Ten minutes later Eric, Mira, Regina, and their prisoner were trudging through the city trying to look inconspicuous and failing at it. They drew a number of strange looks and even one gasp when a woman was close enough to identify who was bound up and being carried like a rug.

As they neared the Soi estate they saw a group of town guard approaching. Increasing their pace they managed to reach the gate of Joon’s home where Eric was quickly greeted the guard in charge, “Eric, I’m so glad your friends were able to find you. We were worried and feared the worse.”

“The worse is still an option I fear. Can you let Joon and his father know we’re here and”

Before Eric could finish his request the town guard arrived behind them and with the leader calling out, “Here here, you are ordered by the guard to release the captive you have there and surrender yourselves into our custody.”

Looking from the house guard and the town guard, Eric’s mind froze on him.

Regina stepped toward the house guard and spoke loud enough for all to hear, “As Eric was saying,” she then turned to look at the town guard, “In the name of the Order of the Owl and by the authority of His Majesty King Hung Daot we solemnly request aid from the esteemed House Soi. Your cooperation is imperative as we root out corruption in Sarnthorn and the very empire of Avallon.”

Regina then walked over between Mira, who was still carrying the prisoner, and the town guards, “You will not be getting our prisoner but it is good that you’ve come. We will need all the guards Sarnthorn can muster. The House of Dao is under arrest and you are ordered to assist us. I assume that won’t be a problem? You are all loyal to His Majesty, right?”

The town guards started to shift uneasily, realizing they just stepped off into the deep end. While the head guard and Regina were holding a staring contest the gate behind the house guards opened and Joon ran out and hugged Eric, “I thought you were dead. I’m so sorry. I failed you my friend.”

Caught off guard and unused to the emotion, Eric stiffened up for a moment before relaxing and hugging his friend. Pulling away he looked at Joon, “I’m sorry I hid my mission from you. It was on orders of the king. But we need your family and as many guards as you can spare.”

Mira stepped forward, shoulders sagging under the weight of the prisoner. “We also need a secure location to hold prisoners. Here’s the first of hopefully many.

Joon was taken aback at Mira having a person trussed up and laid over her shoulders. His mouth dropped when he realized it was Dao Mai. After a moment he found his voice, “Yes, we have facilities for such.” Joon stepped over to his guards and gave orders. One of the guards relieved Mira of her burden and carried the prisoner into the estate.

No sooner were they through the gates then other guards, kitted for battled, started exiting the estate.

Mira looked to Joon in surprise, “How are they ready so quickly.”

Joon rubbed the back of his head abashedly, but before he answered another voice spoke. “My son was already preparing to disobey my orders and storm the Dao estate to rescue the lot of you.”

They turned to see Joon’s father walking toward them. Regina broke off from staring at the guards and walked over to the man. “Forgive my abruptness earlier. We were never properly introduced. I am Regina Livingstone.”

The elder Soi raised his hands outward and upward while making a quarter bow and spoke, “In the grace of Mother Ashduin, whose wisdom nurtures our spirits and binds our fates, I greet Regina of the Order of the Owl. I am Soi Tri Loi. House Soi has heard you call and we will answer, for the glory of Avallon.”

Hearing this the town guard approached Soi Tri. “Sir, we do not know these people. Who are they and what is this Order of the Owl.”

Soi Tri looked at this guard and it was clear he disliked the man, “The Order of the Owl is an organization that does the kingdom’s dirty work. Only those the king himself trusts implicitly are invited to join as they exempt from every law this kingdom has.”

Eric coughed before adding, “That’s not entirely true. We’re not allowed to kill the king. But everyone else, is fair game.”

Hearing this, the guard started to go pale. Soi Tri continued speaking, “What’s wrong guardsman. Suddenly thinking about all the times you’ve twisted the law to suit your own whims… or perhaps the whims of your backers?”

By this point close to a hundred guards from the House of Soi were standing in formation on the street. Regina motioned to the house guard Eric was speaking to earlier and both the older and younger Soi. “I’m going to point out a few folks. I need them taken prisoner as well. And if you can prevent all these prisoners from talking to one another that would be great. “

“It will be as you command,” stated Soi Tri formally.

When Regina started pointing out people in his employ his expression changed. While he was resisting the urge to question Regina she spoke softly, “These people have all broken oaths of some import. After this is over we can question them and see if the oath they broke was one of loyalty to your family. But for now, it’s best to be safe.”

Within a few minutes three of the house guard and two of the town guard, including the one in charge, were all bound and detained. Once they were escorted away Regina turned to the remaining guardsmen. “We are proceeding to the Dao estate. Anyone who surrenders is to be held captive. Everyone else dies tonight. However, two of our order are still in the Dao manner home. Their names are Ramiro and Alexis. They will not attack you, please do not attack them. We don’t want to loose more guards tonight.”

At that they turned and started making their way back across town. The town guard sent two of their number to fetch more guards and to wake the mayor with instructions for them to meet up at the Dao estate.

As they walked Joon spoke with Eric, “Are you sure you’re okay? I’m so sorry you were captured.”

“I am sure. They did hurt me but Mira healed me back up. I hear she did the same for you. Are sure you’re okay?”

“Yes, I’m just a bit shaken. I was so worried for you.”

Eric smiled, “I appreciate that. I know we just met a few days ago but it feels like so much longer. Like we were meant to be friends.”

“I agree. Now, back to business. What are we walking into? And why did you leave two of your own behind?”

“I don’t expect many guards outside, if any. They should all be inside trying to catch the two we left. They stayed behind to try to gather evidence and to look for other members of the Dao family to arrest. Oh, and it’s likely the manor house is going to be on fire.”

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Joon nearly missed a step on that last part but recovered and looked over at Eric to try and see if he was joking. “Why will the house be on fire?”

“Because one of the people we left has a bit of fire magic and she doesn’t get to use it often out of fear of burning things down. But this time, we told her to go for it.”

Joon took a moment to process what he’d heard before looking over toward Regina and saying, “Should we maybe march faster?”

And march they did. As they neared the Dao estate they saw smoke coming from a number of windows on the top two floors as well as some coming from the back of the house somewhere. Eric was correct in that there were no guards out front. The gate was busted open and the group marched onto the estate.

Regina tried to call out to those in the area but with all the noise of everything, no one more than twenty feet from her could hear her.

“Try this,” said Soi Tri as he handed her an enchanted ring. Regina thanked him as she put the ring on. She channeled a bit of mana into it and tried again, this time her voice boomed out so that anyone in a couple blocks could hear her.

“Under the authority of King Hung Daot himself, all members of the House of Dao are under arrest. Come out and surrender and you will receive a fair trial. Resist and you will die this night.”

Within moments guards come from across the estate. Unfortunately some came to fight while others were coming to surrender and it wasn’t clear who was who. Seeing the confusion, the guards who were surrendering started disarming and doffing their armor. The guards from House Soi with help from Eric, Regina, and Joon made short work of the others.

⚶

Alexis and Ramiro were both injured but the plan had worked far better than it probably should have. While Ramiro skulked around the house finding evidence and other members of the family, Alexis had burned holes in the floor until she reached the basement. There she made short work of the guards there and, with a little searching, found rooms full of captives as well as what looked to be a sacrificial chamber of some sort.

Taking the captives back to the room she had entered the basement by, Alexis found additional guards dropping down from the floor above. She only lived now because one of those she released picked up a mace from a dead guard and used it to bash in the head of a guard that was about to kill her.

After the guards were dealt with and more of the released captives were armed, Alexis started to build a massive igloo in the corner of the basement. Once it was finished, save for the door, she returned to the sacrificial chamber where she knelt and said a prayer, “Nitana, great evil was done here and I ask for your help in cleaning it. Please help me remove this stain on the world.” Leaning forward Alexis felt the goddess’s attention on her as she reached her hand into the room and fed mana into the fire rune and out through her hand. Within moments the fire spread as though the blood in the room was kerosene. After two minutes of channeling the walls were catching. By four minutes the ceiling was smoking. Just a bit after five minutes Alexis noticed that the stones that made up the foundation were starting to melt. Seeing this she stopped and stood. “Thank you Nitana,” she said as she turned and jogged back across the basement to her igloo.

Arriving at the igloo she found those she released waiting on her, but still no Ramiro. “I’m going to seal you all up so the smoke and flames don’t get to you, but I need to find my uncle who’s still somewhere above.”

Before anyone could answer a thump of something falling got their attention. Looking up, someone was pushing tied up people into the basement from the floor above. They were hitting the igloo and sliding down. After four bodies, Ramiro jumped and landed on the igloo and slid to the floor. “Sorry I’m late. Some of these were troublesome.”

“Glad you made it. Let’s get them inside the igloo. The smoke here is going to get worse.”

As Ramiro and the newly freed captives moved the prisoners inside, Alexis made the igloo bigger and went around it a few more times adding more to the sides and top to better protect them. She then entered in and sealed up the doorway.

“I don’t want to seem ungrateful, but what good is hiding here going to do us?” asked an older woman who they had freed.

“Oh, we’re just waiting for our friends to finish either arresting or killing the rest of Dao family. Once they’re done we’ll leave. Our mission was to save you all, not fight every guard,” answered Alexia.

“Which is good because I’m hurting from the guards I did have to fight,” added Ramiro as he leaned against the wall.

Alexis started walking around growing blocks of ice from the floor and motioned toward them, “Seats for anyone who want them.”

They waited in the igloo for over an hour before receiving a [Message] from Regina that it was safe to come out. Alexis was happy to hear it as was about to have to add more ice to the wall as the fire from the sacrificial chamber spread toward them.

Now she used that mana to form stairs leading up. She pulled back the roof of the igloo and had the stairs go up to the floor above it where the rest of their party was waiting.

All the freed people were helped out first, then the prisoners were carried out next. Then the party walked out with Joon and Tri. As they were exiting the manor Tri asked, “How did you keep them knocked them out for so long?”

“Just knocked them in the head,” answered Ramiro.

“But doesn’t that give them a concussion and possible brain damage?”

“Probably.”

“And that doesn’t bother you?”

Ramiro stared at him in confusion, “Why? As long as I don’t kill them my wife can heal them later.”

Tri just stood there for a moment before finally responding, “Having a cleric around really does give you new options.”

Soon the party was meeting with the town mayor, Soi Tri, and the heads of two more noble families, the Ta and the Mac families. Explanations were given and stock was taken. To say the nobles were displeased would be an understatement. But they stopped complaining when Regina started asking questions about the oaths they had broken.

“How many prisoners did we end up with?” asked Alexis.

“We have a total of seven members of the Dao family and twenty-three of their guards. As well as two guards from House Soi, three from the town guard, and one adviser to the mayor,” read Ramiro from the list they had compiled.

Regina continued to stare around the room, very clearly judging everyone. As her eyes landed on the mayor again, he spoke up. “If I may, I would like to join your procession to the capitol as well. I’m sure my own loyalty to the crown is in question with this happening in my town. I would like to put those concerns to rest.”

Regina nodded, “Sure. But let’s talk with whomever you’re going to leave in charge before we go.” Regina then looked to the nobles, “It’s clear that you don’t like the authority that we weld here, but you must realize the opportunity that you have in me being here. If you would bring out all of your guards and staff, I could point out the ones that have broken their oaths to you. And the ones that have broken their oaths to the kingdom would come with us. I realize that all of you nobles have spies in one another’s employ and you’re worried about losing them. But would it not be better to lose a spy than to have cultists in your employ?”

The two nobles looked to one another before glancing at Soi Tri who just chuckled. “I’ve already made plans to do exactly as she’s asked. As you heard earlier, two cultists were found in my guard. As were some spies, but we’ll let that slide for now. At sunup all my house staff and even relatives will be gathering together. House Soi will not provide shelter to cultists.”

Fearful of House Soi growing in power, both Mac Thanh Hao and Ta Duc Thang agreed to let Regina inspect their houses as well.

“When will we head back to the capital?” asked Alexis.

Eric glanced out the window of the room they were in as he answered, “Sun will be up in another hour. We could leave by lunch and head for Arimel.”

“Forgive me for speaking out of turn,” said the mayor, “But you’ll be traveling far slower than your used to. Even borrowing the wagons you’ve asked for, you still won’t make the distance you’re wanting in half a day. I would recommend waiting until tomorrow morning.”

“I think that’s a good idea,” responded Mira. “I spoke with Reyna earlier, squad of royal guard will be in Arimel tomorrow to meet us and escort us to Onakadi. If we were to try and make it today, it would be without the extra help.”

“Then tomorrow it is. This morning we’ll help the nobles clean house and then we can get some sleep.”