“Every so often, there comes a day when destiny gives us a chance to make a mark on history,” Terrin said, his voice echoing around the cavern.
A group of ragged men stood in front of him, armed with a wide array of makeshift weapons. Everything from swords to pipes, brooms, and mops littered the crowd.
“Nitiri shed royal blood to steal the throne,” he continued. “She did away with the loyal soldiers of Lur Alava and replaced them with thieves and thugs. She imprisoned you unjustly and made this kingdom’s citizens suffer. The snowborn princess belongs on the throne, so today we’ll take a stand for what’s right!”
Fists shot into the air, and cheers went up all around. Terrin was glad they’d decided to gather far into the caves so no one could hear them. He was surprised they didn’t shake the foundation with their thunderous applause. Even with their numbers, though, he wasn’t sure how the revolution would end.
Most of their troops weren’t properly armed, and a good portion of them had spent the last few months languishing in jail cells with poor nourishment. They were weak, but they insisted on fighting. His hope resided in the small group of Magic users. Each, including Tristen, was equipped with Guardian weapons and therefore were all expert swordsmen after some quick lessons on communing with their technology.
“We’ll split into groups and take the floors. Don’t harm the servants unless they resist. Spare as many lives as possible. If the guards engage you, fight them, but remember our intentions. We want to take the kingdom back from Nitiri, but we don’t want to use her methods. We fight for what’s right, not for blood.”
Terrin knew his words were in vain. Many of the imprisoned hated the guards with a fervent passion. He doubted most would listen to his pleas to spare lives.
“Blade, your team will take the inner wall. Herb, yours will take the outer.”
The two men nodded. Terrin hadn’t expected them to respect him as an authoritative figure, but to his surprise, even Herb looked to him for direction.
Ramer never would’ve believed me if I told him I’d be orchestrating a Northern revolution before I turned fourteen.
There were three more groups, so Terrin assigned them to various floors and sections of the castle. He did one last head count before he spoke again.
“Remember, try to stay as quiet as possible. The element of surprise gives us an advantage. Magic users, try to keep your groups hidden. Sleeping darts are your friends. May the creators deliver victory into our hands.”
He stepped down from the box he was standing on, and Blade and Herb started to give orders. Terrin approached the pirates, who were waiting off to the side.
“And where are we goin’?” Plague asked.
“To get Elurra, of course. Damond told me Nitiri is probably keeping her on the third floor. We have an army to distract them, so hopefully finding her won’t be a problem.”
The groups were starting to depart with Damond in the lead. Despite their numbers, the men were surprisingly quiet, and the tension in the air was palpable. Terrin and the dwarfs trailed behind the fifth group, which was led by one of Herb’s lieutenants. Magic users led the charge behind the old jailer, their sleek Guardian weaponry gleaming in the torchlight as they ascended the stairs in single file. The men unexpectedly halted in front of them, and Rowan ran into Terrin and almost knocked him over. Sounds of conflict ensued from above as the first guards clashed with the motley rebels, but a flash from an advanced weapon silenced the guards above. A few men muttered uneasily as they glanced up at the hallway.
It’s begun.
Only twenty people comprised the fourth and fifth group combined. The teams attacking the outer and inner walls had the bulk of the good weapons, strong men, and numbers to combat Nitiri’s forces. They reached the second-floor landing and group four departed to clear the level. Terrin, Rowan, Tristen, Plague, and Snore followed group five up the stairs. Plague sneezed loudly, making half the men jump. A few glared at him, and he muttered apologies.
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“I sneeze ah lot when I get nervous,” he muttered.
“Put yer fingers up yer nose. That should stop ya,” Rowan whispered back.
Terrin tried not to laugh as he hushed them. They reached the third-floor landing, and the leader of group five slowly cracked open the door to the castle. He gave the signal, and his men shuffled into the large hallway. The third floor was mostly for royalty, and as a result, it was more richly decorated than the other floors. The men walked across the marble tiles reverently as they looked at the grand statues and tapestries in awe. A few glanced down at their tattered clothes and dirty hands self-consciously. One man reached for a golden statue in an alcove, but Terrin grabbed his wrist. He jumped and opened his mouth to argue, but Terrin’s fierce glare made him change his mind. No one spoke, although they’d all noticed the exchange.
This all belongs to Elurra, Terrin thought protectively.
The group leader rounded a corner and stopped dead in his tracks. The rest of the men tried to stop, but most ended up running into each other with surprised exclamations.
A man issued a challenge from the intersecting hallway. The leader of the group pulled out his sword and charged forward as Terrin and the pirates pushed through the confused men. They rounded the corner just in time for the final blow. On of Nitiri’s guards swung his short sword in a deadly arc, slicing the Rhai Cudd group leader. He dropped to his knees, and the pirates could see his blood quickly pooling on the floor around him. The soldier laughed harshly as the man collapsed and raised his sword for the kill. Terrin pulled his sword from its sheath and darted forward. Guardian knowledge filled his head, and Snow’s voice screamed for him to stop the man’s blow. Their swords clashed together, jarring Terrin’s wrists, but he was prepared for the impact when his opponent wasn’t. As soon as the guard met Terrin’s eyes, he let out a startled exclamation and retreated a few feet. Terrin grinned. He recognized the man as the leader of the highway bandits from their travels and heard Rowan snicker.
“Y-You…It can’t be,” the guard stuttered.
Terrin tried to look angry, although he was smiling inwardly. What were the odds of meeting perhaps the only person who legitimately is frightened of me? “I told you I’d be watching,” he said in a dangerously low tone.
The man dropped his sword and backed away. “I promise I didn’t do nothing to her. I didn’t touch ah single blonde hair on her head!”
Terrin tried not to let his emotions show through his furious facade. “Where is she?”
“I-I can t-take you. The queen has her.”
“Good. If you’re lying or you try to run away, I will hunt you down and destroy you. Is that clear?”
The soldier nodded, his face pale with terror. Terrin nodded, satisfied for the moment, and turned his attention back to the group. The men behind him were bandaging their leader.
First, I need to find Snow and make sure she escapes. Second, I’ll stop Nitiri and close the rift.
Anchor’s grim predictions flashed through his mind, and a knot formed in his chest. He could feel his time running out. He pushed the thoughts aside and turned to the pirates.
“Help them clear the floor. Rowan, you’re in charge. Once you take care of any guards, back up Blade and Herb.”
Terrin heard footsteps behind him and spun around to watch the burly man run away. He sighed and pulled out a gadget he was hoping he wouldn’t need. He chucked it at the man and uttered an activation command. The cube expanded into a net and connected with the fleeing guard. The man yelped as metallic mesh wrapped around him, and he thumped to the ground with a whimper. As Terrin approached his catch, he heard the pirates following. Tristen called after him.
“We aren’t letting you go alone! If you’re going to get Elurra, then—”
“I know you guys care about Elurra, too, but Anchor told me I had to do this alone. Besides…I don’t want you guys to have to watch,” Terrin admitted.
“Watch what?”
The other pirates stood behind him. Their expressions were twisted with concern. Terrin paused and examined them carefully. He never would’ve dreamed the motley men would become his closest friends. He felt a lump form in his throat as he took a step away.
“I’m sorry. I want you to know it’s been an honor, and I respect you all. Take care of each other,” he said quietly as he pulled another stashed device from his pocket. “Ŗevlik ńai.”
Only nanites would work inside the castle, so he’d made sure to bring devices to assist him. A force field appeared between him and the dwarfs as he retreated a few more steps. Their eyes widened, and Tristen punched the wall, his fist bouncing off the surface.
“Terrin! Why?” Rowan called, his voice tight.
Terrin looked at them for a few more seconds before giving them a sad smile and turning to the terrified guard, who was still struggling with the net. With a quick command, the net returned to Terrin’s hand in its condensed form, and the man sat up in bewilderment.
“Take me to her,” he said. There was a hard edge in his voice the pirates had never heard before.
The guard nodded and scrambled to his feet. Terrin didn’t look back, even though he felt the eyes of the dwarves following him down the hall.