Rigged from the Start
Chapter 58
Assassins Don't Wait
For the first time in almost a year, it was a boring day. I almost did not know what to do with myself. The hours went by, the sun rose, reached its noon peak, then started to fall, and I had nothing to do. There were no conniving, Machiavellian Grimleal priests to outwit; no insane monarchs to avoid; no recruits to train. Although, I had to admit, I missed the latter.
The Shepherds did have a small bookshelf in the common room. There were plenty of texts, scrolls, and tomes on magic and science; none of which maintained much of my interest and were likely meant for Miriel. As compelling as those topics might be, they were not very intriguing to someone trying to make an empty day go by. I did try to read them but found myself losing interest after a few hours.
Thankfully, there were two novels on the shelf. The one I chose was titled: Tales of the Summertide Sea. As soon as I cracked open the book I knew it was a romance novel. A very used romance novel too, judging by the number of pages dogeared in the past.
Out of curiosity, I flipped to one of the dogeared pages.
"O-oh," I croaked as I read the first words on the page. "That um…" My cheeks felt hot. "That explains some things."
A sharp gasp yanked my attention from the book to the barracks door. Sumia stood in the door, wearing a chocolate-colored dress and holding a stack of books from the Palace Library. Her cheeks burned and her brown eyes stared at the book in my hands. My gaze shifted from her to the book, then back to the brunette statue in the doorway.
"I'm guessing this is yours?"
Sumia dropped all her books. A light yelp left her lips. She bent down, scooped the books into her arms, threw them onto the bar counter, then took a step towards me… before tripping and falling on her face.
Usually, I would have gotten out of my seat to check if she was okay, but I was too puzzled by the entire situation to move. That, and I was embarrassed given the raunchy nature of the novel that I was reading out in the open.
Sumia picked herself up from the floor in a flash. Her cheeks stayed scarlet as she looked at me, a sheepish smile on her lips that reminded me so much of another Pegasus Knight in the future.
Holy crap, Cynthia does look like her.
"Um," Sumia pulled one of her brunette locks back behind her ears and folded her hands in front of her, "That's an um- er- yes, that's mine." She finished as she moved towards me.
A snort left my lips. "And all the dog ears are-"
"Mine too," Sumia said, snatching the book from my hands and closing it. Then she realized what she said, and I thought she was going to pass out from embarrassment. "Well, not just mine, but well- sometimes Sully reads too, and- and-," She ran a hand over her forehead. "Oh, who am I kidding? Sully doesn't read anything unless it's a weapons manual."
"If you said Maribelle you would have convinced me."
"If I said that then a meeting with a pink parasol would be in my future," Sumia sighed. She placed the book back on the shelf I sat beside, hand sliding off of the spine as her lips pursed. "What page did you-"
"Sixty-nine," I grimaced.
Her cheeks turned scarlet again. "Oh, Naga, um…"
Sumia gulped, flicked her eyes to her stack of books on the bar counter, then raced over to them. She skidded to a stop, grabbed the book off the top shelf, then rushed over to me. With enough force to bury into the back of my chair, she tossed me the novel.
"Wyvern Wars: Volume Two. Wait, you haven't read volume one. Oh fiddleheads, I-"
"It's alright," I chuckled. "I actually have read volume one, and two, and three. But, I don't mind a good reread. It will help pass the time."
"G-good."
Sumia retreated to the bar counter, hoisted all her books into her arms, then spun towards the hallways. At the hallway, she paused and looked at me. Before she could say I word, I spoke.
"You're still a goody two shoes to the others," I commented as I cracked the spine of Wyvern Wars: Volume Two open.
"Thank Naga," Sumia breathed. Then she was gone.
Once Sumia ran off, I rested my head against the back of my chair and puffed out a long breath. My cheeks still felt hot. How could they not? I knew Sumia liked to read but I had no idea she liked to read that.
I tugged on my shirt collar, cleared my throat, and directed my attention to the first page of Wyvern Wars. Before I could start reading, though, the door slammed open. Two pairs of boots marched in, along with the usually loud, gruff tones of both Sully and Vaike. A third set of boots trailed after them. Ones that sounded lighter and quiet.
I glanced up and spotted someone I interacted with for a brief moment in time in the future. He was silent for all our conversations. In the past, he seemed no different. As Sully and Vaike guffawed, Lon'qu moved in total silence and chose a seat at the bar far away from Sully. His sharp eyes darted to me, and I saw one of his hands fall to the grip of one of the two blades strapped to his hips.
Vaike noticed the movement because his eyes lit up and he gave me a wide smile.
"Up for a fight, Samwise?" Vaike asked. "Still haven't seen how ya brawl yet."
"Har! Right!" Sully declared as she took a seat at the bar, a bottle of firewine and three glasses in her grasp. "That girl more than proved her mettle last night, but you haven't. By the way, where is that little spit of dragon fire?"
"Severa?" I nodded to the hall. "Resting."
"Still?" Vaike asked, a small mark of concern twitching over his face.
A frown creased my lips. One I hid by wiping my mouth. "It's been a long few days. She needs it."
"And you're not resting?" Lon'qu asked, startling me when he spoke. Of all the times, this was the first I'd ever heard him talk.
"I am," I raised the book from my lap. "Reading rests the soul."
Lon'qu snorted, then returned his attention to the bar as Sully slid a drink down to him. He ignored it. Sully, meanwhile, spun around in her seat to look at me.
"You read?"
"Surprised?" I countered.
Sully took a long swig from her glass. "Sorta. Didn't think Plegian gutter rats knew how."
"I'm not a Plegian, actually," I replied, closing the book. I saw a spark enter Sully's eyes and quickly deduced what she was trying to do. "You're not going to goad me into taking a swing at you."
"Damn!" Sully smacked her thigh. "Worth a shot. Thirsty?"
"Al-"
A knock sounded on the door. Vaike rose from the stool and opened the door. Waiting at the door was a Ylissean royal guard who gave Vaike a nervous glance.
"I'm here on the Exalt's orders, sir. She would like to meet with the Plegian named Samwise."
I'm going to have to nip this Plegian nonsense in the bud soon.
"Yeah, he's right here," Vaike gestured at me. "You've got a meeting with the Exalt?"
"Apparently," I muttered.
Reluctantly, I set the book to the side and rose from my seat. The guard waited for me as I marched towards the door. Once outside of the barracks, a second guard joined him in guiding me into the palace to the Exalt.
Exalt Emmeryn was not waiting in the throne room. Instead, the guards led me through the palace to the residential wing, then outside to a small garden secluded from the rest of the palace grounds.
Tall hedges walled off the area. A slender path made of quarried stone snaked through the center of the garden towards a large, stone patio with a wood table on it. A white tablecloth draped over the table, and several sets of fine silverware rested on top of it.
The Exalt sat at the head of the table, white wine sitting in a crystal glass in front of her. Prince Chrom sat to her right and Wing-Commander Phila sat to her left. An older, grizzled man with a bald head, sharp black eyes, and a crooked nose sat beside Prince Chrom. On the other side of Wing-Commander Phila sat a young woman who almost made me do a double-take.
Exalt Lissa looks way different now.
Of course, she would look different too. She was twenty years younger, still in her teens, and wore a flouncy yellow and white dress with a tight corset around her midsection. Her blonde hair was done up in pigtails, and a cheerful, but mischievous, smile sat on her face. When she spotted me, her expression morphed into one of immense curiosity.
Finally, completing the seating chart, I saw Robin sitting beside Prince Chrom. It was the first time I got an up-close and personal look at the Shepherds tactician. To say he didn't look too different from Grima would have been an understatement. Other than lacking a sinister aura that made me shake in my boots, Robin was exactly the same as the Fell Dragon. Same crimson eyes, same almost albino complexion, same snow-white hair. The difference came in his posture, which appeared relaxed, inviting, even as he spotted me enter the garden with the guards.
When Exalt Emmeryn saw me, a small, gentle smile graced her lips.
"Good, you were available," She said as I stopped beside the only empty seat at the far end of the table from her.
I snorted. "I don't think I had a choice on my availability, your highness."
"Indeed, you did not," The grizzled, bald man grunted, his gravelly voice grinding against my ears.
"Commander Edward, Samwise is not an enemy," Emmeryn chided. "He is a guest."
"And he'll only be an enemy if he makes himself one," Chrom added in, warning in his tone.
I nodded at him. "I can assure you, I don't want that." I gestured to the seat in front of me. "May I?"
Emmeryn nodded. I took my seat. As I sat, I folded my hands in my lap and glanced around at the others sharing the table with me. All of them were dressed either like generals or royals, and here I am sitting in a dirty linen shirt and pants. Nothing like arriving to a fancy party under-dressed. Wonderful first impressions are absolutely my thing.
"Wine?" Emmeryn asked.
"Um, sure," I shrugged even as Phila and Commander Edward, who I assumed was the current Knight-Commander of Ylisse, frowned.
A servant emerged from somewhere off to the side and poured white wine into a crystal glass. Once that was done, the servant stepped to the side. With some hesitation, I plucked the glass and took a small sip, savoring the flavors as they hit my palate.
"I'm not a wine enthusiast, but even I know that's some expensive stuff," I hummed.
Lissa snorted while Emmeryn smiled.
"You would be correct," Emmeryn replied. Chrom brought his glass to his lips. "And I'm glad you find it enjoyable."
"Are you really Plegian!?" Lissa blurted out.
Wine spurted from Chrom's lips as harsh coughs wracked his lungs. Lissa realized her mistake and uttered a sheepish laugh. She then leaned against the table, blue eyes focused on me as her chin rested in her hands.
"Um," I uttered a nervous chuckle, "no. I am not Plegian."
"Then why were you on their side of the border, assisting their military?" Commander Edward asked while Phila remained silent.
Chrom's gave me a sharp look as I drew in a deep breath.
"Necessity," I replied. "Survival. Take your pick. Severa and I did what we had to to make it in that land, that is all. Besides, my origins shouldn't be as great a concern as what Plegia is planning to do in this war."
"And what would a mere mercenary such as yourself know?" Phila asked, her fingers drumming against the tabletop as she glared at me. "How would you know anything?"
I adjusted in my seat so I sat up a little more and rested my forearms on the edge of the table. "I was close with General Mustafa, a very high-ranking individual in the Plegian military. He trusted me, I trusted him. Therefore, I was part of many high-profile strategy meetings," I noticed Robin's head tilt ever so slightly as I piqued his interest. However, interest is fleeting. I don't need their curiosity. I need the Ylisseans' attention. "One meeting involved the possibility of an assassination attempt against your life, your majesty."
"They wouldn't dare!" Phila exclaimed.
"Oh don't delude yourself, they would dare," I replied, feeling some of my patience crack. "The Exalt is the ruler of your nation. She's the figurehead, the symbol of your power. Kill that symbol and you kill the nation's power, their unity, and their will to fight."
I got silence in reply. They knew what I said was true, and that made any objections lodge in their throats. Of all people, Robin was the one that broke the silence.
"When, where, and who?" He asked, catching me off guard.
"I don't know when," I replied, "That was kept a secret from everyone not involved directly in the operation. I know where and who though," I drew in a deep breath. Both Chrom and Lissa leaned in as they waited to hear what I had to say. Emmeryn sat still as a statue in her seat. "They will attempt to kill you here, in your palace-"
Commander Edward scoffed. "Nonsense. Plegian assassins infiltrating the palace. Ha! Hilarious," He leaned over in his seat as he stared at me. One finger gestured to the walls beyond the hedges. "Listen, boy, no enemy has ever infiltrated these walls, let alone the walls of Ylisstol. Even if they got into the city, our guards, knights, and Pegasus Knights will stop them before they could ever threaten the royal family."
"That's assuming they are normal assassins," I countered, silencing the commander as he gave me a quizzical look. "Robin, you're a tactician right?" He nodded. "What would you do to kill the Exalt?"
"Why on earth would you ask such an absurd question?" Phila asked, aghast. Despite her apparent offense, her voice did not rise like Commander Edward's. She was thinking over what I said.
There's hope for her.
Instead of gracing Phila and Edward with a response, I waited for Robin. As I settled back in my seat, Robin cleared his throat.
"Using conventional means of infiltration would be difficult," He began as he folded his hands on the table, red eyes flicking between everyone seated at the table. "However, I would never count on our enemy to be conventional. Assuming anything is a death sentence. First, let's evaluate Plegia's assets. Is it manpower? Possibly, but that doesn't help them in this situation. Is it tactics? Entirely possible, but we won't be able to guess those without a foundation to draw from, which we have none."
"We have the last war," Edward grumbled.
"The last war was a stalemate with different leaders fighting it," Robin countered, his voice picking up speed as became more interested in the discussion. "Gangrel has already proven himself unpredictable, but he has not proven himself to be stupid. He will learn from the mistakes of his predecessors. If what Mr. Samwise says is true, he's already done that. From this, we know he will take advantage of Plegia's greatest asset: their magical might," He turned his gaze to me, giving me an unblinking stare as he spoke. "If I were to plan the assassination of the Exalt, I would figure out a way to get into the palace that wasn't the front door, or even the back door. If there was a way to warp into the palace, I'd take advantage of that."
When he said the word 'warp', Sir Edward drew back in his seat and Phila paled. Chrom's brow furrowed as he listened to Robin. Emmeryn remained as still as ever.
"Once inside, I'd make sure the vast majority of my assassins were mages. Ylissean royal guards and Pegasus Knights are highly trained fighters, but they cannot overcome several skilled mages working together as a cohesive unit," Robin continued. "I'd say a half dozen powerful mages could take control of one wing of the palace, which is all they would have to do to take the Exalt's life." He nodded, lips thin as he finished his assessment. "That's what I would do."
"And guess who the 'who' is for this plot?" I followed up.
"Who?" Robin asked, not realizing I was trying to be rhetorical. Still, I took it in stride.
"Lord Validar Daraen, High Priest of the Grimleal."
Emmeryn's brow furrowed, both puzzled and concerned. Her advisers, as well as Prince Chrom and Princess Lissa, shared her confusion. Robin did not look confused as much as he appeared deep in thought.
"Did you interact with Lord Daraen at all?" Robin asked me.
"Several times. Never got to see what he was capable of, but you don't rise to his position without being capable of significant destruction."
At this point, I needed to drive the point home. Emmeryn's life was in danger. While I couldn't reveal Grima's involvement in any of this yet- doing so would only cause them all to think I'm a madman- I could frame this as a military threat from Plegia. That would spur them into action and give me credibility that would otherwise lack. In order to sell it, I needed to sell how dangerous the Grimleal really were.
"I had a friend, to use the term loosely, inside the Grimleal. A dark mage, middling rank, as far as I'm aware," I sold the fear I had for Henry easily. It helped that the fear was genuine. "We stormed a bandit hideout together. With a simple spell and some magic, he wiped out half of the bandit troop. Didn't even reveal himself to them. Reveled in the bloodshed, even. He's nowhere near the pinnacle of the Grimleal. If he's capable of that, then Validar is far more dangerous."
"And you believe Validar is leading this effort personally?" Chrom asked.
"I don't believe, I know," I replied. "Validar enjoys control too much to entrust such an important task to underlings. He'll be here, with mages and others, to kill the Exalt and the entire royal family."
Robin frowned. "If he manages to do that then the war will be lost."
Chrom rose from his seat. "I've heard enough then. If what you've told us is true, Samwise, you'll have earned my trust. As well as the trust of everyone in this palace." Phila shifted uncomfortably while Sir Edward's jaw stiffened. "Robin," Chrom continued, "I want a plan of action to defend us from these threats."
"I'll get it done," Robin nodded.
Chrom turned to face me as he remained standing. "You don't know when this will happen?"
I shook my head. "I wasn't allowed to know that information."
"Then we need to assume it could happen anytime," Robin muttered as he rubbed his chin. He gave me a long look and nodded to himself. "Yes, anytime… question for you Samwise: how did you get into the Themis palace?"
"Got arrested and picked the cell lock" I replied. "From there I snuck my way up to the Exalt's quarters. No one ever thinks to look inside for an infiltrator."
Robin nodded. "Good to know. Although, I doubt these assassins will forget to close a window." He finished with a twinkle in his eye and a small smirk.
My mouth fell open as I watched him march after Chrom out of the garden. Once they were gone, Commander Phila and Sir Edward took their leave. Edward hardly gave me a second glance, but Phila looked back as she left, concern etched on her face. At that point, I decided it would be a good idea to leave as well, only for Exalt Emmeryn to raise a hand.
"Have you had dinner yet, Samwise?"
"Uh…"
"Chef Albert is really good!" Lissa chimed. "What's on the menu today? Roast chicken right? Mmmm… chicken."
My mouth watered. It had been a while since I had a good meal. Lissa beamed as I sank into my seat again. Emmeryn then raised her glass to me.
"Now then," She sipped her wine. "I suppose we need to come to some sort of arrangement regarding your fate?"
I nodded. "And the best arrangements are always made at a meal."
Dinner was enjoyable enough. The chicken was great. Tender, moist, and had just the right amount of lemon sauce to make it delectable. Tasted like pure luxury, and I enjoyed every moment of it. Lissa and Emmeryn were good company as well, with Lissa providing most of the conversation in the form of questions for me. I did not answer most of them, and the ones I did answer were inconsequential, such as my pseudo-last name (Baggins), as well as what my favorite food is. I said steak because if I said cheeseburgers I would have gotten strange looks.
Once dinner ended, I returned to my boring evening. I entered the Shepherds' barracks at sunset. Most of the Shepherds were enjoying some time there. Sully was pouring drinks for everyone from behind the bar. Vaike, Stahl, and Virion were all sitting at the bar with her, making small talk. Or, in Virion's case, shamelessly flirting with an increasingly irritated Sully. Lon'qu sat off to the side of the barracks door, a rag in his hand as he polished one of his swords. He shot me a warning glare as I entered, and I made sure to nod at him in response. He seemed to like that because his glare ended right away.
Miriel lounged near the fireplace, a magical text open illuminated in her lap by a small fire. Her eyes scanned it with intense interest as she remained oblivious to her surroundings. One of her hands balanced her notebook while the other hand scribbled notes as she read. Sumia, meanwhile, sat on a sofa across from the fire, a novel propped up close to her face.
I did not see Cordelia, Lissa, or Maribelle, which meant they must be elsewhere on the Palace grounds. Cordelia was likely at the Pegasus Knights' barracks while Lissa and Maribelle were in the palace itself. Ricken was also nowhere to be found. I knew Robin and Chrom would not be here either. They were too busy working out how to defend the palace from assassins.
From the frosty reception I received upon returning, I decided it would be better for me to make a hasty retreat to the bunkrooms. After all, I did not want to draw undue scrutiny right now. I may be positioning myself and Severa to ally with Ylisse, but that did not mean the Shepherds trusted us yet.
As I stepped into the barracks hallway, I heard some laughter come from the bar behind me. I glanced over my shoulder. The Shepherds gathered there were chuckling at something involving Virion. Sully then shouted something to the others, who then joined in her laughter. It was enough to make me crack a smile. A smile that wavered as my mind returned to what I told the royal family earlier.
These Shepherds were not war heroes yet. They were not even true soldiers yet. Actually, Frederick, Stahl, Sully, and possibly Kellam were true soldiers; either knights or training to be knights. Cordelia wasn't even a part of the Shepherds yet, so she did not count either.
Even if they were all trained soldiers, none of them knew war. None of them knew the horrors of it like me and Severa. They all laughed in the face of the coming storm not knowing how easily it could destroy them. Blissful ignorance and innocence which I knew would be shattered in the coming days.
A heavy breath left my lips. At least I did my part, so far. I warned the Exalt and her family. Unlike the last time I warned her, Emmeryn allowed preventative measures to happen. Until Validar made his move, there was nothing more I could do. I wasn't about to pour cold water on the happiness radiating from the common room. There was no sense in ruining the mood with my dour news for the future.
I took another step forward and bumped into someone that came careening down the hall.
"Aw, shucks! Pardon me, mister. Didn't see ya there."
My eyes widened and a chill shot through me. Standing in front of me was a teenage boy with unruly lavender hair barely pulled behind his ears out of his face. A sheepish look rested on his youthful face as his brown eyes blinked at me. Slowly, that face morphed into one of a broken soldier in the future, and the sight made my heart ache.
"Wait a moment," Donnel breathed, his eyes widening as he looked at me. "You don't happen to be one of them Plegians Miss Cordelia brought in, are ya?" Before I could respond, he smacked his forehead with his palm. "Gosh darn it, Ma would get on me for gawking. Sorry 'bout that. Er- name's Donnel, but ya can call me Donny."
He held out his hand. I stared at his outstretched hand for a moment before taking it in mine.
"Samwise," I replied, voice bordering on a whisper.
"Samwise? Name don't sound Plegian to me. Maybe Sully's been spinning me tales again. She likes to do that, y'know. Also, sorry 'bout not meeting ya with the others last night. Was helping Sir Frederick in the stables for a while there. Good work; reminds me of home." A wistful sigh left Donnel's lips, then he shook his head. "Ya about to check on Miss Severa?"
I blinked. "U-uh yeah, I was."
"She's doing alright, I'd say. A bit tired looking, but I reckon you know the feeling given what ya'll been through. We got to talking for few minutes before ya walked down here. Got my doors mixed up and walked into the ladies bunkroom thinking it was the privy. Heh, don't think I ever felt that embarrassed in my life." He uttered a nervous chuckle as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Miss Severa was mighty gracious though."
"She was?" I replied, a small amount of disbelief filling me. Since when was Severa gracious to someone who barged in on her privacy.
"Yup," Donnel chirped. "A bit quiet, but I don't mind talking to quiet folks. At least they reply, unlike them hogs back home. Although, sometimes the hogs do snort a different pitch. Makes ya think they're hearing ya." He cleared his throat and started scooting around me. "Sorry for holding ya up. See ya around, Mister Samwise."
"Yeah, uh, see ya," I muttered as he squeezed by me and marched into the common room.
My gaze lingered on Donnel as he moved into the common room. I did not expect to meet him yet. I probably should have, but still… to see what he used to be like was startling. Yet another reminder of what the wars to come will do to these cheerful people.
Hopefully, they can enjoy this for a little while longer.
I reached the ladies bunkroom door and tapped my knuckles against it.
"Come in," Severa called from the other side.
I poked my head in and gave her a small smile.
"Just checking on you before I go to bed early," I remarked as I leaned against the door, hand still on the doorknob.
Severa looked better but still appeared exhausted. Bags sat under her eyes, and there was a slouch to her posture. Any swelling, cuts, and other evidence of her brawl with Vaike last night were gone; evidence of Maribelle's magnificent healing work and the half-empty vulnerary bottle by her bedside.
"I'm fine," Severa replied, a small smile resting on her lips as she spoke. Faint rays of sunlight from the sunset filtering through the window, turning her red hair a more brilliant shade of ruby at the ends. A deep breath left her lips. "I was about to turn in too. Still don't exactly feel rested. Not with what's coming on my mind."
I nodded. "Yeah, well… I warned the Exalt. The right people are taking action now, so they hopefully won't get caught flatfooted."
"Good," Severa said. She furrowed her brow as she thought for a moment. "So, you think the first step to stopping Grima is making sure Emmeryn lives?"
I shrugged. "It's a start. It'll definitely throw off whatever he's trying to do, I think. So that'll help us."
"For the first time, Grima will be the one caught flatfooted," Severa uttered a snort. "Only took us traveling through time and getting ahead of his henchmen to do it."
"But we're doing it, and that's what matters," I pointed out. My fingers tapped against the door. "I'm going to bed, but if you need anything don't hesitate to get me."
"Okay," She mumbled.
I nodded, shut the door behind me, then drew in a shaky breath. My eyes felt heavy. One of my hands rubbed them as I fought off sleep for a moment longer.
I'm more tired than I thought.
I heard more laughter coming from the common room. I was tempted to return and join them for a few minutes. In the end, I decided against that. I needed all the rest I could get. Exalt Emmeryn will want to continue our discussion from dinner tomorrow. Sleep would be good for me.
So, I entered the guys bunkroom, stripped out of my clothes, slipped into the nightclothes the Shepherds provided for me, laid down on my bunk, and closed my eyes. Laughter filtered down the hall as I drifted off to sleep.
Nightmares. Always nightmares. Even when I felt relatively safe for the first time in months, they came and ruined my sleep. Terrible memories replayed over and over again in vivid color for me to agonize over without end.
I would see Arena Ferox burning, with the bodies piling high around me. I would see Port Ferox and the mad dash to escape from that hellish place, followed by Gaius dying in front of me. I would hear Tiki's last words as she breathed her last. And, I would feel Anna's hand slip from mine as she passed.
Yet, I did not wake up in a cold sweat because of the nightmares. Not this time. I woke up because something felt strange. Instinct stirred me, making my eyes flutter open and stare up at the ceiling.
A steady rumble emanated from the bunk to my right, where Vaike snored. A quieter whistle came from the bunk to my left, where Stahl snoozed. Light from a full moon drifted into the bunkroom in blue waves, casting a pale pallor over my surroundings. A seemingly peaceful atmosphere that would have, under any other circumstance, lulled me back to my nightmares. It very nearly did.
Then, I heard it. The slow, quiet creak of a window opening in the room. My gaze stayed on the ceiling as my breathing stopped. The creak stopped as well.
A warm breeze drifted into the room. All of my senses were on alert. Part of me wondered if someone like Virion opened the window to allow a breeze in. But if he did that, I would have heard his footsteps. No one, except Gaius and Anna, was that light on their feet.
The floorboards groaned. Someone entered the room from the window.
My muscles tensed and I closed my eyes, keeping them cracked open just enough to peer through my eyelashes into the darkness. A shadow moved along the moonlight like a ghost. It stopped beside Vaike's bunk.
The slow, sharp whine of a blade sliding against a sheath rang in my ears. I held my breath and carefully turned my head.
A lone figure in black clothes and a cowl stood over Vaike's bed, dagger raised, ready to plunge it into the unsuspecting Shepherd.
He never got the chance.
I surged from my bunk, slamming into the assassin with all the strength I could muster. The assassin uttered an alarmed grunt as I drove him into the wooden floor. The air whooshed from his lungs. I did not give him time to recover. I straddled the assassin, pinning his legs to the floor before raining an elbow down to his forehead.
After two elbows, the assassin snapped his head forward, smacking his forehead against mine. I reeled, falling backward as my vision blurred. Right as it refocused, he was on top of me, dagger pointed at my throat. I caught his wrists inches from my neck as I lay on my back. The assassin pressed both of his hands against the pommel of his dagger, using his weight to shove it closer to my throat.
The tip hovered centimeters from me, close enough to tickle the skin. I grit my teeth, hissing as I fought with everything I had to keep my life. Through the shadows of the assassin's cowl, I saw dark eyes sparkle with malevolent delight as he closed in on his kill.
A loud crack rang out. The assassin's eyes rolled. His grip on his dagger slacked, allowing it to fall harmlessly to the right side of my head. Finally, he slumped unconscious on top of me. Donnel stood over the assassin, a bloodied candlestick clenched tight in both of his hands, and his eyes wide with fright.
A ragged gasp rattled from my lips. Vaike snored.
"Thank fuck you're a light sleeper too," I gasped.
Donnel gave me a shaky nod. "What now?" He croaked.
I pushed the assassin off of me, cleared my throat, and decided to shout as loud as I could.
"We're under attack!"
Virion jolted awake, his gray hair a stringy mess over his face. Stahl sprung out of his bed, half-dressed, and tripped over his boots. Lon'qu bolted upright, stiff as a board, eyes narrowing on me then on the unconscious assassin. A person in the corner I had not noticed before but recognized as Kellam, was already on his feet, sword unsheathed as he stood vigil near the open window.
And Vaike snored.
"Wake the big lout!" Virion exclaimed.
Lon'qu moved from his bed and marched to Vaike's bedside. He smacked Vaike's face, bringing the large man to a blubbering awakening.
"Wh-what? I was dreaming nice things," Vaike stammered, disoriented gaze peering through the darkness.
"Assassins," Lon'qu hissed.
"Tell them to assassin later," Vaike grumbled.
I rolled my eyes. There was no time for this nonsense.
"Leave the idiot," I grunted. I reached for the assassin's dagger and took it in my right hand.
I shot to my feet and rushed to the door. When I threw it open, I found Severa there, ready to open it for me. When I looked past her, I saw another assassin immobilized on the ground with Sully standing over him, a snarl on her lips. Sumia was awake as well, throwing on her armor as fast as she could. I gulped, returned my attention to Severa, and nodded.
"I'm getting to Exalt."
"I'm going with you," Severa said.
"Not without a weapon," I replied.
Severa opened her mouth to argue but closed it when I gave her a stern look. A frustrated expression washed over her face.
"Gawds dammit," She hissed. "Don't die, Samwise."
"Don't plan on it."
I brushed by her and marched towards the barracks door. As I grabbed the doorknob, Virion called after me, making me hesitate. The Rosanne nobleman patted my shoulder and gestured at me with his bow.
"You'll need someone with you."
I grimaced at that. Virion was not a sneak like me. He did not know how to move swift and silent as a shadow. He did not know how to avoid unnecessary conflict to achieve a primary objective. But, judging by the look in his eyes, I wasn't going to stop him.
"Try to keep up," I replied.
"The archest of archerers will have no issue with such a thing."
I glanced over my shoulder at Sumia and Lon'qu, who stood in the common room.
"Arm up. The assassins will be in the palace. Take out any when you see them."
"Right," Lon'qu grunted while Sumia gave me a nervous nod.
Without another word, I exited the barracks with Virion trailing after me.
There's an old saying in the sports world where I'm from. A mantra drilled into me during the few years I managed to play competitive sports at a decent level. Be quick, don't hurry. Hurrying causes panic, panic causes mistakes, mistakes cause disasters. That mantra danced through my mind, mingling with Gaius and Anna's training, as I moved across the palace yard towards one of the doors that led into the gargantuan building.
The door led to the wing opposite of the Exalt's residential quarters. It was a smaller section of the palace, reserved for high-ranking officers, staff, and guests. As such, I did not think the assassins would be in the area.
But when I pushed the door open, a fireball greeted me.
I ducked beneath the spell, feeling its heat wash over the top of my head as I fell into a somersault. Behind me, Virion loosed an arrow at the mage responsible for the spell. It whistled over me and slammed into a Grimleal mage's chest. The mage uttered a sharp cry that was swiftly cut off by a second arrow drilling through his neck, sending him gurgling to the floor.
A roar came from down the hall I entered, followed by cries of alarm. Three hooded and cloaked assassins rushed towards me.
Virion took down one, burying an arrow into his leg with ease. The second managed to reach me, but he was not expecting me to sidestep his enraged charge. He also did not expect me to snatch his outstretched sword arm and swing him into the wall.
His face hit the stone wall with a harsh crack, and he slid to his knees, unconscious. The third assassin skidded to a stop as he realized who he was dealing with. Before he could run, I hefted my newfound dagger and threw it, burying it between the fleeing assassin's shoulder blades.
I did not stop moving after that. My feet surged past the third assassin as he fell to his knees, dying. As I rushed past him, I yanked the dagger free from his back, scarlet blood flicking from the blade as I sprinted down the hall. If the assassins already made it this far into the palace then the Exalt was running out of time.
A catastrophic boom forced me to grind to a halt. The entire palace shook. Small puffs of dust and marble pebbles from the ceiling sprinkled on my head. I cocked an eyebrow and looked out a window. A fireball engulfed an area of the palace that I recognized as the Exalt's personal library. If I judged our position correctly, we were not far away. Only a couple of corridors and a set of stairs to go.
"Gods above," Virion breathed as he watched the flames bursting from the library turn red. Smoke billowed out in thick, black plumes as we watched. "Miriel and Ricken were in there."
A lump formed in my throat. Why would the assassins target the library, the barracks, and the guest wing of the palace? What were they-
"They're not just targeting the Exalt," I breathed, fear lancing through my heart. "Virion," I grabbed the archer's attention as I spun him away from the window. "They're aiming to kill all of the Shepherds in one stroke. I don't know how long it will take the others to get out of the barracks for combat, but someone has to warn them then get to the library."
"And one of us has to reach the Exalt," Virion replied, face grim.
I glanced up the corridor, in the direction of the Palace's residential wing. Virion's silver eyes followed me. His gaze hardened when I returned my attention to him.
"I can get there faster than you," I breathed. "This is not my first time skulking through a palace," He still didn't move as his hands gripped his bow tighter. I rolled my eyes. "You'll have to trust me, Virion."
Virion's jaw tightened. An irritated huff shot from his nose.
"Very well," Virion scowled, slinging his bow over his shoulder. "But if you plan on betraying us, know I will put an arrow between your eyes as punishment."
"Noted," I grunted.
We took off in opposite directions. As fast as I could, I bounded through the shadows down the long corridor into another hallway that snaked behind the throne room. I could hear swords clashing within the throne room, as well as several loud bangs from spellfire colliding with the walls.
I ignored all of that, preferring to sprint down the halls until I reached a stairwell that took me to the top floor of the palace. Once at the top floor, a long hallway lined with windows led to the residential wing. Inside of the hall, I spotted a slender figure that made my heart surge to my throat and caused me to jump into the darkest shadow I could find.
"Get it open already," Validar hissed as he glared at the set of double doors in front of him and a group of assassins.
"I'm trying, mister!" A younger voice replied. One that made my heart freeze and my eyes widen.
"Mouse?" I whispered.
"Hurry Mouse," Cutter hissed beside him. "Who knows when some of those knights will arrive. Eva, quit staring and keep a lookout."
That was when I was spotted. Eva spun around, her cowl falling from her head as she twirled. When she saw me, a snarl rushed over her features. A fireball burst to life in her hand and she launched it at me.
I rolled to the side, swallowed my fear, and did a mad dash to the other side of the hall. Another fireball slammed into the floor behind me. Flames licked at my heels as I rushed towards the closest window. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a flux arcing towards me, black energy pulsing with vile power.
I crashed through the window before the flux could hit me. It whizzed behind me, making the air sizzle and ripple around me as it passed by. I hung in the air for a second before starting to free fall. That was when I reached behind me, grasped the stone ledge, and caught myself.
Pain lanced through my arms, fingers, and shoulders as I came to an abrupt stop. I did not stay there for long either. Once I halted my momentum, I swung my legs and aimed for the window below me.
Unfortunately for me, the glass did not break when my feet hit the window. Instead, the window flew open. A yelp jumped from my lips as I shot through the open window and landed hard on my back. I skidded across slick, marble floors for a second before coming to a stop at someone's armored feet. When I looked up, I saw Frederick glowering at me, some blood staining his face and breastplate. From the looks of things, it wasn't his.
One rough, gloved hand snagged me by the collar of my shirt and hoisted me off my feet. Frederick held me at his eye level as I stared fearfully at him.
"Do you have anything to do with this?" He snarled.
I glanced around us, noticing the bodies littering the hallway for the first time. Blood sat in shallow pools and was streaked across the walls like an abstract painting. Most of the bodies were royal guards. Some were stabbed to death. A pair were peppered with arrows, making them look like pincushions. Several more were scorched by magical fire, thunder, and dark magic, their features hardly recognizable anymore. Laying among the Ylissean bodies were half a dozen assassins and one Grimleal mage.
All of the color drained from my face. My throat turned dry.
"N-no," I gasped. "I had n-nothing to- I specifically warned the Exalt this may happen earlier today."
Frederick scowled at me, seemingly not believing me. A loud boom sounded from above us, followed by two more bangs rattling the ceiling. I could hear Validar's furious voice berating Mouse and Cutter. Something about them being useless excuses for thieves. Frederick glanced up at the ceiling, then back down at me.
"We don't have time for this," I breathed.
His scowl remained. I could see the mental debate in his head. Finally, he closed his brown eyes and set me down on the floor again.
"Follow me. And don't get in our way," He growled.
I quirked an eyebrow. "Our?"
The sound of flesh tearing and bone snapping like a twig made my blood freeze. I turned my attention to the next set of doors. Standing in the doorway on massive, hairy, hind legs was a Taguel in their beast form. Its jaws held a Grimleal mage by the leg. The sod clawed at the floor, desperate to get away, only for a set of razor-sharp claws to tear his back to shreds. Blood and gore soared through the air, splashing against the walls and staining the taguel's brown coat crimson. When the Grimleal stopped screaming, the taguel released its grip on the dead man's leg.
Red eyes glowed in the darkness like small pools of blood. They focused on me as I inched after Frederick. The taguel's rabbit-like nose twitched when we approached.
"Samwise, Lady Panne," Frederick quickly introduced.
"Hmph," The Taguel spoke, but its mouth did not move. "Another manspawn. This one lacks your iron will, Warrior Frederick." Its nose moved past Frederick and got right up in my face. "Is he a friend or foe?"
"F-friend," I stammered, staring into the endless pools of red set in the Panne's hairy head. "Definitely friend. Those people above us though are not. Validar is with them and-"
Frederick spun around. "How do you know one of their names?"
"He's the High Priest of the Grimleal!" I exclaimed. "Everyone in Plegia knows who he is. They also know not to fuck with him. So if he's personally going after the Exalt then we really don't have time to yap like this."
"He may reek with fear, but this manspawn is correct. I will not allow the Exalt to perish this night."
Panne crouched on all four, gigantic paws, spun around, and rushed away, crashing through the doors that led to a second stairwell. She bounded up the stairs and out of sight. Frederick and I lingered for a moment. I gave him a side-eyed glance.
"Friend of yours?"
"No," Frederick grumbled. "But she saved my life, so I told her my name and she responded in kind."
"She saved your life and that doesn't qualify the hairy beast for friendship?"
Frederick scowled then ran up the stairs. I sighed and followed. It probably wasn't the best idea to try to make small talk with Frederick in the middle of a battle anyway. Assassins were in front of me, probably behind me, and definitely above me. All of them could easily kill me.
Better make sure that doesn't happen.
And chapter! Back to the pulse pounding action folks! Full steam ahead, and it's going to be a wild ride! We're getting into the thick of the Plegian conflict now, and it's going to be very interesting seeing Sam and Severa's impact on it. Let me know what you all think of this chapter! As always, I hope you all enjoyed it! Have a nice day!
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