Chapter 4
Battle of Larnmarn
You think for a moment, before you finally give Masked his answer... it seem more like an eternity. You think about both pros and cons. It is clear that he... she... uh. It is clear that Masked is up to something. He could just order you to do it and he know about that well enough. If he would show and talk to Alex, he would give him more help then he would need.
Masked have much more better options then contacting you, after all. For a moment, you feel fear. It never is good thing - have attention of archmage. Mages are mad enough, but archmages... at least hundred years of experience, dangerous knowledge... and sometimes, madness. It isn't easy to be still sane when you live for so many years... you don't even want to imagine how it must feel when you gather even darker knowledge then you did, as a spy. You could play along, but... it can get you in even more trouble.
You take a deep breath and finally respond. 'No, Masked. Thanks you for your offer, but I must refuse.'
Shining lines moves under hood, as creature gazes at you. You don't see anything that could say you what he thinks. He looks at you for a longer while and finally, nods.
'I see...' he starts moving and you take few steps back, looking at Samer, Maked and turning your eyes on door... you wonder if you can make it before he disintegrate you. But he doesn't seems to cast spell... no. He burst into mad laugh.
'Haha, I didn't predicted that. Yes, I must say that I was sure you will accept my offer. Ah, this is good, great even!' he looks at Samer and leans on his shoulder. 'Damn it, my dear friend. I didn't feeled so much exicitement in last... well, more then 50 years, that is damn sure.'
Samer only rolls his eyes, before he mutters. 'Yes, yes, boss. I understand.'
Masked turns to you again, as he finally stops laughing. 'Ah, so it seems that our ways parts again... You have work to do, didn't you?'
'Yes, even a lot of work to do.' your eyes examine gestures of Masked... you never meet such a weird being. All his movements, his sentences... his whole existence. He behaves almost like actor in theater. Yes, this is correct comparison. Not that you often visited theaters in past, but you know how people act and talk. You can't predict Masked at all... and that is probably his intention.
But you can do other thing. If he really plays some sort of his own game, maybe it will be worth to try... play it on your side? With his help you could do much more and what is even more important, you could to it
faster. But is wise to ask him for help? Probably not, but you can always try, right?
'Masked, I don't want to accept your offer... but I may have a counter-proposal for you.' you cross your hands on your chest. For a moment, Masked looks at Samer, before he finally turns to you.
'You have my attention now, my dear. Speak.' he titls his head looking at you. Samer seems to be even more then suprised, as he finally seems to don't be bored by everything around. Or maybe it is that he is more careful now?
'I... We, yes. We may need your help with getting to that tower... but I don't want to be among those that will get into it. I'm not one trained in fighting wizards... maybe you could still let inside little squad? You wanted to do it anyway, but maybe I will be able to speak with Alex and get something more then chaos from this situation for you or Circle?' you shrugs when you finish talking... it was good. Didn't heard like beg for help.
'My dear, of course I could do it. I could send even my agents inside and clean all that shit before it would do any more damage to dear Larnmarn...ians? This is how you say it?' Samer shrughs. 'Ah, doesn't important. I could do many things, anyway. Still it would take some time. But I don't do that. Becouse it would be not only boring, it would be... damn unwise. I have no interest in that town or fate of it's people. Like I said, some of Circle members could actually be happy if it will disappear.'
'Then, why do you gave me that offer in first place?' you ask, silently. You really want to rise your eyebrow, but it would be rather stupid. You don't want to make him angry. 'You have no interest in helping this town or me. Circle memeber will be able to stop demons before they will get whole town... and even if they do, you can just do same things as you did in Varin. I don't think another meteor would be bad idea in that case.'
'It is very simple... becouse it would't be so
exciting.' his eyes flashes when he says last word. 'You know, I'm not here on behalf of Circle, no. I'm here becouse I need some good entertainment... I was locked for 50 years underground, in world of ghosts of past and stagnation. Believe me, after that time, you would do anything to taste life again. And I love to taste it in pure form - dancing on the battlefield, screaming in mountains full of snow, throwing dices in smugglers den. Playing with fate.' his voice changes, when he continues. You hear... pleasure? Yes, but not only that. This voice is... different. 'Don't tell me you don't love it.' he touches area under his hood, that where his forehead should be. 'Remember, I know what you are, what you feel. You love that feeling when you creep between shadows, when enemy patrols area. You desire to hear secrets whispered in dark corners. When you run with message stolen from meessager bag, you feel that you live. It is what make you feel good, what make you feel that you are yourself. You are same as me, Weaver, when I was younger. Long, long time ago.'
You shiver as you realize that it is your own voice, coming to your ears. But you don't speak. For a moment, you try to calm yourself, before you finally speak.
'Maybe. But I'm not here for that. Or either to entertain you.' you pause, when he tilt his head again. 'I'm here to finish my deal. What do you want? What could convince you to help us with our plans, Masked, Archmage of Circle?' your voice is cold, when you finish.
Samer looks at you and then at Masked, waiting for something. Masked himself look deeply into your eyes, again... before he chuckles.
'I must say that you have really big balls, my dear.' he eyes your body and adds. 'No offense. Not many people would ask it stright away, like this. But I like it and I like you... but you are on your own. I had offer for you and you didn't accepted it. Whole story, with ending. You are on your own, now... of course, I will help Council forces in Drunk Ward. I must be sure that my friend will have stable and clear situation when they come here. I wish you good luck with your plan, Spymaster... enough sitting, Samer. We must get to work... all of us.' tone of his voice tells you clear enough that you wasted your time there. You nod to both of them and finally get of the house, leaving Archmage and his Ageless to their own fate.
***
Two hours passes faster then you could predict. You talked with Masked only 30 minutes, but later, you had some work to do with commanding some squads of assassins. Some wizards tried to sabotage your efforts to blow up tower by destroying some dwarf digging machines and burning some of dwarves themselfs and they managed to actually slow you down, but they rather don't stop anybody else from anything, now.
On main front, situation don't look so bright. First clash was very... chaotic, you could say. From reports you know that despite large demonic forces still appearing in portal, Larnmarn forces managed to get some advanage... but at very high price. Casualties on both sides were terrible, as both of you didn't had much knowledge about real capabilities of each other. Demons mages managed to kill many of mercs and guard, but siege machines and archers either quickly convinced them to get back into portal, only to get trampled by other forces joining fight, or either slashed into pieces.
Last reports were better, thanks Gods. Demons were forced to regroup and stop attacking, becouse of high number of dead bodies blocking portal and probably high casualties. For now, battle stopped. But for how long? Castor doesn't seems too optimistic on that one.
"They will attack sooner or later, after Umbra or Pulvis will finish butchering those that pulled back. Of course, now their attack will be more coordinated. They know it isn't gonna be cakewalk."
You hope that Masked will do as he said and help Larmarn forces in battle... you know that he won't stop all of them for too long, alone. Even archmages must rest between casting spells. How many people can one archmage kill before he will be overwhelemed, knocked down and killed? Five hundred? Thousand? Two? Well, but you don't have time to exaclty worry about that...
Dwarves finally get their explosives and machines and started to dig... it was easier to say then do. Streets are made from magical stone, strengthened and enchanted to reist attempts like that... but dwarven miners succeed, after a while. Three trenches, around tower, slowly digged by dwarven miners are key to your plan. They managed to get into lower levels under Tower and dig some of those there, but it isn't enough to knock down whole tower. Shake it a bit, maybe... but it may not be enough. And you don't want to try your luck on that one. You may have only one chance...
In meanwhile, wizard forces managed to regroup and attack in other Wards again. Main forces of Larmarn were in Drunk, but you still got some of them around...
In Trade Ward, wizard forced were slaughtered, before they could even hide and regroup. Guard and Assassins, working together, managed to amubsh traitors and kill all of them.
In Central, main even was regular battle between group of adenturers on their way between Wards and some wizard forces. Working together with Guards, they managed to push them deep into alleys of ward.
Beggars Ward is now grave of many Larmarn soliders. Wizards amubshed them there before anyone could know about their plans and now most of your forces there were either slaughtered or moved to Drunk. Still, Alex managed to lock Ward down, so they are trapped there.
In Circle, wizards decided to stay on your side and surrendered leaders of their squad to assassins. You managed to get some informations about their plans and Alexander will know how to use those.
Both Thief and North Wards are still battlefield, where any of sides can't either defead or push forces of other side.
***
Dwarves worked faster then you ever saw in any human mine. Their tunnels slowly managed to get closer and closer to Tower... but it was too easy, wasn't it? Before you could even scream, gates of Tower opened and bunch of golems attacked miners, for now beyond range of tower obelisk spears. They killed some of miners and destroyed some machines, but two squads still are working. Third one was almost slaughtered, only few of them left... thanks Gods you need only one of those... but you know one would be main target. You did as dwarves suggested you to act.
You really didn't planned for this to take that long... battle started five hours ago, but you slowly managed to end this. Tunnels are almost ready to plant explosives inside, but golems still are problem. They keep sending those and from that you heard, they have quite large amount of those inside.
Finally, you hear that one of tunnels is ready.
***
'Aye.' dwarven foreman nods. 'One of tunnels is ready. Down there, we already planted enough of explosives. Now only other one and we are ready to go!'
Alexander finally breaks and turn to dwarf. 'Then do that already, for fuck sake! We are trying to save fucking town there, not open new adit, Gods damn!'
You smile, but it is smile without joy. You are tired and worried. This shit take too long. You know that demon forces still don't attack and it make you worry even more. Anytime now, they can attack again. Another wave of golems struck with dwarves and assassins... you see how some of golems crush bunch of people right into street...
But suddenly, something hits you. For a moment, you fell on your knees... did somebody throw stone? You look around when Alexander sits next to you, talking... you don't hear him.
And then you hear Castor voice, mixed with voice of demon. They are scarred... no. They feel terror.
'
WEAVER! FOR FUCK SAKE, BLOW UP THAT TOWER.' you heard some kind of explosion and scream of pain... you don't know if it was Castor. 'THEY ARE FUCKING HERE, UMBRA AND PULVIS ATTACKED WITH THEIR ELITE FORCES, WE ARE HOLDING BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH WE WILL BE ABLE TO - '
Contact stops as fast as it started... you pull Alex closer.
'Alex... blow this fuck... up! They are... there!' his eyes widens as he try to understand what you are talking about. You take deep breath and scream. 'THEY ARE BREAKING IN!'
For second, he looks at you... and then he screams. 'MOVE! MOVE! GET FUCKING CHARGES IN! AVIAN, SEND EVERY SPARE FORCE TO DRUNK! KARDIM, GET YOUR ASS FROM THERE AND COMMAND GUARD SAME! WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME!'
You need a while to get back to normal... so this is why he didn't wanted to use that contact method? Damn it, you are thinking about shit when realy important things are going south. Finally, you are able to stand... and almost dies when spear hits in building next to you...
Your last thought before you faint is - 'How those bastards managed to shoot so far...?'
***
When you wake up, everything is already happening. You see people fighting a bit closer to tower, where obelix shoots spears at them and golems stomps on everyone. They don't seems to care what happend to anyone else down there... you stand up and look around, trying to find anyone.
You are in small "hospital" that Larnmarn forces made in Wizard... At least somebody carried you a bit away from battle itself. You would be probably dead right now if not that... wait, why the hell they don't blow that fucking tower yet?!
You rush to place where explosives were connected to detonator... it wasn't too far away from battle, but you don't plan to engage into fight. Finally, you get there to heard argument between foreman, Regreh, Avian and Darder.
'For fuck sake, I said that we tried to place those wires in, but those spears cut them each time!' Foreman respond with anger to Avian, who is barely holding himself from attacking dwarf.
'If you can't do it, then let me do this fucking job.' Avian snarled gritting his teeth.
'Are you fucking deaf or you can't understand what I just told you?! THEY. CUT. WIRES. We fucking can't do anything.' foreman screams back.
Drader pushes him and he fall on ground, suprised.
'Stop fucking spreading bullshit, boy. We can set those of manually, with small detonator, on short range. Where you have that one?' he looks around, trying to find that.
'You are mad, old fool! With that amount of fucking explosives anybody who will try to do it will be tear to pieces!'
Regreh, (and both Avian and Darder) looks at him with disgust. Regreh also adds. 'Are afraid to die then, coward? Fine, I will go. Where is this thing?'
'You are all fucking mad.' formean looks into his backpack and throw little thing with wires and little switch on it. Regreh catches it.
'Fine, I know what to do. I will go.' he start walking toward tunnel, but takes only few steps before both Avian and older dwarfs stops him. He looks at them and frowns, suprised.
'You aren't going anywhere, Regreh. It is my hometown and I will fucking do it, not you. You aren't...' you decide to get into their argument before it will get too far. Men... arguing about that who will sacrifice himself... for Gods sake.
'All of you, shut up. Nobody of you is going in... neither I. You are too important.' they look at you, surpised. Regreh smiles and waves.
'Sleeping princess finally wakes up... good to know you are all right. Those fuckers almost got you. They wanted to kill Alex, but they messed it up. He is safe with Kardim, commanding forces from Citadel... Avian forced him to do it.' Avian smiles when Regreh mention his work in it.
'Hey, what it is what you do for your best friends, right?' he looks at you and nods, as his face became worried again. 'Weaver, listen... there is no other way. Nobody else know how to do it and everybody else are helding of golems. That fucker there didn't wanted to either join fight or blow it up. We mu - ugh!' he winces when Darder hits him in crotch. Regreh try to dodge his other punch, but you quickly knock him out with hilt of your knive.
Darder picks up detonator and nods. 'I see you saw what I wanted to do...' he smiles to you.
'Of course... I know when somebody want to attack. Experience, years of it.' you do same... and adds. 'Are you sure you want to do it?'
Old dwarf nods. 'Girl, I'm old. Older then you, much older. I was old when Goban-Tar happend... and this time, I have chance to do something right. Goban-Tar was a mistake. My mistake, at least... I would told you more, but we are running out of time. It was good to know you, girl.'
Before you respond, he rushes with crossbow in one hand and detonator in another. You nods, helping Avian get up...
She couldn't see what happend later. How old dwarf ran between fighting golems and dwarves. How one of spears hit him in middle of run, but he didn't fell on the ground. How he rushed into tunnel, between bodies of his earthkin, whispering silent prayer.
But she could see how he succeed.
***
When ground shaked, at first, nothing happend. Tower was still standing, like it always did, in middle of Wizard Ward. Weaver feeled how her heart beats harder and harder in her chest... did they failed? Was it mistake? Should she listen to archmage?
But then, slowly, field around Tower slowly started to disappear, as Tower itself shaked under it's own weight.
And then it feel on the ground, exploding into purple light and swallowing golems and many dwarves, guards and other people. Force of explosion knocked you and your companions on the ground... but you
succeed.
Little part two left, will end it tomorrow.