"Do you actually have another plan?" said Lord Cruez, hands on hips, trying to shake the water from his hair and face.
"I always have a plan," Sera dismissed as she pulled off her drenched jacket which reopened her cuts.
Her pants looked bloated badly in the rain.
"The rain was a bother, but I might have something that works."
She shook herself and began undoing little chains in her belt.
"What!" Lord Cruez turned around.
"You need to look," said Sera in disgust.
"These guns seem to have gotten water in them, we have to make do with swords."
Out of little pouches in her pants, Sera began producing pistols and bayonets and swords.
Lord Cruez looked on in disbelief as Sera struggled to pull out the swords from inside the pouch.
"I didn't think this through." She mumbled in disgust.
"You carry an Armoury with you?" The awe was clear in the lord's voice.
"Just a little love of mine," said Sera between her teeth as she yanked a sword from its sheath almost cutting herself in the process.
"This was supposed to be accessible!" She undid a few more chains and yanked out some bullets.
"Will these work?" She handed them to the lord.
"No, they are all wet, but maybe we could put them into pistols, just in case."
Sera took out a little spiked bracelet and put it on. Then she pulled out another dagger.
"Do you think you can wield a dagger while keeping that spear?"
"I could....," The lord seemed a little hesitant.
"I still don't know what your plan is though."
"These soldiers that imprisoned you, were they yours?" Sera asked.
"The important thing is, will they be able to find us here?"
"No," said Lord Cruez. "Those soldiers belong to the Lord of Newcastle. Most of my soldiers are imprisoned too. Also, I'm the guard of the rust gates. No one knows where the rust gates are until I wish them to."
"Then we have got ourselves some time." Sera said. She seemed jittery. "But we really haven't any time!" She mumbled as she paced around.
Then she stopped, back against wall, and faced the lord.
"Lord Cruez, our clans have been rivals since the beginning of times. Your ancestors killed ours and have tried time and again to take over our land. But today poses a new threat. An outsider seeks to overthrow both of us and begin a rein of tyranny over all the lands. The only way to defeat him seems to be in our coalition. But tell me lord, should we be able to defeat the remainder of the Xaxtans, what will become of the future relationship of the Rivera and Cruez? Name your terms, what would you take from us?"
Lord Cruez sighed. He was slightly baffled by the long speech which was slightly self contradictory it seemed.
"I think we'll go back to ruling our own lands in our own ways. I don't actively do war, I know my father did, but once we can arrange for some peace terms with the Xaxtans, I think we need not bother each other any more?" he said.
"O Lord, think before you speak for your words would be used against you, if you stand by what you said, you give in to the condition of never attacking our land. If you break your word, you will be subject to dishonour and death."
"I know." Lord Cruez said, "But what is your plan?"
"To kill the Lord of Newcastle and the remaining Xaxtan soldiers."
"And there is no other option?" asked the lord.
"Cederic is beyond reason. He had this planned for years. He has lied at every opportunity. He has no honour, no right to be left alive."
"Then leave any soldiers that don't attack us," Lord Cruez said quickly, "without a leader they won't want to revolt alone. I'll take them under my land."
Sera nodded in agreement and handed the lord a dagger. She put a pistol in her belt and armed herself with the sword.
"Lead us to the castle room. I'm sure that's where we'll find the traitor."
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"These steps lead up to the throne room," whispered Lord Cruez.
The place was ominously dark and silent. Too silent, Sera thought, as they slowly began to make their way up.
A sudden movement in the shadows, Sera kicked Lord Cruez out of the way as a spear flew past him almost grazing his neck. Sera pulled a chain on her bracelet and two spikes flew off followed by a gagging sound. She rushed over and kicked the man's head, the surest way to silence the death.
"Run!" She hissed and they flew up the steps and plastered themselves against the walls of the passage which ended in the throne room.
"You can shoot in the dark?" Asked Lord Cruez.
"Yes," said Sera between her teeth, "this isn't the end, there are more, get ready."
She steadied her sword and advanced slowly keeping an eye out for more hidden assaulters.
Lord Cruez pointed his spear in front of him and put his back against Sera's.
"The stakes are high," he whispered.
"Oh! Higher than you think...." Sera lashed out at a shadow cursing the darkness under her breath.
Cederic knew her weaknesses so well. But then that had been his plan all along.
Action climbing once again.....I tilted the pov a little towards Lord Cruez at times...let me know what you thought of it.... Peace ~R
