The Earth's Bounty
Chapter 10
"Hwagh!" an Imperial Court guard was struck by an arrow, alerting the nearby guards and frightening some civilains.
"He- AGH!" another guard was struck by a man in a black cloak, then was pushed to the ground.
The black coated people, around 40 in number, then stormed the Imperial Square, causing mass panic when the wagon they brought exploded.
Several civilians and guards alike were wounded or killed by the bombing, but out of the smoke ran out more guards ready to defend.
"YAH!" a cloakman yelled as he was stabbed by a guard's spear.
However, despite valiant efforts, the deeply confused and disoriented guards fell back to the more thoroughly organized cloaked assailants.
"Let it in!" the head of the cloaked people, one with a white and red cloak, told his fellow comrades, and a regal carriage was brought into the square.
Once in place, the cloakmen opened the vehicle, and then Prince Erberd was dragged out of it, accompanied by a masked figure holding a large axe.
"Ethelbert!" the leader yelled to the palace, watched on by horrified civilians and wounded guardsmen, "Here, we few people defy you! We defy the most powerful ruler in the world!" he called to his men, who brought the bound Prince over. "All this power! All this military! All this dominion! And you still cannot defend your own son!" he removed the sack on Erberd's head, causing the masses to gasp.
"Agh..." Erbered groaned, completely disoriented, then looked up to the leader, "I'll never surrender..."
"You won't have to." the cloaked leader said, then told the executioner to come forward, "Behold! The sins of the father will burden the son!" he cackled.
The executioner nodded, then raised his axe as the Lord Prince was knelt on a block of wood, "HRAH!" he yelled, "AHH- GWAH!" he was struck in the chest by a bolt and knocked down.
"What!?" the head of the cloakmen gasped, then saw Raguna fly in and dive kick the cloakman that was holding Erberd.
"Sorry to ruin the surprise." Raguna said and shot two more cloakmen, "But you have a pretty pence on your head." he smirked and grabbed the sword of a cloakman trying to hack him.
"Why you-" the leader growled, "Damn bounty hunter!" he pulled out a dagger and went for the Lord Prince, "You still fai-"
POOM! A gunshot was heard, and a heavy lead ball struck the leader in the head.
"HAH!" some Imperial Dragoons, hiding in the nearby trees, jumped down and charged at the men.
"Get them off me!" Raguna growled as he was being overwhelmed by the cloakmen, "I need a breather!" he flew up, kicking one of his foes off of him midair.
However, it was this act that let him see a separate carriage going towards the palace.
"Watch ou-"
KAPPOOOM! The runaway carriage exploded, busting one of the gates, allowing more cloakmen to storm into the palace.
"Hrreh... I won't get paid if he dies..." Raguna muttered and blasted off towards the palace.
"We got the Lord Prince!" a Dragoon soldier said as his squad surrounded Erberd, "Reinforcements at the Palace!"
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"HAA!" Imperial guards clashed with cloakmen in the main lobby, but the explosion had weakened their morale and their senses, so they were slowly being pushed back.
KAPOOM! Another explosion busted a hole into the left wall, then more cloakmen stormed in.
KLASH! One of the windows was broken when Raguna flew in.
"It seems I got my work cut out for me." the bounty hunter grumbled and shot an archer that was aiming from the balcony, "I better be paid extra for this." he flew and landed on the balcony, then shot another cloakman.
"HA!" a cloakman ran to strike him with his spear, but Raguna kicked the weapon aside and then karate chopped the man in the neck, causing him to launch right off the portico and into the floor below.
"Amateurs..." Raguna grunted, then saw a lone cloak man run into a secluded hallway, "He can't be up to good.." he commented, then ran and reloaded his crossbow in the process.
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"The Bounty Hunter Raguna Fetth has been sighted in your area." the cloaked man saw a magical projection on a rune book, one of an elf woman, "Be careful."
"Hmph..." the man grunted and closed the magic book, "I would like to see him try." he muttered, then heard the calls of soldiers down the hall.
"Ethelbert, it isn't safe over here." a highly decorated man told the Emperor as they were guided down the hall with Lady Ethelbert and highly armed Imperial Dragoons, "I suggest we seek refuge immediately."
"Norbert, my brother." Ethelbert said, "Supreme Commander of all my forces... When in all my 50 years of reign have you seen me leave my throne for an outside force?" he asked the man.
"I'm just trying to be cautious, my brother." Norbert told him, "The palace under attack can be a serious threat to your life..."
"The Noradians once reached the foot of the Palace in the Great War." Ethelbert grumbled, "You know what happened to them when I decided to stay on my throne?" he asked, "You know what happened to them?"
"Yes, brother, but we had the whole army at hand during that moment." Norbert responded, "Right now we only have the palace guards and the Dragoons.
On top of the entourage, on the third floor, stood the cloaked man, who removed his cover and revealed himself to be a dark skinned man. His hair was cut short, and his left cheek had a scar, all while being covered on the chest by a dragon hide armor.
"Excellent..." the man said and pulled out his bow, then aimed at the Emperor.
"They have my son, Norbert!" Lady Ethelbert spoke, "I need to see him!"
"Ma'am, I think..." the Supreme Commander continued the conversation, unaware of the threat above them.
"There... fall into my tra- AGH!" the man was hit in the back by a strong force, and two bodies fell from the third floor.
THUD! The two people hit the ground behind Ethelbert's entourage, startling the group.
"Apologies for stepping in." Raguna chuckled as he pinned the man to the ground, "But it's all part of the business."
"At ease." Ethelbert told the Dragoons, who were aiming their handgonnes at the two men.
"Sire, I may have saved your life." Raguna stood up and picked the young assassin up, "Because this is Issas..." he showed the monarch his foe, "One of the Falcons of Sahranistan."
"I knew they would do this." Ethelbert clenched his fists, "Those damn sand dwellers are not even thankful for letting them rule independently..."
"Hahahaha..." Issas spoke, "This is not about my country, Ethelbert." he chuckled, "It is not they who want you dead."
"Who is it then?" Raguna tightened his grip, "Speak and I may let you live... Though the Emperor might find that idea debatable." he laughed.
"As if he doesn't know..." Issas scoffed, "You know who wants you dead... Emperor..." he said, and was pushed forward by the bounty hunter.
Some Dragoons went forward and seized the man.
"Be careful... Runemate." Issas told Raguna, "My brother will come for you." he cackled as he was being carried off.
"I wish Afars will try..." Raguna scoffed, then looked at the Emperor.
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"And I give you this, Raguna Fetth." Norbert, the Supreme Commander of all Sechs Forces, said as he placed a ribbon on Raguna's neck in the presence of the Emperor himself, "For your valor and sacrifice in not only protecting the Lord Prince, but the The Lord Emperor Himself."
"My treasury is open to your bargain, Raguna." Ethelbert told him as he sat back on his throne, "Take what is reasonable to both parties."
"Very well." Raguna spoke, looked at the Emperor, then at Lady Ethelbert, then at the Lord Prince, "I believe a fair price is... 500,000,000 coin?" he asked.
"It shall be done." Ethelbert nodded, "And for your services to our country, I declare you a full naturalized citizen of the Sechs Empire. And... one other thing." he clapped his hands, and Commander Lynette stepped up.
"Hmm?" Raguna mumbled in surprise.
"I present to you a bride." Ethelbert said as he pointed at Lynette, "If you accept that is... I wish for your line to blend in to the one of the High Sechs Nobility, right, Lynette?"
"Sire!" Lynette bowed and saluted, "Anything you say is wise!"
"What do you say, bounty hunter?" Ethelbert asked, "Give up your life of a vagabond and join the Elites of Sechs society."
Raguna looked at the Emperor, and then to Lynette, "Sire... I deeply apologize." he spoke, "But my quest to stop those who have infringed the law is still not over..." he looked at Lynette, "And even though I find the Lord Emperor to have a brilliant suggestion of dames, I'm afraid I cannot wed until my mission is complete."
"And when will that be, Bounty Hunter?" Emperor Ethelbert asked.
"Until all of them are gone..." Raguna grumbled.