Now it has been a while since this got a chapter, sorry for that, but I recently had some inspiration for Maia and as you will see I am taking this in a different direction. Now many of you might be surprised by this and others would not be so. But really what happens in this chapter is going to influence the future but at the same time it is not what you think.

You will have to wait and see. Because when the Ansur arc is complete I am moving onto a bit more character building and the different factions in the Hand and so forth. What happens here is that a lot of interactions between the different Shields and the Hand are about to go down. In time you will see where I am going with this, I hope you enjoy.


The Hand of Suffering

Chapter 18: Welcome Home

Dangershale

Dangershale, it lived up to its name, almost every town had a history that was reminiscent of its name. This one was quite literal, it was why living here was one of the worst things people had to endure. Out of all the villages in Ansur this one was the worst, mostly because your life expectancy shortened with every passing day you stayed here.

A mining town, or what was left of it. Used to mine coal and other random rocks from the ground before Ansur went belly up. Despite the fact this town had not mined anything in the last four decades didn't seem to register because this place never stopped getting rained on by black dust and the foul smell of sulphur. It bathed the town in black, painting all surfaces this colour, making it hard to breath.

The major import to this town was scented oils, usually used to smother rags worn by the townsfolk that lived here and worked outside. Houses consisted of thick stone and wooden walls with no open surface or crack for air to seep through. Windows were actually sheets of linen that allowed some ventilation while keeping out the black dust that drowned the town. This was a place no one wanted to stay in, herself included.

Not often she brought her Company to stay here, this town was a shithole, almost as bad as Ansur but with the smell of shit replaced with sulphuric fumes. Along with choking on the coal dust that continually rained down from on high. She never understood why anyone wanted to live here, it gave you miners lung and left you miserable and wishing that someone would just come around and end it all.

Most of the people living here had a persistent cough or skin too blackened by the dust to be scrubbed clean. She hated spending the night in the town, anyone in the Rose Company would say the same, which often got her a slew of complaints and curses whenever she made her way here. But it wasn't so bad, at least for her, she would always go up to the little cottage outside the village on a hill. It usually didn't get hit by the constant flood of shit falling from the sky, but most of all, it was away from everyone.

No one would come up to some shabby little cottage that was left to rot, not when it didn't have a decent roof or solid walls. She only came up here because she hated the town more than it, and she certainly hated this place. But regardless she kept coming back, a part of her didn't want to know why that was.

"Still a burnt out ruin." Maia muttered, grimacing at the house that was still slowly crumbling under its own ravaged weight.

Wouldn't be long before it was a pile on the ground, nothing but rubble, she would love nothing more than to see that happen. To see this shitty little thing gone forever, to never be reminded of it, to never have to come back up here in spite of it being better than the town.

Taking another swig of her ale she approached.

She needed time to think, to clear her head and figure things out. Ever since leaving Ken she has been unable to think straight, caught between worried about her future in the Alliance and her fear for what might happen with Vault and her former comrades. Celestine had threatened her into compliance, to strip away all her authority and power, to even have her executed for dereliction of duty.

It had caught her off guard, shocked her that she would go to those lengths. That she would take that kind of action against her, to actually strike her, that woman would do that to her. A part of her never thought Celestine could do that, she was too kind, too gentle, too much like…

She banished the thought, taking another swig and stepping into the cottage, looking around. The entire place was burnt, the furniture was nearly destroyed, what remained intact was covered in rot and soot. It was a mess, but a part of her remembered what it looked like before it became this way, before it turned to shit.

"Fucking joke. Fucking shithole." Maia muttered, fuming to herself as she took another swig of her ale.

Why the hell was she here? She hated this place, every single day she reminded herself of that, it was her prison and the hell she had been forced to stay in since the day she was born. Held here on the whims of some hermit who didn't want her to go out into the big bad world, fucking bitch. Two faced like that Goddess, she didn't care about her, only wanted to control and use her.

"You deserved to burn in this house." Maia said, glaring at where she often remembered seeing that woman, right by the window doing some inane little task she never wanted to learn.

This place was filled with painful memories, ones she did not want to remember, only to get rid of and focus on what was important. But every time she came to this village she came here, strolling into this cottage and looking around, remembering every single little thing that stood out to get. The sewing needles near the rocking chair, the bookshelf with half a dozen tomes, a set of handmade stuffed animals.

Another swig of her jug and she turned away from it.

"I hated it here, I'm glad its falling apart." Maia muttered, glaring at everything around her.

She heard something in the next room, she picked up a voice, two voiced in fact. She strolled over to the door, silently, listening, grunts and moans reached her ears and she quickly realised what it was. Her fist tightened at her side, she reached for her sword and with a grunt kicked open the broken door. She strolled in, and found two people inside.

Looks like some dumb kids had come up here to fool around. He had his pants down and her dress was hiked up, they were going at it on top of the small bed that was in the room. On that bed… on her old bed…

Maia's face twisted into a snarl, she raised her sword and got in close, aiming for the throat of the little fuck who thought he could be here. She glared at him and that little tramp who was spreading her legs in this place, in her place. They didn't deserve to be here, this was her place, this was hers!

"Get the fuck out of here! Don't ever come back!" Maia yelled, scarring the two off, they scramble to flee from her.

Maia glared at them as they disappeared and their footsteps took them out the front door, they were gone now. She looked back at her bed, sheets ruffled, tainted by their touch and presence, this was where she once laid her head. But why the hell should she care if they were fucking on it, she wasn't some brat anymore that couldn't defend herself or knew nothing about the world.

She looked at the sheet on the bed, a blue quilt that with thick and heavy and had a bird stitched into it. It was a warm thing, she slept with it every night, made her feel safe and happy. Torn and tattered now, burned from the fire, but still whole, they had been fucking on it…

She seethed, raising her sword up and swinging down hard, she hacked into the sheets, the mattress and the best frame. She kept swinging until it was splinters and threads, breaking it apart and leaving nothing but ruins. It needed to go, it was wrong now, it was all wrong, there was nothing good with it anymore, there was never anything good with it.

"I hate you… I hate you…" Maia said, gritting her teeth in fury.

She stormed from her old room, glaring around the kitchen and living room, eyes settling on that chair. She raised her jug to take another swig, but in a fit of rage she tossed it at the chair, shattering the fragile frame.

"I fucking hate you!" Maia yelled. "Your just like her! A fucking two faced bitch! Always thinking you are right! Celestine is not different!"

Maia skulked around the room, swinging her sword at anything she could see as a reminder of her time in this house. With that woman she hated so much, the woman that raised her with lies and deceptions, making her believe that the world was filled with bad people and evil. That she could only be safe if she stayed with her until they were all gone.

"How does that sound huh? I am calling your Goddess a fucking bitch! Huh? Huh?! How does that sound?" Maia yelled, she would have loved for her to be here, to just see her expression when she said that. "She acted all nice but she was a liar! Instead of being understanding and on my side she betrayed me! Betrayed everyone else! Saying the Black Dogs are bad people! Just like you!"

That woman thought herself a nun, a pure and devout follower of the Goddess. It was nothing but a crock, all that she believed was a lie, that Goddess was a two faced fraud no different than her.

"You acted all prim and proper, never saying anything bad or raising your voice, just like Celestine. But like her you were just a liar, you only wanted to control me, use me, gave me gifts and praised me so I wouldn't question you." Maia seethed, breathing heavily as she circled the room and continued to break and tear down anything around her. "I thought she was so much like you, that smile and that grace, but when I saw how she discarded the Black Dogs, turned on them so easily. I saw the truth, the same fucking truth when I saw you for who you are."

She wished for her to appear, an apparition, a hallucination, anything to be conjured so that she could look at her and make sure she heard them in some form or another. Maia needed her to be here, so she could hear all the things she never had the chance to say to her.

"I am glad you are dead, I am glad you burned in this fucking house. I am glad that every single thing here is gone! I don't care about you anymore, or about the damn Goddess!" Maia yelled. "Well? What do you have to say? Huh? What do you have to say to me?"

She waited for a reply, just imagining what sort of condemnation would come when that woman heard what was said. She could almost imagine it.

"I'll always be here, if you ever lose your way, if you ever need me. I will be here, and always love you."

Maia knew she would say that, she just knew. It was the last thing she had said to her, right before she left, never to see her again. It was always her way, never a harsh word to her, never anything bad about her. Always understanding, always trying to guide and reassure her.

But that was all a lie, a deception. She made so much up, deceived her into believing so many things that were not true. Even now her lessons and words rung through her head challenging everything she knew and believed, everything she knew to be right was wrong in her eyes.

"I hate you… I hate you…" Maia said, crumbling against the wall, sliding down the burnt wood and glaring at the floor.

She left this house because she believed in fighting against the evils that plagued this world, she wanted to fight and kill the monsters. To join the Black Dogs and make something of herself, to be more than some damn girl hiding in some cottage on the foot of a mountain.

Maia had escaped this little cottage and become what she wanted, built herself up into something that woman never wanted her to be. She had proven her wrong, shown her that she was not some little girl that needed to be protected, all she had accomplished was because of her own strength and power.

Now… now Celestine wanted to take that away from her. Rob her of her dream, not so differently than how that woman had tried to do the same all those years ago. She would not allow it, just like she had done all those years ago she would step out of this cottage and step forward on a path she chose. Becoming what they didn't want her to become.

"Fuck you. Fuck you all." Maia said, rising up and moving for the door, gripping the frame as she turned to look over her shoulder.

She remembered when she left here the first time, looking over her shoulder at the downed woman who only stared up at her in worry. Uttering those same words to her, letting her know that she could return whenever she felt lost or disillusioned. Maia never did, and she never would.

Ken and the Alliance were behind her now, and her path was shooting straight towards the Black Dogs. Just like all those years ago, she intended to find them, meet with Vault and return to the ranks of her brother in arms and fight the evil that plagues it.

"I won't ever come back, never again." Maia said, glaring at that spot, uttering the same words she did all those years ago.

She was certain as she was all those years ago, because she was treading the same path as before. It led to glory and recognition, and she knew that it was the right path to take. She knew it would work out, that everything would be as it should be.

That determination, was the one thing she held onto as she fled that cottage, for the last time.


Ansur

The city had not changed much in the last seven years.

Rotting earth and sewage hit the nose before you caught sight of the walls, this place was a festering wound on the world that never seemed to die. And like the smell it was just as foul to look upon, the roads were covered in mud and garbage and shit, and other excrement. None bothered to clean this crap up, afraid of what they may find beneath, it was not unknown for random bodies to be brought to the surface from the storms and rain from the coast.

Some old bones appeared on occasion, but most of the time it was fresh corpses.

Buildings were decades old and only held together by patchwork repairs and likely the very mold that was eating it away somehow kept it upright. The people who lived here were just as beaten up and broken as this city, torn to pieces and barely held together. One would have thought that with joining the Alliance there would be prosperity and a chance for the nation to rebuild. More money went to the mercenaries than to the people, not that they could ever hope to hold onto it.

Gangs and crime syndicates ruled this city, even the mighty Rose Company gave little effort to stopping the high crime rate in the city. Mostly because the majority of the Company was out in the field fighting and those that remained were wholly undermanned and unable to do anything. Maia was more interested in fighting against orcs and rebels around the region than keeping the peace and dealing out justice.

No hope existed here, the people were poor and had no expectation other than to live through hellish and dangerous conditions daily under the authority of whomever owned their streets. The rays of the noon sun were dulled and listless, this nation as a whole would never reach its former glory.

Never have any sense of normalcy.

"I had hoped that things would have been better." Valeska mused, walking the streets with her companions and wondering how much things would have been better has she not been exiled.

"You waste your hopes on people fixing things they are unable to fix." Anuschka said, the beastwoman sat on the edge of the cart and watched the people pass along the way. "Maia did nothing to change things here, neither did you."

Harsh words, but not untrue. She had been fighting for control of the city for three decades, then she ruled it for three long years and did nothing. All she could do was maintain the peace, keep order and make the peoples lives that little bit easier and happier. In the last forty decades those short three years were probably the closest Ansur had to normalcy and peace.

But it was never enough. She made a mistake, one that Maia had repeated.

"I fought and dominated the opposition." Valeska replied. "But I never tried to fix the glaring issues that plagued this city."

Crime and poverty. Most of the city was run by criminal organisations or families, often having tied to the old regime that used to run this country. She had opposed it, become so powerful that she was able to strong arm almost every single one of them to behave. The Rose Company was the biggest powerhouse in all of Ansur, they kept all the baddies in their houses at night.

That was the best she could have done, at least at the time that was what she thought.

"At least you kept them in line." Brayan Melling, the former merchant, now company captain mused. "I have been in and out of here for the last few months. It has gotten worse, a lot worse."

Brayan had been given an important mission, he was to return to his merchant ways and gain access to the city. Months ago, even before the Alliance had sent the Shield Knight's to the Valley, he had been sent to prepare for this very operation. Reginald had many plans in the works, in every single fortress of Eostia he had a way inside, all but Ansur.

Infiltrating Feoh was simple, even Geoff had weaknesses he could exploit, but Ansur was tricky to get inside. The criminal elements of the city knew all the ins and outs of the city so getting inside was not a simple thing if you wanted to remain inconspicuous. The only way to get inside was to go through one of two ways, the first was either through the criminal paths or the other was the legal way. Luckily for them they didn't have to deal with the crime lords or their lackeys – useful since many of them had decided to work with the Black Dogs.

Brayan had given his initial report not long after he returned from Ansur, compared to his visit six years ago he had confirmed it was worse. The city was in a steep decline, crime had exploded, there were more petty thugs and criminals in the city than there were decent men and woman. Almost every vile act was carried out here, almost in complete and plain view.

It made her realise then and there that Maia was truly unfit to be a Shield. Even when Nathan Walsh spoke of his meeting with the Mercenary Queen and her lack of leadership over the city and her disregard for its state of affairs she had hoped that it was simply because of the transition. But it was a fools hope, that woman had allowed this to happen.

"Is this it?" Anuschka asked, looking up to the storehouse, abandoned and in shambles.

Looking up at the dilapidated building Valeska knew that this would be their base of operations for the next week, here they would begin the plans to taking over the city.

"Yes, I was able to procure it from our contacts in the Rose Company, although the Bracken Outfit holds sway in this district. They are extorting me of most of what I am able to bring in." Brayan responded. "It was difficult to keep them from taking everything I had brought into the city. But they are unaware of our intent or identities."

"Doesn't matter, we will be taking it back soon enough." Anuschka said, pushing open the doors and entering the mostly empty storehouse.

A few dozen crates were stacked near the far wall, the windows were blacked out with tar, and what people within were busy opening the last of the crates. They wore ordinary clothing, plain white or beige attire, no one would suspect them of being part of the Hand.

"What of the other warehouses?" Valeska inquired.

"Set up, in all the other families territories, as soon as we brought in the Wildlings the Houses wanted them to be given as tributes." Brayan replied.

Anuschka stopped for a moment, only a moment, before she continued on. It was not a plan that she was pleased with, considering her past dealing with Ansur and slavery it was no surprise she did not like the scheme Reginald had concocted. Allowing several members of her forces to be put in chains and sold to several houses didn't exactly put her at ease.

But this was their best way of getting into the city on mass, especially if the houses wanted you to get it in. Slaves have been something that Ansur has lacked these last few months, Brayan had arrived as a slaver giving promises of bringing in a shipment of slaves. He had done so, immediately earning him a reputation in the city and someone that the houses were eager to trade with.

They had the demand, now it was time to prepare the supply. Luckily her contact in the Rose Company had been able to sort that out for them. If they brought these people in through the crime families routes they would likely all be searched and pilfered, hence why they needed the Rose Company to let them through. It kept them from having everything taken and lessened the risk they were discovered by the Black Dogs accomplices.

Still, she was not pleased. These were her people, to allow them to step into harms way was not something she was comfortable with. They all knew this as well, and while many of them could be objective about their mission they knew this was a dangerous gamble that could see her people being put through hell.

"Nathaniel stopped them however, none of your people have been taken by the gangs. " Faruk assured the wildling leader.

Valeska had her concerned about allying with the Wildlings, while she no longer held them in contempt or saw them as enemies she did feel worried they would not hold rank. Reginald had done much to unite the many different forces of the Valley, but unlike the Wildlings all others had taken the Path of Shadows. That made them outcasts in a sense, and that in turn made them unpredictable, they did not know their views or understand the wisdom of the Shadows.

There was little chance she would risk getting on Reginald's bad side, he had soundly defeated her when they first met as enemies. But when she had made the demands of her allegiance many had balked at the demands, after all it revolved having an actual hostage given to them so that they would not betray them.

Said hostage was the one who was protecting them from the gangs, Nathanial Walsh, son of Nathan Walsh, and a former enemy and rival to Anuschka. The wildling leader had demanded him stay at her side as a hostage that would ensure that none of the Hand betrayed her. Nathan was against it at first, especially since she did not wish to follow the Path of Shadows, but he had been convinced otherwise.

Nathaniel had taken the task upon himself, willingly sacrificing himself to their whims to gain their trust and allegiance. Valeska knew that the young man was at their mercy, and that he was suffering in their clutches, likely even at Anuschka hands as well. But he maintained his position at the Wildlings side, sharing the hope some of them had for the Beastmen and their possible redemption.

The sound of wood splintering and nails groaning as they were reefed from their holes made her turn. As the crate cracked open and the side gave way, a flood of straw fell onto the floor, followed by the naked bodies of several unconscious people. Pulled away they were lain on the far side of the chamber, covered with a shroud and made comfortable.

They had to resort to unusual methods of sneaking their people into the city, using the slave trade scheme allowed them to remain under the radar. The gangs suspected they were just more slaves, so they did nothing to interfere, and anyone else either didn't know or didn't want to risk saying they knew.

"How many are left to bring in?" Valeska asked.

"Fifteen hundred. I need four days." Brayan said.

That was not long, good, if she could get the entirety of her forces into the city within the week she would be pleased. Although she found it ironic that they were using the enemies own nefarious methods to smuggle their own soldiers into the city. Vault had done the same in Feoh. But here they were using the criminals own greed and network to bring in the force that would eventually crush them.

Reginald always was a fan of irony. He tended to want people to be taught the error of their ways, usually in an sardonic way. To find humility and repent for their past mistakes, if they were of the mind to accept it and do so. She knew many in the Hand that had once been criminals, even Faruk was once a hired killer for the Slait Gang before he escaped Ansur.

It was unlikely that anyone here would be getting a chance to take penance.

"Good. By then the city should be cleared of most resistance. Keep going. I need to meet up with some old friends." Valeska ordered, he had this under control, now it was time to meet up with their contact.

They left the warehouse and moved for the cities main plaza, that was where most of the trade happened in the city. It was also where most of the business for the criminal groups went down, either fights between gangs and houses or they carried out their illegal business in broad daylight. It was disappointing that they had so much freedom in this city that they didn't even need to hide their misdeeds.

Coming to the arch to the plaza's entrance she found a member of the Rose Company standing there, the chevrons on her shoulder denounced her as the rank of sergeant. Valeska felt a smile tug on her lips, it was good to see an old familiar face.

"Mel." Valeska greeted.

"Val." She responded, a smile coming to her slightly wrinkled face. "Good to see you."

They embraced for a moment, it had been years since they had seen one another. Melleah was one of her second in commands during the early days of the Rose Company, having served just as long as herself. Through thick and thin the two of them were partners in crime, leading this Company in their rise in taking over the city.

"When I heard from Jaida that you were alive and on the warpath I knew you would be coming back here." Melleah said, although her smile faded as she looked at her two compatriots. "Although, I am kind of concerned with the company you keep."

They walked and talked, moving through the market.

"Necessary, with the threats we are dealing it is best to put aside prejudice for the sake of peace." Valeska replied, taking the lead and looking over the stalls that littered the plaza.

The food was scarce, that what was here was not the best quality, Ansur was never a region for abundance in food not known for its quality. Most of it usually got shipped in from the south, sad to say that also gets procured by the rich and powerful and corrupt in this nation.

"I don't know what I am more concerned with though, the Wildlings or the Werewolf." Melleah replied. "Are you certain they can be trusted?"

"You have little to concern yourself with me, my motives are the same as the Hands, and in this case. Yours." Anuschka replied, uncaring as she voiced the meant to be reassuring words.

"I can vouch for her, she will not act recklessly." Valeska spoke up. "I trust her."

Not completely true, Anuschka was not someone she would trust on her own. While Reginald had not made any attempts to force integration and improve cooperation it was evident he wanted them to be allies. Anuschka was resistant to integration with the Hand, often calling them brainwashed cultists rather than normal people. She spent more time amongst her own kind, while her people did the same, segregating herself.

They had tried to speak with Reginald on the matter but he seemed less concerned with the Wildlings, even making it clear that they were not to interfere with them. Nathan Walsh was not receptive, given his son was their hostage and they suspected he was being regularly beaten and tortured by them.

Reginald had made it clear that the Wildlings would work with the Hand, that they will obey his orders when given. He had given her a lot of leeway and even many gifts, but there were limits to his generosity, she just hope it wouldn't be the death of Nathanial that would trigger the conflict between them.

"If you say so." Melleah said. "I know what you came here for, let me tell you it will not be easy."

"How much stronger have the houses become?" Valeska asked.

"Back to their original strength, along with having a lot less resistance from the Company of the Rose." Melleah said. "After you were ousted they started testing the waters around the city, we tried to deal with them but we lost a lot of our soldiers. Those that didn't leave after your expulsion got reassigned."

"Reassigned?" Valeska inquired.

"Most of the Company moved from the city, they took up the role of a mercenary Company and started fighting all over." Melleah said.

Yes, that had been something that had been difficult for her to accept.

The Rose Company even at its height wasn't large enough to become a Mercenary company, especially one where its forces were divided. Fighting off thugs and dealing with orcs was two completely separate things. Maia was riding on the coattails of Vault, attempting to build a force to impress him and earn recognition from her peers. The girl loved to soak up the glory, she was a carbon copy of Vault and in turn the Rose Company had become the same thing.

They spent more time away from Ansur than within it, without the Company the city and its people were defenceless and at the mercy of the criminals. It took the entire Company to keep the city from imploding on itself, to hold the criminals at bay. It had been the reason why she had rejected Celestine Lucross' request to join the Seven Shield Alliance and take part in the war effort. The Rose Company wasn't meant for soldiering.

But Maia didn't care about that, after she took over she had dashed away the Companies old edicts and turned it into a roaming army. Even as she brought in more soldiers and new recruits she sent them to the front lines than actually kept them in the city to try and keep or maintain the peace. Now the Rose Company was simply a way for people to get out of the city and survive.

"How many remain within these walls?" Valeska asked.

"Most of your old crew who didn't agree with the changes stayed in Ansur, Maia didn't want anything to do with us. We have had new recruits over the years, some of them good, others not so much. Most want to fight with Maia in her mercenary company, those that stay here are just looking for protection." Melleah said, before she scowled. "Although a good number of them are taking bribes from the crime families. Some actually run racketeering rings. A lot of them are not in this to protect the city."

Valeska scowled, that was something she could not tolerate. Again Maia shows off what kind of woman she was, forcing aside those that didn't cater to her way while prancing off to do whatever she wished at the expense of everyone else. The Rose Company, her company, built to wipe out crime and corruption in this city, was now a mockery of its once proud beginnings.

That had to change, she was not going to let this stand.

"Do you know who is involved?" Valeska inquired.

"We have a few names, but only the families would know for certain who is on their payroll." Melleah replied.

They stopped as they heard a commotion, turning they looked to the nearby stall that was being ransacked by a group of thugs. They were taking the food and money box, all the while they seem to be feeling up the stall owner who was crying. Nearby they noticed a few members of the Rose Company, they gave a glance and turned away.

"Is this a common occurrence?" Valeska inquired.

"More than I would like to admit." Melleah said, scowling.

"Why aren't you stopping this?" Valeska asked.

"I can't, I do something and there is conflict. The best I can do is break it up and let them leave with the tributes. Anything less… some of my girls have disappeared because I tried to keep the peace. I can't risk anymore." Melleah replied, she looked to be in pain, the very idea of being unable to do anything hurt.

Valeska would have likely been in the same position, in the past she had been. She had lost a lot of friends to these bastards, unable to fight back properly and forced to either retreat or let these wrongs continue.

But that was then.

This was now.

And this is where it ends.

Valeska turned and gave a signal to Faruk and Anuschka, they nodded and moved off without a sound. She on the other hand stepped towards the scuffle, Melleah tried to stop her but she would not be held back. Coming closer she caught the attention of one of the thugs.

"Hey, back off old lady, we ain't…"

His nose cracked under her fist, he reeled back and fell to the ground holding his broken and bleeding face. His friends noticed this and took a minute to realise they might be in for a fight. In that time she had already drawn a knife from her belt and was ready to end them.

One moved in, reaching for his sword, but she pushed it back into the sheath and then sunk her blade into his naval. Another charged her, she drew the first one's sword and used it to block his attack, and then kicked him away. Tearing out the knife she deflected a second strike before slicing open his throat.

The third man attacked, lunging with a stab, she deflected it to the side with her knife. Then slammed the pummel of the sword into his temple, he fell to the ground, his cranium caved in. All of them were dead, save for the last who was still holding his nose and trying to get back to his feet.

"You bitch! You have any idea who you are fucking with!?" He yelled.

"Corpses." She replied, throwing her dagger forward and into his chest, he fell back, dead before he hit the ground.

The people around her looked on, shocked as if she had committed some kind of cardinal sin. It was revolting to think that to kill these thugs meant a wrong had been committed, that she had done evil.

"Hold it!" Someone yelled, before they whispered. "Oh, man, what the hell did you do?"

Valeska turned to see the same guards from the Rose Company appear, all of them looked at the scene with vary degrees of disgust and shock. They either did not see death that often or were likely surprised someone had dealt it out to these thugs.

"Okay lady, you done and fucked up now." One said, the woman had dark hair and equally black eyes, despite her dire tone she had a grin on her face. "These were enforcers from the Moreland Family, they are gonna want your head for this."

"I suppose you intent to take it for them." Valeska responded.

"Gotta keep the peace, you understand I hope." She replied, not at all ashamed to admit her relation to the criminal families.

Although her smugness turned to shock as her two fellow guards fell forward, throats opened up or torn out. Turning she would find Anuschka and Faruk standing there, bloody claws and a crimson knife, having just dispatched her compatriots.

Turning back Valeska reached forward and seized the treacherous guard by the throat. She squirmed and tried to break free, but there was no escaping this. It was time a message was sent to Moreland family, along with all the others.

"Let go…! I am part of the Rose Company…! Maia will…!"

"Maia won't do a damn thing, she won't do a damn thing so long as she is in power. As of now that is about to change." Valeska replied, tossing the traitor to the floor. "Tell Moreland, tell all the families and your fellow traitors this: Valeska Notliegh, has returned to finish them off, and I bring with me the Hand of Suffering."

With a swift kick she knocked the woman out, word would spread of what happened here, she wanted that. But this was not going to be what rocks this city to its core, what comes next is what is going to put the fear of the gods in these criminals and all the traitors within the Rose Company.

"Anuschka, tell your people to begin."


Korban Shaed. Darreth Orkwood. Bryce Bracken.

Those were names that inspired dread in the hearts of most in this city, they were the heads of the biggest and most brutal criminals organisations in Ansur. The Shade Syndicate, the Orkwood Company, and the Bracken Outfit. They were the most powerful organisations in the entire city and everyone and anyone who had dark dealings in this city had to go through them to do anything.

The Rose Company had no power over them, it was the exact opposite. Even Maia didn't bother them so long as they kept things out of sight of the woman while she was in the city. Given how she sauntered off they didn't need to do it often.

They were run by the three meanest men in the entire nation. None dared to face them head on, not unless they wanted to die, along with their families and friends. These three men were powerful, none could touch them or even so much as say them name in derision without some calamity falling upon their heads.

They were that powerful.

Now…

All of them were dead.

Every single one of them, along with the majority of their families, men and closest supporters. Right now there was a massive power gap in the city, as much as any of the smaller families and gangs would love to try and take over, they were fighting for their lives. The same chaos and carnage that had hit the big three had hit everyone else, hundreds were dead and the bodies were still piling up.

Right now those three houses, along with the rest that were still alive, had gathered under a banner of peace to try and figure out what the hell was going on. Right now the three remaining heads of those big families were trying to discern the culprit to these attacks. No one had a clue what was hitting them, but it certainly was doing a lot of damage.

"Three days! Three fucking days and we are losing control of the streets!" Brianna Shaed yelled, Korban's widow and only remaining member of the Shaed family still alive. "I have lost half my districts, the fucking people are actually getting ballsy and looking ready to rise up against us!"

Her sons and husbands had been found torn to shreds in their own home, along with everyone else. More than that, most of their supporters were being killed daily, right now she was on the verge of collapse. Her entire family was gone and what support she had left was only sticking around because if they didn't the other gangs would take them out.

"It's gotta be that Notleigh woman! She killed some of my brother's men and now this happens!" Mortice Moreland yelled, the man wiped his brow with a piece of cloth, he was sweating up a storm, he looked terrified. "We all know what kind of woman she was when she ruled the Rose Company! If she is back, and has the Hand of Suffering with her, then there is hell to pay!"

Everyone knew that, they were terrified of the prospect.

They all knew about the Hand of Suffering, a massive army of dark knights and warriors that could take on the Black Dogs like they were nothing. Most of the guys here thought they were just a bunch of farmers playing at Knights, that they couldn't be that dangerous. What happened in Feoh was played off as simple rumours, nothing but hearsay.

What has happened over the last three days, most began to see there was issue with their presumptions. There was accounts that many of those that had been killed were done in by darkly garbed warriors. Others say they saw giant beasts, werewolves prowling alleys and over rooftops, given that the Hand was said to be controlled by some talking werewolf it didn't seem unreasonable.

Especially since these guys were only targeting them. It was well known that the Hand protected villagers and farmers from the Black Dogs, they were willing to let entire fortresses burn rather than leave a single village defenceless. If their past was any indication than the families knew that all their heads would be wanted by the Hand.

"We need to find her." Yorick Oakwood said, the young man was now the only heir to the families organisation, he was most certainly not the obvious choice.

Too effeminate and not much of a back bone, even now he was too quiet as he made the declaration. No one listened, they were shouting and badgering one another to make any sense out of the debate that was going on.

"Calm the hell down, all of you." Hertz Bracken bellowed, the only surviving heir of Bryce Bracken, of all the families his was the only one that had retained most of its power, if only slightly. "We have been ruling these streets for years, our fathers built up this empire from nothing, and we are not going to go the way of Old Ansur. Besides, Notleigh is just some fossil, she isn't a threat to us."

He was wrong about that, she had killed three heads of the biggest crime families on the same day she had revealed her presence. They were all killed, the same night dozens more were killed, mostly thugs in the streets along with a few Rose Company mercenaries they had on their payroll. This wasn't some street brawl or assassination, it was pure slaughter meant to wipe them out as fast as possible. But this time she had no compunction of using brutal methods to end them.

Most of the dead had been torn apart, cut to ribbons, this was the work of monster, not Knights. The Rose Company was sitting back and watching this happen, even those that were on the payroll weren't getting close. Couldn't blame them, if you were even associated with this family you were as good as dead.

"We need to get out of the city." Dravor said, he couldn't stay here anymore, he knew of a way to get north.

Ships that dock on the cliff side village of Shorepeak could get him and what was left of his family to safety, he ran those ships. If he got up to Tortlewaters he could get protection from the Black Dogs, they were gearing up an army to come here and take the city. He goes there with the info he could secure his place with them and maybe get to safety.

He knew that if he got north he could be safe, there was no way Valeska or this Hand of Suffering could get past thousands of mercenaries and orcs. Everything between Ansur and Rad was under Vault's control now, there was no way that they could take all of that back. If he got there he could go to Zelindo, hell he could run up to Diohart or any other of the border fortresses.

At this point, they were the only places he and his family could be safe.

"Are you mad, we run now they will hunt us down." Elimar said.

"These idiots will all be dead by weeks end, we all will if we stay, our families too." Dravor said, he knew that they couldn't stop this, not with how fast their people were being torn apart.

He knew that the moment Valeska had returned that things were going to get bad, he was there when that woman had first taken over the city. It took her thirty years but she had been able to build up a force and resistance that had dwarfed the big three. She had those families and their patriarchs by the balls, not even the big three were crazy enough to tangle with her. Those so called criminal lords couldn't do a damn thing without her knowing about it and if they stepped out of line she would squeeze.

Only reason she never went to war was because it would have been the end of the city. But it seems she had figured out a way to get around that, and it involved utterly annihilating them as quickly as possible.

He had to wonder if any of these idiots realise just what they were dealing with, how much damage had been done. Their reputation and strength had all but been stripped away, these attacks on their enterprises and people had left them more vulnerable than ever before. Right now the big three were no more dangerous than a pack of thugs working over a small corner. They had no way of rebuilding after this, they certainly wouldn't work together if they survived, they hated one another.

"We all come together and we can drive her off, we have the numbers, all the houses come together and we finish this. We got a thousand men at our command, we call in all our favours and all that owe us." Hertz said, he stood up to address the rest of the houses. "Once we have the numbers to fight back, we turn the tide, they are picking us off one by one, but here, as one, we cannot be beat."

It was a nice sentiment, made you feel like you were part of the family, but it didn't mean shit in the end. The moment he finished something smashed through the roof, dropping into the room were three dark armoured and robed warriors. The three new heads of the big three were dead, killed before anyone could figure out what happened.

Hertz lost his head. Brianna had tried to flee and got a spear through the back. And Yorick had screamed like the girl he looked like as his head was smashed in by the axe. Standing there were three soldiers, their sigil that of an ebon claw, the Hand of Suffering.

They didn't speak, they just attacked, and more followed after them. Elimar stood up and tried to draw his sword, but he was dead before it could clear the sheath. Dravor stood there, closing his eyes and waiting for his end to come, there was no way they could stop them. They were all dead men before they could do anything.


The sixth day was marked with strife, most of the city was in an uproar.

People wanted blood, many had suffered under the yoke of the crime families and now that they were not so powerful it was open season on them. With the majority of their support either dead or in hiding they had no way of intimidating the masses to obey them.

Valeska leaned back on the fallen statue of the cities founder, which had toppled decades ago and no one had bothered to repair. Even the name of the founder had been forgotten, but that was not what was important, everything was coming full circle.

The Crime families were on their last leg, they had all united under the Stanner House, a weak and inferior house that only survived because of luck. The Rose Company, under Melleah and her officers, were busy rounding up all the traitors and turncoats in their forces. Most had been discovered following the acquisition of the ledgers detailing who was being paid off.

By nightfall the city would be wiped clean, anyone they missed would be taken out by the angry mobs. The people were chanting in the streets and wanted blood, they were coming after all the people that had oppressed and wronged them.

"Are they on their way?" Valeska inquired.

Faruk nodded, he was standing at the base of the statue and watching the chaos unfold. Not as destructive as the collapse of Feoh but it was still a right ol' mess, it would be easy to clear this up in the end. Along with regain control of the city and people, they knew the score and who was responsible for finally ending the crime families.

Maia was not popular. While she was someone that could relate to people on a personal level, so long as you got past that arrogant side of her, she was terrible at ruling. Never here to do anything and certainly not bothering to put in the effort to help them. This city didn't like her for good reason, she was just as incompetent as Alicia Arcturus.

"They are here." Faruk said, pointing off towards the end of the plaza.

The last of the crime families had arrived, at their head was Saul Stanner, who had a blade in hand and about a hundred men at his back. A pathetic showing really, she had ten men that could wipe out a force like that on their own, and he was going to try and challenge her army? To be fair he had no idea she had an army.

"Valeska Notleigh! I am here to kill you!" Saul yelled.

"Obviously." Valeska responded, uncaring as she looked at the man.

"Get the fuck down here and get on your knees!" Saul yelled.

His own ego likely had gone up now that he was the leader of this band of thugs, or more than likely he was desperate to try and appear tough in spite of being outmatched. Or perhaps the sudden rise in his numbers had blinded him to the knowledge that the paltry force he had under his command was nothing in comparison to what they had on hand. Sometimes arrogance were the only reasons people didn't think they could be beaten, they just didn't think beyond themselves instead of others.

She vaulted off the statue and strolled over to the man, drawing a small knife from her belt. He flinched when he saw it, a look of worry crossed his face, guess he wasn't stupid enough to think that his sword could beat her knife. At least not at first.

He took a breath, bared his teeth, raised his sword, and then took a running start. He screamed at the top of his lungs, charging her like a madman who had no idea how to properly hold a blade. She stopped him cold when her knife found its way into his calf. Falling to a knee he lost his sword, screaming in agony as he held onto his wounded limb.

She kicked him onto his back, walked over him and with a single stomp dislocated his jaw and snapped his neck.

"Time to finish the rest off." Valeska said, looking at the crowd ahead of her, they didn't have a single ounce of courage left. "Anuschka, finish them."

Looking to the top of the statute the wilding leader let out a beastial howl, the response was hundreds of similar calls coming from across the city. Then something landed in the plaza, having jumped form a nearby window, prowling towards the terrified criminals.

Werebeasts, a gift to the wildlings from Reginald, his own blood used to change the beast-kin into something more than just humans with animal appendages. They had been given the forms of great beasts reminiscent of the animal features they carried, werewolves, werebears, werecats, lagomorph and other odd assortments. They had become the juggernauts and powerhouse for the Wildlings, making them nearly unstoppable.

"Kill them all!" Anuschka crowed.

The werebeasts howled and attacked, tearing into the men and woman that had come to kill them. Valeska looked on dispassionately, this was the moment she had waited for. She felt no satisfaction or regret, this was simply part of the plan. Now she moved onto the next phase, removing the traitors in the Rose Company.

"Clean up after you are done." Valeska muttered, turning around and moving for the palace, she had to see if Melleah had finished rounding up those turncoats.

The city had no one left to oppose them. Ansur was firmly back in her hands, and under the protection and control of the Hand of Suffering.


The city was in chaos, buildings were on fire and there was rioting in the streets.

As soon as she saw the red glow on the horizon she knew something was wrong, a cold dread worked its way up into her chest. Her company had rode with all speed to Ansur, hoping to reach their city and home base before everything went to shit.

To think she thought everything was going to change, get better. Not a day ago she had been telling her friends that she planned to skip out on the Alliance and join up with Vault. That had been the plan, but if the damn city was being attacked, some suspecting it was the Black Dogs themselves leading the raid, she didn't believe that for a second.

They labeled him a traitor, they cast him out, a war hero who had fought for this nation for decades and suffered the most hideous of insults and jests from those he served. This nation was rotten, it was corrupt, they turn on their heroes because they weren't of noble blood or higher standing. They tore him down, while he was out of sight, and now they were doing the same to her, not going to happen.

'I won't let them do to me what they did to you Vault.'

Yet as she rode through the gate she found the city to be in the midst of an uprising. Bodies littered the street as the people seem to have risen up against the criminal lords. People were chanting through the streets, hollering that the great crime families had been destroyed and their leaders slain. But they also chanted another name, Veleska, even calling out the Hand of Suffering, The Wildlings, they praised the names of those that had liberated them.

Calling for them to take the city and rule it.

"The fuck happened here!" Maia yelled.

"Lady Maia." One of the city guards strolled up to her, too calm for someone whose city was in the midst of a fucking uprising.

"What happened? What did this?" Maia demanded.

"You need to get to the Plaza, Melleah is there. Along with Valeska." She said.

Scowling she took off into a gallop, there was no way she was letting that bitch take over her city. She rode hard and fast, moving through the streets and nearly running down a few people along the way. But she eventually arrived, to find the bodies of dozens of mercenaries from her company, piled into carts. While not far from it was a scaffold, with five more members of her company waiting to be hanged.

She charged over there, shouting for them to stop.

"Hold it! What are you doing!?" Maia roared.

"Lady Maia."

"Identify yourself!" Maia said, she recognised the woman and remembered a few unpleasant conversations but nothing else.

"Melleah, I am a sergeant in the city guard." She replied.

"Why the hell are you murdered your own soldiers! My soldiers!" Maia demanded, dismounting and getting nice and close to the woman.

"They are traitors."

Maia turned, her scowl got a whole lot scarier and ugly as she glared at the woman. The dark armour and robes made it obvious as to who she was aligned with, but that face was someone she would never forget. Valeska Notleigh.

"You." Maia drew her sword, her cadre did the same and prepared for a fight. "You come into my city, tear through it and think you can steal it from me."

"This city belonged to the gangs, I stole it from them. You only vacationed here when you weren't off fighting." Valeska retorted, her response dry, she didn't remember her being so bland, usually she was yelling and being a smart ass. She's changed. "As of now I have taken hold of the city, and the people are supporting me, the city guard support me. And I am certain some of your officers will think the same."

Maia turned back to her soldiers, many had dismounted, some had drawn their weapons and others had not. Had they turned on her? She knew that many had come from the same stock as this woman and have served under her for years, but they would betray her after all these years of leading them?

The Rose Company was great and powerful, lauded across Eostia and champions of the people. Were they actually going to throw that away and let this woman drag them down into being traitors and conquerors?

"You bitch, I am not giving you my company." Maia wasn't going to let her take what was hers, what she built and creating was not going to be taken from her. Not by Valeska Notleigh, not by Celestine Lucross, no one.

"Your company?" Valeska replied, her expression darkening. "Keep it, what you turned it into is a mockery of what I created. Rife with corruption and serving no one but themselves, they do not deserve to bare the name I gave this Company, nor its symbol."

Valeska turned and looked to Melleah, giving her a nod.

Immediately the hatched opened on the gallows and the five captives were dead. Maia watched in shock, how many had they killed? There had to be dozens dead already. But this could have been going on for days, they were likely killing off anyone that didn't obey or side with her.

"Stop! I am ordering you to stop!" Maia bellowed.

"I don't work for you anymore." Melleah said, she turned to some of her soldiers and pointed towards her cadre.

They stepped forward, and immediately started taking several of her people. Taking away their weapons, in some cases subduing them with force, one even had her wrist broken she she refused to drop her sword.

"Meredith, you and your conspirators are accused of aiding the crime families of Ansur. You provided them with military weapons, beastkin and dark elven slaves, imported foods and turning a blind eye to their crimes. Along with killing witnesses and enemies." Melleah said.

"This is a lie! I didn't do a damn thing!" Meredith yelled.

"We have proof, and most of these woman have already repented for their crimes. The least you can do is leave this world with a guilt free conscious." Melleah said, having her dragged up to the gallows.

Maia was about to protest when she caught a book that was tossed to her, it was a ledger. Opening it she baulked at the information within. Filled with the finances of Bracken Family, it detailed many of their illegal activities. Dear god, was this going on in her city? Why the hell hadn't she heard about this? There were names in here, an entire list under contacts who were in her Company.

Never would she have admitted it aloud but she knew that there were dissidents in her outfit. People still loyal to the old Company and to their former leader, she had to leave them in this city just to keep them happy. But she thought that was it, there was no one else that had a problem with her command and authority.

As Maia looked over the book she heard another thunk and twang as five more people were hanged. Looking over she saw the limp body of Meredith, along with a few others that had been dragged up there. More were waiting their turn. They cried out for mercy, begging to be spared, giving all kinds of reasons and trying to escape the hangman's noose.

Crimes were admitted to, others were sold out to try and spare themselves, they never stopped begging until the trap door opened and their necks broke.

"Keep going." Valeska ordered, unflinching and uncaring to their cries.

"No. You do not hold rank here! This is my city!" Maia yelled, she stalked towards Valeska. "Those are my soldiers, you are not killing anyone else!"

But stopped when two large beasts leaped from over the city statues, hulking black and white furred monsters that resembled a bear and wolf respectfully. The growled and snarled at her, stepping back she didn't know what to do. Against beasts like those she would need some serious help, but right now she had a lot of people against them.

Someone walked up beside Valeska and running a hand over the furry arm of the giant bear feature was a beastkin. A decade or two younger than Valeska, with dark hair and wolf ears upon her head, along with sharp talons on the end of her fingers. She knew who this woman was, if only from the physical appearance alone.

"You no longer rule here Mercenary Queen." Anuschka said, smirking as she stood there, knowing full well that she couldn't be touched. "The Hand of Suffering and the Wildling now rule Ansur, you get to stay as our guest. Just make sure you don't disrespect your hosts."

The way she smirked, it was obvious she was enjoying this. Maia knew who she was, that damn Wildling leader that she was sent after a few years ago. The one she had spent months searching for and never found, having disappeared off the map. So they had joined the traitors in the Valley, now they were here in her city and holding it hostage.

"The people will not stand for this, they will…"

"They know I am here, they know what I have done. They know who fought with me against the criminals and traitors that enslaved them, you should hear them chanting now, they praise not only me but Anuschka as well." Valeska stated.

This cannot be happening, the damn city was turning on her. Was this some kind of magic, some damn trick to turn the nation against her? She was a damn hero for gods sake, she was one of them, a low borne peasant that rose through the ranks to get where she was. She wasn't some brown nosing bigot like those nobles, she was one with the people. She respected them like any good person would, why the hell were they turning on her?

"Try to not make the same mistake Alicia made, thinking that you are in the right and have done no wrong. Look upon this situation yourself and see that you are no longer in control and everything you think you know is completely wrong." Valeska said, she waved her off. "The Palace is yours to use, I was never one for ostentatious things anyway."

Maia stood there, anger and shame coursing through her. She had been beaten like this, because her own people betrayed her. Some had turned to their old leader and others to the criminals that dominating the streets.

She skulked into the palace, ordered her soldiers forward, many came but others did not. They were torn between loyalties, at least she hoped they were torn, and had not sided with that woman. Veronica was still by her side, and other close friends that she knew could be trusted.

Entering the abode she found it just as how she left it a month ago, messy but well stocked. Smashing open a wine crate she pulled out one of the jugs, taking it with her to her 'throne room' and plopping herself down on the seat. Taking a swig from the jug she felt the strong liquor settle warmly in her stomach.

"They betrayed me, to that woman, to the gangs. Why the hell didn't I know about this?" Maia hissed.

She couldn't have possible prepared for Valeska, that woman was wily and smart. But the gangs were a different story, she knew about them and didn't think that they were much of a threat if this company in its infancy could handle those old farts.

Melleah had told her for years not to underestimate them and that they needed more men, even said that they were getting stronger. Maia hadn't even bothered to listen, because of that things between them got bad and eventually she stopped bothering to listen to her anymore.

Because of that, because she didn't pay enough attention that damn woman turned on her.

"It's my own damn fault." Maia muttered, taking another swig.

Had she not brushed her off she could have done something, stopped the gangs once and for all. Made sure that her own people didn't join them, didn't help them become so powerful, it could have been done. But it was too late now, hindsight doesn't make things all better, it just made you realise how easy it was not to completely fuck everything up.

"There was no way you could have known, a lot of people didn't like you when you took over, and a lot of others left." Veronica said, her words were meant for comfort but she knew they were hollow gestures.

"That's an understatement, now look what happened. I was too damn busy building an army to not realise who I was putting in my ranks." Maia muttered.

She didn't deny the evidence, how could she? Would be damn hypocritical of her to do so after everything. It was her own fault this happened, she got careless and didn't focus, too damn busy trying to make the Rose Company war ready instead of focusing on this damn fortress.

"Try to round up anyone we know is working for the gangs, I am not going to let them get executed without a trial or something. I want to hear from them why they did this." Maia said.

They were still her soldiers, her family, there was no way she was going to let them get killed because of her foolishness. She knew that people could make mistakes, overindulge themselves and make rash choices. A few she had made, but there was no way she was going to let others pay with their lives for choices she had no idea if were their own or not.

"Will do." Veronica said, turning to the rest of the officers and soldiers, giving them a gesture.

Soon enough they were the only ones left in the chamber, Veronica was looking up at her. She was worried, very worried, understandable, not often she felt like this. Getting all depressed and self judging herself, that was always something that made her best friend and second in command worried.

"If this is as bad as it seems, we might be down to half strength now. We should probably call for help from Ken." Veronica said.

"Ken? Those bastards don't give a damn about us, even Celestine would rather see me in a cell than leading you." Maia spat, like she was going to ask for aid from those people, who wanted her to murder her fellow mercenaries and countrymen.

"But, we don't have enough soldiers to defend the city, if the Black Dogs come…" Veronica started, but stopped when Maia gave her a withering look. "Come on Maia, don't do that."

"Do what?"

"Look at me like I am some piece of dog shit stuck to your boot, you have to admit something isn't right here. It is starting to look like the Black Dogs have turned." Veronica said, she was trying to be delicate, it was failing spectacularly.

"They haven't turned, they are still loyal, its everyone else that has turned." Maia muttered, she had hoped her friend was still on her side.

When she had made the declaration to her officers, to side with the Black Dogs many of them didn't argue against it. In fact they didn't say a word, just looked at each other and had some sort of silent agreement. Maybe that was it, maybe he people had been caught up in the lies the Goddess and the rest of the Shield's have been sprouting.

Guess she had no choice but to consider Veronica an enemy now as well, maybe the rest of her company too. How many more were going to turn on her? How many of her friends and comrades had strayed away and turned on their brothers in arms?

"Maia. You know what you saw. We all did. We all heard it in Diohart. Vault is a traitor."

Maia didn't look at her, she couldn't.

"Get out."

Veronica didn't argue with her again, she only sighed and left. Maia was alone with her thoughts, at that moment she wondered if she was the only one that had not gone insane.

She knew a lot of history in Ansur, she knew about Nathan Walsh and Kibral Mesk, former Knights tied to the Knights of Ur. The predecessors of the Dawn Templar. They were some of the most hardened bastards in all of Eostia and they were all stripped of their titles and status by Celestine and the Church when they did their job pacifying Ansur after its collapse.

They had ousted them, used them and discarded them. That werewolf was right, those knights and people had been betrayed and left for dead by Celestine and the nobility. Now they were doing the same with Vault, betraying him and his men to get rid of him because they didn't need him anymore.

"Damn you all." Maia muttered, cursing the Church, Celestine Lucross, Claudia Levantine, Alicia Arcturus, Olga Discordia, that Werewolf… "You won't get away with this."


There you have it, done and dusted. Let me know what you think.