Averan looked over the men once again. 10 of his best and 10 of the best the clans could muster. He was pleased with his lot. Sandorn had taken his time picking, asking questions, examining weapons and armor, selecting only those he had thoroughly questioned and studied. Averan hadn’t bothered, relying instead on instinct. It’s worked for me so far. Well, mostly it has.
It was getting dark, I always do my best work at night. Funny that.
Averan shook his head stifling a laugh, in every sense.
“You’re laughing?” Fenadorn spoke silently beside him. “Now?”
Averan shrugged, “Why not? Look around you Fenadorn, you are the one who looks out of place. Not me.”
Fenadorn shook his head but said nothing, which acted as confirmation that he knew Averan was right. Sandorn had insisted Fenadorn go with him, claiming that Averan’s group would have a trickier task and they'd need his experience. He was right, but having Fenadorn beside him always made Averan feel like he had a guardian watching over his every move. It was unsettling.
Ignoring that he took a small sip of the wine in front of him, it was nice. He’d of enjoyed a little more than what he had in front of him, but now was not the time. Commander Grevus had been upstairs for quite some time already, he would surely soon be out. And when he did then the time they’d have to act would be precious little. They needed to ensure they took whatever they could get. The others would already be getting restless.
Averan smiled but waved away a waitress. The establishment was classy, the bribe they’d needed to get in enough to keep a family well-fed for a year. Commander Grevus had expensive taste. Outside of the Inner Ring Orlavia’s was the classiest and most elegant Gambling House. They had a fine reputation for confidentiality but Grevus was taking no chances. Had Averan not spent a night down the lower town with a former lady of the place he’d never have known. Fortunately, her confidentiality only went so far, setting up a gambling den of her own was not cheap. Grevus was right to be cautious, a man of his alleged demure taste would have been heavily criticised if his love of cards and chips were to be revealed. Enough to see him forced into resignation more than likely.
Grevus always went in disguise, always accompanied by 3 Elites similarly disguised with long hair and cabaret masks. Such garb was expected in Orlavia’s. Averan knew from his tailing of Grevus that 4 more Elites waited outside for their Commander.
“Ehh, here he is.”
Fenadorn spoke out of the side of his mouth, seemingly not taking his eyes off one of the ladies passing through the tables.
Averan gave a quick glance upwards, it was Grevus, that was clear. His build and gait were noticeable but it was the subtle reaction of those sitting at the tables around them that revealed him. One by one three tall, muscular fellows got up from their seats. One went out immediately, another headed for the staircase and another made his way towards the center of the room, keeping tabs on everyone seated. Averan made sure to avoid the eyes of all three of them.
Grevus wasted no time making his exit, Averan watched the guard by the door leave almost at the same time as him. A minute then the man in the center strolled out, another minute and then the man by the stairs made his way outside too. Following their lead Averan waited a minute before he nodded at Fenadorn.
They only managed a glimpse of Grevus’s carriage before it sped off into the night. Averan spotted two riders to the front and back of the carriage. The other three were probably inside with the man himself.
“Right, let’s move.”
Averan moved as fast as he could without drawing too much suspicion. Right on time a carriage pulled up, barely stopping to let on Fenadorn and him on before it sped off again after Grevus’s entourage. Fenadorn grumbled as he steadied himself on the seat but Averan was impressed. Clan Daroch’s man had claimed to be the best driver in all of Gorias, he was already showing it. Averan didn’t say a word as their driver veered off to the left when Grevus’ headed right.
They sped along the street. Sandorn had insisted they track Grevus’s movements and together they had spent many a night tailing his as he sped off from Orlavia’s. It had seemed a costly waste of time then but it had all proved invaluable. Because of those nights Averan knew that Grevus alternated between three different streets after leaving Orlavia’s. However no matter which route he took they all led to the crossroads of the Fell. That was where the others lay in wait. That was where they would make their move.
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Their driver had taken the quickest route, it was not long before they came out onto the crossroads plaza.
As they came into the open space Averan saw men of his scuttling away on the roofs, they’d placed men on each corner to watch for the Grevus’ approach. He hoped they were ready.
Immediately Averan noticed the lack of people, and more particularly the lack of guards, though now late there should have been some patrol stationed around the square. There was none in sight. Wendon had played his part.
They were barely in view of Grevus’s carriage when they saw the sudden burst of flames.
Everything had been carefully laid out. Once Grevus’ carriage had came into sight the men had set up the blockade on the route they knew he would take out. Two carriages dropped two carts full of heavy oak blocks. That would have been enough to stop the commander’s carriage. However, not only that, each block had been doused in oil, so much so that when the flaming arrows came soaring down from the roofs, the explosion of flame surprised even Averan. For the guards horses, well trained as they were it sent them scattering in terror. As the Commander’s driver and outriders struggled to get their steeds under control Averan’s carriage along with two more came up to pin them in.
Two of the elites had already fallen from arrows above by the time Averan leapt down from his own carriage.
Eager to make his own mark he charged in, the elites were no ordinary soldiers. Each one handpicked from youth from amongst the city trainees. Averan had been careful to place the clan men on the roofs and guiding the carriages. He, Fenadorn, and his men would take care of the rest.
Averan picked out one of the riders who had almost been thrown off his horse, by now he had gotten his mount under control and was getting ready to charge.
Averan waited until the last moment before he brought his axe up. The man’s strike was a savage one, but Arronian steel did not bend easily. Deflecting as he ducked down Averan came up hard in a circle, the man had still not built up enough speed to protect himself. As Fenadorn bared down on him he was momentarily distracted, giving Averan time enough to swing back around and slice his axe across the man’s back. As he faltered Fenadorn pressed, leaping up with a quick parry before thrusting his own sword into the rider’s stomach.
The other rider, between the arrows and fire raging around him had been thrown from his horse. He bravely fought on as he was encircled but a spear took out his legs before the others came in to finish him off.
Grevus’ carriage was surrounded. By now he and his three remaining men were outside the carriage. Their rider had been the first to die and the carriage had been knocked onto its side in the confusion. Averan raised a hand to stop the archers above.
“You will be coming with us Commander Grevus. We have matters to discuss. As you can imagine time is currently something we do not have much of. So I will ask once. Will you come now and save your men? Or must they die? Choose.”
Grevus had his sword drawn and his mask removed, a trickle of blood ran down his face. To his credit he did not hesitate. Instead, he charged, straight at Averan, his men following close behind.
Fortunately, Averan had expected as much, Grevus was not commander for nothing. He stepped aside to allow Denathan behind a clear shot. Denathan was the best archer of their troop and had assured Averan and Sandorn of success. His arrow proved his boasts correct, taking Grevus just below his knee, enough to incapacitate without killing.
Ignoring him Averan met the other three soldiers and soon battle fury overtook him. He had to bite down as the Chimera began to rise inside him, now was not the time.
He placed all his focus on one of the men. He came at him with sword and shield, Averan had faced such a style more than most because of Fenadorn.
Grevus’ elite guard was fast. Averan smiled despite the situation as he smashed his axe onto the man’s shield. Spinning around he had to react quickly to a downward slash only barely bringing his axe across in time. They both ignored the chaos around them as they circled, Averan pressing and the other defending but launching his own thrusts and strikes whenever he could. Averan knew time was short, and could not be wasted. He couldn’t prolong the fight, he had to find a finish. The man was adept with his shield and Averan saw that it would be hard to get past such a stout defense with axe alone. Faking yet another heavy lunge he went low before shouldering into the man, shield and all.
A surprising and untidy-looking move it had the desired effect, knocking the man off balance, as he righted himself Averan grabbed the shield on top and pulled the man into a trip. From Fenadorn Averan knew that a good soldier would never drop his shield, a fact that was exploited by such a move. As the man stumbled he tried to hold off any attack with his sword, Averan stepped back just far enough for the blade to pass him before whipping his axe around to smash into the guard’s head.
Turning Averan was just in time to see Grevus going down under a hail of kicks and punches. Fenadorn was already ordering the Commander to be picked up.
Averan saw the two other elites on the ground around them, both lost under a host of arrows. It was a pity they had to be killed in such a way. A pity, but necessary all the same. Averan waved up to those on the roofs and they immediately dispersed. Helping the others Averan shoved Grevus into one of the carriages and hopped up alongside him with Fenadorn. With that they were away, racing once more down the streets and away from the scene of fire and blood.
Things had gone well for them, he hoped Sandorn had enjoyed similar success. Grevus, despite the beating he’d suffered and injuries he’d sustained still needed to be bound and gagged to stop his struggling.
He would not break easily. But even he had weaknesses, it was now Sandorn’s time to ensure they could exploit them.