Sand & Stone

Chapter 19: The Assault

"Bury them deep."

- General Tarasque, the Butcher

"Any questions?" asked the Queen in black, she had a casual look to her, like she had just discussed something mundane and not the assault of a heavily guarded palace and murder of an usurper.

As far as plans went it was simple enough.

I and the farmer troops would march our asses right up to the palace and pick a fight. It would be slow, brutal and not good looking. This would give Gezel and his men enough time to go borrow some war camels, a wedge to be driven in after I drive myself knee deep into Empire blades. I'd distract as many from the front line and Gezel's charge would widen the gap and open the flood gates. We'd defeat the Empire troops, barely, and take the palace plus Reji's head.

It sounded good, if it actually went that way.

"No." I said keeping my doubts to myself, wasn't good for morale to pick out all the things that could go wrong. I looked around the rickety meeting room where three odd characters sat, there was the Queen of the City, cruel and curt. There was her broken captain who gave me the stink eye every other minute and there was me. Azeal nodded, satisfied with our apparent lack of questions. "Good. We leave now," she declared, standing up from her seat. "Ready for a fight?"

I gave her a confident nod, anticipation building in my chest. The truth was, I had no idea if this plan would work. But I was already deep in it and hungry for a fight. The Queen of the City strode out of the meeting room with Gezel in tow. I followed closely behind, my mind racing with different scenarios and possible outcomes, numbers mostly, of how many Empire bastards I could kill. As we entered the warehouse there hundreds of awe struck citizens turned greedy gazes towards us. Their hands still caressing's the priceless heirlooms they had gotten from the ruins. They would be set for life, if they could survive what was to come. Azeal let the silence linger for a moment, observing the room, then she began.

"Today, many of you will die."

Several of the citizens began to murmur amongst themselves, discussing what the Queen just said. Some looked terrified, others excited. I could see the glint in their eyes as they whispered about the treasure they now possessed. But Azeal's next words would snap them out of their reverie. "This is not a time for celebration," she said firmly, her tone full of venom. "We stand on the brink of extinction, facing a ruthless and powerful enemy. The Empire has come, greedy as a hound, and entrenched themselves in the heart of our land. They think themselves invincible, we know they are not." pride flittered through the crowd, useless, silly pride.

"Those who are not prepared to fight, leave now and take your trinkets with you. A bluff, Gezel's men were waiting outside to relieve any who left of their items, they would be needed but it would be bad to say otherwise now. The illusion of choice was almost as good as the real thing. "Those who remain will fight for this city, for freedom and for revenge." She paused, letting her words sink in before continuing, her voice rising in passion. "I promise to make each of you who fight with me a Merchant and all due privilege's. You will be able to own land and businesses, you will be protected by the City and share in it's wealth. Your names will mark the record and your wealth will grow. ''There was a stunned silence at that, to become a Merchant in the city was akin to being a lesser noble in other kingdoms, I shook my head at the fools. Azeal would deliver this yes, but only to those who survived and to become a Merchant would make them and their families loyal to the crown, to her.

But that was not all. Azeal's eyes gleamed with a fierce determination as she spoke of her ultimate plan. "And when this war is over, and the traitors lie defeated at our feet, we will rebuild this city into something greater than before. So, who amongst you will fight?"