Dragon's Archon - Ch. 20 - Burn This City - Alpha (Patreon)

I gripped the handle of my hammer and pulled it from my back. To my surprise, Malice let go perfectly, allowing me to bring it around without any force. I held out my hand to Nyla to remind her to stay put. She nodded.

After opening the door, I marched across the cliff to meet with Lady Florence’s guards.

When I approached, one pointed behind me and asked, “Where is Lady Amasi?”

“She’s taking her time,” I groaned, trying to keep my stature and tone as casual as could be for a dark lord. “She’s on her way down.” I waited for the right moment for Cartha to look me in the eye.

Once she did, I widened them and nodded to the guards next to her. She tilted her head in confirmation and I slowly signaled agreement. When her hand rested on the hilt of her blade, I knew she understood my intent.

Her speed was excellent and so much faster than me. She jutted the edge of her dagger into the back of the neck of the first foe. As the guard dropped, holding her bloody throat, Cartha spun the knife and slammed it into the skull of the other.

I swung my hammer by the time the first two dropped. Just before I slammed my weapon into her chest, I caught the horrid look in the woman’s eyes. I felt the cracks of her ribcage rattle through my hammer as she flew off of her feet. With a heavy thump, she slid to the ground, motionless.

With the combat done in less than a second, the guards' souls swirled into my gauntlet.

“Took you long enough,” Cartha said with a momentary smile after pulling off the shroud around her head.

“Lady Florence's guard?” I said in disbelief.

The huntress shrugged. “What? You told me to infiltrate to gather intel. That’s what I’ve been doing.”

“How did you manage to get in so quickly?”

“This isn't the first time I’ve been here. People knew me and vouched for me. Easy as that.”

“Is that something I need to be concerned about if our job is to burn this place to the ground?”

“No. The only person I care that much about is in Ophelia’s tower. How’s she doing, by the way?”

“Yda’s fine. Ophelia’s been keeping an eye on her. She actually came up with a great place for us to set up after we get back to Nubia, but I’ll let her tell you everything when you see her.” As Cartha nodded, I cupped my head and shouted to the tower, “Princess. It’s safe to come out now.”

Nyla opened the door and strolled over. When she got near the bodies, she cupped her mouth. “Are they all dead?”

“Yeah, they are,” I said.

As Nyla tried to hold back her lunch, Cartha asked, “So what’s the plan? Get the princess back to the tower and head back to Nubia?”

“Hold on,” I said, holding up my hand. In a similar fashion with the terror scrofas, I conjured my death magic into hand, shaping it into each of the former guards’ souls. I pushed it into each husk like a key into a lock before pumping them full of death magic to make them stable.

Their bones cracked into place as they shambled to their feet. Each hand gripped their bows like an expert archer. Black flames incinerated their eyes and illuminated their sockets.

When the spell completed, I pointed between my companions and my new troops. “Fan out into the wilderness but within striking distance. Protect them with your lives.”

“Yes… master,” my minions groaned in a whispery voice.

“What kind of monstrosity are those?” Cartha shouted wide-eyed.

“Some additional protection while we walk,” I said.

“That’s… not natural,” Nyla mumbled as she moved behind me.

“Magic is natural. I just gave them some of my own.” I waved everyone to follow. “Come. We have a long walk and the sun is dropping. We’ve made the first blow. It’s important to get back and strategize if we’re going to save them.”

“Wait,” Nyla said. “Why does your voice sound different?”

I chuckled when I realized I forgot I was no longer keeping up my bad guy act. “This is my voice. My real one, anyway. The one you heard earlier is an act when I wear this armor. It’s just a facade that fits the terrifying big bad guy better.”

“So, this is your natural speaking voice?”

“Yes.”

As Nyla seemed to question her whole existence, Cartha jogged to my side. “Did you say them a second ago? I thought we were just coming for the princess?”

“You rubbed off on me,” I said.

“I what?” Cartha asked with raised brows and a pointed lip.

“You influenced me.” I laughed. “But you are correct. Our priority is to get the princess safe. We’re taking her straight to the tower with, hopefully, no witnesses. We’ll then be attacking the town, performing mission two. However, we’re going to see if we can rescue Lady Florence’s captives and the princess’s men in the process.”

“How are you going to manage all of that?”

“Not sure yet. I was hoping we could strategize back at the tower.”

“Then we should hurry back. If we’re going to strike tonight, we need to do so before they find out the tower is done, and we’re gone.”

“How quickly do you think you can get through the forest?”

Cartha gave me a smug look. “I’m a voidelf huntress, a Konyani. I spent my adolescent years weaving through the deadly undergroves of Amonduin. This is nothing.”

I turned back to the princess. “Nyla? First question. How should I address you? What’s the royal title for a princess?”

“You may call me Nyla or Royal Highness, if you would prefer to be formal.”

“Perfect, and second question. How would you feel about being carried through the forest?”

“You want to carry me?” she asked with a blushed grimace.

“Yeah, we need to make better time. I don’t mean to sound rude, but unless you’re great at sprinting up hills through rugged jungle, then you’re going to slow us down.”

“I mean… if you think it will be faster, I don’t mind.”

“Your hair isn’t going to bite me, will it?”

“They won’t unless I feel threatened.”

I slapped my hammer to my back. “Malice, can you shift my armor to my explorer clothes?”

“Of course, Master.”

“Who was that?” Nyla asked, pointing at my head.

“Malice is one of my companions,” I said. “She’s a living armor that I wear. Malice, say hello to her Royal Highness.”

“Hello, princess.” Malice groveled.

“Hello,” Nyla waved nervously as her eyes darted, not sure where to look.

After my clothes shifted, I looked down at Nyla. “Better?”

Her eyes widened and her snake hair all turned their heads, twisting among each other. “Y—yeah.”

“You okay?” I chuckled. When she nodded, I reached out my hand. “Shall we get going then?”

Nyla grabbed my hand, and I lifted her into my arms. She wasn’t small like Yda or as curvy as Ophelia, however; she was rather petite. To her word, her snakes refrained from biting me, instead; they flicked their tongues at me.

We sprinted through the jungle as fast as we could. Cartha had no problems keeping up as she said she would. She darted from tree to tree, a sight to behold. Her speed and finesse allowed her to move while making little sound compared to my trudging footsteps. My living dead minions did well to keep close. Their bodies retained some dexterity of their former masters, enough to not be too far behind as we made our way home.

Once we got close enough to see the tower above the treeline, I slowed us down. “Okay, Ophelia’s is up ahead. We should flank around the upper side of the island and come back down to avoid being seen.”

“Do you think anyone will see us?” Nyla asked.

“Dusk and cloaks should cover us if we’re quick,” Cartha said. “The town is already illuminating their lanterns.”

“It’d be better if we went as one,” I said.

Cartha cocked her brow. “What are you suggesting?”

“Malice, can you make me a black cloak to fit everyone inside, something as big as you can make it?”

“Anything for you, master,” the elemental said. My clothes shifted and twisted until I was wearing an oversized cloak. Only an oversized cloak. It wasn’t until I saw Cartha’s wide eyes and waving finger that I felt the cool breeze between my naked legs.

I glanced down and shouted in a hushed whisper, “Malice!”

“Yes, master?” the elemental purred.

“Oh goodness,” Nyla gasped as she glanced down body.

“Why did you—Give me some freaking pants.”

“But master, you said to make the biggest one I could make, and I only have so much of myself.”

“Okay… make the cloak one size smaller and cover my groin, for god’s sake.” After the thread shrank by an inch, implying she knew what she was doing, I waved Cartha to me. “I’ll hunker down. You walk in front, wrap the cloak in front of you.”

“Do I really have to?” the huntress groaned.

“Quit messing around and get in here.”

Cartha rolled her eyes but motioned in front of me. I dispelled my minions, hoping we wouldn’t be gone long enough for them to be seen. After checking that everyone was ready, we sprinted down to the tower and inside.

I shut the doors as quickly as I could before letting Nyla down. Ophelia and Yda ran from the portals only seconds later. Both women sprinted up to their friends, sharing hugs and smiles.

I gave them a moment long enough before clearing my throat to pull everyone’s attention. “I’m sorry to break this up, but we’re short on time. We’ve killed members of Lady Florence’s guard to get Nyla safe. They’re likely to discover we’ve completed the tower and moved on soon. So we need to act fast.”

Ophelia stepped into the middle of the room. “Then let us be gone. I’ll—”

“We can’t leave yet,” I said, holding up my hand. “Her Royal Highness has asked us to rescue Lady Florence’s captives and search for her soldiers.”

“Yes, both are equally important,” Nyla said. “If my men are still alive they must be rescued.”

I moved to the table and grabbed a large piece of parchment. After retrieving a quill pen from an inkwell, I scribbled a crude map of the island. When I finished, I looked over at the huntress. “Cartha, do you have any idea where they might keep the princess’s men?”

Cartha paced back and forth as she thought for a moment. “Maybe the Butcher’s cells? I’ve heard he’s got jails under his warehouse. Everyone they bring in off the ships gets stowed away down there first.”

I shook my head. “No, Nyla already said they weren’t stowed there.”

“They’re not in Liberty Bay then. I would have seen them by now.”

“They’ve got to be somewhere!” Nyla shouted, throwing her hands up. “I’m not leaving until I see a body.”

“Have you seen any signs of them since you arrived?” Cartha asked.

“No. Not since I was jailed.”

“I heard about that. There were some rumblings down in the watering hole. People were questioning your loyalty, and it seems rightly so.”

“I don’t care what those…those ruffians think!”

“Nor should you,” Cartha said, shrugging. “But I haven’t seen any nubians around here that weren’t face down in the sand high on Phoenix Fire.”

“And there’s no other place they could be?” I asked.

Cartha scratched her cheek before straightening and raising her finger. “Actually… There were a few rumors about Venom having his own lair somewhere further inland. I heard it was in a cavern he’d converted into his own workshop, just north of his xyrol fields.”

“Xyrol?”

“It’s the primary plant used to make Phoenix Fire. They cleared vast fields of jungle where they’ve grown the plant.”

“Ah… that must be why, when I suggested setting up our kingdom here, he didn’t want us to expand east. He said they were already doing so.”

“Phoenix Fire is how they built Liberty’s Bay,” Nyla said. “It’s how they earn eighty percent of their income. The rest comes from Lady Florence’s exploits.”

“And the Butcher?” I asked.

“He just provides protection.”

I pointed to the map and glanced over at the purple-eyed huntress. “Can you mark where you think his hideout might be?”

Cartha took the quill pen and scribbled as she spoke. “The fields are here, here, and here. Those that I know of. The cove has to be somewhere along the northern beach… here. I’d imagine there to be a small dock, perhaps even a ship or two. It should be easy to spot once you’re on the beach.”

I stared at the map, twisting my lips as I thought about what we needed to do. “We don’t have enough manpower to do everything at once.” I glanced up at the snake haired princess. “Your Royal Highness, correct me if I’m wrong, but I assume the women trapped here are more valuable than your men’s lives.”

Nyla stroked her snakes as she stared at the paper, deciding her answer. “Y—yes. My men would sacrifice themselves for the good of others.”

“Then I think that should be our first priority,” I said, leaning over the table. “My concern is by fighting our way through the city, the women could get injured, or worse.”

“Lady Florence wouldn’t kill them unless it was a last resort,” Nyla said. “She sees them as her product.”

“That’s good to know, but violence is messy. I don’t know what the Butcher’s men would do if he saw us trying to save them.”

“He’d kill them without question. He’s a brute and lives off of the pain of others.”

“I agree,” Cartha said. “So would Lady Florence’s guards.”

“And how many are those?” I asked.

“Half a dozen now.”

“The Butcher has a lot more men. He’s the much larger threat. If we’re going to get them out safely, we need a way to pull them away.”

Ophelia’s heels clicked toward the table and she tapped on Cartha’s drawing. “What about the xyrol?”

I tilted my head. “What about it?”

“Nyla just said it accounts for eighty percent of their earnings. That’s got to mean, if something were to happen to it, they’d come running.”

I nodded and smiled. “Like setting it ablaze.”

“You do that, and they’ll send everything they have at you,” Cartha said.

“Which would give you and Ophelia time to rescue the women?”

“Me?” Ophelia asked, holding her hand to her chest.

“Remember that portal thing you did to me last night?” I asked.

“Yes,” she said, trying to hold back her smile.

“Could you say… put a portal on the wall in here, and then put a portal inside the brothel? Which would allow you to just move the girls in here without traversing through the city?”

“Theoretically. If it’s close enough. It has to be within twelve hundred feet.”

“Oh, it’s easily within that,” Cartha said.

“Then it wouldn’t be difficult,” Cartha said, tilting up her nose. “However, I would have to concentrate on maintaining the spell, leaving me somewhat vulnerable.”

“I could get the guards I… procured outside to assist you,” I said.

“That could work,” Cartha said. “We wait until all of the Butcher’s men are out of the city. I’ll assault the brothel with your guards in tow to clear the way for Ophelia. We’ll bring her in, get the girls out, and then wait for you to finish. The only thing I do not like about this is leaving Yda and Nyla alone.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” I said, rubbing my chin.

“I know that I’ve already told you all this,” Ophelia said, raising her hands. “But this tower is the best place they could be. It will defend them from any outside threats. And even if someone somehow managed to get inside, they could not traverse the portals. Yda and Nyla would just need to move to one of the other rooms to be safe.”

“Do not worry about us,” Yda said, pulling on Cartha’s bracer. “I can tell Heluna has brought these women here for a purpose. With our guidance, they will be reborn anew. Do whatever you can to rescue them.”

“Then it sounds like we have a plan,” I said, hovering over the table. “I will go out east and set the fields ablaze. I’ll deal with the Butcher and his men. At the same time, Cartha and Ophelia will assault Lady Florence’s brothel and rescue the working girls.”

“What about my men?” Nyla asked.

“Right,” I said, tapping on my cheek. “I’m heading toward the beach right after. I’ll do my best to scour the location for them. But please know your safety and the safety of the others is paramount. So if I don’t find anything, I’m coming back to lay waste to the city and we’re leaving.”

“That’s agreeable,” Nyla said with a firm nod.

I stood and addressed the group once more. “Anyone have any other questions or concerns. Or are we doing this?”

“I’ll take Nyla upstairs with me before you depart,” the spiraled horned beauty said.

“Thank you, Yda,” I said. “I want you both to be safe. Do not come down for anything. We will come to you.”

“We will not.”

“Anything else?”

“May I offer a prayer?”

I smiled and nodded. “I think that would be fitting. Anyone else have a problem with that?”

When the room shook their heads, Yda clasped her hands together and spoke. “Goddess of Rebirth, hear my prayer. Please grant them your divine love, light, and protection as they face the evils of this day. Please guide their weapons so that they may strike true in your name. Please allow them all to come back to us unscathed. In your most glorious name, amen.”

I’d never been a religious man, but when a goddess resurrected me from the dead to be her Archon, I had to accept it. Yda’s words filled me with a vigor to take on an army. I was ready for what was to come. This would be the night that I showed Heluna that she made the right choice.

“That was beautiful, Yda,” I said. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, Your Holiness,” the curly haired sheepskin said with a brimming smile.

“Now, if everyone’s ready, let’s burn this city.”