Sandorn ran his hand along the hilt of his sword. He hoped it would not be needed. Not in front of the children at least. He knew what such scenes could do to a child.
Commander Grevus’s family lived inside the most affluent district of Gorias outside of the High city. A well protected street of the city’s judges, magistrates and most prosperous merchants it was also home to Grevus’s wife and three kids. The entire district was neatly enclosed by a wall of steel railings.
Wisely Grevus lived separate from his family, or at least he did in theory. Officially his residence was in a neighboring estate. All of this Sandorn had gleamed from Wendon. Whatever complaints he might have had about the city Captain he had more than proved his loyalty and worthiness to the twins cause of late. Though he hadn’t mentioned it Sandorn knew that Wendon’s own rivalry with Grevus had been a major contributing factor in him aiding them. From some of the other city guards friendly to them Sandorn had heard all about the infamous brawl between the pair on the night of their graduation from Military Academy. Wendon the figure for those of the old guard, the old tradition, and Grevus the paradigm for the new, more modern City guard. Sandorn wondered if Wendon would have been so accommodating if he knew they were going after the wife and kids.
Perhaps he would understand. Even if he would not approve.
Forgetting any doubts Sandorn refocused himself, the others chosen looked just as uncomfortable as he felt in the outfits of the city guard. Another gift organised by Wendon.
He exhaled deeply, he knew that so long as they marched the correct street and followed the right circuit they would not come upon another patrol, but still he was on edge.
Their target was coming into view. The guard accompanying them didn’t miss a step, continuing on with his march as Sandorn and the four he’d chosen, Lear, Tharv, Grend and Sarvth veered off to the right and up to the gates leading to the Commander’s house.
As instructed his men kept their eyes straight ahead, no one stepped out of place, no one spoke. This was a formality, a standard check-in by the good men of the city guard.
Sandorn came up and knocked hard on the gates, three times.
The eyehole snapped open and an inquisitive eye glared out.
“State your name, rank and purpose.”
Sandorn stood to attention.
“Captain Eindor Horne of the Eastern Watchtower, I am here to deliver a message directly to the Commander from Lieutenant Darrn. He stressed urgency in the matter.”
“Did he now?” The voice called out, an old voice, cautious.
“You new? I have never seen you before.”
“A fresh transfer sir, I arrived back from the Outer lands last moon, I served in the Border city of Alapaine under Commander Redane since graduation from Academy four years prior.”
“Bit young for Captain aren’t you?”
“I took part in the skirmishes, I’ve seen combat with half-bloods sir.”
“Half-bloods eh? Very well. Tell me, Commander Redane, he still got that twitch in his left eye? I used serve with him myself back in his time in the city.”
“It is his right eye sir. And it is not so pronounced as it was.”
Sandorn appreciated the man’s test but he hoped the barrage of name-dropping would be enough.
The eye disappeared from the eye hole. Sandorn could make out faint whisperings incomprehensible behind the gate.
“Tell those men behind to stand back, well back. And you keep your hands by your side until I have had my look. Any funny business and I’ve four crossbowmen here who’ll have you pierced up before you can utter a word in protest. Am I clear, Captain?”
“Clear sir.”
Sandorn turned and nodded for the others to take a step back.
“Further,”
Sandorn gave a short bow and motioned for his men to take another step back.
Slowly the Gate was unlocked, Sandorn counted one, two, three locks before the gate finally swung open.
He kept his face motionless in front of the crossbowmen and their Captain. Four bolts, Sandorn had never missed his Arronian armor so much as he did now.
“The message?” The Captain said.
Sandorn brought out his hand slowly, holding the document in front of him.
The Gate captain never took his eyes off Sandorn as he came forward to snatch the paper from him. Sandorn didn’t react, didn’t move.
Clutching the document to his chest the Captain took a measured step backwards. By the time he was in front of his men again, Sandorn felt the tensions in the air wane ever so slightly.
“Anything else Captain Horne?”
“No sir.”
“Very well then, you may tell Lieutenant Darrn that the Commander has received his message and will respond in due course.”
Sandorn gave the city guard salute, beating his fist twice off his chest, before turning sharply away.
He raised his brows at Tharv just as he started to turn the men. Tharv had one eye on Sandorn and one on the gate guards. He only took half a step before swivelling back hard.
The moment he seen Tharv’s expression change Sandorn ducked. Tharv was frighteningly fast when it came to throwing knives. Sandorn felt the blade as it whistled just above him before rocketing back at the gate guards. He didn’t stop to see it’s final destination, whipping out his own knife and releasing the blade as he came up. Not stopping he joined Tharv, who had already drawn his sword and charged at the still-open gate.The aim of the four had been true however, Sandorn’s careful selection justified. He and Tharv did have to finish off two of the gate guards, one who had a knife embedded in his right shoulder, the other, the gate Captain, who had it in his stomach. It was a credit to the old man that he still stood, Sandorn almost felt bad taking his head from his body. Almost.
The other three were dead already, or near enough to make no matter. One was beginning to cry out but Grend plunging his sword down into the man fixed that.
Without hesitating they began dragging the bodies back inside the gate. As Sandorn and Savrth hauled in the last two they spotted the city guard who had led them down the street rushing back towards them.
A group of three well-dressed merchants were coming down the opposite side. A few more steps and they would be in sight of the killing scene. Fortunately, their city guard was alert, Sandorn heard his call hailing the men loud and clear, enough to halt them in their tracks. As he started into idle conversation they quickly finished up and carefully closed in the door behind them.
“Tidy little place isn’t it.” Lear whispered as they looked around the manor’s inside.
“It is, tidy but unassuming, good place to keep a family.” Sandorn responded.
It was hot outside and the day lazy. Cries of children at play were the only sounds willing to disturb the pleasant sunshine bliss.
Sandorn straightened himself and brushed away some specks of blood from his cloak. He gave a quick look over the others as they did the same. They were clean, mostly.
“Right then,” he began, “time to get us a family.”
Sandorn led the way once more, wiping the growing beads of sweat off his face as they entered into the gardens.
Thankfully, it was empty. Taking a deep breath Sandorn strode up the path towards the steps leading to the door. Before he could get close to it however the door was opened before him.
“Uh hello,” Sandorn mumbled as he was faced with a young boy, perhaps seven years of age.
“Who are you?” The boy asked.
“I..I am a Captain of the City Guard. I am a friend of your father.”
“A captain?” The boy squinted up at him. “Like old Fredda.”
“Ah yes, exactly like old Captain Fredda.”
Sandorn would have preferred not to know the old man’s name.
“I’ll go get Mom and you-”
“Shhh,” Sandorn brought his fingers to his lips, “No Mom, I’m here to see you. What is your name?”
The boy raised a brow but was instantly intrigued, “Garin.”
Sandorn clicked his fingers as he slowly inched forward up the steps, “Garin yes that is who we came for. You want to be a warrior yes? Like Father?”
The boy’s eyes lit up, “Yes, I-”
“Shhhh,” Sandorn whispered as he heard noises coming from the back.
“You want to be trained right? To be an Elite?”
Sandorn looked around and brought his voice lower, “Then listen to me Garin.”
Sandorn leapt up the final two steps to grab the boy, immediately covering Darin’s mouth before he could scream out.
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He handed the boy back to Grend, Garin still struggled as he handed him over.
“Stay here and keep watch, and make sure to keep him quiet.”
The walls around the home were at least 9 feet tall so there was little chance of any nosy neighbor spotting them. That is unless they heard something that might make them curious. Wendon had warned Sandorn that should an alarm sound then guards from all the street houses would descend on them. Though the other families had only one guard at their gates should they all come running it would add up to at least twenty men. Grevus did not take his family security lightly.
Sandorn pointed for Lear, Tharv and Sarvth to follow him.
It was cooler inside, the hallway was dark, well shaded from the outside heat.
Sandorn stopped to listen intently. He heard the sounds of splashing coming from the back of the house.
“Garinnn.”
The sound of a woman’s voice carried, coming from the room up and to the right of him.
“Where is he now,” she spoke quieter this time, to herself.
Sandorn stopped as he heard footsteps, the woman turned the corner muttering to herself, she had a teacloth in her hands and was drying off fruit in its folds.
She was quite clearly stunned to see three armed city guards bearing down on her. In her astonishment she stopped up, the fruit fell to the floor and her mouth opened in horror. Before she could properly scream Sandorn was on her with Lear not a second behind. Together they held her down. Sandorn had reached instinctively to clasp her mouth, Lear had grabbed her by the legs.
Though she hadn’t screamed in full she had let out a brief screech, Sandorn noticed the splashing stop before a young girl’s voice broke the silence.
“Mom? Mom?”
Sandorn used his free hand to gesture Tharv and Sarvth to follow the source of the voice. He stopped and had to bite down on his own tongue as the woman in his grip lashed out and raked nails across his neck. Sandorn felt blood trickle down, intertwining with the sweat.
The woman managed to get one leg free and used it to smash a foot into Lear’s face. He grunted out in pain and surprise and before Sandorn could say anything he too lashed out, viciously planting a fist into the woman’s stomach. Sandorn felt the wind rush out of her, out past his fingers covering her mouth. She visibly deflated, Lear was a big man, pushed to anger his punch was brutal, Sandorn’s own insides turned at the sight of her.
Is this the work of Kings?
Behind him he heard the muffled sounds of a brief struggle before Sarvth came around with the young girl in his arms, she looked even younger than her brother, five perhaps. She didn’t struggle but just looked on helplessly, crying. Tharv followed.
“The house is clear, there was a maid with the girl but I shut her up.”
Sandorn nodded, preferring not to ask exactly what Tharv meant by shut her up.
With that, they headed back out. Tharv led the way followed by Grend with the boy, then Sandorn and Lear with the mother, and finally Sarvth with the young girl.
Tharv ran up quickly to peer out over the gate onto the street beyond. He waved the others down behind him.
The carriage was supposed to come and meet them once the city guard who’d led them as they marched around had returned to the beginning of his circuit. However, as he’d had to distract the merchants who’d almost came upon them Sandorn guessed he would be at least a little delayed.
He breathed deeply but had to cut his breath short as the Mother began to renew her struggling.
“Keep that up,” Sandorn whispered and it won’t be you getting punched in the stomach. Turning her face around Sandorn pointed back to her kids.
That stopped her almost immediately. Both children were crying now. Sandorn tried to ignore the uneasy, anxious air around his men. They had carried out many illegal and unjust activities in their years together but this was a new experience for them and him. This felt different, it felt wrong. He felt their discomfort just as they imagined they felt his. Lear alone seemed unchanged, the same as he was during any job. Angry and wanting it to be over.
“Shit.” Tharv ducked back down sharply behind the gate.
“Bloody neighbor is snooping.” He hissed.
Sandorn grit his teeth, “Not a word.”
He stared down into the woman’s eyes, “NOT A WORD,” he motioned over towards the children so she knew exactly what he meant.
Several soft knocks rang out on the door.
“Hello Captain Fredda? Is someone there? Captain Fredda.” A woman’s voice rang out clearly.
Sandorn listened closely to the sound of footsteps shuffling around outside the gate.
“Oh for heavens sake. CAPTAIN FREDDA?”
Nosy bitch.
Straining his ears Sandorn heard the sound of a carriage approaching, at this time of day the streets around Grevus’ home were quiet. It could only be their carriage.
They had to hurry, a clan man of Urron’s would be waiting for them but he wouldn’t wait long. Besides a strange carriage pulling up would draw too much attention. They needed to move fast.
The woman was continuing to bang on the door.
“FREDDA? ELISTH?”
Sandorn shook his head, they had no time. He gestured madly for Tharv to come and take his place. Grend saw instantly his intention to move and brought the boy around to within arms reach of the woman. Drawing a knife he held it close to the boy's neck. Whatever thought Elisth had to try something when Sandorn swapped his position with Tharv’s was quickly removed.
Clambering up above the gate Sandorn picked up a small stone from the path as he drew his sword. He stopped a moment to listen and get the woman’s position before he flung the stone out behind her. It had the desired effect.
“What is that, who-”
Sandorn reached up over the gate and with the hilt of his sword came down to slam the woman on the top of her head as she was turned to look back at the fallen stone. It was enough to daze, but not enough to kill. He was sure of it.
From atop the gate, Sandorn spied the carriage, slowed but with an anxious-looking driver tightly gripping the reins.
“Quickly, move, to the carriage. To the carriage.” Sandorn’s whisper rose to a small shout.
Ignoring any doubt he pushed open the gate and strode out purposeful onto the street as if to halt the carriage for inspection. With careful and measured movements he began to signal the others to follow.
Grend had already clambered into the carriage with the boy and Savarth with the girl when Sandorn spotted them. Two men on horseback trotting up the road. They had likely seen the carriage and thought to tail it but thankfully did not seem to be in any alarm or rush.
With all the decorum he could manage Sandorn helped Lear getting the Mother into the carriage. Trying to appear as if he was helping them up.
The two horsemen were getting closer now, as Sandorn waved on the carriage he was dismayed to see them break into a gallop. The original plan was for the boy, girl, and Mother to have a guardian each inside the carriage and Sandorn, one other, and the driver outside to make their way back to the street of the Underground.
“Shit,” Sandorn muttered. “Tharv with me.”
Hopping down Sandorn put himself and Tharv in front of the two horsemen blocking their path.
“Is there a problem sirs? I didn’t know there was a mounted patrol due?”
Sandorn kept walking steadily forward.
One of the horsemen peered down at him, judging by his and his horse’s finery he was one of the high officers based around the wealthier districts.
“There isn’t. We were informed by a resident of a carriage passing through. They did not recognise its driver nor design. We wish to check its legitimacy.” The guard drew his sword, “Lift up your helm sir, for I do not know that voice.”
“As you wish.” Sandorn put a hand to his helm but suddenly grabbed it from his head and flung it hard at the rider. It bounced harmlessly off the man’s chest plate but gave him enough time to draw his own sword.
Sandorn tried to stab him but before he could the guard had pulled his horse away whilst deflecting the blow. Beside him Tharv had fared similarly poorly, his opponent’s horse had kicked out, catching him somewhere on the arm. Fortunately, he rolled out of the way before he received further damage.
Seeing the carnage behind them the carriage had taken off just as instructed. That was something at least.
For a moment Sandorn thought the two riders would chase off after them but they instead wheeled around to face them, they could not in the confusion know just who exactly it was inside the carriage. If they had they would not have wasted time on dealing with them.
Steadying himself Sandorn took up position beside Tharv.
“ALARM. SOUND THE ALARM. READY THE GUARD.”
The voice of the guard who had confronted Sandorn boomed out loud and clear. Sandorn heard the cries and shouts around him as neighbors stirred from their homes and guards came running to the gates. Soon they would be surrounded and killed. They had to do something. Sandorn charged, aiming for the horseman still shouting out for the alarm. Tharv kept pace beside him for the other.
Sandorn only held one sword in each hand, he feinted high with his right as he ducked underneath the rider’s sword. With the left, he lashed it around aiming for the saddle. It was a clumsy strike, he grated his teeth as his blade dug into boot, stirrup, saddle and all. But tt was enough. The saddle twisted unseating the rider and sending him flying into the dust.
Sandorn ignored the fallen man and instead headed straight for the horse, he launched himself, desperately clutching at whatever of the mane he could grab and heaved himself up. He and Averan had been talented street racers in their youth, regulars in the illicit racing of the underground streets. They’d grown too big to be any good long ago but Sandorn still retained the basics of controlling and steadying a nervous mount. Eventually, he managed to keep the horse under some semblance of control. Wheeling it around the guard he’d left scrambling in the dirt he cut down an unfortunate gate guard who had come barreling out onto the street without looking to see what danger awaited him. More however were coming into view.
They needed to leave. Now.
Sandorn turned searching frantically for Tharv and found him. His friend of 10 years was hurt and hurt bad.
He had lost his weapon and was crouched down under his shield, the rider circling above him. Tharv’s sword hand was bent back at an awkward angle. Sandorn realised now the extent of the damage that first kick of the horse had truly done Tharv. He was doomed from the onset.
He watched on in horror as Tharv’s defence finally broke and the long sword of the horseman rushed down to bury itself in his neck. Even as he charged over Sandorn knew he was too late.
The rider turned to meet him and he and Sandorn traded blows before racing off in other directions. Sandorn was faced with two more guards as he went past, one he kicked hard in the face, the other he managed to slice across the neck.
Turning once more he saw at least 10 men coming racing towards him, the rider now also turned was leading them on.
Sandorn knew he couldn’t run. He had to help Tharv, no matter what he had to. But his friend did not even give him the option.
They only shared a brief look. Sandorn’s face tightened as he saw the smile on Tharv’s. He shook his head but it only made him smile more. As the other horseman came, Tharv blood-soaked and weary-eyed found the last dredges of his fast-failing health and swung his body into the horse’s path. With sword awkwardly raised at an angle he met the charge almost head-on. The horse trampled over him crushing body and bone. But his final act was a worthy one. The horse, unnerved and shaken, stumbled and fell toppling it and its rider. The charge momentarily broken, the other guards paused unsure whether to help their officer or continue their attack. A part of Sandorn knew he should go back regardless of what awaited him. Tharv had died for him, for him and his plan. Why should he survive where he fell? But he couldn’t. Pragmatism overruled the sentiment, his friend’s death had to mean something. Had to be for something.
He whirled his horse around and spurred him into a gallop, away from the soldiers. Away from danger. Away from Tharv. He didn’t try and catch another look at his friend, he didn’t want to know what he would see. He wanted to remember the smile. Only the smile.