The draconian's clawed fists clenched the axe tighter as Zigferd growled. Slowly, it turned, breaking its gaze with Zigferd. "Return him to his cell," it called as it strode back to the awning. "We will talk again soon."
The gnolls stepped forward, thrusting their spears at Zigferd, who stood his ground. SJ could see the veins in his forehead bulging as he strained to prevent his transformation. The bear within was attempting to force its way to the surface.
The watching captives were shouting and screaming in response to the ent's death, SJ burned with shame that she didn't even know the councillor's name. Crestfallen, she watched as the gnolls guarding the captives began striking those nearest the entrance with the butts of their spear.
That was when it happened, the roar shattered any other sound in the vicinity. Zigferd's head had changed fully, undergoing a partial transformation that turned him into a nightmarish version of man and bear. His head tilted to the sky as the roar left his lungs. SJ stared as he struggled to maintain the remainder of his body, which fluctuated his limbs briefly, flickering as though about to change. The manacles, if he had changed, would have torn him apart.
The gnolls near him staggered backwards, only one remaining where it stood, wearing robes and holding a staff with a skull top. Zigferd's head suddenly reformed back into the middle-aged human form she knew so well. On doing so, it dropped to his chest as tears continued to flow freely. He looked broken, stricken with grief.
SJ's heart broke watching her friend go through such torture. All she wanted to do was fly down and free him, but she had no means to remove the manacles or even to combat the guards around him. His cry of anger had drawn the attention of the draconian guards as well, their sabres now drawn and pointing towards him. If the draconians were unerved by his sudden transformation, then the gnolls were terrified. They yipped and barked, shoving each other.
A gnoll dressed in robes stepped forward, barking further orders, and slowly, calm returned to them. Nothing could stem the cries of dismay from the captives, though. SJ saw many of the beings she recognised and passed daily pleasantries with during her usual town duties.
Anger boiled inside her, crashing like a crescendo against her very soul. She would seek revenge for them all.
Eventually, the gnolls started to herd Zigferd back to the cells, and as he disappeared out of sight back inside the jail, SJ decided it was time to act.
"Come on, Kibble. We have work to do," SJ whispered to her companion. He growled in response and hopped following her as she moved across the rooftop.
'Dave?'
Still silence. She cursed, wishing her friend were there to speak to.
SJ took off and flew over the streets. As they left the proximity of the barracks, the streets became quieter as she started to look for targets. Her mind was set, and she would take as many of the attackers out as she could, even if it meant she died in the act.
Her first target, she discovered, was searching through some crates near one of the alchemist's stores. This was where Darren performed his training with Master Rui, and she knew the location well, having visited him on several occasions while there. The two gnolls in the yard were busy breaking open crates and barrels in the rear yard, where deliveries were received.
SJ dropped down to the roof edge, Kibble joining her.
Her claws were already equipped as she watched the gnolls. They were discarding anything they thought worthless, throwing the contents of crates or emptying barrels onto the ground.
"Kibble. I'm going for the one on the right. Can you take the one on the left?" SJ whispered. Her target was the larger of the two gnolls. SJ hadn't even bothered triggering her identification skill; she didn't care. These were going to be hit-and-run tactics. The plan was to cause as much chaos as she could across the town.
Kibble again growled in response.
"Okay," SJ said as she pushed off the roof. The two gnolls had their backs to each other as they searched, and SJ immediately flew directly at her target. The gnoll had nothing protecting its head, and she aimed for the top of its skull, triggering her puncture skill as she did.
The two-inch miniature blades sank deeply as she immediately grew. Her legs bracketed its shoulders as her weight bore it down to the ground. The cry that the gnoll let out was short-lived as it slumped forward, releasing its last gasping breath. The instructions on beings and their weak points that Fas had shared were clear in her mind. The only beings she would ever have to really worry about were orcs, from what she was aware, due to their biology.
As she struck, there was a flash of brilliant blue light, and she watched Kibble hit the other gnoll perfectly on the top of his head with his lightning. Her vision allowed her to witness the fur catching fire and the gnoll screaming in shock and pain. As soon as her target fell to the ground, she spun and crossed the distance to the second gnoll. It was frantically crying, trying to put out the flames on its head as more of its fur caught fire, as the blue lightning flickered across its surface, until it reached the ground and was earthed.
Without a pause, SJ struck, her claws penetrating its back with ease, and she withdrew them, bringing her foot into the rear of its knee, unbalancing it and making it stumble before slashing with her hand at the nape of its neck. Her display was going wild with notifications, but she paid them no attention. As soon as she was sure the gnoll wouldn't survive, she shrank and took off. Kibble hovered above, waiting for her.
As they flew over the streets, SJ watched for any reaction. Their strikes had gone unnoticed, and she hoped she could do several more before the alarm might be raised. She wished that Fas were with her; between them, they could assassinate so many.
Her next target was alone. The gnoll walked down the street, looking into the windows of buildings as it passed. The doors to most of the properties were already open, and this gnoll appeared thinner and almost malnourished, its limbs gangly compared to others. It passed Earlquois' storefront and detoured inside. SJ flew down and found the gnoll gnawing greedily on a haunch of hogling. She sneered as she flew directly at it, with reckless abandon. Her anger consumed her pity for its state. There was no consideration of the danger of the higher level beings; she currently had no fear and no concept, her single-minded thought leading her.
As the gnoll fell to the ground dead, she again immediately shrank and left the shop, where Kibble had remained outside, before moving back up to the rooftops.
The pair of them carried on their attacks, taking out thirteen more gnolls, before the first sound of an alarm was raised. The whomping sound of the wooden instruments the draconians used started to wail in the dimly lit streets of the town. Its haunting sound sent a shudder down SJ's spine. She had been in the process of aligning another strike when it had started, and on hearing it, she flew directly back up again into the air.
The realisation of her maddened flurry of murder only briefly entered her mind. Tonight, she truly had been an assassin.
Barks and shouts could be heard in the distance as beings moved, calling for their comrades. She couldn't tell exactly where they were, due to the echo caused by the buildings, but she had a good idea that they were coming from the barracks area, where the main bulk of the enemy had been, from what she had observed.
"I think that's it for now," SJ said to Kibble.
He squeaked in response as they flew back again towards the barracks, passing patrols hurrying through the town's streets. Groups of six or eight, some escorted by a draconian rider. SJ would go and check on Zigferd again. Her plan was simple. Strike, retreat, allow them to think that everything had calmed down, and she would do it again. She hadn't even looted any of their targets, and she cursed inwardly, realising. Although she doubted they carried much of value, considering the state some of them had been in. It was plainly obvious from her few interactions that there was a significant hierarchy amongst the troops. The ones she had struck appeared to be those that were on the fringe of the forces, rather than the ones who remained as the main guard around the barracks.
After reaching the barracks, SJ observed the goings on for a while before again telling Kibble to stay and dropping back down to the window of the cell Zigferd had been in. The coast was clear, and she landed on the sill, peering into the darkened interior. The previous lights in the jail area had been extinguished, and the cell was in virtual darkness. Thankfully, her vision adjusted quickly and she saw Zigferd leaning against the cell wall, his knees brought up and his arms wrapped around them, hugging them, with his head drooped.
She moved between the bars, which wasn't difficult in her miniature form and dropped to the ground, landing silently.
"Zigferd," she said quietly. Although noise filtered in from outside, the interior of the jail was almost silent.
The bear of a man lifted his head. His cheeks showed the tracks his tears had left.
"SJ. You need to get out of here," he whispered. His voice was weak and almost silent. This wasn't the beast of a being and friend she knew so well; the strength and resolve he was known for clearly quashed.
"And you need to stop feeling sorry for yourself," SJ snapped. Her adrenaline hadn't stopped flowing once since she had begun her hits, and her heart still raced. She spoke frantically, not in panic but with a rushed sense of being.
Zigferd frowned. "Sorry? I don't feel sorry for myself. I feel for the town. Every member who is injured or killed feels like a knife is being plunged into me." His words hit home hard, grounding SJ's frantic emotions.
SJ paused her immediate response, freezing on her tongue.
"I need to get those manacles off you."
"Good luck. They're soulbound and were placed by a shaman. That is why I'm unable to transform. Normally, anything I wear or am touching I can absorb into my inventory, unless held by another when I transform."
SJ didn't really understand the transformation process of a lycan, although considering the magical locks she had placed on her when she had been captured in Asterfal, she wasn't going to question his comments.
"There must be something I can do to help?"
"Yes. Get safe. Find Alice, Isavil and the rest. They were heading to the crags."
"I will do that in time, but for now, you are my priority."
Zigferd half smiled. A fleeting vision of his previous self, crossing the large man's features.
"No. I'm a prize for them. With me, they will hopefully leave the others alone."
SJ scoffed. "And you believe that? I saw what they did when they took you outside. They have no interest in the beings who live in the town."
Zigferd shook his head. "No, you are wrong. He did what he did to create the fear he was seeking. He wants the town compliant. The only reason I am still alive is that he doesn't know what impact it may have on those captured. We still, even in our reduced and weakened state, outnumber them, and it is amazing what grief and anger can do. I should know..." Zigferd looked off into the distance, his eyes losing focus.
"How can you be so sure?"
Again, he turned and met SJ's gaze. "I have witnessed similar before. Many years ago, before I even considered moving to Killic."
SJ was still not fully aware of Zigferd's past endeavours; there had never been a need to discuss his history. Zigferd had been the mayor of Killic for years. This wasn't the time for either to discuss the past, and SJ just nodded, not in acceptance, but at least understanding.
"I need to tell you something," SJ said, her voice even softer as she spoke.
"What?" Zigferd blankly stared.
"The being behind this. I know who it is, and why."
"Who?" Zigferd's brow furrowed.
A cry came from the corridor. They both looked towards the barred window of the cell door. A light flickered as a lantern broke through the darkness, followed by a barking and broken common of a gnoll screaming obscenities. They didn't speak, listening intently. After several moments, the commotion died down, with the slamming of a cell door, and the light retreated.
Another being must have just been locked up.
"Who?" Zigferd repeated.
SJ let out a deep breath. "Bellakiy."
Zigferd didn't respond. His face was blank as he processed the revelation. Then SJ noticed the flickering transition as, again, his veins throbbed in his forehead.
"Calm down," SJ hissed.
Zigferd's breathing had quickened, and his face slowly contorted into one of sheer rage. His teeth gritted in a tight grimace.
"Zigferd. Stop!" SJ repeated.
He stared through her, not at her, as anger flushed through him. The bear's jaws flicked into existence momentarily, and SJ was glad they didn't erupt in a roar as he transformed back into his humanoid form. Eventually, his breathing slowed, and with a deliberate breath, he brought his pulse back down, as the throbbing veins receded.
"Did you see him?" he asked through gritted teeth.
"I did. I overheard him with someone I believe is the draconian's second in command. A draconian named Markisha Lystrial."
"That scum."
SJ would probably have used more colourful words than Zigferd to describe the traitorous being.
After a moment, Zigferd spoke again. "I need you to do me a favour."
"What?" SJ asked hopefully.
"Can you go to my house. There is a false panel in the drawer in my writing desk. Underneath, you will find two communication stones. One is for a direct link to the chancellor, which I have never used. The other is to contact Petunia. It has a yellow gem on it. Get it and let Petunia know that Bellakiy is behind this."
"But Petunia won't be able to help. She can't act in this region, her level forbids it."
"Hers might, but Wystria can. Wystria was furious with her brother's actions and kicked him out, disowning him. If she is aware that he is behind the insurgency, I can guarantee that she will take action. If Petunia knew of my current fate, I also know she wouldn't sit waiting."
"How can Wystria help? She is the High Cleric of Asterfal. What can she do here in Killic?"
"Exactly that, she is the High Cleric of the most powerful church in the largest city in the South. She has access to resources that we could only ever imagine."
"You believe she would act?"
"I know she would."
"What did Asterfal say when you informed them of the issues?"
"Their troops are spread; the issues being caused due to the continuing attacks by the rogue fae and dark elves have kept them busy."
"So they accept, they are rogue fae?"
"Yes and no. There is more political involvement than you or I are aware of, but Larianco I know it heavily involved with the chancellor."
Zigferd had never revealed so much about his political understanding of what was happening across the south to this degree, and it came as a shock; she wasn't sure why he hadn't informed her or discussed it with her before.
"I thought they were sending troops? Cristy said they were."
"They are and they will, but I doubt it will be enough to take back the town. It was going to be a contingency force to help with the defence. Engineers and strategists mainly. We have lost our advantage since they attacked. To take the town back will take considerable effort and resources, which we don't have."
"I will do what you ask," SJ said.
"Then go, do it now before dawn. The sooner Wystria is aware, the sooner she will get involved. Her hands would usually be tied, due to her position, but with family involvement and her name at stake, I can guarantee that it will take precedence. The church will not wish to get tarnished."
SJ didn't want to leave Zigferd trussed up as he was, but couldn't do anything to help at the moment. She resigned herself to doing his bidding.
"I'll go immediately." SJ turned and started to take off, turning in midair as she neared the window. "And stay calm!"
Zigferd smiled weakly. "I'll try."
SJ left through the window, immediately flying back to the roof and finding Kibble. He squeaked at her appearance and brushed against her as she landed.
"We need to go to Zigferd's, we have a task to do."
Kibble nodded his little head as they both took off and headed across the town.
Zigferd's home was a large Victorian-style building near the lakeside by the docks, where he and Isavil had made their home. Until he had married Isavil, it had been a plain, drab building, but since her arrival in Killic, it had been transformed. The door was open, and items were strewn across the front lawn area as they neared. The sign of recent ransacking.
SJ slowly approached the front door. The area was still in darkness, the only light was from a lone lantern that hung on a post, by the jetty, swinging gently in the night's breeze. The remainder of the wharf and surrounding buildings were shrouded in darkness.
Entering it didn't take SJ long to find Zigferd's writing desk. It was in the year room on the ground floor where he had a study. The room had been ransacked, papers and a shattered ink well stained the floor, broken vases, spilling their contents, and a bright bouquet, which SJ guessed Isavil had placed, lay dying.
SJ grew and began searching the desk. The drawers were open, and on searching, she couldn't find the hidden drawer. She equipped her claws and punctured the drawer's base until she created a gap large enough for her to get her fingers in and prise the hidden compartment open. Underneath the drawer, there were several papers, which SJ ignored, and two small velvet pouches. She collected them both and shrank again immediately, leaving.
She could see the occasional light working through the streets as they flew again into the night sky, knowing that patrols now roamed after her recent activity and instead of flying back into he town headed immediately across the water to the island where the docks were. She flew over Setu's darkened house and headed for Alice and Darren's cottage.
