Night-time Attack

There were five hundred guards stationed at Castle Kelsey.

All of them had plate armour, spears, shields and sword, none of which ever saw any combat.

Their main duties consisted of patrolling the walls and grounds, and trying to find ways of appeasing their boredom.

No one dared raise a hand to the Kelseys with the rumours surrounding Lord Anthony, and those who defied him.

Some said he dabbled in magics forbidden by the Church, others said that he was in the pockets of the Sons of Tartarus, the most ruthless and feared criminal group in the Holy Empire.

Not even the Holy Paladins crossed Anthony Kelsey’s path.

That sense of superiority and security led to the mercenaries losing their once honed skills, but they never lost their cruel or ruthless edge.

No matter the time of day, not one of the guards took their duties seriously unless Lord Anthony, his wife or an officer was passing by.

Even at night, when they were most vulnerable, the guards didn’t properly patrol the walls and towers. The torches were all lit to make it seem like they were but, in reality, the guards slacked off and relaxed as best they could on the night shift.

Andrew and Rob were no exception.

With a heavy yawn, Andrew lent back against the wall and rested his spear beside him.

“You can’t be tired already. We’ve only just gotten started on our watch for the evening.”

“Who cares? No one’s going to check on us, are they?”

The two men laughed.

“Still, it sucks that we had to draw the short straw on poker night. Wish it could’ve been Col or Steven instead.”

“Same. Well, we’ll just have to make sure it isn’t us next week stuck out here.”

A cold breeze blew over the castle.

“Agreed,” the shivering man said.

Then, something flashed across his vision.

“What was that?” Rob asked, jumping forward, spear in hand.

“What was what?”

“That…black shadow. Didn’t you see it?”

“You got scared by your own shadow?”

“No, dumbass! I meant-”

A knife pierced his neck and Rob died instantly.

Before Andrew could react, a sword pierced his heart.

Mímir pushed Rob onto the floor and the Raven dumped Andrew’s corpse beside his friend.

Then, Mímir turned to the wall and shot his wires down into the ground outside the castle, anchoring themselves in the dirt. A moment later, he felt the strings get pulled on and Mímir waited patiently for the Machai to scale the walls five at a time.

Mania flew to the top of the wall slowly, carrying David by his hand.

Gently, she placed him onto the battlements and took out her whip.

Once they were at the top, the Machai growled, weapons in hand.

“Don’t kill anyone but the guards, but spare any that surrender. No one, I repeat.” David shot the attack party a fierce glare. “No one but the guards.”

***

With one final shake, Steven pulled up his trousers and walked back inside the walls.

“Took ya long enough,” Colin chided him.

“Hey, some of us had a lot more to drink than others!” Steven slurred before he lost his balance and almost fell over.

Colin caught him and made sure his friend hadn’t hurt himself.

There was always plenty of alcohol at poker night and that meant every barracks was filled with loud, drunken guards. Each was located in the base of the four large towers at each corner of the keep, and their friend’s merry cheers could be heard from a hundred metres away.

“You ever wonder if you drink too much?”

“Never!” Colin steadied Steven after he almost fell again. “Cheers, mate.”

“No worries, just be more careful.”

“I will. You know what, I don’t think I should drink anymore tonight.”

“Came to that realisation all on your own, did you?”

Steven giggled and wrapped his arm around his friend’s shoulders. “I did. Aren’t ya proud of me?”

Colin sighed and brushed his friend’s arm away. “Whatever you sa-”

Colin came to a stop and reached for his sword.

“What you doing-?”

Colin shushed him and drew his blade.

“What’s going on?” Steven whispered.

“Ain’t it far too quiet?” Colin asked softly.

The tower that had been roaring with joy had all but stopped.

“S-should we sound the a-alarm or s-s-somethin’?” Colin stammered, his hands shaking.

“They might’ve all just passed out from drinking too much. Lord Kelsey would flay us alive if we raised the alarm over nothing.”

“M-Maybe you’re right. Y-y-yeah, let’s check it out first.”

The two men crept towards the door.

When they reached the door, Steven threw the door wide open and gasped in horror.

Twenty-three dead men were strewn across the room, their blood painting the stone walls and floors.

Two monsters stood over them.

Those monsters held weapons dripping crimson and, with an roar, lunged at their new prey.

***

By the time Captain Rowan and his men had got their gear on, the castle was in complete disarray.

Someone, or something, was attacking the castle and their guards were dying fast.

The servants were left defenceless and either tried to run or find somewhere to hide.

Guards, some half dressed and others in their pyjamas, had assembled but didn’t know what was going on.

No one seemed to have a good grasp of the situation, but everyone knew that Castle Kelsey was under attack.

Rowan took charge of whatever soldiers he could find.

“Jaspar! Take three men to the east wing and sound the alarm! Ian, take your men and start setting up defences in the main hall. Don’t let anything past you! Everyone else, with me to his lordship’s side! Protecting him and his family is our highest priority!”

“Captain, what about the servants?”

“We can’t waste any time protecting them. Now, move out!”

The guards moved as directed.

Rowan and his men ran through the castle chambers, the sounds of battle echoing down the halls. They ran into the main chambers of the castle as the screams and guttural shouts of battle drew closer.

As they ran, Rowan spotted a few guards trying to flee before a muscular monster in steel armour with a deer skull helmet.

“What in the name of the Goddess is that?!”

“Focus, men! Remember your duty!”

They ran along the upper balcony of the main hall; Ian’s men were below, desperately trying to barricade all the doors.

Their efforts, however, proved to be in vain.

The main, large doors were blown clean off their hinges.

Four of the monsters stormed through and began tearing Ian’s forces to pieces.

From behind them, a figure in molten rock armour entered, laughing manically.

His blade was bloodier than all the others.

Rowan and his men ran even faster to Lord Anthony’s chambers where a handful of guards, his lordship and his family were waiting.

“Rowan, what in the Goddess’s name is going on here?!”

“Lord Anthony, the castle has fallen. Men, barricade and guard the door, now!” Then, turning back to his lordship, Rowan continued. “An unknown group of monsters have broken in and we’ve been overwhelmed.”

“Barricade us in?” Lady Katherine burst out upon seeing how recklessly the guards were throwing things in front of the bedroom doors. “Are you out of your mind? Shouldn’t you be out there fighting, or shouldn’t we be escaping?”

“My lady, they’ve breached the outer defences and the main hall. Ian’s men are being cut down as we speak and, while I sent Jaspar to sound the alarm, I fear help will come too late.”

“Too late/?” Rebecca whispered.

“How could this have happened, Rowan?! You have the best equipment money can buy and-!”

“My lord, we have tried but we have been overwhelmed so totally. They caught us by surprise and appear to outnumber us. Is there a secret passage where you and your family could hide, or escape, my lord?”

Lord Anthony’s eyes widened and he smiled. “Of course! Of course there is! I completely forgot. I had it installed when I had this place built; never thought I’d need it, so I’d forgotten about it.”

“Where is it, my lord?”

“Behind that painting there!”

Lord Anthony pointed at a gigantic and gorgeous picture of an oak tree.

“It’ll lead us outside the walls and to the old servants’ quarters. Quick, you men there! Help me move it.”

The guards rushed to lift it off and place it gently to one side, revealing a locked steel door.

“Where’s the key, my lord?”

“It’s under the bed on my side-”

Something heavy flew against the bedroom doors.

Then, silence.

The battle that had been tormenting them had ceased.

Nervously, the guards drew their swords, placing themselves between Lord Anthony and the doors.

His wife, whilst shaking and scared, tried to slowly tip-toe towards the bed to grab the key.

The sound of heavy boots drew closer to them, accompanied by two lighter sets of steps.

The doors blew wide open, launching the makeshift barricade into the guards.

Several of them were knocked down and the rest took a few steps back.

Three figures stepped into the room.

One was very tall and in armour, one looked like an assassin and the other was a scantily clad woman.

“Mania.”

The woman giggled and brandished her bloodied whip. “With pleasure, Master.”

Mania cracked her whip and it snapped forwards; then, it bent at an impossible angle before launching itself into the guards.

It pierced through their armour, skewering eight at once.

She snapped the whip again and it sliced another six in two.

Despite their fear, Rowan and his men charged at the intruders.

They knew that they were outmatched, but they also knew they had no choice but to try and fight.

The assassin threw knives at them, piercing several of the guard’s chests, before they drew their sword and leapt into the fray.

Soon, only the three Kelseys remained.

Satisfied, David sighed; then, in a deep voice, he spoke.

“Take them.”