Instead of Viola, what Mila found in the room instead was Litro. The man looked tired and concerned. Upon her entering, he glanced up. “Ah… There you are.”

“Litro.” Mila nodded.

“It’s Percy.” Litro sighed. “Please. Viola is not here. Do me a favour, and don’t use that name. While she won’t get into trouble for not using her alias, I will.”

“As you wish, Percy.” Mila didn’t deny the small favour.

Helly stretched. “So? How was it? Too crowded, I take.”

“It was.” Mila felt annoyance. She had been the one pushing for them to come early. But at this rate, they would have to sit here and wait for something else to happen.

Speaking of. Mila returned her eye to Percy. “What are your plans?” She hoped there would be something to use.

The man glanced at Helly, then Mortimer. “Nothing. We are just as confused as the majority of the city.”

Mila doubted that was true. “Really…” She then addressed Helly and Mortimer. “Would you two leave the room for a minute? This is private.”

To which Helly gave a rude gesture and left. Mortimer hurried to follow.

Seeing they were along, Litro changed his tune. “It’s dire.” He revealed. “Viola is still out sniffing about, but from what we gather, the city is about to blow up. Not to fault of ours, mind you.” He explained himself when he noticed Andrew’s glare.

“But you must have some plants in the Noble district, no?” Mila hoped, but the look in Litro’s betrayed that wish.

“There should be a couple if they are still alive. But we can’t get in touch with them. My superiors forbade us from trying, too.”

Mila wished to meet superiors of Viola. From the stray sentences the friendly woman had shared, they could be impressive support. “Is the danger that great?” She wondered.

“Well, that’s the thing…” Litro scratched his head. “They couldn’t tell. And those Pillar of Eternity guys also failed to identify the problem. It’s why they didn’t fight to the death and backed off earlier today.”

This news actually calmed Mila somewhat. If the Inquisitors didn’t recognise the trouble, it likely wasn’t the corruption they had faced back in Ocheon. She frowned.

Thinking about the matter, as always, was unpleasant and seemed to call out to something in the distance.

While Mila was thinking, Litro continued. “Well, the military showed a surprising competence. After taking care of that inferno earlier, they established a tenuous order. But it’s not going to last.”

Isabel had noticed Mila’s thoughts had wandered and hugged her from behind. “Did you notice something?” She whispered.

“Nothing.” Mila shook her head. Isabel already had nightmares about that night. She wouldn’t bring the matter up without need. “Go on.”

Litro did. “We tried to speak with the city’s guard families, but… Most of them were missing and those who were at home had a lot to say but nothing useful. Mostly just how their wives and husbands had been tricked and how they had a bad feeling.”

More puzzle pieces. What did the Nobles hope to achieve by gathering these people? She hoped it wasn’t some kind of sacrifice they wanted to do. But the eerie air did make her think something nefarious was afoot.

It was always the lack of information that hurt the most. After starting at the wall for a moment too long, Mila refocused. “Can you…” She furrowed her brows. She had heard something.

The doors swung open. Helly rushed in, with Mortimer following behind. Another moment later, Mr Crow flew in through the open door, and the wolf followed.

“Another fight,” Helly announced. “A big one. Probably still a probing attack. Too little destruction for the big shots to be involved, but too much noise for it to be nothing.”

Mr Crow made a series of chirps before leaving again. The wolf grimly joined at Andrew’s side. “It started at the gate,” Andrew revealed more information. “There was another group of reinforcements arriving. They were decimated. At the same time, people from the military camp gathered and surrounded the Noble district. They pushed a little too close, and that’s when fighting started.”

“That’s very useful.” Helly was surprised. “How can you understand that bird so clearly?”

Andrew shrugged. “There was also movement on the temple side. They were joining forces with the military, and-” Mr crow returned and left another message. “Shit! A lot of gangs have decided to move out as well. They are pushing towards the gates. There is also an army of thugs comming from where the ‘Hatchet’s’ territory is.”

“How many? And are the ‘Iron Swords with them?” Mila asked. Depending on the answer…

“I don’t know.” Andrew whistled, and a moment later, Mr Crow was back. After giving the bird instructions, he left. It didn’t take long for their scout to return. “Probably no ‘Iron Swords’. At least not in that group. Mr Crow didn’t see anyone matching the description. But there are a lot of them. A few hundred.”

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

“Ah…” Isabel whispered. “Will they hold?” She thought back to Kanna and Vatim.

“They should,” Helly stated, but lacked the usual confidence. “The old Guard Captain is no fool. He will probably collapse every tunnel he loses. That should buy a lot of time.”

“And make it difficult for us to get back. We still need that escape route.” Mila reminded. “Percy, can you arrange help? I gather you also planned to use Naran’s escape routes.”

“We did…” Litro seemed to age even more. “I’ll get going. If Viola is free, I’ll send her to you. I can probably arrange something. We probably won’t interfere directly, but picking off stragglers shouldn’t be hard. I’ll see what can be done.” He walked out.

“What about the civilians?” Isabel asked. Andrew furrowed his brows. He called for Mr Crow again.

While they waited, Helly finally asked about Litro. “So, who was that? I don’t recall anyone like that working for the local snakeheads.”

“You have not been in Stilag for long.” Mila avoided answering and muddied the waters.

To which Helly hummed. “Think I can get him to work for me?”

“You can ask.” Mila supposed.

“There you are.” Andrew greeted Mr Crow. “How is it? What about people in the streets?” The bird landed on his bond's arm and began explaining what he had seen. “Not looking good.” Andrew translated. “A lot of fights are breaking out. People are feeling trapped.”

“They are.” Isabel sadly added.

“What about the mansion?” Mila wanted more information.

As the chirps came, Andrew spoke. “The inside premises are a disturbed anthill. People are running all around. They are mostly entering the building. Not many guards left outside.”

“Huh!” Helly’s eyebrows rose. “Ain’t that convenient?”

“Why?” Mila didn’t understand. “Shouldn’t they reinforce the security at the walls?”

“Don’t know,” Andrew replied. “Go.” He threw Mr Crow towards the doors, and the bird vanished again.

The new events resulted in a brainstorming session. With the situation quickly deteriorating, Mila pushed for acting cautiously but immediately.

But all arguments came to a halt when people started to crawl over the walls and broke the gates and doors to enter the house.

These desperate souls backed off upon seeing an armed party but were quickly replaced by new people trying to find a safe spot.

“Is it that bad on the streets?” Isabel was worried. From the looks, it was mostly the homeless trying to get off the streets and that included families with children. And as she spoke, another family appeared. “It’s okay. You can stay. We are leaving.” Isabel hurried to stop them from retreating. “Right?”

“Right.” Mila nodded. She pulled the hood over her head and stepped into Andrew’s shadow. “You can’t stay here.” She hopped to use the large man as a shield from unwanted eyes.

“Terminator is not subtle,” Andrew whispered back. The wolf let out a short bark, startling another group of people who peeked through the window.

This was a headache. The sounds of battle rose in the distance. Mila glanced up to see Mr Crow gliding down. The bird quickly chirped the information he had gathered, then left.

And the news was not good. “More fighting.” He frowned and glanced at Helly. “At… the… Mansion? A group of six are attacking it.”

“What?” Mila snapped towards him. “What do you mean? Who is attacking?”

“Mr Crow couldn’t tell.” Andrew didn’t have an answer.

With more fighting noises rising, Mila looked out of the window towards the mansion. The noises were coming from that way.

This changed the situation drastically. It forced Mila’s hand somewhat. She had to know what was happening.

“I’ll go first and scout. Follow behind, but don’t engage before I return.”

Mila slipped out of the house immediately. Without ceremony, she pushed past a new influx of people investigating the place. With her senses sharpened, she ran towards the mansion.

As the large building complex grew in front of Mila, the sounds of fighting grew louder. But also fewer. She narrowed her eyes, trying to find where the clash was happening.

Either the attackers were losing or the defenders. Mila couldn’t decide which option was better. She certainly didn’t want to face staunch defence.

The fighting wasn’t happening at the front gate. Mila turned left and continued with more caution. She stuck to shadows and tried to keep pillars, people, crates and more between her and the mansion.

While slowly, Mila was nearing the fight. She tried to find a good advantage point to study it, choosing a taller building. But as she reached the wall, Mila barely managed to not freeze.

There was someone on the roof. And from what Mila could tell, she was noticed. Only by using inertia did she continue to move. The presence wasn’t moving towards her. She glanced up.

It was someone strong. Somewhere around Helly’s level? Mila licked her lips and continued to move. It was better than retreating or freezing. She just had to pretend she was none the wiser.

A few nerve-wracking moments later, Mila had moved past the building. Feeling the sweat on her back, she was glad the presence had been preoccupied.

Did it take interest in the ongoing fight? Or was it part of the effort? Mila tried to find another spot from which to spy. She hid on a rooftop from which she could see both the building on which the presence hid and the tail of the fight.

It wasn’t great, but it had to do. But no matter how Mila looked, there was no one there. And the fight had moved deeper into the mansion, making it impossible to tell what was happening.

But Mila had to do something. She couldn’t just wait.

As Mila mulled over her options, she saw a movement at the entrance the intruders had used.

A familiar face. The man waved at the rooftop, then headed back inside the mansion.

Mila recognised the man.

Of course, she did. Mila had lost thoroughly to him. He looked different now. Completely bald, clean-shaven and lean, he was in full battle gear consisting of leather armour, a sword, throwing weapons and a buckler protecting his wrist. She felt her breath quicken. The scar left by the man tingled.

Why was he here?

And…

Could Mila win…