Chapter 17

Failures Prepare

Venitz peered out the window into the panicked streets of Heraldforn below. Alarm bells echoed through the streets as Heraldforn soldiers rushed through alleyways on the hunt for any remaining Yashai warriors. At the first sign of trouble Venitz had fled to her room with a small entourage of mercenaries, the promise of a hefty payment was more than enough to stifle any outlandish ideals of heroism the men may have had.

They waited patiently at the locked door with weapons drawn, while Venitz sat by the window trying to calculate her chances of surviving a jump to the pathway some forty feet below. She had played over the route countless times in her head. Hang down from the ledge, push off slightly just before I drop.. three swift thuds on the door brought her back from her wine induced daydreaming.

"Heraldforn City Guard" a voice bellowed in a stern Heraldforn accent.

"Open the door or we'll put it through" the mercenaries glanced at Venitz as they gripped their weapons tighter "Well, don't keep them waiting.. that door isn't cheap". The mercenaries pulled up their shields as one of them unbolted the door. On the other side stood three Heraldforn guards, startled at the sight of the five armed mercenaries packed into the room. "...No Yashai in here I presume?" One guard growled as he looked past the mercenaries into the back of the room. "None," Venitz called out, stepping forward. "Not that they would have survived long if there had been". The guard glanced at Venitz and then back to the mercenaries "Lady Torren has demanded that all able-bodied men gather in the Feasting Hall, no exceptions." Venitz gave a small nod as the mercenaries and guards filtered out of the room, following them to the door before hastily locking it behind them.

This isn’t good she thought as she scrambled underneath her bed. Reaching out for the hidden satchel, her heart skipped as she felt the empty space before her. She slowly padded the ground with her hand until she eventually felt the familiar feel of the satchel’s strap before pulling the bag on top of the bed. She slowly passed the satchel strap through her hands as she had done countless times before. Looking down at the empty space before her, she continue to feel along the strap until she found the mechanism, and further on until she felt the crystal at its centre. A quick, hard tug was enough to pull the crystal from its slot, and with that the bag and all its contents appeared before her. Why is Lady Torren calling the meeting…? Has something happened to Lord Torren… or Haiden…? Venitz pulled the two other artefacts from the satchel and set them aside on her bed. Can't be too careful she thought as she pulled the bracelet up her arm, underneath the sleeve of her gown and set the crystal into the device once more.

Venitz hurried through the long, narrow hallway towards the feasting hall. The mundane corridor she had used countless times before was gone, replaced by a nightmarish dark tunnel. The feint flickering light from fires outside in the town below guided her along, dancing across the walls, the ceilings and the corpses of several Heraldforn guards. The thick stench of blood and smoke filled her nostrils as Venitz became acutely aware that she was alone, her footsteps echoing off the blood-stained stone through the eerily silent hallway. When did this corridor get so long… she felt a shiver down her spine as she instinctively placed her left hand on her wrist and quickened her pace.

The silence and darkness waned as she approached the feasting hall, now replaced by an uncomfortable mix of murmuring interspersed with shrill cries and wails. A young Heraldforn guard stood at the entrance, his spear half leaning against the wall as if to try and stop the shaking. He paid no notice to Venitz as she passed by, his wide eyes fixed with a blank stare on the opposite wall.

It seemed that Venitz was right to flee at the first sign of trouble. The Feasting Hall was a massacre, merchant's, nobles, musicians, dancers, porters, soldiers the Yashai didn’t discriminate in their attack. Heraldforn soldiers slowly removed corpses from the room under the watchful eye of a man in formal uniform as family and friends stared on in disbelief. As Venitz surveyed the room she noticed that the now sizable contingent of "able-bodied" men had gathered at the back of the hall, the vast majority of which consisted of Daron's troop, with a noticeable lack of representation from the more noble guests.

Looks to be under control… Maybe the Yashai didn't anticipate such a large amount of guests and guards?

Along the edges of the room sat the majority of the surviving guests, who had seemingly returned to their assigned tables. She was pleasantly relieved to see Rennick mostly unharmed, less so as she eyed over the two Magi frantically arguing in hushed voices.

Shame… of course those cockroaches survived

Continuing towards the top of the room, Venitz gazed at the lone figure seated at the main table which had been set on a stage overlooking the hall. Lady Torren, rocked slowly in her seat. Her orange dress now a deep scarlet, her face pale and knuckles white as she gripped a familiar yellow scarf embroidered with the Torren coat of arms.

"Haiden…" Venitz croaked as a lump appeared in her throat. She was no stranger to death but Haiden was a friend, and losing a friend was never easy. Be strong… Past memories of her time with Haiden flashed in her mind. He was one of the few nobles that had accepted her, treated her as an equal. Be strong… He supported her more than he had any right to, risking so much to help her Why?

He was one of the few truly good people she had met in this world, he wanted to help everyone no matter the cost. Idealistic fool… Tears streamed down her face as she let herself drift off in the river of grief that had swept away most of those remaining in the Feasting Hall. Through her blurring eyes she spotted some feint movement behind the stage, a Yashai warrior moving… Venitz jolted back to reality, shaking her head as if coming out of a daze This isn't the time to get complacent, Focus Ven.

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The Yashai woman's hands had been bound and a Heraldforn soldier slapped her on her mole pocked cheek as she began to stir. A swift kick to the ribs followed, causing the woman to violently exhale a mix of air and blood. With that, the soldier dragged her into the centre of the room, her left foot flopping nonchalantly behind. "SPEAK" demanded the guard as he slapped her across the face. The woman smiled a near toothless grin, as her mouth brimmed with blood, it was clear this "interrogation" had been going on for some time. As the soldier struck her again the mole-cheeked woman laughed and looked up to Lady Torren. "Ishvak ni hiri…" She spat before a boot came across her face, sending the woman reeling.

"Enough" a solemn Lady Torren sighed.

As Lady Torren looked down at the Yashai woman Venitz could see her expression change. Grief and anguish gave way to wrath and righteous fury.

"FUCKING SAVAGES" she screamed as the room was stunned into silence

Haha "You, Magi" she demanded, pointing at Ideron. "The beast can't speak the civilised tongue, make it work, do something"

The Magi sighed "Unfortunately only members of the order…"

"Useless!" interrupted Lady Torren as she walked toward the woman.

"We're wasting precious time with this rat." Lady Torren placed one hand on the woman's shoulder and grabbed her by the neck. She stared directly into the woman's dazed eyes as she pulled a tusk bone from her shoulder armour.

"Disgusting" Lady Torren jammed the bone into each eye as the woman screamed, then straight into the neck quieting the screams into a low gurgle as blood burst from the artery.

"General Durham" she turned to the man in formal uniform. "That savage bitch killed my son, my husband, your Lord. Why are you still here?"

"Mi-m'lady?" he stammered. "Forgive me, I wasnt there… Ive set up a patrol to secure the town, enlisted citizens to contain the fires, any remaining Yashai will be coaxed out…"

"Do I look like I give a shit about this dry shithole of a town? That bitch can't be too far, we need to act now."

"M-mobilising for an operation in the south would need the full support of the Alliance. That could take weeks, months of preparation"

Of course it would come to this… another war of descension, the alliance will have no choice. No doubt the Tal's will have this place on lockdown, ready to claim any and all spoils in the name of God.

"Ha, Preparations?" The booming voice of Zanzo De La Cruz exclaimed as he entered the hall, wine bottle in hand. Zanzo swaggered through the room, completely oblivious to the tense atmosphere.

For the first time Venitz could see how this Zanzo, and the man from countless stories were one in the same. He stood proudly clad in pristine ornate gold plate armour, a giant sword by his side in matching sheath, and a fine golden hairband keeping his meticulously brushed hair in perfect shape. She looked at her clear reflection in his finely polished shoulder pauldron.

Clearer than most mirrors, he must be blinding in the daylight

"Failures prepare and the prepared fail," he began as he gestured his wine towards the General. "What you need to do my friend is strike now, while the enemy is still shocked and confused."

Well he looks the part at least…

Lady Torren's glare lightened with a glimmer of hope. "Finally! A man of action. He can get that harlot now and then we'll raze her homeland with the full might of the alliance!"

Zanzo looked puzzled for a few seconds before smirking, as if cogs were slowly turning in his head.

"Yes, I, the great Zanzo De La Cruz will bravely venture forth into the treacherous south, capture the savage's princess and restore honour to the Torren name and Urungeald Alliance."

He's an idiot, chasing after the Yashai on their own territory is suicide

"But I'm not so greedy as to claim the glory for myself… no. Daron what say we fulfill that dream of yours? Two of Librestra's mighty heroes fighting side by side?"

"Of course Zanzo!" Daron perked up "My men are yours to command!"

A surprisingly cunning idiot… refusing his invitation may as well be suicide given the current circumstances.

"No finer men indeed!". And as for finding the girl, we have the finest tracker I've had the pleasure of meeting. My dear lady Mer-" A deep otherworldly clang echoed through the room. "Slipped" the Orak grunted as he pulled his ebony blade up from the ground, eyes fixed on Zanzo.

"As I was saying… my dear lady… Master Greeves is the finest tracker I've met and a longtime companion. I'm sure he'll join me for a hunt as virtuous as this?"

The Orak glared at Zanzo for an uncomfortably long time before conceding with a slightly positive grunt.

The Orak too? With enough people to distract the Yashai I could sneak off, potentially explore unimpeded… its almost certain death but the upside.. if I found one device… I could revolutionise..

"I will also join you." Ideron exclaimed while shushing the objections of his apprentice. "I may also be of some help in tracking the girl, but more importantly I believe this is the path set out for me by the prophecies".

"Of course! No one better than a trusted member of the Tals to witness this great expedition, what naysayers would dare question our heroics?"

Fuck, this zealot now too? That's only going to complicate things further. Then again there are rumours that Magi are powerless in the south… No risk no reward….

This is my last chance…

"I'm no swordswoman," Venitz began "but Haiden was a dear friend" her eyes began to water on cue, "I could bring a small caravan of supplies, blankets, food.." Zanzo gave her a bemused look as if readying an objection. "drink" Venitz added, flashing a wry smile at Zanzo. "Excellent! Essential supplies for when we capture the savage. Your gracious support will be most appreciated"

"If there's no other volunteers, get yourselves together to leave on the hour," Zanzo declared. "I don't doubt that Roxanne will have this rogue princess caught and back before sunrise!"

“On the hour?!” Ideron contested with an affronted look. "Surely we could wait until the full light of morning?, I’m sure that Sir Daron here will need more than an hour to gather his men, and more time still for them to sober up before we depart?”

“Ha, don't fear Master Magi, Sir Daron is more than ready. But still you make a good point about gathering up the townsfolk, we certainly don't want our departure to be a sober affair. No, it should be a celebration of our inevitable victory, a grand parade worthy of our great deeds"

Ideron stared at Zanzo with a puzzled look, but said nothing

"As I said, We depart at first light!" Zanzo roared enthusiastically.