The Mage's Tower was a frenzy of activity, and at the heart of it was the mangled bodies of two men. They were alive enough to get answers from, but it would take time for the healing elixirs and natural recovery to fix all that was wrong. Lord Reginald was more concerned about the babbling of the two men. They were members of Sir Derrick's expedition to the cult valley, and should have been safe from most beasts. Yet, they claimed that Sir Derrick and the rest of the group had been killed by demons or some nonsense. Reginald hadn't lived his whole life in the capital like most of the upper aristocracy, and had, in fact, been an Adventurer for a number of years. This was just the way of his family to ensure the understanding of how the world worked, and the best ways to be efficient when it came to the strata of society. But, it had been enough time for him to put a few thoughts together about this event. Either the cultists had found the Mana Well and somehow trapped it, or there was a high class Dungeon in the area. Both options were not ideal, and the former would be preferable to the latter.
"Lord Reginald," A bowing mage whispered, "I am afraid that is all we can do with them for the time being. What are your orders?" Shrugging off his internal thoughts Reginald considered the men. They would consume many resources to regain a semblance of life, and likely he would have to send them home with a pension afterwards. They were too far gone to be useful to the mission.
"Let them expire or kill them quickly. We can send their remains to the capital and their families," He said with flint in his tone, causing the mage to stagger a bit, "It is best that they are remembered as heroes who risked their lives than cripples." The mage bowed again, and hurried back to the group. The fools back in the capital wouldn't have acted with such decisiveness, and it was Reginald's feelings that they cared to much for fleeting "honor" and "prestige". That is why the King gave him this task, because he was efficient and decisive. As he returned to his office the soldiers he passed remained straight backed and focused. His soldiers knew they could relax when they were off duty, but no slacking on the job was allowed. The servants were unseen, as they should be, for their work was to be done quickly and without notice. The floors were swept, the windows clear, and the lamps filled. HIS Holding was as it should be, peaceful, ordered, and perfect.
"Why do I feel like something is off...." Reginald considered, his hand falling to his sword belt. He always expected and recieved this level of order. Yet, something was nagging at him that it wasn't quite how it should be. Something was missing that usually was there, something....
"The stakes are empty..." He muttered as he activated his enchanted boots and rushed to the courtyard. The stakes should always have at least two being punished at all times, and were rotated out every few days to make sure they didn't expire too quickly. Now they were gone, and not because of a few guards deciding to clean or burn the stakes. The enchantment of the boots allowed him to leap from the second story hallway and land with relative easy on the ground. With another pulse of power they brought him to the square where the stakes were, and found several guards surrounding a figure in mage robes who was collapsed against one of the massive stakes.
"Report!" He shouted, over the rumbling of voices, and all quieted instantly. A man with two stars saluted, hand to breast, before running through the splitting crowd to kneel before his lord.
"Lord Reginald, this man was discovered to have released all the prisoners during the commotion a few hours ago," The man said, his voice filled with anger, "We managed to catch him with numbers since he remained behind to cover the escape of the others. However, he killed 4 men, including Captain Darius." Reginald kicked the messenger with a force, knowing that it would likely only break a few bones.
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"And yet the traitor lives, this information wasn't brought directly to me, or given in message to an attendant. Where is Captain Darius' Second?" He roared, his temper flaring. These idiots should have known better, why was there a delay? Then his mind raced, there would be for an ambush, and just as he gave it thought. Those around him attacked with claw and axe. Activating the last charge on his boots, he dashed backwards to give himself room, and activated his Alarm Medallion. This had all been a careful ruse to get him into a trap. The rebels must have used the earlier confusion to get a few warriors inside the keep. A sweep of his sword, and a use of it's power swept the enemies back with a wave of force, and he noticed the robed figure was now standing tall. His robes thrown back to reveal a Beastkin with elaborate tattoos. Reginald cursed to himself, of course it was one of those barbaric mages. The kingdom had sent one with him as a show of their effective training practices, but it looked like their bravado would get his new uniform damaged. Twisting out of the path of a pair of axes, he returned the attack with another wave of cutting force. Three of the attackers fell to the ground in two parts, screaming. Five remained along with the one mage who was, of course, weaving a spell of some kind as the others engaged. Arrows shot towards him, but crashed into a verdant green barrier created from the crest on his back. Two others tried to flank him while more arrows shattered against the powerful barrier skill.
"If you manage to cut my uniform I will keep you alive so your screams will act as a balm to my seamstress." Reginald said in contempt, as he fell to the ground with his hands forward. Before twisting his body into a spin flashing out with his feet into the legs of the two attackers. Then, launching himself onto one with a quick twist, and severing the creature's head. The other was getting to its feet, but Reginald threw one of the 'decorative' knives on his belt into their eye visor. There was a loud keening, and the archers flinched before starting to run. The mage was finishing up his spell and threw it toward Reginald. It was a web of force that wrapped around the green barrier and prevented him from moving.
"I would say clever," Reginald said with contempt, before throwing two knives in quick succession. Both found their mark in the creature's hands, and the spell flickered and fell, "But you mages always forget about pain." The creature had only a moment before Reginald's sword speared into his head, and pinned him to the blackened stake behind him. The archers were killed moments later by a series of well placed arrows. Their own barriers didn't activate since the foul creatures couldn't activate the magical devices. Once again something felt off, and Reginald look around before realizing it was his belt. Removing the knives had revealed a loose binding.
"Of course it's after they are all dead," He muttered to himself, as soldiers approached him.
"My Lord, we came as we could," Captain Farris said with a salute, "I see you had all in hand, my Lord. We have already secured the walls, and have sent the scouts out to find the missing prisoners." Then he tilted his head before making a series of hand gestures to his Second, and the man ran off.
"The leatherworker will be punished and brought to you with your lunch, my Lord." and Reginald nodded internally, this was the correct attitude, but the lapse wouldn't be forgiven.
"Farris," Reginald began, and the Captain flinched, "I want a full report in the next 30 minutes about what happened here, and you will report all involved to the Pit for the next week. I will not tolerate such disorder in my Holding." Using only his name was a sign of impending punishment, but the Captain nodded again before rushing off with his soldiers. Reginald picked at the loose binding.
"This is the start of the mission I suppose. I had been feeling it was going too smoothly."