Chapter 105

Akak was usually fearless in most situations, but as he stood overlooking the scene inside one of the more giant tents in the camp he couldn't help but tense up. The only positive was that he let Asice stay behind and went to scout the area by himself. In front of him was what seemed to be a makeshift barracks that housed many soldiers' beds. On each bed laid a dozing Kokarian warrior. At least that's what it appeared to be. Akak noticed that all their necks had been slit and their blood drained. These sleeping beauties would never wake from slumber. Akak didn't think about what happened or decide if this was good or bad. Instead, he rushed back to the meeting place to tell Kane.

Kane had returned to where Asice was waiting. She nodded at him with less enthusiasm than she usually had. Kane understood that she was dealing with all these changes in a short amount of time and decided to give her space. He sat down and was about to slip into his thought but was disturbed by a frantic presence. He looked over to his right and saw Akak hurriedly making his way toward them. Asice perked up at her brother's presence while Kane looked worried at the state of the man.

"Akak what's the matter?"

"The Kokarians! Dead! So many just devoid of blood!"

Kane was shocked.

"How many?"

"I...I don't know. A whole tent was filled with their bodies. No one seemed to notice and all was normal in the camp. They had to be assassinated!"

Kane was shocked out of his breeches. He was about to question Akak further when he felt another presence. Ten little, sneaky, and bloodthirsty presences.

"Who's there?"

Hearing this Akak immediately got into a battle stance and raised his weapons. Even Asice became alert.

"Our new master surely is observant. The members of my mischief are some of the best assassins in the colony. Chief Skag chose right when following you. These are just the start of the weaklings whose lights we will put out.

"Our shadows will spread throughout the land following your glory."

"Hehehe I hope we served well."

Kane was immediately put at ease. Not just at ease he was elated. A group of ratfolk had just appeared which not only meant his messengers arrived and his forces were prepared but if Akak was right they had already done damage to the enemy at his gate.

"Skag's fighters?"

"Artists," commented one.

"Yes, we were asked to weaken their power. I am Prec and this is Pratt, Pat, Pek,..."

"Well, you have done well, very well."

Kane was happy as this already made things far better for him. He saw Akaks unsure and questioning glance which made him realize that the man didn't know he had non-humans serving him.

"I'll explain later," said Kane.

"Prec how many have you killed? Also, what's your plan in general?"

"We have prepared everything for you. We have five tents full of freshly served corpses. Their entire water supply was poisoned. The nearest water sources have hunters ready to ambush anyone who comes near. We have also been informed of a secret tunnel that the old king apparently had. We can take you when ready. We have no problem scaling heights but note our lord does not have similar capabilities."

Kane realized he was now in debt to Kellog for his help bringing in these ratfolk. Gruesome as they may be they were experts that he greatly needed. And the tunnel was the coup de gras. He could head to his home event when under siege. He could also transport troops outside the wall.

"Before we go what about sabotage? They are preparing multiple ways to scale and get past our wall."

"Haha, our master worries too much. Their fancy climbing gear is no match for this wall. Even we struggle. Those pink flesh have no chance of scaling it. The ladders can easily be pushed and that beast they build to open the gate will be worthless once they are all dead."

Seems Kane gave too much credit to the grapplers.

Kane decided to hurry along with getting back inside his kingdom. Akak and Asice seemed nervous about the ratfolk and he wanted to make sure things were all good before anything else happened.

"Well, Prec it's probably best to head out and..."

"Wait, master!"

Prec made a strange symbol with his hand and another ratfolk lit an arrow on fire.

"What's going on?"

"Another gift for you," responded Prec.

The ratfolk with the bow shot the arrow into the sky. What followed gave Kane joy and a slight bloodthirst. His warrior senses tingled at the event.

A tsunami of flame arrows had been shot into the sky from the on top of the wall. It was headed toward the camp at a fierce speed. The guards had no time to run or scream before being impaled or set aflame. Kane was even more amazed when he saw a large boulder launched into the sky. It landed and blew into many pieces that lodged themselves into Kokarian flesh. Once the attack died down a symphony of screams began to play. Followed by frantic orders and chaotic confusion.

"Would the master be so kind as to follow me?" said Prec.

Kane nodded and followed the ratfolk. Akak and Asice lagged behind still unsure what they had just witnessed.