Chapter Sixty-Seven: Civil War

Chapter Sixty-Seven: Civil War

Tom and Rosa watched the village rings burn until Glass returned. A large structure, perhaps a barn or a hall, collapsed in the distance, sending a plume of sparks swirling into the sky.

Not the greatest, huh?

Tom jumped in fright at the sudden interruption. Rosa merely turned and arched an eyebrow.

You scared the shit out of me, Tom said, his heart starting to slow down.

Sorry, moving quickly and quietly is part of the job! I wouldntve thought I could sneak up on a Hunter, Glass noted with an impish grin. Val and Dale, and some of the other Hunters wandered over once they noticed her return.

We should have a portal very shortly, she explained. Things are a little hectic in the city at the moment. As if to underline her statement, a massive roar sounded in the distance. They watched as a huge shape winged into the air over Wayrest, banking and circling above the city. A dragon.

Goddess, Val breathed. He actually did it. Hes insane.

The dragon wheeled, releasing another titanic roar, before settling on the roof of a tower. It ruffled its wings and became still, and only the slightly unusual outline of the building showed it was there at all.

Glass wore a dour expression now, a counterpoint to her seemingly perpetual gregariousness. He arrived a day after the orcs swept through the village rings. The Lord General warned the Council. He told them the Hunters were planning a rebellion, but they didnt take it seriously. Most of them are dead now. She turned away from the city, and the dragon.

The Lord General? Hes still alive? Val asked.Read latest chapters at nov(e)lbin.com Only

Glass nodded. He is. He and the Guards declared neutrality, and are holding the walls. Theyre the only reason the orcs havent ended the siege already.

So its civil war, then?

Glass nodded once more. The Lord of Blood killed most of the Council just after he arrived. Hes ferried the rest of his followers in since then with his dragon. Theyve been hunting down and killing any nobles or clergy they can get their hands on. The nobles and the church are fighting back, but the Inquisition is the only real threat to them.

The Watch are split. Some of us are just trying to do our jobs, and are reporting to the Lord General. The others have gotten involved in the civil war, and are flitting around the city trying to kill the Lord and his followers. Its mayhem. She shook her head.

Mayhem is right. What is he thinking? A coup, during a siege? Its madness! Val said. Hell lose the city!

Were managing to hold on for the moment. The Lord has made declarations. Hes spared the people, the Artisans, the merchants. All he wants are the Council, and the nobles and clergy who propped them up. Still, the situation is precarious.

Precarious? It sounds like a fucking nightmare! What is he hoping to achieve? said Rosa.

Your guess is as good as mine. Hes said he doesnt want to rule the city, only to restore equilibrium, but Ive known a lot of powerful people, and theyve all got one thing in common: they never voluntarily give up any power.

The Lord Generals bluff face gave nothing away. Granted, he said simply. One more person on the walls wont make any difference. One more out here just might though. He turned to address them all.

I hate to ask you for more, considering all you have given, but you all might make the difference in breaking this siege.

Anything we can do, we will, Val told him. What do you need of us?

At this stage, the orcs have only really just arrived. The siege hasnt even really gotten underway. The orcs have yet to even test the walls. He paused, clearly collecting his thoughts.

Theyll try them sooner or later, but one thing has me worried: Im not sure how, exactly. There are several ways to cause a breach, in a siege. The first, and most straightforward, is to build siege engines and knock a hole. Orcs arent traditionally much for building, and though these seem a bit different, I cant see any siege engines they put together standing up to concentrated skill use. Still, if they make enough of them, it could mean trouble.

The second method is to infiltrate the city with Idealists. Sow discord, poison the water supply, spread disease, assassinate leaders, try to open the gates. Theres any number of ways they could harm us.

Tom broke in then. I should warn you, sir: the orcs captured an Idealist of Shadow. Weve already seen several orcs with Shadow skills. I would count on assassination attempts and sabotage as a certainty. They captured several Hunters, too. I know youre well aware of the odd Ideals they tend to have.

Thank you, son. Well double the guard on critical infrastructure, and theres clear lines of command established if the command structure gets disrupted. Theres only so much we can do with half the city fighting amongst themselves, though. He shook his head. Goddess, what I wouldnt give for another hundred Watchmen

Wishes wont break the siege. Back to the point. I need you all to try and disrupt the orcs, just as they will be trying to disrupt us. How many men do you have?

Roughly seventy, give or take. Many of the captives decided to stay and fight, Val answered.

Good, good. More than I expected. Alright. We can match the orcs Ideal for Ideal. We should have more of them than them, and ours should be stronger, for the most part, too, if the intelligence weve gotten is correct. Your most critical role will be to destroy any siege engines they try to build. After that, disrupt them in any way you see fit. Make them hurt, I dont care how. Any more information you find will be welcome too. He turned to Watchman Glass.

Watchman Glass, can I trust you to keep an eye out for them again?

She nodded. Yes, sir. You can. Though this place will be swarming with orcs sooner rather than later. Ill find you in the Deep. How many of those little sparrows have you got? she asked Tom.

Twenty, he supplied.

Thats plenty, she said, nodding to herself. If you find any information, get within an hour or two of the village rings and send them up in a burst above the canopy. Keep doing it til I get there. Ill keep an eye out.

Gentleman, ladies, we have a plan of attack. Goddess be with you all. Stay safe, and for the love of Goddess, whatever you do, dont get captured again. Now, I have forty people to find a home for in a city full to bursting with refugees, and an army of orcs to keep off the walls.

He turned on his heel and barked some orders to the Guards arrayed about the village square, then strode back through the portal. The Guards shepherded the returnees through the portal. Officer Dale and his Guards spent some time giving quick goodbyes, and wishes for good luck, and then they were gone too. In minutes, Tom, Val, Rosa, and the few Hunters that had accompanied them were alone in the square.

They spent a while, just looking over the village rings. At the destruction the orcs had wrought, and at the pristine, abandoned villages and fields yet to be looted and burned.

In the distance, a dragon screamed.