Emeralds For Trade // DNF Royalty AU

Chapter 12.1: Who We Need To Be (When The Time Comes)

Dream and Techno weaved between the trees with silent footsteps, the distant sounds of battle cries and the clashing of blades were quiet, but served as a heavy reminder of the gravity of the situation they found themselves in. Kilometres deep in enemy territory, with a team of five in their stride. Dream didn't have the time nor capacity to process this, zeroed in on the task at hand. He was hyper-aware of the quiet rustling of the leaves, every snapping twig. Occasionally, the stray soldier wandering the woods would need to be dealt with, but for the most part, the troops were occupying the more western territories. And with word of the second landing spot on the eastern shores, Netherite was occupied trying to funnel their troops to cover both fronts.

"Techno, how far?" Dream mumbled, keeping his voice low.

"'Bout ten more minutes at this pace. Castle walls are up ahead."

Upon breaching the clearing where the castle stood, they ducked into cover and took a peek at the tall, dark red walls of the watchtower. The two archers from Gold climbed up the tree for a better angle, keeping hidden from sight with their bows drawn.

"Eyes?" Dream asked them.

"Two guards on the southern watchtower, one along the walkway," one of them whispered. "We could take them out quiet and easy."

"No, hold your fire. We don't know if the other watchtowers can see them. We might give ourselves away."

"The breach in the wall's been patched up," Techno said, pointing at a gap in the architecture, climbing up the tower. "There's a blind spot there, in the ridge along where the curve of the watchtower meets the walls."

"If that's the case, it should be the same for all four watchtowers," one of the swordsmen suggested.

"I say we split up and climb these ridges. On cue, we do a quiet takeout. Pick them off all at once," another mumbled.

"Feasible. The less commotion, the better," Dream agreed. He looked up at one of the archers, the best around, perched in the trees. "Lilla, how's your bird's impression?"

She covered a hand over her mouth, letting out a bird call that was believable and reverberated through the woods. Glancing up at the guards, they seemed to have barely blinked an eye. Lilla looked down and nodded, tying her blonde hair into a tight ponytail in preparation.

"Perfect. Stay here and give the cue when it seems like the right time. Everyone else, in pairs, scale the other three towers. Stay hidden until you hear her."

"This tower's mine, then?" Lilla asked with a grin, leaning down from the branch.

"If you think you can take all three from here, then yeah, go nuts," Techno responded, tightening his braid and standing from where he was kneeling. "I call the Western tower."

They dispersed and within a short while, Dream was between two walls, armoured back pressed against a narrow column and feet pressed to the curved brick wall of the Northern tower. Above, he could hear the talking and movement of Netherite guards. A dull conversation, really, apart from a brief mention of the western shores close to being reclaimed, making his stomach drop a little. That meant that the second troop was struggling.

Saving himself from overthinking, a familiar bird call brought himself back to reality. He hooked his hands over the ledge and pulled himself up over the walls. From the other side of the tower, one of Obsidian's swordsmen emerged as well, giving a nod in Dream's direction while plunging his sword through the chest of the guards present.

Dream grabbed the other Netherian in a chokehold and pressed a hand over his nose and mouth while plunging a sword through his chest. He slipped down behind the ledge, keeping them out of sight in case there were any guards along the walls. Once the two at the tower were out, he peeked over the walls. Upon seeing that there were none left standing, he stood up, brushing the dust from his armour. A long whistle from the Western tower was heard and they made their way over to Techno and the other archer he had with him. Lilla was the last to join the pack, but she did so while wiping off an arrow she'd retrieved from the body of a Netherian. When all were accounted for, Dream spoke up again, looking at the other masked man.