Chapter 8: Strategic Ambush
Oresoren village was located inside a cave. There were several huts inside as well as machinery that provided power. The floor itself was mostly covered with metal plating.
Harriet and Popo were already ahead of the group. Suddenly she hid herself behind a pile of boxes along with Popo.
As the group began to pass, Will spotted Harriet peeping from behind the boxes and stopped. This caused the group to stop as well.
"Raynard, who exactly is that young lady?" Chloe asked.
After a moment of Silence, Will finally answered. "My daughter."
"Daughter…" Senel mused.
"Daughter…" Chloe mused at well.
Then it hit them. "Daughter?!" Senel and Chloe asked in unison.
"That's a little over the top guys." Norma said.
Harriet then stepped out of hiding. "As much as I wish otherwise, it's true." Harriet said. "I took my mom's last name, not my father's."
"So, then, how old are you?" Norma asked.
"Nine." Harriet answered.
"Harriet was born when I was nineteen." Will explained.
"What?!" Norma asked in surprise. "Teach your only twenty-eight! No way!"
"That's what your surprised about?" Senel asked.
"Well, I mean, I thought he was more of an old man, you know?" Norma replied. "But, then, were finding out he's actually someone's old man!" She then turned to face Will. "I mean…seriously? You're really her old man?"
BOP!
Will whacked her on the head.
"Ow!" Norma groaned.
"Sorry about the commotion." Will turned to face Harriet. "It's uh…good to see you again."
"Again?" Harriet asked. "It's more like, "pleased to meet you."
"Harriet…I…" Will began to say.
"It was worth it, coming all the way here from the mainland." Harriet sneered. "I finally get to see the criminal's face."
"Will's a criminal?" Senel asked in disbelief.
"You're not planning to make excuses now, are you?" Harriet asked.
"Of course not." Will said.
"But now I hear that you of all people are pretending to be a sheriff on the Legacy." Harriet said in disgust. "Unbelievable. A criminal acting like a sheriff."
Will decided it was best not to reply to that.
"Why didn't you ever come to see me?" Harriet asked.
"I was exiled." Will sighed. "Surely you know that?"
"I know that! I know…but…" Tears were beginning to form in Harriet's eyes. "Don't get me wrong. I don't care about you at all. But mom…mom…" She began to sob. "Mom died and you didn't even come to her funeral."
"Harriet…" Will lowered his head.
"I hate you!" Harriet screamed before running away.
"Will, hurry up and go after her!" Senel urged.
"That's not my place, after all I've done." Will replied.
There was a moment of silence.
"Come, come. Let's talk more at our home." Pippo suggested.
Everyone nodded before entering a hut at the back of the village.
--
Inside the hut, Senel, Chloe, Will, Norma, and Jay sat in a circle.
"According to the request I received, you want to know about Vaclav's whereabouts and objectives, correct?" Jay asked.
"Tell me if Shirley's all right." Senel demanded.
"That wasn't part of the request." Jay sighed.
"Keep quiet, Coolidge." Chloe gave him a look of annoyance.
"Then stop trying to rush things along without me!" Senel growled.
"Normally, I only provide one piece of information at a time." Jay explained. "However, I'll make an exception this time since you helped out Quppo and the others." He then laid out a map and pointed to a specific spot. "Vaclav's main force is currently camped in this area."
"Is Shirley with them?" Senel asked.
Just then an otter walked in and handed Jay a piece of paper.
"Hmm, really...I see." Jay mused. "Thank you."
The otter the left the room.
"Shirley is being escorted by a detachment of Vaclav's army, which is currently moving through this area." Jay pointed to a location on the map. "And we are located here." He pointed to another location.
"So Shirl's actually pretty close by." Norma mused.
"Do you know where they're headed?" Senel asked.
"They're likely going to rendezvous with the main force. Here." Jay pointed to another area of the map.
"What is the main force doing?" Chloe asked.
"It appears they've entered the Ruins of Frozen Light." Jay replied.
"What?!" Norma asked in surprise."
"You've heard of them Norma?" Will asked.
"They're famous among treasure hunters as some of the toughest ruins to crack." Norma answered.
"The Ruins of Frozen Light have seals not only on the entrance, but inside as well." Jay said. "With all the strong security, it's been rumored that some great secret of the Legacy rests inside."
"From what I've heard, no one's made it to the deepest part of the ruins." Norma said.
"With Shirley's power, Vaclav will uncover the secret of the ruins." Jay said. "I'm almost certain that's what he's trying to do."
"So just what is the secret?" Will asked.
"I would guess this is connected to the war the Crusand Empire is waging." Jay replied. "The Crusand Empire is Vaclav's homeland after all. I wouldn't be surprised if the ruins contained a weapon, capable of turning the tide of the war. I think Vaclav has obtained some kind of information about that place and what it holds."
"Crusand is at war with my homeland." Chloe said. "I have to do something."
"But how?" Will asked.
"All we have to do is rescue Shirley." Senel answered.
"If it were that easy, we wouldn't be sitting here ringing our hands!" Chloe sighed. "We're up against an entire army!"
"Fear not, friends!" Quppo said. "We'll help too!"
This was a totally unexpected answer.
"Quppo?!" Jay asked in disbelief.
"We're going to rescue Shirley!" Pippo strummed the strings of his harp.
"It's time to return the favor you've shown us." Poppo added.
"No! There's no way you could do that!" Jay protested.
"If you think up a plan, I'm sure it'll work." Poppo said. "Ors."
"Jay! Jay! Jay!" Pippo, Quppo, and Poppo cheered. "Jay! Jay! Jay!"
"All right, all right." Jay gave in.
"Ors, ors!" Pippo, Quppo, and Poppo cheered.
--
An hour later, Jay came up with a plan.
"We'll launch a surprise attack before the detachment rendezvous with the main force." Jay explained. "I know the perfect place." He then pointed to an area on the map. "This point here. It's surrounded by tall cliffs and the army's movements will be restricted."
"Wasn't there a ruin there, too?" Will asked.
"Yes. The Waterways." Jay said. "That's the reason I chose this spot." He then put the map away. "We don't have much time. I'll head there fist." He then stood up and faced Quppo. "Quppo, get your crew ready."
"Roger!" Quppo said.
"We'll meet at the entrance at the waterways." Jay said. "Just take the rear exit of the village and head towards four o' clock."
"All for one, and one for all!" Pippo cheered.
Jay then left the room.
--
The group exited the hut.
"Looks like we'll be traveling together again after all." Will said. "As thanks for looking after Harriet, I'll forget about that stunt you pulled off on the mountain path. But just his once."
Senel remained silent.
"This doesn't mean I trust you." Chloe said coldly. "Don't forget that."
Senel lowered his head.
"Oh come on!" Norma pouted. "Can't you two get along! We're all friends here, right?"
"Also…" Will turned to face Pippo.
"Leave Harriet to me, I'll escort her safely to the city." Pippo assured him.
"Thank you." Will said.
"Don't mention it." Pippo smiled. "Melting a girl's frozen heart is what bards do best."
"All right, then." Will said. "Once everyone is ready, we'll head to the entrance to the Waterways."
"Yeah." Senel's said.
"Understood." Chloe nodded.
"Okay." Norma said.
The group then left the village.
--
After ten minutes of traveling, the group finally reached the entrance to the waterways.
Jay, Quppo, and Poppo were waiting for them.
"This way everyone." Quppo said.
Soon the group was standing on a cliff above the entrance.
"The unit that is escorting Shirley will arrive shortly." Jay said. "Let's go over the plan one last time."
The group nodded.
"First, Will and Norma." Jay shifted his attention to them. "You will be stationed here on the cliffs. When I give the signal, unleash every crystal eres you have at the head of the formation. That'll slow them down and direct their attention to the front."
"Right." Will nodded.
"No problem." Norma said confidently.
"When Will and Norma begin their phase. Quppo, you immediately begin yours." Jay said.
"We shout at the top of our lungs with the team hiding out over there." Quppo said.
"Leave it to us." Poppo said. "Ors."
"And lastly, the grand finale. That's where Senel and Chloe come in." Jay said. "You two are going to hide in the shadows over there." He pointed to a hiding spot below the cliff. "I'll get close to Shirley and throw out the smoke bomb. That's your sign to come out and secure Shirley. After that, enter the waterways and escape using the emergency passage."
"Got it." Senel replied.
"Understood." Chloe nodded.
Chloe stared at Senel for a few seconds before turning away. "Humph."
"Are you two going to be okay?" Jay asked. "You're making me nervous. The key to this operations success will be your ability to work together."
Just then an Oresoren ran up to them. "Jay, their almost here!"
"You heard him." Jay said. "Everyone get into position!"
The group nodded before heading to their positions.
--
Within seconds, the detachment unit arrived.
Melanie and Stingle were the first to show up, followed by dozens of soldiers. Behind the soldiers were two transport vehicles. Inside the transports where Shirley and Fenimore.
"There's Melanie and Stingle…" Jay mused. "But I don't see Cashel. Should I be worried that there's only two Terrors, or happy it's not all three."
"He's probably with the main force." Will suggested.
"It's time to start." Jay said. "Ready?"
Will and Norma nodded.
"5…4…3…2…1…" Jay began the countdown. Before he could give the signal, something unexpected happened.
"Yaaah!!!" Several voices shouted.
"Hey!" Norma said. "That's not right!"
"Did Quppo's group go first?" Will asked.
"No." Jay shook his head. "The Oresoren don't have such hideous voices."
Several men equipped with arrows got out of hiding position and fired. Several soldiers were struck down by the arrows.
"That's…" Will said.
"Bandits!" Jay shouted.
"Open fire!" Csaba shouted. "Open fire!" Just then he noticed Quppo and Poppo next to him. "All right!" Csaba shouted. "Who's the idiot who brought otters to a fight?!"
The bandits looked at one another and shrugged.
"Never mind about that." Csaba said. "Open fire!"
The bandits aimed their arrows at the soldiers and opened fire.
--
"An attack?" Melanie asked. "Who could attack us?"
Her answer came when Moses, Giet, and more bandits popped out of nowhere.
"Yahoo!" Moses shouted.
Two soldiers rushed at them. Giet charged at the soldiers and plowed them into the ground.
"It's payback time y'all!" Moses shouted. "Now where's my horny woman at?!"
"Woof!" Giet barked.
"That idiot from the hideout before." Melanie growled. "How dare he attack us. I'll show him what happens when he messes with the Terrors."
Melanie and a bunch of soldiers rushed at Moses group. Stingle remained behind. The bandits were hardly worth his time. The two figures hiding in the shadows by the cliffs seemed pretty suspicious though. With his decision made, Stingle headed towards the cliffs.
--
"That stupid bandit!" Jay hissed. "That's the last thing we need!"
"What do we do?!" Norma asked. "What do we do?!"
"I'll give the sign to Senel and Chloe." Jay replied. "Will, Norma, you back them up!" He then threw the smoke bomb.
--
"What's going on?" Chloe asked.
"I don't know!" Senel said. "The fogs to thick to make out what's happening!"
Just then someone emerged from the fog. It was Stingle.
"So, you survived." Stingle mused.
"Stingle!" Senel raised his fists in attack position.
"So this is Stingle the Vicious." Chloe drew her sword.
Stingle drew his sword as well.
--
Moses impaled another soldier with his spear. The soldier went limp and fell to the ground. He then saw Melanie approach him.
"What's up, baby?" Moses asked. "You miss me?"
"How dare you attack us!" Melanie hissed. "I'll make sure you regret this!"
"Well I didn't get my good-night kiss last time at the hideout." Moses grinned. "Now…that whip . My spear. Looks like there's some fun to be had."
"Don't be absurd!" Melanie shouted furiously before hurling a fire ball at him.
--
In the midst of the confusion, Shirley managed to untie her hands and jump out of the transport.
"The girl escaped!" One of the soldiers shouted.
As the soldiers rushed towards her, they were struck down by multiple lightning bolts.
--
"Shirley made a break for it." Will said. "Back her up." He then fired another thunderbolt.
"What about Senny and C?" Norma asked.
"They ran into Stingle!" Jay said. "Norma, hurry up and give them a hand!"
Norma nodded. Her finger tips began to glow.
--
Shirley jumped into the transport that Fenimore was in.
"Shirley…" Fenimore said. "What's going on?"
"Worry about it later." Shirley untied Fenimore's hands. "Just run!"
"R…run?" Fenimore asked.
"Hurry!" Shirley shouted.
They then jumped out of the transport vehicle and ran. Several soldiers chased after them.
--
Senel evaded a diagonal slash from Stingle.
"Demon Fist!" He launched a burst of energy from his fist.
Stingle batted the attack aside with his sword.
"Demon Fang!" Chloe unleashed an energy wave from her sword.
Although the attack was a direct hit, Stingle managed to shrug it off.
Senel ran towards Stingle and prepared to deliver an uppercut. What happened next caught Senel of guard. Instead of slashing at him as expected, Stingle rushed forward, grabbed Senel's neck, and slammed him to the ground.
Seeing an opening, Chloe slashed her sword down Stingle's back.
Stingle grunted, spun around, and delivered a sharp kick to her side.
Chloe groaned as she was knocked to the ground.
Senel's fists began to glow. As Stingle turned to face him, Senel slammed both fists into Stingle's chest knocking him over.
Just then he noticed Shirley had escaped.
"Shirley!" Senel called out.
"Coolidge, look out!" Chloe shouted.
Senel turned around and saw Stingle thrust his sword forward. Senel fell on his butt and the blade flew above his head barely missing it.
Just what is this guy made of? Senel thought. No matter how much we pound him, he just gets back up as if he hadn't been hurt at all.
Stingle raised his sword, ready to finish Senel off.
Just then a stalagmite burst out of the ground causing Stingle to stumble backwards.
"Sorry!" Norma called from the cliff. "I missed!"
"No, that was good." Chloe said. "Thanks!"
"Shirley, I'm coming!" Senel said.
Senel and Chloe then ran away. Stingle watched them go, not bothering to chase them.
Chloe…so that's her name. Why did she seem familiar. Wait, could she be… Stingle shrugged the thought off. Right now he still had a job to do. He could think later once the mission was complete.
--
Senel and Chloe ran up to Shirley and Fenimore.
"Senel?!" Shirley shouted.
"Did you say 'Senel'?" Fenimore asked.
"Shirley, this way!" Senel instructed.
"Who's that with her?" Chloe asked.
Just then, four soldiers got between them.
"Out of my way!" Senel gave one soldier an uppercut knocking it out cold.
Chloe impaled another with her sword.
Just then, a thunderbolt struck two soldiers down.
"That's Raynard's crystal eres!" Chloe remarked.
Four more soldiers showed up.
"Shirley, now!" Senel shouted. "Into the ruins!"
Shirley nodded before running off with Fenimore.
Two of the soldiers chased after them. The other two stayed behind to fight Senel an Chloe.
Senel punched one soldier in the face breaking its nose.
Chloe slashed another with her swords.
With the soldiers taken care of, Senel and Chloe chased after Shirley and Fenimore.
--
"Senel and Chloe have entered the Waterways!" Jay announced.
"Good." Will said. "Norma come!"
They then ran towards the entrance of the waterways.
--
Moses blocked the lash of Melanie's whip with his spear.
"That all?" Moses asked.
"I'm not done yet!" Melanie hissed before hurling another fire ball.
Moses dove out of the way evading the scorching projectile.
Just as Melanie was about to charge up another spell, she noticed Shirley had escaped the transport. Darn, that girl had to escape at the worst time possible. If that girl got away, Lord Vaclav would be furious. The punishment of the overconfident bandit would have to wait, recapturing the girl was a higher priority.
"We'll settle this later." Melanie glared. "I've got more important things to do then waste my time beating up a pathetic weakling like you." She then ran off.
"Hold up, ya tease!" Moses ran after her. "We only got started."
--
Jay stood on the cliff waiting patiently. It had been ten minutes since the brawl had subsided. The group had successfully rescued Shirley (by default anyway) and entered the Waterways. Some soldiers had followed them in there as well. It would be all up to the group from this point on.
Just then Quppo and Poppo walked up to him.
"Quppo, Poppo, good work." Jay complimented them.
"We didn't do anything." Quppo said.
"That's fine." Jay replied. "Everyone got inside the Waterway as planned. I'm not to thrilled with those stupid bandits getting involved, though."
