Saito had crumpled into a heap against the wall and was unmoving. Her father had frozen mid-rise when the watching workmen around the sides had pulled crossbows out from beneath flower wreaths and behind wall-hangings. Had this been Wardes' plan from the very beginning?
The Knights that had come with him had turned their swords toward the few guests and seemed ready to attack if need be. Wardes had grabbed her arm, holding it tightly, and pointed his sword-wand at her maids; Kirche had also frozen with wand already in hand. Where had she been hiding it? Louise didn't understand why her mind was grasping at tiny things like that, instead of...
"Jean-Jacques… you…" Her chest ached. Why? Why? He was a traitor? She didn't understand it. And yet… He wouldn't look at her; just pointing his weapon at the girls still. It had become a stalemate in a matter of moments; her father was at least skilled enough to take this many men but not with his ill daughter right beside him. She didn't have a wand on her; it was supposed to be her wedding day!
"You'll never get away with this, Viscount!" Kirche's cry would have seemed more melodramatic if it weren't for the note of fear in her voice. Wardes didn't respond to her; he merely yanked Louise closer and caught her by the waist. Ordinarily the thing to do would be to struggle and beat her fists against him, most likely to no avail, but she was painfully aware of the weapons aimed at her sister. "We've two more mages than you, and there's no way you'll hurt Louise!"
"Shut up." The tip of his sword-wand pointed to her and his grip on Louise tightened. "Stay where you are, and nobody else needs to get hurt, Germanian. My wife and I are leaving." The words stung far more than they should have as he took a step towards the hall's rear door. Without even thinking about it she began to pull against him until he squeezed again. "Don't struggle, Louise; think of your family. All of them."
The way he spoke brought her up cold. There was her father and sister in here, but… she met her father's gaze and his expression had turned both dark and fearful. "That's right. I've a man with your wife, Duke. Any undue commotion and he'll slit her throat. So you just wait quietly and we'll be on our way." He continued to haul her towards the door; she didn't actively resist but nor was she willing to walk along with him just like that.
Something felt wrong. Her eyes flickered to the wall and traced a shape that she felt should be there. Yet… something was… her head felt almost fuzzy and yet her mind was still perfectly clear. More like something just at the edge of recollection…
"Forgetting someone?" Saito stood between them and the door. Two of the men had aimed at him instead of her father; she saw him shift subtly to place himself between Cattleya and the remainder when he noticed the potential opening. Wardes had gone very stiff behind her and his sword-wand waved erratically between her maids and familiar.
"Don't you care about the Duchess' life?" Even if the young man looked in a bad way, his clothing scorched and what skin she could see blackened by the lightning impact, he was still standing in their way. That was clearly making Jean-Jacques uneasy. Saito shook his head slowly; not taking his eyes off them.
"I serve Louise. She is my sole concern. Release her." His expression twisted into a hateful snarl and for a moment Louise thought she saw his teeth coming to a point. "Now." There was a moment when something horrifying washed over her; an instant of fear that shot straight into the darkest reaches of her mind and left her with a brutal certainty that she was about to die. This feeling seemed to be indiscriminate as Wardes tensed up and a number of people gasped in horror.
Louise was in the perfect position to see Saito's eyes widen as a 'twang' sounded behind her.
The soldiers were afraid. There wasn't much of a way to alleviate their fear; the sheer level of preparations were enough to terrify anyone. There were more than a dozen heavy barrels full of water spread throughout the fortifications and more, smaller, vessels besides those. Water Mages were standing by but Kenneth felt they didn't have enough of those.
He'd said all he could at this point. They'd have to shoot for the wings; even if they were magically flying undead monstrosities they still needed those to some degree. Then things became really difficult. With what time they'd had he had attempted to impart some basic strategies to dealing with Wights but he wasn't sure how well it would take. All that remained now was to see it through.
The first one came streaking low, green fire bubbling out of its maw and trailing from its eye sockets, and opened wide to let loose a gout of unholy flames. With ease borne of practice the Mages assigned to the barrels pulled up a sheet of water to catch it mid-ar; with striking results. When the green blaze met the liquid it exploded in a horrific imitation of a suddenly-doused grease fire.
Simultaneously, dozens of men loosed arrows at the creature. Many of these were destroyed by the conflagration but some made it through. Those that hit scales either deflected neatly or penetrated shallowly; the creature was not inconvenienced by either. Just as it was about to peel off for another run a spike of stone slammed into its chest from the front; launched by the only Triangle Earth Mage they had.
"GET BACK!" Kenneth's roar carried over the ragged cheer that went up as the thing's momentum was checked by the shot; it spun out of the air and dug a deep rent in the ground as it crashed. The thing pulled itself upwards and then, suddenly, the surface bulged outwards. There was a moment when green light shone from between all of its scales and then…
The blast radiated outwards and caught a good dozen men in it. Kenneth reacted as best he could; one, still screaming, got a crossbow bolt in the back of the head. Another dropped into the earth as he stomped on it and willed the ground to crush the body into a fine red paste before the flames could take hold. Then one of the screaming men suddenly stopped. They stood and turned to stare at Kenneth with fire pouring out of their eyes.
He didn't curse. Around the man more of those caught in the explosion rose. Above them there were further detonations as the Dragonwights flew overhead and breathed flames towards the mass of soldiers. There was screaming to one side where a blast got through. Kenneth didn't look away. His crossbow clicked onto the hood at his waist and the haft of his axe fell smoothly into his grip as he advanced towards the freshly-made Wights.
One charged him; he sidestepped and kicked out to knock it off balance then swung; bisecting the thing left shoulder to right. His hand wrenched upwards and clenched just in time to cause the ground to rise up and swallow the two halves before there was a dull 'thud' of the remains exploding. There was no respite; two more charged him with burning hands outstretched.
One was slammed backwards as he swung his slab off his back, smashing it into the Wight in the process, and grasped the iron rings along the back. Despite its significance to him it definitely wasn't the first and, given it was a very convenient shield, wouldn't be the last. The meaning was in the names on the stone and he knew all of those by heart.
The second one leapt for him as the fire burning under skin grew suddenly brighter. Kenneth slammed his foot, and shield, down at the same time; causing the earth to sink in a small semicircle around him; exactly the width of his slab where it had been pressed into the ground. Green flame streamed around the edges of his makeshift shield as the thing detonated itself in an attempt to bring him down. He'd expected that much.
What he hadn't expected was a toothy maw to snap down on either side of the slab right as the inferno abated and yank it out of his hand. Kenneth saw it sail away into the middle distance, probably to land on some unfortunate soldier, as the Dragonwight turned its head back to him.
It lunged, Banefire licking between its teeth, and Kenneth punched out. His fist met it on the lower jaw and knocked the head away; he could feel the unholy fires scorch the ground behind him. They weren't hot, as such; but it was an unmistakeable sensation. The dwarf vaulted out of his hole and circled around. There was a flash of metal as he removed one of its hind limbs on the way past.
In response the draconic beast spun in the opposite direction; he ducked a swinging tail and then dropped all the way down to his back and kicked out as a tingle through his toes warned him of the leaping Wight behind him. His feet caught it in the chest as it fell and launched it skywards where it exploded into a ball of green fire. Kenneth slammed his elbows down and shoved himself to his feet only to be faced with a mouth full of teeth coming straight for him.
His axe flashed out even as it went to close its teeth; the blade passing smoothly through the skull and flesh with a faint hiss. The edge glowed green for a moment before the metal rejected the unholy fire. Kenneth took a moment to calm his wild heartbeat and survey the surroundings.
The situation wasn't great. As per his instructions the Earth Mages were burying Wights beneath torrents of dirt; but the things were working on clawing their way out already. Meanwhile the Water Mages were trying to protect against the remaining dragons. When water met Banefire it was like trying to put out an oil fire… but at least it prevented the flames from landing.
He began to move in the direction his slab had been flung; it would still be valuable if it hadn't cracked. Skill at arms alone wasn't nearly enough to survive an encounter like this. He unslung his crossbow and cocked it as he jogged; eyeing the combat. They must have lost a quarter of their men already.
Ahead there were a group of three Wights assaulting two spearmen; they were doing their best to repel the dead, but it was hard to hold off a creature that didn't care about injuries. Green fire surged out of the hands of one and it grasped at the wooden shaft of the weapon impaled in its stomach. In moments the wood had rotted down the haft; blackened bits collapsing as the Wight launched itself forward and embraced the soldier.
It let go a moment later as the body slumped in its grip, then turned its head to face Kenneth. He lowered his crossbow and then clicked it back onto the hook at his belt. The shot had taken the young man right in the eye and gone into his brain; quick and painless death. They could only make more Wights if the fire killed its victim directly.
"C'mon, ye bastards!" The three started walking his way slowly; two splitting off and moving left and right. They left the second soldier behind and he scrambled away in terror. Kenneth didn't blame him. These men may well have been friends or comrades… seeing the green fire burning out of their eyes would unnerve one even if that wasn't the case.
All three charged at once. He dashed for one and swung down; neatly bisecting them skull to midriff and kicking them in the stomach to launch the body back before it could detonate. The earth beneath him shifted to give him more leverage as he twisted himself to the side and kicked out; a spike of earth impaling the charging Wight through the neck.
The last one leapt for him as he brought his axe around the other way. Its left hand shot towards his axe and even though it cleaved straight through flesh and bone the impact deflected it just slightly. Kenneth swung with his own left as the flaming right hand reached for his face only for it to jerk downwards and suddenly grasp his fist.
In front of him the Wight's eyes exploded into brightness as green fires surged down its arm and covered Kenneth's hand.
Saito was faced with a choice. He had merely an instant to decide which way he was going to launch himself. Even as he tensed his muscles and leaned forward his eyes locked with Louise's and he could see the slowly dawning horror as what was happening began to reach her. Inwardly he cursed himself and his softness.
Outwardly he pushed off the ground with all of his might and exploded across the room. Around him the stalemate devolved into madness. One of the men had reacted to his threat in the worst possible way; firing their crossbow. The Duke was paralysed with indecision and wouldn't react in time. To his right the Zerbst girl began to swing her arm with the words of a spell on her lips. As he passed Wardes the man was slowly lifting his implement in turn.
He sailed through the air, hand reaching out, as the distance between him and the flying bolt decreased far more rapidly, and yet also far more slowly, than he wanted. It was nearing level with his path now and he was just passing the halfway mark. His arm stretched to its maximum length as he reached for the power burned into his skin. It wouldn't arrive in time; his hesitation had cost him that.
Less than a metre away from the Duke and Louise's sister his fingertips made contact with the fletching on the bolt as it passed in front of him. Its course deviated only a few thumb-widths at most; flying otherwise straight and true right into the ill girl's chest. Saito's dive carried him forward into a roll that brought him up within arm's reach of one of the armoured soldiers; a hand shot out and he struck the man on the chest with an open palm. The armour crunched as it dented inwards and the occupant was flung backwards.
Wardes cried out a name as he turned and as his rotation completed he saw Tabitha move. A blade of ice formed on the wand that slid out of her cuff as soon as it met her hand and she jabbed it through Kirche's side before twisting and releasing the spell. Frost exploded upwards and coated the girl's arm as she coughed blood with a look of utmost shock. The traitor swung his wand at the wall and released a cone of fire and rushing air that blasted a hole in the wall.
Even as he broke into a sprint the Duke clutched his collapsing daughter behind him. Wardes hauled Louise off her feet and over his shoulder as he began to run for the hole in the wall. A spray of frigid air was flung at him by Tabitha while she moved to intercept; playing interference for her handler. In response his left arm glowed red and fire burst forth from his palm; half the light of his tattoo disappeared in the blink of an eye as he negated the icy wind only to drop to the ground a moment later so he could avoid the hail of stones that came in their wake.
Wardes was ten steps from the hole in the wall and casting another spell as he ran. Louise beat her fists against his back in vain and was crying out. Formless anger buoyed him up as he slammed his palms down and forced himself upright in an instant. A powerful kick caught the flagstones and launched them in a spray of rock at his fellow assassin; but she'd already moved to the side and had flung the altar at him on a gust of wind.
He vaulted it and then kicked out in mid-air; a solid surface forming beneath his sole for just long enough that he could go flying up and over Tabitha. Her next shot, a thin icy spear, caught him in the thigh as he hurtled towards the fleeing groom. Wardes completed his spell mere instants before contact and his figure stretched out rapidly as the acceleration magic took effect. For the merest fraction of a second Saito closed his eyes.
Louise was outside. Wardes had her, and was capable of flight. His griffon would be nearby. The primary goal had already succeeded; in the time it took him to grab a weapon and use the enhanced speed to catch up with them the traitor would have escaped. Secondary goal would be neutralisation of the Duke and himself; as well as Tabitha's escape.
Jeirazh opened his eyes. They glowed as he turned his head and surveyed the room. Two wounded, Kirche and Cattleya, with one otherwise incapacitated, the Duke. Five armoured hostiles, twelve unarmoured with crossbows, one already fired. He exhaled heavily and then breathed in deeply as the eleven still armed with loaded weapons readjusted their aim.
The nearest one didn't have time to react before he shattered their arm at the elbow and tore the weapon from them. As soon as his hands closed around the trigger he disappeared from view. Blood exploded from the men around the perimeter of the room one by one within the space of a few seconds; the last three managed to pull the trigger only for their bolts to be yanked out of the air as soon as they'd left the crossbow. He'd jammed them into their eye sockets.
From his perspective, Jeirazh moved calmly towards the first of five Knights; at a run, of course, but without the incredible franticness that had accentuated his earlier movements. Behind him, Tabitha was putting together her next spell. He ignored her. His hand slammed into the first man's helm and he immediately began to apply pressure; only stopping to fling the dead body sideways as soon as his fingers met each other again.
Four of the five still standing died the same way; blood exploding from their helmets as they suddenly became a third of the size followed by their corpses being promptly tossed aside. The only survivor amongst the honour guard, the very first Knight who was struggling to breathe through cracked ribs and a crushed armour plate, got to watch a hand emerge from the back of his last remaining compatriot; one clutching something small and red that it unceremoniously crushed.
Jeirazh pulled his arm from the chest of the last standing Knight and then turned to face Tabitha. She'd frozen in place, wand in hand, and was staring at him as he stood there; blood dripping from his fingertips and loaded crossbow lazily held in his off hand. Up until he'd put his hands on the weapon he knew that she'd been able to follow and react to his movements. Now, though… he'd killed sixteen men in the last two, maybe three, seconds. The lone man who'd discharged his weapon already and the one he'd first struck were still the only two left alive.
"One word, Charlotte. It's all I'm giving you." He began to walk towards her as all killing intent flowed out of him. A smile appeared on his face as he approached her while radiating an aura of total peace and openness. She tensed and relaxed and tensed again as the paradox that he displayed took her already taut nerves and messily tore them asunder. There was no malice in his steps, no intent to hurt her in his eyes, nothing but holes in the way he held his body and yet… in her heart, she could feel her death approaching.
An arm's length away he stopped and reached out for her while she trembled in place. There had been a spell prepared but her wand had fallen from her fingers at some point. Jeirazh reached for her; still smiling beatifically as his fingers gently grasped at her neck. The words she might have said were all frozen in her throat. Finally, she forced one out.
"... family." He didn't freeze. It wasn't shock, or even surprise. The calmness merely flowed out of him to be replaced by an endless, towering fury. His grip tightened on her neck but she wasn't choking yet. They locked gazes for what felt like an eternity but couldn't have been more than a few seconds. Then Jeirazh sighed.
"My debt is paid." His fist sank into the flesh of her stomach and she doubled over; all air escaping her lungs. A moment later the edge of his palm met the back of her head and she collapsed into a boneless heap on the floor. He took a few seconds to breathe deeply; closing his eyes once more.
When Saito them again the glow had ceased; both from his iris and skin. He moved over to Kirche and checked her for a pulse; it was still there. The Duke had recovered admirably from the fountains of blood forming around him and was already applying first aid to Cattleya. If he hadn't gone for the bolt then it would have certainly penetrated his heart. Even so, he already regretted his choice.
It was too late for that. He'd become Saito de la Vallière for various reasons; ranging from the selfish to the pragmatic. In spite of all of that, however, he'd still sworn to protect Louise. But he'd lost his edge. Sentiment and foolishness had clouded his judgement. He should have killed Tabitha as soon as he uncovered her identity. He should have slit Wardes' throat in his sleep as soon as he'd discovered the man's split loyalties.
But he hadn't. For personal reasons. For stupid reasons. Well, he wouldn't make that mistake twice. Tabitha would go to the Queen's dungeons, and Wardes would die without ever seeing his face again. He would follow them, he would find her and if anyone, or anything, dared to stand in his way…
He turned on his heel and strode towards the last enemy standing. The man had stains running down his legs and tears in his eyes; as Saito approached the unloaded crossbow dropped from his hands and he began to try and stammer something inconsequential. A moment later he was lifted bodily off the ground by the front of his shirt and slammed against the wall.
"Tell me everything you know right now and I'll kill you instantly. But if I so much as suspect dishonesty from you I'll make sure you take a whole minute to die." The man quivered in terror as Saito held him against the stone. "And if you think that doesn't sound too bad then clearly you weren't paying attention."
Wardes leapt into the air as soon as he'd gotten outside, a levitation spell carrying him upwards as he whistled for his steed. It had shot past them mere seconds later and he'd caught the saddle with one hand as it did so; the sudden acceleration had threatened to make Louise throw up. Now she laid across his saddle as he trussed her up as best he could with strips torn from her dress.
She still struggled, but there wasn't much force to it. Soon he had her bound fully and, after a particularly vigorous set of curses she'd acquired secondhand from Kenneth by the medium of Zerbst he finally decided to gag her as well. All she could do then was fume in silence.
Her hands were currently bound behind her but she knew that wouldn't last. As unpleasant a situation as this seemed Louise knew she had one major advantage that Wardes didn't know about. Even she hadn't known about it until he'd dumped her across his saddle. Yet, even as they flew further and further from safety and her family, she praised her wonderful, horribly paranoid familiar.
The ride wouldn't be especially pleasant with the sheath of the concealed dagger he'd somehow secreted in the front of her dress poking into her stomach… but Louise would endure until the bitter end.
