When the conditions are just right, it takes only a single spark to create a raging inferno.
A group of guardsmen, wearing full uniform, stopped into a tavern just outside the market district. They ordered several rounds of hard spirits and soon started to create an uncomfortable situation for anyone nearby. The final straw for the barkeep was when they started getting too hands on with his wife while she served their drinks. They ran him through first for spoiling their fun, and then her as well when she tried to stop them.
By the time the incident report had gotten back to the barracks, the people were in the midst of a full blown riot the likes of which had never been known within the city. Danica could see the fires glowing in the distance as more buildings burned, their thick smoke billowing into the evening sky. Down below in the courtyard, some of the guardsmen came in to regroup, a few of which were already bloodied from confrontations.
Landon had hastily cleared everything on his desk to the floor and unfurled a map of the city. “The judicial council,” he looked up at Jorin for a moment and decided against saying anything inflammatory, “has brought out the military reserves and stationed them along the walls, as well as around the wealthier districts of the city. Thankfully they’re at least working towards quelling any rioters outside the walls and clearing Rowan's approach as well. He’ll no doubt be displeased at what’s happened here, but with the forces he has with him, order will be easier to restore.”
“Our job will be to spread out and surround the market district. We most likely don’t stand a chance at stopping all of these people with the forces we have, but I think we can slow them down until reinforcements arrive and order is restored. Jorin you’ll come into this area with the bulk of the guardsmen and form a defensive zone. I’ll come up from the east and drive the main body to you. If we can diffuse the worst of it, then we might be able to restore order faster.”
He looked around the room and sighed. “I need not remind you, but I will anyway. These are our own people out there who have been pushed to the brink of what they could endure. Our main priority is to try and capture the instigators alive to stand trial. We’re already on their bad side, so try not to make it worse. Kill only if you have no other choice.”
He dismissed the men to regroup together in the courtyard and prepare to push out of the barracks into the chaos that awaited them. Danica watched them exit one by one until it was just her and Landon standing alone in the room.
“This is worse than last time, isn’t it?” she asked with genuine worry.
He nodded to her. “It is. Last time it was religious fanatics going rogue. Now the people are deliberately including us as targets of their anger. Many people are going to die tonight despite our best efforts to prevent it.”
She looked back out of the window, seeing the men already lining up below. Dannig was down there passing out shields from the back of a cart. It was the same ones they’d used before, the only ones they really had available, and she remembered the broken pieces he’d brought back.
It was apparent that Landon had remembered as well. He pulled down his old shield off the wall that he’d brought back from Honeyfield Pass. He’d kept the worn and scratched up piece of equipment there as a solemn reminder to himself of that day so long ago. The many gashes and dents spoke of countless fights it had seen and she knew the situation had to be truly dire for him to put it back into service.
“You could bring me along to help,” she said, knowing the answer already.
“I couldn’t.” He shook his head solemnly. “You need to grab everything you care about and leave this place. We’re abandoning the barracks in case they target it directly and manage to get around us. Get outside the walls and find somewhere safe to stay until this is all over.”
“Somewhere safe while you go charging into danger?” She clenched her fist tightly, feeling the anger swell up. “I’m more than capable now. I’m not a scared little girl anymore.”
He walked beside her and put a hand upon her shoulder. “I know that Danica. You’re a damn fine fighter and I’m proud of you for all you’ve accomplished. This isn’t your battle though, it’s mine. One day you’ll understand, I think. Fates willing, I’ll see you again soon.”
He walked out of the room and a few moments later she saw him down in the courtyard marshalling the men to the ready. They all wore solemn expressions on their faces, knowing they were going into a bloody battle. For many of those young men, it would be their first taste of combat, and for some it would be their last.
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She turned away and headed to the armory first to grab her sword and armor. She took the gear back to her room and donned it hastily, knowing they were preparing to lock the place down from the outside. She wouldn’t have long to dally, so decided to leave everything that didn’t seem necessary to bring along. Worst case, they manage to burn down the barracks and she has to get new clothing. She had the money and could get more clothing with it if necessary.
“I’ve got my own battles to fight as well,” she whispered to herself.
Danica had spent several days toiling away at menial tasks, trying to get her mind off of revenge. Whether it was her heritage, or the soul damage she suffered from, she could not shake away those thoughts. Those fleeting desires of retribution anchored themselves within and festered with every passing day.
She planned to settle things with Sombec.
It was the perfect time with the city dealing with such unrest. She’d go in and get the answers from him, and if possible, kill him then get away with nobody knowing it was her. One more body upon the many that would die that night, and most likely no one to mourn his loss enough to investigate. Afterwards, she’d find a safe place to hide away until things calmed down again.
******
“Sergeant Eamon!” Jorin yelled out over the shouting
The beleaguered guardsman ran up to him, a gash below his eye trickling blood slowly down his cheek. “Sir.”
“You’re in charge here for the moment. I’m taking a squad of men and heading to the southern gate.” Jorin looked around at the large masses of angry people barely held back by the well armed and armored guardsmen. “Use those crossbows and start thinning out that crowd. Try and drive them back to a safer distance.”
“But sir,” Eamon stammered, “is that really necessary?”
Jorin sneered at him. “If I tell you it is, then it is. Question me again and I’ll have you on the wrong side of a firing squad. Is that clear?”
“Yes,... Yes sir, It’s clear.” Eamon saluted half heartedly and went to give the orders to the men.
He watched the man for a moment and shook his head. A promising candidate for officer that he’d now have to replace. He shouldn’t ever have to explain himself or have his orders questioned like that. The fool threw his whole career away to worry about a bunch of filthy nobodies.
He grabbed his chosen men and cut a bloody swath to the southern gatehouse overlooking the slums, where he met up with the auxiliary military men his father had stationed there. They’d had to use some amount of force to push people away from the gates and back down to the coastline to clear the way. Judging from the number of bodies off to the side, the message to move away had been delivered with brutal efficiency.
“I was beginning to think you wouldn’t show, Jorin,” said a gruff older man with an air of superiority around him.
Jorin just brushed away his snide comment with a wave of his hand. “I told my father I’d be here, Halsey, and I meant it.”
The older man shrugged. “Well the council didn’t have as much faith in you as your father did, but we will see if he judged you right.”
They ascended the steps to the top while Jorin planned out his next set of moves. Once he made it to the top, he looked out over the mass of shacks and tents spread out before him, many of which had been knocked over or trampled flat already. There in the distance was a massive caravan of soldiers holding great blue and black banners of house Aganossis aloft as the last rays of sun shone down upon them.
Lord Rowan had returned and he was walking right into the trap the judicial council had set for him.
*****
Landon gave the command, knowing he had no other choice. “Fall back!”
Slowly the men backed away, dragging the unmoving comrades with them as they went. Time and again, they were assaulted by men and women wielding makeshift weapons to devastating effect. At one point, groups had started to rain down large cobblestones from the rooftops on top of the guardsmen. By the looks of them, the very same ones that had been pried out of the streets. Had he been willing to employ lethal tactics, they might have been able to accomplish some sort of defense against the attacks, but that wasn’t something he’d be willing to do.
Once they’d managed to fall back a ways he grabbed guardsman Wellis. “Get two other men, go some distance away from this mess and strip off all of your gear so you aren’t recognised. I need you to find a way to get a message to Jorin that we’ve been forced to retreat. We’ll regroup at the barracks,so long as it hasn’t been taken in the short time we’ve been away. Go!”
He deflected an incoming rock away from the younger man as Wellis turned away. The mob didn’t seem content to just let up on them, they were after blood it seemed. Landon couldn’t help but wonder if someone was directing them from behind the scenes again. Could it be another of those warrior priests like the last time?
An arrow landed with a loud thunk, burying the metal head into his wooden shield. He cursed under his breath at whoever had shot the projectile, but at least he was thankful it hadn’t killed anyone. If nothing else was going right, at least they seemed to have the attention of most of the rioters. Perhaps if they could keep it up, the other groups could work on restoring order elsewhere and put a stop to this madness.
He’d given Wellis enough time by now. “Grab the wounded and fall back to the barracks!”