AN: Sorry for the lack of an update last week, I had to change a few things with the story I didn't like Here is the latest chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own

Rather than stay with the Bandit Clan another night, Thane decided it was best to head back to the village with his troops to prepare for the upcoming assault on the temple. He didn't see Scarlett or Rory before he left, and he wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing. A part of Thane wondered if he was too harsh in his conversation with Scarlett. It seemed like he had allowed his anger to get out a bit more than he wished, but at the same time, a part of him was glad to get out all that emotion he had deep inside. Yet, he knew Scarlett was only doing what she thought was best to protect her son. The only thing she had left of the love between her and Thane.

Silent throughout the trip, Thane asked Sir Horace to check with the commanders and let the battle plan be known for tomorrow. He just wanted to rest in the mayor's house and meditate on the past two days' events. Removing himself from his armor, Thane wore dark blue and silver robes while looking outside where his troops were active as the wolf poured a cup of wine the southern guard had found and offered him.

It had been a long time since he had to fight in an actual battle, and he wouldn't deny that the warrior part of him was looking forward to it. Having sat on his rump on a throne for so long, it was a miracle he could still lift a sword without complaining about how heavy it was.

Yet he also kept in mind to do everything he could to survive the fight. Fighting in the rebellion was one thing because he knew that, even if he died in battle, it would live on without him, and Armello would be free eventually. Now, he was in a position of power that stabilized a realm that had been in chaos for a long time, currently entering a better era. He had a wife he loved and wished to hold again and children he didn't want to mourn over his corpse. He was going to live for their sake no matter what.

Thane was about to take a drink when a knock on the door stopped him. Sighing, he put it on the table and said, "Come in."

Sir Horace entered and bowed before his king before addressing him. "Everyone is ready for tomorrow."

"Good, but make sure we have extra scouts and sentries alerted for any dangers tonight," Thane ordered.

"You expect we'll be attacked tonight?" Sir Horace asked.

"I've fought with the Dragon Clan before. I know their tactics," Thane replied as he crossed his arms. "Nazar is no Volodar. He's not as smart as he thinks, and the coward will try to attack us. He knows we're here, and he probably knows we're planning to attack him soon."

"So then we go with the contingency plan if that happens?" Sir Horace asked.

"Of course," Thane replied with a grin. "In fact, I can't wait to see it play out."

"Still, I can't help but think Nazar will try something more crafty to hurt us," Sir Horace said. "He may not be as smart as you say, but he's not a complete fool. One who practices illusion magic isn't one for being dumb."

"Hmm," Thane rubbed his chin while trying to think of how the gecko would try to get to them. It then hit him. "He's going to try to kill me."

"Assassination?" Sir Horace asked.

"It's the most obvious," Thane replied with a nod. "I'm the one who brought the downfall of the Rot, aka the Worm. Nazar thinks he's the champion of the Worm. Killing me will undoubtedly make him think he's proven himself to his dark master. Plus, it will make him overconfident and arrogant, which we can use to our advantage."

"Hmm, the question is, how is he going to do it?" Horace wondered.

"I don't know," Thane said as he reached for his cup. "But we should double the guard and-"

The door suddenly slammed open as a female cat soldier barged in. Thane was about to demand what was going on when she noticed the cup in his hand and knocked it away as fast as possible before grabbing him by the shoulder and pushing him away. "Your Majesty, do not drink it!"

"What is going on!" Sir Horace shouted as he grabbed the knight and pulled them back with a growl. "What are you-"

"Sir! It's poison!" The feline shouted, which made the two freeze. Sir Horace looked to Thane before nodding to let him go. Gathering herself, she lowered her head in apology. "Forgive me, My King. But I had to rush here as fast as possible when I saw what had happened. I knew that you were given the wine, and I prayed to the Wyld I could stop you from drinking it in time. Thankfully, I did."

"The wine was poisoned?" Thane asked as he walked over to the bottle, put it against his nostrils, and sniffed. It took a few smells to find it, but there was something odd about the scent of the wine. "Wait, I got this from the southern area's guards. Are they okay?"

"They're…mostly dead, My King," The feline whimpered in sorrow. "You…You should come to see."

Needless to say, Thane and Sir Horace went to the southern area and were already seeing the corpses being lifted and lined up. There were at least fifty dead bodies, all with looks of horror on their faces as they were all holding their chests or scrunched up in rigor mortis. Thane winced upon seeing one mouse private who had to be no more than eighteen and a fresh recruit. It never got easier, leading troops to their death in battle, but this was not an honorable way to die. All of his forces who suffered here looked like they died seeing demons from Hell appearing before them.

"How did this happen?" Sir Horace asked in horror.

"My commanding officers thought we could use a drink since it was so hot out," The feline survivor stated with a depressing tone. "Since there was no danger, we all thought we could use a break."

"How did you survive?" Thane asked curiously.

"I'm not a fan of wine. Or all alcohol, if I'm being honest," the feline muttered as she looked down. "My father was a heavy drinker and…well…."

Thane put his hand on her shoulder to stop her. "You don't need to say anymore. But what happened afterward?"

"Well, I was using the latrine when I heard screaming in our area. I thought we were under attack, but I soon saw most guards screaming in fear while waving their weapons around or crying in shame. It was like they were seeing ghosts appear before them. What few of us were sane tried to stop them, but they looked scared out of their wits. As if the Worm itself was appearing before them. Soon after this, they grabbed their chests and fell dead as doornails. Even my commanding officers are all dead."

"...Like they had heart attacks?" Thane asked in realization as the feline nodded. Thane turned to one of the jugs of wine on a nearby table and narrowed his eyes as he walked toward it. Taking the jug, Thane looked at it and realized what it was. "A poison that causes untold amounts of fear…to the point that it scares you to death. And this was in the wine that we found in the village."

"By the Wyld, they poisoned the food and drink of the entire village," Sir Horace realized with awe. "But how?"

"Wait a minute," Thane thought back to what was discovered in the village letters and files. "Did we learn from the mayor's paper's that there was a town celebration not that long ago? That's how the entire villages were killed with no conflict. They poisoned them all and made them all have this fear of poison. I'm guessing any survivors they killed on their own and then revived from the dead."

"Sinister," Sir Horace grumbled in disgust as he eyed the poisoned wine. "At least you are safe, Your Majesty. You could have ended up like these men if you drank it."

Thane winced as he thought of dying to his worst fears, and a part of him wondered what they would be. Most likely, my family and friends are all dying and returning from the Rot. Or maybe it would be something else. Thank the Wyld I didn't drink it or…

Thane paused before smirking. "Actually, Sir Horace. Let's say I did drink it?"

"Huh?" Sir Horace asked, tilting his head.

"There aren't many soldiers here, and nobody saw us rushing over," Thane said, turning to his friend and winking. "I want you to tell them to keep silent over this because I have a plan."

"What plan is that?"

"Depends. How good is your acting?"

"I've done a few plays here and there," Sir Horace stated with pride. "Why?"

"Because we're all going to be pretending that I'm dead."

***Fourteen Years Ago***

"You have a bounty on your head." Thane's eyes widened as he stared at Mercutio, who was grinning while leaning on the wall near their table in the inn they were staying in.

He, Amber, and Sana were resting from their quest to find the next Spirit Stone when Mercutio announced he had something important to tell Thane with the others. Needless to say, this was different from what he expected.

"A bounty? From who?" Thane asked as he couldn't help but look around to see if there were any assassins in the area. This place was filled with all sorts of unsavory types that would sell their own mothers for coin.

"Don't know who exactly, but I'm working on it," Mercutio stated, which surprised Thane again, but this time the others were just as worried. "I just got word from my contacts in the Rat Clan that it's quite a big one. Some of them want me to get it from you."

"And are you?" Amber asked as Thane could tell she was getting ready to draw her sword.

"Nah," Mercutio replied with a chuckle. "You're lucky I like you guys. Otherwise, I would have been telling you after slitting your throats in your sleep."

"How fortunate," Sana muttered with a roll of her eyes. "But this is still something to worry about."

"Yeah, trust me. Bounties are no joke. The last thing we need is Zosha getting wind of this and wanting to cut off your head for the Night Mother," Mercutio pointed out before leaning on the table with a grin. "So I managed to come up with an idea."

"This isn't going to be like the last one where I dressed up in drag to get into that party, is it?" Thane muttered in despair.

"Aw, but you looked so cute in that dress," Amber pointed out with a sly smile. "Lady Thana, I hear, is still being sought after by so many young men giving half their fortunes away just to ask for her paw in marriage."

"I'm not listening, la la la," Thane said as he covered his ears.

"Relax, this idea is pretty easy," Mercutio said as he crossed his arms. "We just need to fake your death."

"Fake my death?"

"Sure, I've done it once or twice. Keeps my enemies on their toes," Mercutio said with a nod.

"Hmm, such a deception would need to be handled well," Sana said, rubbing her chin. "I do know a potion that can make one seem as if they are lifeless. It was designed by a possum alchemist with whom I became friends with a few years ago."

"Well, that helps make Thane look dead, but we need to make it look convincing," Mercutio said as he leaned forward. "Ever heard of Scarlett of the Bandit Clan?"

"The Bandit Queen? The one that's been a thorn to the nobility for years?" Amber asked with a raised eyebrow. "I've had the displeasure of meeting a few members of her gang. Don't tell me you're friends with her?"

"Me and Scarlett go way back," Mercutio said with a grin. "Scarlett faked her death several times; she's practically a master of it. She'll agree to help us fake Thane's, and we can let her get the bounty for Thane's death. She might ask us for a favor to sweeten the deal, though."

"I do not like the idea of working for a criminal," Thane growled, clenching his paws. "Especially one rumored to be as dishonorable and bloodless as Scarlett."

"She's not that bad," Mercutio said before leaning towards Thane with a grin. "Besides, I'm a criminal, and you haven't gutted me yet."

"True," Thane muttered as he gazed downward. Mercutio had proven to be a good friend despite his ways. "But why go through all this? Why not declare myself dead in general?"

"Because three bounty hunters have been following us for four days now, and they're right at the bar waiting for a chance to nail you," Mercutio answered while nodding to the bar below that was covered with customers, but all of them were armed.

"How can you tell?" Amber asked, eyeing down the bar.

"I have my ways," Mercutio whispered. "Tomorrow, we'll be heading for a certain location to get ambushed, and all Thane has to do is let himself get killed by Scarlett. We carry his dead ass back to town, bury him in a grave, and dig it up later after it is safe. It's just then a matter of laying low until we find out who put the bounty on your head. Then we go after them to ensure you can walk around in public again without worrying about your head being taken."

Sighing, Thane nodded. "I guess I got no choice."

"Relax, I heard you wolves are great at playing dead."

"That's dogs. There is a difference."

***Present***

Thane slowly felt his consciousness returning as he felt himself waking up from the after-effects of the potion he had taken what had to be a few hours ago as it was alright night time. He was lying on his bed, wearing his royal armor, with his paws folded neatly over his sword resting on his chest. Flowers were decorated around his bed while his head rested on a pillow. Were it not for him opening his eyes to check around the ex-mayor's room, he might have been thought to have been dead. It also helped that his face was paler, thanks to some makeup to give him the look of a corpse. All part of the plan to fake his death.

Once the commanders had been called in, Thane explained his plan to his men before having the mages brew the potion Sana used that one time to fake his death previously years ago. Once he was in his death-like state, they were ordered to announce his death to his men while making it look like a giant sad scene. The Wolf King made sure to send a messenger to The Bandit Clan, so they didn't worry about it as well while also making sure this news didn't leave the town. He didn't want rumors spreading throughout the kingdom and scaring his family. With his "death" announced publicly, all there was to do was wait and play the role of a corpse.

It wasn't long before he heard the creaking of a door opening, and Thane quickly closed his eyes while calming himself to keep still. Using his nose and hearing, he could determine that someone was coming toward his bed. It wasn't one of his men because the sounds were not heavy with armor, and it sounded like they were tiptoeing to avoid any noise. Their smell was also that of a lizard, with the foul stench of the Rot lingering inside them.

He waited until the figure was near his bed and held himself from doing anything as the figure slowly put his fingers on Thane's neck to check his pulse. That's when Thane quickly grabbed his hand, got up, and threw him across the room as his intruder yelped in fear. The figure crashed into the desk and moaned as Thane, up and armed with his sword, placed his blade against the neck of a purple-horned lizard. Said lizard gulped and stared at Thane with both shock and fear. Seconds later, Sir Horace and his guards rushed in, and the candles were lit to give more light into the room.

"Coming to pay your respects?" Thane asked with a grin.

"You're alive?!" The horned lizard asked in terror. "We heard you were dead!"

"Not the first time I've been thought deceased," Thane said with a grin as his guards picked the lizard up. "Figured Nazar would send someone to check up on me or see if I can be revived as a corpse for him to use."

"Grr, you'll get nothing out of me!" The horned lizard growled before flicking his tongue.

Sir Horace managed to grab it and held it out while pulling a dagger. The lizard started to panic and sweat as the blade's tip touched the tongue. "Are you sure? We can make you talk or ensure you never talk again."

The horned lizard wisely shook his head before Sir Horace let go. Thane stared down at the lizard with an iron glare. "What is Nazar planning?"

"After he heard you were dead, he was planning on attacking you and the Bandit Clan simultaneously! He was sending an army of ferals to both places! That's all, I swear!" The lizard spy shouted.

"Wait, how does he know about the Bandit Clan's hideout?!" Thane asked with worry.

"Master Nazar is a master of illusions! He could find out where they were by the essence of magic his birds could detect for him!" The horned lizard stated.

"Damnit," Thane grumbled as he turned to Sir Horace. "Stay here with the troops and prepare to enact the contingency plan! I'll head for Scarlett with a few squads to help out!"

"Contingency plan?" The lizard asked in confusion.

"You'll see," Sir Horace said with a grin.

Despite what was generally believed, the rotted feral were not really mindless slaves of the Rot and those that controlled it for the most part. They had more of a single-minded intelligence that made them simple to control and influence. When they were told to do a task, they did it provided it was basic to understand. You could say to them to move, attack, hold, or run but asking something tactical or strategic took a lot of work. This made them best used to attack in large quantities of waves to cause as much harm as possible.

Running currently down the southern side of the town, roaring and salivating in a blind rage, was the large feral horde sent down to kill anyone not tainted by the Rot. They could smell the non-rotted ones in the town, scattered and easy to hunt down. However, they found themselves forced to go on specific routes only in the streets, as many of them were blocked by rubble, carts, fences, and barriers.

If any sane person was watching them from a distance, it would look like they were being guided down specific streets toward the center of the town. When the horde arrived, they only saw the leftover remains of the soldiers who had packed their bags and got out of town. The herd of ferals was unsure what to do or where to go before one slipped on something on the ground and curiously sniffed it. In the back of his mind, memories of his past life made him recall what this strange liquid was called.

Oil.

A few seconds later, flaming arrows from archers perched at the roofs of various buildings fired down upon the oil traps placed in preparation for a moment like this. In an instant, the traps were set ablaze, and a sea of fire emerged from the streets and quickly spread to the houses and other locations. The feral shrieks in fear as they see the flames, and many, in a panic, try to run only to find themselves blocked by the fire and other barriers built to keep them trapped. The archers could quickly jump from rooftop to rooftop until they were safely away from the flames and rushed out to join their comrades.

The painful echoing cries of the ferals in the now-burning village were heard for miles.