Assault

On days like this, the imperial court of Ubirea gets busy!

Not only are there court gatherings of all court officials and ministers, there will also hold today a debate of officials and nobles of the imperial court.

The debate take place once in six months and twice in a year between court officials and ministers to discuss the people's plight and profer solutions. The empire's long term policies are also discussed.

The day was sunny, Nazarack has never found it pleasing nor felt the need to attend the pesky debates, he never thought it necessary. Apart from being a powerful man in the empire, his pride has deemed him to be more important than he was. Assigned with two essential offices, the Prime Minister and the Minister of defense, he was a man of great might and quite perilous... He should be feared? No! he was feared, his presence alone makes the other notable men of the Empire tremble so they would rather not have him attend.

He was feared not only because he was scary and crazy strong, but for a fact, Lord Nazarack had strong and large private army apart from the Government army. That alone made him a scary prospect to his opposition.

But today was strange, no one expected the arrogant Lord who finds government debates useless, even the emperor was surprised, and, well... Sebastian liked the fact that he attended, it made things simple for him and seeing Nazarack lose always gave him a sense of gratification.

And of course he had a surprise for the haughty lord.

"That would be all your Majesty." The court clerk announced as he brought forth the legal documents to the emperor.

"Since this would be the last document am signing today, there's a pressing issue before the court that needs to be addressed immediately?"

"Today I will begin plans to strengthen our military defense!"

Damn it, he knew it, his instincts were right, he knew they had been quiet for too long and whatever the emperor's plotting has done nothing but confirmed his suspicions.

For years now, the Emperor and Maverick have been a thorn at his side, always looking for his downfall but they have been quiet for some time now, they have made little or no effort, it was too quiet to be true.

"What about it your majesty?" Nazarack said in response.

"I would like to appoint someone more capable as the minister of defense..." That was it, unpleasant murmurs filled the court. Nazarack knew then this meeting won't be like the usual one.

"Are you trying to say Lord Nazarack is not fit for this position?" Garry Penner one of Nazarack's supporters said. The old man with long gray beards and a very muscular appearance have long been an ally of Nazarack together with quite a number of Noble men as well.

"And what if I did? he is in charge of two of our most important positions, it's about time that changes."

"Your Majesty, please reconsider, Lord Nazarack has been doing his job perfectly and also the people feel so assured he's in charge of defense..."

The Emperor cut him short. "I know that well Lord Garry."

Lord Garry was the only one talking, the only one showing his discontentment.

"Your Majesty..." He looked towards the emperor his gaze piercing. "Are you sure about this?" Nazarack said.

"Sure about what?"

"Won't you regret this decision?!"

"Are you threatening me Naz? am the emperor, your ruler and whatever I say is final! don't you question me!" He said angry. "Am not saying you give up the position permanently, all you need is an assistant, someone to watch you and keep you in check."

"There's someone for that already, this is unnecessary," Nazarack said.

"And they are all your men are they not? I need someone from my side, the people's side... to do that, someone that can keep you in check."

"And who would that be?"

"I think you will do a good job with this person, he's your family, after all, I recommend Maverick Dillion and that would be all! we shall discuss this further at the next meeting I want all of your cooperation on this."

"I see, so you had it all planned."

"What's that supposed to mean Lord Nazarack, don't tell me you will defy my authority?" He said with exaggerated confidence, it was pleasing to watch. The look on Naz's face made him feel elated.

"No your majesty, the next meeting it is!" Everything was heavy, so heavy... The dark lord just couldn't bear the weight and he will be sure to pay him back ten folds.

********

"My lady." She said with her head bowed.

"I heard you were trustworthy and the perfect person for what I need you to do," Daniella replied.

"I don't know where you heard that from my lady, but I am sure I won't disappoint, I am very desperate when it comes to surviving...."

"Good and that's all I need, you can trust me, I will pay you every dime of your worth."

"What do you need me to do my lady?"

"Spy, I want you to be my spy, report everything that happens in the Lord's chambers and Sabrina's quarter too. Can you do it?"

"I...I..." She stuttered. "Like I said my lady, I will do anything to survive so the success of this depends on how much you are willing to pay me."

"Then let's start with five pouches of gold coins."

"What??? my lady..." Her face broaden with surprise.

"I will give you even more if you can bring me crucial information every end of the day Like I said earlier I need to know everything that's going on in the Lord's chambers and Sabrina's quarter, I need every detail...."

"Yes, my lady! I Emily will do my best to serve you!" She said aloud.

****

Seeing the flocks of birds that were returning home, Vetta's eyes again struggled with tears, recalling home as memories of the best moments of her life came flooding in. But, she stopped the unnecessary emotions as she raised her slender hands to wipe her tears away.

She was in a state of frenzy, pure panic and she couldn't waste a second of her time.

With agile movement, she walked out of the garden towards Askgard, the dungeon where Adia had been held.

Earlier this morning she had met with the old woman and begged to have an audience with Adia, although it wasn't easy, Sabrina eventually gave in out of pity and because of how persistent Vetta was. With the help of the Madam's pass, she was granted an audience with Adia.

The walk to her cell was short and silent as Vetta rubbed her hands together nervously, through the walk she flashed back to the conversation she had with Rodia last night. Her words echoed in her head as she contemplated it to arrive at a conclusion.

"Trust me, that statement is only for a fool, for I Rodia have it all planned all I need is a yes from you, will you escape with me?!" Her statement sounded romantic, unreasonable, and also trustworthy... If she was going to save Adia and escape this hell this is the only opportunity she has which might never come again.

"Make it short." The guard who escorted her finally said after a long moment of silence, that stopped her from thinking further as she turned towards the cell.

"Adia..." She called whimpering. her eyes welled with tears. "Adia, am here." Her voice was shaky, coated with sadness and unshed tears. She wiped the sweat on her hands away, staring hard at Adia who looked so lifeless on the cold floor.

"Was I too late?" regret could be heard in her voice. Even though she was many feet away from her, she could feel her pain, the anguish coursing through her body.

"Is she dead?" it took a whole lot of courage to ask the guard who stood watch beside her. Tears began streaming down her cheeks.

"If she was you wouldn't find her body here." The guard replied coldly.

"Then why won't she say anything?"

"Hey, woman! if you have nothing to tell her I will have to force you out of here, your friend has not even been called for torture yet and she looks so weak." He said glaring at her.

"Adia, if you can hear me know that I will try to save you no matter what, trust me and be safe till then, I can't do without you, if you leave me how would I survive? you know am not the smart one and I take irrational decisions without thinking about the consequences, so stay strong and do not die. I promise I will save you." She said before she was rushed off by the guard.

Off she went back to her room where she met Rodia the girl with the full tempting lips and innocent eyes.

"Help me, I will escape with you... please help me! help us" Vetta broke into tears.

"Three days from now, we will escape with your friend."

"We don't have three days, if I should waste any more time Adia will die, I do not have tomorrow, all I have is today, we need to save her."

"There's nothing I can do we can't escape without a plan, who knows there might be people watching and listening."

"I do not care, Rodia, you gave me hope, you can't quit on me now." Vetta pleaded.

Rodia watched her and kept her silence for a while before she moved towards her and pulled Vetta in.

Bewildered by Rodia's actions, she remained frozen to a spot.

"If I help you escape today, will you do me a favor? Anything I ask of you?"

"I will forever owe you, Rodia, even if it means giving you my life, I will do anything. will you help?"

"Great! we have a deal."

"Now, tell me, what's your plan?" Vetta asked as she slowly disengaged from the hug.

"It's simple, we go in disguise."

"Disguise?"

"I have been assigned a few tasks at the kitchen department whenever they are short of staff, and that made me learn a secret which I will be sharing with you now." She paused, flung her hair to a side, and walk towards her small closet.

"The kitchen is where our escape route is," Rodia said.

"How's that so?"

"At the storage room there's this wall that leads to a passage and the passage will be our escape route, you may not know but escaping this place is quite simple, that's if no one knows about it."

"And am sure no one knows right? you haven't told anyone about this.." She questioned with pleading eyes.

"Of course, all we have to do is dress disguised as one of the cooks, go the storage room, find the wall, and then we will be out of this place before you know it. And, since the storage room is normally quiet around 7 to 8 this might be easier than I had thought."

"Why do I feel like we need more than that? I mean this is Lord Nazarack we are talking about and how do we get Adia out of the dungeon that's the most important, am still even more concerned about how we will get into the storage room since it has all the essentials for the kitchen department, they won't leave it unlocked would they?"

"Don't worry about the storage room, I have the keys to get in. The only issue now is getting Adia out of Askgard...." Rodia rolled her eyes then sighed. "I really can't think about anything right now."

"I think I have an idea, I still have madam Sabrina's pass, what if we use that to get her out?"

"No that won't work, Sabrina's pass can only get us in, it won't get us out with Adia, we have to think of something else." Rodia purred.

"You were right, I think we need more time to devise a plan."

"Trust me Vetta, we will get Adia out of there but first we have to check the storage room, and know what our next line of action would be."

"I will follow whatever you say, but we have to get her out tonight." Vetta said.

"Tonight." Rodia said.

*

*

The day was drawing towards nighttime, expectations of what the night would bring made her really anxious.

Her heart beating with each step she took, Rodia by her side with a hopeful look not really boosting her confidence, she needed more than hope. Something like a superpower that would assure her more years with her loved ones.

Veronica wasn't the issue neither was it her mother, She needs to survive first if she's ever going to save anyone. Her mind weary and engaging her with restless thoughts.

"Am scared... I can't do this." She said, her voice echoing the veranda that lead to the storage room.

"We have gotten this far, you shouldn't be scared, getting past the kitchen and everyone is the hardest, we are so close to the storage room, nothing will stop us. Remember, we check tonight, we prepare tomorrow, am sure we would have figured something out before the day breaks."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." That was a brave response. It encouraged her and they proceeded to the storage room.

Soon, they arrived at the storage room, and just as Rodia thought no one was around to guard the room and no one had suspected them.

She took a few steps forwards with lingering fingers on the wall at the right side. "Knock. Knock." Her knuckles knocking on the wall and Vetta stood to watch her intently.

"Here!" Rodia said and gave it a strong push. With all her might she pushed the wall hard and there it was.

Vetta watched in awe, her eyes shone alight. She did it!

"We are safe! We did it! Rodia, we are safe!" She screamed at the top of her voice and hugged her close.

"Do not shout! anyone might hear you." Rodia cautioned Vetta who was beaming in excitement.

"Am sorry."

"Now, all we need to do is figure out how we get Adia out of Askgard."

"And, that's a tough one."

"I hate to break it to you, but we need more help, I need Emily, she's the only one I trust..."

"Trust?" It was distant and very familiar, that single statement held a tinge of fear.

Rodia and Vetta trembled as they turn back to look and behold it was the Dark Lord in his black robe and his sharp sword. Madam Sabrina by his right side as they made their entrance into the room.

"My Lord..." Rodia stuttered quickly and fell to her knees.

"How..." Vetta found it so hard to believe, they were so discreet about it, they tried very hard. She thought.

"Maybe you didn't try enough..." The Lord said with a devilish smirk. "How dare you try to escape me?!" He said so calmly but yet his face was evil. He evidently enjoyed this. As if he had expected this.

"My Lord please forgive me," Rodia said but Vetta only watch stunned, she knew this was the end.. there's no escaping.

"I own this castle so you think I don't know all the escape routes here, I gave you food, shelter you, protected you and this is how you repay me."

"How did you find out? who told you?" That was the only thing she could say.

"You are not scared?" Nazarack asked with a grin.

"Of course I am but what difference does it make? my death is certain." Vetta said as Rodia and the old woman watched.

"Good thing you know that, back to your question, if you don't die tonight have it in your heart that I am Nazarack and I know everything, nothing is a secret to me, so do try your best not to turn me to your enemy." He said as he pulled out his sword. He raised it high and in a flash, he stabbed her with no remorse.

"No. No. No" Rodia mourned.

Vetta sulked, her eyes glassed over with memories of the past, smells of blood and dripping sounds it made on the floor was all she experienced next.

The Dark Lord smirked for this time it was Vetta...

*

*

~~~~Fun facts about Ubirea Empire; Slaves are the lowest in rank and thus are treated lesser than animals, no slaves have ever been granted freedom to live as others do, they are not permitted to marry, give birth, have family, lands, and other essentials without permission. However, the only man that has ever treated a slave as a human would be Nazarack Dillion, and the first slave he granted such freedom was Sabrina!~~~~