Chapter Thirty-Four

"So this is where it ends?"
"I certainly hope so Enge. With any luck we'll be able to penetrate their jamming frequency and request assistance from the rest of the empire."
"They won't make this easy you know."
"I don't want it to be easy. I want to bleed every last ounce of blood from their bodies while they watch for what they've done to my people."
"Soon milady, soon."

The Anatolian resistance had massed in the plains about the capitol city, Ankra. Tens of thousands of warriors, magic-users, and siege weapons were positioned about the city in preperation for the siege. This was the last stronghold of the Ga-Vok invaders, and the blood of its slain inhabitants weighed heavy on the hearts of those about it. For all the rich trappings and stability of the empire, the Nielda of Anatolia were driven by the same primal urge that had ruled in the past age. A bloodlust had fallen on them, and the Ga-Vok were frantic in their preparation to defend the city. They saw in the eyes of their enemy a passion far more dangerous than that they had themselves brought to this world.

"Tressa, locate the enemy spell-weavers and relay their identities across the battle lines. Let them know true fear."Tressa surveyed the city. The death of her aunt seemed to be burdensome to her. She had been withdrawn since that night; more so than usual.
"This battle is forgone Miss Kiera. They don't have enough magic-users to defend their troops if we were to attack them directly. There are no wards, no traps."
"They are still a threat to my men; where are they, who are they, and how fast can we kill them?"
"Five, in the palace," A flash of images, faces and banners, flew through Kiera's open mind, "Let me take care of them Miss; it's the least I can do."
"It's dangerous to go alone, take them." Kiera motioned to a group of Daniel's mercenaries.
"She'll be safe milady. I shall watch over her."
Gar stepped out from behind Tressa. Kiera suppressed the urge to consider the physics of a 6'7" man being able to stand behind a 5'3" girl without being noticed. Daniel had mentioned that his father was an assasain, she assumed it must be some combination of magic and skill and brushed the thought aside.
"Seems like if I was sending you I wouldn't need to send her."
"I am not so young as I once was. I may have need of a more nimble assistant to defeat so many adveraries."
"Very well, but if you get yourselves into trouble there will be no one to bail you out."
"Understood Miss Kiera. We'll be careful."
"Stay with Daniel milady. The two of you will be safer if you stay together, and happier I imagine."
Kiera gave the elder assasain a look of shock.
"No? Ah well, an old fool can have his fantasies."

Daniel arrived as his father and Tressa strode off towards the city.
"What did the old man want?"
"He and Tressa will be eliminating the enemy mages in the palace. We'll meet up with them once we've fought past the enemy in the city proper."
"Old fool, I'm afraid we'll have to step up the pace then."
"Why, are you concerned he might be in over his head?"
"Milady, I am rarely concerned about this sort of thing; I am certain of them. Enge, tell the men to begin the attack. We must reach the palace."
"Yes Captain."
"I was right, things are more interesting now that you're back. You can explain it when this is over, I have a battle to fight now thanks to you."
As Kiera jogged off toward the command pavilion Daniel called out, "Your welcome" and watched her growing smile with satisfaction.