Penitent-Chapter 229 Book 4 Ch 10: Prelude

The tunnel was dark, but they were able to cast a simple nighteye spell to make their way through it aside from Marcus who seemed to have no trouble in spite of his lack of magical eyes.

"What can we expect on the other side of this?" asked Pyotr.

"It exits into a small storeroom near the stairs to the King's personal chambers. I have several distractions being implemented at this moment, not to mention the fact that the king himself should be unaware of this tunnel. I'm certain that Crick didn't know of it." They turned and the tunnel narrowed slightly forcing those in heavier armor to turn to the side and shimmy in order to keep moving. "In terms of what forces to expect, I believe the king will be armed and ready for us along with most of his royal guard and that winged monster along with any of her allies they've managed to keep hidden from me."

"So fifty? Sixty? Against the four of us and Ollie if he manages to find us?"

"I have some allies among the royal guard. Most will have been purged by now, but there were at least a few that Crittenden didn't know of." He paused for a few moments. "I always felt he may take my place someday."

"I'm sorry you lost him," said Michael as they turned another tight corner.

"It's Stent that lost an asset. He would've made a fine spymaster."

Michael let that lie and focused on squeezing through the narrow tunnel. Eventually they widened again and a small stairwell could be seen leading upward. Bayle signed for them to muffle, which they did, and then he climbed up the steps to push the floor open slowly. He peeked for just a moment before slowly pushing it open the rest of the way and walking up out of the tunnel.

The rest of them followed, finding themselves in a small storeroom filled with chests and wooden cabinets. Marcus took just a moment to open one of the chests, finding it filled with fine clothes that must've belonged to the king before closing it again.

They quietly walked to the door of the storeroom and Bayle peeked out of that door as well, moving out of it quickly and gesturing for them to follow. They found themselves in a high-ceilinged hallway lined with fine tapestries only occasionally broken by doors. They ran through, magic muffling their footsteps and armor, until they reached a wide stairway leading upward.

Bayle paused for a moment, listening carefully at the bottom of it before nodding and beginning to walk up. They all followed, climbing two levels before exiting into another wide hallway. As they crested the top two knights came into view.

None of them hesitated. Bayle launched himself at the nearest of them, a black blur that slammed into the nearest of them, driving his shortsword through the narrow gap in the man's faceplate.

Pyotr was right behind him, his own sword slipping through the second knight's side and through his lungs, keeping him from being able to scream. They both carefully grabbed the bodies and placed them down gently.

They moved to the end of the hall, a wide double door that the two knights had been guarding, and Bayle held up a hand for them to pause before moving to the far end of the door and sliding an imperceivable panel on the far right of it, revealing a small circular hole. He looked through it for just a moment then looked back at them. He nodded at them, confirming that the King was behind the door, then he held up his hands and flared all ten fingers three times, then held up a single finger before forming his hands into the shape of wings.

The King was there with thirty men and the insect.

Michael nodded, adjusting his shield and squeezing Ruin's handle.

Bayle shook his head and pointed further down the hall, indicating a short retreat.

Michael nodded, and they all moved back.

Once they were by the stairs, Bayle cast an additional muffle spell, then began to speak.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"We shouldn't just run in," he said. "I was hoping my distractions would cause more of his guard to break off, but he seems to have increased the forces to protect himself."

"If we wait for Ollie we shouldn't have any trouble," responded Marcus. "He could throw a fireball in and we'd be set."

Bayle shook his head. "The longer we wait the more unknowns enter the situation. I may have something I could use in there to soften things up."

"I could also throw a fireball," remarked Pyotr. "Possibly two now that my magicka channels are," he hesitated and looked at Bayle. "I could cast at least one as powerful as one of Ollie's."

Bayle frowned. "I have assets there. At least four men. They're all gathered toward the far edge of the room, away from the king. Would you be able to avoid them?"

Pyotr nodded.

Bayle absorbed that information for a moment. "Okay. I'm going to be gone for a few moments. When you begin to hear coughing, open the door and throw your fireball. That door opens directly to the throne room from behind, and the King is in his seat with the creature next to him. Understood?"

They nodded. It was a solid plan. Michael felt that they would probably be able to take them on directly, but he wasn't sure of the full strength of a King. Particularly an armed and armored one, so a plan like this was certainly better than just charging in.

Once the plan was agreed to, Bayle began to move up the stairs and the rest of them began to prepare by the door. Marcus was in the back, his rifle loaded and ready, a dagger on the end of it that seemed to have been shaped from the bone of a titled beast. Pyotr was just a short distance behind Michael, already muttering in Russian as he began to gather magicka for a fireball.

They waited minutes that felt like hours. After about five, Michael crept up to the panel in the door that Bayle had revealed. He slid it carefully away and peered through the hole. He could see the back of a grand throne, and dozens of silver armored knights arrayed around it as well as the insectoid creature he'd danced with at the ball leaning toward the throne and muttering something. All the way at the far end of the throne room was a massive entryway,

and as Michael looked, he saw Bayle walk through it.

He wasn't being subtle, or even quick, he was walking forward with his hands in the air slowly and deliberately. The second that the guards noticed him, they all swarmed forward toward him with swords drawn and shields raised.

"Hold!" yelled King Matthias from his throne. He walked forward and Michael was able to fully see him. He'd examined his titles before at the ball, but now the king was in a full suit of titled armor with a titled broadsword and shield at his waist as well as a cape covered in scales that seemed to shimmer and distort the light around him, making it harder to see his back. Michael focused on the titled items, hoping to gain an edge on him.

He started with the sword.

Prince's Bane

Grants your sword arm Major Speed

Grants Middling strength when facing an Heir

A very powerful weapon. The name of it made him wonder if it was related all to the story he'd heard way back in Svict, about the taker prince. Could it be the blade that finished him? He turned his attention to the armor.

Stent's Pride

Grants Major Durability

This armor cannot be pierced by mundane and untitled weapons

That was bad. Michael was the only one with a titled weapon in their group. Though perhaps Marcus's titled dagger on the end of his gun could manage it as well. Finally he looked at the shield.

The Wall

Major reaction when reacting to attacks

Michael gritted his teeth. He was well armed and armored, but he had nothing that could compare to the king's arsenal. His blessings may make up the difference. His experience was wider than the king's as well, though the man definitely had some training to go along with all those titles and deeds. The main issue was that he would almost certainly need to focus completely on the King in order to win the fight, and he likely wouldn't be able to finish him off himself.

That meant Bayle, Pyotr, and Marcus would be on their own and would need to finish their part of it before they could help him. He really wished they had Ollie with them at that moment. He also wished he had Lance and some of the other Hume knights as well.

King Matthias took several steps forward off his throne, approaching Bayle.

"Surrendering? Or some elaborate ploy? Either way you approach as a coward. I can't say I'm surprised by that."

Bayle's expression didn't change.

"I'm surrendering. You already have Crittenden. He knew everything I did. I was grooming him to be my successor. I underestimated you. It has always been my desire to serve Stent. Had I realized how formidable you truly were, I would never have conspired to depose you."

Michael couldn't see the king's face, but he swore he could feel the smugness coming from the man. He wasn't surprised at Bayle's words, they were lies. It would be foolish to assume a doublecross at this point. He was just trying to get the king to step closer to him and Michael noticed a few of the king's guards breaking off a bit from the others and eyeing the others around them. One of those closest to Bayle cleared his throat, suppressing a cough.

The king shook his head. "No. The spymaster Bayle would not give up so easily. Run him throu-" The king coughed.

Michael stepped back, mumbling a short prayer as holy fire wrapped itself around his armor and weapon, shared a brief nod with Pyotr and Marcus, and kicked down the door.