writing_shadows

ooc: All apologies for the semi plagarism inside. But it seemed like a bit of fun.

The door took twenty minutes to break down. As good as it was, Dominic’s axe was stronger. Fuelled by the rage that he felt this day.

They came in, all of them. Drago wielding daggers, Altair hid himself from sight. Dominic strode in, not a care for stealth at all. Followed by the others, a myriad of those of freeholds: Sokol, Hoplite, Rosie and the rest.

His hand came down and rested on his pet. Sam. Sam emitted a lone growl but kept by his masters’ side. The leather glove flexed slightly as he felt his power course through.

The fortress was dark, illuminated by the panel of screens, showing the world. A myriad of views of the world. He absorbed them all as he finished the maths. (7.4% chance of success in what was to come. All too predictable.

Dominic came first. His rage fuelled. He leapt forward and swung his axe...

..into air. He was already on the move as the momentum kept Dominic forward. A small kick to the back of the knee and he fell to the floor.

The others converged, flickering with their weapons, striking at him. He was always one move ahead. Drago’s thrown dagger missing by millimetres and embedding in Altair, who screamed as his protection ended and he fell down, clutching the poison. Poison he had been given. Given by his friend turned enemy.

The flicker of magic...he recognised it for what it was and allowed that. Let there be a break.

The magic swarmed out and violence stopped. They stared at each other. He viewed them all, wrapped in weapons, armour and blood. Their blood. His powered unit was pristine, untouched. He was not even out of breath.

"Where are the children?"

He walked to his throne as they kept their distance. He knew they were waiting for the magic to stop. He felt them enact their enchantments once again.

"The problem you have is that you think this is a battle that can be one by individual effort. That single victories stack up. The reality is that our enemy will pick you off when you become an issue. Like a man does to a mosquito"

"Mark, we don’t have time for your shit"

"But you do, don't you. You have to wait the 47.2 seconds that you bought for a pause. You are already hoping that this will provide you with the time you need to break through my defences. I have already seen the end of this conflict as I have played it in my head a hundred times before. It does not end well"
He sits upon his throne and looks down at them.

"You see just numbers. But to me, it was more. The children. I have given them a concoction of drugs. Sedatives. They will be quietened for transit. And inside, a small device. Upon a precise moment it would rupture, and mix with the chemicals."

*They stared at him, looking sickened*

"Do you know how much iron is in the human body? Quite an amount. Not too much, but enough. And multiply that by fifty thousand, and you have yourself a weapon. Weaponised iron, enough to kill them all. If you send the children to Arcadia that is."

*The rage over took Dominic as he screamed*

Drago was the first to snap:
"No. Not at this cost Mark. That is just too much. Far too much! Privateering is unacceptable. We won't let you do it!”

The clenched their weapons with increased resolve.

Mark stood up, and they flinched. Just for a moment.

He walked over to the door. Sam padded beside him. The door opened, and She came out. Small, dark clothed, wearing her glasses and holding The Book in one hand, and her case in the other. He gave her a small kiss

The door flickered and the portal appeared. And he turned to them.

"I did this last year.”

And with that, they left the world.