CHAPTER ASHBORN 423: INFILTRATORS (ONE)

Several options were available to Vir—a luxury most others in his position would have lacked. The frontal approach was the most obvious recourse, yet the one likely to cause the most casualties. The ballistae designed to destroy his airships now had their sights set on the ground, their devastating projectiles easily enough to rip apart any demon unlucky enough to take a hit. His soldiers’ Ash training would not help them here.

The more appealing option was for Vir to leverage Dance of the Shadow Demon to slip inside, sowing chaos and weakening them from within, before opening the gates for his forces to rush through.

At least, that had been the plan, until Ekat’Ma brought him a most disturbing report.

“They have systemically starved the castle of its prana,” she said. “All affinities are now near zero. The use of talents will prove most difficult. Two of my spies were unable to return through the shadows…”

“Which means they are inside the castle, even now?” Vir asked.

Ekat’Ma nodded. “They were under orders not to expose themselves. However, I worry for their safety.”

This turn of events complicated matters significantly. While the Chitran had no way of depleting the Ash prana, the amount of it at Samar Patag was negligible to begin with. Vir was not adversely affected. His forces, however, absolutely were. They’d trained hard to retain as much prana within their bodies, but a few months was not enough time for the average demon to master that technique. They bled prana continuously, and the recent fighting had done them no favors.

“Talents will be severely weakened,” Raoul said, scratching his chin as he looked up at the towering keep. “But more worryingly, this means they have someone capable leading them. Who knows what other traps they’ve in store for us?”

“Indeed,” Vir said, impressed at the demon’s reasoning. “Ashani and I will infiltrate the castle with our Ash Wolves. We’ll seek to sow as much chaos as we can, forcing the Chitran away from the walls. In the narrow confines of the castle’s halls, we will hold the advantage. Their numbers will amount to naught. In the meantime, I want our forces rotating back into the Ash to replenish their prana reserves.”

“That will mean reducing our presence within the city,” Raoul said with a frown. “Is that wise?”

“Better than fighting dry,” Vir said. “Besides, with the city under our control and the bulk of the Chitran army destroyed, the Chitran holed up in the castle would have to be fools to come out into the open to attack us. As you said, they seem to be led by a capable commander.”

“Very well,” Raoul said. “I’ll devise a schedule and begin the rotation immediately… Best of luck, Akh Nara.”

Vir met the demon’s gaze, and was surprised to find genuine concern in his eyes.

“And you,” Vir said with a nod, hiding his mixed emotions. Though Raoul’s about-face had gone a long way toward restoring Vir’s respect for him, there would be no restoring his faith. Not when he’d betrayed Vir already. Cirayus had made it quite clear that treason within the ranks had to be snuffed out with the heaviest of hands. But that was a problem for later, once he’d taken Samar Patag.

Vir just hoped he had enough prana to shuttle everyone back and forth. To be safe, he’d hopped over to the Ashen Realm after leaving Cirayus’ side to replenish his reserve—one of the many luxuries afforded by Ashani’s Gates.

As ever, Shan was impeccable with his timing, arriving by Vir’s side the moment he needed him, along with his entourage of a half-dozen brothers and sisters, all of whom were larger than him. Where the wolves had been or what they’d been doing, Vir couldn’t say, but the blood around Shan’s mouth gave him a hint. They were the unsung heroes, supporting the fight from the shadows, though from what Vir had heard, the wolves’ association with Ashani and Vir had earned them something of a cult of their own, with the Garga Lavani dedicating rituals in their honor—something the wolves seemed to enjoy greatly.

The difficulty lay in finding the optimal spot for infiltrating the castle. The permanent sunset provided long shadows, as always, but Vir’s range was limited. Far more limited than an Iksana boasting a true Dance of the Shadow Demon tattoo, and while he could extend the range by burning more prana, he needed to conserve that precious resource as much as possible.

Stolen novel; please report.

Or do I?

A daring plan came to Vir’s mind. One that he’d never even considered before. A grin spread upon his face.

“Oh, I do like it when you get that look,” Ashani said, clasping her hands together. “You’re about to come up with something daring, aren’t you?”

Vir’s grin widened. “I’ll let you be the judge of that.”

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With archers and crossbowmen manning the castle’s ramparts, Vir couldn’t get too close without risking a barrage of projectiles. He wasn’t concerned. Under his new plan, his point of entry mattered little, and so he chose a nearby building, bringing Ashani with him into the Shadow Realm. The wolves remained behind—he’d be back for them shortly.

There, he chose an exit within the castle grounds, but outside the castle itself. Unlike Daha or Sonam, Samar Patag’s grounds were a modest thing, with the remnants of what had once been a small garden. It was now nothing more than a heavily trampled, muddy bog. The space was barely fifty paces square and filled to the brim with yet more Chitran archers.

Discreetly exiting the shadow of the rearmost archer, Vir spent barely a few seconds before slipping back in, resetting his range, and allowing him to penetrate deeper.

While this many targets made for a tempting spot to attack, the position was far too open, with too many entrances and opportunities for his enemies to outflank him. Vir was strong, but he wasn’t foolish enough to believe himself invincible. Especially not after his bout with the automaton Guardians. No, he would return to the courtyard later, when the situation was more favorable to him.

Instead, Vir delved into the castle proper, finding an appropriate site. Most of the halls were empty, but deep inside, within the royal audience chamber, he found what he was looking for.

And so we learn the identity of the mastermind.

The leader of the castle troops, the one behind the intelligent moves of the enemy, was none other than his old acquaintance.

“We meet again, Asuman,” Vir said, slipping out of the kothi’s own shadow with Ashani.

The kothi shrieked in panic, whirling around, moving his shadow. It was why Vir ensured he was fully outside the shadow before announcing his arrival. The dangers with Dance of the Shadow Demon were many, and several Iksana had unwittingly perished while using it.

“Vaak!?” Asuman breathed, looking at Vir as though he were some Ash Beast. The hundred-odd Chitran in the room all pointed their weapons at Vir, awaiting their orders with bated breath.

“Come now, Asuman, surely you can’t be that surprised,” Vir said with a wry smile. “Not after I’ve infiltrated the castle several times already.”

Asuman’s eyes flitted between Vir and Ashani, and his mouth opened and closed several times before his shoulders finally dropped and his tail sagged. In the end, he decided, like so many others, that the best way to deal with Ashani’s existence was to pretend she didn’t exist.

Vir knew a single word from her would be all it took to cow the Chitran into submission… Yet he could not take that path. Even if it saved Chitran lives, his rule would be built upon a fear of Ashani. Not out of respect for his authority. And so, Vir stayed his tongue.

“All is lost, then,” Asuman said with lowered eyes. “At least make my death painless.”

“Your death? There is no need for you to die here today, Asuman. Nor anyone else,” Vir announced, raising his voice for all to hear. “I did not come here to slaughter Chitran. I came here to take back my city and my clan. Leave peaceably, and there will be no issue.”

There were, in fact, several issues with letting them go, as Cirayus had harped on him.

‘As cruel as it might seem, lad, you need to kill every last Chitran Warrior. You cannot allow them to regroup and lick their wounds. Every Chitran you fail to kill today will result in the deaths of many more Gargans tomorrow.’

Even so, Vir was not a cold-blooded murderer. These Warriors had families, hopes, and dreams. He refused to make the many suffer for the actions of the few. Not unless they gave him no other choice.

“Surrender?” Asuman asked. “What is to become of us? Are we to be enslaved?”

Vir shook his head. “There will be no slavery in Samar Patag after today. Past that, however, I cannot honestly say. Your fates will be up to the people.”

Turning to address Asuman specifically, Vir added, “But I do have need for keeping the Chitran who remain in Samar Patag in line. Once the dust settles, there will be much uncertainty and turmoil. The Chitran of the city could use a familiar face.”

Asuman frowned. “You are asking me to be your liaison? Me?”

“Why not? You are the current governor of this city, are you not?” Vir said. “Besides, I have always felt you’ve done your best in a difficult situation. Rather than spurn me, you worked with me for the peace of Samar Patag when it would have been far simpler and safer to give in to extremism.”

“That’s… generous of you,” Asuman said, his tail drooping further.

“So?” Vir asked. “Will you accept? Will you give the order for your troops to stand down?”

Gatiman’s expression stiffened. “I’m afraid I cannot, Akh Nara. For you see, as much as I, personally, wish to accept your offer, my troops would kill me the moment I did.”

Vir glanced around the room. To his shock, the kothi’s weapons were not pointed at him or Ashani, but Asuman.

Vir stared Asuman in the eyes. “Do you trust me?” he asked.

Asuman glanced around the room nervously. “I…”

“Do you accept my offer?” Vir repeated.

“I do,” Asuman breathed.

“Traitor!” a nearby kothi shouted.

A rain of arrows, Chakra attacks, and spears burst forth.

Vir anticipated it all.

The attacks all converged on Asuman’s position, striking nothing but air.

Vir rose from Ashani’s shadow. “Now, Ashani! Show these demons the might of the Ash.”

Ashani grinned. “With pleasure!”