Tales of the Vangen: The Black Ministry's Betrayal (Book 1)

Chapter 37: A Chance to Regroup

A cold wind picked up with the coming of dawn. Regis stood on a guard tower, watching rebels pour into the Palace's outer gate with his spyglass. His attention turned to a nearby platform upon which stood a mountain of a man encased in dark, speckled armor. The same metal as the sword he'd stolen from Tranquillis. Most likely not a coincidence either.

Regis muttered a curse and lowered the glass, running a hand through his beard. "God's damn is he big."

"What was that?" Magus' called out from the bottom of the watchtower. Several Centums stood nearby, forming a perimeter around the area. The old wizards' voice should have been little more than a whisper at such a distance, but his glamour had seen to both of them being heard no matter how far they were.

"I think I see one of the Ministers," Regis replied. He put his eye back to the spyglass. The giant in question yawned, his face scrunched up in what could only be assumed as boredom.

"What do they look like?" Magus asked.

"Big guy. Dull eyes."

"Head like a brick? Looks like an ox?"

Regis nodded. "Ah yup."

"Sounds like Aeturnus."

Regis lowered the spyglass and looked down at Magus. "You seem to know a lot about these Magisters."

"And you seem to know very little," Countered Magus. He pointed an angry finger. "Know thy enemy. Do you know who said that?"

"Probably someone even older than you?" Regis replied.

Magus frowned. "Her name was Tuu Suns. The greatest strategist in all of Orienta. You'd be wise to read up on her manifesto someday. Why in all my days...,"

Regis had stopped listening by now. He didn't care how many suns the woman had. He turned back to the spyglass. The rebels were in the thick of it all right. Most of the plaza in front of the Gate Primaris was choking in black robes and gold masks. A few Caligati were among the fold, but not enough to make much of a difference.

Regis could tell instantly what the Ministry was planning. Throw enough bodies at any army, and they were bound to break eventually. There still had to be some kind of garrison in the Palace. Enough trained soldiers to put up a decent fight. Regis spotted a few them up on the parapets and down in the courtyard. Archers and spearmen, each dressed in a different House's colors. Two at least. Hopefully more.

There was movement up near the third gate. The porter's door opened up, and a group of soldiers dressed in checkered black and yellow came pouring out, charging towards Gate Primaris's direction. Regis's sucked in a sharp breath. The one leading the charge looked very familiar.

"Dux!" Regis proclaimed.

"Heh?" Magus demanded, cupping an ear.

"The Captain," Regis said again. "he made it to the palace somehow!"

"That's all well and good, but how the hells are we getting in?"

Regis looked through the spyglass once more. How Dux had gotten into the Palace was still a mystery. It couldn't have been through the gates. As far as he knew, it was the only way into the Palace, now choked with rebels.

Regis' gaze drifted back to the giant standing on the platform. The big bastard was entirely focused on the rebels jockeying to get in, barely lifting a finger to give an order. At such a size, he could have just punched the first gate down. How very lazy, the oaf.

An idea sprang into Regis' mind then. "Hey, Magus," he called down to the old wizard. "What does this Sun lady say about attacking your enemy from behind?"