Author's Note: I'm afraid that for now, my posting will be intermittent. As the end of the school year approaches, the time I have to sit and write this story has become inversely proportional to the amount of project, essays, and term papers I have. I promise that once the year is over, I will post more frequently. With that said, I am thankful for your patience. You guys are wonderful!
P.S. I re-uploaded due to a Roman numeral error on my part. Sorriez.
Xeno Tyrant: Thanks for reading!
littleking9512: Politics truly are a free-for-all deathmatch.
General Herbison: That book was there because…well…um.
As you can see, there is not a word about minions swimming in this chapter apart from blues. ;)
Disclaimer: My characters are mine, Overlord is someone else's.
Chapter XXIX: The Plot Continues
Assira plunged into the freezing water of the sewers that ran under the Capital City. All around her, the minions were doing the same, except that they were drowning. She felt claws grab her shoulder and saw that Gnarl had grabbed on to her to keep himself from drowning.
"The minions! They're-"
"It's quite alright my dear," Gnarl gasped. He signaled and at least twenty blues emerged from the shadows and willingly dove into the water to free their brethren from its embrace.
Assira began to swim to the nearest stone wall and hauled herself up onto the walkway, Gnarl in tow. "My thanks mistress," he said as he dropped to the stone floor with a wet smack. Nearby, the blues were dropping off their passengers and swimming back to pick up the rest until the entire horde had been reassembled.
Assira shivered, her sodden clothes clinging to her. She felt miserable. "Reds! Start a fire!" Gnarl commanded. The imp-like minions obeyed and a few seconds later a towering inferno rose due to the reds' enthusiasm.
The roaring flames lit up the sewers, and Assira was able to see clearly. The sewers were old, their stones overgrown with moss and all manner of other plants.
"You know, if the Dark Tower ever collapsed, we could live here. It's so…cozy," Gnarl commented as he sat near the fire, his ragged robes steaming.
Hanson staggered up the steps to his quarters, guided by the princess. He had definitely had too much wine. "Come sir Ryrin, what kind of knight can't walk while blindly drunk?" Elizabeth teased as she half-pulled half-led the Overlord towards his room.
When the duo had reached the door of Hanson's quarters, the princess propped him up against the war while she opened the door. "Well, I suppose this is good-bye for now," she said. The Overlord muttered something unintelligible as he leaned against the war.
"Good night," the princess said as she leaned in and kissed Hanson softly on the lips before retreating to her own chambers. The Overlord staggered inside the room, closed the door, and dragged himself to his bed.
When he lay down, the realization of what had happened hit him full force.
"You pathetic mortal fool," the Shadow hissed. "Why did you allow her to kiss you? This will only confuse you further. Bah! Hormones."
Hanson lay in his bed, guilt flowing through him as he felt the dark spirit burning away the confusion caused by the alcohol. "I'm sorry," he said softly. "Sorry doesn't cut it mortal. Did you forget about our arrangement? Power for the sacrifice of pure love."
"So what? I can still find someone who loves me. I'm sure that any of the empty-headed women at court will be more than happy to oblige," the Overlord replied.
"I said PURE love. Now you will have to choose which one, seeing as you are divided. Which will it be?" Hanson stayed quiet that time, pondering his precarious position. On one side, his love for the fiery thief was real, but the princess wasn't simple to ignore. She was startlingly beautiful and seemed to glow like a star from afar.
The Overlord was still pondering when he sank into a deep sleep.
Assira softly walked next to Gnarl, the rest of the minions behind them. The strange crystal the minion master had attached to the stick on his back lit up enough of the sewers that they could see where they were going.
"Which way was it now? Let's see…was it right, left right, or left, right, left?" he muttered to himself as the winding passages of the sewers twisted left and right.
"Ah!" he exclaimed. "I know the way now. Follow me." Gnarl increased his speed until Assira was almost running, trying to keep pace with the speeding minion master. The small party made their way through the twisting passageways until they emerged into a large and empty room. The only light besides Gnarl's crystal was a blue glowing waypoint gate.
"We've arrived safely. I suggest we leave as soon as possible. The paladins' phobia of sewer water will last only a little while longer. I would like to leave before they figure out where we went."
The thief nodded mutely and stepped on the glowing floor panel before vanishing in a flash of blue light.
The Overlord awoke from his troubled sleep at the sound of knocking on the door of his chambers. He pulled himself out of bed and slowly made his way towards the door, yawning hugely. It was still dark outside and the moon shone as it traveled across the night sky. Hanson reached the wooden door and pulled it open.
Bright torchlight caused him to lean back involuntarily, but he threw the door open when his eyes had adjusted to the light. William stood in the doorway with another man at his back.
"Sir Ryrin, it is time for our council session to commence. If you would follow us…"
The king's council chamber was empty save for a few maps scattered on the table at the center. Fires danced inside iron braziers and lit the room with a moody half-light. The three men filed in, and sat down at the table facing one another.
"Sir Ryrin, I believe you have yet to meet Lord Leandros, my best general as well as my brother," William said. Hanson nodded politely at the mammoth of a man in front of him. Leandros looked like the hardened warrior he was. The court clothing did little to disguise his broad shoulders and the immense amounts of muscle. His face was like that of a hawk with sharp features and the high cheekbones that defined William's family. His head was bald and he had no beard, just some stubble. Leandros' eyes were brown like William's, but cold as the Northern Wastes. Scars crisscrossed the general's face, mementos of the numerous battles he had fought.
"I watched you battle in the arena Sir Ryrin, and I am impressed by your swordsmanship," the general said in a gravelly voice as he nodded in the Overlord's direction.
"I am still wondering how you pulled off that last move with your broken arm," he continued, fixing his gaze on Hanson.
"Luck," the Overlord replied almost cheerily, knowing that his response would irritate Leandros.
"We are not here to discuss the past, but the present," William warned. "Sir Ryrin, would you recount your tale for us once more?"
As Hanson re-told all that had supposedly transpired, a fierce happiness seized him. His master plans were finally in motion, driving the Elves, men, and dwarves on a collision course towards their own destruction.
Chojash rode at the center of his column of brigands and bandits through Evernight. As his ally had suggested, the ragtag army was well-equipped with torches as well as the armor and weapons supplied by their acquaintance within William's court: Lord Osst.
"M'lord, we've found another elven village close by. What should we do?" A junior lieutenant asked as he approached the mounted bandit lord.
"Why, the same as every other village! Take the men and children as slaves, grab the women, loot their treasures, and burn it to the ground." The lieutenant bowed and headed towards one of the platoon-like formations to distribute the orders.
The orders were carried out with efficiency unusual for a group of ragged vermin. The first few dozen men ran straight into the village, slashing at everything in their path while the next few groups came in from the sides, effectively trapping all the residents along the perimeter. What scant resistance the villagers offered was quickly eliminated. Once the slaughter was over, those that remained were herded to the back of the column in chains to begin their lives as slaves.
The residences were plundered of all valuables and the village set aflame, the smoke rising many miles high. Chojash smiled to himself wickedly. Everything was going exactly to plan.
"We have no word yet from the elves about the brigands, but we do know that they are pushing deeper and deeper into Evernight as we speak, burning, pillaging, and enslaving," Leandros said, standing over a map of Evernight. "I recommend that we dispatch a sizable force to expunge them from the Elves' forest. I have no doubt that they will defeat these invaders, but with us, it will be much easier."
"I agree," Hanson said. "Our foot soldiers are superior to those of the elves, but their archers are superior to our own. With our combined forces, we should be able to drive the invaders out of Evernight."
"Very well, I shall issue orders for my commanders to rally their men in readiness for war," William said with a heavy sigh. "Even if it means the death of so many more innocent souls."
"I ask your permission to lead this campaign brother," Leandros said. "I am much more experienced in fighting brigands than any other commander in your army."
"Granted," the paladin king said with a nod. "And you, Sir Ryrin? What are your recommendations?"
"I'm afraid I can't be much use beyond the information I have provided. I have never fought from horseback, so I can't be much help in battle either, besides leading swordsmen into the fray."
"Then you shall stay as my guest," William said graciously. "Now, it is getting late. We shall reconvene in the morning."
Author's Note: As always, please make comments and suggestions! ~R. Overlord~