Chapter 11 - II -
**Kuro**
We’ve been fortunate to come across this young guard named Roland.
“…”
You see, when our gryphons landed in the village called Hagena (the travel was relatively fast since we’re flying), he was there, frantically running towards a house, yelling for some Anton who lived there. A big guy came out, and he blurted out that his grandma, big sister, and a certain ‘Miss Lily’ needed help as soon as possible.
“!!!”
Upon hearing that, I quickly approached them and asked about this ‘Miss Lily’. Roland told our group that they were being kept and tortured inside the lord’s castle on the cliff and that they were about to be sold to some Imperial slave-traders.
“Who’s the lord?” Sir Dane asked.
“Baron Sir Nathan Willis Gray is our liege here, Sire,” Roland informed him.
“Oh! That airhead?” Sir Dane replied, “I didn’t know that he’s that kind of sadistic fellow!”
“Sire, I think he’s angry with Miss Lily.” the guard explained, “He keeps on calling her ‘Bloody Witch’ or something…”
“What?” the militia captain and I chorused.
“Sir Kuro, we should try to talk with him.”
“Yes, I agree.”
“Sires, we don’t have that much time.” Roland was urging us to hurry, “The reason I ran from there all the way here is that, I think—please don’t say this to him—our lord had lost his sense of reason.”
“What do you mean?”
A few more questions and Roland’s explanation, and we finally determined that the local lord won’t be reasoned with. He’s far too deranged upon learning of Lily’s identity as the ‘Bloody Witch’. The man must’ve been damaged beyond salvation after what he had seen and suffered from her ‘Bloodbath’ skill.
Sir Dane and I knew we had to hurry if we hoped to save the prisoners. However, the veteran knight felt his forces were not adequate to attack the castle and besiege it. After all, Roland revealed to us that there were about 33 members of the local militia present inside, reinforced by two companies of Imperial soldiers of 40 people each.
That’s about 113 potential enemies…
And so, noting of the great disparity (we only have 45 people, including me), he divided our forces into two groups to raid the castle with Roland and me, while he and the others wait in the immediate vicinity to extricate us.
That is the plan, formulated so quickly because of the situation.
Our group, composed of 24 individuals, further subdivided ourselves into two smaller subgroups. The larger with 21 members would try to create a diversion, for us (me, Roland, and another member of the Gryphon Cavalry) to sneak in the dungeons and free our targets.
I quickly did a check on my matchlock gun to see if it’s properly loaded, and the match was lit.
“…”
Here’s to hoping that everything would be good. Alright, I’ll just do my best.
***Meanwhile, in the woods to the southern face of the Hagena Castle***
Sir Dane watched through his spyglass the movement of Kuro’s company while they were preparing to breach and assault the fortress. The larger group of Sekhtem’s Gryphon Cavalry Corps had made their presence known by casually approaching the lord’s guards stationed at the gate and did some little chit chat.
Sekhtem’s militia would also serve as the King of Calabria’s core of the army during war-time, or if the monarch was on the move, and so it’s normal that their presence was seen anywhere in the country. Fortunately, because of this arrangement, the guards of Sir Gray would be less suspicious of the movement of Kuro’s infiltrating group on the other side.
“Ready the gryphons in case we need to rush in.” Sir Dane ordered the men with him before going back to his spyglass.
This time, Kuro’s group had successfully entered the castle’s wall by magically causing a hole in one tower’s base. The ‘diversion’ group was also making progress, keeping most of the guards occupied with their small talk.
“Come on…” Sir Dane could hear the beat of his heart as he prayed that the ‘infiltration’ group would come out soon.
“…” The other men who were also with him were thinking of the same. They already had drawn their swords.
And then, an unusual thing happened. The guards suddenly let in the ‘diversion’ group into the courtyard of the castle. By then, Sir Dane’s spyglass had failed him because of the high castle walls.
A few moments later, a loud explosion tore through the silence of Hagena.
Lily was roused from her sleep when she felt the shackles from her hands being removed. And then, when it completely fell off, she just closed her eyes and let herself fall, for she was now too feeble to stand. Besides, she knew that it’s already time to go to slavery at the Empire. The Traveler must’ve ironed out the terms of the deal with Lord Gray, selling her to him.
What’s the purpose of seeing herself being pulled away to become a slave?
“Fucking brutes! I swear they would never escape punishment for what they had done to you!”
“!!!” Lily then heard that certain familiar voice she never heard for so long since leaving the Holy Palatial Gardens. Those powerful arms that held her, and the smell of clothing she missed…
Is she dreaming? Is this what they call ‘dying moments’?
Lily kept her eyes closed, for this was way too good of a dream. She feared that if she opens up, this person holding her right now would be gone, and she’s back to that dreary torture chamber.
“Hey, Lily? I know you’re awake, you can open your eyes now, please!”
“…” Slowly, she did what the voice asked her. And what she saw first was Kuro’s face, all bloodied and bruised. However, he was smiling, and tears were falling from his eyes. Confirming that she’s awake, he embraced her in his arms, though gently, so as not to worsen her injuries.
Lily’s eyes welled up with tears. She also wanted to hold him, but her strength failed her.
“!!!”
Their tearful reunion was suddenly interrupted when a loud explosion and subsequent trembling was heard and felt throughout the torture room. Kuro looked behind him, which puzzled Lily…
Behind him, she saw Roland, who was carrying Mariya, “Sir Kuro, I don’t think we should stay in here for too long. Lord Gray might’ve returned with more of his guards and have us trapped in here!”
“Alright, Lily!” Kuro wrapped her naked body in his coat that he always wore with him, “It’s time to move out now, forgive me for seeing you like this!”
Lily could only sigh with relief as she confirmed she was not dreaming anymore. She didn’t even care if the man she loved see her pathetic self right now. What’s important was that she would see Maddie and Kuro once again…
**Kuro**
The explosion must’ve put everyone inside the castle on high alert. We didn’t have an idea who or what caused it; it’s our cue to get the fuck out of here.
It’s a good thing that our group had already reached Lily and her companions before that. Now our only worry was to get back to the way we came from as soon as possible.
And of course, not to get too exhausted carrying these girls to safety…
“So, you’re that Kuro, huh?” Roland asked me, as we ran back to the breach we made on the castle walls, “You’re Lily’s lover?”
“Ha? What are you talking about?” I was bewildered by his question.
“Hey, no talking, you two!” the cavalry member told us, “Focus on escaping first before relaxing!”
Well, that put us both in silent mode. What the soldier said was indeed true and the right thing to do in this situation.
“…”
But well, I’d certainly like to ask this Roland guy later what he meant by that…
The escape plan almost proceeded way too smoothly, thanks to the efforts of the guard, Roland. He led us through the winding corridors and hallways of that dark place, narrowly—but successfully—evading the guards.
While running, we’re finally on the last level before we’re outside when, right in the middle of the hallway, we saw some ‘diversion’ group members rushing back.
“Hey! What’s the rush? I thought you guys were creating a diversion?”
“Change of plans!” the leader of the other group said, “Someone among them knew of our intent, thus, blowing our cover. The Imperials and the other guards are way too many; we’re practically surrounded and should find another way of escape.”
Well, of course, this is bound to happen, especially when you attack a castle crawling with enemies. At the end of the hall, we could see armed men running after the ‘diversion’ group.
“They’re also coming from the other side!”
On our backs appeared the members of the local militia—Roland’s former comrades. They were rushing to meet us halfway, and with such circumstances, I could tell we’re in deep shit.
“Up here!” I cried out, noticing a set of stairs that led to an upper room with a thick, plain wooden door. As we have no time to find out if that place was guarded, Roland led the way for us and checked the room himself.
“It’s all clear!” he declared.
I quickly went up as soon as the guard opened the door—which was, luckily, not locked.
Meanwhile, the leader of our group followed us. He was with the old lady, and he was quite encumbered because of that adult’s body size, so he had difficulty climbing the staircase. He nearly tumbled down, in which he was saved at the last minute by his comrades who supported and pushed him back.
“Protect the grandma!” someone from the diversion group shouted. This was because the enemy was upon us on both sides. We’re going to get butchered…
Unless we continue to move up.
The diversion group positioned themselves and their shields in a shield-wall formation. They were only armed with swords, for they left their lances with their gryphons outside. The enemy, however, had archers that began aiming their arrows at us.
“FIRE!”
They never let us breathe; they immediately let loose their deadly projectiles that hit a few of our companions, breaking the shield-wall.
“!!!”
However, the rear-guard action was successful. Our group reached the relative safety of the upper floor of the castle.
“Sir Kuro, signal for Sir Dane to come to our rescue.” the soldier tasked me, as we heard the sounds of battle raging down the lower floor. The diversion group was delaying the enemy from reaching us, even if they had to use their bodies to defend our positions.
“Yes!”
“Close the doors then!”
“What? Your companions are still fighting below us!”
“We can’t do anything about them anymore. Don’t let their sacrifices be in vain!” the soldier replied as he put down the grandma and pulled some heavy furnishing to block the door, “Hurry!”
“Ayt!” I slammed the big wooden door shut. Hey, that wasn’t an easy feat; I was carrying Lily, and I had to make sure her injured body was out of the way when I closed it.
The soldier and Roland quickly threw the furniture and piled it up to ensure the attackers would have a hard time opening the doors.
Then, we tried to make sense of our location. With the lower floors denied to our escape, the only way out was to move up. However, upon looking around, we found out that we’re in some bedroom.
“Oh, this must be Lord Gray’s master’s bedroom.” I heard Roland say.
“…”
Realizing that, our group sat down to catch our breaths and take a brief respite. The battle was just heating up…
Inspecting the room revealed to us that this castle had no rooftop or any of the sort. The last escape route would be by the windows, which were covered by curtains, and was way up high from the ground.
We hid our griffons in the forest behind the castle, at the foot of the gentle slopes of the cliff where the castle stood. We expected to return by the way we entered. We just didn’t foresee this situation, for we have no planning or any of the sort.
I took a peek at the window outside, trying to find out where Sir Dane’s forces were positioned. Based on what I saw, the village of Hagena was visible to the west, so Sir Dane’s group must wait for a few distances to the east of the houses.
“…”
I wonder if they will see our signal amidst that light fog…
“!!!”
Oh right! I can use my gun to get their attention and then signal for help!
“Sir Kuro? What do you intend to do with the demon’s weapon?” the soldier asked me as he anxiously watched.
“I’m going to call for help. Cover your ears!” I brought out my hand and fired a shot.
“!!!”
The sound of the gunshot echoed for miles down the cliff and, hopefully, to the village below. After that, I desperately waved my arms at anyone who might see us.
A few moments of tense waiting ensued. However, Sir Dane and his squad saw my signal and rushed with his gryphons flying to our position.
“What’s happening, Sir Kuro?” he asked. The windows were too small to land a gryphon, but it was wide enough for one person to enter, which he did while entrusting his flying steed to a fellow soldier.
“Most of our group got trapped fighting on the rear. And yeah, we’re bust.”
“Great.”
“So, uh, how about we evacuate the injured?”
“Oh, right!” Sir Dane signaled for another soldier to come in and carry the young girl first, then the old lady, and after that, Lily, “Take great care of the young lady; she’s with Sir Kuro’s.”
“Wait, what?”
“You saying something, Sir Kuro?”
“Nevermind.” I asked the militia captain, “Got any ideas to escape this?”
“Well…we’ll hold the fort for now.”
“Seems like a good plan.” I sarcastically quipped. So according to Sir Dane, we’re about to remain inside for as long as the victims hadn’t been removed in the bedroom, so another group of cavalry soldiers reinforced us.
Fortunately, the young girl was small enough to fit in the window and into the waiting gryphon. Evacuating her took only five minutes, I guess? By that time, the sounds of the battle beneath us ceased completely, showing that our rear guards were annihilated.
“Hurry up!” Sir Dane urged his men, “We don’t want them to come knocking on this door while retreating!”
It was in the turn of the old lady that problems appeared. Since she was an adult, fitting her in that window took some precious time. Her body size was problematic for the rescuers, and the sense of urgency was getting bigger the longer that we delay.
“Damn it!” Sir Dane cursed under his breath, “Try the other prisoner! She’s younger and smaller, so she might fit! Hurry up!”
And so the soldiers did as their commander ordered. However, Lily’s big chest and hip size also presented the same problem to us.
“Curses! Why is it that these women are so well-endowed!?” Sir Dane blurted out.
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry upon hearing that. We could still extricate them, but it would surely take time to get the right ‘angle’ to fit their bodies through the small window and pull it off.
“!!!”
“Enemy at the door!” someone shouted when the barricaded door was rammed by the enemy trying to get in. The rest of Sir Dane’s force reinforcing us took defensive positions, with the Sekhtem militia captain himself standing with us.
Yep, I think we had no other choice but to fight.
