Hours have gone by and Calder's body was sore. He had long given up on breaking free of his restraints but even then he wasn't recovering from the physical strain. The way his hands were tied behind the pole and over his head was uncomfortable. His feet ached from standing in place with the pain extending up further along his legs. The ranger's mouth was dry from thirst and his stomach grumbled in hunger. While the half-elf was content that he wasn't actively tortured as Leosin explained he was, he couldn't wait to break free from his imprisonment.
While Calder focused on recovering, he listened to Skylar's attempts to talk with Arzenya. They had very few things to do in captivity, and with Leosin keeping to himself for the time, the sorceress thought it would be best to learn more about her newest companion. Yet, the ex-cultist had a sharp tongue and remained stubborn at not giving any personal details to anyone else. Questions about her background were met with disdain but Skylar was finally able to find a topic that Arzenya was more open to discuss.
"It's Rezmir that you want to kill, isn't it?" Skylar asked.
"What makes you think that?" Arzenya asked back, although Calder noted she didn't immediately say no.
"Cyanwrath said she had you executed for heresy," Skylar pointed out. "You put on a tough act, but if you were bloodthirsty, you would have fought to the death instead of surrendering."
Arzenya closed her eyes in thought. "We weren't heretics. It was a coup."
"A coup?" Skylar questioned with a raised eyebrow. "I didn't realize that you were that important to the Cult of the Dragon."
"I wasn't," Arzenya shook her head. "My father was. I don't know what he was up to but he told me that plans were in motion that would elevate him to a higher position. Rezmir killed him to steal that position and told everyone he was a heretic, and that his followers were too."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Skylar said, showing sympathy to the young ex-cultist.
"It wasn't just Rezmir involved," Arzenya continued, unable to hide her hatred and anger. "It was Frulam Mondath who carried out the executions on Rezmir's orders. She killed my father's followers, my mother and my brothers and sisters. I tried to escape on my own but I was stabbed in the back by someone I thought I could trust, someone who was actually working for Rezmir all along."
"So it's personal," Skylar noted. "And what will you do after you have your revenge on those who've wronged you?"
"I'll take my father's old place with the Cult of the Dragon," Arzenya answered without hesitation. "We're not friends. Nameia, Doltin, and everyone else are just tools for me to use to get one step closer to my goal."
"I see," Skylar nodded, not letting the insult get to her. "And you are sure that the Cult of the Dragon will welcome you back after you've killed the traitors and anyone else who gets in your way?"
Arzenya went silent at that question. Perhaps she realized what Skylar saw, that even after she killed Rezmir, the damage was done and that there would be no going back to the Cult of the Dragon. Even though Calder figured that Arzenya was honest about her past, he wasn't sure if she could be trusted. Although what happened to her family was a tragedy, she was loyal to the Cult of the Dragon without any coercion to join them. The ranger knew that she would be trusted enough to get her revenge, but after Rezmir was dead, there was no telling where her loyalties lied.
Any chance of the conversation picking up from that spot died when the prisoners saw a member of the Cult of the Dragon approach. Calder glared at the hooded man. Although escaping seemed less like an option with each passing hour, he would do his part to resist the Cult of the Dragon. Yet, when the cultist grew closer, Calder noticed a familiar face under the hood. He just couldn't believe that one of his friends would be able to sneak into the camp.
"Robert?" Calder whispered when the cultist grew closer. "Is that really you?"
"It is," Robert told them. "I can't stay too long. It's too much of a risk but we're working on freeing you."
"Untie us!" Arzenya demanded.
"I would but the camp's on high alert," Robert explained. "I've been getting through by nodding and acting like I know what's happening."
"But there is a plan?" Skylar asked.
"I don't know much, but half of the group is going to cause a distraction at one watchtower while the other half will work on an escape plan at the other watchtower."
"That's it?" Arzenya asked with her eyes wide in anger. "Did they put Zavier in charge of the plan?"
"He might be in charge," Robert admitted. "Look, I have your gear in my backpack, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to get it to you during the escape. There are other prisoners."
"There are?" Calder asked. "I thought it was just us."
"There are others," Leosin answered with a nod. "They're being put to work. Since we're too dangerous, we don't get to work."
"You'll have to free them," Skylar told Robert. "We'll find our own way out."
"Right," Robert said with a nod. "Are you sure?"
"I might have a way to get out," Leosin said with a smirk. "It wouldn't be smart to get captured on purpose and not have a way to escape."
"I need to get going," Robert said, taking a step back. "Just wait until the distraction then head to the other watchtower. I'll see you all again soon."
Although Robert left without doing anything, Calder couldn't help but smile at the turn of events. He had faith in his friends that they would come through and deal with the Cult of the Dragon. If they could escape with Leosin and the other prisoners, they would be able to return to Greenest. From there, it was a matter of deciding what their next move against their enemy was.
The sun started to set, meaning it was time to rescue the prisoners captured by the Cult of the Dragon. When Zavier explained that whoever was responsible for the distraction, Nameia was quick to volunteer herself and Doltin for the task. Although the dragonborn was nervous about his role, he decided to trust in the plan and do his part. As for why the tiefling volunteered for the most dangerous role in the first place, she knew that she couldn't put her newfound allies in jeopardy when she was capable of serving as a distraction.
Nameia and Doltin traveled together to the camp entrance, sneaking over to the watchtower guarding the entrance. Although her armor wasn't the best for stealth, the cover of the night sky made up for the sound she made. When they grew closer, the tiefling's eyes adjusted to note that the wooden watchtower was guarded by eight kobolds. Although they were only minions to the Cult of the Dragon, there was no underestimating how the kobolds were able to fight in a large group. They would need to thin the pack as quickly as they could or a prolonged fight would be costly.
"Doltin, try to flank around me," Nameia commanded. "I'll draw the kobolds out. Try to kill as many of them as you can."
"Right, of course," Doltin nodded, although his voice cracked nervously.
The dragonborn started to sneak away, hiding in the foliage as he moved closer to the watchtower. Nameia knew better than to think of her friend as a coward. Doltin was a scholar, and although he practiced martial arts as a monk, has always been upfront about not being a warrior. Yet, whenever there was trouble, Nameia knew that she could count on him to stand at her side. Doltin's courage showed itself each time he joined in a fight when he had little experience in combat.
After waiting a minute, Nameia stepped forward and banged her battleaxe against her shield repeatedly. The noise was enough to get the kobold's attention as all of them started to swarm forward toward the lone warrior. Nameia stood her ground, noting that there were eight kobolds altogether, each wielding small daggers. Enough to overwhelm a strong warrior such as herself in single combat, but fortunately, she knew that she wasn't alone.
"Vile minions of Tiamat," Nameia called out, glaring at the charging kobolds. "You shall fall today and your evil will be purged by fire!"
Although they hadn't talked about a signal to attack, Doltin was smart enough to know what Nameia meant. He emerged from a bush, flanking the kobold's from the side. While a few had noticed him, they were too slow to act as the dragonborn breathed fire, scorching most of the kobolds. Only three remained standing which quickly became two when Doltin charged forward, crushing the skull of a surviving foe with a well-placed kick. Nameia charged forward, slamming her battleaxe down on a kobold to end his life. The dragonborn yelped in pain when the surviving kobold stabbed him in the thigh but a quarterstaff strike was enough to end the final enemy's life.
"Doltin, are you okay?" Nameia asked, taking quick note of his injury. "I can heal you if needed."
"You, uh, don't have to worry," Doltin reassured his friend. "Save your divine magic for if our friends need it."
"Then I think it's time we signal to the others that our work here is done," Nameia said, beckoning towards the watchtower. "You know what to do."
Doltin nodded and stepped forward toward the empty watchtower. Their fight hadn't caught the attention of the Cult of the Dragon but their distraction wasn't done yet. Once again, the dragonborh breathed fire and set the wooden watchtower aflame. The fire would be enough to draw the cult's attention and make the cultists think that they were under attack. With a nod of approval, Nameia started to flee back to the forest with Doltin following close behind her. Although she wished to fight the Cult of the Dragon head on, she had to have faith that Zavier, Fargrim, and Robert would be able to do their part of the plan.
"Who thinks that's the distraction?" Calder asked the rest of the captives, looking toward the burning watchtower.
"That's one way to do it," Arzenya laughed loudly.
Even from their position, Calder was quick to notice that most of the cultists were heading to the camp's entrance. The ranger hoped that whoever was responsible for the fire would be able to escape but knew there was very little he could do about it. Right now, he needed to worry about escaping and meeting back up with the rest of the group at the remaining watchtower.
Leosin raised his legs upward, proving to be surprisingly flexible as his boot touched his hands. His nimble fingers drew a small dagger from within and started to work on cutting through his ropes. Calder quickly whispered to Skylar and Arzenya about the monk's escape plans so that they would be prepared. When Leosin finally broke free, he started to walk over to cut Calder free. The ranger noted that he was slow and limping heavily, likely from the torture he had to endure.
After around two minutes, Calder, Skylar, and Arzenya were free. Leosin took deep breaths, steading himself for the escape.
"Will you be able to make it on your own?" Skylar asked Leosin, concerned for his well being.
"Maybe I underestimated the methods of my captors," Leosin chuckled weakly. "I could use a hand."
"I've got you," Calder told him.
"What are we waiting for?" Arzenya asked, her sword appearing in her hands magically. "We need to move now!"
Calder didn't question how Arzenya was able to get her weapon but was glad that she was armed in case trouble broke out. He grabbed Leosin by the arm and started to support him so that he didn't have to walk while injured. Arzenya led the way, and from the way she moved, the ranger could tell that she was more interested in escaping than she was seeking revenge. Skylar aided Calder by supporting Leosin on his other side as the two followed the ex-cultist.
The cultists were distracted, and for now, the four were able to move undetected. When they made it closer to the plateau the second watchtower was built on, Calder noticed that a ladder led up to the top of the plateau, and that men and women in rags were starting to climb it. A man wearing a cultist uniform stood guard by the base and the group was quick to realize that it was Robert. When they grew closer, the warrior smiled in relief.
"Glad to see you all made it," Robert told the group. "Fargrim and Zavier have cleared a way for us. I think they're setting up a rope so that we can climb up."
"That's good to hear," Calder said with a nod. "Arzenya, stick with Robert in case the cultists try to stop us. Leosin, hold on to my back as tight as you can."
"Don't tell me what to do," Arzenya muttered although she didn't make a break for the ladder.
"I'll be right behind you, Calder," Skylar said. "Let's keep moving."
After taking a moment to ensure that Leosin had a good grip on him from his back, Calder started to climb up the ladder. Although it was a struggle to support the weight of a man, the ranger was fairly athletic and managed to climb the ladder at a steady pace. Eventually, he made it to the top of the plateau with Skylar behind him. Five cultists were on the ground in pools of blood, having met a violent end at the hands of Fargrim. The dwarf stood guard by the mountain wall, from which a rope hung. From the top of the climb, Zavier waved toward his companions as the escaping prisoners continued their climb.
Calder waited for it to be his turn before climbing up the rope with Leosin still on his back. This time, it was a much tougher climb and he was thankful when Zavier grabbed his hand when he was close enough and pulled him up. The ranger set Leosin down so that he could take rest while the rest of the group climbed up the ladder. Skylar was next, and behind her was Arzenya, who had climbed up the ladder before Robert. Fargrim and Robert were the last two to make it up the rope, and with no one else to wait on, Zavier untied the rope from the tree that served as an anchor.
This time, Robert joined Calder in supporting Leosin as the group of prisoners made their escape. With their task accomplished, it was just a matter of hiding for the night and making it back to Greenest as soon as they could.
A/N: Another update for the Defense of Greenest is here. Next time, we move onto the next part of Hoard of the Dragon Queen and the final part of this book. I expect there'll be several more chapters left but we're getting closer to the end. I look forward to seeing this story done so I can work on the next part.
Until next time.