orc paid him no attention.

“Not really sure.” Alfred said as he walked in. The Orc returned a glare, then turned his attention to the dying Clansmen. “We found him near this one and refused to be separated. He didn't fight back, so long as we didn't try and take his axe away from him.”

“This was the one thrown from the top of the mansion?” Verona asked, keeping her eyes on the Orc. “And survived.”

“Barely.” Kal quietly added.

The Orc frowned. “He wasn't thrown. Zig used some magic, blinded him and then blasted him through the window.” he shook his head. “Little runt bastard.”

“You going to stay still when I heal him?”

The Orc chuckled. “I thought you Holy Father types wouldn't heal one of us.”

Anton smiled. “I'm not one of those.”

He laid his hand on the Clansmen's arm and chanted the healing prayer. Most of his mana left him, Kal moving forward to make sure he did not fall over. The clansmen gasped as his body cracked and his wounds bound themselves together. His eyes regained their colour, and swivelled about as he gasped for air. The medics looked on stunned in silence.

Anton steadied himself by resting against a wall. Verona and Kal moved closer to Anton to shield him.

“Ughhh.” the Clansmen grumbled as his head rocked from side to side. He coughed violently, letting out some blood spray. The Orc looked on stunned. Slowly the Clansmen rose up, the Qaiviel soldiers pointed their weapons at the Orc as he tried to rise as well.

His eyes snapped into focus as he sat up. As he looked around, seeing the green and white of the Qaiviel soldiers as well as the room he was in, and let out a groan of disappointment.

“So.” the Clansmen voice was raspy and hoarse, clear as he rubbed his throat after speaking only one word. “I'm guessing that we've lost.”

“That you have.” Alfred said quietly.

The clansmen sighed, bringing his fingers up to his eyes. “That bastard Zig blinded me...And I'm pretty sure that I couldn't feel anything below my neck. Who healed me?”

Alfred smiled.

“I know it wasn't you, old man.”

Verona, still glowing, looked back at Anton.

“So, you're the one.” the Clansmen smiled at Anton. “Why?” he waved Anton down before he could answer. “Doesn't really matter now. We've lost.”

“I was asked to.” Anton answered. “But you were in such a bad state that I think I would have anyway.”

The Clansmen grumbled. “My thanks.”

“So, let us begin then.” Alfred said.

“Right. I understand how this works. My name is Ivano. Of the Blood Axe Clan.”

Alfred turned to the Orc. “What about you?”

The Orc relaxed at seeing Ivano able to speak freely. “Snakha. Of the Wrath of Doom.”

“The Black Fist are no more?” Anton asked, recovering some of his strength.

Snakha glared at him. He looked like the Orcs he had seen before, perhaps a little more wild.

“They are now. I suppose we're going to answer all your questions?”

“If you want to live.” Alfred said flatly.

“Alright.” Ivano answered for the both of them.

“What was your mission here?” Alfred asked.

He was not going to try and bamboozle both of these important prisoners with complex questions.

“I think you've already guessed it.” Ivano began. “But we were to attack the Border Forts, and its supporting cities in support of a major assault. They won't be attacking now. They'll see that we've failed and turn back.”

“Very well.” Alfred said. “I can understand why you wanted to destroy certain cities. But why burn down the smaller villages and hamlets on the way? They served little purpose in the campaign.”

Ivano grunted as he shook his head. “That wasn't my orders. We took food, but never burnt the villages down. Zig and the rest of the Orcs did that.” He glance at Snakha, who glanced briefly at his axe. “It was becoming difficult to control my ally by the end. I did send some Clansmen to stiffen their resolve to delay you but the villages were already burned down.”

Ivano started to look around. “Where is he?”

“Was he one dressed in yellow, orange and blue clothes?” Anton asked. “A bit like...a noble would.”

Ivano nodded.

“He's dead.”

Ivano looked at Snakha before they started to laugh. He didn't understand why but they carried on for some time.

Ivano wiped away a few tears. “I'm glad. I'm glad to hear that prick Zig is dead. After what he did to me.”

“Me too.” Snakha said. “The man was an idiot. So much anger in such a little Orc.”

“That Orc, Zig.” Anton began, showing them the broken silver charm. “Did he use something like this to break down the wall?”

Ivano looked more closely. “Yeah. That's the thing. I don't know where he got it. I had no idea he even had it until he destroyed the walls. I thought we would have to climb up each other. But, Orcs couldn't make something like that.”

Ivano looked at Snakha, who shook his head.

“I take it that you can't make something like this?”

“No. Looks like something from Bebbazar or Graterious. I'm not really sure which though.”

Anton looked at the silver charm. Ivano sighed as he massaged his arms.

“So. What happens to us now?” he looked towards Snakha. “We don't know much about any other campaigns against you. With this failure they're going to take some time before they try anything against you. I'm surprised that we're even alive. Qaiviel doesn't have a...reputation, for letting Clansmen, or Orcs, who invade their lands live.”

“Not this time.” Alfred replied. “As I have been bestowed with the authority of the Duchess Belinda-”

“That's the one from that little city...Maxill?” Ivano interrupted.

“Yes.”

“Huh. I guess she did alright out of this.”

“She's alive.” Snakha said, keeping his arms folded. “If you'd went...”

They both smiled and chuckled, the same way someone would awaiting imminent and unavoidable death.

"One moment." Anton said, turning to Alfred. "Could I just have a moment."

Alfred nodded and they both left the room. Verona and Kal moved to cover them but remained inside.

"What?" Alfred asked.

"What were you about to do to them?"

"They were going to be ransomed back to their respective clans. Recouperate some of the losses."

Sounds fair. But there might be something in this...

"I have a request to make of you." Anton said as Alfred narrowed his eyes. "I would see them return to their lands. Without a rime wasting ransom."

"What?" Alfred didn't seem angry, rather confused and curious about his decision.

"As a favour to me, and Atros, I would owe you for doing this."

"We already owe you for coming to our aid."

"Consider this as two favours in one, so I owe you again."

Alfred frowned. "Why?"

"They might be usefull some day."

"A Clansmen and an Orc?"

Anton nodded.

Alfred sighed after looking deeply into his eyes. "Very well. We're making a considerable amount of gold anyway. Having a favour from a Lightning and Fire Grand Mage is more valuable than that...Alright."

Alfred led them both in. Ivano and Snakha hadn't moved. They kept all their attention focused on the door way waiting their return.

“With the authority of Duchess Belinda.” Alfred said louder than before. “And with Governor Eilis's...absence, I have decided that you, and the rest of survivors, will be returned home.”

Silence filled the room. Nobody believed what they had just heard, least of all Ivano and Snakha. Verona and Kal looked the same way, though far less.

“What?” Ivano said quietly. “Is...Is this some sort of joke?”

“If we tried to ransom you for gold, it would take seasons to organise something.” Alfred explained. “Back and forth as we haggled over the amount of gold. And that gold would be from some another Kingdom or Empire that you stole it from. We would have to house and feed you, while we are trying to rebuild. It's better for us to just send you back. Alive.”

Ivano grimaced. “Broken. But Alive. I wonder what they'll do to us when they found out we've failed.”

“I have a question.” Anton said, getting a nod from Alfred. He moved for a chair, one of the medics got it for him. “Why?”

Ivano waved Snakha over to sit next to him. The Qaiviel soldiers relented as Snakha dragged the heavy wooden chair of the wooden floor, sitting next to the edge of the bed.

“Why attack the Kingdom? Why any of this?”

Anton nodded.

“We want to take back the lands that were taken from us.”

“Oh not this again.” Alfred shook his head. “I've heard this story before. Do you want their version or ours?”

This Clansmen, and Orc, don't seem like the usual screamers. Maybe if I can get on their good side, even if it's just asking about something like this, that might get us a line into the Deweth Clans and the new Orc clan. I get the feeling that we're going to need everyone we can get to deal with those Demons. And this, this could be one of those defining moments in history. The biggest changes in history can start in places like this.

How often would I be able to talk to a Clansmen and an Orc that aren't going to kill me? I don't think there's going to be many.

“Let's start with the Clansmen version. But, please keep it to the important bits.”

Ivano shrugged. “Fair enough. Our legends say that all the lands in the Shattered Kingdoms, all of them, even the lands controlled by the elves, once was ruled by the Deweth Clans. You, and the rest of the Kingdoms and Empires, are theives and trespassers. And it is the duty of every Clansmen to reclaim the lands.”

He and Snakha laughed. “You can see how well that goes.”

“You don't sound all that enthused by your quest.” Anton said.

Ivano scoffed. “Of course not. A waste of time and people. All it does is make you hate us even more. There's so many of you in every place we go, and so few of us. There's no real point. Besides, I'm sure it's just an excuse to enrich our leaders. We're more concerned with loot and slaves than conquest...”

He rolled up his left sleeve, riddled with scars and missing hunks of flesh. On his forearm was a large deeply branded cross. It drew all attention away from the other scars.

“I got this from a Merchant Lord in Bebbazar.” Ivano sighed. His face became very sad as he looked deeply at it. “They didn't like us raiding their lands, for some reason. They killed so many of us. When you keep loosing like this...Did you find a Clansmen woman-”

Alfred nodded. “We did, in the Governor's office. She suffered a bad head wound but she's alive. Barely. Our healers are doing their best. She'll have some scars but she'll live.”

“But she's alive?”

“She is. Currently she's with the other prisoners.”

“I understand. But I'm glad that she's alive. I don't know why Zig didn't kill her.”

He looked at Snakha who could only shrug.

“I was trying to teach her that our current ways will be the death of us. But...”

“So, if you could be in control of the Deweth Clans, what would you do differently?” Anton asked.

Ivano frowned and looked at Snakha, who desperately held back his smirk. He seemed to be a trouble maker. Whomever the Orc really was.

“Quite a few things would change. Many things. For the better of everyone in all the lands.” Ivano left it at that.

He continued to stare at Anton with a burning intensity.

Well, I wouldn't divulge everything to an enemy that has captured me. He might think I'm just playing a sick game with him. Either that or he might just say what he thinks I want to hear. Though I did bring him back from the brink so at least I can get a few words out of him. This might be a good thing...

Anton smiled as he looked towards the Orc.

“I can guess the Qaiviel version of the Clansmen story. So what's your story? You're from that new group, the Wrath of Doom?”

Snakha scoffed. “We're only here because we owe the Deweth Clans. None of us have any desire to end up in your lands. Or to die here.”

“Did you willingly join the Wrath of Doom? Or were you from the defeated side, the Black Fist clan?”

A flash of anger overcame his face. “I did what I had to do to survive in that place.”

“You don't sound like the other Orcs.” Verona said, keeping her power active and the blood shards floating around her.

Snakha shrugged. “I guess not. They're not like the Black Fist Orcs. They wouldn't have been dumb enough to follow the Clans here. And loose almost thirty thousand Orcs. I was forced along and I tried to enjoy the ride as much as I could.”

He sounds like he's not exactly happy with the new leadership. I wonder what he'd say if he found out that Lazgar, and the Black Fist Clan, survived and was heading south. I think that might be a bit early to tell.

Ivano frowned and turned to the Orc. “You killed someone for that axe.”

Snakha held up his axe, not that he seemed top be about to use it. The Qaiviel soldiers kept a keen eye on it. The axe looked quite good but not enough to kill someone over. Just as Anton was about to ask if that was the truth Snakha chuckled.

“The old clan might have been good, but I've never been.” a look of satisfaction of his face as he twirled the axe in his hand. The axe had blood on it, some of it looked old. Maybe.

Guess it's too early yet. I wonder if he's a secret loyalist? A little early to tell yet. I would need to find Lazgar first. He said he was heading the to the Red Spines. When we've got a bit more privacy I'll ask Alfred about that place. We'll see about heading there after Graterious and Seocuria.

“Thank you.” Anton said. “So, what do we do now?”

“Get them as healthy as we can before we dump them back on their side of the border.”

Ivano chuckled. “That-”

Something resounded through the air. It was a horn but far louder than anything they had. The high pitched noise travelled through, wherever it was from it was very far away, and yet it could reach them inside the mansion. Alfred and Ivano tensed.

“Alright, what's that?” Anton asked. Snakha grunted as he looked around.

“You two seem really nervous.” Verona added.

Ivano chuckled as he looked at Verona. “That, little Blood Berserker, is the sound of a Knight Order.” he shook his head. “They're coming to kill anyone still alive.”

“Quite a few of the Orcs made it out of the city and headed north.” Anton said.

Snakha sighed. He knew that whatever deals they were making in here would mean nothing against the Knights. Alfred was of a similar mind.

“Do you know the leader?” Anton asked Alfred.

“Maybe. I just hope that I talk some sense into them before they come in here and just kill everyone.”

------------

Hello!

The invasion has been beaten, and now they're cleaning up. Only got a little chat before being interupted. New issues on the horizon. Also got the corrupt Governor to deal with, in a way that benefits Anton and Belinda. So we'll see how that plays out.

Verona's holding off on her little plan for the future. She's smart enough to wait until everything's done.

Anyway, that's about it.

Thanks for reading!