123. Distraction: Wiremu

Modrica had the Pack Rats covering the roads around the Bardic hall, looking for anyone who might be out of place. They probably only have a 50/50 chance of spotting stealth operatives, and I am giving them that high a chance only because of their bond senses. It is an overcast night, which adds difficulty to those without a high levelled Darksight.

I am keeping on the move. I am continuously moving in a circuit around the Hall, keeping tabs on the Pack Rats and the Duke's Guards. To be quite frank, I anticipate that the first sign of an attack will be me finding the bodies of some of the Pack Rats.

Whoever organised the Duke’s guard has done a good job. There are the visible guards, and then there are the hidden guards. If anybody were to attack this place, they would quickly find they have bitten off more than expected. He has visible sentries and archers and hidden backups for both, and then he has stealth operatives as well, and I don’t know how many of those there are. Their stealth seems to be as high as mine.

I was passing the dining hall when my Hearing Aid heard the sound of the bell summoning the guests to the banquet. I checked the next alleyway, spotting the rats that were doing the spotting. It made sense to have the rats watching the road and the people hidden as a backup. At least some of the Pack Rats had a brain. Just not as many of them as they should. Looking at the next road and the two Pack Rats were leaning against a wall in full view of the street, acting like street toughs. Such easy targets.

I moved on to the next street when two explosions happened, one after the other. One was close, maybe two blocks away, and the other was further into the city. I went up onto the nearest roof and crouched in the shadow of a chimney. The near one looked like it was close to the Enchanters Supreme. It wasn’t the Enchanters Supreme, but it was close. Then a third explosion happened. That was the Enchanters Supreme.

I used my Mapping Skill and worked out the explosion further into the city was our safe house, the one that should be empty. Abigail must have talked. I just don’t know whether it was voluntarily or not.

Hearing Aid then picked up the sound of many running boots from two streets over. It was not a mob. It was coordinated running, like a trained military unit. It was heading to the Bardic Hall. I started to move to observe when I suddenly had to dive off the roof into a backyard to avoid the arrow that was shot at me. They had stealth units as well. I kept moving, and fast as I was now being hunted. If I had missed a shot like that, I would be moving to finish the job. I rolled and jumped the fence into the alley at the back of the yard and turned into the next alley and then scaled the nearest roof, went into camouflage, and readied my own arrow.

A shape flashed past the end of the alley, but I held my shot. I think they were trying to draw out a reaction to check if anyone was waiting. I should have waited on the ground. Then I could have used Granite Sense on the stone road. I mentally kicked myself. I have to use all my advantages. None of these people are amateurs. Darksight and Farsight caught the flicker of something at the corner of the alley, and I let loose a triple shot. A body collapsed into the alley, but I was already moving in case there were two of them. Triple shot, with my venom arrows magnified by Sudden Strike, and I was confident the person was dead. I just hoped it wasn’t one of the Dukes Stealth units by mistake.

I stuck to the ground with my Granite sense pulsing through the cobblestone paving while my eyes constantly scanned the roofs above me. Hearing Aid heard the clash of weapons and the sound of arrows being loosed as the attackers struck at the Duke’s guard. I wasn’t expecting a frontal assault, even if this was just a distraction from the real attack.

I moved to where I could see what was happening. There were about fifty well-armed and armoured attackers, and they all looked like army veteran-level skilled to me. There was fighting at the main entrance and several bodies, both attackers and defenders. The Dukes Guard must have considered this scenario as they barricaded the doors and had archers at the windows.

I moved my eyes from the visible fight to the stealth fight that was happening on the roofs and alleys around the edges of the main fight. I could only catch glimpses of this fight. An arrow fired from a rooftop or a body suddenly falling into the street. Most of it was one-hit kills, like my kill.

I suddenly spun, firing an arrow behind me, and my attacker coughed up blood as he collapsed. He had been good to get this close, and only Hearing Aid picking up the sudden spike in his heartbeat gave me time to react. I moved to where Modrica had been stationed as the two of us working together would be more effective. The big fight wasn’t my concern. I just wanted to be able to track them when they retreated.

A street fight was way down on the list of distractions I was expecting. It actually works in our favour, though, as street fighting is something we have a lot of experience with. I heard the fighting from Modrica’s alley before I got into view. I cautiously approached the end of the alley, and it was just as well I did as a body flew out with its head mangled. I put it down to Modrica’s mace, but she was just using her fists as I came into sight. There were several dead Pack Rats and stealth attackers in the alley. I put down the last one with an arrow in the back, saving the Pack Rat she had been fighting.

Modrica had a knife sticking out of her back, which was causing her discomfort. I motioned for her to turn around, and I pulled out the knife and poured a healing potion on the wound to stop the bleeding. She grunted her thanks. When dealing with Modrica, you don’t just have to know Orcish. You also have to know Modrica’s Grunt language. I am surprised I don’t have a skill in it yet.

There were two Pack Rats alive, so the four of us moved to where we could keep an eye on the main fight. It did seem that they were already trying to disengage, but the Duke’s Guard was not making it easy for them. It took another five minutes, but they started an orderly retreat. They were definitely a military unit, which brings up the question of where they came from. A military strike into the city of another kingdom is usually a cause for war.

There were about thirty that made the retreat. We kept hidden as they moved past and started to pick up speed. I picked two of the more healthy-looking ones to place my Hunters Mark on. I then checked the mark I placed on Sugnwr, Rotte’s vampire bat. I need to get used to calling her Gwaed. Sugnwr was just above the rooftops flying parallel to the invaders. I wish I could communicate with her because, with her Echolocation, she will be able to spot any stealth units that they may still have.

We left the Pack Rats behind to wait for Rotte / Gwaed, whatever she is called. Modrica and I set off after the invaders. We left plenty of space in case there were ranging stealth units, but I didn’t want to be too far behind when we got to the wall, boats, or however they got into the city.

Finally, the alarm bells started ringing, alerting the Watch and the wall guard of an emergency in the city. I assume the pattern of the bells alerted those who knew that there were invaders. It has probably been fifteen minutes since the first explosion. There is something seriously wrong with this City, even allowing for the attacker's sabotage. I think it is way past time that the useless Duke gets replaced. Sione needs to be replaced as well.