Author's Note: This chapter is shorter than my new standard for two reasons:

I am experimenting with dividing lines and I want to know what you guys think before I over commit.

I had to rewrite this entire chapter from scratch because I wasn't satisfied with it.

littleking9512: We have reached the climax at last!

General Herbison: I am looking to see how things turn out too. My muse hasn't informed me yet. :D

YuyaYunka: Thanks for the tip, I'll keep it mind. As for the rest, I don't mind long reviews as it's the closest I'll come to a real conversation on a text-based website. You didn't miss any plot points, I have yet to reveal the overall scheme.

Disclaimer: My characters are mine, Overlord is someone else's.

Chapter XXVIII: The Great Escape

The Overlord shook himself out of his stupor and opened the door of his new residence. It was well furnished, containing a four poster made of some dark wood, inlaid with gold as well as a wide wooden desk and a chair. The floor was covered by a thick carpet and there was a fireplace attached to the wall directly opposite the door. The room's large glass window was open, letting a breeze toy with the white silk drapes. The sun outside was starting to sink behind the horizon, shooting its last rays across the open plains.

Hanson simply looked out over the city until he spotted the White Tower, the paladin order's stronghold in the city. The Overlord clenched his fists in anger at his own powerless position. He knew that Assira was imprisoned there, but was unable to do anything to help.

"Easy now sire…she will be rescued soon," the minion master placated through their mental link. Gnarl didn't want to go through the hassle of finding a new Overlord if Hanson died, and thus wanted his current master to stay alive as long as possible.

You better not fail me Gnarl, the Overlord thought.

"Milord, your bath is here," a voice said behind the Overlord. He turned to find a steaming hot tub set in the middle of the room. "The princess had me also bring these," the servant said as he laid out a fresh set of clothes on the bed. "If you need assistance bathing…"

"That's quite alright," the Overlord said as he began to walk towards the tub. "I can manage."

"Very well milord, call me if you need anything." The servant exited the room with a bow and closed the door behind him.

Hanson quickly undressed and slipped into the tub, feeling every muscle and joint relax in the hot water. The Tower Heart could heal any wound or malady, but could not do much in the realm of physical comfort.

Elizabeth stood in front of the mirror in her chambers, eying herself critically as an army of maids swarmed her from all angles, fixing hair, applying makeup, and selecting jewelry. As always, they bickered amongst themselves fiercely.

"Milady, would you like the sapphires or the rubies?"

"The rubies, of course! Then she can wear her green gown!"

"The white gown is better!"

The maids were ready to pull each other's hair out when Elizabeth stopped them with an elegant wave.

"Please stop this bickering," she said gently. I think the green gown with rubies would be best."

The maids quieted and moved to carry out the princess' orders. Elizabeth sighed as the green gown was slipped over her head. Internally, she debated what hairstyle to choose, dimly aware that the maids were arguing about something again.

She cleared her head, becoming aware of the new argument about hairstyles. Before it could get too heated, the princess selected a simple elegant knot along with her ruby-encrusted tiara, silencing the maids for the rest of the evening.

Fully dressed in her royal splendor, Elizabeth softly exited her room and walked to her father's library. William kept his massive library well-organized and the princess was quickly able to find the book she was looking for: Professor Gooblekin's Art of Seduction. Elizabeth sat in one of the nearby armchairs and began to read, her cheeks quickly beginning to glow red.

Hanson extracted himself from the tub, water dripping off his muscle-covered a form. He quickly dried himself off and slipped on the white tunic and pants provided. A set of new leather boots stood at the foot of the bed, but the Overlord chose to slip on his older pair as they were much more comfortable.

The tunic and pants were both white with gold sewn into the front of the tunic, forming William's crest. Now fully dressed, Hanson walked over to the window to catch the last rays of sunset. As the sun finally sank beneath the horizon, the Overlord turned to the sound of knocking at the door.

Hanson opened the door to see the princess standing there, looking as beautiful as a delicate rose. The old adage even roses have thorns flickered in the Overlord's mind as he wordlessly took the princess' offered arm and allowed himself to be guided downstairs into the dining hall.

Assira stared longingly at the setting sun, wishing she could escape from the tower. As far as prisons went, it wasn't bad, as it was cleaner than most inns the thief had been to in her lifetime. It was the lost freedom that stung her most of all, the loss of all free will, doomed to spend her remaining days caged like a pet bird.

Assira was in the middle of her dark thoughts when a large explosion rocked the White Tower in its entirety. A few moments later, the pitter-patter of many small feet could be heard, along with the occasional crashing noise of a guard being removed from existence.

The thief flew over to the bars to see what was going on. She could barely contain her excitement. Hanson had come for her!

"Sorry to disappoint you dear, but your Overlord is currently indisposed," Gnarl's voice came from the other side of the bars. Thus, being the only other being capable of controlling minions, I was sent to come get you out of your…predicament."

Assira was disappointed, but perked up slightly at "your Overlord."

"Now, if you're ready to escape, we will blow up the door. Grubby! Bring up the blaster bug guts!"

The brown ran up to the cell door and smeared it with what looked like a spoiled and rotting mushroom.

"I advise you back up mistress," Gnarl said as he signaled one of the reds forward. Assira backed up just as the red hurled a fireball at the door, igniting the volatile biochemistry of the bug, causing a small explosion that obliterated the cell door.

"Now we must get going, as the paladins will be none too pleased with this. Even if they are oafish, they still pose a threat to us."

The thief nodded her mute agreement and followed the minions down the stairs. As she ran, she noticed the widespread mayhem the little creatures had caused. She couldn't believe her eyes. The minion were kind of cute and cuddly and not too bright, but what she saw was a mute testament to their awesome power.

Bodies littered the floor; some hacked to pieces, others with their skulls bashed in. Everything had been overturned and looted and there was a gaping hole in the wall.

"That's our exit!" The minion master panted as he ran. "Into the sewers." All around her the minions, were gleefully flinging themselves over the edge into the water. Assira followed suit.

"Sir Ryrin, I'm glad you could join us for a little supper," King William said as soon as Elizabeth guided the Overlord into the dining hall. The wooden table had been covered in a white tablecloth and servants milled around, placing down dishes of all kinds.

"Isn't this a little much?" Hanson asked as he looked over the ample supply of food. "There are only three of us; we'll never stomach all of this."

"Four actually," the king replied. "One of my generals is coming for the meeting so I invited him to dine with us."

At that moment the doors opened and the guard led a man in whose statue was greater than even the Overlord's. He wore a simple dress military tunic and pants with soft black leather boots that were cracked from use. The general's hair was shorn close to his head and his beard was nothing more that a slight shadow. His high cheekbones and slightly pointed nose gave him a predatory look and his deep brown eyes burned like coals ready to burst into flame.

"General Leandros, welcome," the king said as he rose to greet the newcomer. "Sir Ryrin, Leandros spoke very highly of you combat ability in the arena."

Leandros nodded and strode over to the Overlord who untangled himself from the princess to shake the general's hand. Leandros' grip was one of a career soldier; able to shatter most of the bones in the hand of a courtier, but Hanson was no stranger to the brutality of war.

The general bowed briefly to the king and his daughter before turning back to the Overlord. "As his majesty said, I commend you for your performance. Is your arm healing up? I could see it has broken, despite your ability to keep it well hidden."

"I'm all right now," Hanson replied, flexing his right arm. "But what of you? I am relatively new at court and I spend so much time away I have not yet heard of your achievements."

"I'm afraid there is not much to it. I was able to hold back a brigand band similar to the one annihilated your troops." The Overlord's eyes narrowed slightly as he wondered if that was an insult.

"In fact Leandros, that is why you are here. Your ability to read the tactics of the scum is why you are so vital to our border regiments," William said. "But come, we are boring my daughter with this talk of warfare, let us eat. We shall discuss what to do later."

Author's Note: As always, please make comments and suggestions! ~R. Overlord~