I disable the four furthest from me with some well-aimed throwing knives. Before walking into the centre of the clearing and placing a lantern silently on the ground. I get my tinder box and light the lantern illuminating the area. "So who wants to play?" I smirk as they start unsheathing their weapons.
As they cautiously approach me I take my staff off my back and set myself. They circle me slowly eyeing the gaps of missing members they close the circle more. One directly behind me breaks form and charges directly at me with a sword and shield, I spin my staff clock-wise around my waist not bothering to turn and slash the bicep of his sword arm, I reset my stance before I turn and kick his sword away and face the others again
"Someone with more skill perhaps?" I mock
The remaining 4 approach me as a unit. I notice the one on my far right as Leske. I sigh and spin slashing upwards at the chest of the one on my near right and continue the spin before using my staff as a vault pole to kick Leske in the face. By the time he hits the ground I am halfway to his allies. One holds up his shield fearfully the other crouches low and readies his daggers to try and counter my next attack instead I run and use the shield as launch board and jump over them into a flip I cut completely through the pairs' hamstrings before landing hard on my back. Groaning in pain I stand up "can never land the flip" I laugh. One of the thugs look up at me fearfully I walk closer to him before recognizing it as Leske.
His voice holds firm as he says "what do you want surfacer?"
"Get up and go get your other four allies from where they were hiding. Each has a punctured lung so don't remove the knives. By the way, if you try to escape I will put a throwing knife behind your shoulder blade and kill everyone here" I say calmly
He nods franticly and starts dragging the men into the centre. "Good now tie up the hands of the four that attacked with you" I say as I start carefully removing the knives and bandaging the other four, "now those four then just sit and wait" he does so and soon Trian and his men enter. Prince nods approvingly as he surveys the area
"Looks like you did quite the number on these casteless scum but why aren't they dead?" Trian says curiously
I turn to Leske "I know the answers and if you answer right I may just spare your life got it?"
"Yes sir" he says staring at the ground
"Look at me so I know you understand" I order
"He shakes his head fearfully "a casteless cannot look a nobleman in the face"
"I'm no noble" I say and he looks up into my eyes. "The truth yes?" he nods "what was your mission?" I say looking away to see Trian's reaction
"To kill Prince Trian and his escort" Trian's eyes widen in surprise
"And who gave you this task" I continue, looking back to Leske who looks at me sadly but nods
"A messenger on behalf of prince Behlan"
"This is an outrage how do we know that this is the truth?" Trian yells
"Act dead. In about maybe seven minutes your brother and sister will discover you and Behlan will try to frame them to your father"
Trian shakes his head "I couldn't do that to Sereda and…"
I put my hand up to stop him "I organized this with them they know I'm trying to save your family. Just please do it?" Trian nods and I pull some animal blood out "use this for effect" him and his guards put splash in various places before laying down.
Leske and the thugs who can walk go around the corner and wait after a few choice threats from me and I punch the remaining 2 and go hide with the other thugs "for effect" I explain to them.
The twins group walk in and have a couple of whispered words to Trian before saying a few things about the 'situation'. Behlan walks in quickly "see father the Twins plot the families demise and they have already started with Trian" he says acting horrified
The kings mouth hangs open as he inspects the scene "how could this happen?" he says horrified
Sereda steps forward "papa this is how it could have been if Behlan had gotten his way. He would have you and Trian dead and us two exiled"
"COULD HAVE BEEN?" the king screams "my son is dead and my children appear to be the culprits" he says his voice breaking.
I signal to the thugs to follow and I walk into the middle "you do not know me your highness" I bow "but I am here to help. You can get up now Sir"
Trian stands and dusts himself as the kings face contorts in confusion and Behlan's in anger
"He did exactly what you said. Jumped straight into blaming the twins" Trian says disgusted. The kings guards turn and face Behlan as the king runs and hugs Trian "father please I am fine thanks to the others" he says embarrassed
"Is this true" he says pulling back to look at Trian for injuries
"Yes you can even ask the thugs he hired"
"No no I trust you and the twins" he turns to the guards "strip him of weapons and take him to the palace and confine him to his room and you take the thugs to the prisons" he says the last aimed at Trian's guards, who nod solemnly
We arrive back to the palace after a lot of fussing over the children. Aedan and I are in the corner of the main hall as the family discusses how they wish to handle the situation .I'm sitting in a chair and Aedan on the floor "so we never addressed the fact that you know the Aeducans and that you're Danny" I say and stifle a laugh.
He sighs "damn I thought you forgot"
I laugh "not something as priceless as that"
He shakes his head amused "well I know the twins mainly thanks to Elissa. You see both her and Duran both studied under the same master for a while so that they could learn lock picking. Elissa tied to matchmaker me and Sereda. I think Sereda likes me but I was more focused on my war training and every now and then I came down to the deep roads to fight darkspawn for training. The Aeducans used to give me a place to stay and the twins would guide me in the deep roads."
Sereda pops up from behind Aedan and jumps on his back "almost got all of it right Danny except that I adore my giant not just like"
I laugh "and that's the other thing. Why is he Danny?" I ask Sereda
"Well you have to have cute pet names don't you" she smirks kissing Aedan's cheek before slipping away again
I laugh as a blush races up Aedan's cheeks "she would be a good match for you" I tease
"Maybe if she was taller" he laughs "instead of around my knees"
"Means she is more nimble" I wink before an assembly is called and the king approaches us as the nobles start to leave, Aedan's cheek still flushed
"I would like you two to come please as you seem to know more about this then us" we nod and follow them out to the assembly hall
Leske is standing in the middle of the hall he looks up at me pleadingly as Aedan and I walk in and stand next him.
The assembly starts to address the information on what the plan was asking Leske for details as they try to get the whole picture
Aedan elbows me "Mr Dracon we asked you what happened that allowed the take down of the casteless" says one of the house representatives
"I walked in and disabled them so that they could no longer fight back"
"We understand that much but how did you know you know of this plot?" he says irritated
"I umm know the future" I say. The room breaks out in hushed whispers
"You expect us to believe this?" he says
Aedan steps forward "he stopped a attack a while ago by a traitorous noble that would of slaughtered most of Highever with his knowledge and I as a surface noble vouch for him"
A lot of the representatives nod in approval "and do you have any requests of the court as it seems we owe you a great debt"
Aedan shakes his head "release the casteless involved and allow casteless to find jobs or make jobs that they can do for money"
There are horrified gasps throughout the room "why would we do this?" the king asks
"Think of it this way do you use nugs?" this gets many nods "nugs aren't good for anything at all. There is no benefit of having dwarfs sitting there doing nothing. Dwarfs are naturally strong you could add them anywhere." I look around the room and am surprised by the amount of people who seem to be in agreement "imagine how the casteless would react. they would be such loyal workers because they have experienced hardship and starvation. They would defend their home." I take a deep breath "imagine if they wanted to join the legion? You have five people holding in the deep roads imagine what ten could do? Or twenty? But do not force them into jobs please just make them average citizens" I fall silent and Aedan pats me on the back and smiles at me