Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king

Chapter 104  Getting the hell in(1)

In a sunlit room overlooking the city of Yarkat, Talek, the young head of the garrison guard, took a rare moment to pause from his diligent work. The sunlight streamed through a narrow window, casting a warm yellow glow over the stone walls of his chamber. Son of a simple knight, he had risen to the influential position at a young age ,mainly from the relation between him and the prince. Despite this, he harbored a twinge of resentment. His father, Robert, the prince's right hand, was leading a campaign against Oizen, while Talek was left behind, commanding a city that seemed distant from the chaos of war.Would he not have been more useful on the front than here? He had wondered when his request to join the army was refused

With a deep sigh, Talek turned his gaze from the window back to his desk. He dipped his quill into a bottle of ink and resumed calculating the monthly costs for maintaining the garrison, alongside the budget for the city's fortifications, which required repairs once every five years.

The quiet of the room was abruptly interrupted by the sound of the door swinging open. A guard, breathless and with a note of excitement in his voice, stepped into the room. "Sir Talek, the army has returned! The vanguard reported their victory!"

Talek's eyes lit up with a mixture of relief and anticipation. He rose swiftly from his seat, the papers and ink forgotten as a broad smile spread across his face. "Victory!" he exclaimed, barely able to contain his enthusiasm. He swiftly gathered his cloak as he followed him out of the room.

Talek hurried down the winding stairs from his chamber, his heart pounding with excitement. As he emerged onto the parapets overlooking the city gate, he squinted against the bright sunlight to make out the scene unfolding below. His gaze fell upon a large, jubilant procession of soldiers bearing the banner of Prince Arkawatt, the colors fluttering proudly in the breeze.

Turning to the guards stationed by the gate, Talek's voice rang out with urgency. "Open the gate! Quickly!" he commanded, his tone firm .

The guards, catching the fervor in his voice, sprang into action. With creaking chains and the groan of heavy wood, the massive gate began to retract, revealing the soldiers and the banners of the prince in full view.

Talek descended the stairs two at a time, his mind racing with questions. He moved briskly through the bustling streets toward the entrance, eager to greet the returning troops and to learn the details of their victory. As he approached the front of the procession, he spotted the men leading the vanguard—those who had borne the brunt of the campaign and would have the freshest accounts of the battle.

Talek stepped through the gate and into the open air, his eyes fixed on the vanguard entering slowly into the city of Yarkat. The cavalry led the way, followed by the footmen the soldiers' armor catching the midday sun. At the head of the procession, a rider guided his horse into the city with a deliberate, steady pace. Once inside the gate, the man swung off his mount with practiced ease, landing softly on the cobblestones. As he scanned his surroundings, his gaze quickly locked onto Talek.

Talek, too, observed the man. There was something vaguely familiar about him—his build, the set of his shoulders, even the way he carried himself. But try as he might, Talek couldn't place him. The soldier's helmet covered his face, making it harder to discern his features. Before Talek could ask any questions, the man spoke first, his voice clear but with a youthful edge that caught Talek off guard.

"Are you the head of the garrison?" the man asked, his tone neither harsh nor polite but businesslike as if this was a simple chore. Talek blinked, slightly caught off balance by the directness of the question. He hesitated for a heartbeat, then quickly gathered himself. "I am,may I know who you are?" he replied, his voice firm though curiosity bubbled beneath the surface.

"Good," the man said, a thin smile playing on his lips. "That makes things much easier."

With a casual but deliberate motion, the soldier reached up and removed his helmet, revealing his face to Talek. And then, without warning, the man unsheathed his sword in one swift motion. The gleaming steel caught the sunlight, and before Talek could fully react, the cold edge of the blade hovered mere centimeters from his throat.

Talek's breath hitched, his heart pounding in his chest. The once quiet entrance of the city now seemed suffocating, and a tense silence fell over the few nearby guards, who had barely begun to comprehend what was happening as the surrounding men took out their weapons and copied their captain.

"Tell your men to throw down their weapons," the man said softly but firmly, the tip of the sword so close to Talek's skin that he could feel the cool steel radiating against his neck. "Before any unnecessary blood is spilled."

Moments ago, the streets had been bustling with onlookers, curious townsfolk who had come to witness the return of the army. Now, they were retreating, disappearing behind doors and shuttered windows. He turned his attention back to the man holding the sword to his throat, the weight of the situation settling deeper in his chest, like a spike passing through his stomach. "Who are you?" Talek demanded, his voice wavering with frustration and fear.

For a moment, the man didn't answer. The silence between them stretched uncomfortably, the blade at Talek's neck pressing just a fraction closer, causing his pulse to quicken.

When the man finally spoke, his voice was low, almost too calm. "I don't have time for this," he said, his tone filled with quiet menace. "If you don't cooperate, I'll have my men take this city by force. And if that happens," he added, his eyes narrowing slightly, "You will defend a city that by the end will be burnt and looted, with you being the first casualty''

Talek's heart sank . He glanced at the armed men now entering the city behind the stranger, grim-faced and clearly ready for blood. He knew that with the gate open there were only 100 men in the garrison to stop them , and from the looks of it , they were greatly outnumbered. Not even taking into consideration the fact they were spread throughout the city.While instead the army was right in the gate

Swallowing his pride, Talek obeyed. "Alright," he said through gritted teeth. "Men, throw down your weapons "

But as he complied, recognition dawned on him, the pieces finally coming together. The familiar face, the youthful edge in his voice. Talek's eyes widened in shock. "Wait—you're Alpheo," he spat out. ''You damn traitor!''

Alpheo's lips curled into a small, humorless smile. "I suppose in your eyes, that may look like it " he said, not lowering the blade. "But my contract with Prince Arkawatt was rendered null and void at the moment . I'm no longer bound by it, but don't worry I am not here to sack the city or anything else"

Talek's confusion deepened. "Then what are you doing here?''

Alpheo paused, lowering the sword slightly but not taking his eyes off Talek. " I simply came looking for a new job —with someone with more... sense than the late prince, after all I am still owed a debt " @@novelbin@@

Talek blinked, still trying to piece together the strange situation. "A job...?" He felt a hand seize him by the arm, one of Alpheo's men pulling him into custody.

"Asag, take him inside the wall to order the rest of the garrison to lower their weapon, go towards the left," Alpheo ordered as he turned to a man with a part of his face burnt, who simply nodded and took the hostage inside alongside fifty men. Alpheo's eyes then fell on Clio , "Take a hundred men and circle to the right," Alpheo ordered, his voice measured. "I want as many towers secured as possible, and do it quietly. Tell your soldiers to act like fresh recruits—blend in with the city's guards. Once you're inside, overpower the garrison, but keep the bloodshed to a minimum."

As Clio moved off with his troops, Alpheo turned his attention back to the rest of his force.

"The rest of you," Alpheo called out "we're taking a walk to the keep. Be prepared for anything—we'll be having a conversation with some important people, and things may get vivid."