Whispers of A Dead Empire

Chapter 106

A few days later:

I rested my polearm against a chair positioned slightly across the war table. "We have lost contact with the outposts here, here and here." As I spoke, I reached out and pointed out each one. All three were close to the stronghold, which didn't bode well for us in the slightest. "We have also lost contact with a few scout parties, as well as some squads sent to check out the location and bring it back into the fold."

"Hmm, that is troublesome." Octavian's voice was as thunderous as usual. But he regarded the map with well-practiced eyes. "Usually, the outsiders sack and leave, but whoever is doing this seems to have something specific in mind. Do you think the delegate known as Redrick has anything to do with this?"

My gaze lingered on the map for a moment as a bad feeling coiled in my stomach. "No. It's doubtful. He has too much to lose. Perhaps I should start evacuation procedures. I can take the princess and all other vital assets to the palatine stronghold. At least for a time. If an assault is coming, we better be prepared at least."

"Hmm. If that is the case, I might delay the crusade for a day or so or bait out whatever may lurk in the forest. Crush them, and then march forward to take the town." He tapped at the map with an abnormally large finger. His flesh looked withered and looked sickened in the faint candlelight.

"You can bait them out. However, I want to get the princess away from here before any fighting starts. If something were to happen to her, the Empress would have my head." I reached out and grabbed my poleaxe. Everything I needed to do was almost done. I just needed to get to Lord Kharon and then to Nyx.

"Of course. The princess is of the utmost importance. I will position troops around the forest to act as an early alarm system. Once you are out of danger, we will begin the operation." He pushed away from the table and crossed his massive arms.

"Good. Stay safe out there, Octavian." I spun the axe around, rested it on my shoulders, and gave him a curt nod before making my way out of the room and into the stronghold.

All the troops were busy bustling around, mainly to ensure that they were prepared for the stronghold to get attacked. It was something that didn't happen often, and only the most daring of the outsiders had attempted to do it. But each time they tried, it was always in large numbers. I glided across the ground, ignoring all the gazes that had turned my way. I didn't have time for it all.

I came to the classroom door and quickly pushed it open. Kharon stood in front of a large blackboard with a single piece of chalk as white as his bones. Upon that blackboard was a diverse set of runes and what they meant, but I had no genuine interest in any of that. Nothing that my blades couldn't take care of.

"Kharon, I've come to retrieve the princess." My words filled the space between us, and I saw Nyx perk up from her desk at my words. 'There are signs of an assault coming to the stronghold. I've really come to take all the high-value assets out of here." I sent the words across the mental link to not spook the Empress' daughter.

"Ah, I see. Nyx, you are free to go." He clacked his jaw together, set the piece of chalk down onto its metal home, and shot me a glance. 'The stronghold is supposed to be under a ceasefire for now. Are you sure?"

The child quickly shoved all the papers on her desk into her small backpack. "Okay, Mr. Kharon." Though she sounded sad, I was sure that she wasn't. That was far too fast for someone who didn't want to leave.

'Almost certainly so. The threat is unknown, but the intelligence briefings don't show that Redrick is involved.' I turned my attention back to Nyx as she walked over to me. She wore a black dress that stopped shy of her ankles. The hem was tiered into three different layers, with the first being bundled up near the top before dropping into the next tier. Small designs were stitched into the clothing and seemed to drink in the surrounding light like a beggar thirsting for water. "Are you ready to go?"