Bodanen: Cobalt War

Chapter 23: Suspicious Talk

Two days passed in a flash as the group of five and one prisoner, flew down the imperial highway. The suns were just rising past the horizon as they reached the east gate of Alyd. They parked their car at the side of the gate, and six persons exited. At the end of a rope was the supervisor from the compound. He was being led around by Siegfried as they were approached by four armoured guards. "Are you all Sir Siegfried, Sir Boris, Sir Blake, Sage Talib, and Chieftess Sayen? We've been expecting you." The guard gave a courteous nod of respect toward the five.

"Indeed. And I'm assuming you're the guards that the court sent to meet us, correct?" Siegfried nodded toward the guards in response. "If so, we come bearing a gift." With that, Siegfried pulled on the rope, forcing the supervisor forward. "He's the head of the stubborn bandit's base to the northeast that has been destroyed. He's been rather...uncooperative; we were hoping someone in the capital could help...sort him out?" Siegfried handed the rope over to the leader of the four guards.

"Very good. We will let his majesty know of your delivery. What of all of you? Though your mission is of the utmost secrecy, you are all heroes. Will you rest, or are you to head out again." The guard roughly shoved the supervisor to one of the other guards.

"Unfortunately, we must move on. Give them our best." Siegfried began to leave with the others when the head guard stopped him abruptly.

"I'm sorry, sir. I don't want to be rude, but I wanted to thank you personally. I've family up near Cyneburg, and I've been worrying for some time now about those blue bestial bastards wandering about. But, with their destruction and their leader's capture, I can rest easier. So, you and your friends have my thanks, from the bottom of my heart; thank you." The guard gave the five travellers a deep bow, which was quickly mirrored by the other three guards before he stood straight at attention. "We wish you safe travels and swift victory!" with that, the four guards do a quick heel turn and lead the tied supervisor through the city toward the palace.

"Hm...good guys." Siegfried made a passing comment as he returned to the car

"Sieg, I do not believe that his majesty would be so lax with information concerning such an important operation such as ours to share it with the common guards. While they were in charge of retrieving our prisoner, they would not need to know of his identity." Boris whispered into Siegfried's ear as they entered the living compartment again.

"Yeah, I know. I tried to be vague about who he was; I've heard that some bandit camps are operating to the northeast of here that have been giving travellers just as many problems as the blues have, so I'd thought I'd give them a good story. ...while he did seem sincere about his thanks...something just doesn't feel right. Stay on your guard...and keep this between us for now, yeah?" Siegfried looked back to the gateway that the guards had returned through, worry in his eyes.

"Yeah, I was thinking the same. I do hope it is simply a mistake, but at worst...there may be a traitor or spy within the king's court." Boris wore a grim visage that hid a hint of fear.

"Let's hope not..." Siegfried turned to the car once more and entered. Once Boris passed him, he closed the door with a final glance at Alyd. "...Let's hope not."

#

Nearly a week had passed since the travellers had left Alyd and their prisoner behind. Over five days, Boris had taught Siegfried the basics of operating the car so Boris could have a chance to rest as well as not have the group depending on him entirely for transportation. Along the same vein, Talib came forward to tell the others that he, too, could drive a car, much to the group's joy. Driving was divvied up between the three, and their days were spent idly watching the world as it passed by the windows, reading, training, or some other activity to stave boredom off. By evening, they parked by the side of the road and trained before they ate and then settled in for the night, rotating between themselves for lookout duty. They were heading south toward the city of Alssahra, the capitol of the dark elves and the original home of the Towers of Knowledge, the City of Knowledge, hidden among the sands of the Fajr Desert. It would be a few days more before they would reach the Talon Marsh and the Seiryu River, and beyond those was the desert to contend with. They were, however, undaunted by the terrain that lay before them; they pressed ever onwards.