Noah was glad that they didn’t have the freedom to make a fire because he wasn’t quite ready to eat the meat of a sapient being. They managed to scrape by relatively unscathed with the worst of injuries being tended to by Un’Dal and his apprentices. Noah was pleased to note that their progress was coming along well, and they had been among those who ascended to Copper. After a brief rest, they were running again, even more vigilant than before. Noah had slain multiple beasts, two of which were counted as shared kills for a total of 25,000 XP He gladly leveled the two additional times and assigned his points. He found it interesting that the elephant cow beast only gave him 10,000, and figured it had to do with which advancements he had pursued first. Perhaps Gate over Grade?
They managed to avoid conflict for another few days as the closer they got the fewer groups they saw. It seemed that the final battle on Jeline’s front would be beginning soon and assuming that he only saw a portion of the troops she would be in for quite the struggle. On the eve of the third week of travel, the capital finally came into view. Similarly to Jeline’s city it was walled and featured a massive castle, visible over the outer wall. The city was alight with torch fires and yet they heard no sounds from their vantage point. They found a copse of trees to spend the night in and watched as a few straggling groups departed from the city. From what they could see there were a few guards spread out in turrets along the wall, every hundred yards or so. The area around the wall was barren and flat, making a stealthy approach impossible. They monitored the city through the night hoping to notice some way to avoid detection or enter without suspicion. As the morning dawned, however, they had only seen groups leaving the city and no one had tried to enter. The guards hadn’t changed shifts since they arrived, which Noah found odd but not infeasible considering the extended endurance of advanced beings. Noah opted to watch for another day, and so they waited watching in shifts as they recovered from their journey. By the end of their second night of watching it became apparent that there was no rotation for the guards. Noah grinned at this realization. As eager as they were to attack, there was no reason to risk more than they needed to. They would strike the following night, aiming to maximize the weariness of the guards. He considered waiting longer but had assured Jeline that he would do his best to contribute from a distance.
While his group had been watching over the city, the others had been busy. Several sturdy ladders had been crafted and the best routes planned. They would scale the eastern wall directly under a central turret to avoid attracting the attention of multiple groups at once. They spent the rest of the day moving the ladders at a distance and getting into position. Noah took a steadying breath as he sat in darkness. Within the hour he would storm the city, slay the guards, and capture the stronghold. But then what? His mind felt unsettled as his plan lacked an exit strategy. They were to capture and hold, meaning they had to find a way to manage the people living within the city. Would he drive them out, make them bend the knee, or kill them if they resisted? And that was if they managed to succeed in taking the city at all. He sighed and felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Ne’Ja standing behind him, a resolute calm in her expression.
“You look troubled, No’Ah. What is the matter?” She asked him.
“I am unsure of what comes next. We have been on the run for a long time, but if we succeed then it will be a very new season for us. I am also unsure of what to think of ways of the new world. I detest these oaths that the people are forced to swear, it feels wrong to bend someone’s will in that way.” He explained. She took a moment before responding.
“If you know what you think, then what is there to be concerned about?” She asked. Noah let out a breath.
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“Because even though I don’t agree with it, it still feels like the best option.” He admitted. She narrowed her eyes at him.
“It only seems like the best option because you refuse to eliminate that possibility altogether. If you truly hate the oaths then act as if they don’t exist and find a new way forward. You are not a slave to the System. We follow you wholeheartedly without any need for oaths, and you were a stranger to us not long ago.” She said. He squeezed her hand, still on his shoulder.
“Thank you Ne’Ja, I needed that. We will find a way forward that we can be proud of.” He replied, his heart settled for the moment. He returned to his men and motioned for them to draw near as he laid out the final plan.
“Group two will carry and secure the ladder, group one will begin their approach as soon as they arrive at the wall, and will immediately scale the ladders and take the turret. The rest of the groups will follow as soon as group one has signaled their success.” He instructed. Once the plan was in place they waited. Several hours into the night, they began the assault. Group two rushed forward, keeping low and carrying the ladder. They made it to the wall without any disturbance from the guards and then Noah left the cover of the woods with his group. They ran fast, weapons in hand, but were careful to avoid the occasional branch or dried grass. They arrived just as the ladder slid against the wall, and Noah was the first to climb the rungs. His hammer remained strapped to his back while he carried a hand axe in his free hand. As he neared the top he saw a shadow moving along the cobble, flickering in the torch light. He sped up, reaching the top and staying just out of sight. He carefully slid his axe into the sheathe at his hip and held his breath as the shadow passed by him. The ladder creaked beneath him and he heard a sharp inhale from above. Crap.
He heard footsteps nearing him and watched as a feline head poked out over the turret wall. Like lightning, Noah’s hand shot up and grabbed their throat before yanking them off the wall. They fell with a wheezing gasp before landing at the mercy of his men. He let out a breath, withdrew his axe, and hopped over the railing finding a sleeping guard and and another who blinked at him in confusion. He dashed forward, slicing the unsuspecting guard across the neck and covering his mouth while he bled out. Noah lowered the dying beast to the turret floor and turned on the sleeping panther. He unfastened his hammer and delivered a swift end via a crushed temple. The body crumpled just as Ne’Ja stepped over the railing.
“You didn’t leave any for us?” She teased, checking the bodies for any sign of life. Noah let out a tense breath.
“Perhaps if you had been quicker.” She snorted. The rest of the group arrived and they signaled to those below. The turret had a floor hatch that opened up to an interior room and spiral staircase. It appeared to be a breakroom of sorts and held several chairs and cots that likely would be filled if they had a full guard presence. They waited while the rest of the tribe caught up with them. Noah instructed Un’dal and his group to remain at the guard house to ensure a fallback point while the others left for their assignments. Each group was assigned to a different turret and would take it out before making their way to the castle. They dispersed, hugging the wall as they ran toward their next target. The city was quiet, especially near the walls and so they managed to creep undetected.
Noah arrived at his group’s assigned turret and slowly opened the door to its guard house. It was empty like the last, so they made their way up their stays and staged their attack beneath the trap door. Di’Ma opened the hatch and Noah lifted Ne’Ja through before climbing out himself. There were only two guards posted, and they died silently in their sleep. Their group had one additional turret to raid, so they left the bodies behind and prowled toward their next victims.
When the next turret fell just as easily, Noah smiled in relief. Easy.
No sooner had the thought entered his mind when a horn blasted across the city, stirring every beast from their slumber. Then came the shouting.
“We’re under attack!”
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