Cut the Head

"This room is yours. Use it as you see fit."

Duncan pushes forward a pair of wooden doors within the upper floors of the castle.

"My chamber is further down the hall, so you need not worry about security."

"To be placed so close to royalty, I'm truly honoured."

"You need not be! Our name would be tarnished if we kept a hero down with the ordinary grunts!"

The ordinary grunts a few paces away wordlessly keep watch down the hall. Counting the knights on the way up, there are at least a few tens of them protecting these floors.

"I have a question, if you wouldn't mind."

While the large chamber and its intricately carved furniture would be great for rest, I cannot lay down just yet. Dim lamplight reflects off the darkened window as I take a step back into the hallway.

"I require more information for the campaign tomorrow. Who might I visit to better understand the threats ahead?"

"You are a studious one for sure."

Duncan interrupts his awe to think. He rubs his chin for a few seconds before I receive my answer.

"Sir Thorsten is leading the charge, but I'm certain you would rather not converse with him further."

"Indeed, if possible."

"In that case, speak with Prudence. He is an expert in the study of beastfolk and may at least acquaint you with your enemy."

I follow the prince's directions through the labyrinth of stone and find myself within a large library. Books and scrolls spread across the walls and climb up to the ceilings. At the end of this room is a desk where a robed man sits with a quill and ink in hand.

"You are named Prudence, if I recall?"

The man looks up from his open parchment with widened eyes at my arrival.

"Blessed Knight Clement! That is correct, I'm His Majesty's primary advisor in matters involving the environment and foreign relations. What brings you here at this hour?"

"I had questions regarding our opponents tomorrow. His Highness holds you in high regards for this matter."

Prudence quickly stands and joins me at the centre of the library. He folds his arms within his robes as he speaks.

"His faith is founded in my background. I studied beastfolk behaviours for years before I was appointed by His Majesty. The village in question is one I've investigated in the past."

"In that case, can you tell me of its layout?"

"But of course!"

With an extra spring in his step, Prudence moves us to his desk and unscrolls a large parchment covered in ink.

"Your caution is to be respected! That general has such faith in his abilities that he would not spare a single moment to prepare!"

"That was my impression as well. This is a map of the village, I presume?"

"That is correct. This particular tribe settled within a thick forest just off the road between Melior and its closest neighbours."

On the map, I can see an obvious marker for the city and the road, but everything else is shrouded by trees. Within the black are small shapes assumed to be individual structures.

"Were it not marked, I would not have assumed there to be an entire settlement here."

"That is what makes this tribe dangerous. You cannot simply march an army into this place without being ambushed from above or below."

"So you hope that at least our numbers will protect us from being picked apart."

Unlike a human village, there is nothing resembling a road network. We will likely be forced to push through masses of brush just to reach a single wall. In this environment, we have almost no choice but to walk as a disconnected pack.

"Beastfolk will not attack a large armed force directly. They will attempt to separate and overpower you, trimming away at the edges until every last enemy is killed."

"What is your suggested approach?"

"That is the challenge, unfortunately…"

Prudence sighs and drops his weight back into the wooden chair at his desk. He shuffles through piles of parchment and reads through them.

"The safest solution would be to burn the beastfolk out. Focus our troops at the ends of the forest and force them to fight on our ground. This of course would inflict significant damage to the environment."

"That would certainly save us from a death trap. However, I assume this is not the final proposal?"

"You would be correct. His Majesty would never allow us to destroy his beautiful forests."

He scrunches up the parchment and disposes of it in a nearby bin.

"Another would be to slowly clear the surrounding forest until we have a clean path into the village. Considering the timeframe we have been allotted, this is also not possible. However, we have one more…"

Prudence takes a book hanging over the end of his desk and begins flipping through its pages. When he reaches the desired place, he turns it and the printed image towards me. The words disappear into the background as I stare at the large creature on the page.

"A beast?"

"Not simply a beast. This is the Beast Titan."

"Titan…"

One of the creatures I was assigned to exterminate. Its scale is not apparent from this image, but the massive teeth and claws are obvious to see. The way it curves its back and swings its tail must have horrified whoever witnessed the beast long enough to form this drawing.

"Beastfolk worship the Titan like a god. Its silver fur and sharp claws are treasures to their kind. While our royalty carries gold, theirs carry silver."

I watch the man wince in pain as he stares at the final written plan on his desk.

"We can only attempt a frontal assault into the heart of the village. We will likely lose most of our men in the process, but victory lies in killing one target."

"I see how it is…"

It's a job that I'm very familiar with. In my world, they aren't decorated in gold crowns and colourful robes. They don't live in elegant stone castles and personally lead armies into battle. They don't often carry the title of King, but their relevance isn't any less than if they did. The collapse that follows their death shakes the world to its core, a quake I've caused Earth many times.

"Cut off the head and the rest collapses."

The king's advisor nods and returns to his feet. He looks directly into my eyes with hands folded behind his back.

"No matter which land you find them, they will always be wearing the fur of the Beast Titan. Remove their monarch and the rest will flee in disarray."

Prudence may not be the one in charge of this land, but he is the right hand of the king himself. He wields not a sword, but he carries the same strength in his voice and gaze.

"Blessed Knight Clement, you must kill the prince or princess of the beastfolk tribe. As one who oversees Melior and its safety, I can only trust you with this mission."

With everything I need obtained, I turn and prepare to exit the room. This man is not my king, so I do not bow. However, I deliver to Prudence exactly what he wishes to hear.

"Consider your mission accepted."