Waking up to the emergency bell was always annoying. Vlad tried his best to ignore the sound, but it was magically enhanced, meaning there was no escaping the infernal racket.
It continued to ring while he dressed, putting on the army uniform, relishing in the cleanliness. Dry socks were always taken as a given by the spoiled brats who joined up to get some achievements under their name, but Vlad knew just what a luxury they were.
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His pack was already waiting for him at the foot of his bed, having been ordered a day prior. Everyone had been curious as to why the command had been given, and it looked like they were about to find out, though he had his suspicions.
He looked at his reflection in the murky mirror atop the bathroom sink and nodded. While he wouldn’t say he was handsome, as Vlad had never cared much for physical beauty, he still cut an intimidating figure. His dark eyes and scars ensured no one crossed him lightly, and if that wasn’t enough, his absent pinky let everyone know he was a hardened man.
His squad mates were still in the process of getting ready when he left. He hadn’t made any friends among them, considering them kids with no idea of how harsh the world was. They had been allowed to stay on the fringes of the fighting during the Incursion and had gotten a big head out of the minor skirmishes with Voidlings they participated in.
People rushed through the large open area where the troops usually trained. Most of those present were slaves, with a few soldiers who coordinated their efforts.
Vlad had never particularly cared for their plight. They were the lowest social class and did nothing to get out of their predicament. Even prey animals in the wild bucked and fought when captured, but slaves allowed their masters to do anything.
The collars do a lot, but it wouldn’t be enough to keep me from shanking anyone who tried to get me. I wouldn’t allow it.
While usually, he would rush to the mess hall to get the best of the available slop, the emergency bell meant that everyone needed to get to the gathering plaza, where they’d stand at attention until the Captain addressed them.
While Vlad didn’t like the man, he knew him to be a decent fighter and not a complete idiot. He wouldn’t have rung the bell if it wasn’t necessary. Especially because it hadn’t been used since the Hero defeated the last of the monsters coming from the great beyond.
I hope they haven’t found leftovers. The damn Hero can fight them himself for all I care. He’s certainly enjoyed killing them enough.
Despite his thoughts, Vlad knew it wasn’t likely. Voidlings weren’t stupid, but they wouldn’t have kept quiet for four months before revealing themselves, and the Heroic Party had thoroughly combed the Darkwood to prevent precisely that.
More likely, one of the local menaces was finally feeling safe enough to come out of hiding.
Vlad knew of at least two Necromancers hiding in the forest, and they kept an extremely low profile while the Hero pranced around. The corpses strewn around the battlefield were less a gift and more a curse since anyone found gathering them would be erased from existence with prejudice.
He just hoped it wasn’t pirates. Those were always annoying to fight, and if they were being called, it meant they weren’t run-of-the-mill ones that the Navy could handle by themselves. Privateers supported by Hammerfest or the Handriatic Union coming to their shores meant a long campaign to deter them.
For the past couple of days, orders had been given to ensure their readiness, which meant the higher-ups should have an idea of what they were up against, but surprisingly, no one had blabbed so far.
Finally arriving at the designated meeting place, Vlad hurried to take his place next to one of the few men he was on talking terms with. “Tusk! What’s going on?”
Tusk, who as always stood a head above anyone else, turned to regard him with a grin, “Lo’ Nine Fingers, got your nap interrupted?”
“Nah, fresh as a daisy.” Vlad snarked back, scanning the surroundings. Soldiers were still filing in, looking mightily confused. Enough so that he was sure the cause of the emergency wasn’t known.
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As if to confirm his thought, Tusk replied, “No one knows, but the Captain is all worked up. It must be something pretty big if he thinks he should come with us.”
Vlad nodded in agreement. Captain Vettel was an ambitious man who wouldn’t risk his life to fight against simple pirates. That he was preparing to march with them meant whatever it was, was pretty big. He wouldn’t move if he didn’t think it would bring him renown and achievements.
Or if he can’t get away with it. It might be something that has a real noble upset.
It took a good half an hour before the ranks were complete and then fifteen more minutes before the Captain appeared. That in itself was enough to eliminate a few options. If Vettel thought he could take his time, no imminent attack on the town was coming.
He was a short man with broad shoulders and a severe expression. His blue cap was held tightly in his fingers, and he wore his sword at his side. It was enough to understand that a fight was waiting for them.
“Atten-tion!” A Sergeant yelled, and the 104th snapped a salute.
The Captain walked before them with heavy steps. He scrutinized them silently as if trying to determine their worth.
Most are just braggarts and kids. If you are looking for a great army, you better look in Garva. They keep dying against the Wastes Tribes, so at least some Corps are bound to be decent.
Finally, Vettel broke his silence. “Soldiers of the 104th! Today, we have received orders from Lord De Hoop, in compliance with Royal Law, to muster up and begin marching east!”
East? What the fuck is there to fight? Is it Voidlings still, then? The only thing that came from there was the Incursion. There shouldn’t be enough people alive to make problems…
“A great betrayal has taken place! The man who many knew as the Hero has committed a grave sin, slaying his bride-to-be, and has seized control of the town of Alpar in his madness. We have been ordered to free the good citizens from his yoke!”
Complete stillness followed his words as the soldiers tried to process what they had just heard. Vlad wasn’t doing much better. While he didn’t personally know the Hero, he had seen him several times during the Incursion. That the man who had selflessly jumped into battle to defend innocent civilians could become a tyrant felt like a stretch.
But then again, it’s not really my problem if that’s the truth. He might have gone crazy, or he might have just lost the political game of the great nobles. Now that I think about it, that’s much more likely. If he overreached, it makes sense for an entire Corp to be dispatched to kill him. He might be just a man, but the Hero is still the Hero. If he has some support among the men there, he might have mustered a decent defense, and a lot of people are gonna die just to kill him.
The Hero had to be at least a Fourth Blessing powerhouse, a Master. Vlad had heard he might even have reached the vaunted rank of Champion, but that felt more like idle speculation. If he was that strong, the Lord Mayor wouldn’t have sent just the 104th, and Captain Vettel wouldn’t have accepted.
“Many of you might be confused, but you must harden your hearts! We are called to answer any threat, whether foreign or domestic. That means that even if it is a man who served the realm like the Hero who raises his sword to break the King’s Peace, he must pay!”
A subdued cheer went up. The prospect of a fight was enticing, especially to the younger soldiers who hadn’t been able to participate against the Void, but they all knew it wouldn’t be an easy task. The Hero had made a name for himself.
Seeing that his men weren’t convinced, Captain Vettel visibly changed tracks. “The man has gone so far as to free all slaves and seize the possessions of nobles and merchants alike! We have reports of many being hung for the mere crime of having blue blood!”
That was more interesting. Vlad was savvy enough to realize he shouldn’t believe everything spewing from an official, but with propaganda, there was usually some truth mixed in. If the Hero had truly seized the entire town’s riches for himself and gone so far as to free the slaves to have some fodder to throw at them…
“Lord De Hoop has granted us leave to participate in the accrued wealth once we complete our task!” Vettel concluded, and the cheer that met his words this time was much louder.
And there it is. They must really want him gone if they went so far as to promise to give us several noble houses’ wealth. Well, Alpar is a shithole, as far as I know, so there shouldn’t be anything ridiculous, but money is money. They sell a lot of slaves there, so they should have enough gold coins to please even the most risk-averse.
Vlad was self-aware enough to realize that he was also falling into the scheme. If he managed to get his hands on a portion of the hoard, he might be able to retire and get himself a pretty, young wife with whom to pop out a few sprogs.
He wasn’t an attractive man, but wealth and safety had a charm of their own. He would have the pick of the litter once he came back, and if he didn’t find any who suited his tastes, he could always buy himself a slave.
Mmm… Why not both? A wife to make children and a slave to have fun. Not like the nobles don’t do it. I’ll have to find a girl who doesn’t make a fuss about it, but at least I’ll be able to shut her up with a few gifts if it’s needed. And if that doesn’t work, the back of my hand will.
It took another hour before the 104th was ready to march, but the excitement was palpable. Their reticence at fighting the Hero had disappeared like snow under the summer sun, and all everyone could think of now was the wealth that awaited for them.
The Sergeants had tried to explain that they would take the longer route to prevent the rebels from learning of their coming, but people weren’t paying attention. Vlad had, of course, but he could see them visibly decide it wasn’t worth wasting their voice as long as the man kept marching.
“I think I’ll buy a good farm and retire once this is all done,” Tusk commented from beside him.
Vlad had known the man for many years, and they were both coming to the end of their contracts. Retiring after a major victory like this would suit them well. “You’ll be alone if you don’t buy yourself a slave, with how ugly your mug is.” He replied, deftly avoiding the meaty arm coming his way in retaliation.
“Maybe I will,” Tusk groaned, “Do you think I’ll need to go to Lamprey Port to find myself an elf? Or even all the way to Treon?”
Vlad snorted. Tusk was a talented fighter, but his brain wasn’t his best attribute. “Elf slaves go for hundreds of gold coins. Even with the loot we’ll find in Alpar, you could probably only buy a sick one. Better to find a decent human woman or a hobgoblin if that’s your thing.”
The muscular man rubbed at his beard in contemplation. “I really wanted an elf, but if they are too expensive, I might have to just taste one in a brothel for one night and then buy a normal slave.”
Rolling his eyes, Vlad stopped paying attention to the man’s ramblings. He’d probably spend his whole earnings on whores.
With the Darkwood looming before them, he started focusing more. He’d be surprised if the Hero didn’t have some men guarding the main routes to Alpar, and while the 104th’s numbers and equipment would see them quickly overwhelmed, they might have the time to get an arrow out.
And I’m not gonna let a stray arrow stop me from getting to my gold.