Subterfuge

Felyse thought she was the unluckiest person in the world. Traveling as a costume tailor for a dancing troupe, their caravan was waylaid by bandits on their way to Haldin. For the past week she and along with the rest of the female staff have been locked up inside the mountain fortress. She considered herself lucky in that regard. The dancers have already been taken away on the first night along with the rest of the men. The beastwoman knew that whoever wasn't killed was merely waiting transport to whoever would pay for them.

For now, at least, Felyse was glad that she wasn't in a cell. In her gut, however, she knew how this night will end. Right now, she and the rest of the women were being forced to cook a celebratory feast. She had heard from passing conversations that a golem had been found wandering the woods. One that looks like no other of it's kind. Something like that is bound to pull in a lot of gold. Even more than what near two dozen females and a handful of males can be sold.

Continuing to stir the cauldron filled with stew, she eyed one of the guards that was there to watch them while they worked in the kitchen. He had his grubby arms around one of her co-workers. A hostage to keep them all in line. Her ears twitched in anger every time his hands began to wander around her body. Her friend just stood there with an emotionless look on her face. She had already surrendered to hopelessness. But Felyse wouldn't. She would rather bite off her tongue than surrender herself to these pigs.

She shook her head in frustration. The beastwoman wanted desperately to fight back but even she knew that there was no way out of this alive. She thought that maybe it would be for the best to go down fighting at least. Surrounded by enemies, Felyse knew that she wouldn't see the light of another day. If the gods are willing, a few of them wouldn't either.

She began to reach down towards the smoldering logs below the cauldron when another girl grabbed her hand.

"Felyse!" she whispered harshly, "What do you think you're doing!?"

The beastwoman pulled her hand away swiftly, "Anette, let go! You know what's going to happen after dinner. Well, I'm not going to let them have their way with me. With all of us!"

The girl looked away. Felyse couldn't blame them for their inaction. Life is hard to let go of. Even if death looks like the better alternative. But this is the only choice they have now. No one is going to save them.

Heroes didn't exist. Not for people like them.

Her hand began to move down once more towards the logs when the ancillary door opened across the room. Moving her eyes towards the sound, she saw what appeared to be a golem. One dressed finely with a red cloak that hugged tightly around itself. The symbol of Haldin was emblazoned for all to see.

It looked around with it's cubed head as if it was confused on where it was. She thought if this was prize the bandits had found. It certainly didn't look like any golem she had seen before. Compared to the leather and wood materials that made up craftsman golems, this thing was pure metal, like it was one of the aggressive ones found in the wilds or dungeons.

"H-Hey! Golem! What are you doing here!?" The guard shouted the moment he noticed the new presence.

The golem began to wave its hands dramatically, "O-Oh! I'm sorry, sir! Terribly sorry! It seems I have gotten lost!" Just like any other golem, it's way of speech was alien. It's accent was something no one could figure out.

"What the-... Jermaine should have been keeping a watch on you!" he said as he approach the golem menacingly, "And who said you could wear clothes huh?"

"O-Oh... w-well, that guard told me to put them on. H-He started laughing as he wanted me to "put on a show". it replied, "T-Then he told me to go down here and get him some food."

The guard began to rub his forehead in frustration, "Bloody hell! Jermaine knows he should be fucking around with the merchandise." He pauses in thought for a moment before he reaches a conclusion, "Fine, go to the corner over there and shut your trap! I'll have to grab one of my mates to get you back in the cell. Maybe kill that asshole for the trouble he's causing..."

"Ohhh, thank you sir!" It grovels. Felyse could barely take this anymore. She was glad she could fight back at least. Not like this thing. But she knew this was their chance to fight back.

As he began to walk towards the door leading to the gathering hall, Felyse readies herself. But the moment was interrupted by the golem once again.

"W-Wait, sir! Before you leave, I wish to repay your kindness!" it shouted at him.

The guard wasn't too happy that it was still dealing with this thing, "Huh? What are you going on about golem!? I told you to go to the corner!"

"I-I wanted to offer to repair your shirt! It's quite tattered right? I could fix it no problem, sir!" it begs profusely.

The guard scoffs, "Gah, I don't have time for this! I need to get you back in your cell before the boss-"

"Oh it will just take a moment, sir! Just a quick minute and that shirt will look good as new!" it continued persistently. This thing must have some sort of obsession with repairing, Felyse thought.

The guard seemed hesitant to accept the generous offer but quickly gave up in the end, "F-Fine! But be quick! You're only getting one minute!"

"I assure you, my work is amazing sir! Everyone'll be speechless!" it chirped as it's eyes began to glow a deep crimson, "Please turn around while I examine your back..."

The guard turned away from the golem as it placed it's hand around his back as if to take measurements. Felyse watched with impunity as the golem's arms reached over and around the guard's neck. And snapped it.

The room fell dead silent, broken only by the sound of the guard's corpse falling to the ground. The golem careened it's head slowly towards the women in the kitchen and stretched it's hand out.

"Good, you all stayed silent," it's voice changed to a calming tone, "My name is Arlan. A golem working for the Adventurer's Guild. I got a bunch of my friends attacking the encampment outside while I clear out the interior and rescue all the captives. Is this all of you?"

Everyone was too stunned to hear it's words, however. Felyse, however, was able to shake herself out of her stupor, "Y-You're here to rescue us?"

The golem nodded, "That's right. I've secured the fortress other than the gathering hall. Are you all the only one's here or are there more?"

"Three of our girls are in there, acting as serving girls." Felyse replied, "Everyone else is part of the bandits."

"Can you get them out of there?" it asks.

"I-I can!" one of the girls in the back speaks up.

"Good. Go out there and use whatever excuse you can to get them back in here, " the golem remarks, "The moment that happens is when I attack."

The girl nods as she calmly walks out the door leading to the gathering hall.

Felyse looks over at her would-be savior, "You're a golem that can fight?"

"That's right," it says hoisting its spear. She blinked for a moment, wondering where it had found a weapon. It certainly wasn't the guard's. "I'm the only intelligent combat golem found so far."

She narrowed her eyes at the golem, "Then what was with all the games you were playing with that guard?"

It shrugged, "Just wanted to get some practice at subterfuge that I was taught. I managed to take out all of the patrols in this place without raising the alarm." the golem says with a hint of pride in its voice.

'Was this thing really a golem?' she thought. It's mannerisms was too human like to the point of causing some discomfort. It had began to recline against the table as it awaited the girl's return.

"Besides," the golem continues, "You're the only one who didn't looked 'too' shocked when I killed him."

Felyse cast her eyes downward, "I'd rather that it would be me to gut these pigs instead. I can't imagine what they've done to the rest of my friends..."

"Do you work work with those dancers?" it asks.

She nodded her head, "Yes." she replied solemnly.

"They're still alive, you know." Arlan replies, "They were in bad shape but I've relocated them to a safe place and healed their wounds with magic."

Felyse's eyes widen at the golem's revelation as the door opens again. Four women have enter the kitchen. The three newcomers became shocked once they realized what was going on before the other women shushed them in fear of attracting attention.

Arlan straightened itself out, "Is this everyone?" it asks.

Everyone gave one last look around before they all started nodding in agreement.

"Good. Now I want you all to head out through the ancillary door into the hallway. Like I said before, all the guards are dead so you don't have to worry about running into anyone. Follow it down until you reach the first door on your left. It's a storeroom that I want you all to hide in until I come back for you. I've sealed the exit with Earth magic so there's no way out at the moment. Once I'm done here, I'll return for you all and we'll leave together."

The women began to rush out the side door as the golem inched closer towards the doors leading to the gathering hall.

"H-Hey! Wait!" Felyse says trying to grab Arlan's attention, "You're not seriously going to take on a room full of bandits all by yourself!?"

Arlan turns back towards the beastwoman non-chalantly, "Well... I am going to thin the ranks a bit before I rush in." It lifts its hands in front of her to reveal a softly glowing orb of flame, levitating just above its palm. "...You want to do the honors?"

Felyse stood there confused until she realized the golem's intentions. She nodded and held out her hand, accepting the pulsing orb. Arlan moves next to the door and places a hand on it. It nods at her as it gently opens it partially.

She could see the bandits, sitting by their tables. Laughing, drinking and gorging themselves on their ill gotten gains. The taste of bile filled her mouth at the sight of it all; her chest tightening in rage.

In one motion she throws the orb through the gap. She could see a few of their heads turn at the object passing overhead as Arlan closed the door.

Arlan nods at her, "Go! Quickly!"

Turning on a dime, she runs out the side door into the hallway as shouts of confusion erupted behind her.

"Maybe there are heroes for us after all," she says to herself as she runs down the corridor. She could barely hold in her smile as an explosion rocks the walls around her.

Felyse thought she was the luckiest person in the world.