Chapter 32: A Good Kidnapping, Gone Horribly Wrong

Chapter 32: A Good Kidnapping, Gone Horribly Wrong

Landar

So let me get this straight, Tomas said, as we all stood in our familys living room. The table and chairs had been pushed out into the hallway to help the knights protect the stairs. Youre going to take Tabitha to your uncles house and keep her there until this all blows over, and no one will touch her there?

Yes, kind of. Roland looked as uncomfortable with the idea as Tomas did. Its a noble tradition called a bridle kidnapping. Its used during wedding negotiations to sequester the bride, or groom, though that is less common traditionally, until a proper dowry can be negotiated between her family and the grooms. Shell be kept safe until negotiations are finished and seen too by a neutral party. In this case, that neutral party will be the red priesthood.

And theyre willing to do this. Why? Elsbeth asked, her eyes darting to the intimidating bald-headed men who stood menacingly in the corners of our small apartment.

Your husbands service to the coronet gives us the right to interpose jurisdictionally. As the red is over most military matters. But the real reason is, we need as many of these petty squabbles between the gray and the blue settled as possible, so we can force a peace. You are not the only such case we are intervening in, nor is the red the only organization doing so.

Exactly. Roland picked back up the explanation. Your and my engagement is just one of the most recent examples of situations where the gray and blue have butted heads. His gaze fell on Tabitha and even now, I saw my sister melt and a soft smile cross her face.

Gah, that girl has it bad.

The fact that more and more people are being recruited by the gray, and choosing to avoid the blue all together, including some noble houses, has been perhaps the greatest driving force behind this conflict. Roland continued. You add to that, the fact that the majority of fighting age blues are going to be temporarily conscripted and under the control of the red, while the gray will be able to operate independently due to the clerics already being integrated into the duchies military, and you have even greater reason for conflict.

Theyre afraid theyre being replaced practically, diminished socially, and finally having no control over the fact their lives are going to be put in danger. I said, nodding along with the explanation. That would terrify anyone or a group of people.

I saw the ballad red robed mans eyes examine me, and after a moment he gave me a subtle nod of acknowledgement. The blood spilled today will only make that fear and bitterness grow more sour Im afraid. The red-robed man I was beginning to think of as a monk said. And right on the cusp of war. The duchy and the kingdom can not afford this. We can only pray Sigvald is able to get to and talk sense into, the Arch-Duke before this continues to escalate.

So we are one tiny drama in a much bigger play. Interesting. Hopefully that means the blue wont pursue us much more than they already have. They, like everyone, seem to have much bigger fish to fry than a few uppity peasants who won the genetic lottery.

But you still have to get her to your uncles place. Thats on the other side of the city, near the west gate, isnt it? Tomas asked, concern crossing his expression. Youd have to get through the center of the city, and the main roads are choked with fighting, or soldiers trying to contain it. Where I need to be.

I could tell the fact he was here dealing with this issue bothered Tomas. His men were out there, in the chaos, doing their best to mitigate the damage being caused. As we sat in silence, several strings of light came through the window from the direction of the temple. One of the guard towers, its roof exposed over the rooftops of the other tenant buildings, exploded outward in a stream of bright white light.

A figure rose from it, wreathed in fire that it threw down at the source of that light. The second figure rose into the sky, trying to intercept the fire user, and after a moment the two sped off in a chase north, into the noble section of the city.

The fighting has escalated to the low nobility among the orders. We have to move now if we have any hope of getting her to safety before we are needed elsewhere. The red-robed monk said, as he moved towards the door. If you want our help, Gaudhaus family, you need to accept it now.

Tomas looked to Elsbeth, and the two of them held hands for a moment. Alright. Tomass voice was steady, but it was clear he was holding back his own anxiety. We trust you Roland. Do what you have to do. What should we do, though? Stay here?

Sir Ezekial could use your help. He and his men can help you figure out what to do next.

With that, Roland and Tabitha stood and left, the red-robed monks trailing behind them. An aura of controlled violence I had only felt a handful of times before in this world, palpable and real as a gust of wind, washed over me as they closed ranks and marched down to the streets.

A man in steel armor with a light shade of blue to it, as if it had been stained in the quenching process, took off his helmet. Golden hair and a very, very punchable face became visible. I am Sir Ezekial.

You! I hissed the word. You backhanded me in the street!

My father was on his feet, magical mace-club already up from where he had left it leaning against the wall. The room instantly filled with the humm of magic as the weapon activated, and my father prepared to kill something. Or someone.

My own axes were out and in hand. But I knew there was no way Id survive if this went to an actual fight. The bastard would gut me, and then probably handle Tomas like he was a child.

Peace, Gaudhaus family. Peace. The handsome bastard said in a calm voice that only made me want to punch him in the face even more.

Are you the one who laid a hand on my boy?! Tomass voice made my ears ache as he roared his rage and question at the same time.

The knight grimaced, but he didnt try to lie. Its true. I mistook your sons ignorance for disrespect and acted rashly.

Noble or not, Ill lay you flat and drag you back to your father for proper punishment! See how you like the taste of the Lord-Collectors boot in your ass, boy. Tomas twitched, and for a moment I thought he was going to take things too far. But then a hand rested on his elbow, and he froze like a stone statue in winter.

He tried to beg for his life, but his muwlings didnt last long. A moment later, a flaming sword took his head clear from his shoulders.

At the last second, Elsbeth covered my eyes and turned me away. Look away, Landar. You dont need to see this. Youre too young.

I let her. I had seen far, far worse. But she was my mother in this world. To worry about my innocence was her right. Even if I had probably killed two men earlier that day.

Eventually, we made our way to the main road, where the most intense fighting was finally starting to calm. Craters pockmarked the solid stone of the road that lead up to the temple complex. The market was a war zone, stalls were burned to ash, others overturned and looted, and dead bodies from factions I hadnt even seen in the city yet lay everywhere.

Looks like the gray and the blue called in allies, one of the knights said.

The adventurers guild got involved? another pointed out a corpse that was branded with a strange symbol on its exposed chest. Thats not supposed to happen.

Ezekial shook his head slowly. I doubt they got involved officially. More likely one of them was here, and some moron mistook him for an enemy and tried to blast them. The brand is the warning not to interfere with them.

A building halfway down the main road towards the temple complex, a four-story apartment complex with half its levels burning, collapsed into the street. The sound was deafening, but eventually it ended, and the entire city felt like it was holding its breath.

Why isnt the duke doing something? I asked into that muted quiet.

He is probably just being told about all this, Ezekial said, shaking his head. It takes a long time to get to the top of the silver tower. Even with a pass stone. Hes been on a training mission, and has only limited communication with the outside world.

Then whos in charge while hes gone? Elsbeths voice was quiet, as if she was trying to be respectful of the solemn quiet the city had fallen under.

The Count. But the high priest of the blue order says he has a message directly from the Arch-Duke supporting his demand for a sifting. Though no one else can verify it. Which is where Sigvald is now.

Is it a fake? The message? I asked.

Probably not. But the high priest is also probably not being entirely honest with the Arch-Duke, or with what the missive actually says. And very few people have a pass stone for the tower. Sigvald is one of them. By the mothers grace, and the fathers honor, I hope he got through and is making the climb. Thats the only way this stops.

Sedrin! One of the knights yelled. Its Sedrin! Hes injured, quick bring the potions! Another knight yelled, and another knight with a pouch full of clanking potions ran towards the scene.

This isnt good, Ezekial said. Sedrin is the red high priest. His order is small, without him and his expertise, we dont stand much chance of getting the army ready to support the eastern duchy in time. But its worse than that.

How? Tomas asked, and ice ran in my veins. I was pretty sure both Tomas, and I knew already.

Hes the one who went with Roland, and your daughter.

A few minutes of stewing in the rubble of what had been a bustling market just half a day later, and the knightly medic came and gave a report to Ezekial. Sedrin is stable. But hes going to be out of the fight for at least a week. All his limbs are broken, shattered really but his body is already knitting itself back together. Whatever the Red do in their training, it would be very nice to learn their secrets.

And what did he say about his mission? Ezekial asked, arms folded and impatient.

He says Roland and the girl were taken in the fighting. Though hes not sure by who, or where too. But he did say he overheard other blues talking about collecting the acolytes back at the temple. Apparently they have control of the main complex at the moment.

Good. Then lets go save my daughter. He hefted both his cudjul and his mace, one in each hand, and started down the road towards the temple complex.

Woh, we cant just go barging in there. Ezekial put a hand on Tomass shoulder, and my fathers glare of pure hatred made the man take a step back for a moment. We just need a plan. Otherwise were just handing ourselves over to them, and potentially putting your loved ones at risk.

I saw Tomass internal struggle, saw that he was about to do it anyway. Hes right, father. We need a plan. And help.

Tomas calmed just enough to see reason. His shoulders slumped slightly, but the rage in his eyes never died. Fine. Where next.

Ezekial smiled. My father might have some ideas.