Chapter 139 - A Desperate Call for Help

—3rd Person POV, Earlier—

'I hope the commander will grant me my vacation request, I really need the time off. This stupid assignment cost me my opportunity to try all the new foods back home that come from Archduke Cole's territory.', a Shadow Agent thought while out gathering intelligence, 'Sometimes this job just sucks ass.'

Two hours into her surveillance shift, Agent Vea was gathering the daily news from a merchant when she spotted a familiar face waiting at the Main Gate. Seeing King Aultcray standing there in line with several of his men, Vea was confused why they had shown up unannounced. Believing that they might be imposters for a moment, that thought quickly faded when she saw the Royal Crest Ring on his finger.

'Something is not right here…the Queen would not have allowed him to come here without warning us ahead of time.', Vea thought, 'After his last stunt, she would definitely want him under surveillance to prevent any further issues. I have to alert the commander immediately!'

Buying a few items from the stall she was at, Vea quickly left the area just as Aultcray's group reached the gate. Running down several side streets once the guards were out of sight, she continued running till she reached their safe house. Confirming that no one followed her back to their base, she quickly got inside and went straight to her commander.

"Agent Vea, why are you back so early? Your shift does not end for another three hours, were you discovered?", her commander asked nervously.

"No ma'am, King Aultcray and several of his men are at the Main Gate. Did we miss a notice from Castle Town about his visit?", the agent replied as she saluted her commander.

"No, we have not…", the commander answered with a confused look, "You are certain it is the King and not an imposter?"

Nodding her head the agent acknowledged that Aultcray had the genuine Royal Crest on his person. Knowing the magical signature that it gave off by heart, she was certain he was the real deal. Agreeing with Vea's assessment that the Queen would not have allowed them to come without notifying them, the commander suspected someone intercepted the message.

"Alright, we are closing up shop and retreating for the time being.", the commander ordered, "Help me burn all of our documents and clean up the home."

Throwing all their documents into the fireplace, Vea gathered up the few personal belongings everyone had and threw them into one bag. Doing a thorough sweep of the home to remove any traces of them being there, the two women went out the front door and marked it with a piece of charcoal. Leaving behind a crude drawing of a dog, any passerby would think a child drew on the door but to the other agents, it would be a sign that their location was compromised. Tucking the belongings in a predetermined location several alleys away, both women then split up to take different routes back to the Main Gate.

"Were you followed?', the commander whispered as they regrouped.

"Just the usual pervert, I dispatched him several blocks from here…no witnesses.", Vea replied.

Confirming that Vea's information was correct, the commander decided to follow them for protection. Pretending to be housewives gossiping about their husbands the two agents bided their time waiting for the King's group to move. Chatting with each other for fifteen minutes or so, eventually, a young guard came running back to the gate with a sealed document bearing the Minister of Foreign Relations seal on it. Handing the document over to his superior, the Chief Guard quickly read it over.

"The King has agreed to meet with you…", the Chief Guard said with a confused look, "Are you sure this is correct boy?"

"Yes sir, the Foreign Minister gave it to me himself.", Davos answered with a salute.

"Alright…well you lot lucked out today.", the Chief Guard stated understandably concerned, "Davos, please escort King Aultcray and his men to the Castle."

Stopping their discussion, the commander knew something was very wrong. Several powerful nobles from within the Faubrey Nobility had been turned away from meeting their King yet King Aultcray was being given an audience. No royal family would prioritize a foreign leader over their own which meant they were being led into a trap. Recalling the numerous warning that Queen Mirellia had given them about possible retaliation for breaking off Malty's engagement, this was likely payback for that insult.

Watching the group depart the Main Gate, both agents followed them from a safe distance. Looking for any potential assassins lurking in the crowd, the two blended in seamlessly with the sea of people on the streets. Tailing them back to Faubrey Castle, as they could not follow them in, the commander led Vea over to below where the Throne Room was.

"Alright, keep watch while I listen in to what is being said.", the commander ordered as she closed her eyes and heightened her hearing.

Tuning out the surrounding noises, the commander focused her senses on the windows thirty feet above them. Waiting for them to reach the room, they stood there silently waiting for something to happen.

—Throne Room, Current Time—

"Move!!", Aultcray shouted as he dove for the floor.

Following his example, his guards narrowly avoid their attacker's mighty swing. Creating a large gash in the wall behind them with just the air pressure, they realized how outclassed they were. Suspecting that he was using magic to increase his physique and stamina, Aultcray determined that he had to be as strong as ten to twenty men easily.

"Dregg, we need to use Plan Exodus!", Aultcray commanded.

"Right!", the guards replied rising to their feet.

Focusing on their speed advantage Aultcray and his men began using hit-and-run tactics on the Elf. Swatting at the group like flies, the Elf began losing his patience as he found it difficult to hit them. Waiting for his attention to slip, Aultcray's guard Dregg broke out of the formation and grabbed a piece of wall that the Elf had blown out. Throwing it as hard as he could at the window several feet above him, the stone shattered the glass pane creating a hole for him to use.

"What do you think you are doing?", the Elf said looking over in the direction of the sound the broken glass made as it hit the floor, "None of you can leave here alive!"

"Now!!", Aultcray shouted as he and other men shoulder checked him.

Thrown off balance, the Elf could not line up a magic attack at Dregg. Pulling a flare out of his pouch, he wasted no time firing it out of the hole and into the city. Exploding into a small red ball of dust, they could only hope now that one of the Shadow Agents in the city would see the signal and alert Castle Town.

—Outside the Castle—

Far below the Throne Room, the two women saw the signal flare explode overhead. Knowing what that meant the commander ordered Vea to use the Teleportation Stone to return to Castle Town immediately. Telling her to alert the Queen that the King and his guard were in grave danger, she told her to ask for Cole's aid.

"The King brought some of the best fighters in our nations, if they are calling for aid the enemy they are fighting must be incredibly powerful. Go now, I will join them and help buy more time!", the commander shouted throwing away her disguise and hurriedly scaling the wall with magic.

Doing as she was ordered, Vea pulled out the Teleportation Stone from her pouch and forced a small amount of magic into it. Picturing the Queen's Study, the spell contained within immediately activated sending her straight back to Castle Town.

—Throne Room—

Sensing a powerful spell activate outside the castle wall, the Warrior Elf's comrade came rushing out of the neighboring room. Having been on standby, in case the enemy was stronger than they anticipated, the Navigator told his commander to hurry up.

"Haleth, they alerted their agents in the city!", the Navigator shouted, "We need to go now before that deity we heard about shows up!"

"So that is what you did…", Haleth said looking back at the human group with annoyance, "The information that fat pig gave us was wrong, you are not as stupid as he made you out to be. Callon, prepare the weapon…freeze this hovel of a city to the core."

"We do not know how long we have, we should leave now according to General Imlerith's orders!", Callon refuted.

"Do as I say, or you will die with them!", Haleth spat.

Begrudgingly doing as he was commanded, Callon retreated and barred the door behind him. Realizing that they were going to die now, the Castle Guard joined the fight desperately hoping to stop their icy fate. Unconcerned with the new combatants, Haleth focused on trying to kill Aultcray and his men. No longer able to freely move, due to the Castle Guard blocking their path, the men found dodging much more difficult.

"Over here!!", the Shadow Agent shouted as she broke through the window.

Turning around to look back at the new attacker, the commander through a sticky smoke bomb at the Elf's face. Believing that it was an explosive bomb, he shield himself with his arm allowing the smoke bomb to attach itself to his right forearm. Quickly engulfing the Elf in blinding smoke, the Agent pleaded with the King to evacuate to safety.

"My King, please retreat immediately! One of my agents has already returned home to ask for Lord Cole's assistance!", the commander informed him.

"No, we must find the other Elf that was here just a moment ago!", Aultcray replied looking for an exit, "They intend to encase the populace of this city in an icy grave, we need to stop him!"

"Follow me!", the Minister shouted from beside the throne, "I believe I know where they are keeping the weapon! My family is here in the capital, while I deserve death, my children and wife are innocent people."

With no other option available, Aultcray and his men used the smoke cover to slip away from Haleth. Rushing toward the Minister, he opened the door Haleth came through and told them to stay close.

—Melromarc Castle—

Arriving at the Queen's Study, the agent was relieved to find that the Queen was already in the room. Sifting through her usual daily reports, Mirellia was startled to see the agent suddenly appear out of thin air. Going to ask her why she showed up without being commanded to do so, the Queen realized the agent was holding a Teleportation Stone. Having ordered her agents to only use them in emergencies, as they were incredibly expensive, she understood something terrible happened out in the field.

"My Queen, King Aultcray and his men are under attack at Faubrey Castle. I do not know the details, but they used the Red Signal flare.", the Agent advised dropping to one knee.

Remembering the flare colors her husband decided on, red meant that it was a life-or-death situation. Opening a drawer in her desk, she pulled out the phone Cole gave her. Having been shown by her daughter Melty how to use it, Mirellia immediately called Cole to ask for his help.

'Was the King of Faubrey truly that unhappy with our new arrangement?', she thought imagining the worst-case scenario, 'Dear…please stay alive long enough for help to come!'

Ring twice before connecting, Mirellia did not wait for Cole to speak before blurting out a call for help.