The Return pt.19
The road to Salver’s eastern gates was crowded with people coming and going, making it difficult for Lucien. Walking through the crowd Lucien felt everyone watching him, wondering just who this towering man clad in heavy black armor was. Most who were trying to avoid attention would blend in quite well with the crowd, but Lucien towered over everyone making it rather impossible.
No one minded that the road beneath his feet was unusually muddy for the amount of horses and other animals traveling with the people. Nearby Lucien could see what was causing the mud to build up. Workers were making repairs to a nearby aqueduct without a care where the water went while they worked. It became exceptionally clear to Lucien that the leaders of Salver care little for their people and that infuriated him.
As he neared the gates the crowd became much tighter packed as they waited for permission to enter the city. Lucien could see heavily armed and armored guards protecting the gates, searching every person entering through the gates. Some got through without much harassment while others were harassed for some time before being allowed through. A few were dragged away by guards to be imprisoned or later executed. And yet even fewer were killed on the spot. Lucien watched as one body was drug back through the crowd and tossed to the side of the road. While the crowd was still split he saw another man get cut down by the guards. The crime this man committed was unknow to all but the guards, with everyone around Lucien seemingly accepting it. He did not but he would deal with it when he got them.
After waiting an hour moving along with the slow crowd of people, Lucien began forcing his way through the crowd around him. When he finally got near the gatehouse, he forced to slow once again as there were too many people tightly packed around him. Now all he could do was wait until more were allowed in or turned away.
When he had finally made it to the front, Lucien noticed the guards eyeing him with great intensity as they handled the men in front of him. Of course they were though, Lucien was clearly someone they would harass given his stature and way of dress. Their sinful intentions were obvious to him but acceptable. He would force his way into Salver if he had to.
As he stepped forward to be inspected, the guards quietly surrounded Lucien.
“What’s your business here stranger?”
With just his eye moving Lucien took note of the guards’ positions around him as he answered, “Retrieving something of mine that was stolen.”
One of the guards signaled with a quick movement of his head that was thought unnoticed by Lucien. More guards came rushing out of the gatehouse itself and the nearby barracks just inside the city. If they had noticed Lucien’s grin, they might have been more weary but they were to soon learn.
The guard that had been speaking with Lucien stepped further to Lucien’s strong side, hanging just at the edge of his vision, as the guard gripped the hilt of his sword tightly. “Duke Castellen is no thief stranger. He is a man of strong character and even greater quality. He means a lot to Salver and to the Kingdom of Reval as a whole. If you are here to take something from his possession you must either have coin or be a thief. And I’m not seeing a wagon carrying coin.”
Staring straight ahead Lucien asked the guards “Why should I have to pay for someone that only belongs to me? Now move aside or you will wait for your wretch of a duke in the afterlife.”
Smiling from beneath his helmet, the guard begins to say while drawing his weapon “Well then thief, we will teach you what we do to your kind here,” but he was interrupted before he could finish it. Lucien was far quicker than they had realized, and the guard’s head was rolling on the ground before his headless body readied his sword. When the body finally collapsed to the ground with a metallic thud, Lucien launched his vicious and bloody assault upon the shocked guards. Within moments, dozens of guards had been brutally slain, their bodies becoming mere stones for Lucien to step over.
Silence held over everything at the gatehouse as no one wanted to speak. In the distance Lucien could hear the sounds of shouting and men running in armor moving closer. Turning to face the people standing around the carnage he had unleashed; Lucien pointed his bloodied black sword to the people watching him. He took a deep breath while reaching up with his free hand and pulling his hair back from his face before shouting “Let this be a lesson to any that would cross me and mine.
“Let Vyrna know that I, King Lucien Salvatal III, King of Arlorne, Chieftan of the Dharan People, Son of King Orias Salvatal the Fourteenth and the Witch of the Plains Atthillia Salvatal, have returned to this damned land to once more punish those that have wronged me and mine by harming my Morrigan, stealing her from me.
“Let all know that I will not tolerate such harm towards my Morrigan, such theft from me, such disrespect towards us. As by my divine right as King of Arlorne, I will punish all for their crimes against me and my Morrigan. And any who shall get in my way will receive that same just divine punishment.”
No one dared to question the raving Lucien as he shouted at them. All they could do was silently watch in horror as he finished speaking and stepped over those large stones into Salver proper, killing all who tried to stand in his way.
Rushing through the large city, Lucien pushed through the crowds of people, killing all who raised a weapon towards him and those that tried aiding them in their futile struggle against him. The city guards could not react or adjust quickly enough to Lucien’s violent movement through Salver. And those that happened to find Lucien did not live long enough to report his location. All the other guards could do was respond to the reports of their dead and hope someone was fortunate to survive.
Many people were left stunned where they stood at the sight of the slaughter ensuing in their city. That dark blade wielded by Lucien did not discriminate between guards and the civilian populace. If they were in the way of the blade they were killed. Apart from the dead, that blade left many living soaked in blood that was not their own. Others were left in agony as they had been injured by that very same blade. None of these people were Dharan, so Lucien cared very little for them.
After much time wasted rushing around helplessly, Lucien decided to climb up to the rooftops. There he looked out around the large city trying to find his way. In the distance, towards where the center of the city should be, Lucien saw a secondary wall. Seeing this wall Lucien begins running along the rooftops in its direction. Behind that wall must be where Morrigan is being held by the city’s nobility and that is where he was going.
Down below the rooftops the people of Salver were watching Lucien running along. Mixed in amongst the people were guard units who were now able to report back to other guards where the intruder now was. Now they could properly pursue the creature running amok in their city, while organizing a force to fight back against him.
Riding in his carriage towards the city of Salver, Count Draeken kept his face buried in his hand as he rambled on about the trouble he found himself in. “That monster should be arriving soon. We need to get that damned Castellen to understand what’s coming and free her before this hurts the people.” A loud groan escaped the count before continuing his complaints “But that damned bastard would joyfully rule over a devastated city if it meant he continued to hold power.”
Adopted son, cousin and captain of the count's knights, John Draeken, rode alongside the carriage in full armor as his helm bounced against the saddle. He listened to his cousin through the carriage's rattling open door and couldn't help but chuckle at his relative's annoyance as the count continued to rattle off complaints and curses towards Duke Castellen. But the young captain's good attitude soon changed as his eyes narrowed at the sight of the western gates being closed.
From inside the carriage the rambling was continued until John interrupted it, “Count, we’re too late.”
Stunned by this, Count Draeken looks out his carriage and asks “What’s wrong John? You never call me Count.”
“He’s already here sir.”
Leaning out of the carriage door, the count looks towards the city and finds that the western gates are indeed closed but the sounds of warning bells reached his ears. Atop the battlements the city guard could be seen rushing about as if there were an attack on the city. This was enough to tell the count and his men what was transpiring in the city, and it was their worst nightmare. The monster had arrived, and Salver was now suffering because of it.
“The eastern gate, quick!” These words from Count Draeken spurred his knights forward as they rode with great haste around the city towards the eastern gates.
When they finally arrived at the eastern gates, they were shocked by the mess left behind by the furious creature Lucien. Dozens lie dead, their bodies haven been stripped of any wealth by those starving or with low moral fiber. Those low moral types had quickly fled with the count’s carriage and his guard of knights now there. But the looting was of no concern to the count and his men at this moment.
Unable to look himself as he tried to calm his mind in the carriage, Count Draeken asked “John is the gate still open?”
“Yes, cousin but I don’t think there’s anyone left that could close it.”
Hearing this, Count Draeken felt himself go limp in his seat. In that moment he felt that his hair would have turned gray in an instant if it had been any other color. Some of his worst fears had now come true. That creature was on a rampage in Salver and there was no way of knowing how many would be dead by day’s end. All he could do from his seat was issue one order “Begin evacuating our people from the city. We can’t let them stay in there with that monster.”
Without hesitation John issued the orders to the knights but remained at his cousin’s side. “Any other orders Count?”
A sigh escaped the count as he leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. “Is her horse still in the stable?”
“Yes sir.”
“We did recover enough to repay them for what was stolen when she was captured?”
John sighed this time before reminding his cousin “No sir. We only gathered enough to repay about three-quarters of the value stolen. Those damned coins she had could buy over half of Salver and still leave you with a little weight in your pouch.”
Steadying himself, Count Draeken stepped out of his carriage muttering “Damn,” and began walking towards the gate. John followed close behind, leaving his horse to the count’s carriage driver and slipping on his helm but leaving the visor raised. Quickly people lowered themselves to the count and moved out of his way as he walked up to the mess Lucien had left behind. The stench of death had begun to hang in the air and seemed to relax the old warrior in Count Draeken. Never one to cower behind others and lead, he would now lead the evacuation of Salver from one of the most dangerous locations, the eastern gatehouse. If the creature was to leave once he found his servant, then he would return to where he entered.
Inside the city the knights were quick with an orderly evacuation, as there were now few to get in their way. Many evacuated with ease, but others resisted as their livelihoods depended on the city. The knights threatened those that refused to cooperate with arrest and imprisonment, settling the resistance with a certain quickness.
Before arriving at Salver, Draeken’s knights were questioning why he had nearly half their force ride with him. The creature was not expected for another few days. But now they were glad he did. With a normal escort they would have no chance of doing the evacuation effectively. Their own nerves were calmed by their numbers as the sight inside the city was almost too much for them, especially for those that had accompanied Count Draeken into the wasteland. The terror they had witnessed there still haunted their dreams.
Continuing his run along the rooftops, Lucien keeps his eyes set on the central walls that were now clearly not defensive structures but large mass populated homes. Closer and closer he moved towards the wall until he heard from his right the sound of a bow string snapping forward. Instinctively he raised his armored arms up to protect his head, but the arrow missed. Looking between his arms, Lucien found the archer in a tower of a distant building. Lucien was unable to retaliate as the arrow had dislodged the roof tiles sending him sliding down to the ground below.
When he landed, he found himself behind a small group of the city’s guards inside a city square that only had one street leaving it. Rising to his feet, Lucien drew his sword and before they could react violently slaughtered them all. Finished with them he looked ahead and saw two more guards, one older and one younger, sitting at a table enjoying a drink together. Both stared at Lucien from where they were sitting but neither made a move to get up. That was until Lucien stepped towards them causing the younger man to fall backwards while trying to get up from the bend he was sitting on. The old man quietly put down his drink telling the younger one to calm down.
Without standing from his seat the older man asked, “What are you looking for?”
“Duke Castellen’s estate.” Lucien’s answer was simple and direct as he kept shifting his eyes across the staring crowd.
The young man forces himself up to his feet, drawing his sword gaining Lucien’s sudden full attention. That was until the older man intervenes, scolding the younger one “Put your damn sword away. You can’t win here and there’s no reason for you to throw away your life like this for that damned duke.” Wanting to argue the younger man stammers over his words for a moment before the older man quietly shakes his head, silencing the stammering young man.
Returning his attention to Lucien, the old man uses his thumb to point in the direction Lucien had been heading as he says “The duke is on the other side of the inner walls. Which estate is his I’m not sure.” That is when the older man noticed a charming looking man with sun kissed skin and dirty blonde hair leaving a building and freezing in his tracks as he finds the carnage Lucien had created. Pointing to this man, the older man says to Lucien “But he should.”
Lucien looked over at the man, who began to quake in fear as he saw the creature approaching him. And as Lucien approached his sense of smell was assaulted by the strong scent of a brothel clinging to the man. His clothes reeked of the many perfumes of the women he had been in the company of.
“Where is Duke Castellen’s estate?”
When the man hesitated to answer, Lucien ordered him “Speak now whoreson or join the others.” He then lightly pressed the blade of his sword against the man’s neck as he stared down at him, negating any need for further explanation.
Quickly the man gave directions to the estate and described it in detail, from the large golden gates to the stonework of the building itself. He then begged for Lucien not to kill him “Please sir don’t kill me. I’m just a messenger. All I do for the nobility is deliver messages.”
Not knowing anything about this man beyond his word, Lucien silently debated with himself just what to do with him. It was not until he looked deep into this cowardly individual’s eyes that Lucien decided.
Slowly Lucien adjusted his sword until the blade rested against the left side of the man’s face, and then with one quick jerking motion cut the man from his brow down to his chin. Lucien then tossed him away as he screamed out in shock and pain. “Disappear from this city now, or die like the rest.” Without hesitation the man rushes off to flee the city while clutching his face.
Now that his senses were free of the brothel, Lucien turned his attention back to the two guards and found the older man standing at the ready with his sword drawn.
“Why are you drawing your sword sir?” The young man was filled with terror as he asked the question and reached for his own once more as he continued speaking “Let me help you.”
The old man through his long goatee stops the younger man with a sot motion of his hand before answering “I have spent my entire life serving those bastards. I have tied my honor to the protection of them and my people in Salver. I will not lose it now in the face of death.” He then turned his head to the young man and said with a soft smile “Besides I’ve lived a long time now. You still have much ahead of you.”
Lucien readies his own sword as he nods his head and speaks in agreement with the older man “Let the old men handle this boy. You should be focused on living your best.”
Unable to continue arguing against the two, the young man backs away with his head lowered and teeth clenched. He knew this was going to result in his father figure’s death and he did not want to see it. The older man only smiled sadly at his younger counterpart as he thanked him before turning his attention back to the creature before him.
Lucien lowered his head to the man and introduced himself and all his titles, surprising all there who heard. The old man smiled and quickly introduced himself as Charles Mamman, a sergeant in Salver’s City Guard. Charles then looked into Lucien’s eyes and asked a favor of the creature, “Allow me one favor from you King Lucien, my last request if you will. Don’t prolong my death. Make it a warrior’s.”
There was no need to think it over. Lucien immediately responded “As you wish. You have shown yourself to be true and I am honored to grant you this last request.”
Charles smiled and thanked Lucien without saying a word. Following the simple nod of his head, Charles launched into the first strike of their battle, an overhead feint that he would turn into a thrust. This man was an experienced and skillful fighter, but Lucien was more so. He easily dealt with the strike from Charles and severed the old man’s throat.
Before the man’s body could hit the ground, Lucien caught it and eased the dying mass to the ground below. “May you find peace alongside your ancestors in the realm of whichever god you chose, Charles Mamman of Salver.” A subtle smile crept across Charles’s face as he finally passed one. Lucien left him lying there looking up towards the sky, making sure the dead man’s hand clung tightly to his sword.
Standing, Lucien looked over to the younger man and found him crying for Charles’s death. He stepped over to him and placed a heavy hand on the young man’s shoulders saying “Remember this for as long as you live boy. Make sure to follow his example and not that of those lords who are about to be dead. May you surpass him.” With those words Lucien cleaned his sword and sheathed it before climbing to the rooftops and rushing off once more. Through his tears the young man turned and watched as Lucien disappeared over the rooftops.
Lucien would not allow himself to be slowed now. He knew exactly where Morrigan was, and he was going to rescue her. Duke Castellen and his people were to be slaughtered for what they had done to Morrigan. And as the invisible noose around the duke’s neck tightened with each step Lucien took, the creature said to himself “I’m here Morrigan. Your king has come.”
