Dawon crawled under the thicket his eyes locked onto the caged carriage carrying several animalist prisoners. The carriage was one of several complete with an armed escort all of them being taken to the fort. The fort itself was heavily defended with six towers surrounding three buildings each tower consisted of at least three sentries, and its walls were at least fifty feet in height. A direct assault would be nothing short of suicide, and that is not accounting for the soldiers stationed inside the fort. He heard shuffling next to him and turned to see Red crawling next to him.

“Are the rest in position?” He asked.

“Yeah as soon as you give the signal they’ll hit the fort.”

“Now we’ll see how reluctant Cairne is to join.”

“I assume that Akama is next?” She asked.

“Yeah that’ll give us enough to take Amani from the Sovereignist fucks.”

“You forgot the Gaericists.”

“Them too.” Dawon paused as he heard shuffling approach the two.

“Sir we just received reinforcements.”

Dawon raised an eyebrow. “From whom?”

“Cairne’s son although… He wants to speak to you.”

“Red come with me. I want you to stay here and watch the fort if anything suspicious happens come to me immediately.”

“Aye sir.”

Dawon and Red crawled out of the thicket and deeper into the forest where Camran was waiting for them. Dawon pulled out a small poison vial and dipped it on his nails.

“Is that really necessary?” Asked Red.

“Only one way to find out.” He answered.

Dawon saw Camran with at least thirty fighters all of them wearing red paint on their bodies, their weapons had animal skulls hanging from their hilt.

“Dawon.”

“Camran. I see you’ve brought company. I just so happens that I…”

“Cut the bullshit Dawon. You know why we’re here.”

“He’s in the fort, but I doubt that you are going to get him out.”

“Hmph not when I give them to you in exchange.”

“So that’s it then you’re just gonna bow down to the assholes like Icarus, Argus, and Havel.”

“Our time has long since passed Dawon. The only thing we can do now is adapt.”

“Camran if the Bloodhoofs and the Brokenbeaks joined then we can take our land back. We can retake Amani, and then…”

“Then the rest of the kingdoms will come in and wipe us out. They will never accept the fact that we have our own country. Gaia is dead Dawon and Gaeric killed her.”

“Hmph… I’ve heard those words before.” Said Red.

“It’s a shame she’s not here anymore. If it were her instead of you then maybe…”

“She’s a fucking traitor is what she is.”

“Hmph… In that case how about we settle this? Just you and me?”

Dawon smiled.

“Not a fight between you and me dumbass we’ll alert the guards of our presence. If you get my father out you have my support. I’ll even lend you my men once he has made it out safely. If you fail however, it won’t just be the Sovereignists you’ll be fighting today. Do we have a deal?”

Camran was smart, but Dawon was cautious. “You say support does that mean you’ll join my army in Berwick?”

“No. I’ll only assist you in this fight and that’s it. After that you are on your own.”

Dawon thought about the offer and the many ways things could go sideways. He was at an impasse. Cairne had been opposed to open rebellion, but as of late he had been entertaining the idea. With Camran here that hope was nothing but an illusion. In any case Dawon would have to hope that taking the fort would be enough to sway Cairne over to his side. If not... at least enough to entertain the thought a little more. Hopefully it would survive Camran’s poisonous words.

As Dawon neared his watchpost one of his soldiers walked up to him.

“Sir they’ve sent out a small patrol.”

“How many?” Asked Red.

“Four men.”

“Hmm...” Dawon then smiled. “Gaia has smiled upon us. Red get back to Camran and get his men in position to bolster our forces. I’ll create a diversion within the fort. When their archers turn their backs to you open fire and storm the fort.”

“What if...” Red began.

“I’ll be fine. Soldier lead me to them.”

“Right this way.”

Dawon pulled out the poison filled vial and coated his nails with it. Just in case the poison lost some effectiveness. Dawon and the animalist took cover using the shadows to their advantage and stalked the patrol. All he had to do was hope that they would not kill him immediately.

Dawon turned to the animalist. “Get back to Red and the others.” Before the soldier returned Dawon grabbed his arm. “After they turn their backs on you storm the fort. Not before. And use crossbows for stealth I don’t want them to be alerted of your presence until their archers fall.”

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“Sir.” Said the animalist as he returned to the others.

“Now for the fun part.” Said Dawon as he picked up a branch and snapped it alertung the patrol of his presence.

“What was that?”

“I think it came from over there.”

“Probably just a wild animal.”

Dawon snapped another branch to make the guards get closer.

“There it is again.”

“You two go have a look.”

Dawon crawled underneath a bush and waited for the guards to come nearer. He needed just one more thing to make them take the bait. “Only one thing left to do.”

Dawon pulled out a knife and readied himself to attack. He had to make it look good, but he had to abstain from killing any of them for fear they might kill him in retribution. As soon as one of the soldiers approached him he leapt up and rushed him. The soldier raised his shield, but Dawon tackled him and both fell to the ground. The rest of them came hearing the noise and surrounded the two. Dawon held his knife up about to stab the soldier when one of them pointed their spear on his neck.

“Is that who I think it is?” Said one of the soldiers.

“Dawon Euphrat.” Answered their commander.

Dawon lowered his knife and threw it on the ground. He then picked himself up and held his hands up.

“The higher ups are gonna want this one alive. Let’s take him back to the fort.”

Dawon internally smiled. The soldiers escorted him back pushing him, tripping him, and punching him along the way.

“Open the gate!” Yelled the commander.

The gates opened and Dawon was quick to examine the inner layout of the compound. He counted at least two and a half dozen soldiers not including the ones inside or on the walls. There were ten on the walls, two maybe more on the tower, three cannons, ten horses, several wagons, and Gaia knows how many prisoners. It was doable, but not without casualties on his side. Dawon was taken inside the main building where he met with the fort’s commander.

He inspected Dawon to make sure that it was really him. “Always thought you’d be taller.”

“I’m glad I was able to disappoint.” Dawon smiled. He noticed a large wooden club with steel spikes, and Bloodhoof Clan engravings all over it. The commander must have kept it as a souvenir.

“Hmph. Prepare an envoy we’ll send him with the rest to Albion to await execution. In the meantime throw him with the rest.”

“Yes sir.”

Dawon was taken to the fort’s dungeon. It was practically a large basement with multiple cages, a torture rack, several knives and cleavers hung from the walls, and the stench of death and dried blood filled his nostrils. He saw a few other animalists in cages looing at him as he entered the dungeon. Dawon spotted Cairne sitting at the far end of a cell.

“Toss this rabid animal with the other one.” Ordered the jailer.

“Want to say that to my face?” Said Dawon.

The jailer got up close and spat at Dawon’s face. Dawon overpowered his guards and scratched the jailer. Now he had to wait for the poison to take effect. The guards and jailer beat him, but he endured and accepted the beating with a smile on his face. Finally they tossed him in with Cairne. If he wasn’t an animalist it would probably hurt more, but he was still able enough to fight them off and save Cairne.

“Been a while son of Maahes.” Said Cairne in a hoarse voice.

“Indeed it has son of Apis. So...” Dawon tried to get his bearings. He sat up and faced Caire whilst having a clear view of the jailer.

“Does this mean that you have failed in your enterprise?” Asked Cairne.

“Hardly.” Whispered Dawon not wanting to alert the jailer to his motives.

“Hmph...” Cairne simply grunted. Whether in approval or disapproval Dawon could not tell.

“What about you? Why did they lock you up?” Asked Dawon.

“Difference of opinion.”

“That being?”

“Sovereign Lamia asked us to move to make space for a new fort. I told her to fuck off and hence why I’m here.”

“Respect old man. I’m surprised she didn’t mount your head.”

“I may be old but I’am not defenseless.”

“Shut up back agh...” The jailer began coughing.

Dawon smiled. “Make us you cock sucking piece of skex shit!”

The jailer stumbled towards their cell until he fell just a few feet away. Dawon reached for the body and dragged him closer so that he could grab his keys. Once he got his hands on them he opened the door and began opening the other cells containing the rest of the prisoners. He saw the cleavers and knives hanging from the rack and grabbed some to arm the prisoners.

“What’s the plan Dawon?” Asked Cairne.

“I have people outside and your son, Camran, is here too with a small group. I’ll take point and clear the way to the armory after that all we have to do is go outside and signal my people.”

“Lead the way.”

Dawon nodded and slowly walked through the hallways avoiding the light and guards. He reached a large room with ten guards sleeping, eating, and playing cards. There was no easy way to avoid them. The weapons were just on the other side of the room. He scanned the room and saw several weapon racks close by. He also saw that the guards also had their weapons nearby. It was going to be a close one either way.

Dawon grabbed his knife by the tip and prepared to throw it at the nearest guard. He flung the knife, but unfortunately the guard was hit by the handle not the blade.

“Ow... what the fuck!?”

“That’s bullshit!” Exclaimed Dawon.

The guards went for their weapons as Dawon and the rest transformed and attacked the guards. Dawon ran across the room jumped on top of a table, and jumped again to cut off the guards. One of the guards rushed at Dawon with his sword trained on him. Dawon dodged his slashing manuever and ripped the man’s throat apart. Another rushed at Dawon with a mace. Dawon grabbed the mace’s handle and twisted the man’s arm effectively dislocating him. The man reached for his knife and tried to stab Dawon’s arm that was holding him. Dawon let go and jumped back avoiding the man’s attack. The guard let go of his mace and attacked Dawon with his knife. Dawon barely caught the guard’s arm. The guard proceeded to headbutt Dawon which was rather effective especially with the steel helmet he wore. Dawon was stunned and for a brief moment the guard had the upper hand. Dawon maintained his firm grip on the guard and pushed him back. Dawon grabbed the guard’s mace and hit him in the head with it. The helmet became dented and blood began to leak from the orifices. Dawon maintained his assault on the guard’s head until there was nothing more than a flattened piece of steel and blood.

Cairne looked at him. “We have to go now.”

Dawon dropped the mace and followed Cairne into the armory with the rest. The armory had enough weapons for the animalists to use, however, Cairne was not satisfied with any of them.

“The fort’s commander has it in his office.”

“I figured. In that case...” Cairne grabbed an iron warhammer. “It will have to do.”

“You three on me we grab shields and act as cover. My people are outside all we have to do is...”

“I found a flare gun stashed with the rifles.”

Dawon smiled. “Even better. Hold on to that and fire on my signal. Let’s go.”

The group managed to find a door leading outside through the armory. By that point the base was on alert and was already looking for the escaped fugitives. Dawon ordered the animalist to fire the flare and wait for his people to shoot down the guards on the battlements firing arrows and bullets at them. Then the soldiers started falling one by one as arrows rained on the battlements and struck the soldiers’ backs. Dawon saw Red along with Camran leading the charge into the fort as dozens of their own poured in. Dawon dropped the shield and charged alongside Cairne catching the few guards left in the center.

Dawon jumped on top of one of the guards and clawed her eyes out before ripping out her throat. One of the guards yelled and swung his sword trying to attack him only to have it blocked by Cairne’s warhammer. Dawon then clawed the man’s neck and killed him.

The fort’s commander then raised his sword. “We surrender!”

Dawon chuckled. The guards threw their weapons to the ground and raised their arms. “Kill them.” Ordered Dawon.

The animalists unloaded their crossbows onto the remaining soldiers.

“No interrogation?” Asked Cairne.

“They wouldn’t have talked besides I can just go to his office and rummage through their papers.”

“If you’re looking for Akama he’s in Renoa. I overheard the guards talking about it... two maybe three days ago.”

“Shit!” Exclaimed Dawon. Renoa was a city and planning an escape would be all the more difficult. It was easier to attack isolated forts, but a city for just a handful of prisoners...

“Red listen...”

“I’ll go. But it has to be alone. I can sneak through the city easily enough without you.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah besides I’m not the one with the uncanny wanted poster.” Red then pointed the a board with Dawon’s picture on a paper.

Dawon saw it. “Wanted alive... They’re smart not to want me dead I’ll give them that. Fine then grab one of their horses. As for the rest of you... Strip the fort and grab any valuables then burn it. Cairne follow me your club is this way.”