Archon of Strife: Segment Three

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In a lean-to several miles from Daldenvale, Tamika was aroused from her slumber by the previous night’s watch. Although she had had an uncomfortable rest, she was only mildly irritated due to the recent circumstances. Her scouting party had uncovered an overlooked village, and Rashida would be pleased to gain the territory and periodic tribute. Last night she had issued orders that the area be secured and the village scouted before morning, and this update was expected.

"So have they kidnapped the mayor yet, or are the scouts waiting on my orders?" she asked groggily.

"Well, erm.." the guard shifted his eyes with his response. Tamika frowned, but kept her cool.

"Alright, just tell me what happened. Run into a bear? Had to kill someone’s cat?"

"Actually, Peregrin says they’ve captured a boy, and won’t heed his orders." Tamika quickly got up, inciting momentary dizziness. She almost voiced her anger to the guard, but instead decided to hurry to the town. She couldn’t afford screw-ups with this situation. If the villagers assembled and fled to another village under royal protection then Rashida would most likely sever one of Tamika's hands, at the very least. The plan was to implant Rashida's own agents as officials and keep all roads guarded. The king never bothered with such small populace anyway, let alone so close to the Echo borders. As long as her presence was enforced, Rashida had reasoned in yesterday's dispatch, the village would divulge much-needed tribute and food and therefore was well worth any risk.

Tamika's camp was set with a score of rogues and she quickly summoned two burly fellows and horses to proceed to the town. The wind was slowly picking up this morning, and the sun finally shed light once again over the valley surrounding Daldenvale. Tamika found herself keeping her eyes shaded as they advanced quickly and silently, wishing she had another hour of darkness. Although she had orders to capture the existing officials and surround the town by afternoon, Tamika was sure all her superior cared about was overall success and not the minor details. This notion gave her a few ideas as she neared the village.

Upon arrival, she immediately dispatched the two watching the town due to their betting match, only requiring an incensed attitude and a mailed fist.

"Whas’ a bit ov dirty business when ther’s no fun en it?" one of the scolded demanded, still rubbing his temples. Tamika cuffed him again and responded while glaring at the other.

"You know how much we all need this to go smoothly; judging from the recent state Rashida is in this could easily be our last ‘bit o fun,’ as you’d say. And do keep your voice down." She turned to the men who had accompanied her to the town, signaling them to search the area. "Now let’s get down to business."

Back in the inn where Kael stayed things were as peaceful as any normal morning. Every now and then a little creak as someone shifted in his or her sleep, maybe a squeaking mouse or cricket in the floorboards from time to time, but for the most part it was only loud in the spring when more travelers were passing through. Only 3 of Kael's family stayed in the inn; the others lived in a cot behind the inn just touching the woods. Both buildings were two stories and quite roomy so nobody had complaints, but this morning the early morning routine was going to be a little different.

Katrina covered her mouth when she saw Kael tied up with a dagger in his side. She’d awoken a short while after Kael, judging from his absence and the coolness of his sheets. After making his bed she helped herself to some breakfast and settled down in the main hall of the inn, knowing that it would be several hours before the town was up and about. She had almost managed to doze off again on a couch by the embers of the previous night’s fire when she heard a bucket fall about, followed at some length by several clinks, as those of someone tossing horseshoes. She got dressed and stepped out the front door – only to draw herself back inside within the same instant, holding her breath in shock. Two of the most unclean and vicious-looking men she’d seen so far in her seventeen sister-like years around Kael stood some seven yards from him, smirking as he squirmed. She peeked through the window, and after confirming that they hadn’t spotted her she crawled to the back door of the inn and nudged it open. She waved her hand outside the door, waited a few moments, then hurried barefoot to the house behind the inn where the other troupe members took quarters. The morning mist blanketed the ground, wetting her feet and causing her to slip. Awkwardly, Katrina tip-toed to the other house while hugging herself against the chilly morning. "What the devil is going on?" She was almost too bewildered to grasp the reality of the situation.

In truth, there'd never actually been much disturbance in the town that she could remember. The majority of incidents had been handled with swift talking by her family and the occasional show of arms. This being the first serious thing she'd ever seen, she couldn't really tell if she was still asleep and dreaming. Then came the image again of Kael against the bell, and she squinted and paused. Quickly pinching herself for assurance that she was awake, she took two more steps and grabbed the handle of the large outside cottage.

"I knew I saw something," came the doorknob's reply, instantly startling her already high-strung nerves. She recoiled backwards - right into the arms of another person, who she realized to be the real speaker. He brought a blade to her neck as he enveloped her, and she panicked as the cool metal depressed against her windpipe. A swift backwards kick and yelp from her assailant later and she was blindly plunging barefoot into the woods.

Out in those same woods the morning was still developing as sunlight filtered through the tree tops. Winter approached more quickly here than at the lower elevations and it wasn't uncommon to have snowfall as early as September, though it was promising to wait as long as November this year. This gave Katrina a small respite from further troubles, in the manner that she hadn't put on much for warm clothing in her rush. However, this seemed to be the extent of any succor she would receive and she knew the only way to help Kael now was to alert the town. She was gaining adrenaline now and a little cockiness was leaking through her body with it. With a faked stumble she gave a muffled cry and put herself in position on the ground, listening to the footfall behind her. Several seconds later the bowman, Peregrin, plotted up coolly and pointed his dagger at the face-down form.

"I'm not in the mood for exercise this morning, wench, so I'll give you two options: come quietly, and I promise you'll only be a servant, or you can run, and I'll cripple you and make you a whore." Katrina gave a shiver at the thought of either scenario, but she had other ideas. Waiting just a moment longer for him to take one more step, she sprang to her knees and swiped her leg at his shins, planning to bring him to the ground. Unfortunately, he was ready for her this time and neatly hopped over her leg. Before she could make any effort to get away again, he grabbed hold of the girl’s leg and quickly sliced at it, all intention on cutting the tendon near the foot. But while the knife did make a large incision, she was twisting wildly and it more sliced across the bone of her shin in front. With a tremendous scream, Katrina flailed about and managed to secure a kick to her assailant’s face before taking off again at a limp, stopping every few moments to rub at her leg and wipe new tears from her eyes.

Peregrin, however, recovered immediately and set off after her, foul names stringing from his mouth under his breath. It wasn’t difficult to get position on her this time, even as she futilely snatched up a large stick and waved it desperately at him. He simply charged her and rammed her to the ground, beating at her face in such a manner that only despicable scum is capable of. As she lost consciousness he dragged her up and carried her over his shoulders to the town, a feeling of triumph now that he had sated his rage. When he saw Tamika several minutes later, the leader was standing over a motionless body lying in a fresh pool of blood, a shocked expression on the dead face.

"So glad you could come and put these fools in line," he greeted in a hushed tone as he came up. His short-lived satisfaction immediately waned, however, as Tamika responded by backhanding him in the gut and viciously replying,

"Quiet you idiot! We’ve already ruined any chance of this going over favorably due to your stupidity. I’ve sent for the rest of my troupe, and they’re on their way as we speak, but it seems a few villagers have already awoken and managed to run around, trying to give out the alarm." She glanced at the corpse her foot rested upon before continuing. "If we don’t secure the perimeter, anyone on a horse could easily alert another village within a few days." Peregrin had doubled over and dropped the girl when his superior suckered him in the stomach, and Katrina gave a faint moan. "Who’s the girl? If you tell me we already have runners, there will be hell to pay Peregrin!"

"No! No, I caught her alone trying to wake some others and stopped her myself." The blow he had been dealt hadn’t been worse what than he was used to by now, but it had managed to knock the breath out of him and infuriate him. With a challenging glare he met Tamika’s own gaze and clenched his jaw, still holding own abdomen.

"Good," she responded, "Because it won’t be just my head if this is screwed up, and you know it." She narrowed her eyes and levelly met his stare a moment more before letting out something between a laugh and a huff and ordering about the few men assembled for when the others arrived.