by Kat Mandu
“So my job will have the highest risk as such I get the largest fighting force.” He realized everyone had gone silent on the matter.
“Well dismissed,” Lagertha ended the meeting as everyone separated to spread the word.
Boss spotted the main safe house afterward he had gathered up the muscle to add to the first distraction makings sure the escape into the crowd would be all the easier.
Nathan still looking like a bum waved at him as he stood up to head inside as Boss found his little team waiting for him.
“Good now I can get some sleep,” James sighed as the others slowly headed up the stairs. Boss frowned as he felt a tingly uncomfortable feeling prick the back of his neck.
Boss frowned as Nathan locked up the door, and removed the dirt from his face he really didn’t feel all that tired. He spotted the chess board set up but with nobody around, he settled for playing against himself, a losing battle if ever there was one.
“How do you play?” Nashton asked as Boss about jumped,
“Sit down I’ll explain it,” He motioned,
“So when am I getting kicked out?” He asked mid-way through the explanation on the knight piece.
“When you knowing this location is no longer harmful to our goals,” Boss admitted as the boy nodded and Boss proceeded with his explanation. “… do you want to leave, now?” Boss asked,
“Not really, I get a nice bed and the meals are much better than the workshops.” Nashton glanced away from him.
“As good a reason as any,” Boss nodded as he continued on with his explanation. The two played Boss kept silent as he reasoned holding to much back wouldn’t be advantageous to learning even if he considered throwing a match just to help keep his interest, Morsina was the only person who seemed to want to play with him.
“So anyway I can stay on?” Nashton asked casually,
“Hmm, that’s not really up to me,” Boss wasn’t sure Richard usually had the final say in any hires, but they seemed to be playing fast and loose on pretty much everything when it came to the Eagle.
“Who do I have to talk to?” Nashton asked,
“Richard’s not readily available at the moment and he has final say on the matter,” Boss admitted,
“Right,” his ears folded back against his shaggy hair, “how about an apprentice?” He spoke up as Chef paused he hardly considered himself a craftsman most people who took on apprentice had something to teach.
“Well, the bad thing about the Eagle is she takes care of herself. So my primary obligations are search and rescue, as well as security making sure people are safe. My other tasks are not available to do to the lack of a ship.” He admitted,
“Teach me that, more any skill besides picking locks and pockets I can do that already.” Nashton pressured.
“Things won’t be very organized, we have some important tasks,” Boss scratched his beard not really sure. Nashton seemed to shrink as Boss felt a little bad, “I’ll give you a preliminary when we get some time, we have a rescue mission soon” Boss left out that it was a dangerous one and while he planned to act as if he would perpetuate he didn’t want to put something in stone.
“Sounds fair,” Nashton seemed hopeful but still reserved.
The door suddenly clicked UPenn as Boss stood almost knocking the table over. “So nice to be remembered,” Lagertha shut the door behind herself as she relocked the door as Boss relaxed not realizing how on edge he had been.
“Surprising I thought I was the last person back,” Boss greeted, as he and Nashton walked into view Lagertha paused as Boss noticed she had seemingly stopped herself from taking her wig off as she rested her spear was rested against the wall.
Her armored dress was a little ruffled as Boss figured she had been moving around the city. “I would have been back sooner but I ran into some people taking advantage of us pruning the tree that is the city guard.” She sighed,
“Hmm, I didn’t consider that this would be prime thieving time,” Nashton considered it as Boss glanced at him. “Well, it’s not like you aren’t breaking the law already.” Nashton pointed out,
“Well, stealing isn’t the issue but is poor to steal from the government we are working under. We are professionals and are held to that standard.”
“Right, can I at least steal a fancy hat?” Nashton asked the two Adults glanced at each other.
“I’ll bite, why a hat?” Boss asked,
“Cause the authority comes from the bigness of the hat,” Nashton explained,
“Really?” Lagertha responded, as Boss didn’t buy it for a second but then again Spark was of a different time. He, however, noticed a better explanation he could see some of the signs of the lack of sleep something he grew familiar with not too long ago.
“Besides it’s the best part about being in charge,” he nodded enthusiastically.
“I am going to bed,” Boss sighed as he decided to head to bed. “I expect you to get some sleep as well, as Lagertha pointed at herself. “No, but you clearly need some sleep, you,” he pointed at Nashton, ” You want to learn you will need to keep up have a routine and you will be expected to keep up so sleep.” He insisted as Nashton nodded and snapped off a salute.
“Yes sir,” Nashton stood ready as Boss felt his lips tug into a smile as an odd warm sense of nostalgia washed over him.
“Well I need to write up a letter, anything We need to let Richard know about?” Spark asked as she picked up a list of notes Laurella and Tobi had left since quite a few people couldn’t write Boss weighted possible ways around that.
“Nope, nothing that will cause him any harm.” With that Boss retired confident in a good and successful day at work he climbed up the stairs as a few familiar faces nodded as they patrolled along the quiet halls before he turned in for the night feeling a bit of pity for the night shift.
Chapter 68
Boss lingered in the shadows the wait for the barrels to go off was a pain. As they knew what was going to happen. Everyone with him was geared up with padded armor and some backup weapons. Second, stretched on as everyone shifted and shuffled behind him. His body seemed comfortable in this lingering time before combat. He found he treasured it on that damn island he was always in danger constantly at him so even these small moments were could consider plans to act of if anything went wrong was an extra second he would prepare it.
The explosions echoed as Boss mentally counted down as Morgan and his forces rushed from the castle.
“Get ready,” Boss glanced around the corner as a massive amount of barrels rolled from another street. The group of guards lost a lot of cohesion as the barrels cracked open spilling a lot of salt water onto the main streets. The delay worked like a charm and hopefully would slow down traffic so anyone coming back would have a lot to deal with. The large group headed out as they casually walked towards the main gates a second smaller explosion went off near the far left wall of the castle and with everyone’s attention to a pointless gunpowder explosion the large group apron had the two main guards as Boss grabbed one and tossed him into the moat while Tobi kicked the other. Arvil Locke’s up to the door and with a blast of wind the portcullis snapped shut behind them.
Boss grabbed a lantern and light it upsetting the drawbridge one fire behind them.
“Okay, you know the plan stay in groups stay in eye contact and draw as much attention outside as possible.” Boss reminded as he grabbed a round shield as the noises the front gate brought the remaining castle defenders back to the real threat.
“Incoming!” Arvil called out as everyone scattered arrows started to rain down as Lagertha sent out a beam of magic collapsing the rock to prevent further strikes.
The group broke off as the Boss headed for the ramparts. His shield collected arrows as he slammed into the wall to avoid any limb shots.
A crack hit his ears as a series of lead balls shot forward. Boss glanced back to see Arvil floating a few stones as another zipped past embedding into someone’s head.
&n
bsp; “Ouch,” Boss commented, as he looked out as the city. Nobody had seemed to be heading in, probably leaving the drawbridge intact probably would have given them more time. Boss shrugged his shoulders as shouting started to erupt.
The towers had thin walkways along the castle was as a mass of archers gathered shooting. Boss rushed along the wall the closest caught him out of the corner of his eye, as Boss bent out of the way of an arrow thankful Arvil wasn’t directly behind him. The attention slowly shifted but it was too late. The pointed weapon hit home and as Boss forced his way down the line bodies slowly started to drop. The rest started to break as Boss gave himself some time to breathe.
Tin did something similar on the ground level his studded club smashing shields to bits whoever was in charge wasn’t helping. Despite the smaller size of the invaders the guard would group up and dissolve.
The chaos of the field grew, as Boss strung up the bow. Tobi was being snuck up on, the arrow whipped past as the attacker clawed at the arrow of his neck. Tobi shared a node as Arvil started to strip arrowheads and shot them from his palm.
Boss frowned a group of soldiers had opened up a building as a cannon caught his eye. He waved over lining his hand at the cannon.
The two aimed not every shot was a kill, but the two had slowed the cannon, the forces ended the threat.
Boss felt a light tap Arvil moved his hand replicating his previous motion as a tower that had in moved guards. Arvil raised an eyebrow as Boss spoke.
“Gather everyone up in a tower of the wall. I’ll investigate that alone.” He shouted his voice harsh over the noise as a new disturbance as he saw planks being put over the remains of the drawbridge.
“No back up?” Arvil frowned, Boss shook his head he didn’t want anyone behind him. He headed down the side as he spotted the individuals slowly making there way back. He stood above the planks as he gave a glance, over the edge from the looks that some kind of device to pry open the portcullis, he considered them as noticed a large cauldron it was filled with a thick substance with wood gathered up. He frowned putting together what the set was for as he prepared the trap.
He lights up the tinder under the oil as he heard the sounds of footsteps echo into the direction he had intended to go. He pressed himself out of view as a few guards grabbed the wheel to slowly start to open it up. The gears groaned as Boss waited.
“The other Portcullis is down!” Shouted the voices.
“Hurry the fuck up you lazy pirate!” The groups argued back and forth as they locked the outer gate back into place, they headed to the second wheel only for Boss to undo their hard work. Screaming erupted below as the four figures as they wheel spun around stunned. Boss kicked the hot oil as the attackers seemed to move in slow motion and panic as Boss dumped the oil down. The screaming worsened Boss didn’t have much to worry the hole limited their attack options as one leaped over the hole only to crack his jaw on the edge.
The clash continued as the attacker swung wildly. The telegraphed moved was easily avoided, as he flipped the man down into the pit. A torch whipped past his ear as he slides at the limb taking a sizable chunk. The man dropped the torch as the uninjured figure moved to grab the torch As it threatened to light up the oil. Boss grabbed the man and dropped over the edge. The fire burned below as the forked pike was stabbed into the remaining attacker finishing him.
Boss was a bit surprised the courtyard had slowly gotten quiet, he spotted Arvil and The blonde wig of the disguised Spark on a tower wall. The escape plan was set and ready as he went to investigate the tower.
He kept to the wall getting glances the guard outside the walls kept the civilians at bay. He got as close to the tower as possible. The two guards, however, noticed him and had both polearms ready to go. Only for the two guards to lose their heads. Spark gave him a wave as Boss dropped to the ground as he realized he never got to see the after-effects of one her magical blasts.
The neck smoldered as the head was clearly removed with only a burn mark of what looked like a sun stain with black lines making it look like the target was hit with a miniature sun.
He had to admit he expected for more but with little idea what he thought he would see. The door opened up as Boss wondered what was inside that the two would warrant two men so dedicated, he frowned as the smell of loosed bowls maybe it was fear rather than dedication.
A cannon went off as he glanced back to see the smoke coming out of the tower as both Arvil and Spark looked down and a good size hole in the castle all to stir up the guard.
Boss hopes they would be allowed to leave the city with all the damage they seem to be raking up.
He checked the door, the rooms seemed extensive well crafted and unused. He frowned as he headed up the slow down was worrying and the lack of an explanation was frustrating. He decided to check one last room before marking the tower as a lot of cause.
Only his own reflexes allowed him to keep his blood running through his own veins. “Figures, come to finish me off?” a familiar tone sniped as Boss spotted o e of the twins on the bed with a leg up in a cast.
“Hardly, I was hoping for some blackmail rather than a bedridden assassin.” He could cover the ground but the woman probably had more than a single knife and she only need to hit once to drop him.
“Cute,” she glared bitterly, “So are you going to make a move?” She seemed to tense
“Not until you do, and I would rather not find out how many knives you sleep with,” Boss felt the smirk spear for a second.
“Your delaying,” she realized,
“I am definitely in no hurry that’s for sure.” He could take as long he needed if it meant keeping his head on his shoulders.
He slowly shifted his foot as a second knife flashed into her hand. “How are you that fast?” Boss asked,
“Practice,” she answered as her eyes locked into his.
“It’s more than that, I can smell magic, like that mirror only subtle and it’s missing something.” He watched her for a reaction.
“Don’t you have your own assassin, ask him,” She waved off his request.
“Unless you plan to let me leave,” Boss doubted it but the worst thing she could say is no.
“Hardly,”
“What is it a blood ritual, did you remove have your organs?” Boss prodded it was a dumb plan as his eyes glanced up at her knife hand to see if it was shaking.
“Hardly it’s training and Ki manipulation,” she explained,”
“Ki?” Boss frowned something tingled in the back of his mind something he felt he should be familiar. “I think Richard made some kind of mention of it, a form of physical energy, I take it amplifies physical attributes and makes you a bit lighter on your feet.”
Boss reasoned, “Sounds damn useful.”
“It has its perks, but if you think it’s a shortcut it’s not, it only amplified what is there can only impact the body itself. Not that I am going to let you put that into practice.”
“Right,” Boss heard the sounds of people below. “Shit,” he thought he needed to move but if this chick could speed herself up that would mark seven points on his body he would need to keep intact unless he wanted to bleed out on the floor.
He risked a glance down the stairs only to see a series of knives already aimed at his body. His twin weapons were out as the precision aiming worked in Boss’s favor as the blades deflected away a few hitting his armor a few grazed his skin as a form tackled into him knocking him out of the way, only to realize he hadn’t been hit but a person but a body of wind.
Arvil grinned, “you were taking to long so Spark sent me in.
“Mageson, you lot are the blue blood!” She screamed realizing.
“Easy there,” Arvil frowned as in concern.
He walked past the doorway as he deflected a few knives with his rapier.
“What is she screeching about?” Boss frown as he realized he had been cut up a bit more than he thought Arvil had to help him to his feet.
“
How much do you know about the Pirate Lords?” Arvil asked as the door suddenly slammed shut, muffling the woman’s voice.
“Well, now is a good time as any, he grabbed a polearm and gave it to Boss to help steady himself as Boss frowned as realized she had gotten a leg. “They want to form their own nation, however, the thing that sets them apart as well the idea of anyone can be a Pirate Lord. Until then, most of the men fighting for their own throne has had blue blood and backing of a crowd. Blackbeard opened up a door of merit with the title of Lord. A place a man was free of family lines and your blood making up your worth.”
“I bet the hypocrisy is lost considering what it takes to make a Pirate Lord,”
“Yep, but being a mageson, and having these gifts passed down we are often criticized for perpetuating the system, or being glorified attack dogs. Also, those who train in one of the arts, such a spiritual or physical arts often,” the headed down the stairs as Boss checked his injuries and tried not to bleed out. “Bitter as those born of mages don’t have to earn their abilities, as you can see some are very effective.”
“Sounds like you got a full hand,” Boss chuckled,
“It was its perks,” he smiled as Boss wondered if the man was real.
“What’s the catch,” Boss asked, as the peaked out of the castle as they glanced up to check the window.
“A story for another day,” he pointed out the growing forces the sounds of the gates were pried open. Tin dropped down as he grabbed onto the other half of Boss as they raced along the grounds. They opened up the door. Nathan slammed the door shut. Arvil and Tin grabbed everything they had as desirable and bookshelves were piled in front of the door.
“Did we bring anyone who can stitch people up?” Boss asked as he contemplated treading himself up.
“I don’t think so, outside of Laurella I only think Laurella bothered to learn.” Arvil frowned.
“When we get some time I might join in on those lessons.” Boss frowned as he headed up the stairs under his own power. Kareem had already blocked up another door as Cliff eyed him as he headed up.
