Post by Raferties on Sept 22, 2019 13:16:51 GMT
Chapter Sixteen
Water sloshed along, dragging at their waists and chilling them through to the bone. Each man had to keep one hand clenched on the shoulder or back of the shirt of the man in front of him or risk falling and taking out those behind him. None spoke to one another, only every fifth man had a lantern in hand - a perilous position as they had to forego a safe handhold to do so but the threat of darkness was worse – and several balanced their bags filled with medical supplies on their heads to protect them from the devastating effects of becoming soaked.
The rescue was on!
As planned at midafternoon Ilias departed to circle wide and approach one of the far roads with his ploy. He requested an escort of five men, just to be safe, but when they returned they revealed another part of his plan that he'd kept secret from Coria and for good reason because she would not have been pleased with it: when the road had come within sight of their position and he could be certain of himself, Ilias had asked, then demanded the men beat him, even break one arm. Why he explained was to give more credibility to his story, that he'd remained with the rebels, learning what he could, until his duplicity had been uncovered and he'd fought his way free taking many blows in the process. They had argued for a while as none of them wanted to harm him until he'd finally convinced them of its necessity. The five men looked sickened as they told the story, finishing with admitting that they had broken his right arm - his primary arm - before he'd thanked them and staggered down towards the road with a promise to open the passage as midnight.
Coria swore that when she saw him next she would heal him then hit him herself for that! Tyrend just chuckled at her response as his respect for the scholarly man increased. He sent up another prayer for protection for his charge's husband and was pleased when he got a response along his Soul Song:
I walk with him into darkness, and I will do my all to see him back into the light, Tyrend. And I will alert you to when we are in position.
A fellow Guardian, sent by Solaris to safeguard him. That was pleasing to Tyrend, both because he would help ensure Ilias returned to Coria in one piece and because it also revealed that Solaris' influence was increasing, that he could send more and more of his celestials into action. At that point it had become a waiting game, giving Ilias time to encounter the wagon and convince them of his sincerity. They'd decided to delay until scouts saw the soldiers break away from the fort.
At dusk the soldiers had been sighted leaving, a good fifty to sixty of them riding hard to the south and east deeper into the mountain and in the exact opposite direction of the manor. By best guess it was about two-thirds of the fort's capacity, give or take. Ilias' ruse had worked – it was time to go.
Coria's group, which naturally included Tyrend, was to make for the river at all haste and try to find where it diverged under the fort. This actually proved to be easier said than done as a map one of the scouts had drawn have clear indication of a tributary that ran in the direction of the fort but upon following it they found it appeared to run right into a solid stone hillside. They'd been on the verge of giving up and exploring another route when one of the rebels, a huntsman by trade, had noticed something odd about the rock wall. He waded into the river that came up to his waist with mild rush behind it and moved to where it splashed against the wall. Peering closely and prodding the edge carefully he found that the rock wall wasn't quite as solid as it seemed: it was a false arrangement, provided by a large stone pushed directly into the entrance to the point that it was almost flush aside from a single place where fingergrips had been carved. It took two of them pulling and three digging away sediment and stones that had built up along the outside to get it moved, but once they did the river sped up considerably and a tunnel was revealed. With determined nods to one another they made quick plans and waded in, entering the darkness ahead.
Tyrend slogged along with the others, leading as he felt comfortable with his footing on the slick river stones and even stepped so he could slightly clear troublesome spots for those behind. Coria followed right behind him, holding to his chain armor in a death grip and he could hear her teeth chattering. They'd been walking for quite some time, and twice he'd already heard soft splashed and cursing from men as they stumbled. But to his best knowledge they hadn't lost anyone yet. His lantern bounced its light off of the damp walls and the rippling river, throwing odd reflections everywhere, dazzling his eyes a bit. He had no idea how far they'd traveled by this point and could only presume they were close by focusing on the Soul Song of the Solarian watching over Ilias; it gave him direction and some relative sense of distance. The Guardian knew he could endure a lot, had endured a lot over his existence, but after a while even he was longing for dry land and an end to the frigid water. He was beginning to wonder if this was the right place after all and they hadn't just stumbled into a dummy entrance when the angle of his lantern's light changed, bending around a side-passage. He paused, making Coria pause behind him and lean around to see why he'd stopped, then he saw her smile at seeing what looked like their destination at last. Tyrend, with enthusiasm, pressed on eager to get himself and all of them out of the water.
The ledge was only about ten feet by fifteen feet, not large enough for all of them to stand, but a tunnel with carved stairs led away and up. Tyrend and Coria began ascending as everyone pulled themselves out of the water and the first few followed. The stairs went up Tyrend would guess about twenty or twenty-five feet, maybe thirty it was hard to be sure, then terminated at a stone wall that to touch felt very solid. Tyrend and Coria looked at one another and nodded.
They'd found the entrance! Now just to wait for Ilias.
***
Time ticked by, anxious minutes spent in near-darkness and silence waiting. Only Tyrend was aware of exactly what was going on when he would inquire with his sibling above.
The general in charge of the fort, when he had been informed of Ilias' arrival, had taken charge of him at once in the infirmary where their medic was treating him. There had been a thorough interrogation once his arm had been set and the worst of his wounds had been treated. He'd given his story and revealed the location. It had been touch and go for a bit as after his disappearance he'd been deemed 'wanted for questioning,' but he explained that he realized of everyone he'd be able to get close to Coria and find out information no one could, being her fiance. It had been going well until some of the rebels became suspicious and found some of his notes which made him realize he needed to get out, leading to his 'escape' and the persuit of the rebels. How he survived their beating he said was sheer luck on his part: a couple of the rebels slipped on the edge of the trail and as they others reflexively turned to help them not fall to their peril he fled, slipping and sliding down the trail and slopes as fast as he could go. They didn't dare chase him once he was on the grasslands with the road so close. Then when Ilias saw a patrol he hurried towards them for safety and to bring his information to the 'rightful ruler of their land.' Soldiers had been sent to investigate the location he'd revealed, and now Ilias was resting in one of the soldiers' barrack rooms, biding his time.
According to what I was told we have only a few more minutes – Ah! Ilias is making his move! Unable to help himself Tyrend tensed, and Coria, sitting on the steps below him, noticed.
"Tyrend?" She whispered so quietly he barely heard her.
"I think it is about time," he whispered back, and she stood. In turn those behind her began to ready and on down the line until everyone was in a tense stance. No one knew whether they would find the passageway opened safely or would have to rush past the choke point of the entrance into the waiting blades of the enemy.
Everyone jumped when there came a sudden grinding sound from the wall before them. It shuddered, jerked about half an inch letting in a sliver of flickering, wane light, then slid to the side with a soft stone-on-stone grinding.
And beyond it stood a battered but smiling Ilias, alone.
"No one is in the kitchen above," he whispered as he backed up to permit their entrance. "I took the liberty of finding our allies' locations and telling them of the jailbreak tonight. I dare say some of them needed the hope to hold out." Coria glared at him, making him briefly fidget as he could only too easily guess why she was glaring, then the Champion of Solaris pulled her husband to her and kissed him soundly.
"You are a fool," she hissed, "for asking them to do that and yet... you're also very valiant for it. Now get down in the tunnel and wait for us – you're far too injured to even think about fighting!"
"I wasn't planning on it. You're the sword-wielder of this family, my love." Ilias quickly pushed a piece of paper into her hand: a quickly-drawn map. "This will lead you to the prisoner cells. And there's a door next to the stove in the kitchen - it leads out. The lever is there. It's easy to see how since I've lowered it but if you push it back up it'll close the door, or at least should. Then it's all but invisible. I almost missed it." He gave her another quick kiss. "Be safe, my love. I'll be waiting." He headed down the steps and two men volunteered to see him back to the manor safely. Coria nodded and with that they advanced into the cellar. One rebel raised the lever and the secret door closed. ..almost. There was about half an inch still ajar.
"It will have to do. Let's go!" With Coria and Tyrend in the lead they breeched the kitchen - as Ilias had said, it was vacant - and Coria pointed to a group of six whom she'd brought with her group especially because of their skills with moving unseen. They headed to the door to make for the side gate hopefully without being detected. The rest began making their way through the fort. This part of the plan had been also decided in advanced: Coria, Tyrend, and some of the rest, carrying the bulk of the medical supplies, would focus on extraction while other teams would secure and guard their escape and if need be take out any soldiers that came upon them.
The rescue party's steps were quick, urgency to find their allies and Ilias' words of their having needed the hope to 'hold out' driving them on. Coria led with the map, around two hallways and through a door to a small room wuth a second door opposite. There was a table and a couple of chairs, with some cards in a loose stack.
"Perhaps a guard post," Tyrend reasoned. Coria nodded, adding,
"But where's the guards?" That question, and the slightly ajar door opposite them, were dire signs.
As quickly as they dared while still remaining quiet the rescue party opened the door and descended the stairs into the prisoner holding cells. The hallways were narrow, dark, and dismal. A few small torches shed light but none were so close to one another that their lights touched, leaving dim spots. The scents of blood, sickness, and refuse pervaded the air.
And they knew just where to go by the sounds of mocking laughter and cries of pain, as well as defiant shouts.
Even Tyrend could no longer restrain himself as they all hurried forward as best as they could for the tight hallways, some drawing weapons as they went. They came to a large room to their left where the lights were brighter and the noises louder, and they could recognize the shouts – and the cries – as their friends' voices.
"Leave him alone!"
"You coward! Can't fight us one on one!"
Tyrend only beat Coria into the room by a step to see a sight that forever would remain in his mind. In cages around the perimeter of the room – one clearly set aside for interrogation and torture – were the captured rebels. All of them showed signs of abuse in the form of bleeding wounds and burns, and the Solarian thought that one whom he knew as a skilled archer had a rough bandage wound about and a bloody place where his eye was, or as he suspected had been. A chain hung down from the ceiling and shackled to it, suspended about a foot off the ground so his toes could barely touch it, was Nikos. The man was only half-conscious and covered in a myriad of fresh torments inflicted upon him by the two men who had been standing to either side of him, each holding jagged hooks and knives to harm him with for no better reason than fun it seemed, but quickly dropped the implements to draw short swords when the rescuers entered. Tyrend launched an arrow at one in a second, downing him with the projectile buried in his chest, and Coria as well as two others fell upon the other man. Neither of them had much of a chance to cry out or call for help before they were dispatched.
Mercy was a far thought from all of their minds, given what they saw happening to their friends.
"Unlock the cages!" Coria called, tossing one man a ring of keys before turning to call to Tyrend, even as she moved towards Nikos and wrapped her arms around his legs to try and lift him, taking strain from his bleeding wrists. "Tyrend! Help me!" Tyrend gestured to three rebels.
"Get ready to catch him!" Tyrend took careful aim and fired a shot at the chains. Though a mundane arrow shouldn't have done much to it the chain the Solarian Truesteel impacted it with a bright flash of metal against metal and was severed. The three men caught Nikos as he fell and they laid him out on the floor. He groaned weakly, trying to open his eyes. Around the room the rebels were hurrying as best they could from the cages, gathering around. Before Tyrend could say anything Coria had moved up to Nikos' side and pressed her hands to his chest. He groaned, but as her prayers began tumbling from her lips his wounds slowly closed. But there were a great many of them and some were serious, even severe. Though Tyrend didn't want to, he reached out to stop her after only a few moments, when he himself was certain Nikos wouldn't perish from blood loss and the mistreatment.
"Coria, enough. He will survive, but any more and you will be unable to escape under your own power. You do not have the divine strength yet to push yourself so far." Coria looked about to argue but Nikos spoke, distracting her.
"C-Coria..." Instantly she was leaning close.
"Don't worry, Nikos. We're getting you and everyone out of here."
"I – I overheard something," he gasped as they carefully helped him up. He could hold his own weight but just barely, so two rebels supported him with his arms over their shoulders. "The – the general – he bragged to me that it didn't matter. That – what we did didn't matter. They had everything they needed." He paused as he was given some water, much needed by the manner he gulped it down, and he panted afterwards before finishing, "The Emperor has everything he needs for whatever this ritual was – just yesterday a single man, not a wagon but a single man, brought in the last component, some kind of large, black gemstone." Tyrend felt his body go cold.
A large, black gemstone? No...That's the key component for an infernal bond ritual! Could the Emperor honestly be planning such a thing?!
"Enough," Coria hushed her close friend. "You can go into detail later."
"Tower...tower fort," Nikos forced out as they began to depart, he in a protective huddle of the others.
"We'll get you, get everyone out of here!" Coria vowed in a determined whisper.
Getting past the guard post they heard the sounds of intense fighting in the courtyard, and even in the halls. Tyrend had expected this – by posting the units outside Coria had intended to remove this threat from the realm – but to his centuries-honed ear the battle sounded a lot more wild than he'd hoped it would. The rebels, he thought, sounded hard-pressed.
"We have to get to the passage," he commanded. "They can be safe there while we clear the fort." Coria nodded and the group hurried back the way they'd come. Their course was cut off, however, when they rounded a corner and found battle clashing in the intersection, blocking them. One rebel looked over his shoulder as he fought.
"We'll hold them! Go around somehow!"
"This way!" called one of the rescue party, pulling the group towards the side. They ran down another hall and came into a mess hall.
And in through the opposite door came seven soldiers. They were already armed, and the moment they saw the group they charged. Quickly Tyrend, Coria, and three of the rebels from the rescue party moved to meet them while the others began moving around to try and keep the weakened prisoners safe. The clash of weapons was loud and drew the attention of other soldiers, and another four soon entered from behind them, forcing the defenders and even the former prisoners into battle as well.
"Come together!" Coria cried. "Protect one another!" Fighting for every step the rebels rejoined into one large group, standing back to back and working to guard one another as best they could. Tyrend found himself far more hard-pressed than usual, and as he felt a flare of unholy power he realized why things were so rough for them.
Fiend-powered soldiers! His eyes narrowed. Thankfully, as he felt a blade score down his arm he noted the lack of a horrid burning sensation, meaning he was safe from fiend-forged weapons at least for the moment.
A cry from behind alerted him to a rebel in dire straits, having been knocked prone. Coria saw an opening and wheeled around, blocking one downward blow and with a clean swing of her sword cutting down the other blade's wielder.
And Tyrend sensed a flare of alarm as the movement left her back utterly open!
"Coria!" He spun, but her rush to defend her friend had put her on the other side of the crowd and the press was blocking his path. Instinct screamed at him to use his Mark to go to her, not caring for how it would reveal his power to do so, but before he could there was a flash of movement through the crowd, a yell, and the sound of a blade puncturing flesh. Coria screamed, but it was not a cry of physical injury, but heart-wrenching denial.
Nikos groaned, enemy blade penetrating his chest and about three inches emerging from the back. The soldier withdrew it, expression showing he was just as surprised by the sacrificial act, and Nikos dropped prone among the combatants, unmoving.
For a long moment, no one moved. Then Coria gave a loud, agonized shout that sounded like it came straight from her soul, and Tyrend felt the surge of holy power. First Coria's sword ignited in white fire, then her entire body. Her shield radiate power and light and everyone drew back shielding their eyes save for the Solarian; Solaris' power would never blind one of his celestials.
Coria whirled and swung her blade through the air towards the closest soldiers. An arc of light struck them to the floor, and they lay unmoving. Another soldier made a courageous charge towards her and she spun towards him. Tyrend felt the burst of divine righteous anger as their blades met, and the soldier's arm and blade were flung up and back, the weapon slipping free of his hand to land on the floor some distance away. She let her shield fall slack on her arm and reached out to touch the man's chest. He screamed and his eyes blazed white, and he dropped. Four men charged her together and without hesitation she bested them as well with both shield and sword. The final soldier standing, visibly shaking where he stood, dropped to his knees and threw aside his weapon and shield, calling his surrender.
Coria stood there for a few moments more, then the light died and her sword and shield sagged to her side. She was breathing hard.
I have heard of this power, Tyrend mused. Archangel's Wrath, the devout name it. A mighty gift to be bestowed, but one she can only summon when her emotions are at a violent high.
Tyrend approached Coria and touched her shoulder. She looked at him, a bit dazed.
"Come, Coria. Let us get our friends home once more." She nodded, whispering,
"T-Tyrend? Take the lead." He nodded in reply, then called to two of their party,
"Capture him!" He pointed to the surrendered soldier. "We cannot have him following us out." The man was quickly set upon and bound, as well as blindfolded, then the Solarian nodded to four others, then Nikos' body. "Gather our fallen. He will rest among the others with honor." They obeyed.
Tyrend saw them safely to the passage and opened it, then put one of the rebels in charge of getting Coria back. When they were gone he joined the rest of the combatants in taking the fort from the Empire, letting some of his celestial power come into play to help and sensing many of his Guardian siblings also on the field protecting rebels. By dawn the fort had been claimed by the rebels, and by the time the general returned with his very confused soldiers the next evening he found the fort empty save for newly-made graves marked by the weapons of his soldiers.
Water sloshed along, dragging at their waists and chilling them through to the bone. Each man had to keep one hand clenched on the shoulder or back of the shirt of the man in front of him or risk falling and taking out those behind him. None spoke to one another, only every fifth man had a lantern in hand - a perilous position as they had to forego a safe handhold to do so but the threat of darkness was worse – and several balanced their bags filled with medical supplies on their heads to protect them from the devastating effects of becoming soaked.
The rescue was on!
As planned at midafternoon Ilias departed to circle wide and approach one of the far roads with his ploy. He requested an escort of five men, just to be safe, but when they returned they revealed another part of his plan that he'd kept secret from Coria and for good reason because she would not have been pleased with it: when the road had come within sight of their position and he could be certain of himself, Ilias had asked, then demanded the men beat him, even break one arm. Why he explained was to give more credibility to his story, that he'd remained with the rebels, learning what he could, until his duplicity had been uncovered and he'd fought his way free taking many blows in the process. They had argued for a while as none of them wanted to harm him until he'd finally convinced them of its necessity. The five men looked sickened as they told the story, finishing with admitting that they had broken his right arm - his primary arm - before he'd thanked them and staggered down towards the road with a promise to open the passage as midnight.
Coria swore that when she saw him next she would heal him then hit him herself for that! Tyrend just chuckled at her response as his respect for the scholarly man increased. He sent up another prayer for protection for his charge's husband and was pleased when he got a response along his Soul Song:
I walk with him into darkness, and I will do my all to see him back into the light, Tyrend. And I will alert you to when we are in position.
A fellow Guardian, sent by Solaris to safeguard him. That was pleasing to Tyrend, both because he would help ensure Ilias returned to Coria in one piece and because it also revealed that Solaris' influence was increasing, that he could send more and more of his celestials into action. At that point it had become a waiting game, giving Ilias time to encounter the wagon and convince them of his sincerity. They'd decided to delay until scouts saw the soldiers break away from the fort.
At dusk the soldiers had been sighted leaving, a good fifty to sixty of them riding hard to the south and east deeper into the mountain and in the exact opposite direction of the manor. By best guess it was about two-thirds of the fort's capacity, give or take. Ilias' ruse had worked – it was time to go.
Coria's group, which naturally included Tyrend, was to make for the river at all haste and try to find where it diverged under the fort. This actually proved to be easier said than done as a map one of the scouts had drawn have clear indication of a tributary that ran in the direction of the fort but upon following it they found it appeared to run right into a solid stone hillside. They'd been on the verge of giving up and exploring another route when one of the rebels, a huntsman by trade, had noticed something odd about the rock wall. He waded into the river that came up to his waist with mild rush behind it and moved to where it splashed against the wall. Peering closely and prodding the edge carefully he found that the rock wall wasn't quite as solid as it seemed: it was a false arrangement, provided by a large stone pushed directly into the entrance to the point that it was almost flush aside from a single place where fingergrips had been carved. It took two of them pulling and three digging away sediment and stones that had built up along the outside to get it moved, but once they did the river sped up considerably and a tunnel was revealed. With determined nods to one another they made quick plans and waded in, entering the darkness ahead.
Tyrend slogged along with the others, leading as he felt comfortable with his footing on the slick river stones and even stepped so he could slightly clear troublesome spots for those behind. Coria followed right behind him, holding to his chain armor in a death grip and he could hear her teeth chattering. They'd been walking for quite some time, and twice he'd already heard soft splashed and cursing from men as they stumbled. But to his best knowledge they hadn't lost anyone yet. His lantern bounced its light off of the damp walls and the rippling river, throwing odd reflections everywhere, dazzling his eyes a bit. He had no idea how far they'd traveled by this point and could only presume they were close by focusing on the Soul Song of the Solarian watching over Ilias; it gave him direction and some relative sense of distance. The Guardian knew he could endure a lot, had endured a lot over his existence, but after a while even he was longing for dry land and an end to the frigid water. He was beginning to wonder if this was the right place after all and they hadn't just stumbled into a dummy entrance when the angle of his lantern's light changed, bending around a side-passage. He paused, making Coria pause behind him and lean around to see why he'd stopped, then he saw her smile at seeing what looked like their destination at last. Tyrend, with enthusiasm, pressed on eager to get himself and all of them out of the water.
The ledge was only about ten feet by fifteen feet, not large enough for all of them to stand, but a tunnel with carved stairs led away and up. Tyrend and Coria began ascending as everyone pulled themselves out of the water and the first few followed. The stairs went up Tyrend would guess about twenty or twenty-five feet, maybe thirty it was hard to be sure, then terminated at a stone wall that to touch felt very solid. Tyrend and Coria looked at one another and nodded.
They'd found the entrance! Now just to wait for Ilias.
***
Time ticked by, anxious minutes spent in near-darkness and silence waiting. Only Tyrend was aware of exactly what was going on when he would inquire with his sibling above.
The general in charge of the fort, when he had been informed of Ilias' arrival, had taken charge of him at once in the infirmary where their medic was treating him. There had been a thorough interrogation once his arm had been set and the worst of his wounds had been treated. He'd given his story and revealed the location. It had been touch and go for a bit as after his disappearance he'd been deemed 'wanted for questioning,' but he explained that he realized of everyone he'd be able to get close to Coria and find out information no one could, being her fiance. It had been going well until some of the rebels became suspicious and found some of his notes which made him realize he needed to get out, leading to his 'escape' and the persuit of the rebels. How he survived their beating he said was sheer luck on his part: a couple of the rebels slipped on the edge of the trail and as they others reflexively turned to help them not fall to their peril he fled, slipping and sliding down the trail and slopes as fast as he could go. They didn't dare chase him once he was on the grasslands with the road so close. Then when Ilias saw a patrol he hurried towards them for safety and to bring his information to the 'rightful ruler of their land.' Soldiers had been sent to investigate the location he'd revealed, and now Ilias was resting in one of the soldiers' barrack rooms, biding his time.
According to what I was told we have only a few more minutes – Ah! Ilias is making his move! Unable to help himself Tyrend tensed, and Coria, sitting on the steps below him, noticed.
"Tyrend?" She whispered so quietly he barely heard her.
"I think it is about time," he whispered back, and she stood. In turn those behind her began to ready and on down the line until everyone was in a tense stance. No one knew whether they would find the passageway opened safely or would have to rush past the choke point of the entrance into the waiting blades of the enemy.
Everyone jumped when there came a sudden grinding sound from the wall before them. It shuddered, jerked about half an inch letting in a sliver of flickering, wane light, then slid to the side with a soft stone-on-stone grinding.
And beyond it stood a battered but smiling Ilias, alone.
"No one is in the kitchen above," he whispered as he backed up to permit their entrance. "I took the liberty of finding our allies' locations and telling them of the jailbreak tonight. I dare say some of them needed the hope to hold out." Coria glared at him, making him briefly fidget as he could only too easily guess why she was glaring, then the Champion of Solaris pulled her husband to her and kissed him soundly.
"You are a fool," she hissed, "for asking them to do that and yet... you're also very valiant for it. Now get down in the tunnel and wait for us – you're far too injured to even think about fighting!"
"I wasn't planning on it. You're the sword-wielder of this family, my love." Ilias quickly pushed a piece of paper into her hand: a quickly-drawn map. "This will lead you to the prisoner cells. And there's a door next to the stove in the kitchen - it leads out. The lever is there. It's easy to see how since I've lowered it but if you push it back up it'll close the door, or at least should. Then it's all but invisible. I almost missed it." He gave her another quick kiss. "Be safe, my love. I'll be waiting." He headed down the steps and two men volunteered to see him back to the manor safely. Coria nodded and with that they advanced into the cellar. One rebel raised the lever and the secret door closed. ..almost. There was about half an inch still ajar.
"It will have to do. Let's go!" With Coria and Tyrend in the lead they breeched the kitchen - as Ilias had said, it was vacant - and Coria pointed to a group of six whom she'd brought with her group especially because of their skills with moving unseen. They headed to the door to make for the side gate hopefully without being detected. The rest began making their way through the fort. This part of the plan had been also decided in advanced: Coria, Tyrend, and some of the rest, carrying the bulk of the medical supplies, would focus on extraction while other teams would secure and guard their escape and if need be take out any soldiers that came upon them.
The rescue party's steps were quick, urgency to find their allies and Ilias' words of their having needed the hope to 'hold out' driving them on. Coria led with the map, around two hallways and through a door to a small room wuth a second door opposite. There was a table and a couple of chairs, with some cards in a loose stack.
"Perhaps a guard post," Tyrend reasoned. Coria nodded, adding,
"But where's the guards?" That question, and the slightly ajar door opposite them, were dire signs.
As quickly as they dared while still remaining quiet the rescue party opened the door and descended the stairs into the prisoner holding cells. The hallways were narrow, dark, and dismal. A few small torches shed light but none were so close to one another that their lights touched, leaving dim spots. The scents of blood, sickness, and refuse pervaded the air.
And they knew just where to go by the sounds of mocking laughter and cries of pain, as well as defiant shouts.
Even Tyrend could no longer restrain himself as they all hurried forward as best as they could for the tight hallways, some drawing weapons as they went. They came to a large room to their left where the lights were brighter and the noises louder, and they could recognize the shouts – and the cries – as their friends' voices.
"Leave him alone!"
"You coward! Can't fight us one on one!"
Tyrend only beat Coria into the room by a step to see a sight that forever would remain in his mind. In cages around the perimeter of the room – one clearly set aside for interrogation and torture – were the captured rebels. All of them showed signs of abuse in the form of bleeding wounds and burns, and the Solarian thought that one whom he knew as a skilled archer had a rough bandage wound about and a bloody place where his eye was, or as he suspected had been. A chain hung down from the ceiling and shackled to it, suspended about a foot off the ground so his toes could barely touch it, was Nikos. The man was only half-conscious and covered in a myriad of fresh torments inflicted upon him by the two men who had been standing to either side of him, each holding jagged hooks and knives to harm him with for no better reason than fun it seemed, but quickly dropped the implements to draw short swords when the rescuers entered. Tyrend launched an arrow at one in a second, downing him with the projectile buried in his chest, and Coria as well as two others fell upon the other man. Neither of them had much of a chance to cry out or call for help before they were dispatched.
Mercy was a far thought from all of their minds, given what they saw happening to their friends.
"Unlock the cages!" Coria called, tossing one man a ring of keys before turning to call to Tyrend, even as she moved towards Nikos and wrapped her arms around his legs to try and lift him, taking strain from his bleeding wrists. "Tyrend! Help me!" Tyrend gestured to three rebels.
"Get ready to catch him!" Tyrend took careful aim and fired a shot at the chains. Though a mundane arrow shouldn't have done much to it the chain the Solarian Truesteel impacted it with a bright flash of metal against metal and was severed. The three men caught Nikos as he fell and they laid him out on the floor. He groaned weakly, trying to open his eyes. Around the room the rebels were hurrying as best they could from the cages, gathering around. Before Tyrend could say anything Coria had moved up to Nikos' side and pressed her hands to his chest. He groaned, but as her prayers began tumbling from her lips his wounds slowly closed. But there were a great many of them and some were serious, even severe. Though Tyrend didn't want to, he reached out to stop her after only a few moments, when he himself was certain Nikos wouldn't perish from blood loss and the mistreatment.
"Coria, enough. He will survive, but any more and you will be unable to escape under your own power. You do not have the divine strength yet to push yourself so far." Coria looked about to argue but Nikos spoke, distracting her.
"C-Coria..." Instantly she was leaning close.
"Don't worry, Nikos. We're getting you and everyone out of here."
"I – I overheard something," he gasped as they carefully helped him up. He could hold his own weight but just barely, so two rebels supported him with his arms over their shoulders. "The – the general – he bragged to me that it didn't matter. That – what we did didn't matter. They had everything they needed." He paused as he was given some water, much needed by the manner he gulped it down, and he panted afterwards before finishing, "The Emperor has everything he needs for whatever this ritual was – just yesterday a single man, not a wagon but a single man, brought in the last component, some kind of large, black gemstone." Tyrend felt his body go cold.
A large, black gemstone? No...That's the key component for an infernal bond ritual! Could the Emperor honestly be planning such a thing?!
"Enough," Coria hushed her close friend. "You can go into detail later."
"Tower...tower fort," Nikos forced out as they began to depart, he in a protective huddle of the others.
"We'll get you, get everyone out of here!" Coria vowed in a determined whisper.
Getting past the guard post they heard the sounds of intense fighting in the courtyard, and even in the halls. Tyrend had expected this – by posting the units outside Coria had intended to remove this threat from the realm – but to his centuries-honed ear the battle sounded a lot more wild than he'd hoped it would. The rebels, he thought, sounded hard-pressed.
"We have to get to the passage," he commanded. "They can be safe there while we clear the fort." Coria nodded and the group hurried back the way they'd come. Their course was cut off, however, when they rounded a corner and found battle clashing in the intersection, blocking them. One rebel looked over his shoulder as he fought.
"We'll hold them! Go around somehow!"
"This way!" called one of the rescue party, pulling the group towards the side. They ran down another hall and came into a mess hall.
And in through the opposite door came seven soldiers. They were already armed, and the moment they saw the group they charged. Quickly Tyrend, Coria, and three of the rebels from the rescue party moved to meet them while the others began moving around to try and keep the weakened prisoners safe. The clash of weapons was loud and drew the attention of other soldiers, and another four soon entered from behind them, forcing the defenders and even the former prisoners into battle as well.
"Come together!" Coria cried. "Protect one another!" Fighting for every step the rebels rejoined into one large group, standing back to back and working to guard one another as best they could. Tyrend found himself far more hard-pressed than usual, and as he felt a flare of unholy power he realized why things were so rough for them.
Fiend-powered soldiers! His eyes narrowed. Thankfully, as he felt a blade score down his arm he noted the lack of a horrid burning sensation, meaning he was safe from fiend-forged weapons at least for the moment.
A cry from behind alerted him to a rebel in dire straits, having been knocked prone. Coria saw an opening and wheeled around, blocking one downward blow and with a clean swing of her sword cutting down the other blade's wielder.
And Tyrend sensed a flare of alarm as the movement left her back utterly open!
"Coria!" He spun, but her rush to defend her friend had put her on the other side of the crowd and the press was blocking his path. Instinct screamed at him to use his Mark to go to her, not caring for how it would reveal his power to do so, but before he could there was a flash of movement through the crowd, a yell, and the sound of a blade puncturing flesh. Coria screamed, but it was not a cry of physical injury, but heart-wrenching denial.
Nikos groaned, enemy blade penetrating his chest and about three inches emerging from the back. The soldier withdrew it, expression showing he was just as surprised by the sacrificial act, and Nikos dropped prone among the combatants, unmoving.
For a long moment, no one moved. Then Coria gave a loud, agonized shout that sounded like it came straight from her soul, and Tyrend felt the surge of holy power. First Coria's sword ignited in white fire, then her entire body. Her shield radiate power and light and everyone drew back shielding their eyes save for the Solarian; Solaris' power would never blind one of his celestials.
Coria whirled and swung her blade through the air towards the closest soldiers. An arc of light struck them to the floor, and they lay unmoving. Another soldier made a courageous charge towards her and she spun towards him. Tyrend felt the burst of divine righteous anger as their blades met, and the soldier's arm and blade were flung up and back, the weapon slipping free of his hand to land on the floor some distance away. She let her shield fall slack on her arm and reached out to touch the man's chest. He screamed and his eyes blazed white, and he dropped. Four men charged her together and without hesitation she bested them as well with both shield and sword. The final soldier standing, visibly shaking where he stood, dropped to his knees and threw aside his weapon and shield, calling his surrender.
Coria stood there for a few moments more, then the light died and her sword and shield sagged to her side. She was breathing hard.
I have heard of this power, Tyrend mused. Archangel's Wrath, the devout name it. A mighty gift to be bestowed, but one she can only summon when her emotions are at a violent high.
Tyrend approached Coria and touched her shoulder. She looked at him, a bit dazed.
"Come, Coria. Let us get our friends home once more." She nodded, whispering,
"T-Tyrend? Take the lead." He nodded in reply, then called to two of their party,
"Capture him!" He pointed to the surrendered soldier. "We cannot have him following us out." The man was quickly set upon and bound, as well as blindfolded, then the Solarian nodded to four others, then Nikos' body. "Gather our fallen. He will rest among the others with honor." They obeyed.
Tyrend saw them safely to the passage and opened it, then put one of the rebels in charge of getting Coria back. When they were gone he joined the rest of the combatants in taking the fort from the Empire, letting some of his celestial power come into play to help and sensing many of his Guardian siblings also on the field protecting rebels. By dawn the fort had been claimed by the rebels, and by the time the general returned with his very confused soldiers the next evening he found the fort empty save for newly-made graves marked by the weapons of his soldiers.
