Rescue Operation II

11:30 pm, 16th, November

Selene headed for the gates of the Rikter family only to be called to a stagecoach waiting outside by Morlanion. Hrist followed right behind her, though Blue was left inside the pocket house this time. The entire group had to be four, not four and a half.

What she saw sitting inside was Donovan and Melsia, apparently both going to this meeting. "So, six of us" she remarked as the doors closed and the coach rode forth with Elsei sitting next to Selene on one side while Morlanion sat next to his mother.

"She's technically not part of the meeting" he explained, though that seemed to confuse her even more. "She's… my mother has a gift with magic."

"I thought we were only going as a four-man team plus one, are they going to allow that?"

"Technically, I'm Donovan's wife, and spouses are allowed to oversee the entire meeting from afar" Melsia told her.

So more than just mercs and bodyguards where we're going to be… things just got even more complicated…

The short trip was boring as Hrist looked out the small window and saw there were almost no people on the streets, at least that wanted to be seen. Once midnight would hit, Bronze Team would be leaving the mansion with the princess and stay concealed until they could escape the city. When they would get outside the walls, the HRVs would be waiting for them. The empress breathed deeply as she realized they were now providing asylum for a political figure of the enemy.

Once they stopped, she noticed there was a massive building just outside with marble pillars holding up the front. It looked as if it was ripped from the Classical Era, Roman design and all. Torches and lanterns were lit just outside, with mercenary guards watching the front.

"We need to get out first before my father and mother" Morlan explained as he stepped out and took a protective stance. Elsei and Hrist followed suit with Selene coming up behind them. The Rikter parents came out slowly and looked around.

"Sir, they're waiting for you inside" one merc said to Donovan. As they headed inside and down the many halls, Selene walked next to Morlanion the entire way, deferring to him on leadership for this group.

As they reached a set of double doors that was swung open, they could hear the yelling as nobles practically snapped at each other from across the massive table for laws and rules to be set for something. Morlan stopped the dev and pointed to another set of doors that branched to the side, heading up a flight of stairs.

"We don't stand behind them?" she asked.

"All guards stay out of the main area, it stops too much intimidation when others speak about the politics of the city. They need to focus on the here and now, not whether a crossbow could be leveled at them instantly due to raising their voice. We mainly stand upstairs to scare the other guards. If something happens down below, we're close enough to reach them quickly." Once they reached the second floor, there was a large curving balcony that allowed them to watch from above, with marble stairs turned into seats around the back. Cushions were placed along each row with some of the guards for the nobles already sitting. Many of them were watching her group, mainly keeping an eye on Morlanion… and Hrist.

While Ezra's brother was muscular, he wasn't especially tall, reaching the same height as the Valkyrja. While he was wider than the battle maiden, Selene was very sure he wasn't nearly as strong as her. The group stood near the balcony railing and watched from up high, the second floor being a little closer to a third-floor height. The actual third floor was a massive library that was locked away on the outer rim of the city hall. The whole building was built somewhat like a coliseum, with the center being for the congressional meetings and the outer rings holding the audience and specialized rooms. The only real difference was this place had a large roof to protect against weather.

"I'm telling you! We cannot afford to have the diamond trade flow anywhere else! It could be disastrous!" one noble yelled out as he slammed his fist against the table.

"It has never harmed us before to allow a little competition Miles, so stop being angry that another town, not a city, is working the trade. Transportation through them might be cheaper instead of just having a caravan with guards travel all that way" his competition reasoned.

"Seems they're already in the thick of it" Selene commented quietly, hoping to keep her voice down.

"They fight over petty things that have almost no basis for the future of Silvinholm. You can ignore most things that come out of their mouth" Morlanion replied close to her ear as they watched. Hrist inspected the other guards behind them, some being bored and playing cards, others sharpening their weapons. A few magic casters were seen in the top of the seats, watching everything in silence. Melsia stood next to Selene and watched her husband sit down at the head of the table.

"Ah, Donovan, so good of you to join us" one noble, the head of house Reysor, said with a sneer.

"I was under the impression we started at midnight, right now it is currently… 11:50 pm" Don replied calmly.

"We've always started early, you know that. Some of us have more important things to deal with than having you hold back on the crucial issues, to abstain from votes."

"I abstain to keep the houses from falling into a screaming match and listen to both sides, which you are so good to start. I'd suggest you relieve yourself of that anger before we come here, Alain." The man stood up and was about to snap at him, but a quick movement upstairs stopped that. Morlanion coughed out loud, warning him to keep things civil. Alain sat back down in his chair, grumbling something as his fat rump landed on the cushioned seat. The man was rather obese, his clothing somewhat held in spare shirts of the same color to hide the rolls of fat.

"That man is trouble, Falksworthy always warned me of that" Morlan mumbled softly.

"Antoine Falksworthy?" Selene asked surprised. He looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Why, yes, do you know the General?"

"I… have met him once or twice. He's a good man." Morlanion nodded in agreement.

"He taught me everything I needed to know about tactics and strategy. He always did hate the nobility, though not my parents. He considered them… what was it… 'a dam to hold back the flood." The empress attempted to keep as much information held back as possible, hoping to not tip her hand that he was now a citizen, and a professor, of her empire.

"Have you spoken to him in a while?" she asked.

"I last saw him early this year. Wonder what he's doing now. I could always ask him for advice on anything that plagued me."

"It sounds as if you trust him quite a bit" she responded as they both watched the meeting.

"One of the few that I trust his judgement on most matters. I've seen some good men in my travels, in our battles to protect Artinia. I've also seen some terrible ones, which seem to have proliferated somewhat in the past few years." The dev glanced over at him without moving her head, a question playing in her mind to ask him, but worrying about the answer he would provide; she was hoping it wouldn't lead to a response that could cause her to not be so friendly with him anymore.

"If he told you to do something, would you do it?" she asked.

"Knowing how often what he tells me, and never hid anything around me, I would say yes."

"Even if that might have been to say, I dunno, rebel against Artinia or something?" He looked at her with a furrowed brow. She just shrugged, wondering how he would take it. He exhaled loudly and turned back to the meeting.

"I guess… hypothetically speaking… if things had gotten bad enough for him to say to go against the Artinian government… I… I might… though there needs to be a really good reason for me to ever do that. I mean… as an example… the royal family going entirely insane or becoming, I don't know… serial killers. I might."

"Good answer."

"You were afraid I would just leave just because he told me to?" he asked her with a slight smirk.

"I was just wondering where your loyalties lie. You stand for the people, don't you?" He chuckled, trying to keep any sound from coming out. A smile broke out on his mouth.

"Yes, I guess you could say that. I am paid to be a figure for the Artinian standing army, though I always try to do what is right."

"Sometimes that isn't the easiest thing is it?" He frowned quickly and seemed to be playing back actions already taken in the past.

"Not when someone else puts out orders I need to follow that… should be considered… crimes…" she looked up at him and tried to grasp what he was thinking.

"You've followed orders that were crimes against humanity?" she whispered. He remained silent for a second, mulling over the words he would respond with.

"I've done my best to walk a fine line between doing what is right and doing my duty. Sometimes… my duty requires things that go against my conscience… I… do my best to find ways to… work around some of those issues so all benefit."

"Not always easy, is it?" He nodded in silence.

"It isn't; however, I do my best to not follow those orders as much as possible as well. I have quite a bit of leeway, given the symbol I seem to be to the men on the battlefield."

"Of course." They continued watching the nobles as the clock reached midnight.

Meanwhile

"We've got movement, just outside the gates" Orlo reported as he stopped his small magic tricks, Nia and Gilford calming down considerably as Erilyn tried to figure out how he performed one of the card flips.

"Touching on two hundred Artinian soldiers inside the city… how the hell are they inside? I thought mercenaries were the security force in here" Ethan asked Jorge as he checked ornithopter relay information.

"Do you really think the mercs would stop a standing army walking in with orders to come here? They aren't going to get in their way. They'll probably ignore the public disturbance once they storm the place too" the Medium replied as he looked out the window just downstairs and at the front door. They had moved the furniture against all doors, with the foam Orlo had sprayed keeping windows mostly protected from intruders without kicking hard. "Seems we have to lead them inside before we can head out."

"Warm welcome mat sir?" Ethan asked.

"It seems that way. Set up shop. Kill the lights."

"Fuck yes" Deacon replied as both Lights headed out of the room with Orlo putting his cards away. The humans in the room wondered why they suddenly started moving around with a purpose as the flying saucer headed to the windows and started installing what looked to be traps. The remainder of Bronze Team was following suit throughout the mansion, with mines, trip wires and alarm systems to warn of a breach.

"You three, stay here. Hostiles inbound" Jorge warned as he walked to the doors and closed them up, Orlo following him while Turnie stayed inside with them.

"Everything is going to be fine, we just have to thin their ranks then get you out of here" she told them softly.

"How… how many?" Gilford asked as he shared a glance with Nia.

"Not enough to stop us, I assure you."

(Recommended Song: Sam Tinnesz – Ready Set Let's Go)

"We got movement in first sector" Deacon reported as the back door was being broken through, with a mine going off almost immediately. A cannon was fired at the front door, blowing it open. What they weren't expecting was Jorge waiting there with his autocannon, shield at the ready. A hail of fire erupted outwards, tearing apart the cannon crew.

Five soldiers tried to break through the windows, with two succeeding, the remainder trying to somehow repel in with ropes wrapped around their waists. Ethan was on them in a heartbeat, his rifle picking them off easily.

"Sector two windows broken" Orlo reported.

"Bathroom cleared" Deacon responded as three rounds were fired, piercing the walls and taking out the soldiers who broke through that window. A mallet was used as what looked to be a paladin charged through the back door. Jorge back handed him across the room, snapping his neck as Ethan boost slid across the upstairs hallways overlooking the foyer. He was heading to the bedrooms used for the twenty men and women that had protected the princess, now disintegrated. A quick spray at the men who had been wounded by the traps laid inside, one of which was a blast panel with laser grid they had set up, and the room was empty of any living hostiles.

"Echoes in basement somehow" Orlo told them as he hovered near the door, opened it, dropped a few spider mines inside that he kept in Selene's special forces inventory set aside for them, then closed the door. Now that there were openings, the soldiers were just trying to rush in, only to be running into a meat grinder of bullets, lasers and micro missiles.

Deacon had somehow lapsed in judgement while moving towards the kitchen, with one soldier trying to ambush him. A quick dodge and combat knife to the Artinian's neck and the enemy was contained in that room.

Nia and Erilyn were wondering just what the noises that were coming from outside were, as the weapons being used made an odd pfft sound rapidly at odd times, the sounds of screaming when soldiers were killed coming right after as the different types of equipment ended their lives. There was a sound of kicking as the foam over the windows started to break open, with Turnie pushing everyone into the opposite corner while she sat right between the expected entrances for the soldiers.

They watched as two soldiers finally broke through, with her shoulder mounts aimed in both directions. The swordsmen got backs full of buckshot as four more came through, with another two shells fired before the last two could attempt to even engage in close combat with the healer. Unfortunately for them, Turnie wasn't about to be hit. One struck down, with her catching the blade between two hands, snapping it, kicking outwards and backflipping behind the second soldier. A quick foot sweep followed by a palm strike to the first's neck as he was open and they were both down, the second knocking his head on the floor and blacking out.

Not one to leave any alive, she quickly fired point blank two shots, one in the forehead and another in the chest for both with her sidearm. Erilyn was surprised she was so damn nimble; her moves were flowing like water with more soldiers coming in. For a metal soldier, she was a one-woman wrecking crew.

"How's it going up there Turnie?" Ethan asked as he fired triple shot bursts into oncoming Artinian forces from the main bedroom.

"Not bad, they're uncoordinated once they enter, you?" she asked.

"Almost like shooting fish in a barrel, I almost feel sorry for them… almost" he replied as the automaton chucked a grenade inside and turned the corner, waiting for it to go off. They were moving through the building in impressive speed, clearing rooms that the soldiers entered then moving on. Five against two hundred… and they were winning.

Jorge was finally seen smashing someone through the wall itself from downstairs, his strike breaking every bone in the man's body as he flew across the room, dead on impact. Nia screamed as Erilyn covered her head from the debris. These metal soldiers… they were incredibly effective at defending the mansion. As the body slid on the floor a few meters, Turnie stopped it with one of her feet. "You know you just opened up the wall for echoes to come in, right?"

"Sweep and clear, make sure none of them are waiting to ambush as we get the VIPs out of here" Jorge ordered.

"Detecting only twelve left… all running away. It's doubtful they saw us inside, their pings showed they never entered" Orlo reported as Artinian soldiers ran as fast as they could, not wanting to even enter the building. Every one of their comrades in arms was butchered by something inside that mansion. They weren't about to lose their lives to some creatures the princess had as back up that probably killed the mercenaries before. "Checking… no movement."

"Let's get them out of here. We'll grab a stagecoach still outside" Turnie said as she helped the three humans up and out of the estate, outside and into a waiting carriage. The horses were spooked, but Jorge held them back with his giant paws for hands, doing his best to sooth them. An ultrasonic emission system could be heard by the equines, calming them down.

"Easy" he said as they slowly settled, with Gilford taking the reins. "You drive, we'll hide inside." He nodded, not sure what to say as the huge metal warrior climbed in, making the inside a very tight fit. Everyone was practically crammed in like sardines due to his size. Nia and Erilyn both sat on Ethan's and Deacon's lap with Turnie on top of Jorge due to the size of the small cabin. Jorge had to hunch forward quite a bit to keep his head from punching through the ceiling.

"Hang on" Gil told them as he got the horses to pull forward, charging down the streets and heading for the front gates of the city walls.

"Anyone hurt?" Turnie asked as she looked between the two ladies. They both shook their heads, with Nia doing everything to hold onto Erilyn like a child to a mother. The carriage bolted across the city and through districts, finally reaching the gates.

"The blocks are in place, right?" Jorge asked Orlo.

"Should still be there, the portcullis should not be able to drop with those." The mercenary security saw the stagecoach charge towards them, with one whistling for the guards up top to close the entrance. Unfortunately for them, there were stone outcroppings pulled out at the halfway point by the helibot previously while cloaked, which was the main reason they were so late to rescue the princess. The horses pulled the carriage right through, with the remainder of the Artinian soldiers just outside on horseback to chase.

"We got a tail, won't give us enough time to dismount just yet" Orlo told them. He was latched to the roof with his cloak on, tracking the area and acting as a mini AWACS as Gilford pushed the horses as fast as they could go.

"Calling in some air support" Jorge informed the team as the coms was opened to the waiting gunship just above them and out a distance, rotating over the area. "Gunship inbound, danger close."

The specialized heavy transport turned into pure death circled the horsemen chasing them and unleashed hell, sending them into disarray as they wondered just what had carved their soldiers and horses to pieces in one strike. "Dragon! Dragon!" one soldier yelled out as they never got a good view of what had just attacked, the gunship flying so high and making odd noises due to the weapons it was using, one if which was the equivalent of a GAU-12 25mm Equalizer. They backed off and tried to regroup, with the gunship keeping watch while the carriage headed over a hill.

Two HRVs rolled up and stopped, with Gilford slowing the horses and letting everyone get out. The humans stared in awe at what these things were, with no horses pulling them, the sounds of their engines making them wonder if they were powered by magic. As soon as most of the group was inside the HRVs, ushered in by Turnie and Ethan, Jorge busted out of the stagecoach due the fact he seemed a little wedged in. That sent the horses into a panic as they ran off with the remainder of the carriage. The Commander of Bronze Team walked over and got inside, closing his door. "We're clear, let's head home."

The mission was a success, though how useful the princess was going to be, if any, was up to their empress.

Three Hours Later

Selene was practically falling asleep, despite the extra time she was out like a light in the carriage coming back, as the meeting continued, though it seemed to escalate into a few yelling matches often enough. Her circadian rhythm was being thrown off tonight. The nobles couldn't really agree on much, requiring deals to be made just to get laws passed that would benefit the people. In the back of her mind, that was pretty underhanded for quite a few of them, and quite unfair to the others who accepted the deals on behalf of the people, usually paying some sort of fee to get it through. One of those deals was paid for by the Rikter family, who seemed to do whatever he could to make sure the people got some respect.

"I'm telling you, there is no reason to have mercenaries control the security of this city anymore! Artinia is strong enough to provide a standing army, it is strong enough to move in and protect the people!" Alain Reysor yelled out at Donovan. It was slowly waking her up as her eyes glanced at the guards behind her. Most were half asleep, but there were a few she did notice that were very alert. There were four casters, all together, all of them watching intently.

It was possible they were just doing their job as professionally as possible, being students of the wizard's academy in Aureos, but the way they looked at everything…

"Psst" she whispered and nudged Morlanion. He wasn't falling asleep, but he did look tired, his arms pressed to the sides of the marble block he was leaning against as he sat down on one of the seats with Elsei drinking some water. He looked at her and blinked, wondering what she was interested in. Her head gestured in the direction of the wizards still very much alert, even compared to the other casters in other guard groups.

"I wonder if they are waiting for the meeting to end" he softly questioned as the wizards didn't move much at all.

"Could they be waiting for a signal?" she asked.

"Possible. It could be they might have only been contracted for a set amount of time. I've seen once before a group leave middle of the meeting. It was very embarrassing to the minor noble house when that happened."

"Why would they leave?"

"Not paid enough or haven't been paid at all. Some of them are foolish enough to have the contract laid out with payment coming at the end of the meeting, not before." As much as Selene couldn't believe people could be so stupid, she realized that yes, humans were dumb in a lot of ways, herself included.

I guess doing contracts for game companies got me used to half and half payment. Half when I start, half when I leave.

"Having a private security force handled by every noble house keeps pay for the mercenaries competitive and stops the government from meddling in every affair we have, we've been over this Alain" Donovan replied to Reysor.

"The amount of funds we could save instead of keeping them paid could go into our companies! The city itself! You are holding us back Donovan! Artinia is willing to step in and defend us, while you want low trained soldier wannabes!" Alain snapped back, his fist slamming into the table and making a little of his fat jiggle.

"Those low trained soldier wannabes have proven time and again that they are better prepared for most issues happening around us than the footmen that march about outside our walls!" Liam Ardenis, head of house Ardenis, growled out in an old gravelly voice, backing Donovan up. House Ardenis dealt with the most mercenaries for the main security of the city walls and gates, with house Everthorn dealing with the policing force.

"Haven't we had enough of keeping disconnected from Artinia? We are part of the kingdom, they are a part of us. Do we not have their symbol, their tabards on our walls?" the head of house Bachus, Jerceval, commented in defense of Alain.

"Something is… off…" Melsia softly said as the four of them got up and watched intently over the railing, with Hrist tracking the four wizards. The argument continued, getting larger with more houses joining each side. Unfortunately for Donovan, he was a little outnumbered, though his side did constitute the main mercenary companies that protected the city with Everthorn, Ardenis and Treeyul standing with him. House Reysor, however, had most of the trade and manufacturing, with the religion controlling houses seeming to hold back, not sure who to vote in agreement with. Edemus, Bachus, Reysor, Daldas, Valgon, Windal all seemed to be in agreement. The problem was, they were doing it for greed.

"This doesn't look good, they might lose the vote six against four, maybe more if Folsen and Yumerin join. Don… sway them…" Melsia whispered out.

"Bringing in the Artinian army to protect the city takes us out of control of the protection of the people. It also, last time I checked, puts many mercenaries out of a job. Unemployment would go up drastically if we took the steps you are inferring. The economy would tank with so few of them buying anything, the movement of coin would slow, and our companies would fail due to that" Donovan explained.

"You don't think soldiers buy things Donovan? You are a fool for thinking that, they are just like the rest of us" Alain retorted.

"Last time I checked, the Artinian standing army, at least the ones not required to join by our king, have contracts on them to buy from certain companies, most of which are based in Aureos. Not all of us have connections there, Alain, or the king's ear. Those men are more likely to buy with the discounts they are provided instead of paying for anything of decent quality made in Silvinholm."

"Are you saying my equipment, made by Aurean hands, is inferior, Donovan? The very same hands that have been chartered by our beloved king?" Alain replied.

"The equipment in question is made by slaves, Alain, not by hard working citizens. There is no incentive for them to create anything other than shoddy junk" Miles from the minor noble house replied. That started a new argument amongst everyone in the room. Donovan called for order and slammed his gavel on the table.

"They really go all over the place, don't they?" Selene asked.

"I believe they are still arguing over having Artinian guards here, but I can't be sure, at least just yet" Elsei replied.

"I want a vote on this!" Alain shouted.

"We already voted on this last year, it isn't happening Alain. It would put too many out of work, causing too much of a shift. Have you not seen what happens when a shift of power of that magnitude comes into effect?" Donovan told him.

"I had a feeling you would say that." The wizards upstairs were all bunched together, waiting for this moment. They cast a teleport portal between three of them while the fourth kept a magic barrier around the group. The portal appeared not in the middle of them, but downstairs near the meeting table. Out came Artinian soldiers who lined up along the outside of the room.

"Shit…" Selene cursed out as all the guards readied their weapons to protect their nobles.

"House Rikter, you are intentionally blocking the future of the city of Silvinholm. These fine men here, sent from Aureos, our holy imperial city of Artinia, have brought forth a much-needed security that allows us to dispense our funding in other avenues. Even now, they have done what no one else could do; I have word that they have found the lost princess of Artinia, the precious sister of our majesty, King Teiyan Erelius." There were whispers as everyone wondered if that was true.

They found her, but then they lost her. I have an entire team bringing her back to my castle, asshole.

"Is this true?" the head of house Bachus asked.

"It is. They have done what house Rikter was supposedly doing for the past year, in one day no less! Seems a bit suspicious they could find her when we could not." Alain seemed to snicker. Selene looked at Melsia who was watching her husband. The bodyguards near them had no idea what to do, whether to fight the wizards who weren't attacking anyone, or to sheath their weapons. This was the Artinian army being summoned in, not some assassins paid for to attack one noble house.

"Luck has its way with many an action, Alain, and they had a good deal of it just for this event. This is one time" Donovan said through a calm demeanor. Inside, however, he was trying to keep his cool.

"We need to get down there…" Melsia muttered through gritted teeth.

"Hold, mother. Wait a moment." Morlanion shared a look, his trying to calm her down while hers was of anger. Selene glanced between both of them, not saying a word.

"Luck, as it is, has swayed in our favor, Donovan. I have papers that have very damning evidence on it. It appears the estate she was being held captive in was sold by none other than your house. Care to give an answer to that?" Melsia was about to burst out in rage, but Selene put a hand on her shoulder. She knew she had no part to play in this but having her erupt and scream at them without her husband trying to defend himself would be foolish. The woman looked at the empress as she shook her head, putting a finger up to her mouth to keep quiet and wait.

"That estate was sold to an unspecified recipient through another company I have no control over. We never even met the group who bought it."

"Except the signature has the time written on it from both parties. Ralos Alfinteim and Donovan Rikter, two minutes apart." Alain was grinning a devious grin as he stared at the head of city hall, who was still remaining calm and composed.

"That is not the princess's signature, I have no idea who that man was or even was in the same room. Both parties were given the scroll to sign in different parts of the building" Donovan replied.

"A likely story."

"Ralos… he kidnapped the princess?" Morlanion whispered out, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion and shock. They continued to listen in as the wizards nearby continued to keep the portal open.

"The king believes that you, and for that matter, our fair city, is in league with General Antoine Falksworthy, who is still at large at this moment."

"Those are false accusations, you would do well to-"

"Oh, I am not the one accusing you, it is our fair and noble ruler that says this. We all must abide by his just word. Perhaps you should take it up with him to clear your name. In the meantime, he has allowed restricted control of the city amongst the houses who are willing to end the use of mercenaries in the security of the city. He wants to make sure this never happens again. The kidnapping of royalty, the princess no less…"

Morlanion gripped the top of the railing, doing his best to be even more level headed than his mother. "The General… I can't… my father would never do that…"

"Wait, does this mean we aren't getting paid?" one bodyguard behind them asked.

"It means you simians are out of a job" one of the wizards in the group cackled out.

"Arrest him!" Alain shouted as Artinian soldiers rushed to grab Donovan's hands. Before Selene could even take action, Morlanion and Elsei jumped from the railing and landed, rushing to his side.

"It's… Morlanion… The White Sword…" one of the soldiers muttered out in awe as they backed off for a second.

"My father would never do such a thing to the princess. He has served well the kingdom, just as I have." Alain sat in his seat, bringing his hand up to his forehead in feigned worry.

"Oh no, it is worse than I feared. The son of house Rikter is in league, probably the one that facilitated all of this. Tell me, how often have you been seen talking to General Falksworthy?" Morlan gritted his teeth.

"The General is no traitor! He would sooner die than harm the princess or any of the royal house!" he roared. "You all know of me! I have led the charge in many a battle for our kingdom! Why would we ever attempt something like this?!" he snapped out, looking amongst the soldiers. They then looked at each other, some even remembering fighting by his side. He was a hero in their eyes, taking on five, ten, even fifteen enemies of the kingdom by himself. His word carried weight.

"Maybe a play for something greater, to train the princess to take the crown of our king? I wouldn't really know, but it could all be answered back at the palace once you are all escorted there." Alain gestured with his head for the soldiers to move forward. They hesitated, knowing his strength and martial prowess. They hadn't seen Melsia run down from the second floor and head to be with her husband.

More soldiers came out of the portal, some even paladins of the holy order from the Artinian church. That seemed to focus the army, allowing them the courage to start moving in again. "We're sorry sir, but we have our orders. Come quietly."

Morlanion pulled his sword and shield, with Elsei pulling her halberd. Selene and Hrist just stood upstairs, watching. "Don't do this sir, drop the weapons" a soldier asked, almost begging, as he didn't want to fight a hero. Morlan saw the fear in quite a few of their eyes. They were just doing their jobs, ordered to come here by their king. While the nobles were calling the shots inside Silvinholm, outside Teiyan was commanding everything. Some of the soldiers were young, probably peasants who were drafted for mandatory military service and given a sword and shield.

Morlanion lowered his weapon and looked at them. "You all should be ashamed of yourselves, for helping in this plot against my family and me" he told them sternly. Elsei saw him do this and lowered her weapon as well, confused he wasn't going to protect his parents. The Artinian soldiers walked up and put manacles on each of them with a quiet "sorry" told to them.

The level 35 warrior looked up at the second-floor railing to see Selene and Hrist watching them, not supposed to be a part of anything at all. For all he knew, they were just here for the payment of guarding a noble for a congressional meeting. The two women must have looked like ordinary mercenaries, wondering if they were getting anything out of this. How wrong he was.