Broken walked down from the hill, at the tents. He had made it more than halfway to the Makini camp, walking at a slow, steady pace, when a sentry finally stopped him.

“Who are you?” asked the sentry, noting Broken’s fine, yet dirty attire, and gazing for a moment at the sword at his waist.

“One who wishes to speak to General Varsis,” said Broken.

The sentry paused, considering.

“Now.”

The strength of Broken’s voice was such that the sentry began to turn and lead Broken to the camp before he remembered his place.

“What is your business here?” he asked. Noting Broken’s black attire, he asked, “Are you one of us?”

“No,” said Broken.

“Then I’m going to have to take you in.”

“By all means.”

The two slowly began to walk to the Makini base camp. When they reached the area, Broken saw Varsis riding by on his horse, oblivious to them.

Broken whistled sharply.

Varsis turned, recognized him, and dismounted with such speed it startled all nearby, including the sentry.

“You know him, general?” asked the soldier.

Varsis didn’t reply directly. He made a few gestures, and thirty or so Makini soldiers quickly formed a ring around Broken, Varsis, and the sentry.

Varsis then dismissed the sentry, who quickly hurried back to his post.

“What are you doing here, Broken?” asked the general.

Like Varsis to the sentry, Broken did not reply directly. “I see you failed on this day’s assault,” he said, noting that despite the sounds of earlier bloodshed, it was quite clear Varsis’ forces had been repulsed.

“What are you doing here?” asked Varsis again. “Do not respond, and I will have my men take you in, and you will not have a chance to answer that question for a long time to come.”

“I am here because, due to a twist of fate, we both share objectives,” said Broken. “We both wish to bring down the Asan Paril government.”

“Why would you wish to do that?” asked Varsis.

“Because I am Maiako as Arathou del Tachen’s protector, and as of right now, Lord Varad Savel holds her prisoner against her will.”

“You do know,” said Varsis, “that besides capturing the city, I seek to capture the Princess, as well.”

“And kill her,” said Broken. “I know. But I believe that if I lead you into the city, I will be able to rescue the Princess during the fighting, and get her away from both you and Varad.”

“So you wish to propose a temporary alliance?” asked Varsis. “Assuming you can somehow get Makini forces past the White Walls, which I doubt, you then plan to flee from us, and save your princess, while we try to both stop you and take the city of Asan Paril?”

“Yes,” said Broken.

“That is truly an interesting proposition,” said Varsis, “one I might actually be inclined to accept, if I thought you were telling the truth.”

“How do you think I came at you from your back flank?” asked Broken. “There is a secret passageway. And, more than that, there is no hidden trap. If I truly was on the side of the Paril, I would have shown them the passageway, and they would have surprised you from behind, and destroyed you.”

“A passageway, you say?” asked Varsis.

“Yes,” said Broken. “A series of cave tunnels, that lead to the Asan Paril sewer system, that lead right to the heart of the city, completely bypassing the White Walls. I care not about divulging this information as, without me to lead you, your soldiers would easily become lost.”

“Why am I starting to believe you are telling the truth?” asked Varsis, with a somewhat amazed expression on his face.

“Because this is too well planned out to be a ruse. I know as well as you, that your Makini cannot afford to delay, with the Minsu marching here at full speed. And, with the failure of your morning campaign, it seems you have no alternative.”

Varsis studied Broken carefully. “You are truly a bold man,” he said. “Deal struck.”

“Even if the Princess gets away,” said Broken, “you will still have Asan Paril firmly under your thumb, wall intact, when the Minsu get here, so I doubt you will be sorry.”

The next few hours were an odd buzz of activity. Varsis kept Broken close at hand, and guarded, but taking Broken wherever he went meant that Broken was able to watch Varsis in action.

As preparations were made, and maps of the city were unfurled, Broken pointed to the location on the map of the modern sewers that the Makini would come to through the crack.

Based on that, a variety of plans were decided.

And then, as the sun began to draw low in the sky, a thousand Makini marched away from Asan Paril, up the hill, and to the sewer drain, with Varsis and Broken at their lead. If the first thousand were successful, more would be requested by runners, and the bunk of the Makini army would be sent through the sewers.

Broken brushed away branches at the small cave mouth, and pointed, looking back at Varsis, his spellweaver advisor, Marsen Tanelbane, who stood beside him, and the long line of Makini troops that stretched back almost as far as the eye could see. A tree formation shielded the troops on the White Wall from seeing the Makini forces move.

Varsis eyed the small hole, incredulously. “You had better not be lying,” he told Broken.

“I’m not.”

And so, Broken led the way down into the caves.

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Once the floor leveled out, the Makini gathered, and made the cave their own. Lanterns were lit until the whole area was as bright as day, and placed at strategic points, in preparation for the coming of reinforcements. The Makini soldiers filled the cave even more fully than the spider ever hand. At the point where they had stopped to gather, only perhaps the first hundred could even fit within the cave.

Then, when all was ready, Varsis signaled for Broken to continue.

And so, Broken led the massive army forward. Together, they passed from the cave system into the old sewer system, as a long, straggly line.

When they reached the crack in the wall, that led from the old sewer system to the new, Broken paused. He listened, until he heard the faint chewing noise he had expected. Then, Broken said, “We are here. This crack leads to the sewer system on your maps.”

Varsis looked at Broken, then called for a map, and a lantern to see by. Broken pinpointed their location.

“Well,” said Varsis. “It seems you have delivered us well.” He looked back. “Send runners!” he called. “Move more of the army through the tunnels! We have reached the promised land.”

He then looked at Broken, his joy turning sinister. “And if you remember the deal correctly, this is where we part our alliance.”

“It is indeed,” said Broken, nodding, as Makini troops moved around him.

From around the far corner of the cave, Broken heard the munching stop. The faint green aura from that direction began to become much more pronounced.

The truth was, Broken had not just killed the spider as a light source. He had killed the spider, because he knew the carcass would lure another spider, to feast.

Whereupon, that new spider would hear the army, and set its sights on bigger goals.

That spider’s attack upon the soldiers would be Broken’s deliverance, and provide the distraction he needed, to escape. Said spider began to turn the corner, and all around, there were gasps from the Makini.

There was a certain satisfaction Broken felt, as his plan came together.

The green cave spider charged the troops, clacking its mandibles, moving at a speed that was startling for its size.

And as Varsis barked orders, as the troops drew their weapons with a sudden clatter, and Marsen Tanelbane created a ball of energy to throw at the thing, Broken affected his escape.

The soldiers around him were simply not prepared. Their eyes were on the spider, and he was sure they thought that he was gaping in horror with them.

Broken drew his sword, in one fluid motion, and, in the briefest of seconds, moved from a standing position to a full out run in the direction of the small opening.

As a variety of things happened, Broken forced his mind to consider things as if they were happening very slowly.

First, Marsen’s ball of brilliant white energy slammed hard into one of the spider’s joints, disintegrating a limb, but only increasing the spider’s momentum.

Second, a single guard managed to get between Broken and the exit.

Third, the spider slammed into the barely-prepared Makini positions, and Broken heard a scream as the spider used two arms to whip one of the soldiers off his feet and into a set of waiting mandibles. Blood spattered everywhere, as the soldier was almost instantaneously chewed and swallowed.

Fourth, the guard in Broken’s way drew his sword in a single, fluid motion, even as Broken ran to him. The guard set into a perfect copy of Tiger stance.

The man was talented. Broken was unlucky now, as he had always been.

But one didn’t need luck, when one had skill.

As the fractions of a second passed, Broken knew he had to decipher a way to defeat the soldier who stood between him and freedom. Others in his situation might have been encouraging their minds to think rapidly.

Broken forced his mind to think rapidly.

Perfect stance implies a man who is used to traditional tactics, who thinks of everything as an exercise. I need to do something that seems conventional, so that he will believe he knows the appropriate counter, but in truth, is something quite irregular, so I will be able to surprise and defeat him.

Broken attempted to cut into the soldier’s defenses with a standard Rainbow Arc, and when the man quickly began to counter, Broken moved into the traditional counter-counter, which involved an overhand swing.

And then, as the Makini adjusted what was to be his block, to compensate, Broken kicked him solidly in the chest.

The man flew to the ground. He was not dead, merely stunned, but Broken still could have killed the man if he wished.

He chose not to. There was no point.

As the cave spider killed another Makini, but overextended, and seemed on the verge of being brought down, Broken passed through the crack in the wall.

On the other side, in the dim light, he sheathed his sword, even as he heard the final cries of the spider, as it died.

Broken then started running for an exit.

There was no pursuit. Varsis wasn’t stupid. He knew chasing one man was not worth risking detection before everything was ready for the attack on Asan Paril from below.

Broken found a drain, and snuck up to the streets, as the sun was beginning to set above him.

He brushed himself off, and returned to his villa. There, his three servants awaited him within the entrance room. Broken was glad to note that the three of them stood well away from his circle of holy sand.

“I have something to tell you,” he told the three. “You are all now unemployed.”

“But why, sir?” asked Gan, the butler.

“Because a variety of things will take place in this city, this very night, and one way or another, in the morning, I will be gone.” Broken paused. “You do not want to remain in this villa, as it will be a focal point. Indeed, I do not expect there to be much villa left in the morning.”

“What’s going to happen?” asked the cook.

“The Makini will take this city tonight,” said Broken. “I can guarantee that. I suggest that you three find a safe place to hide until the fighting is over.”

After that, it did not take long for the servants to pack their bags and disappear. Gan was the last to remain.

“I will not pretend to understand how you know what you told us, sir,” he said, holding two large suitcases. “However, you have been kind to me and my fellow servants, and so, I believe you are a good man.”

Gan looked over at the inscribed circle. “Whatever it is you are planning,” he said, “it is my hope that you remain safe.”

“I will try, Gan Lotal,” said Broken. “That is all I can promise you.”

“Thank you, sir.”

And so, Broken’s last servant left him, leaving him alone in an empty house.

He picked up his Book of Aden, and double checked all the enchantments he had set up around the circle. He was no spellweaver, but there were many different forms of magic. Enchantments from the Book of Aden were within Broken’s ability to cast.

When he was done, Broken placed the Book of Aden within the circle, along with the two remaining jars of holy sand. He then got up, and left the consecrated ground.

Broken found the Symbol he had gotten from the witch Felixi, and placed it around his neck, as the Priest-Lord Ralad had done so long ago. Broken then found a cloak, and put it on, to cover what he wore.

Broken then went about the task of changing his boots, and cleaning his sword, and sheath. The muck from the sewers, and the guts of the cave spider had gotten them both quite dirty, and Broken saw no reason to leave himself in that state. He had time, if only a little.

When he was done, Broken knew it was time to put the next phase of his plan into action.

The rescue was to begin.

Broken left the house. He first headed to Ishad’s villa. When Broken reached the building, Ishad himself, opened the door, and not a butler. He quickly let Broken in.

“Go to my villa,” Broken told him, handing Ishad the keys. “Do not go near the circle, or if Mai dies, it will most likely be your fault.”

“The circle?” Ishad repeated.

“You will know what I am talking about,” said Broken. “Once inside, lock all the doors, and let no one in but me, no matter what the circumstances.”

“What are you saying?” asked Ishad. “What kind of circumstances?”

“You will know what I am talking about.” Broken looked carefully at the beleaguered Ishad. “Go, now.”

“What will you be doing?” asked Ishad.

“Rescuing the princess.” Broken fixed Ishad with an intimidating stare. “Go.”

And Ishad turned and fled, out of the building, presumably to heed Broken’s instructions.

Broken watched him go, checked to make sure he was headed in the right direction, told Ishad’s servants that they should probably be getting to a safe place, and left.

Broken began to walk for the Palace. It was now almost completely dark, and so Broken walked quickly. He had to get to the Palace before the Makini effected their operation.

Eventually, when Broken had reached the outer Palace gates, he knew he had succeeded in that. He paused, for the briefest of moments, considering carefully his next steps, and how they related to the plan as a larger whole.

Broken looked all around. Up until this point, everything had played out as he had foreseen. There was no reason for his plan to fail now.

However, Broken knew a fundamental truth: no future was set in stone.

As plans could come together, so too could plans fall apart.