“Where?” Alex looked at the girl blankly.
“You will become a king if you kill the captain of the guard,” Mary explained quickly.
“Okay, let's go,” Alex nodded. “Trix, will you help?”
“Of course,” the archer nodded and pulled out an arrow.
“Then hurry up,” Alex raised his sword and entered the palace again, both girls were following him.
In some seconds someone, who wore a red cloak with a huge hood to hide his face, appeared. The figure approached Skull, picked up his staff and disappeared quietly in a side street.
Chapter 19
“We forgot something,” Alex stopped so abruptly that Mary, who was walking behind, was stopped by his back, and Trix hardly managed to jump aside. “What?” Mary rubbed her bruised nose.
“Skull might have something interesting,” Alex said belatedly.
“For example, the Legendary Staff,” Trix mumbled ironically. “But we must quickly find a king quest, because Mary said so!”
“I was shocked and didn’t manage to think of everything,” Mary said angrily.
“We passed only two halls,” Alex looked around thoughtfully. “Come back!”
“The staff won't help us anyway,” Mary looked at Alex, who was moving away, and caught up with him. “I am a healing magician, and this staff is designed for a battle magician. You had one in your team...”
“I let her go,” Alex answered and went faster.
“Skull could have strengthening pots that will help us later,” Trix suggested. “What do you mean? How do you let her go?” Mary was surprised. “And what is she doing now?”
“Whatever she wants,” Alex shrugged his shoulders and opened the huge front door. “He’s there!” Alex approached him and checked his things. “Nothing.”
“I told you it was a bad idea,” Mary said.
“The idea was good!” Trix disagreed. “We still have to fight with lots of guards, so we need pots.
“Well, I believe in my liberator,” Mary came closer and hugged Alex gently. “You fought Skull!” Mary whispered. “How did you manage to do that?”
“I killed two prisoners and upgraded the level. Trix killed Skull, so now she also is at high level.”
“You did everything, she just made the final blow,” Mary looked at the girl with displeasure. She didn’t like this “thinking doll,” and treated her like an enemy in relations and tactical issues.
“We can go back to the alchemist,” Trix suggested, completely ignoring Mary. “He’s really strong. If he doesn’t help, he can at least give us pots.”
"Who's the alchemist? Is he your new friend at a high level?" Mary clarified.
“That's right,” Alex nodded.
“He may want to become the King,” Mary suggested and looked around cautiously. "There also may be tenants, who want it too. Alex, let's try! I believe in you," she hugged and kissed him.
"Okay!" He nodded looking in her eyes. "What about you, Trix?"
“I'll help,” the girl sighed and took an arrow.
“How do you find out about this quest?” - Alex asked Mary.
“My prison cell was near Gunther's,” Mary explained. "We had time to talk a little."
"What else do I need to know?" Alex asked and, opening the door, entered the next room. "There's nobody..."
“Now the guards are divided into two groups,” Mary began to explain quickly. “The first is guarding the tower behind the palace, the second is in the Throne Hall. I don’t know what is in the tower, the Captain sits in the Throne Hall now. If you kill him, you become a King."
"Is he alone there?" Trix asked.
“There are guards, but it is not necessary for us to kill them, as soon as you kill the Captain, the rest won't touch you,” Mary thought for a second. "Trix will distract the guards, you will fight with the Captain."
“Sounds good,” Trix nodded and looked at Alex, who stopped.
“That's here,” Alex nodded at the huge gilded double door decorated with a pattern of oak leaves. "We will do everything quickly and suddenly!" He said, opened the door and hardly dodged the guard's blow.
"They are ready for an attack!" Mary shouted irritably.
“Heh,” Alex chopped the guard and entered the hall.
“There're lots of them...” Trix looked around and mumbled embarrassedly. She noticed lots of torches in the hall. There were fifty guards. Captain was sitting on the throne at the end of the hall. He wore heavy white armor and the helmet, which hid his face. As soon as the he saw those who had entered the room, he immediately pulled out a short wide sword. "Attack!" He ordered and guards ran towards guests.
"Alex, run away!" Trix shot an arrow at one of the guards. "There're too many of them."
"We won't have another chance!" Mary shouted. "I will be your Queen!"
“I understood,” Alex nodded and looked around appreciatively. "Trix, shoot at those at the sides."
“Okay,” Trix shot two more arrows and saw that the Captain step down from the throne and head towards Alex slowly.
"It makes our quest easier,” Alex also noticed that the Captain came closer. He easily killed one guard, who was running to him. Then chopped the second one, but the third managed to hit him in the stomach. "Damn it!" Alex wanted to run away, but noticed that there's no wound.
"Try to kill him as quickly as possible!" He heard Mary's voice. "I cannot heal you for a long time."
“I will,” Alex smiled, seeing the Captain in front of him. "Fight honestly, face to..." The captain didn't waste time talking and tried to hit Alex immediately. Alex barely beat the blow and realized that he was a strong opponent. Then the Captain hit him again, this was such a strong blow that Alex almost dropped his sword, blocking it. The Captain made chopping blows, which were difficult to dodge, because the hall was quite small and there were lots of guards. Alex managed to block the first two hits, he realized that it wouldn't last forever, so he made a risky lunge and hit the Captain in the shoulder. The captain jumped aside immediately and sat down. The guards attacked Alex and his team again. Two guards in green trenches came to Captain to heal him. Suddenly the green light appeared there, then the wound disappeared. Captain approached Alex again. Alex managed to kill three guards during this time and get some wounds, which Mary healed immediately. Alex parried the first blow, crouched and cut off Captain's right foot. Guards dragged him again to the healers and continued attacking.
"Alex, I'm running out of strength," Mary shouted nervously. "Try to do something..."
“I will try to kill him with one blow,” Alex began to beat off the guards with ordinary blows, saving energy. Finally, Captain jumped and tried to attack once again, Alex used his main attacking skill, spending lots of energy on it. Alex's sword shone red with a stronger light than usual and easily hit in the captain's belly and pierced his armor. They again dragged the Captain away. Suddenly the door opened and new guards came in.
"Why are they still coming here?" Alex looked around and almost missed a blow in the head.
"The captain is still alive!" Trix shot an arrow in the nearest guard and looked around.
"He has a lot of strength, we should run away," Alex took some steps back, but there were lots of guards.
"We will be back!" Mary cried out, looked at the door and turned pale with fright. About thirty guards were running towards them. Mary closed the door quickly. "We cannot run away."
“Well, I will try to kill him again,” Alex nodded encouragingly and saw that Captain is ready to fight again. This time the Captain didn't hurry to attack and simply tried to exhaust the enemy with strong blows. "Trix, help," Alex nodded at the Captain, the archer shot an arrow in his hand immediately. "Die!" Alex shouted, lunged and missed. The captain didn't continue the battle and hid behind the guards to heal the wounds.
“We should hit simultaneously,” Alex killed another swordsman, dodged from the second one, but missed the third’s hit. He was lucky that day, so he managed to dod
ge a little and the spear hit only in his hip. Alex looked at bloody wound surprisingly and turned to Mary. She shook her head and sat down on the floor. In a moment Alex saw that Captain was coming closer and realized that it was his last chance to kill him. “Trix, shoot!” Alex didn’t wait, he was out of strength and had energy only for one strengthening blow. He quickly lunged and killed the nearest guard, and Trix killed the second one. Alex jumped forward and found himself in front of the Captain. The archer immediately hit the Captain in the right hand, the arrow didn't cause any damage, but distracted him, and Alex used the strengthening blow and hit him directly in the heart. The captain dropped his sword and tried to take Alex's sword out. Two guard came and dragged him towards the healing magicians. Alex looked at his sword and at new coming guards sadly. But then the arrow hit the helmet's slash. Guards stopped and kneeled on one knee to greet the new King.
“We won!” Mary shouted happily. "Alex, you are the new King! Command!"
"What should I order them?" Alex looked around embarrassedly.
“Order to heal the Captain,” Trix suggested.
"Heal the Captain!" Alex shouted and saw that the guards in green trenches gathered around the captain.
“He seems to have died...” Alex didn't understand why he gave such a stupid order.
“He’s an NPC,” Trix reminded. “Now they will heal him, and we can ask him everything.”
"Alex, find out where the treasury is and how much money is there," Mary stood up, walked up to Alex and hugged him. “We need to get new weapons quickly,” the girl whispered.
“One minute,” Alex nodded and came to the Captain, surrounded by lots of healing magicians.
“Crhh,” the captain grumbled and pulled the sword out of his chest. He stood up slowly, looked around, and then greeted the new King.
"Show us the Treasury!" Alex ordered and took the sword.
“You cannot order me, you're not the King,” the Captain said and raised the sword. "Should I kill him?"
"And who is the King?" Alex asked blankly.
“I'm waiting for your order,” the Captain repeated and looked at Trix. "Command, my Queen."
“Give him the sword and lead him to the treasury,” Trix said. “Can Alex become the King?” The new Queen decided to clarify.
“Only if he kills you,” the Captain said and added immediately. “But my guard and I will never allow this to happen! We will fight for you to the last..."
“Okay, okay,” Trix interrupted him. “Lead us to the treasury right now and tell me what are the King’s privileges."
"Are you sure that I should give him the sword?" The captain finally took off his helmet and his large brown eyes looked at Alex.
“He's my friend,” Trix nodded.
“I obey,” the Captain lowered his huge chin and handed Alex his sword. “Follow me,” he opened the small door hidden behind the curtain and gave Trix the hand.
“I’m not injured, so I can walk,” Trix didn't understand the gesture. "Shine the torch over here, please."
“Go here,” the Captain took a small torch from the wall and headed deep into the hall. “The King can charge taxes, command the city guards, execute and pardon... By the way, that's the Treasury,” the captain took another step, and everyone saw that there his another huge hall with different chests in the end of the hall.
"What's in those chests?" Trix asked curiously.
“Now there are seven hundred and fifty-three thousand in coins and precious stones,” the Captain reported.
"Are there weapons or armor?" Mary asked.
“Only gold,” the captain answered when the Trix nodded. "But the King can take a hint to start the legendary weapon quest."
“Let's step aside to talk,” Mary led Alex to another end of the hall and whispered something.
“That's so unexpected,” Trix looked around the hall. "Alex, what do you think?"
“We've talking with Mary a little,” Alex approached Trix quickly. "You now have so many guards. I have a sword and Mary has nothing. I think it's unfair and I hope you can help her with legendary weapon quest."
“Okay,” Trix agreed. "But what should I do now?"
“Run the city while we will complete quest,” Alex suggested. “Then we will come back and come up with a plan.”
"What else?" Trix saw that Alex still wanted to ask something, and Mary pushed him nervously under the elbow.
“We need money for a new equipment” Alex lowered his eyes. “I understand that I ask so much, but...”
“No problem,” Trix waved her hand. "I am now very rich and don't know where to spend so much money."
“Then I want to ask for fifty thousand,” Alex decided. "I will give ten thousand to Ince. He's quite crazy, but he helped us."
“Captain, give my friend money and a hint,” Trix ordered.
“Here is the money and a scroll with a hint,” the Captain handed Alex a bag and a roll of paper.
“Well, let's look at it” Alex unfolded the roll of paper and looked through the text. “We need to hire a ship and sail to the island...” he read the text thoughtfully and hid the hint in his pocket. "Can you lead me to Ince?" Alex asked hopefully. "I'm just a little afraid of him."
“Captain, take twenty guards and go with us,” Trix ordered immediately and turned to the exit.
"What happened here?" Trix looked at the blackened shop and the burnt Alchemist's body.
“Looks like somebody visited Ince earlier,” Alex came closer and looked at the body. "And that man is now at high level and he had a legendary pot... Could we stay here?"
“The ship sails in the morning, and the next will be only in two weeks,” Trix looked back at the Captain. "What do you think?"
“You are completely safe inside the palace,” the Captain replied quickly.
“Complete the quest,” Trix decided finally. “We will lead you to the ship, and then I will try to figure out what's happening..."
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