Chapter 13: An introduction

When Carina and the others arrived, they found the tavern filled with knights standing guards. They were the best that remained, unmoving and vigilant. The young scout gazed at them nervously before entering the premise. Her heart jumped when one of the knights suddenly moved, blocking the Kid from entering.

“Order’s members only.” A female voice came out of the suit of armor.

“She is coming with me.” Jaren stepped in.

That was enough for the knight to stand down. As someone sent by headquarter, Captain Meredith was the only one left with higher clearance than the Warden.

Entering the repurposed tavern, the three immediately gazed upon the lone prisoner sitting silently. ‘This man could not possibly be a part of the Mutant!’ Carina thought to herself. A reasonable thought, because even though he was surely a muscular specimen, it was still a far cry to his bulging brethren. Still he wore a thick leather apron, the Mutants’ signature choice of attire.

His head shaven with a rune carved into the hardened skin in shape of a flower. Despite its simplicity, the carving invoke the flag of this country itself, depicting a non-existent plant. Standing next to the man was Captain Meredith and the deformed medic with his back against a wall.

The leader of the 23rd signaled for the incoming visitors to take a seat before continuing with the interrogation. “Where’s she hiding?” He asked, his voice firm but composed.

The raider did not reply, however, simply glanced over to the Kid. “Girl.” He suddenly spoke fluently. “What’s your name?”

Before Carina could advise against answering, the girl already did. “Claudia Reid, but you can call me the Kid.”

The Captain strolled in between the two and continued questioning the prisoner. “You are talking to me. And I need answer, where is her hideout?” He slammed his hands onto the table, his manner was aggressive but still somewhat civil.

“Pardon my rudeness, my concentration is rather lacking.” The raider replied. “To answer your question, I can only say that I do not know. Madam Mandrake had been planning this for some years, right under my nose.”

“If your story is true, then she is your aunt. Don’t you have any idea about what she would do?” Captain Meredith questioned.

“Regrettably no, I know little about how her mind work, nor why she even betrayed us. Even though we were close… at least that is what I thought once.” The raider answered with genuine sadness in voice.

“So not only do you not know anything about the enemies, you also have no intention of revealing your sponsor.” Captain Meredith crossed his arms. “Mr. Snowdrop, I believe you are of no value to us.”

“As I said before, I could lend you the Mutants still loyal to me.” The raider said softly.

A useless answer to the Captain. According to this man’s information, the Mutants gained their power after the schism. If that was the case, then none of Snowdrop’s men would have that ability, they would just be mindless roid up brutes. They would not stand a chance against their super powered siblings.

The raider could read the room to know what was going on, he offered some explanations.

“My people’s fighting capability may be not up to snuff… But we are all siblings, none of us could bring ourselves to harm the others, even under order.” Snowdrop said. “I am sure it still holds true now, or else we would all be slaughtered in our sleep by now.”

“And?” The Captain was not convinced.

“When combat breaks out, we could serve as simply wall of flesh, blocking our brethren from advancing. Even their power, they shall not make it through.” The raider was certain. “That’s why I am late in my offer to help. My… benefactor could not provide us with any ability but he is a master tactician. We have been practicing every possible formations.”

All those words coming from a raider whom trustworthiness was still in question. He sure could talk for a barbarian, but none of his words meant much. Captain Meredith wanted to question the man’s plan but the raider had enough. He stood up, showing a massive frame hidden by his conservative way of sitting.

“With all due respect, Captain Meredith, and I do mean it. You are in an inescapable bind, your men are down from the thousands to a measly group of dozens. Half of them are not even in any conditions to pick up a weapon, much less putting up a fight.” Snowdrop said with his soft voice, yet the raider still commanded a significant presence. “The best people you have are not even a part of your Company. But most of all, I can tell you are frustrated. Not because you are hopelessly outmatched, but because of the unknown.”

Captain Meredith did not back either, he simply replied with a grim tone. “And what might that unknown be, Mr. Snowdrop?”

“Not knowing why are you still alive right at this very moment. Madam Mandrake’s force is more than enough to run through what’s left of the 23rd. And yet here you all are, still breathing, still alive, but for what reason you do not know. To be under the mercy of something unknown, I can bet it is certainly vexing.” Snowdrop voice was soft yet it echoed throughout the tavern. “Accept the offer, you do not have the luxury to turn it down.”

The Captain stood in between the group and the raider, his expression obscured. It was something he did not want to show his people. Carina could only see its result, a surprise expression appeared upon the stoic Snowdrop.

“Sit down, prisoner.” Captain Meredith spoke only those words.

The raider complied, commenting to himself. “So I made a mistake.”

What that be the young scout would never know. Carina and the Kid was ordered outside of the tavern the Captain made a request that he himself detested to the very core.

“Mr. Jaren, I’m afraid I might need a particularly… skill of yours to deal with this prisoner.”

“It would be my pleasure.” The Warden replied.

The Kid wore a puzzled expression, not knowing what was going on. Carina, however, did not have the luxury of ignorance. She gazed upon Jaren’s face, trying to discern whether he was telling the truth or not. There was no answer.

Biting her lip, the young scout led the Kid out, they were followed by the medic. But before the group could exit the tavern, the raider called out to them.

“You all should watch your back. Me coming here must have triggered a reaction, I highly doubt they would send my brother. It is even more unlikely that Ghost would come here himself.” Snowdrop looked into their eyes, his own filled with dread. “It might be the newcomer Doll… or possibly someone else unknown.”

“Is that a threat?” Carian could not stop herself from asking. She received no answer.

The medic hurried the two out and closed the door behind them. On it was an artifact, made to eliminate all sound from within. Not once since joining the Knight Order did this sort of activity ever crossed her mind. The same thought seemed to be in the medic mind at least that was what she could tell, as he was hanging his head low.

In the middle was the Kid, still wondering what was going on.

A knight soon ran at the tavern in a hurry. The guard blocked his path but it did not stop the man, who was in a state less than lucid. His eyes wide opened and bloodshot, it was about to burst out of its sockets at any moment. The young knight’s face was drained of blood, with an expression of horror permanently stuck on.

“I… I… need to find… Captain Meredith.”

“You can tell it to me, what’s going on, son.” The guard assured the scared young man.

He whimpered, glancing about while sweating bullets. The knight spoke in a whisper, as if he was afraid someone or something would learn of his presence. “Bethany… oh Atlas, Beth. We were talking and… oh Atlas saved me. We were just sitting then suddenly she went all quiet, then…”

The young knight hunched down and whimpered uncontrollably. The three also surrounded him and did their best to calm down the nervous wreck. Eventually, he was in a condition to continue his story.

“Beth, her head… it just slid off. I don’t understand, she was fine a moment then a moment later her head was gone… Ahhh.”

“Doll.” The medic muttered.

Snowdrop’s alert became the truth in a matter of seconds. Was it his plan all along? Was he an enemy? Even though those questions did not make any sense, they swirled around Carina’s confused mind regardless.

The young scout had another matter to worry about, however, as the Kid suddenly bolted away. “Mother!” The girl called out while making a dash for the mayor’s place.

Carina immediately ran after the girl, knowing full well it might once again placed her in mortal danger. The young scout could not help it, she would not leave this young girl by herself no matter what. Even if she was capable, the Kid was still just a kid.

The medic stayed behind to look after the man in shock while the guard alert his fellow knights. The battle had found its way to this town of the dead.

___

Doc and the mayor were on their way to the tavern to see the prisoner. They walked past the empty street surrounded by empty houses. For safety reason, the civilians were all concentrated in a small and cramp area surrounded by guards. It left the place a ghost town, but in truth, there was not much of a difference.

Then from the dark, something shiny was thrown in front of the two. A small artifact which immediately unleased the power within, covering a large area with a dome of sort.

“What kind of magic is this?” The mayor questioned.

“It’s a silence barrier, meant to prevent any sound nor sight from escaping.” Doc answered.

A tool widely used by the army and sometimes for more nefarious purpose. It was meant to quarantine and neutralized a target in an area that was far from discreet.

A figure jumped in front, licking its lips in anticipation of a feast. Its body was shroud in a cloak made of darkness. Another artifact made to conceal one’s identity. Whoever employed the use of such a tool was no doubt up to no good. Right up on the figure’s alley, it drew a thin long blade, pacing slowly towards the target.

Doc Holliday stepped up in front of the mayor. With his shaking hand, the man drew the rifle from behind his back cork the level with a spin. He might no longer be the sharpshooter once upon a time, but this old doctor still had many tricks up his sleeves.

Not waiting to be protect, Alessia Castellanos-Reid stepped up. The mother had given away the family precious machete, but that was not her only weapon of choice. A string dangled out from her sleeve, at the end a fish hook with spiral patterns etched upon.

The figure tilted its head in surprise. What a fruitious day, it thought to itself, licking its lips and shivering in anticipation.