Fate/Zero - The Saint of Chaldea

Chapter 5 : Caster's attack and Gudako's ties

 After Kiritsugu had declared that he would not follow the rule set in place by the war arbitrator to only hunt down Caster and his Master, Gudako along with Saber and Maiya were left to their own devices in the dining room in which they had eaten their dinner and planned for what was to come.

Gudako knew that Caster would not take long to appear in the Einzbern forest accompanied by the children he planned to use as sacrifices to summon his demons. He had bragged about when Gudako was asking Lancer, Saber, and Rider about the Fourth Holy Grail War and he had the misfortune of being overheard by Atalanta.

Needless to say, Atalanta had tried to kill him but he managed to get away with only eight arrows and eight black key, courtesy of Ritsuka, lodged into his body, an arrow and a Black Key for each child he had killed that night.

As if Ritsuka's thoughts had summoned him, Irisviel and Kiritsugu barged into the room. Kiritsugu explained what was happening and he along with Maiya were loading and checking their weapons while Irisviel prepared a crystal ball.

"They are here." Irisviel said as she, Saber and Gudako looked at a crystal ball that showed Caster making his way through the forest surrounding the Einzbern castle accompanied by eight children wearing night clothes.

"Irisviel, the enemy is provoking us." Saber stated from Irisviel's left while Gudako stood on her Master right.

"They must be hostages." Irisviel commented as she observed the children Caster had brought with him.

"I must go save them." Saber spoke.

"As much as I hate to say it but it might be already too late for them, Saber. Caster must have made all the prerequisite step to use them as sacrifices for their summons." Gudako aid with a somber tone.

"There must be something we can do to save..." Artoria started but she was ut off by Irisviel.

"He knows we are observing him." Irisviel stated as Caster was giving them a closed eyes smile.

"As promised the other night, me, Gilles de Rais, as come before you." Caster said with a hand over his chest before he bowed his head. "I am asking for an audience with Jeanne, my beautiful sacred virgin." Caster continued.

"Irisviel!" Saber spoke a sense of urgency in her voice.

"Take all your time. I prepared myself to lead a siege." Caster said before he snapped his fingers freeing the children from their trance-like state.

"Now children, it's time to play cat. The rules are simple, you just have to try to escape." Caster started. "If not..." Caster continued with an angry voice as he grabbed a young boy by the head.

"Stop!" Saber yelled as Caster started to squeeze the kid's head.

Caster continued to squeeze the child head until his skull broke and blood was spread on the nearby tree, disgusting Irisviel who was looking away from the crystal ball while keeping her eyes closed, while also scarring the children away from him.

"Now, run! I count to one hundred and I'll go after you." Caster said as the seven other children ran away.

"So, Jeanne? How long do you think I'll need to catch them all?" Caster asked before he dropped the body he held in his right hand.

"Saber, eliminate Caster." Irisviel ordered Saber after looking at Kiritsugu for a moment.

"Yes." Saber responded.

"Gudako, go with Saber..." Irisviel started only to see her servant already ready for combat as she was wearing a suit of silver armor with blue highlights and that possessed a white open skirt that covered the sides and back of her legs. Gudako also had a pair of armored boots that were going up above her knees, a white cape attached to her shoulder and a sword with a golden hilt and crossguard, that were decorated by five blue gemstones, was attached to her servant's left side. What had stopped Irisviel in her speech was Gudako's eyes that held a look of unadulterated hatred.