Several members of the garrison were at Alex's front gate investigating the situation, concerned by the number of dead Faeclaw given the notable population of them in the city.
"So, Mr. Alex, could you please sign the report?"
Alex took another look at the report to ensure there was nothing included that he hadn't stated and finally signed it, allowing the garrison to depart.
"Will I be informed when the suspects are captured?" Alex asked hostilely, noting the garrison's clear bias against him.
"Of course, as the aggrieved party, you have the right to be compensated for damages and can participate in the hearing once they are found."
Alex bid them farewell and re-entered his mansion.
"I want you to go to the markets and the underworld to inquire about these people. I don't believe they've managed to escape the city yet. We know the knight's name is Jaar, but I’m unsure of the woman's name," Alex instructed his troops.
"Father, the woman is my uncle's former concubine. Her name is Anya," Liora added.
"Understood. You all know the name of our target now. It’s likely they’ll try to board a ship heading south back to their kingdom, so keep an eye on the docks too."
The Gnolls, efficient and loyal to Alex, began moving swiftly through the city. This movement did not go unnoticed by the other neutral factions, though they could gather no specific information beyond the known attack on Alex's mansion.
Meanwhile, at the mansion, Alex convened with Liora and Bromir to discuss their next steps. Liora, ever perceptive, shared her thoughts on Jaar and Anya's possible moves.
"If they are indeed trying to escape, the port is our best bet. But we can't rule out the possibility they might seek refuge with one of the local factions," Alex said, spreading a city map on the table.
"We've mobilized our contacts at the port, but we must also keep an eye on any unusual activity in the underground shelters," Bromir added, pointing to several entrances to the tunnels that ran beneath the city.
"Then we'll split our forces. Bromir, take care of the tunnels. I'll handle the port. Liora, coordinate from here and ensure our communications remain constant," Alex concluded, feeling the pressure but maintaining his calm.
Night fell as Alex’s forces deployed. In the markets and the underworld, the Gnolls discreetly interrogated their usual informants, seeking any trace of Jaar and Anya. At the port, Alex and his men watched every arriving and departing ship, alert for any sign of the fugitives.
The tension grew with each hour that passed without news. Alex knew time was crucial; every moment Jaar and Anya spent in the city was another chance for them to find an escape and vanish.
In the darkness of the night, a messenger arrived at the mansion, agitated and with urgent news. Liora received him in Alex's study, her gaze fixed on the young man.
"Miss Liora, we’ve received information from a reliable source. Jaar and Anya were seen in a small inn near the port. They seem to be waiting for someone," the messenger reported, between gasps.
"Good. Keep the source under surveillance and don’t lose sight of them. Father is already at the port; I'll relay this information to him immediately," Liora said, dispatching the messenger swiftly.
Liora sent an urgent message to Alex, detailing the location of the inn and the description of the fugitives. "We can't let them escape," she thought, preparing for what could be the final confrontation with Jaar and Anya, eager to learn why her aunt had come so violently seeking her.
Upon receiving the message, Alex left a few men behind to act as fixed points and headed to the mentioned inn.
At the Inn
Alex arrived at the inn and, accompanied by several of his men, approached the place cautiously. The guards at the port had given additional clues confirming the presence of Jaar and Anya. The inn, a modest but well-maintained building, was quiet. The full moon illuminated the streets, providing enough visibility for the operation.
He signaled his men to surround the building and ensure there were no possible escapes. With a quick gesture, he indicated he was ready to enter.
Pushing open the inn door, Alex and his men entered with firm steps. The innkeeper, an elderly man, looked up, surprised by the sudden entrance.
"Where are they?" demanded Alex, his voice resonating with contained fury.
"The knight and the lady... are in the room at the end of the hall," replied the innkeeper with a trembling voice, pointing down the corridor.
Alex advanced, followed by his men. Upon reaching the indicated room door, he pounded on it forcefully.
"Jaar, Anya, we know you're in there. Open the door," ordered Alex.
A moment of silence preceded the sound of the door slowly opening. Anya appeared first, with a resigned expression. Behind her, Jaar held a sword, ready to defend himself.
"Surrender. You have nowhere left to run."
"Wait, what will you do with us? If you want us to surrender, you must guarantee our safety."
"What are you talking about, woman? You're in no position to make demands."
"No, you can't do this to me. You don't know who I am."
"I don't care who you are. Come out peacefully."
"Never! I can't go out like this with savages like you. Who knows what you might do to me?"
Alex grew tired of the exchange with the woman, scrutinizing the knight.
"Let her go, Jaar. It’s pointless to resist," said Alex, his voice now laden with barely contained anger.
Jaar responded with a grunt and, without warning, lunged at Alex with his sword. The room erupted in chaos as Jaar attacked with desperate force, seeking any opportunity to escape.
Alex, adrenaline surging, dodged the first attack and drew his own sword. The fight was fierce and brutal, with both men moving quickly and precisely. Alex’s men tried to intervene, but Jaar kept them at bay with a series of savage, precise blows, utilizing the limited space to maneuver.
Finally, Alex managed to disarm Jaar with a powerful strike, followed by a swift move that knocked him to the ground. Panting, Alex knelt on Jaar's chest and stabbed his shoulder.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
"Anya, don't move!" Alex shouted, his eyes blazing with fury. "You have nothing left. Speak! Why are you here? Why are you looking for Liora, and how did you find out she was with me?"
Anya, however, remained eerily calm. "You've already lost, Alex. We were only buying time," she said, a bitter smile forming on her lips as she glanced at Jaar's bleeding wound.
Before Alex could react, a shout echoed from outside the inn. One of his men rushed in, his face pale.
"Sir, we’re surrounded! A neutral faction has blocked all exits," he reported, his voice trembling.
Alex looked at Anya, realizing too late that they had fallen into a trap. Their enemies had not only bought time but had also secured their capture.
"This isn't over," Alex murmured, his mind racing to find a way out of the situation. But he knew that, for the moment, they were trapped.
Alex headed outside, prepared for what awaited him.
Outside the Inn
Alex exited the inn with his sword in hand, ready for whatever he might face outside. The scene that greeted him was truly surprising: his men surrounded by members of a neutral faction, armed and ready to act.
"Lower your weapon, Alex! You’re surrounded and have no escape," shouted the leader of the neutral faction, a robust man with visible battle scars on his face.
Alex quickly assessed the situation. They were outnumbered and at a strategic disadvantage. He knew that any wrong move could trigger a bloody confrontation they couldn't win.
"What do you want?" Alex asked, maintaining his composure despite the fury boiling inside him.
"We don’t want trouble, Alex. But we received clear orders to secure Jaar and Anya," replied the neutral leader, with a neutral but alert expression.
Jaar and Anya remained on the ground, watching the scene cautiously. Anya smirked sardonically, as if she had anticipated this outcome.
Alex pondered his options while intensely scrutinizing his opposition. It would be extremely difficult to take them head-on; his soldiers and warriors were already slightly exhausted from chasing Anya all day. On the other hand, the captain of the neutral faction saw Alex seeming to prepare for a fight and had no choice but to clarify.
"I have no intentions of fighting you, Alex. The city doesn't seek to meddle in your affairs, but you must understand that this woman is an ally of the city and cannot fall into hostile hands."
"Are you declaring war on me?"
"I'm not here to play word games. You’re clearly hostile toward her."
"Because she attacked me first in my own home."
"I understand, boy, but I still can't let her fall into your hands. My master isn't unreasonable; if you hand her over without further harm, rest assured you will be rewarded. You just need to walk away from here, and we won’t attack you."
There weren’t many ways to win this conflict, and bloodshed wasn't worth it. There would be other ways to uncover the truth behind this attack, so Alex simply gave the order to withdraw. He didn't want to lose anyone unnecessarily here.
Alex and his men began to retreat towards his mansion, and the soldiers surrounding him immediately made space to let them pass. They acted professionally, making no gestures suggesting anything underhanded.
"Thank you for your decision, Mr. Alex. Expect a messenger from my master in the coming days," the captain finally said as all of Alex's men left the inn.
“Thank you for your decision, Mr. Alex. Expect a messenger from my master in the coming days,” the captain finally said as all of Alex's soldiers left the inn. “Fine, I expect some explanations then.” “Of course, I’ll convey your message to my master.”
As Alex was passing by the captain to exchange these words, Anya ran out of the inn, shouting, “That's right, run, you cursed dog! Soon, you’ll have to answer for your crimes!” Alex stopped in his tracks and glared at the woman with evident hatred.
The captain could only click his tongue and mutter under his breath, “What a tasteless woman,” before making a hand signal to one of the nearby soldiers, who then struck Anya's stomach hard, making her double over before catching her as she fainted.
“I hope you can forgive that outburst. Oh, I forgot to mention, your Gnoll friend is safe at the central garrison station. They treated his wounds, and he’s waiting for you to pick him up.” Alex gave one last disdainful look at the captain and responded with a curt, “Sure,” before waving his hand and leaving the area.
The soldiers on site waited until Alex was barely visible, then approached their captain to ask, “Was it necessary to be so courteous to that young man? He doesn't know the basic rules of etiquette.”
The captain looked at them with a soft expression, like an uncle gazing at his foolish nephew. “Of course, we must treat him with care. After all, it's been said that more and more Gnolls are coming out of the forests and fighting in the outskirts. Besides, etiquette only applies to street dogs like us. The masters don’t need to be polite.”
“And what do we do with this woman and that knight? He has a nasty wound on his shoulder. Should we take him to the hospital?”
“Nah, the master’s orders were clear. Don't let them fall into that young man’s hands at all costs and make sure they board their ship. So, we’ll just do that. Take them both to the ship at dock 34 and load them there. That’s our only job.”
The captain surveyed his surroundings and could spot many other groups in the corners and alleys. Everyone worked for someone with interests in this matter, so all he wanted was to fulfill his contract as quickly as possible, get paid, and leave. After all, they were just one of the many mercenary groups in the city.
At Alex’s Mansion
Alex arrived at his mansion with a furrowed brow and growing concern. The situation had become more complicated than he had anticipated. Liora and Bromir were waiting for him in the main hall.
“Father, what happened? Did you capture them?” Liora asked anxiously.
“No, a neutral faction intervened. They let them go, and it didn’t make sense to risk our men's lives for them. But the captain of that faction told me to expect a messenger with explanations and perhaps rewards,” Alex explained, still frustrated.
“And what do we do now?” Bromir asked.
“Pick up our friend and make sure he’s alright. Then, prepare for what’s to come. We can’t let our guard down,” Alex replied, rubbing his temple as he tried to calm himself.
“Understood. I’ll coordinate our men and keep an eye out for any unusual activity in the city,” Liora said, quickly assuming her role as coordinator.
Alex nodded and headed to his quarters, needing a moment to reflect and plan his next move. He knew the situation was far from resolved and that the coming days would be crucial for determining the future of his assets in the city and his own safety. Soon, the Gnolls returned with Zhar, who had all his wounds treated but was unconscious, thus concluding the day's matter. Some soldiers were left behind to keep watch, but this time, real soldiers were used, not random citizens employed for the task.
Contrary to Alex’s expectations, something did happen during the night.
“My lord, I’m sorry to disturb you at this hour. The captain of the soldiers who stopped us at the inn is at the door and requests to speak with you.” Alex sat at the edge of his bed, disgruntled, and asked, “Did he say what he wanted?” “No, my lord, but he said it would be of interest and beneficial to you.” “Alright, let him in.”
The captain of the soldiers who had intervened at the inn entered the room, his expression serious and professional. Alex observed him closely, trying to detect any hint of betrayal or danger in his demeanor. “Mr. Alex, thank you for receiving me at this hour,” said the captain with a slight bow. “This better be truly interesting for me, Captain,” Alex replied, not hiding his impatience. The captain nodded, understanding Alex’s frustration. “I come on behalf of my master to offer you a proposal. We know that today’s situation was unfortunate and that you have questions. My master wishes to avoid any unnecessary conflict and is willing to compensate you for your cooperation.”
Alex frowned, intrigued but still cautious. “Compensate me how? And, more importantly, who is your master?”
“My master is an influential member of the City Council. He has access to information and resources that could be of great use to you and your interests,” explained the captain. “In exchange for handing over Jaar and Anya, we offer you access to this information, a significant sum of money, and a promise of future cooperation in any conflicts that may arise.”
Alex considered the offer in silence for a few moments. “Your master wants to ensure those two don’t fall into hostile hands. But why so much interest in them? What do they know or possess that’s so valuable?”
“That is something my master is willing to explain to you personally, Mr. Alex. He extends an invitation for a meeting tomorrow afternoon. There you will get all the answers you seek,” the captain responded.
Alex nodded slowly. “Very well. I’ll accept your master’s invitation. But I warn you, Captain, if this turns out to be a trap or deception, your master will answer to me personally.” “I understand, Mr. Alex. You can be assured that my master acts in good faith,” assured the captain before bowing and leaving.
Alex watched the captain leave and remained seated, deep in thought. “What was that about? Why couldn’t it wait until tomorrow to deliver such a simple message?” Alex complained.
“It might be because of this, sir,” Sara answered, showing a letter in her hand.
“What’s that?” “The captain handed it to me on his way out when no one was looking. It seems it’s something even his troops weren’t supposed to know about, given the secrecy with which he handled the situation.”
“Let’s hope this contains answers. Let’s see it.” Alex opened the envelope and found at least three sheets of paper densely packed with writing.
“Interesting…”