All done! It was a blast writing this chapter and I'm glad I finally made it to this part. Just a heads up guys, there will be one more chapter before I decide to take a break from this story. I really want to focus on my other stories and I'm even thinking about writing some new Samurai Jack fics that I've been thinking about lately. Thanks so much for all the love and support people. PEACE OUT V!
Jason had arrived at Feoh at last. He had hoped to be there before the Kuroinu had attacked, but unfortunately he was too late.
The fortress-city walls were covered in dents from siege weapons and many dead laid outside the walls. The fortress called Iris had crumbled and left a giant gap that allowed easy entry for the invaders. Demons and men poured through like a plague. Black smoke rose from the inner city and the screams of the people's anguish could be heard for miles.
The Hell Horse Jason was riding whinnied in excitement. Small torrents of flames escaped his maw of sharp teeth. Hell Horses loved battle, the smell of blood and death excited them and stirred them up into a frenzy.
After calming down his beast, the mercenary turned his head to see his army marching behind him. He had brought over a thousand men to aid Celestine's army. Speaking of who, Jason saw the form of his leader in the distance, apparently giving a speech to all who came. It must have been a good one because the army cheered with excitement.
Jason found his employer in the main camp. After tying down his horse some place safe and telling his men to wait for orders he went to find her. He entered the main tent and saw Olga, Chloe, and Claudia.
Celestine turned around from looking at a map and smiled when she caught sight of him.
"Sir Jason." She greeted with a beautiful smile.
"Lady Celestine." Jason bowed his head respectfully.
Claudia nodded her head in acknowledgement, which he returned. Olga actually sauntered toward him. A lovely smile on her lips and a sashay in her hips. Chloe walked just a foot behind her, a neutral expression on her face.
"It is good to see you again, Jason."
"Like wise lady Olga." He looked her up and down. "You look well."
Though there was no hint of lust in his tone, Olga took the complement like it was high praise. In a way it could've been coming from Jason.
"Why thank you. I've been feeling much better with Celestine's aid. And Chloe is always at my side ready for anything I need."
"I live to serve, m'lady." Chloe bowed loyally.
"So your magic is back and working?"
She shook her head solemnly. "Unfortunately, no. I'm afraid I have a bit of a ways to go before I fully regain my powers."
"You two can shoot the breeze later." Claudia interrupted. "Can we please get back to the battle."
"My Apologies, Lady Claudia." Olga said, but her tone implied she wasn't sorry in the least.
"Yes, now that Jason is here, perhaps we can make more efforts against the Kuroinu." Celestine said.
"What about the other Shields?" Jason asked.
"I'm afraid they won't arrive in time. We are the closest that could come and even then, the battle started before we arrived." Celestine responded.
"All the more reason we should continue strategizing." Claudia said impatiently.
"Agreed." Jason said and walked toward the table. He stood by the other corner of the table while the two polar elves and the knight stood on the three others.
"Before we begin," Claudia said, "do you have any questions, Sir Bellum?"
Jason hummed when he considered the question. "The fortress . . ." he finally asked, "how did it fall?"
The three seemed confused by that. "What do you mean?" Claudia questioned.
"There's a giant hole in the fortress that's allowing the enemy to flood in. How did they bring that down so quick?"
"Does it matter how?" Celestine asked with pure curiosity.
"The fortress Iris is one of the most impregnable structures in Eostia. Thick walls, with powerful weapons, and magic enchantments. This battle obviously just started, yet they brought it down in no time."
"You're worried that they have some weapon that can tear down magical barriers or large structures." Olga said, catching his thinking.
"Maybe . . . maybe not."
"We don't know how they did it." Claudia shook her head. "It had already fallen when we arrived."
"No one saw how the Black Dogs brought down Iris?"
Everyone shook their head negatively.
Jason looked to the blonde elf. "Lady Celestine do all the fortress walls have magical enchantments on the inside of the fortress-city?"
Celestine's pointed ears perked at that. She placed her small chin on her dainty fingers and gave his words some thought. After a moment she answered.
"They do not. There was no need. Who would attack their own defenses from the inside?"
Jason was quiet. The eerie silence started to eat away at their reasoning and cause the three to become nervous. What was it that the merc concluded?
"Moles." That one word made them blink. "I think Vault has someone on the inside that brought down Iris and let the Kuroinu in."
The three women looked at each other before realization dawned on them. It made complete sense.
"Yes, that sounds something like that dog, Vault, would do." Olga growled.
"It's the only thing that explains why the fortress fell so quickly." Celestine added.
"But, it's not enough." Claudia said, drawing everyone's attention. "Even though it's given the black dogs a serious advantage, it's not enough to completely overwhelm the city."
"That's true also." Celestine said. "The fortress-city has many soldiers and knights ready to defend it. Even with demons, the Kuroinu Army would be overwhelmed in a matter of time."
"The point of a battle like this is to claim victory over the enemy and location." Jason said being more serious then usual. "All the Kuroinu have to do is claim Alicia and take the city."
"Yes?"
. . . Jason seemed unsure about what to say. "I don't know what they'll do to get Alicia, but it's obvious that whoever leveled Iris is still sabotaging Alicia and is the key to the Kuroinus' victory. Vault is so confident that he'll win this battle that he even told his grunts about his plans."
The three women looked at each other, seeming to have a silent consensus with their eyes.
"I think he's right." Olga said confidently.
"I believe so as well."
"Yes." Claudia nodded. "But knowing that does nothing for us right now. Right now, we must focus on the battle in front of us."
They all agreed.
"So, what is the plan of attack then?" Jason asked. He leaned over the table and eyed the map.
"The Kuroinu have men stationed outside the hole. A lot of men and demons, while the rest sack the city." Claudia explained.
"I don't think they were planning on a force coming for them. Because of you Jason Vault had no choice, but to switch things up a bit." Olga smiled.
"How many men could you bring, Jason?" Celestine asked.
"I brought over a thousand soldiers, Lady Celestine. I'll hand them over to Lady Levantine and you can direct them accordingly."
Claudia nodded in appreciation. She looked back down at the map.
"There are a lot of forces in Feoh. It will take time but I expect them to push the enemy back and in return we'll push the forces of outside into the city until they all condense into one area where we shall defeat them all."
Jason heard the whole plan and nodded intently. "Not a bad plan. Attack them from both sides and push them until they back into each other. Then slaughter them."
"I like this plan." Chloe said with gleeful sadisticness.
"But what about Alicia and Prim?"
"I assume that Alicia will lead the charge to push the enemy back."
Jason shook his head disappointedly. "No, she won't." The others stared at him wondering what he meant. "I told you Vault has some sort of plan. He intends to capture the Princess Knights somehow."
"Alicia can take care of herself." Claudia said confidently.
"I don't think so, Vault attacked Feoh first because he believed her to be the easiest target to take down."
"But she won't be." Claudia insisted sternly.
"Vault knows each Shield, your strengths and your weaknesses. You're willing to risk the battle because you think Alicia won't be captured?"
"Alicia is a strong-minded woman, with the heart and spirit of a knight—"
"And that is what Vault will use against her."
Claudia slammed her fist onto the table. "Don't look down on my squire, knave!"
"Claudia!" Celestine chastised.
Olga and Chloe chuckled a little at seeing the merc get under the knight's skin. One look from the high elf silenced them, but their smiles didn't go away.
"Sir Jason, please refrain from angering my chosen knight."
"I'm just saying she should consider all possible outcomes, Lady Celestine."
"And Lady Levantine, perhaps Jason is right. We can't deny the idea that Alicia and Prim are in trouble and in the viper's den."
"Perhaps we should try and contact Lady Arcturus?" Olga suggested.
"She's on the other side of the city." Claudia said. "We can't reach her. No messages can get through with all the fighting, and the teleportation platforms are far from completed."
"Well we need to do something. If Jason is right, and I put gold on it that he is, then Alicia is in danger. The Kuroinu must not get her or this battle will fall victory to the dogs." Olga said.
Jason looked to the high elf. "Lady Celestine, don't you have a teleportation spell? Can't you just teleport us in?"
She nodded, but there was nothing positive about it. "Yes, I do, but there's a problem. The fortress' magical barriers are still set up despite the major structural damage. Nothing with magic can get through it."
"I can do the spell too." Olga spoke up. "Though as my magic is currently on the fritz I can't perform any magic. However, I've studied these wards of yours, Lucross, and I can say that we can actually send someone in via teleportation spell."
Everyone's attention had turned to the dark elf's surprising words. Chloe was beaming with pride seeing her mistress use her knowledge.
"We can?" Celestine asked.
"Yes, you see the wards, while placed perfectly and masterfully, have a slight gap between the circuits of magic. Very difficult to spot, let alone find, but just big enough that you could send a teleportation spell through it. But there are two problems. One: you can only send two people through it. The magic is simply too powerful even for someone of Celestine's stature to send more."
"Makes sense." Celestine said. "I helped create those magical protections."
"The second problem: is that you can't teleport far. The magic can only reach a certain distance before the wards protective system blocks it."
"So we can't simply just be teleported to the castle?" Jason asked.
"Precisely."
Jason looked down at the map. "How far can we go?"
Olga looked at the map. She pointed to where their camp was situated and then moved her slim finger to the inside edge of the wall."
"Just here. That's as far as the spell could take you before the defenses kicked in."
Jason was in thought before he pointed to a specific spot. "Then I suggest being teleported here. These are stables. The mounts can be used there to get to the castle faster."
With this new knowledge, Celestine thought it over and agreed that it was possible, but only slightly since two people was all they could send through. Claudia was about to volunteer, but was beaten to it.
"I'll go." Jason said.
"What?" Claudia said. "No, send me, my lady! It is my squire, my apprentice. Alicia is like a daughter to me."
"You're needed here on the battlefield, Lady Levantine." Jason said. "You are an excellent commander and leader. You inspire the troops to fight harder. I'm just a run of the mill mercenary. I'm expendable. So, send me."
Celestine was quiet as she looked between her right hand of many years and to the capable merc wo has proven himself. Both were more then suitable for the task of going to Alicia's aid, but in the end only one of them was more important than the other in this situation.
"While that's not the way I'd put it," Celestine said, referring to Jason's "expendable" comment, "Jason is right. I need you here commanding the troops Claudia. I will send Jason in to help Alicia."
Claudia looked like she wanted to argue. Her fists were clenched, and she seemed to have an aggrieved expression on her face. But whatever she felt or wanted to say she swallowed it and nodded reluctantly.
"I understand, Lady Celestine."
"I don't want to feel completely useless." Olga spoke after all the drama was over. "You can send two people. Jason, please take Chloe to help you as your second."
Jason looked to his employer. "Is that alright with you, your Magnificence?"
"I can't send Claudia with you, and Chloe is a capable fighter. Very well I'll allow it. Come let's do this outside and I will send you into Feoh."
They all walked outside. Jason and Chloe stood side by side. Celestine stood in front of them and began to chant. Olga and Claudia watched from behind as magic began circling around the high elf queen.
White light danced around her and blew her clothes and blonde hair around like there was a heavy gale. A magic circle manifested under the merc and half-elf's feet. It spun faster and faster as Celestine got closer to the end. Finally, she reached the last syllable and both Chloe and Jason vanished in a burst of light.
The light faded from their vision and Chloe and Jason found themselves inside the city, but away from the battle.
"Alright we're in." Chloe said.
"No time to lose then." Jason headed toward the stables. Inside he found several horses freaking out from all the chaos that was happening farther away. He settled a couple down and got them prepped. "Saddle up, we need to get to Alicia fast."
Alicia
"Hold the line!"
"Show no mercy!"
"Death to the dogs!"
Alicia swung her sword killing a kuroinu grunt. She then spun around, bisecting an imp that lunged at her.
She looked to her army and commanded, "Our forces are running thin. Make haste and reinforce the defenses! Do not let anymore breach our lines!"
The Princess looked down at her fighting forces from the parapet of her castle. Things were not looking good. Despite the early warning from Lady Celestine, Feoh was still overrun. Many had perished in the first attack. Some giant explosion took out a great number of her forces along with the first defense of the city.
It happened so fast, they were shell-shocked for the first part of the battle.
"The way things are going, they're sure to send surprise reinforcements. Which means now is our most crucial hour."
Alicia hated seeing her people suffer. She was thankful that the Alliance's army had arrived, but it was taking time for them to push the Kuroinu army. Alicia prayed to the goddess that they could muster up the strength to fight back the enemy.
"My people, please stand fast." She looked in the direction of a tower. "Prim . . . I will keep you safe."
Suddenly two of Alicia's elite knights ran up to her. They had dire news to share with their Princess Knight.
"What how is that possible?!"
"We don't know, Princess Arcturus, but somehow they just did."
Alicia ran past them to see this for herself.
"Princess, please be careful."
Alicia looked over the parapet and saw down in the courtyard demons: imps and orcs, with nuns tied to posts and being stripped naked by the tiny cretins. The very sight shocked and scared the blonde knight.
"No . . . please stop it."
"No!"
The nuns begged and wailed for the demons to show them mercy, but none would. The demons were eager to indulge their vices.
"Now, we're all eager to start defiling these pious sisters who devoted their lives to the goddess." Shouted an imp. He was bigger than the others, standing just a few inches taller. He carried a longsword he stole off a knight and waved it around in the air.
"They keep begging me to fuck their brains out!" An imp shrieked in a nun's face. The nun turned her head away in fear and disgust.
"You bastards . . . how dare you!" Alicia shouted angrily.
"You are the princess of this land are you not?" Shouted the Imp Leader. "Perfect! You have the best seat in the house to witness this! This wonderful show that's about to start!"
The imps cackled lecherously as they started fondling the women.
"You bastards! Don't you dare lay a hand on them. Violating those girls is something unforgivable!" Alicia said outraged.
The Imp Leader laughed. "Why would we listen to such an order? How boring! We came her to kill and fuck and that's exactly what we're going to do." The Imp Leader licked the navel of one girl, making her cringe in revulsion.
"You violate those girls and I will kill you!"
"Oh? Well if you feel that strongly, come over here and take their place!"
"What?!" Alicia reeled.
The imp gave a toothy grin. His cohorts were just snickering, knowing they had her attention. Even the stoic orcs watching couldn't help but smirk.
"Yeah. You don't want them hurt, then come with us and no one will."
"Princess Alicia no!" A nun pleaded. "Please just turn away from this scene!"
"She's right, leave us be, you have important fighting to do elsewhere!"
"Shut it bitch!" The Imp leader put the tip of his sword to a nun's throat.
The imp's cocks began to grow in anticipation. They were ready to violate the women.
"What will it be Princess, you or them? One way or the other, we're getting some pussy! Whether one or many! Hehehehe!"
The knights behind Alicia looked worried. They wondered what they're leader would do. Would she sacrifice herself for the few? Or deny them and watch helplessly as innocents suffered. They knew Alicia for years. They knew she was honorable, courageous, and headstrong. But even they didn't know what the outcome would be for this situation, though they had an idea. They pleaded along with the nuns for Alicia to go back and fight.
Alicia glared into the yellow eyes of the evil imp, as if just staring at them would make the demon's head explode. Unfortunately, she didn't have that kind of power. She was a knight, trained by the silver knight herself, Claudia Levantine, and yet she could do nothing to help those poor girls. What kind of knight would she be if she didn't stand up for her people?!
"Wait!" She shouted as the imps prepared to rape the nuns.
"Well?" The imp asked sinisterly.
"I will go—" Before she could agree to their terms her mouth shut down like a steel trap.
Why? She wondered. Why couldn't she—
'You think everyone will play by the rules. That everyone is honorable and chivalrous, but they're not. Mercenaries are not knights. Vault and his army especially so.'
A certain mercenary's words echoed in her head.
'Vault and his army won't play by the rules. They will lie and cheat and corrupt everything just to win. They have already and they'll keep doing so because they know none of you Princess Knights have the capacity to be anything less than chivalrous.'
At the time those words from such a mechanical voice angered her, now they sent a shiver down her spine. Was he right? Would chivalry, would the honor of a knight not help anyone in this situation?
'This is the way I see it, Princess Arcturus: you have only three options laid before you. You can fight, you can die, or you can get fucked.'
Alicia clenched her fist in rage. "What options are those?" She muttered under her breath. No one could hear her.
These monsters didn't care about anything good. They only cared about pain, war, and lust. How could she not respond with honor or chivalry? How could she afford to be anything less then what her master taught her? To be better than those vile demons.
'A protective attitude, a chivalrous nature, and great pride. More often than not your type is the first to fall . . . and they always choose option three: to get fucked. Do yourself a favor. Choose to fight even if it means throwing your life and others lives away to do it.'
"Well, Princess?" The Imp Leader asked impatiently. "What'll it be
Her blonde bangs overshadowed her eyes. She tried to expel Jason's words from her mind, but they haunted her like a bad memory. Years of training with the most chivalrous woman in the country and one irritating merc gives her doubts.
Would she do the right thing and save the nuns or doom them to torment and rape to return to the fight?
"I . . . I refuse."
She felt sick.
Everyone seemed to quiet down. The knights behind the princess were both surprised and relieved that Alicia didn't give in. The imps, however, seemed to have deflated. A second ago they were hyper and ready for rape, but after the princess' response they looked stupefied.
"Uuh…" The Imp Leader wasn't sure. "Could you repeat that?"
"I refuse to give in." The second time was not easy for the princess.
They hadn't expected her to say no.
"You can't say "NO!" That's not how this works!"
"Well I just did." Alicia wracked up as much resolution as she could. She looked pityingly at the nuns. "I am sorry, I cannot save you. Your sacrifice will not be in vain. I will avenge you."
The head nun smiled assuringly. "It's okay, Princess. We understand."
The Imp Leader was beside himself. This was not what was supposed to happen! The blonde princess was supposed to easily throw herself away for the sake of others. Vault specifically told them that the blonde princess was the dumbest of them all. They were even told to target the nuns, the most innocent, just to make it easier for her to surrender. Vault did not tell them what to do if she denied them because . . . he didn't think she would!
Alicia was supposed to be the easiest of the Shields to manipulate. How did this backfire?!
"We'll rape them!" The imp shouted trying to get her to changer her mind. "We'll rape them. They'll bare our spawn who we'll raise to rape and kill just like us."
Alicia stopped walking away and turned to the Imp Leader, slowly leveling a killing gaze
"And just like you, I'll kill them as well."
Before the imp could try and figure out how to turn this situation around, he was suddenly shot in the arm by a bolt. It took him off his feet and he fell. He turned around and saw two individuals rushing toward them riding horses.
"Chloe deal with the orcs!"
"On it!"
Chloe rode her horse forward before jumping into the air. She stylishly did a flip before cutting the head off of one orc. Another orc tried to crush her with its club, but she stabbed him in the gut and disemboweled him. The last orc lunged at her, but she skillfully dodged him and sliced him in the back. Then she went low and taking off his nuts. The orc fell to his knees and clutched the new gap between his legs in pain. Chloe finished him by stabbing him through the neck.
Meanwhile, Jason was firing off bolts from his repeating crossbow. Bolts struck the imps in the head and chest, killing them instantly. The little tykes jumped at him with knives, but the horse he was riding crushed them in it's wake.
Alicia had watched all this happen from her spot. She couldn't believe Jason was here. But more importantly she was relieved that the nuns were saved.
Jason stomped on the head of a breathing imp before making his way over to the Leader Imp. The imp had already pulled out the bolt, but was wounded so badly he could not get up. Didn't matter anyway because Jason placed his boot on the demon's abdomen. He slowly applied pressure, making the demon cough in pain more.
"What? W-where did you come from? How did you get here so fast?" The Imp asked, unable to figure out how everything just went sideways.
"It was easy."
Flashback
"Noo!"
"Please!"
"Help us!"
"Hahaha, no one will help you!" An orc screamed happily.
"Shut up, bitch and suck it!"
Demons were already pillaging and raping as the fights were going. Several orcs, demons, and men stopped their bloody path to partake in their bounties.
"Hold her down!"
"Nooo! I don't want an orc to be my first time!"
"Don't worry baby, you'll come to love my dick after raping you several hundred times! Heh heh hee!"
"Hurry up, man I want a taste!"
The orc let out his large member and brought it close to the downed woman. He was drooling in anticipation, his cock getting closer and closer to her exposed vagina. But before he could feel sweet cruel victory, his vision went black and he died.
"Huh?"
His buddies looked up from their exposed prize and saw a bolt in the orc's head, who then fell down sideways, dead.
"What the-!"
Then their heads went flying and the woman was free to run. But before she did she got a look at her saviors. Two individuals riding a horse. A dark elf with blonde hair, holding a sabre and an armored man with a halberd and a crossbow on his back.
Jason and Chloe galloped through the city on horseback. They cut down every man and demon that was in their way. Jason swung his halberd and cut down both man and demon. Sometimes he'd be lucky to hit two at a time. Then he pointed his weapon forward and stuck them with the spear end.
"This is almost too easy." Chloe said as she beheaded another Black Dog.
Jason responded by cutting off an orc's arm. All of them were so distracted by their raping that they didn't see the two coming even with thundering horses giving them away.
"Look! A blockade!"
Jason saw a group of soldier and knights fighting back against the orcs who were pushing them back.
Jason ordered his horse to go faster and so did Chloe. They flanked the attacking orcs and allowed the soldiers to advance and kill more enemies.
"Thank you strangers!" A female knight said.
"Reinforcements have arrived." Chloe said.
"Thank the goddess."
"Where is Princess Alicia?" Jason asked.
"She's at the castle. The enemy is getting closer and closer to it though. I don't know how long we can hold them!"
"Just a little longer. With the way we're killing these orcs, the tide should turn." Jason said.
"I hope you're right."
"Let's go, Chloe. Yah!"
They raced through the city and like the knight said, there were many demons and black dogs pushing through, but there were just as many distracted with raping and pillaging that they were easily mowed down.
In the end they made it to the castle just in time.
Flashback end
"Perhaps next time you guys should wait to rape and pillage AFTER you won the battle."
"You fucker!" The imp growled in anger. He scratched his claws against Jason's grieves but all that did was scuff them. "Ruining our fun-rgh-I'll kill you!
"No . . . you won't."
Jason applied more pressure to the imp's abdomen. The demon screamed in pain as bones cracked. Slowly Jason added more pressure, before finally his boot completely stomped the diminutive body into the ground. The imp's eyes popped out and blood and intestines painfully escaped out of the mouth.
"Ja-ah-Sir Jason!"
The merc looked up and saw Alicia looking down at him with a smile.
"Lady Alicia, we are here to protect you."
"Protect me?" She asked confused.
"Vault's plan for this fight was to capture you alive before taking the city. Celestine sent us ahead to warn you and protect you."
"I appreciate the assistance, Sir Jason. Especially now, thank you for saving those girls."
Chloe had already cut the nuns loose. They tried hiding whatever modesty they could in the presence of their savior.
"Thank you so much kind sir."
"I thought we were done for."
"Thank you for saving us."
"Goddess bless you."
Jason just nodded.
"Head to the castle!" Alicia yelled out. "You'll be safe there until the fighting stops."
Suddenly there was a high-pitched scream. They all turned to the direction of the noise and saw Prim being carried off by three Black Dogs on the ramparts.
"Prim!" Alicia cried out in great worry and distress, but not as much as Prim cried.
"Release me! Please release me!" Prim shrieked through tears.
"Shut it!" The Black Dog carrying her under his arms said. "Save your tears for when we're fucking ya!"
They were halted however by Chloe who used her agility to get up to the ramparts quickly.
"Not this whore again!"
"Release the girl now you dogs!"
"Yeah right." A dog scoffed.
"We'll kill ya first!"
The two black dogs charged with their swords raised.
Chloe took her sabre and deflected a sword blow before slicing through the man's side and then lopping off the arm of the second. The man's screams were muffled before she shoved her blade through his mouth and out the back of his head.
The quick deaths of his fellows caused the third dog to put Prim down and place a knife to her throat.
"Don't come near me, bitch! Or slit the cunt's throat!"
Chloe just kept walking. She flicked the blood off her blade.
"I'll do it!" He pressed the blade even closer. "I'll kill her!"
Prim started to cry as she felt the cold steel against her throat and saw Chloe not even pausing.
"Don't you hear me?!"
"I hear you. So does the mercenary behind you." Chloe responded coldly.
All of a sudden the dog's arm was yanked away from the pink princess and he stared dreadfully into the visor of a grimy helmet.
The man screamed as he pulled out another knife and jammed it into Jason's side. But it didn't penetrate his leather armor and chainmail. It wasn't strong or sharp enough to puncture the protection.
Jason looked down and then looked at the dog. "That's why I wear armor."
The man grunted, then gasped in great pain. Jason had stabbed his hunting knife into the man's exposed belly.
"That's why you should've worn armor."
Jason removed his knife after twisting it and allowed the man to die.
Prim was on the ground, crying and frightened. Jason kneeled down and examined her.
"Are you alright, Lady Prim?"
"Y-yes, I'm fine. Thank you, Sir Bellum, for saving me." She looked at Chloe. "And thank you too, Lady Chloe."
Chloe looked away in a huff. "I didn't do it for you. My Queen asked me to protect Jason and you princesses. I couldn't care much about what happens to you, but I'd do anything my Queen says."
Prim just kept smiling. "Still, thank you very much." A slight blush appeared on the dark elf's face.
"Prim!" Chloe rushed over with her knights and hugged her cousin in a death grip. "Oh, thank Celestine you're safe. Oh, bless all the fortune in the world that you are okay."
"Yes, yes, I'm okay Alicia." Despite losing some air, Prim hugged her blonde cousin back. "I'm sorry for worrying you."
"How did those dogs get into the castle?" Jason wondered. He stared up at the high towers. "In fact, what were those demons doing in the court yard?"
Alicia finally let go of her cousin and went back to being the serious knight. "I don't know."
"I-I . . . the Black Dogs came through the secret passages." Prim said.
"WHAT?!" Alicia shouted in total shock.
They all returned to the castle. The group entered the war and started discussing the situation.
Jason and Alicia stood over the map of Feoh with the others standing around them.
"How did this battle start?" Jason asked.
"Unexpectedly." Alicia said. "We had gotten the warning from Lady Lucross about the Black Dog's attack. We took all necessary precautions and set up our defenses. The dogs attacked when the sun had finally risen in the morning, but not in the way we expected."
Jason had his arms folded and listened patiently for Alicia to explain.
She pointed to the spot where the collapsed entry was. "Before the battle begun there was an explosion at the northern gate. Out of nowhere and no warning. It just exploded and then the dogs started their attack coming over the hill. Our first line of defense fell before we could even utilize it."
"Where did the explosion come from?" Jason questioned.
Alicia shook her head. "We are unsure, we did not have time to investigate before we were under attack. I can tell you it happened on the inside of the city-fortress."
"Inside." Jason looked down, mulling that word.
"Treachery." Chloe scowled in disgust.
"That's what we believe, but by who we know not."
"Did you have people interrogated?" Jason asked.
"A few." Prim was the one that answered. "But we couldn't ask everyone. It would not look well to question the loyalty of the nobility and high-ranking officers of the army."
"You should have done so anyway. Forget about sparing feelings. This is war." Jason said bluntly.
Prim just shook her head ruefully. "It's not that simple. I mean no offense, Sir Jason, but you do not understand politics. You are a mercenary. We cannot question our every ally for the sake of rooting out the spies. We'd lose almost all just for insinuating as such."
"You're right." Prim smiled at his agreement. "I don't understand." The pinkette frowned. "But that's a conversation for another time. How's the battle going now?"
"Poorly." Alicia said bitterly. "But we aren't losing. With the reinforcements from Lady Lucross the tides can turn, but I fear that the Kuroinu have more plans in the works."
"How so?"
"They caught us by surprise. This I do not deny. But even with our fortifications destroyed, its not enough just to invade us. I think they are waiting for reinforcements to bolster and push back the army."
Jason nodded. "I agree." Alicia smiled at the merc for agreeing with her. "But reinforcements don't mean anything if they have to come through the northern end. That's where the Alliance's army is."
The blonde's brow scrunched. "Hmm, that true. Perhaps they have another plan to take the city?"
"I already know what they're planning." Jason said cryptically. This caused everyone to lift their heads up to the helmeted merc.
"You do?"
"Yes." He pointed to the southern gate. "Are there any men stationed here?"
"The southern gate?" Prim said confused.
"No." Alicia answered. "Most of our forces were killed in the explosion that took out the northern gate. So we had to draw our men away from there to bolster our northern forces."
"The spy in Feoh is going to destroy it."
"WHAT?!" Everyone yelled.
"They're going to flank us. The Kuroinu have the numbers now thanks to the demons. They're going to send an army around the city and then bring them through the southern gate. We'll be outmatched and overtaken."
"By the gods." The two knights breathed.
Alicia stared intently at that part of the map. Her sapphire eyes leveled with Jason's visor.
"You're certain of this?"
Jason nodded, his armor clanking a little. "It's the only action that makes sense. And no matter what you may think of Vault . . ." She glared at him "He is smart."
Alicia was silent before turning dramatically to her two knights. "Get a contingent of soldiers ready to depart to the south side of the city! We must not let the traitors destroy the gate!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
The two saluted before going to get what their leader wanted.
"I hate to ask this" Alicia said, "of someone I once considered an enemy, but for Prim's sake, I ask you . . ." She turned, "Chloe. Can you please protect my dear sister?"
The half-elf raised an eyebrow. "I don't take orders from you, blondie. I was asked by my queen to help Jason. Nothing more."
"And you can help by protecting Prim." It was Jason who said that surprising the two girls. "Prim is at risk of being captured by the Kuroinu, who know about the secret passages. She needs proper protection."
"But . . ."
"You were ordered to help me. Follow that order by helping Prim."
Chloe sighed in annoyance. "Fine."
"Thank you." Alicia said relieved. "Come, lets get to the southern gate."
"No need to ask twice."
. . .
Jason, Alicia, her two knights, and ten soldiers rode on horseback toward the southern gate. They could not afford to waste time.
"How long do you think we have?" Jason asked.
"I'm not sure. It's a blessing that they haven't already done it, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time now." Alicia answered.
Almost to their destination the group was stopped by an unexpected obstacle.
"My lady," Alicia's knights warned, "ahead of us!"
"Orcs!"
In their path were orcs and imps.
"And here I thought this would be too easy." Jason mumbled. He pulled out the repeater crossbow from his back and fired two bolts, both which hit two imps and killed them.
"They must be a party left behind by the traitors." Alicia deduced. She unsheathed her sword. "The only way through is through them! YAAAHH!" Her men let out a battle cry with her.
The orcs roared a battle cry themselves. An orc swung his club, hitting a charging horse and knocking its rider off. Alicia swung her sword from horseback, leaving a gaping, mortal wound in an orc. The imps launched arrows, which killed one horse, but did little damage to the riders. The little devils were trampled and cut down in seconds.
An orc swung his axe and split a man in two. The orc then grabbed the dead soldier's horse and threw it at another soldier who was crushed under the beast's weight. The orc was soon killed by an arrow to the face and chest. Jason reloaded another cartridge into his crossbow and fired again. A bolt flew and hit an orc in the heart. Alicia decapitated an orc, her horse had fallen from imp arrows, but her resolve did not waver. Letting out a shout, she dodged an orc's club and sliced his arm. The limb dangled and the demon let out a scream of pain. Alicia ended its misery by gutting the demon.
Jason lost his crossbow when an orc grabbed him off his horse. It stomped on his weapon when he dropped it and then started beating his gut before tossing him at a house. The merc groaned in pain, he was on all fours, unable to move. The orc slowly moved toward Jason and got ready to crush him.
Jason looked up and saw the orc lift up his foot. Jason raised his hand, the demon thought he was going to beg, instead . . .
"Firebolt." A fireball launched from his palm and collided with the demon. The demon yelled in agony as his skin and hair burned. Jason took out two vials. A health potion, which he drank quickly, and lamp oil.
"Let's do this." Jason grabbed his halberd and stabbed the burning demon with the spear end.
The demon, while still burning, felt the jab and went after Jason in a blind scorching rage. Jason led it to two orcs, who he threw globs of oil on. The demons looked behind them to see what hit them, only to get collided by their burning kin. All three orcs were on fire now. The fighting soldiers stopped to watch the demons writhe in agony and burn to death.
Jason never stopped though and turned to another orc, who was distracted by the two female knights, whose names he did not know. He charged and stabbed the orc on the back of the leg. The demon roared in pain and bent to one knee.
The two knights tried to finish it off with sword strikes, but the demon swatted them away like flies. Jason went at it from the side, but caught the halberd in its massive hand. The orc punched Jason away, taking his weapon. The orc gave a toothy smirk before snapping his new weapon like a twig.
Jason didn't much care and just picked up a sword from a fallen knight. He charged again, the orc tried to swat him like the knights, but he ducked and then stabbed the orc in the gut. It didn't go down from this and tried to grab the merc.
He twisted the weapon and sliced through the orc's chest and then stabbed through the orc's wrist. The orc screamed in pain as blood spurted from its wrist and chest.
Looking down, he saw his broken halberd on the ground. Though now it was more like an axe and that's exactly what he used it as. He hacked against the dying demon's hide, making blood splatter everywhere before stopping when the scream literally died down.
All demons had been dealt with.
"Damage report." Alicia shouted.
"Three dead, Princess Alicia. All horses are dead too."
Alicia walked over to one of her fallen and knelt on the ground.
"We need to get moving." Jason said. He was strapping his new "Axe" to his waist and ripped the sword from the demon's wrist.
"Can we not have a moment to mourn?" Alicia said in hushed sadness.
Jason wiped off the blood with the orc's rags. "The more time we waste the more time the Kuroinu have to succeed. You can mourn later." Jason said uncaringly of the dead or the Princess' feelings. He didn't even wait for her or her men to move before he headed off himself.
Alicia wanted to argue, to snap at him for showing such heartlessness to the people who risked their lives, but he was right. Again, he was right and she hated admitting that. They didn't have time, they had to save Feoh
"Move out!" She ordered.
The group did not come across any more demons surprisingly. Apparently, there was only the one party. They managed to get to the southern gate and discovered it to be quite busy. A ways away they spied on the enemy.
"Get those bombs ready!"
"That's right! Set them near the gate."
"The weak points you morons!"
Alicia's eyes widened in surprise. "I recognize those men."
"Really?"
Down below were old men in fancy garb, wearing expensive jewelry and barking orders at the guards, who were moving wagons and crates of bombs.
"Yes. They're nobles. High ranking ones among the Arcturus Court." She snarled. "I can't believe they would betray me and Prim like this!"
"I told you, you should have questioned everybody."
Alicia was about to give him a biting retort, but stopped when she recognized a particular voice among the nobles.
"Careful with that! You want to blow us sky high you morons!"
"No, it can't be."
Alicia focused on one man. An old man with a saggy face, grey curly hair, and a moustache. He wore a green noble's attire, a little finer then the others, and a red-brownish cap on his head.
"Prime Minister Beasly?" She said in disbelief. Her followers were just as shocked as she was.
"So, Vault got a prime minister on his side." Jason noted absently.
Before they could come up with a plan, Alicia ran off, sword already drawn and ready for blood.
"Princess Alicia!" Her knights called after her.
"Beasley!"
The nobles and soldiers turned to Alicia, who cut down two guards on her charge toward the traitors.
"P-Princess Alicia?!" Beasley shrieked in surprise.
"What's she doing here?!"
"I thought the demons were supposed to have her by now!"
"Your dead!" Alicia drew back her sword to cut down the miserable old traitor. But got stopped by a giant axe cutting off her path.
Alicia jumped back and looked to see who threw the axe. Around the corner of a house, stomped a large beast. It walked on two hind legs, which were actually hooves. The creature had the head of a bull, with long sharp horns on its head, the body of a man and the lower half of a bull. It was huge, it was muscular, it . . . was a minotaur.
The minotaur picked up its axe and let out a roar that was the mix of a man and an ox. It red eyes glaring deathly at the princess.
"A minotaur." Alicia cursed.
Contrary to popular belief. Minotaurs are not beastkin. They are demons. It's demons like these why beastkin get a bad reputation. Some demons, like the minotaur or the tricky satyr have both human and animal qualities, so most people, namely humans, end up confusing the two together.
"Alicia . . ." Beasley slowly walked toward the princess, but stopped close the protection of his massive demon. "What a . . . pleasant surprise to see you." The prime minister was sweating a little.
"You bastard." She growled. "How could you? How could you betray your own country? Prim and I saw you like family!"
"Bah! I don't care about that. Your father left everything to you after he died. You! A little girl, too in over her head to realize how much power she really has. And what do you do with it? You hand it over to that elf bitch!"
Alicia went slack-jawed. She had never seen the Prime Minister act like this. She recalled family dinners she and Prim had with the elder man. Times that he smiled at them. Times he played with them as children. But this? It was like a completely different man.
"Your father was a fool and it seems the apple did not fall far from the tree."
"So that's why you betrayed us? For the crown? For power?"
"No, not just that." His eyes became quite lecherous, staring at her top to bottom. "You've grown quite beautiful over the years. While dumb at politics and war, you ARE a woman. A beautiful woman. So I made a deal with Vault. Make me the new ruler of Feoh and make you, my dear, my bitch!"
She couldn't believe the words coming out of his mouth.
"I don't know how you escaped capture, but it doesn't matter. I'll take you here. I'll blow up the gate and the Kuroinu demon army will run amok and take this city-fortress. Then later, I will make you eat my cock and pleasure me. Then I will take you as my bitch, a place someone like you deserves to be in! Hahahaha!"
Alicia felt numb. She couldn't move as she stared at the evil laughing man that threatened to rape her.
"Now, go get my meat, you overgrown heifer!"
The minotaur roared and brought its axe down on Alicia. Still shocked, Alicia could not move out of the way, her life was at risk of being extinguished.
Thankfully, her boss hired a mercenary.
Jason leapt in front of the princess and activated, "Shield!"
A dome of magic surrounded the two, the minotaur's axe bounced off.
"What the hell?! Who are you?" Beasley said.
"Snap out of it, Alicia! Who cares who he is or his reasons?" Jason said trying to shake Alicia out of her stupor.
The soldier and knights charged in and did battle with noble's guards. The minotaur was left alone, as it's focus was on beating the magical barrier with its axe.
"I-it's not that easy!" She argued.
"Don't be an idiot. Don't blind yourself with emotions." Jason grunted, he felt the brunt of that huge axe. "If he was really someone you knew, would he be doing this?"
Alicia's mouth opened, but no words came.
"He's a stranger. He's going to fuck you, if not kill you. Remember what I said: You have three options."
Her eyes widened, and she remembered their conversation as clear as the last time. Once again, his words rang in her ears and she gripped her sword with determination.
"How much mana do you have left?"
"A bit. Give me a moment to drink a mana potion and I'll be ready."
"Let down the shield." She ordered.
Jason slightly turned his head to look at her. He was determining whether or not she was mentally sound right now.
"Lower the shields. I'll give you time." She said a bit more sternly.
Jason nodded. He let down the barrier.
The two jumped to opposite sides when the axe came down. In a blinding speed, Alicia moved forward and made a large gash in the minotaur's arm. It roared in pain and went after Alicia.
Jason guzzled down the mana potion, feeling his magical reserves return. "Haste." His speed increased and with his "axe" in hand he went for the creature's legs. The minotaur roared as it felt it's flesh and muscles get rendered by the fast axe-swings. It tried stomping Jason with it's hooves, but the merc was too fast.
Alicia jumped and slashed the demon in the chest. This move left the princess wide open though and the axe started coming at her again. But again, Jason got in the way and used his Shield Spell. The axe bounced off and caused the demon to stumble back. The two warriors then went at the demon again.
The minotaur got back up, but now stood on both it's hands and legs. It roared, bared its horns while dragging its back hoof against the dirt and charged!
The two got out of the way before they were trampled or skewered. Jason, however, tried going for its head while he dodged, and his axe got lodged in one of its horns. The minotaur crashed into a house, but wasn't even phased by it.
Some of the soldiers, who dealt with the kuroinu guards, decided to join their leader in battle. They threw spears and raised their swords against the minotaur.
The demon snorted and blew snot. It ignored the spears in its muscly body like they weren't there. It grabbed one of the soldiers and bit off his head, before swinging its massive axe and cleaving several more soldiers.
"Everyone, get back!" Alicia ordered. "Let, Jason and I handle this."
The soldiers did as they were told, but stood close in case they were needed.
The three started to circle each other. The minotaur breathed heavily, making its nose ring jingle. Its red eyes glowed in fury and kept its intense stare on the two shields.
Jason with sword in hand attacked first. The bull-man tried to kick him, but he dodged. Alicia got behind the beast and managed to cut off it's tail. The demon roared in pain and attempted to back-kick Alicia. She would not have been able to dodge the fast attack, if not for Jason's Haste spell.
He pushed her out of the way and turned just in time to point his sword at the demon's hoof. The kick connected and Jason was sent flying again into a wall.
The minotaur felt a sharp pain under its hoof. Jason's sword was lodged deep inside. The demon hopped up and down in pain and tried removing the weapon, but couldn't reach it.
"Jason!" Alicia yelled and ran to merc.
Jason groaned as he sat up. "Ow . . . I think my ribs are cracked."
The princess put a hand on his shoulder and tried to settle him. He winced when her hand touched him.
"Your arm is broken. You need to rest." She said concerned.
"No time to rest." He said putting his back against the wall. "The job's not done." He grabbed a large rock and then slammed it against his shoulder.
There was a loud uncomfortable crack and a pained groan from Jason, but he could move his arm again.
"I'll rest when the fight is over."
Alicia's eyes widened at what Jason did. The dedication to his mission and goal was admirable on the level of a knight! She wouldn't have thought any mercenary could be so devoted as the one before her.
So, in awe, Alicia didn't notice Jason taking her fancy sword and walking toward the still wounded demon.
The mercenary then did something very unexpected. He brought the sword above his head as if he were about to perform a heavy attack . . . and then threw the freaking sword!
The blade spun in the air and struck the distracted demon in the face. The unexpected weapon caused the demon to fall off balance. Jason then rushed the downed demon, ignoring the pain in his chest and jumped onto its body. He ripped out a spear lodged in its hide and ran to its face.
He bounded, raising the spear up high and bringing it down into the demon's eye. The minotaur let out a great echoing roar that could be head for miles. It rolled onto its fours and tried to shake the merc off. But he held onto dear life as the spear was stuck in its socket.
Jason looked and saw the sword buried in the beast's face. He grabbed it, twisted it, causing the demon to yell out in pain again. It tried dragging its face on the dirt, but Jason still held on and bared with it. He dislodged the sword and struck the creature in the face left and right, leaving deep gashes, before sticking it in the same place with the spear.
Tired of the pain the merc was causing him, the demon grabbed Jason and pulled him off, but not before Jason reached for one more weapon: The "axe" he lodged in the minotaur's horn.
It was greatly stuck, he was only able to pull it out when the minotaur yanked a few times. The minotaur was about ready to crush him in its hands, but at the last second, Jason threw the axe at the minotaur's remaining eye.
The minotaur dropped him as it clutched its face. The demon was now blind and was just stumbling around . . . blindly.
"You fool demon!" Beasley shouted. "Can't you kill just one simple man?! Do what you were sent here to do and protect me, you stupid, pathetic beast!"
The minotaur, all it could see now was blood. Figuratively. It was still blind, but it was really mad now. It rampaged and just struck everything in its surrounding area.
Many of the men screamed, both ally and enemy alike. They avoided random attacks that were drawn in from their screams. But then the bull-man stopped when he heard a particular noise.
It slowly turned around, though it could not see, it could hear Jason pick up it's great-axe. It was too large for the merc to wield, so he couldn't help but groan as he set it up.
The minotaur snorted air and grinded its fists into the ground. Jason just stood there. The minotaur roared and charged with all the speed it had. Jason didn't move or even attempt to move. He just waited for the demon to get closer and closer . . . before pushing the axe forward.
The axe fell and the massive, double-edged blade chopped through the monster's head. The demon came to a skidding halt, before dying in front of Jason.
The minotaur was dead.
Alicia, in awe, in amazement, there were no words to describe the elation she was feeling right now. She ran up to the tired and bloody merc, admiration and excitement beaming on her face.
"Jason! That was incredible! I've never seen anyone fight like—"
She was cut off when the merc just passed her by. Ignoring her praise. He walked toward the nobles who were cowering before the merc that just killed their massive bodyguard.
"Prime Minister Beasley." His mechanical voice reverberated through them. "You and your cohorts are under arrest in the name of her Gloriousness, Lady Celestine Lucross. Come quietly." He paused. It was an unsettling pause. "Or don't and I'll bring you in bloody and broken."
Beasley was cowering with his allies, but swallowed his fear the best he could and started to laugh. It was a weak laugh and didn't hold much weight, especially compared to Jason's cold exterior and unseen gaze, but it said that he would not give up yet.
"Surrender? HA! You foolish merc! You haven't stopped us yet!"
Alicia walked up and glared at the Prime Minister. "It's over Beasley! Your diabolical plan has been foiled and Vault's first attack failed."
"Failed?" The old man giggled. "No. No it hasn't." He pointed up at the wall. "Behind this gate lies thousands of demons and Black Dogs ready to swarm into this city like a horde of locusts! We will take this city and we will take YOU Alicia and your precious little sister! You'll be my fuck toy if it's the last thing I do!"
Beasley grabbed one of the bombs and lit it's fuse and then tossed it into a cart of bombs.
"Quickly!" Alicia shouted urgently. "Get that bomb out of there!"
"Oh no you don't. My fellows, help me!" Beasley and his fellow nobles got behind the cart and pushed it over. Bombs went rolling and spreading everywhere. They then pushed down barrels and crates, adding more hay to make it harder to find the needle.
"Look for the one with the lit fuse!"
"There's too many!"
"Some are buried!"
"I can't find it!"
Beasley boisterously laughed. "It's over, Alicia. You and your kingdom will be all mine! And there's nothing you can do stop it! Not even your pet mercenary can save you this time!"
Beasley and his allies ran and hid behind cover where the blast would not reach them. They wanted to be the first to watch the princess and the merc fall to the incoming cavalry.
"What do we do?" Alicia panicked, looking through every bomb around her. "What do we do?!"
Jason was the only one not looking. He was just standing around, like a statue. His head moving slightly was the only indication he was not paralyzed. He must have been thinking in those seemingly long seconds, because then he grabbed a nearby sword and stabbed it into the ground.
"Everyone! I have a plan!" He shouted, gathering everyone's attention. "Find cover or something to hold you down."
"What are you doing!?" One of Alicia's knights questioned.
"No time. Just do it!"
Alicia didn't even hesitate. Normally she would question as well, but this was too dire to waste time on pointless questions. The merc hadn't let her down yet.
"Listen to his orders!"
Everyone did as their princess commanded and quickly tried to find cover or something to hold them down.
"I hope this works." Jason said uncertainly.
His hand started to glow with magic. Dark energy swirled around his hand and everyone could feel the air become tense. Everyone was wondering what the merc was going to do?
Finally, he collected enough mana and prepared to perform a spell.
He extended his hand out, black magic surged around it before letting out a loud "pop!"
"Black Hole!"
From thin air came an unnatural void, no bigger then a coin. As soon as it came into existence it defiled nature and the laws of physics. It audibly started to suck.
At first the suction was barely noticeable, but everyone started noticing how the wind started getting stronger and stronger, like a tornado. Soon people started feeling their bodies gravitate toward the black hole, but some were too slow to realize it.
An enemy guard was lifted off his feet. He screamed in terror as he was sucked into the empty black void and was silenced when his body was crushed and liquidated going into the hole.
"Hang on to something!" Jason yelled over the storm of the black hole.
Everyone started finding ways to hold themselves down. Some people imbedded their swords into the ground like Jason, some held onto a sold object like a door or a lamp post, and some just gripped the dirt with all their might. Beasley was one of the later as he screamed like a little girl.
The stronger the suction of the black hole became the more it took in. The minotaur's lifeless heavy body was picked up gradually and it flew right in, like water down a drain. A noble couldn't hold on tight enough and flew right in, crushed as well.
All the bombs on the ground went soaring off the ground and into the black hole. One by one until they were all gone, including the cart, barrels, and crates.
Alicia was picked up by the gale and was uncontrollably flying toward the black hole. She flailed and screamed trying to find something to anchor herself, but everything was out of reach. Just as she finally thought this was her end, an armored hand grabbed hers.
She opened her eyes and saw Jason struggling to pull her towards him. He succeeded and held her close to his body. She hugged him, afraid to let go and be taken to her death.
"Can't you turn it off?!" She screamed into his chest.
"It's got to run its course!"
After what seemed like an eternity, the black hole finally stopped and disappeared from existence. Everyone friend an foe let out a sigh of relief and tried getting their barrings.
Alicia was still clutching and hugging Jason. "W-why d-didn't you do that sooner? Against the minotaur?"
"I have no control over the Black Hole spell." He answered.
He could summon it, but that was it. The Black Hole spell could not be directed at a singular enemy, it would take all, friend, enemy, bystander, and even the user himself.
The Black Hole spell was a very dangerous and powerful dark spell. Not just anyone could learn it, even someone who spent their entire life time wouldn't have been able to come close learning a fraction of the spell. That was how difficult it was. Just as well considering the amount of damage it can cause.
Fortunately, Jason got that spell from the spell scroll he got from the Black Fort. Looks like not selling it off was paying off instead.
"Alicia…"
The blonde princess looked up at the mercenary. Her sapphire eyes peered into the dark holes of his helmet. She swore she could almost see his eyes and wished that she could see his entire face.
"You can let go now."
Suddenly, she realized her position. Both their arms were wrapped around each other's waists and her chest was squished against his armor.
Her face lit up and she practically jumped out of his arms and was looking at the ground in embarrassment. She felt her warm cheeks and tried to hide them from the merc that saved her life.
Jason was as oblivious as ever though and just walked past Alicia. "The fight's not over yet."
Alicia perked up and realized where her ally was going. Forgetting her feelings and getting serious, Alicia walked beside the mercenary and over to the nobles.
Many of the nobles were lying on their backs or hunched over trying not to puke. Swirls were in their eyes as they tried to collect themselves after nearly being destroyed into oblivion.
Beasley was lying on his back. His tongue was sticking out the sie as he breathed heavily.
A shadow covered his face and he opened his eyes to see a sword pointing at him. Several swords. And he was looking directly into the dark visor of Jason and the angry blue eyes of Alicia. The nobles each had a sword pointed at them by a soldier.
"Your plan has failed Beasley." Jason said.
The former prime minister shrieked and jumped into a prostrate position.
"Aaahh! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! This wasn't my idea! It was Vault's! I had no choice, he made me do all these things under threat of death!" He started to slowly crawl toward Alicia. "Kindly Princess Alicia, please show forgiveness and mercy to this old withered coward!" He started kissing her feet. "I was a friend of your father's, I was like an uncle to you! Please, show leniency, like the kind, beautiful, and honorable knight that you a-AGHGH!"
Alicia had shut the disgusting man up by kicking him in the face. She had broken his nose and a couple teeth went flying as the former noble landed on his back. Before he faded into unconsciousness, Alicia said one last thing to him.
"Never touch me again. FILTH! Take all these traitors into custody, lock them up in the castle's dungeon."
"Yes, ma'am!"
When all the traitors were shackled they made their way back to the castle.
"Sir Bellum." The merc looked at the princess walking next to him. "I just wanted to thank you."
"No need. I'm a mercenary. I'm paid to help you."
"That may be so, but . . ." she seemed embarrassed to continue, "You've helped me at such great length today. Without you, this city would have been taken and who knows what Vault and Beasley would have done to me had I fallen into their trap."
. . .
"I'm impressed."
Now she looked at him. "About what?"
"You held your own. You didn't waver."
She looked down and smiled softly.
"I had my doubts about you, but you proved me wrong. Perhaps you're more of a fighter then I thought. Good job."
"And I was wrong about you." Alicia said. "I didn't think much of you either, being a mercenary and all, but you've more than proven yourself. You're more then a mercenary . . . you're a Shield. Lady Celestine was correct to give you that title."
. . .
. . .
"Thank you." "Thanks."
The two looked at each other. Jason made no sign of being amused, but Alicia laughed at their jinxing.
"Come on, the battle's still going. It's not over until all the dogs are dead or gone." Jason said.
"Right."
. . .
With the southern gate still standing the Kuroinu reinforcements could not get to their allies who were pushed out and in by the two opposing forces. It became a losing battle for the Kuroinu and many realized this. Thousands of demons and men were slaughtered as they were pushed against each other. Only a few were able to slip past the Alliance and escape.
The Kuroinu were forced to retreat back to the badlands and return to their self-proclaimed king at the Black Fort.
The Battle of Feoh was won.
The Winner: The Eight Shields Alliance.
