Ran is the capital of the kingdom of Lacuus. This ancient city has stood for many hundreds of years, its high stone walls are impenetrable, and thanks to its favorable geographical location, trade has flourished here. People were mainly engaged here in handicrafts, carpentry, the same trade and maintenance of expensive homes. It was from the streets of the capital that servants and guards were recruited to the estates and castle.
After the Battle of Ran, frightened people wanted to return to a peaceful and calm life as soon as possible. Many of them even left for the countryside away from the unrest, and at the crossroads of the city, people from the palace continually recruited guards, promising them generous pay. Unless in these speeches employers are silent about the responsibility that people will have to bear during their service.
Of course, among these people there were also cultists who took advantage of the opportunity and secretly entered the palace. Together with them, nobles, Fellrick spies and some others entered the palace. Together they had one common goal: kill Queen Ilifreeta.
She was a nuisance held by new forces, and her very life was an eyesore. Among the highest nobility it was believed that there was no place for naivety and girlish idealism in politics, and that it would be difficult and unprofitable to conduct behind-the-scenes affairs with a person like the queen. The death of Ilifreeta should launch a process of rapid changes in the kingdom, start a huge fire that will engulf the entire country and then the only contender for the throne will be Duke Fellrick, whose power can be beneficial for all those in power in this fragmented state.
Queen Ilifreeta was guarded by the most loyal and experienced warriors of the kingdom, including the master of the bow Furgur, who decided to protect her at the cost of his own life, leaving behind his glorious path as an adventurer. Finally, he found his calling and was ready to stand impregnably as a wall until the end of his days in order to protect an honest and innocent girl who was destined to rule in this turbulent era.
However, not everything was so simple.
While people were rebuilding the palace after the battle, removing dead bodies and all kinds of debris, observers appeared among them, carefully monitoring the queen's actions. Ilifreeta often walked along the corridors of the palace, entering different rooms and meeting with strangers from the flying castle and advisers loyal to the queen.
Dougman, the Privy Councilor also carried out his work and carefully monitored the observers, but did not take any measures because he did not know who these spies belonged to and what they were really seeking. However, he knew that providing enemies with information about the queen's daily routine, as well as the shift schedule of the guards, would not bring anything good to the kingdom, only problems.
No one knows exactly where and how this or that information can be used, in any case, any knowledge can be used, Dougman knew this very well. Anything can happen here, the queen’s life is in constant danger, and therefore the Privy Councilor took slightly different measures to take control of the situation and find out who exactly is watching her majesty.
One day he sent his faithful man to follow a suspicious servant in order to find out where the thread of a web hidden from human eyes stretched. The servant, remaining in the castle, entered the guest section of the palace and visited the chambers of Bishop Azann and reported to him about the political positions of the people from heaven. As soon as Dougman found out that one of the spies was working for the bishop, he began to suspect his friend of collaborating with the Antigone empire and was not mistaken in his assumptions.
The entire church of Sod worship is subordinate to the Antigone empire, which is why for many years the empire did not need to wage wars of conquest. The Antigone Empire did not feel any real threat from its neighbors, but for some reason the highest clerics of the empire decided to change doctrine and launch a series of military campaigns against all neighboring states. It is only a matter of time before Imperial forces reach the lake kingdom of Lacuus, either through the goblin forest or directly from the west through the Principality of Farson.
However, the espionage of the Antigone empire was not the most dangerous and significant in Dougman's opinion; he already knew that the church belonged to the empire and the demonstration of weakness was enough to avoid a possible threat from Antigone. Therefore, the Privy Councilor continued his work and sent several more people to spy on other observers unrelated to the bishop.
This time, his people stumbled upon an underground shelter in the city's sewers, where criminals usually hid, escaping punishment. Dougman reported that a whole base had been built under the city, where cultists were preparing an uprising. Most likely, it was through the city dungeon that Swidok escaped, but it will be impossible to know for sure now. Since the city is ancient, no one knows where and how far the sewer tunnels stretch and whether there is an exit from there outside the city.
If he reports a cult base under the city, the cult will most likely start an uprising before the city guards can gather and attack the enemy. In addition to this, enemy spies can lie low and then Dougman will definitely not be able to find out who else is threatening her majesty. Silence in this case was simply necessary. Instead, he decided to do something different: the Privy Councilor ordered all entrances and exits to the sewers to be sealed and continued to look for the organizers of the spy network.
One day, the Privy Councilor's men came across a skirmish. At night, two gangs clashed among the streets of the city, or rather groups of two different factions, which apparently belonged to the nobility and the Duke of Fellrick. The battle was short-lived and both sides chose to retreat in a hurry because their noise attracted the attention of the night guards.
Dougman continued to monitor and found out who else was watching the queen: the Antigone Empire, Duke Fellrick, the royal nobility, the cultists of the new world and most unexpectedly... the Republic of Earth.
It turns out that General Zeonid’s people are also watching Ilifreeta, but unlike the others, it is not so obvious and noticeable. They placed certain artifacts throughout the city and palace that tell people from the sky about the position of the queen and even the details of conversations. That is why the Privy Councilor was unable to find out what exactly the earthlings were hiding and why. What was known for sure was that they were always prepared at meetings with the queen and knew everything in advance, which indicated that the earthlings were really conducting surveillance.
People from the sky seemed the most dangerous, not only as an open force, but also as a hidden one, acting from the shadows, piercing their claws wherever they could reach, which frightened the Privy Councilor madly. The only leverage they have to put pressure on them is to spread rumors that they are behind the Itqueen massacre, but what will that do? Unless, in response, the earthlings can repeat this process and leave nothing from Ran except scorched earth and mountains of corpses. Taking such a step would be extremely unwise and Dougman understood this very well.
The Privy Councilor continued to monitor everyone to understand what Her Majesty's enemies were planning until he noticed the sudden movement of everyone: the cultists, the nobility, the church and the people of Fellrick. Dougman reported that all four forces began to act simultaneously, which caused the Privy Councilor to drop his writing pen from his hands.
Can't be.
Dougman didn't believe it.
They're all together! How did I not understand this?!
And only the earthlings continued to watch from afar, without showing themselves in any way, but most likely they too could take part in this, they were just very secretive. The people from heaven were still hiding a lot, it was impossible to keep track of them, they did not allow anyone in who was not familiar to them. On top of that, the language barrier was very hampering, which could not be overcome without the magic ring Granid. His help would not have hurt, but it is unlikely that he would have helped the Privy Councilor with contacts, because Granid brought these strangers here, which means he was on their side.
The old wizard and his student Incartia left the city and returned to the forest. The old wizard said that he did everything he wanted and just left. It seemed that after this the earthlings could begin to act more boldly, but instead they continued what they call “cooperation”.
The third sorceress, whose name was Camelia, completely disappeared along with one of the strangers. They left the city and disappeared from view as if they had suddenly disappeared. Even the earthlings were looking for their relative until they decided not to abandon this matter and continue to go about their business. Perhaps the white-haired woman used some kind of spell to avoid surveillance or was very quick in leaving the city. In any case, the magicians have already left the city and are unlikely to be able to show themselves again.
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Meanwhile, by morning, thunder struck from a clear sky and hundreds of people came out of hiding and began to wreak havoc everywhere. Cultists with swords and axes, crazy faces full of bloodlust, somehow managed to get out of the ancient sewer and began killing everyone in the middle of the city streets, diverting the attention of the city guards.
At the same moment, inside the palace, people of the nobility, under the guise of royal guards, attacked their comrades and began to capture the palace and castle. It was difficult to distinguish allies from enemies, but Dougman was not going to trust anyone other than his loyal subjects, and he knew exactly one gesture that the people of the nobility used in the form of a fist from which the middle finger was extended. With this sign they marked each other as allies. So the Privy Councilor decided to kill everyone who showed this gesture.
The church also did not sit idly by and also took part in the uprising by closing the gates to the cathedral and setting fire to barns throughout the city where grains and other foodstuffs were stored. And finally, Fellrick’s people emerged from the shadows and attacked the subordinates loyal to the Privy Councilor. Somehow Dougman managed to get out of the trap, but he managed to lose many people.
Most of all, he hated the loss of control and therefore ground his teeth every time enemies stood in his way among the corridors of the palace and took the initiative. He fought like mad, drawing blood in different directions and thinking along the way. He, unbiasedly going through the options for current events, tried to build a general picture of what was happening and the puzzle began to gradually come together.
The sudden chaos led the people into terrible panic. It seemed that a fierce battle for the city had begun again. Many did not even know what the reason for the uprising was, when everything was just beginning to get better in the city, and therefore the shock and horror was only multiplied.
In the palace, the servants fled in all directions, some hid in the first chambers they came across, others went downstairs to the exit, and others jumped from the windows, avoiding every armed man who attacked them. The guards slaughtered each other and also killed the servants. This picture was not pleasant and inspired real awe.
He took out his short blade from under his cloak and cut the throat of the maid, who, before dying, with a hoarse and madness on her face, shouted:
"Let a new world come!"
Her blood splashed onto the floor, like the cultist herself, being already dead. It all started too suddenly, but the Privy Councilor quickly realized what needed to be done and hurried to the chambers of Queen Ilifreeta.
She is guarded by the most faithful guards. None of them will have to point a blade at the queen!
So Dougman thought, until he soon reached the queen’s chambers, where the corpses of the royal guards were already lying, and the ringing of blade blows could be heard from behind the open door. –
We're late!
Dougman hurried inside and saw a wounded Furgur, clad in the plate armor of a royal guard, fighting with a man in a dark cloak. Sword and dagger, it seemed the odds were in favor of Furgur, but the master of the bow managed to be wounded in the stomach. He could barely stand on his feet, blood flowed down in a stream, and his skin quickly turned pale.
The Privy Councilor saw how he lost concentration and could die at any moment through carelessness and inattention. The queen herself had already woken up by this time, she was still lying on the bed, immobilized and with wide round eyes looking at the ceiling, perfectly hearing the clanking of weapons and painful moans.
At one moment, Furgur spat a clot of blood from his mouth, and the next moment a dagger entered his chest and the master of the bow in the blink of an eye fell to his knees, no longer able to stand on his feet. He still held on to his life, trying with his bare hands to stop the blade that cut his heart, but it was too late. Life quickly left his body and without saying his dying words, Furgur fell dead.
The man who killed the master of the bow picked up his sword from the floor and reacted to the guests who had just arrived. Dougman and his men rushed to attack the assassin until he suddenly turned to face them and shocked the Privy Councilor. He couldn't believe who appeared before him.
"What? "
Dougman stopped a couple of steps from the killer.
"Prophet?"
He couldn't believe that this man could be one of the cultists. This stranger did not show himself at all; every now and then he sat in his chambers and consoled Alza, his pregnant girlfriend. Dougman had a lot of questions, but he didn't have time to ask them. Before pouncing on him, Dougman holding his sword towards Ripun decided to ask:
"What are you doing here? Why did you kill Furgur?"
Ripun lowered his blade down and answered the Privy Councilor's question with fatigue on his face and heavy shortness of breath.
"I'm sorry. I received a prophecy and learned that Furgur was going to kill Queen Ilifreeta."
Again this is a prophecy.
Thought the Privy Councilor looking at Ripun with skepticism.
Dougman did not believe in the abilities of the orange-eyed prophet, and yet his participation could indicate that even the people from the sky decided to kill the queen with the hands of the hippolytian. However, it was clear from his face that he felt cornered. He was afraid, trembling with fear, and still did not dare to raise his sword to defend himself. Ripun really did not inspire any credibility either with his words or with his murder.
"You're lying."
Dougman said and brought the tip of the blade closer to the prophet’s throat, but he did not move.
"Furgur would never betray Her Majesty."
"And yet he did it."
Ripun said confidently, pointing to the killed guards.
"Look at them, they were hit in the back. Only Furgur could do that."
One of Dougman's people approached the murdered royal guard, to whom Ripun nodded and turned over the body, where there was indeed a bloody hole on the back. Ripun did not lie, the guards could only be killed by Furgur by delivering an unexpected blow on the sly, from behind, and yet it was not clear how this stranger could fight Furgur on equal terms.
Was he hiding his abilities? Or maybe someone helped him?
Before Dougman had time to voice these questions, Ripun immediately answered them.
"I arrived in time. The guards managed to wound him, and I fought with the already weakened Furgur."
"W-why?"
Ilifreeta suddenly began to sob, sniffling through her nose, still unable to move her body.
"Why did he betray me? …*sob*… W-why?"
"I don't know that."
The prophet said with sadness in his voice.
“Perhaps someone has subjugated his mind?”
"This is impossible!"
Dougman protested, widening his eyes as if he had heard the most fantastic and impossible thing in the world.
"All royal guards undergo a protection ritual. It gives them immunity to magic. No one could subdue them!"
Ripun did not deny this.
“Perhaps so, but we do not know how reliable this ritual of protection is.”
"The ritual is very reliable."
Dougman hissed, lowering his sword and hastening to hide his face under his hood.
"Now go away. You are no longer needed."
"What's happening?"
Ilifreeta asked through tears.
"W-why did I wake up… *sob*… and find out that Furgur b-betrayed m-me?"
"Insurrection."
Ripun and Dougman answered in unison, causing them to even look at each other in surprise.
"A-rebellion? *sob* W-why? W-what did I do?"
The Queen was very shocked and heard terrible details from the Privy Councilor.
"All our enemies have united against you. Cultists, antigonians, durshlagds and even the rebellious nobles."
Perhaps earthlings too.
The Privy Councilor did not finish speaking.
Dougman said all this while approaching the queen closer to take her in his arms. There was horror on her face. All the furniture in the bedroom shook from her emotions. The power of the punishing hand was getting out of control and the room was filled with both anger and sadness of the queen. She sobbed and cried, not understanding how all this could happen. Death surrounded her again, and again she could not do anything about it, she could only watch.
Ripun, meanwhile, decided to listen to the Privy Councilor and left the queen’s chambers. It seems that the prophet had his own spy network or he really could foresee the future since he knew that there was now an uprising in the city. In any case, he does not pose a threat and did not even lie, but he was still suspicious.
Meanwhile, Dougman, having picked up the queen in his arms, decided to hide her in a safe place, namely in his own chambers, which no one could reach yet. After this, he gave his people the order:
"Find the royal advisors, protect them and call for help from all those who are still loyal to her majesty."
Silently nodding, the people in black hurried outside, and Dougman moved along the corridors of the palace.
"Furgur... for what?"
The queen whispered, not believing in the betrayal of her faithful protector.
However, not only she did not believe in it, but also Dougman. Still, if Ripun also decided to kill the queen, he would have done it immediately after killing Furgur, but instead he lowered his sword and simply walked away. It seemed that Ripun was not lying, but then why...
"Kha-a-a~!!!"
Dougman screamed from a sudden blow to the back.
The tip of the sword pierced straight into the Privy Councilor's heart and his blood gushed straight onto the queen's face. The Privy Councilor fell to his knees and, trying to catch his breath with his mouth, fell to the floor and released from Her Majesty’s hands. Dougman died instantly.
"NO-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O!"
The queen screamed in horror, falling immobilized to the floor along with the Privy Councilor.
The queen fell on her side, looked into the distance of the corridor and did not see the face of the one who came to kill her. There was nothing nearby that the punishing hand could grasp; it was powerless. If she could tremble, she would have done so, but she could not and instead was filled with primal horror. It seemed that the end of her life had come, such a pitiful and sudden end.
"N-no...s-stop!"
She screamed with tears in her eyes until the killer, approaching her from behind, picked her up and ran further down the corridor.
"What are you doing?! Let go!"
The killer did not answer anything and simply shut the queen’s mouth. Ripun knew that if he revealed himself, he would ruin his entire plan. He, hiding his face in a rag, ran into the street, where a fierce battle of all against all was taking place. Through all this chaos, he was going to deliver the queen to the church, where he could carry out his plan.
This is my last chance. I've died so many times that I don't remember how many years have passed. I am no longer the prophet I was before, I have become different. This time the cycle will be broken, and I will... finally kidnap General Zeonid.
Deprived of the will to live in his eyes, Ripun pursued one single goal and all in order to change the fate of the world in favor of his homeland, his beloved woman and himself. For this, he decided to die as many times as necessary.