CHAPTER ASHBORN 418: THE GIFT OF DEATH

Scouting the Panav healers’ locations within Samar Patag was simple enough when one had a dozen Iksana elites at their disposal. Extracting them, however, was another matter entirely.

Thankfully, the Chitran saw fit to keep most of the collared healers in cages, and thanks to Nayan’s airship bombardment, the Chitran had other, more pressing priorities than guarding their prisoners.

So utterly foolish, Vir thought as he slit the throat of the lone Chitran guard left behind to look after the dozen-odd Panav locked in a cage. Did they not think to bring their healers with them on their panicked charge?

Samar Patag was nearly a ghost city, with the army mostly out on their desperate attempt to destroy the airships. The city’s residents had long ago boarded themselves up in their homes, and streets now belonged to the shadowy wraiths that flitted here and there. Wraiths of the Ash—Vir’s forces.

Owing to the Chitrans’ focus outside the walls, there had been almost no fighting thus far. With luck, by the time the Chits returned, they would return to a city already occupied and taken. If Vir’s forces were quick enough, they might even be able to shut the gates, taking the ramparts and forcing the Chits to remain out in the open, where they would be annihilated by the airships.

It all depended on how quickly Vir could finish up here with the Panav.

In their haste to attack Nayan’s position, it seemed the Chits had neglected to bring their healers along. Either that, or they didn’t trust the Panav, now that they’d enslaved them.

For, while their healing arts could certainly mend wounds, they could also permanently cripple their patients, should the wounds be sewn improperly. All Panav boasting their healing arts swore an oath to never use their abilities in such a manner…

But desperation made an army do all sorts of foolish things. Be it due to distrust or simple mismanagement, the Panav had been left behind.

“Who are you?” a caged Naga asked.

“The Akh Nara,” Vir said. “And I have come to take my city back from the invaders. AS my first task, I will be freeing all of you and breaking your collars.”

“You… Can do that?” a woman naga asked.

Without a word, he sliced open the cage’s bars and surged a burst of prana through the collars, shattering them all.

“I just did,” Vir said with a smile. “Now, would you like to be evacuated to Panav? Or would you like to help heal my army’s injured?”

----------------------------------------

Vir visited several other sites, and thus far, not a single naga had chosen to flee. As such, he’d sent them through a Gate to the Gargan Forest, where several remained, tending to the injured. The others retreated to the Bairan camp to report to Tara. She immediately put them to good use.

As for the remaining nagas…

“Leveraging your Iksana spies, I have compiled a list of every naga’s location, as well as suggested ways to extract them,” Raoul said, handing Vir a scroll. Unfurling it, Vir found a rudimentary map of the city with a dozen X’s, each marking the location of other nagas.

Despite all his training in hiding emotions, Vir found his eyes bulging. He searched Raoul’s eyes for any trickery or deception.

“I can confirm it is all accurate,” Ashani said, ducking into the hut they were currently in. “I accompanied him every step of the way.”

That explains that, Vir thought. If Raoul showed even half this competence when attacking the castle, Samar Patag would fall without a struggle. Given how utterly terrified of the goddess the demon seemed to be, Vir suspected that outcome was more likely than not. s

As elated as Vir was about Raoul’s shift in attitude, the contents of his map gave him some concern.

“So the easy pickings have been rescued,” Vir muttered. The remaining nagas were assigned to the various details manning the city’s ramparts. To get them out, Vir would have to fight his way through the Chitrans’ ranks.

He made the hard call. “As much as I wish to personally save these Panav, I’m afraid there’s no time. We need to take the castle keep before the Chitran army returns.”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“Then allow me to handle this,” Raoul said. “Give me a detachment of troops, and I will guarantee you their safety.”

Vir hesitated. He’d intended to bring Raoul along during the castle’s assault, where he could keep an eye on him.

“You need field commanders,” Raoul said. “I know you’ve no reason to trust me right now. But I can help you. I can command your forces better than anyone. You have Iksana spies. Assign one to me. Should I do anything suspicious, you will know immediately. Please… Let me help.”

“And if you do?” Vir said. “If you conduct yourself with excellence and save all those Panav? What then? What do you expect will happen after?”

Raoul bit his lip, staring holes in the ground. “I know you know about my deception. And I now know I have been fed misinformation this whole time. I’ve been played as the fool, and revealed as the traitor. I ask only for a swift death.”

Vir raised an eyebrow. “No mercy? No pleas of clemency?”

Raoul grimaced. “I would not forgive me, were I in your position. How can I possibly ask for such a thing? I ask only for the chance to redeem myself. To restore what is left of my tattered honor.”

“Very well, then,” Vir said. “Your performance today shall determine your fate afterward. Shine with excellence, and… I may consider other options.”

Raoul’s eyes widened in surprise. “I will not fail you, Akh Nara. I swear this to all the gods.”

----------------------------------------

Despite his many reservations, Vir decided to put his faith, not in Raoul, but in the two Iksana ghaels he assigned to tail the demon from the shadows. Hopefully, that would be enough to ensure the demon didn’t do anything stupid… Or try and slip away thinking no one was watching.

Vir’s intuition had rarely led him astray in the past, and right now, it was telling him that Raoul would not betray them. At least, not here, today.

Regardless, Vir simply did not have the mental capacity to worry about such matters. His attention turned once again to the unfolding battle—the war to reclaim his city—and while Ekat’Ma had been giving him regular updates, there was no substitute for observing the battle firsthand.

“Ashani?” Vir asked, staring up at the fleet of airships that loomed above the city. “Mind creating an Ash Gate to that lone ship above the center of the Chitran army? I think we could use a bit of elevation.”

“My pleasure,” Ashani said, materializing a Gate out of thin air, which Vir then stabilized and stepped through.

Vir was thankful when the only reaction to his sudden arrival was a pause in the flurry of activity on deck, followed by nods of respect and averted eyes, before they continued with their work. All, that was, except for Nayan, who was apparently so fixated on the carnage Cirayus was wreaking below to have noticed Vir and Ashani’s arrival.

“I’d say things are going well, wouldn’t you?” Vir said, placing a hand on Nayan’s shoulder.

The demon yelped and jumped away, before blushing furiously when he realized his present company.

As always, Nayan chose to ignore Ashani’s presence, focusing on Vir.

“Akh Nara,” he said, coughing awkwardly. “I am happy you have come.”

Vir chuckled. “How goes the bombing?”

“Well,” Nayan said. “With Matiman so focused on fighting Cirayus, he’s proven unable to move the kothis to safety as before. Our bombs have become far more effective.”

“Good. Though it seems the forest is another story.”

“Yes,” Nayan said, frowning. “I’m afraid the fire has progressed too far. The forest is lost.”

Vir had considered fighting the fire earlier—with Ashani’s help, it would be trivial to open a Gate at the bottom of a forest in the Ash, with the other end pouring onto the blaze. A near-unlimited supply of water that could be reaimed on a moment’s notice by creating new Gates.

Except that it required both Vir and Ashani’s presence, and he had deemed saving the Panav more important. As frustrating as it was, the forest would have to burn. It would grow again, as it had countless times throughout history.

“Pull out your troops,” Vir said. “Abandon your base. The flames have nearly reached them.”

“Are you certain, Akh Nara?” Nayan said. “Without the forward base, we will have to fall back to the rear one, some fifty miles south. Our transit times will mean we will be unable to bomb the Chitran army as effectively.”

“You’ve done well, Nayan,” Vir said. “You’ve already inflicted heavy casualties on the bulk of their army. Any further loss of gains is a cost I am willing to accept,” Vir said. “I will not risk my Warriors lives to a fire. Conserve your bombs. Make each one count. Besides, the Chitran are about to have far more serious problems. Ekat’Ma?”

“Ready,” the Iksana said, emerging from Vir’s shadow.

“Signal the field commanders within Samar Patag. Tell them the need for secrecy is over. Tell them to storm the walls and secure the Gates. The war for Samar Patag has begun.”

“So, this is the end, then,” Nayan said, staring down at the carnage Cirayus was wreaking. It was almost comical watching one demon wreak so much havoc on an army of thousands. Especially one controlled by a single entity. Despite the Chitrans’ Ultimate Art, they were simply no match for the force of nature that was Cirayus. For no amount of coordination could defeat the might of Balancer of Scales.

“No, Nayan,” Vir said. “This is only the beginning. The beginning of a new world, and a new era of demonkind.”

“I assume you plan to take the castle now?”

Vir nodded. “As much as I’d love to join Cirayus, he has the situation handled. Once our forces take the city’s walls and trap Matiman’s army outside, his ranks will crumble. Cirayus alone, aided by your bombs, will be more than enough to route them. Even Demonic Overlord has a limit, after all.”

Whoever held the castle held Samar Patag. There sat the throne. There sat the recognition of all the world. For there to be peace in the city, he’d have to kill or rout every last Chitran Warrior. The Chits knew that, and had built all manner of barricades to secure the castle. A frontal attack would have been utter disaster. Which was why Vir and Ashani had to be the ones to take it.

“Still…” Vir said, his expression darkening. “I suppose there’s one thing I can do to help the old man out. One last gift I’m uniquely suited to give to the Chitran Raja.”

“Oh?” Ashani asked. “And what hidden talent might that be?”

Vir smiled, but there was no joy in his eyes. “The only one I know. The gift of death.”