Pillars of Age

Traitors of Fehir's Embassy

HARLAN

A lone figure moved purposefully through the bustling morning market; his urgency palpable. His imposing stature was encased in the distinctive iron armour of Aurelia's elite soldiers, its weight a testament to his strength and endurance. His usually fierce face was now a mask of worry, though his eyes still blazed with the authority that cleared a path through the throng.

Arriving at the courtyard of a stately mansion near the market, he paused, catching his breath. Despite the exertion, his posture remained upright and commanding as he called out to those inside.

Three men, dressed in modestly luxurious but discreet attire, emerged from the mansion and stood before him.

"Good, you're all here," the armoured man said, his voice a blend of relief and urgency.

"What is it, Pullo?" one of the men asked, stepping forward, his curiosity tinged with concern.

"Pitro has been captured. A surviving guard from the ambush by 'The Exiled' brought undeniable evidence. Prepare everything necessary to rescue Pitro. I'll oversee the operation and find the best way to free him."

"Understood, sir..."

Suddenly, a spear-sword's sharp blade pierced Pullo's neck from behind, and with a brutal shove, Pullo's lifeless body crumpled to the ground.

"Well, this is exactly as I predicted!" exclaimed the assassin, a smirk spreading across his face as he pulled his weapon.

The three men recoiled in shock and confusion.

"Who are you?" one of them demanded, his voice trembling.

"Harlan, a mercenary," replied Harlan, his smile widening, eyes glinting with a dangerous amusement.

Their shock deepened, not because of his identity, but because of his calm, almost playful demeanour in the face of such violence.

"Do you realize who you just killed?"

"Of course, Pullo, the leader of Aurelia's embassy guard."

"Why did you kill him?"

"Because I couldn't defeat you all if I had to fight him too. Now, I'm confident I can handle you."

"You, against the three of us?"

"Yes. I'm quite confident," Harlan repeated slowly, his tone dripping with mockery.

The men exchanged uncertain glances, clearly hesitant to engage.

"If you surrender and testify against Pitro, you won't need to die. But if you choose to fight, only one of you will survive."

Harlan's proposition made them falter even more, but summoning a forced courage, they drew knives and advanced.

Harlan's smile grew. He lunged forward, swiftly incapacitating the nearest opponent with a blunt strike to the head, using his body as a shield against the other two. With practiced precision, he delivered two quick stabs from behind the staggering man, finishing the remaining assailants who hesitated and mis stepped.

"Ah, it's so satisfying when things go according to plan," Harlan remarked, tying up his barely conscious opponent, whose nose was a mangled mess.

---

"You'll die for this, blonde witch!" shouted a middle-aged man with thinning black hair, his face contorted in rage.

Sara, clad in her kingdom's soldier armour, stood resolute, watching as the Aurelia official was escorted by embassy guards to a prison carriage. Behind them trailed other officials, their expressions a mix of shock and indignation.