Chapter 13: Regicide!
Assassins… those bastards. If I could have annihilated a single institution it would have been them.
Runtaii patience’s for them waned a long time ago. Assassins, otherwise known as the Order of Nizari, held a great degree of autonomy. Their base, Organ Alamut, sent ten extra men to support Runtaii’s offensive. He took four and his marshall took six. If he could redo the choice, he would have taken none.
“March. March. We march and they aren’t seen for days.” Runtaii said in a monotone voice. Two thousand odd men strong, his army had been roaming the outskirts of the Oligarchy border. Two weeks ago he breached through the Mount Jerius pass, narrowly escaping the approaching Twenty Seventh legion.
“I would praise Galataii for denying their attack, but I would have preferred a fight. Or anything with a minor bit of glory.” Runtaii complained. Often the worst part of war is boredom. You know death can strike like a droplet of water shakened off a tree. Sudden and unsettlingly.
Not for these men. Death for them would be like a snake coiling around the neck of some poisoned rabbit, strangling it until it could live no longer. Runtaii chose to lead in the front, mounted high on his horse and wearing quite regal armor. Gold trimmings on the edges of his gauntlets and helmet and paired with green cloth for padding.
This choice wasn’t out of boosting morale or to even make himself visible to his subjects. It was so that whenever a man either collapsed from exhaustion or dehydration, he wouldn’t see it.
“Here my men are dying for nothing. Nothing, while those Assassins don’t show up.” Runtaii whispered into his fist. “Damn you…”
He steeled his morale with his imagination. What incredible riches he and his men would gain. Keep going. Keep going to the Lai Bank. March until the Oligarchy is dead, Runtaii told himself.
Three quarters of the way down the Ria Might River existed a forgotten megaproject. It was finished and used, yes, but the wonder and ‘mega’ part of it had gone thoroughly unremembered. However, it wouldn’t go unnoticed by Runtaii. It would be hard since he was traveling on it and looking at its makers.
Three long faces with eyes without pupils stared at him. These faces made from the stone of a cliffside commemorate the three Oligarchs that put together the Dice Highway.
“Hmm. All roads lead to Optimum Yang in the Oligarchy… It seems Ani hasn’t even told me the half of it.” Runtaii had never been in the Oligarchy, and this march notified how out of the loop he really was. His home province didn’t even have such well made paths. How far behind are we, Runtaii thought.
“Exaggerated. Everything Ani told me, I thought was exaggerated. Ha! How wrong was I?” Runtaii enjoyed humiliation, so long as it was short and direct. He felt that it kept him humble.
The Ria Might river’s eighteen hundred mile course, between the once frontier of the Iozians, lays a magnificent network constructed two hundreds years ago. Pressed together by both mountains shaped like teeth and hills full of lush life, this network had become less of a marvel and more of a part of the landscape.
Like how one doesn’t take in the full gift that is air in lungs and a roof over your head. The megaproject pushed through this once untamed part of the wilderness. Hacking whatever natural obstacle, most of the Dice Highway was made up of the carved wounds of mountains.
The whole operation, commissioned by the triplets of the Reya Family, served two purposes. To increase their transport of goods, making their merchants speedy. And the second, as a gamble for their future.
Not all Oligarchs are not so lucky to have the power to lead their troops themselves, as higher ranking Oligarchs held that right. Spending an extraordinary amount of money on this project had too many risks for any reasonable man to take.
Achieving victory in battle and financial success would be their means to gain such high ranks. This military roadway, needless to say, was a terrific success.
But then again, this very highway provided Runtaii the means to enter into the Oligarchy. Oh well, you win some, you lose some.
“Curious. To think thousands of men looked at the rocks and said to themselves, ‘Yeah. We can do that’. I ought to consider constructing such a thing. But how would I even begin?” He held out a hand behind him, making his army stop in their tracts. The scrubbing between metal and cloth ceased. Each man looked at Runtaii, wondering what he was wondering about.
Runtaii wondered how everything looked before. Before the pickaxes and shovel plunged deep into the world’s body. Skrunks nibbling on the insects that hid inside the river’s many pools. The slopes of the mountain that goats used to climb on. Maybe they climbed the very mountain his army was on.
“Master, what do you see?” A cavalryman slowed Runtaii’s wandering mind.
“Over there. You see that figure?” He pointed to two lone trees atop a hill. Runtaii made up a figure, trying not to show that he was simply enjoying the highway’s sights.
“Aye, I didn’t notice them.” This initially confused Runtaii. “The Assassins have returned your grace.” The cavalry spoke with a tone praising his master’s keen eyes. But Runtaii’s eyes were that of faint annoyance. The Assassins floated down the trees like leaves. Even when he wanted to admire the land of his enemies, his allies come here to annoy him.
“Oh. Goodie.”
Stopping to rest at the edge of the Ria Might river, the rushing waters were just ten feet below Runtaii. Wicker shields from each soldier made the walls of the camp along with stakes quickly made from the surrounding woodland. Some soldiers put their Vol stones together into a pile, warm enough to boil their tea. Their exhaustion already relieved, Runtaii swiveled his head to his comrades. Calm killers they’ll be.
Runtaii wondered if the world wouldn’t be more livable if everyone stopped for tea in the afternoon.
Foam and twigs came and went southward in the river, much like Runtaii’s ambition. All four of the Assassins smelt like they bathed in dirt and wore the leaves of the trees native to Iozia. Runtaii still sat atop his horse, waiting for them to relay their scouting. None of them chose to speak, so he was the one that broke the silence.
“Sabare, what are your findings?” Runtaii’s clan accent growled at the youngest Assassin. He was the only human of the team.
Sabare’s naked face had more edges than curves, like an artist’s rough sketch of a person. Thick coffee skin with warmth and tough black eyes with intelligence. He turned nineteen the day the army began marching.
“Sire, we have found a compound.” Sabere chewed on a date with his mouth open. “Full! Full of soldiers. And most importantly…”
“What? What is it?” Runtaii leaned off the side of his horse.
“An Oligarch. One that we must kill.” Sabere said with the emptiness that accompanies death.
“Good. Killing multiple Oligarchs in quick succession, correct?”
“Yes sire.” Sabere closed his eyes, savoring the sweetness of his snack. Runtaii smiled, showing his great white teeth. Overjoyed that he and his men would finally engage in combat, Runtaii hand quivered with excitement.
“We will deal with it, sire.” Sabere said loud enough for his Runtaii’s companions to hear. His harem flinched away, sensing his rising anger. Women hid behind one another, using their dresses as shields.
“What do you mean YOU will deal with it? We are fighters.” He assured the Assassins. None of them showed any disagreement.
“Yes. But this requires skills that an army does not have.” Sabere played diplomat, displaying his concerns to Runtaii. Sabere spat out his date and held out his hands close to his waist.
“We have been marching for days and we haven't seen you for days. And now you have the guts to deny my men their right to fight?”
“No. We are guaranteeing their right to live. And from what I see, your men need to rest and forage for some food.” Sabere held out his arm to the army quickly before raising back towards Runtaii.
“True, yes.” Runtaii’s voice calmed. He stroked his beard and looked back out to the river. How long would it take to rest, he thought to himself. “Tell me, how long will it take your men to take him out? As well as to distract the compound so that they may not follow us?”
“Four days.”
“Four days?!” Runtaii blurted out the moment Sabere answered. “We do not have four days! We have narrowly escaped the Twenty Seventh legion who might still be on our tracks. And you tell us that there are more Iozians nearby? Perhaps a couple hours, sure. But four days?!”
“Our work has a high price, sire. Time is that price.” Sabere spoke both to Runtaii and the crowd of soldiers witnessing the argument. “And don’t forget sire, Ani only said that you may go to the Yutai Basin only if you see it necessary. Don’t stretch yourself too far.” Sabere recalled the conversation between Ani and Runtaii.
Runtaii took in the frigid winter air and sipped on tea from his flask. He didn’t want to remember that Ani held great power over him. However, he knew all that he could do was compromise.
“Sabere. You say that my army must rest and that they aren’t capable of achieving what you are capable of?”
“Yes sire.”
“Hmm. How about twenty of my men and I accompany you? So that we can escort you faster while the rest collect themselves?” Runtaii shot out his arms to his fellow Galabag clansmen. Their faces smiled and each one stretched, all happy for the chance to fight.
“Ah. One moment, sire.” Sabere nodded and turned to speak with his fellow Assassins. Rounds of murmurs within their circle flowed out, with each distinct Assassin having a turn to speak. No one outside of it had a clue of what they were talking about, but the planning between them didn’t take long. Sabere turned around first.
“Understood sire. We will agree to terms. However, we request a cart full of arrows and hundred extra spearmen to join.”
“Good!” Runtaii didn’t feel the need to ask why they needed the additional supplies and soldiers. He was content enough that the Assassins were listening to him. But for a moment, Runtaii's face became a tad confused. His eyes seemed to be looking to the sides of Sabere.
“Before we leave, where is the fourth?”
“What?” Sabere raised a single eyebrow. There were only two werefolk standing beside him, the only other Assassins present.
“The fourth Assassin. I took four of you.” Runtaii pointed up to his head. Sabere pointed to an object fastened on his belt. A yellow lamp shook on his hip.
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Hidden from the coast and nesting inside the carcass of a volcano, the Ruman Harbor lies. Triremes and galleys cuddled close in the orange waters and tied to the black wood foundations. Hot bubbles sometimes rose up and blew away in the winter wind. A few bubbles rose up, from the air of Sabere.
Swimming above water, Sabere noticed that the harbor’s platforms were above him. Using hooks, he stabbed into the pillars holding up the harbor. He stepped on top of the hooks and used them as steps to go further up. Planting himself onto a beam, Sabere peered between the cracks of the dock walkway. Seeing soldiers patrolling above without a care, Sabere continued his climbing. He eventually reached the surface of the harbor and hid behind the many crates being carried off by sailors and cranes.
He checked his corners for the soldiers unloading the boxes. Timing his slides precisely, he slid behind soldiers and hopped over crates, evading detection. Leaving the main dock area, Sabere went to crawl into the dirt. Rubbing rubbish and mud all over himself, he waited for the last sailors to pass by.
“Hey Timas. You saw the Concert of Combat right? How was it?” A squarish sailor asked while holding up the end of a crate.
“Oh! Quite the show. You should have seen it! It had music! It had thrills! It even had a talking scarecrow!” The other sailor sung praises of the concert and helped carry the other end of the crate.
“Really? Damn! I wish I could have been there.”
“There’s always next year.” Both of the sailors' mouths went wide as a cry of laughter from them both came out. Soon enough, the sailors left and Sabere rolled towards a doorway carved into the walls of the dead volcano. Dark purple brick made the walls of the headquarters. Every time Sabere pushed forward, the voices inside grew clearer. Ten, eleven men give or take, Sabere knew.
A small yellow target was painted on the wall. Sabere leaned against the target and untied the yellow lamp. Now all he would need to do was wait.
“Oligarch Maki. I have come to present you a gift!” An aristocrat drowning in gold and wool waved to the Oligarch. Sitting on a humble throne, Maki sat up and put his hands together. Surrounded by priests with skin stacked on top of each other, Maki took the company of elderly scholars.
Twig-like in width and tree-like in height, the Oligarch looked like serenity personified. Grassy blue eyebrows raised on Maki’s face along with his mouth opening like an elderly turtle.
“I see. My kind friend,” He trotted over to the aristocrat. “What is the gift you wish to bring?”
“An exotic animal from far! Behold, a tame oryx!” With a flamboyant voice, the aristocrat snapped and two servants brought forward the oryx. Tall horns and a gray and black pattern for its hide, the oryx was a fantastic gift.
“My kind friend. Thank you for such a wonderful beast.” Maki took the oryx and brought it to a garden within the headquarters. Blue light came from the stained glass ceiling, illuminating the few advisors enjoying the garden. Maki cut a few slices of an apple and fed it. He scratched the back of the oryx as it nustled it head into the chest of the Oligarch.
“What a kind beast.”
Returning to his throne room, it took only a minute for another aristocrat to approach. A lady equestrian, smelling close to a sweaty war stallion.
“Oligarch Maki. I have come to bring you a gift.” A deep calm voice came out of the equestrian.
“I see. My kind friend,” He trotted over to the equestrian. “What is the gift you wish to bring?”
“A tame horse. It is strong and fast. Yet it calmed when I rode next to it.” She snapped her fingers and two servants brought in the horse. White like the sun through clouds, the horse proved to a beautiful animal. Its agility could even be seen through Maki’s paling eyes.
“My kind friend. Thank you for such a wonderful beast.”
Maki took the horse and brought it to the same garden. He cut up some carrots and fed the slices to the horse. It eagerly ate from the Oligarch’s hand which made Maki giggle. A faint fear in Maki came when the oryx approached the horse. Luckily, the oryx nodded to the horse and the horse nodded back. Maki's eyes widened in amazement.
“What kind beasts. If only all of us could be kinder.”
Skipping back to his throne room, Maki rested back down on his throne. Conversations tumbled by, with the officers leading the discussions on where next they should go. The Oligarch provided touch wisdom but never stripped away the input of the soldiers. With his advice, the discussion finished with all parties ready to leave within the day.
Without warning, a dirty boy with frowzy hair over his eyes entered the room. No one could see his uniform since it was smothered in mud. Covered in sewage, his very stench repulsed all parties.
“Hello sire. Tell me, may I have a bite of bread and a cup of water?” Sabere’s voice disguised as a sad and unthreatening voice. His knowledge of the Iozian language was extensive and his speaking was quite similar to a native Iozian. No one suspected him. Maki opened a single eye and upon looking at Sabere, it rolled in restrained annoyance.
“I see. Tell me boy, who are you?”
“Well,” Sabere gulped, making sure that the crowd of men believed he was nervous. “I’m lost and haven’t eaten anything in days.”
“Tell me, where are your parents?”
“I don’t have any parents. I lost them in the war.” Sabere’s face cried while in his mind he was mute. Immediately, dozens of men yelled and drew their weapons.
“Scum son!”
“Bastard orphan!”
“Ghost!”
“Quiet!” Maki commanded the room, with every bowing in reaction. Each soldier remained hostile, pointing the tips of their blades at Sabere. “Boy. Before I have my men kill you for your presence, tell me what you have to offer. If your offering is good enough, I will order them to make your death a quick and painless one.”
Sabere sheepishly held out a yellow lamp. Maki snatched it from him and began to examine it.
“What is this? Is it gold?”
“No sire. Perhaps check inside.” Sabere slowly backed away, knowing the plan had gone off without a hitch.
Maki opened the lamp and peered inside. For a moment, it seemed like nothing was there. The lamp rattled and flew from the Oligarch’s hands and onto the floor. The yellow lamp glowed with a vicious blue as a thick smoke came out. This smoke rose out to the walls and the roofs of the whole harbor, and formed a massive mist, sending all but Sabere to fall back.
When all the smoke was out of the lamp, Maki’s face dropped in horror. The smoke gathered itself together and took on the form of a monstrous genii!
“Arise!” The thundering genii roared in a terrible voice. “Let me harm you as you have harmed my master!” As he uttered these words, the genii gave a frightful yell, driving all in the room in panic. Swinging his enormous scimitar, the genii cut and crushed all around him.
“Run! Run for your lives!” The equestrian yelped out. The once united group scattered like sand in a tornado. Slash and snaps shot out as the genii sliced downward, turning the room into a slaughterhouse. The aristocrat pulled a dagger from his pocket and went to stab Sabere.
“Die ghost!” He screamed, raising his dagger high above him. However, Sabere pulled out a bow from out his uniform and fired an arrow into the cheek of the aristocrat.
CRUNCH!
Half of his head spilt open like a blooming flower. The aristocrat crashed onto the ground. Sabere scoffed and began to fire fast at the running soldiers. Both he and the genii painted the throne room with their blood.
Maki stumbled and hopped out of the room, screaming as he did. All around him, men fell to the genii’s blade. Blood spattered over his robes as he tried to escape through to the garden.
Rushing through the greenery, Maki sneaked wherever he could, panting as he went. However, he stopped when he saw his advisors bleeding bodies. Their wounds were small, much like the ones from a dagger.
“Ani Arma has marked you for death.” A voice called from behind Maki. He turned to see three Assassins. One, that being Sabere. The other two, a were horse and a were oryx. All of them had contempt in their eyes. Soon followed by the genii, who lifted Maki by his head.
“Wait! I can offer you money! Riches! Anything you wish!” Maki made his final plea.
“We wish for your death.” Sabere answered. All four of the Assassins jumped onto the Oligarch, and cleaved him in two. The stench of his blood mixed well with the stench of dirt.
“Have we received the signal of your grace?” An officer with faint exasperation questioned Runtaii. Several of his fellow cavalrymen were falling asleep, and the spearmen had taken to conversation to keep their mood up. The whole force was on the road above the harbor and had a clear route to it. Despite this, their patience was exhausted.
“I get it! I wish to fight too but we can’t rush in al-” A thundering cloud of smoke rose high out of the headquarters of the harbor.
“Men! Mount up!” Runtaii’s voice quivered with excitement. He raised his spear to his fellow cavalry, as each put on their helms and climbed onto their horses. “Five of you will lead the spearmen. The rest, with me!” Runtaii commanded with a bright smile. His horse stood on its hind legs, with Runtaii basking in the glory of impending combat.
Pounding hard on the gravel road, the cavalrymen charged downward to the harbor.
“Soldiers! Get ready for blood!” Runtaii cheered with his eyes wild with zeal. His fellow men behind him raised their spears and swords high, screaming their war cry. Immediately, the many confused sailors turned their heads in complete terror.
A single group managed to untie a boat and sail quick enough to avoid their attack.
The rest however, weren’t so lucky. Runtaii skewered any man that came in his way. Cavalry either sliced or tramped on the soldiers who couldn’t immediately escape. Those that tried to run out the volcano were stopped by the hundreds of spearmen. Though they managed to make a formation, the soldiers and sailors were exposed on all sides.
“Finish them!”
Iozians took their last sights and their last breath.
Bodies were stacked high and the fire rose higher. Fat and meat burned and the faces of the Iozians became disfigured until what remained was an ash skull. The blue smoke siphoned back in the yellow lamp. Runtaii looked around and eyes were full of content. Death was all around him and he felt good.
“Well done Sabere. Well done.” He patted the still bloody shoulder of the Assassin. Sabere unbuckled his pouch and brushed the hand off him. A dull light illuminated from the pouch as Sabere gripped it with two fingers.
“Hmm. Soul gem Sabere?”
“Yes sire.” Sabere answered while opening the lamp. He dropped the Soul Gem into the lamp and closed it. The lamp shook for a little bit and the voice of the genii chuckled faintly.
“Regardless, we accomplished a complete route. Sure, one ship got away. We have several ships captured.” Runtaii’s heart brimmed with pride, read the many names of the galleys. Titles like Recor’s Finger, Death’s Gate, or something simple like the Barbed Lass.
“Do we actually have any sailors sire?”
“N-no…no. Perhaps we can hire some, which might make getting to Yutai Basin easier.” Runtaii gazed out to the harbor, imagining the fleets he would lead. Of course he had no fucking clue how to pilot a ship, but that would be of little obstacle.
“Apologies, sire. But we Assassins have a much better plan.” Sabere bowed as a tiny smirk rose on his face. Runtaii tilted his head to the side.
“What do you mean?”
The moment he asked, hordes of bandits jumped down in the harbor. Of all creeds and shapes, these Iozian criminals quickly outnumbered the force.
“What is this?! Treason?!” Runtaii grabbed Sabere by the collar, spitting as he spoke.
“Calm yourself. Even with all of these ships, we couldn’t take our army.” Sabere held his hands up showing no resistance. The Assassin pointed with his eyes all the bizarre bunch of bandits. “However, give these bandits some ships and some arrows…” Runtaii released his grip from Sabere as his hand went to his beard.
“I see. Give them equipment and they can cause chaos in the Oligarchy.”
“Genius, isn’t it?”
“Although, this doesn’t change what you did. Why were you holding this plan from my ears? I would have been more than cooperative!” Runtaii exclaimed.
“Well…” Sabere… didn’t really have a good enough reason. If there was a reason, it was that he didn’t want to go through Runtaii.
“Sabere. For you and your team have brought us victory today, I will overlook this act. However, whenever you come up with a plan, I wish to give input.”
“But-”
“No buts!” Runtaii grabbed the ear of Sabere, with the Assassin wincing in pain. The were horse chuckled and the were oryx shook its head in disappointment. Crowds of the criminals looked around at each other all confused. They thought they were getting a good deal, not good entertainment. “We are in this fight together. Now, more than ever! Do I make myself clear?”
“Y-yes sire.” Sabere humored his commander and with that, Runtaii released his ear.
“Now, may we conduct our business?”
Orders were set in place and plans between the bandits and the Tripolians were made. For exchange of the arrows and the ships, the bandits will bring back ten percent of the loot the plunder. Sentient merchandise included. Human especially.
Admittedly most of the force were undisciplined outlaws, however Runtaii made sure they would follow orders by sending his fellow clansmen as their leaders. With the Galatii men piloting the War Trireme and being operated by two hundred of his loyal men, Runtaii knew that the bandits would follow his demands.
And they were more than happy to have the company of soldiers and a small fleet behind them.
As the ships set sail out of the Ruman Harbor, Runtaii helped Sabere onto his horse. The winter sky became dark as the first ship exitted the side of the volcano’s waters and entered into the Ria Might river. They would being going to far. To the Yutai Basin. To Fort Jao. To Vein Xinyuai…
“Dice Highway. Ruman Harbor. What incredible things.” Runtaii spoke aloud to himself.
“Admiring the Oligarchs, sire?”
“Perhaps. Perhaps I am admiring our troops using their weapons against them. Perhaps this is the end of the destructive conflict.”
“...You know… we Assassins have a saying for what you're feeling.” Sabere’s blank face expression glowed for a moment.
“Hah! And what is that?”
“The killing of the devil is the beginning of bliss.”