Hidden Attack

Kystion was sitting at his study table and looking at the various maps and doing some research, when Libitina came inside and smiled, "You were up all night. Get some rest or you will collapse on the battlefield." Kystion laughed, "There is still much time for the war and I have ample time to both work and sleep properly. It all depends on Kavana's mood. If he wants to go to war tomorrow, then tomorrow we will march and if he wants to wait for another five months, then the war will be after another five months." Libitina said, "Kavana isn't very enthusiastic about the war. He said last week that if there is no necessary reason to go to war, then there will be no war." Kystion smiled, "The young generation likes to be more calm and lazy than we used to be. The elves are pesky and they won't give us our rights without a fight. Also, the elves killed both his brother and father, so at least he has to avenge their deaths or his name will get tainted." Libitina smiled, "He said no to war, not to revenge. He just doesn't want his soldiers to die in a silly war where the outcome is already in his favour." Kystion asked, "Is he suggesting an assassination?" Libitina said grimly, "We both know that an assassination attempt is futile. They have the Blood Spear and also assassination takes time and we don't have that." Kystion said, "Aliyah and Elgin are dangerous people and no certain information is available on that girl's power." Libitina said, "Kavana is coming. Act normal." Kystion and Libitina smiled as Kavana entered the room and looked at them. Kavana smiled, "What is happening here?" Kystion smiled, "See it yourself, Kavana. These maps and plans take all of my time." Kavana smiled, "Good. Productivity should be present in one's life, especially in old age." Kystion smiled, "I'm not that old." Kavana smiled, "My father was thirteen years younger than you. He was the oldest man in our village." Libitina smiled, "We all get old. I was a young maiden some years ago and in a blink, I am an old woman." Kavana said, "Jokes apart, I was thinking of a stealth attack. The elves are not going to attack soon and we don't have time to waste our valuable time." Kystion said, "There is no need to do stealth attacks. We can easily subdue them in the battlefield. We should go full rage and kill those scums." Kavana smiled, "Hold your horses, old guy. I will tell you the strategies when the right time comes. For now, just don't overwork yourself. Eat and rest well." Kavana smiled and went away. Libitina looked at Kystion and asked, "So, what's your plan?" Kystion took a long yawn and rose, "If we can't send an assassin, we can send a spy. I need to know what those fuckers are doing." He walked towards the door and went outside.

Libitina and Kystion were walking stealthy through the alleys of Ox city. Ox city is the hometown to the most dangerous assassins and smart spies. The ogres here are not the ordinary ogres who can be hired easily by the rich ogres for their personal work. The ogres here are trained specifically for becoming assassins and spies. It was an age old traditional family of assassins and spies. Kystion asked, "We are tight on budget. Why are you hiring them?" Libitina asked, "Why are you tight on money? You have the whole elf palace in your hands. The elves have a lot of money in their treasury." Kystion said grimly, "Those elves took a large amount of their money when they fled and the remaining amount of gold is barely enough to maintain my expensive experiments and the enormous army of ogres." Libitina smiled, "You were never capable of being a good king from the beginning and you are proving it right now." Kystion said angrily, "Shut up! It's easy to blame others but when you yourself have responsibilities, then you will understand my situation." Libitina smiled, "Win the war first, then tell me." Kystion said, "That is going to happen very soon. Just wait and see." They entered a large courtyard and walked towards a big door. Two guards stopped them and asked, "What business do you have here?" Kystion said, "I have an important task for your master." One of the guards said, "Our master doesn't do jobs for random people like you. You have to prove yourself first." Libitina said, "Tell your master that King Kystion himself has come to meet him." The guards looked at them and then went inside. After a few minutes, one of the guards came out and said, "Our master has agreed to meet you. Come inside." They went inside and walked towards the verandah where they stopped near a big door. The guard opened the door and walked inside. Kystion and Libitina sat on the sofa as they were greeted by a lean and tall, ginger-bearded person. Kystion rose and hugged him, "It's nice to see my friend after such a long time." The man smiled and said, "Same here, brother. You forgot about me after you became the caretaker of Krymon." Kystion said, "General. I became the general of the army. I offered you a job as the head teacher of the army, but you declined my offer. So, I had to cut ties with you for a while, Eres." Eres smiled, "No. You just didn't want to be allied with a low man like me." Kystion smiled, "Forget old tales. Let's talk about the present." Eres smiled, "I knew you would come to me one day." Kystion smiled, "Don't think of me as selfish, Eres. But, I want you to do a job for me." Eres smiled, "I know what you want, Kystion. And I can't do that. Sorry." Kystion asked, "Why?" Eres said, "I perfectly know that the job is unofficial and I don't want my boys to risk their lives for such an unethical task." Libitina said, "Unethical? History is made up of such unethical tasks." Eres asked, "Who is she?" Kystion said, "She is an old friend. We lost connection before I met you." Eres smiled, "Well. Lady. The thing is that I don't want to make history or become great. I just want to live a good life and die wealthy. So, don't brag about hollow pride to me." Libitina said grimly, "You will earn a good amount of money for your trouble. Enough money to die the next day." Eres smiled, "Attitude. I like confidence, Miss...." Libitina said, "Libitina." Eres smiled, "Miss Libitina. Nice name. As I was saying, I am a simple man and don't want to be a part of big conspiracies. So, tell me a reason I should help you." Libitina smiled, "Before coming here, I have done some research on you and your family. You were born into a poor family of farmers who were of the Kovos dynasty. Your forefathers were big landlords and businessmen of Kovos, who were renowned all over the world for their excellent performance and craftsmanship. But, after the First War, the elves who respected your family and considered them as their own kin, started killing them. First they killed your grandparents and then your parents. They raped your sisters, wives and daughters. You had no other option but to leave Kovos and fled here. You were a skilled archer and swordsman and therefore you become a sellsword and started fighting in small civil battles. Your skills impressed a rich landlord who gave you this house as a reward. You then started to teach young orphans like you to fight and make a living as mercenaries. You met Kystion when you were fighting as a mercenary and then you killed some important enemies for Krymon's father. He offered you a lavish job through Kystion but you refused it as you like working independently. So, that's all." Eres smiled, "So, what? You know some of my past. But, that won't change my decision." Libitina smiled, "Yes. But, what if I tell you that some of your people are still alive, especially members of your family." Eres asked, "So?" Libitina smiled, "If you do my job properly, then you will meet them. But, if you don't listen to me and act like a complete idiot, then unfortunately I have to sent them to their ancestors." Eres said, "You don't possess that power." Libitina smiled, "The power that I possess is beyond your imagination." Eres looked at her eyes and said, "Fine. I do it." Libitina smiled, "Good boy. Kystion will give you the further details." She disappeared in silver mist.

Aliyah was sitting near the balcony and sipping alcohol when Elgin came and said, "I heard that you had a quarrel with Vexana. What do you get by upsetting that poor soul?" Aliyah smiled, "She is no poor soul. She is a headache. She still wants to live in the past, clinging to old memories." Elgin asked, "What wrong did she do? Everyone has dreams of their own." Aliyah said grimly, "Her dreams are going to cause destruction one day." Elgin said, "Oh, please. Spare me all this nonsense. You are turning into your mother day-by-day." Aliyah smiled, "But, you are turning into an idiot. This all love and romance is not going to save us from the demons. We have to get serious if we want to see the future of our kingdom in a good state." Elgin said, "You are overreacting, Aliyah. Too much pressure is fatal. Learn to embrace love from your loved ones if you want peace in your life." Aliyah said, "A warrior has no peace in his life. Every day is a new war and every day is his last day. Love and sentiments have no place in the mind of a warrior." Elgin said, "There is no use of explaining all these to you. Fine. But, I have important news for you." Aliyah asked, "What?" Elgin said, "Apparently Alice's condition is not normal. I contacted the old medics and sages from Namaria and they told me to take her to their hermitage in the deep of Zaihou Forest." Aliyah sighed, "Zaihou Forest is not a kind one. I have an absurd knowledge about the type of treatment the hermits are planning for Alice. But, things are not that easy to solve right now. The treatment will take a good amount of time and without Alice and the Blood Spear, fighting the war against Kystion who has the Purple Mace is utter suicide." Elgin said, "We have no other alternative plan." Aliyah said, "We do. But, it is extremely risky. We have to kill Kystion and Kavana before they come here." Elgin said, "Don't be mad, Aliyah. You perfectly know what kind of dangerous warriors they are." Aliyah said, "We are the ones who made history killing these kinds of dangerous warriors. If we don't do it, what will our next generation learn?" Elgin asked, "Do you have a strategy?" Aliyah sighed, "Well, that is still in process. But, our motives are firm. We have to fight this war without the Blood Spear." Elgin said, "Call me when the plan is complete." Aliyah asked, "Where are you going?" Elgin said, "To meet my child and the mother." Aliyah said grimly, "It is very risky." Elgin said, "I don't care." He disappeared in green mist.

Elgin walked stealthily towards Cindy's room and saw two guards standing near the door and smoking weed. He slowly tiptoed near the door and took the form of a fly and went inside the room. He saw that Cindy was not there, but one young maiden was sleeping on the bed. Elgin mumbled, "Did I come in the wrong room?" He was about to leave when he heard a loud screaming noise coming from underneath the bed. He turned and put his ear on the ground and listened carefully. He was shocked when he learned that the screams were of Cindy, which were coming from beneath the bed. He took the form of a lizard and walked under the bed and saw a large hole in the ground. He remembered and then realised that it was the emergency evacuation route through which the princesses would escape in case of enemy attacks. He opened the vault and climbed downstairs and then he walked towards the faint light coming from a room. He was horrified to see ten young nurses and an old woman standing near Cindy, who was tied to a metal chair. The old woman, presumably the surgeon said, "I had doubt from the very beginning that this mortal is carrying a child. She showed every possible symptom of pregnancy, but you guys ignored it due to the fear of Kystion. I'm pretty sure that this child is not that Kystion's child and that means the baby is a bastard. We have no other option but to surgically remove the foetus from her body." Elgin mumbled, "I have to save my wife and unborn baby from this monster. But, I can't use elf magic here." The old doctor said to one of her nurses, "Go and fetch the wet towel." The nurse went towards the door, when Elgin caught her from behind and broke her neck. He took the form of the nurse and wore her clothes. He walked towards the doctor who asked, "Where is the wet towel?" Elgin picked the scalpel and slashed her throat with one go. He then thrust it inside one of the nurses running towards her. Two nurses ran away from him, but he was quick and slashed them as well. After killing all the nine nurses, he picked up Cindy and walked upstairs and then formed a sphere around him and disappeared...