Chapter 312: Enemies At The Gate


    Dozens of pirs of smoke rose throughout Undergrowth. The glow of burning homes stretched across the horizon. Even from a far-off distance, Stryg could make out the swarm of valley warriors marauding through the streets.


    What do you see? Rhian asked.


    Stryg nced down from the tree, Theyre valley tribal warriors.


    What? A valley tribe? Here? That doesnt make sense, Feli frowned. The valley tribes are at war with Hollow Shade, not Undergrowth.


    Its not only that, why would a tribe march their army into the city? Maeve said. It doesnt make sense. They are at aplete disadvantage. They have no supply lines out here. Whereas Undergrowths armies not only have the supplies, they also have the terrain advantage. Once the citys army is rallied the enemy is done for. The tribes wontst till morning.


    Rhianughed haughtily, Theyre a bunch of idiots! Theres not a single tribe that can match the full might of a Great City!


    What if its not just a single tribe? Lysa said quietly. Lord Marek was trying to unite the tribes to strengthen his own army. When I left he only had a few tribes with him, but maybe thats changed?


    Theyre not carrying any banners, Stryg noted. None that I can see If they are from the Cairn I wouldnt know.


    Thats even stranger. Why would they attack now of all times? There are diplomats from all four Great Cities here thanks to the tourney, Maeve muttered. Attacking Undergrowth now is like waging war against the entire Realm.


    Maybe they arent trying to attack the city per se, Feli stared at Stryg. Maybe theyre just trying to get to one person.


    The Ebon Aspirant? Maeve said with realization. Theyre here to kill him? Or worse?


    Maybe Felis right, Stryg said miserably. It looks like the army is breaking off half of them are headed over here.


    How many warriors do you see? Lysa asked.


    Several hundred at least. There are probably more in the other city districts. I can see smoke rising from all around the city. Stryg jumped down from the tree andnded on his feet, We dont have time. They''reing this way.


    How many areing here? Lysa drew her curved de.


    200 hundred at least, Stryg said. Theyve blocked the streets, theres no running away from this. Were better off barricading ourselves in the mansion.


    How long do we have? Feli whispered fearfully.


    Not long, Stryg said grimly. Rhian, take Maeve and Feli, find the deepest room in the mansion and stay there. The Katag soldiers are probably already barricading the house as we speak.


    Yes, chief! Rhian straightened her back and raised her hand in a salute.


    Feli hugged Stryg tight and whispered into his ear, Come back to us.


    Ill try my best, Stryg said with a rare tender voice.


    Maeve fidgeted with her hands and looked around anxiously, Stryg I need to tell you something. I had a dream I saw things I saw blood and


    Talkter, we need to act <em>now</em>, Lysa said sternly.


    Stryg gently pushed Feli away and looked at Lysa, I need your help. Youre one of the best swordsmen I have ever seen. Protect my family, Stryg bowed his head, Please.


    Lysa stared at him as if he had suddenly turned into a frog, W-what? Why are you bowing? You dont have to ask me You can justmand me The Prime Edictpels me.


    Stryg kept his eyes on the ground, Im not asking you as a prisoner or as some edict-bound beast-kin. Im asking you from one warrior to another.


    What are you saying? Lysa furrowed her brow.


    I dont know if Ill get another chance to say this Ive given a lot of thought to this ever since you saved me during the dragon attack Stryg took a deep breath, Im sorry, Ive treated you like a prisoner this whole time, even though you have risked your life to protect my own multiple times. I dont care if you did it because of some ancient spell thank you. I am grateful You owe us nothing, if you wish to run away I wont stop you. I know youre skilled enough to slip past the enemy.


    Stryg bowed his head lower, I know you must hate me and I know I dont have the right to ask anything of you, but even still, Im asking. <em>Please</em>, protect my family.


    Lysa stared at him in silence, ...You really mean it, dont you?


    I do.


    Lysa nodded slowly, When this tournament is over Im leaving this ce, but until then I will protect your tribe on one condition.


    Name it, Stryg looked up at her.


    When you be an Ebon Lord I want you to use your resources to help me figure out a way to break the Prime Edict.


    But I thought the Captain was helping you with that?


    I dont just want to break my Prime Edict, Lysa nced at Rhian, I want to break all the Prime Edicts.


    Rhians eyes widened, Lysa you mean?


    Deal, Stryg nodded solemnly. I dont know anything about the beast-kins Edict, nor do I know how useful my help will be, if any, but I will do all I can to break the curse.


    My instincts tell me that may be enough, Mortem mage, Lysa said softly.


    So much for talkingter Maeve muttered, peeved.


    The little vampiress is right, we should move, Lysa nodded.


    What are you going to do, Stryg? Feli asked worriedly.


    If the enemy is really after me, then Ill do my best to distract them and lead them away from the vi, Stryg said.


    Then what? Feli bit her lip.


    Ill try to lose them in the citys surrounding forest.


    Feli frowned, And how exactly will you do that? The trees in Glimmer Grove practically all glow. How can you hide in the dark when all the trees are shining?


    I dont need the darkness to hide, Stryg smiled confidently. I''m Sylvan, I have spent most of my life in the forest. Every Sylvan child learns at a very young age how to hide from predators, day or night, it makes no difference.


    But this isnt Vulture Woods Feli said weakly.


    Youre right, Stryg winked, This will be much easier.


    He abruptly turned around and took onest look at Lysa, Keep them safe, please.


    I will, she said solemnly.


    Stryg nodded and sprinted away from the gardens and headed towards the vis front gate. He reached for Nameless and found nothing. He realized with dismay that he had left his sword back in his bedroom.


    Fuck me, he cursed under his breath.


    There wasnt enough time to go back. The tribal battalions would soon be at the gate.


    As he reached the vis wall, he spotted four orc guards standing at the front gate, trembling. They barely even noticed Stryg walk up behind them.


    Stryg frowned, one of Lord Katags lieutenants were among the guards, Why havent you all gone to join the rest of your soldiers at the vi?


    The lieutenant swallowed hard and gripped his spear tight, Our job is to watch this gate and protect the Katag family and all who are loyal to them Until our captain tells us otherwise, we will stop the enemy here. He stared at the approaching enemiesing up the hill with a hardened gaze, and mmed the butt of his spear into the ground, If tonight is the night we die, then it will be one our families will be proud of.


    The other guards nodded and mmed their spears in solidarity.


    It was an honor to serve with you, lieutenant.


    Onest battle then


    For House Katag!


    Stryg looked at the soldiers in bewilderment. They were orcs. <em>Orcs</em>. The same orcs who the Blood Fang tribe had warned him about. Orcs were spineless cowards who had betrayed Lunis. They were <em>cowards</em> so why? Why werent they running away?


    Stryg shook his head, One of you, give me your spear.


    What? a guard asked, confused.


    The lieutenant picked up the ax on his belt and handed Stryg his own spear, You may have mine, my lord.


    Im not a lord, Stryg said but grabbed the weapon nheless.


    A lord is a being who uses their power to protect their people. The lieutenant looked back at the mansion at the top of the hill, Youre here and not back there, arent you? What more need I know?


    Aye! the other guards nodded in unison.


    They could hear the shouts and the war cries of the valley tribesman now. The enemy was marching closer and closer to the gate.


    The lieutenant stared out at the enemy grimly, Id follow you into battle, my lord, if youll have me.


    As would I! a fellow guard shouted.


    Another shrugged, Dying side by side with an Ebon Lord doesnt sound too bad, hehe.


    Our deaths will be glorious! thest screamed from the top of her lungs.


    Stryg couldn''t help butugh at the sheer ridiculousness. He could see it in all their amber eyes, <em>fear</em>. They were terrified and yet they were willing to face their own deaths with their eyes wide open, for loyalty and honor.


    These werent the orcs the Mothers had told him of


    Stryg stepped in front of the guards and pointed his spear at the oing enemies, Run while you still can! Ill hold them off!


    The guards'' voices suddenly grew silent, yet Stryg did not hear the sound of footsteps running away. The four orcs stepped up next to him, two on each side. They smiled grimly at each other and nodded. Their legs still trembled, but they did not run, they stood their ground and faced their enemy with eyes wide open.


    For House Katag, the lieutenant whispered.


    For the Ebon Lord! another guard shouted.


    Dammit, why are you all so stubborn!? Stryg shouted angrily, but he found himself smiling shakily.


    The two hundred tribal warriors marched up the hill, a mere twenty paces away now. They were close, close enough. Stryg stretched out his hand and channeled orange mana until his arm burned from the inner heat. A small cyclone of me exploded out from his hand and sshed over the hill, covering it in a searing orange inferno.


    Red sigils manifested above the army and formed a protective wall. The mes washed over harmlessly.


    Stryg slowly lowered his hand. His body had gone stiff.


    <em> How?</em>


    He had channeled copious amounts of mana. The me cyclone spell was a creation of House Noir. It was one of his strongest me magics, a smaller version of Lohs own signature spell, and yet it had been stoppedpletely. The enemys ward shield hadnt even suffered any damage.


    <em> If they can easily stop master-ss me magic then that means</em>


    As the smoke cleared and the red wards faded away, a ck cloaked figure stepped out from among the snarling tribal warriors. The man pulled down the hood of his cloak and looked at him with mild surprise.


    The strangers hair was snow-white, and his skin a pale blue. But it was his eyes, his dark purple eyes, that caught Strygs attention.


    Its you Vaughn whispered.


    A shiver ran down Strygs spine, You were there, he mumbled. That night you were there. His lc eyes grew cold, You were there with <em>Marek </em>and that <em>goddamn vampire</em>!


    Yes, I was, Vaughn said calmly.


    So the Cairn hase to kill me? Stryg hissed angrily.


    Vaughn smiled, amused, and revealed his prominent fangs, Child, I am not an idiot. He raised his hand and gave a signal to his men, Leave the boy to me. Kill the orcs.


    What!? Stryg yelled.


    Ward sigils shot out and surrounded Stryg in an instant and before he could react a red sphere manifested around him.


    My lord! the lieutenant yelled.


    The tribal warriors rushed the guards and attacked them relentlessly. The orcs shouted with fury and tried to defend themselves, but they were quickly surrounded and overwhelmed by the onught of warriors. Stryg watched helplessly as sword, ax, and spear plunged into the lieutenant and hisrades. The orcs were dead before they fell to the ground and yet the tribal savages did not stop until the guards were nothing but blood and crushed flesh underneath them.


    No! Stryg screamed and stabbed his spear into the red sphere. The wards red brightly with power and his spear snapped in two. Stryg threw the pieces aside and mmed his arms against the sphere futilely. Damn you! he screamed,


    Please, stop resisting, it will not help, Vaughn said sympathetically. The manor is being surrounded as we speak, this will all be over soon.


    Stryg roared with frustration, tears burning his cheeks. He was as helpless as he had been a year ago. Unable to protect the ones by his side. Unable to kill the ones he despised.


    A bolt of lightning shrieked from above and struck the center of the battalion. Dozens of valley men and women went flying into the air, their bodies charred to a ckened crisp. Vaughn jumped away in surprise and quickly created a red dome above himself.


    A second, smaller lightning bolt struck the red sphere imprisoning Stryg. The red wards red brightly as the blue lightning crackled around them until the wards cracked and shattered unceremoniously.


    Stryg dropped to his knees and looked around in a daze. A small figure emerged from the smoke. An old woman with a cane shuffled through the burnt grass. Her grey hair was a mess and she had bags under her beige eyes from days of little to no sleep. She carried no weapon nor battle armor, she only wore a simple grey robe. She should have seemed weak, incapable, but in that single moment, Stryg had never seen one so powerful.


    Ismene ced herself in front of Stryg and the hundreds of tribesmen, and looked her enemies down with a calm, steel gaze. Stand up, child. We have a battle to win.