Author's Note: Yes, it's another short-ish chapter. I'm afraid that's all I can do for now without sacrificing grades. I restate my promise to increase output and length after school is over.
P.S. I noticed that my chapter numbering is off. I will correct that soon, so don't panic when you see about a dozen "new chapter" notifications. It's just me fixing things that need to be fixed.
Chapter XXX: Sorry, no sex. Just violence.
Disclaimer: Strange as it may be, I still don't own Overlord! However, I do own characters.
General Herbison: Am I mistaken in believing you're quoting Hannibal from the A-team?
Spitting Faerie: Thanks. I plan on succeeding in the department of finals and projects. ;)
The morning came along with the sound of trumpets. Before the sun had risen, the king and his supposedly loyal advisers had met once more to determine the details of the campaign into Evernight.
The three had agreed that Leandros would lead a force of five hundred knights and foot soldiers into the forest to assist the elves in their plight.
The force left a little after dawn, the soldiers drawn from William's personal guard and the knights from various fiefs throughout the kingdom. The entire city had turned out to watch the small army embark upon what some called a "noble mission." Little did they know that none of those who traveled into the forest under King William's banner would ever return home.
The Overlord experienced a feeling of satisfaction as the shining columns exited the Capital City. Let their blood only fuel my desire for further vengeance. Remember this day William. This is the day your kingdom begins to fall apart both from the inside and out, he thought angrily before re-composing himself mentally and turning to smile at Elizabeth, who stood next to him.
"Sir Ryrin, would like to join us for breakfast?" William inquired as he turned to head back towards the palace.
"It would be an honor, my liege," Hanson said with the tiniest amount of sarcasm as he turned to follow the paladin king.
Lord Leandros rode at the head of a shining column of knights and foot soldiers, gazing about him imperiously. Despite being a competent general, he lacked experience facing enemies that didn't rush blindly in attack. As the force began to near the eaves of Evernight and the shadows deepened, Leandros thought he saw flickers in the woods surrounding them.
Commander Vesc waited in the shadows of Evernight, his hands white as they gripped the compound bow he carried. After his detachment had failed to secure the mysterious tomb, they had been redeployed to border guard duties. At first, he thought of it as an insult, but a few weeks later, word began to trickle in that the opposite end of Evernight was under attack by soldiers. Soldiers dressed in the regalia of King William's army.
Vesc had wanted to rush over to the eastern edge, but was told to remain where he was by the elven council. If King William had truly decided to wage war on the elves, it was logical to assume that another army would come from the Capital City, with it being only half a day's march away, to crush the elves from two sides.
At last, Vesc though as his scouts informed him of the approaching humans.
"Redeploy the battle group on both sides of the lip of the valley that guards the entrance to the forest. Then send a group behind them. I will lead a group that will attack from the front. None will survive," he said grimly, his eyes smoldering with hatred.
Leandros' group marched into the eaves of Evernight confidently, awaiting a delegation of elves to greet them. What they received was altogether different. In the last rays of sunshine, the general spotted a few elves blocking the road ahead, hooded and clocked with bows in hand and arrows already on the string.
"You will go no further, servant of the butcher of elvenkind," one of the cloaked figures said, drawing the bow fully and training the arrow on Leandros. "Turn and run, and bring a message to your king: we will not tolerate his aggression. The men he sent to attack from the East are dead. If he sends any more soldiers, we will annihilate them all. You have been warned."
Lord Leandros lifted an eyebrow quizzically. "Are you sure you're not referring to someone else? We are your friends."
Vesc scowled under his hood and released his arrow. It traveled the distance between the two commanders in little over a second, piercing the general through the heart. As William's brother fell from his horse, the rest of the border guard opened fire from all sides, filling the soldiers and knights with mithril-tipped arrows. Within a few seconds it was over, and the corpses of William's relief force bore mute testament to the deadly skill of elven rangers.
Vesc wound his way through the dead and dying, slaughtering any he found alive, his soldiers following suit. The dirt road to Evernight was colored red with the blood of all who had perished there. The ground hungrily absorbed the liquid, forever staining it red. In the future, plants that grew here would become twisted and malevolent, hungry for blood.
"Fetch my horse," Vesc said. "It is time to send a message to the butcher king." The white stallion given to the commander by William was brought forward and the elf drew his sword before removing Leandros' head from his body and putting in a leather bag. The rest of the elves watched their leader in silence as he tied the bag to the saddle and then gave the horse a slap on the hindquarters.
The stallion took off at a gallop towards the Capitol City, its white coat glimmering in the purple twilight.
As the sun set in the Capitol City, the Overlord sat in his chambers preparing for the overthrow of the hated paladin king.
"By my calculations, the force that insufferable paladin sent has been eliminated. If the elves are feeling as dramatic as they usually are, the head of Lord Leandros should be on its way back here. When it arrives, it will be your best chance to assault the White Tower and show the world that you are back," Gnarl counseled through the psychic link that every Overlord shared with the minion master.
Hanson mutely exited his chambers and descended the stairs to the private dining room that he now shared with William and Elizabeth.
"Sir Ryrin, where are you going?" Elizabeth said as she spotted her favorite knight preparing to leave. "I'm afraid I have business in the city tonight," the Overlord replied with a fond smile. "Perhaps tomorrow, my princess," he said as he kissed her lightly on the cheek and exited the palace via the back door.
"That seems to be your answer to everything of late," the crown princess murmured to herself sadly before returning to her apartments.
The guards outside stiffened and saluted as he brushed past, heading towards the center of the city.
By the time the Overlord had arrived at his destination, night had truly fallen, and torches had been lit to keep the darkness at bay.
Hanson looked around to make sure no one was watching and then opened a sewer grate before slipping inside and locking it.
Once the Overlord's boots hit the floor of the sewers, the young embodiment of Evil brushed himself off and proceeded down the well-lit hallway to where Gnarl and several minions waited.
Hanson stripped off his court clothing before folding it neatly and placing it on a nearby shelf. The Overlord then began to put on his armor with the help of the minions.
"Your young lady has escaped the White Tower sire," Gnarl said. "Now you can happily wreak revenge on the paladins with no possibility of collateral damage." The ancient minion sighed. "Isn't it a wonderful feeling master?"
The Overlord nodded as he pulled on his gauntlets, the left flaring as it recognized its master. Hanson slipped on his helmet, taking extreme pleasure at the opportunity to cause havoc to those who wronged him. Giblet stepped forward with the first Overlord's sword and Hanson ripped it out of its sheath, letting the onyx-colored blade shimmer in the torchlight.
"Ah, this takes me back a thousand years or so," Gnarl murmured, looking at the black-armored figure before him. "It's been a while since I saw anyone wear that armor. How fitting that it surfaces as a new era of Overlording begins!"
As if on cue, screams permeated through the sewer ceiling. "It seems the cargo has reached its destination," Gnarl said with a snigger.
The Overlord summoned his horde of minions. They numbered fifty in all, all bloodthirsty and ready to die for their master.
"I shall return to the Tower sire," Gnarl said as he stepped on the waypoint gate. "I shall provide whatever help I can from there."
Hanson nodded and began to advance into the sewers, the horde of fully-armed minions behind him.
The entrance to the sewers from the White Tower was guarded by a pair of paladins. They were almost raw recruits, fresh out of the training camps.
"How much longer do we have to stay out here?" one asked. "I can't stand being down here. It stinks somethin' awful."
"Quiet!" the other chastised. "Who knows what's out there? Do you want to bring it down on us?" he added, gazing into the darkness that permeated most of the city sewers.
"You worry too much Polk," the first paladin said with a yawn. "There is nothing down here."
It was just at that moment that the Overlord emerged into torchlight, red eyes gleaming in fury. His sword sung a song of death as the headless bodies of the two guards fell to floor, their blood forming pools among the cracks in the stone floor.
With the guards dealt with, Hanson advanced up the white marble steps into the interior of the White Tower with his horde behind him.
Author's Note: As always, please make comments and suggestions! R. Overlord