Among the upper echelon of Deka’s army were the captains and their retainers. If they challenged them to duels, there was a high likelihood they would not honor the duel if they were on the losing side of it. Dreiki had already observed it. The captains knew how to stay in the game, and if it meant running, or having one of their retainers intervene before losing, then they would do that.
Not to mention, since the Tibur had been running and avoiding losses, they would likely do the same in response. By turning to tactics the nobility considered ‘less honorable’ they were no longer bound by honor. In order to leave the captains vulnerable, it was important to take out their retainers first. Either by distracting them, incapacitating them, or taking them out of the game entirely.
Dreiki and his friends could not compete with a captain, but if they were strategic about it they could sow enough chaos among the retainers that stronger fighters like Tadios could challenge the captains. In other words, they needed to attack the ‘legs’ of the giant before they could get to anything else.
Now here he was, laying in the snow draped in the crystalline white fur of a kervaza waiting for his target. Apparently the Tibur liked to hunt the kervaza for its fur around this time of year because they provided camouflage in the snow that even Malaki were tricked by. It was perfect not only for the war games, but the Siren Ceremony and beyond. Rixam had purchased a tailored cloak for each of them. According to Luna they had delivered the cloaks only a few moments before she met up with him and Tadios. Dreiki had to admit the cloaks were incredible even if he was more attached to the one his mother had gifted him a couple years ago.
From his second encounter with Amaro, however, he knew it would be a death sentence to be seen wearing it again. The bloodlust he radiated was palpable. Amaro only needed one excuse to end Dreiki’s life, so it was best he didn’t give him a reason.
Movement broke his train of thought and Dreiki snapped to attention. Two retainers of Paxia were falling back from a band of Tibur. The snow across from him came to life as Luna raised her head and signed to him. Dreiki nodded.
The Tibur had done their part in chasing them here. Now it was time to do their part. They sprung their trap. Ice removed their traction, smoke blinded them. Trip wires sent them tumbling and skidding to the ground.
As the two scrambled to find their barings, Dreiki snapped his fingers to ignite the smoke in a blindingly brilliant explosion.
Reburn
The new spell was not a particularly harmful one. What it lacked in damage it made up for in disorienting his targets. There was one more purpose to the spell, however: Heating the air in an instant.
Luna chucked a love bomb into the chaos. The brittle vial shattered open and spread its contents like wildfire. Under normal circumstances, the cold winter air would slow the spread of the potion, but now that the air had been sufficiently heated, it diffused around the two in an inescapable miasma.
He could see them trying to hold their breath, but that was exactly why Dreiki told Tibur to make them fight and run for a little bit. Their hearts were racing right now, eating up all the breath they had in their lungs. It wasn’t long before they had to breath the gas in.
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“Hey! You two should just give up and let them cut your horns! Don’t be rude!” Dreiki called out, seeing the vacancy in their eyes.
The Tibur caught up with them, shocked to see that the two retainers were now bowing their heads to allow their horns to be cut.
Two retainers down.
For the rest of the night, they repeated the process. The Tibur corralled the retainers into an ambush of ice, fire, and love. Horn after horn was severed without resistance until the captains were left without bodyguards.
The process went by quickly and smoothly. The Tibur had an affinity for hunting, so it was only right to have them act as hunters. They were masters at directing prey into traps.
For the longest time, the Tibur allowed themselves to play the Noble’s game of duels and direct confrontation. Thanks to Dreiki’s plan, the Tibur were now playing their game instead.
“You Noxa did good work.” Corvio said after his friends severed the retainer’s horns, “Those retainers were all really strong on their own, but we didn’t lose anyone thanks to your plan.”
“Just remember: We were never here, and if anyone asks, your party caught up with them and defeated them with overwhelming numbers. In fact, it’s better you boast and take credit.”
Corvio nodded, “I got you. It’s part of ‘tricking the ears’, right?”
Dreiki nodded, “The less Fealux understands the true nature of your victory, the better. Sow doubt in their ranks, and misdirect attention away from us, so we can keep doing our job.”
“Well, with any luck, the rest have successfully hacked away at the other ‘legs’ by now,” He said, crossing his arms, “We’re going to regroup with everyone else. I assume the two of you have your own plans?”
“Yes, Tadios and the rest are dealing with ‘the eyes’.”
“Argo right? I’ll remember it, even if you don’t want others to.”
Dreiki allowed himself to smile behind his scarf, “I appreciate it.”
It was time for Luna and himself to regroup with Tadios and the others. Among Deka’s group were two people he trusted with information gathering. Fealux had a lot of contacts in camp who shared rumors with her. Ones who owed a debt to the family, or sought to curry favor with the clan of assassins. Perhaps in the hopes that one day they would not end up on the receiving end of her dagger the moment they inherited their estate.
Whatever the case, Deka benefited greatly from the rumors she could gather from them. It had led to some crushing defeats for the Tibur.
The other was Vilka who served as Deka’s most trustworthy advisor. She oversaw the other captains and their retainers. Ensuring that anyone who got close to Deka or represented him was trustworthy.
With the recent addition of the rogue noble fractions into their team, Vilka had a lot more to look after. Right now was the opportunity to ensure she did not have enough time to properly vet them.
That’s why, while the Tibur handled Fealux, Tadios and the others were now busy handling Vilka. If possible, it would be good for Tadios to take Vilka out, but she was far too cunning to allow herself to be caught in a direct confrontation with someone like Tadios. Especially with Rixam and Gornax on his flank to provide support. After all, even if Vilka could defeat him, her master would be very angry if she claimed that glory instead of him.
In his hubris, Deka sought to create a story out of this war game. And there was nothing more anticlimactic than the strongest of the Tibur to be defeated by Deka’s humble retainer.
Tadios’s goal was not to defeat Vilka, it was to keep her busy and allow her to escape once the signal was given. As Dreiki crested atop a hill just outside of camp, he pinched a pile of magnesium and sent up a flare.