The Border City Ord 10

Win trails after Rolant, waiting for him to reveal the location of the lord. It becomes clear that Rolant is running directly at a wall after running for a while. Rolant bashes his shoulder into the wall and it cracks open. The wall falls apart to reveal a passageway, one that Rolant seems not to care about if it gets revealed. Rolant barrels down the stairs leading deeper into the ground, leaving Win behind. When Win reaches the top of the passage he can still hear Rolant, but can no longer see him. Win walks down the stairs quickly, though not descending as fast as he could out of fear of traps or an ambush.

Even while still so close to the entrance the passageway is unnerving. The tunnel down has stone stairs, but the walls and ceilings quickly give way to pure dirt. Win can hardly even believe that a man as large as Rolant could pass through this tunnel, much less so quickly. Win has to duck slightly just to move. The air is damp and stagnant, an unpleasantness Win has never had to contend with in either life. With each step that discomfort only grows, and the darkness begins to settle in.

When Win at last reaches a flat stretch of land again he cannot hear Rolant running any longer. The tunnel is deep enough to where he can no longer see his surroundings either. Win creates a small ball of light and keeps it floating a meter in front of him as he continues through the tunnels. Now off the stairs, the ground beneath him has become dirt as well, illuminated by the small orb.

For the first time that day Win is alone with his thoughts. He is not swinging his sword. He is not being bothered by Calliope. He is not fighting Rolant. He does not need to evade soldiers all throughout the city. He does not have anyone to rescue. Although finding Rolant and the city lord are urgent tasks, there’s no longer a clear goal right before him. Alone in the dark tunnels Win begins to think.

He hadn’t intended to see the city lord, and so Win hadn’t even tried to think of him, but he’s certainly somebody Win knows of. Win wracks his brain, going over each of the records and files his father had once shown him. Even if he has no intention of becoming margrave, Win has devoted it all to memory.

After a moment of thinking, Win remembers the lord of Ord. It was a man named Anzo. Win remembers being told of him by his father once. His father had quite a great deal of respect for Anzo, and Win reasons that that may be the reason his crimes have gone unnoticed. Anzo was once an ordinary soldier who enlisted during the rule of Win’s great-grandfather and served under his grandfather. He was a giant man, said to be able to cleave through dozens of men in a single swing of his greataxe. Although a commoner he quickly rose through the ranks.

In the last great war with Pacaster the city of Ord was seized. The Pacaster army was somehow able to sneak around the Lufian forces and take the city. With their retreat now cut off and an enemy still coming down on them, the Lufian soldiers had given up hope. It was then that Anzo, then a prominent young commander, rallied his men. He marched to Ord with only a small force, believing it would be no issue to take the city back. It is said that he led the charge himself, and forced open the gate of Ord with a single blow of his hammer. He did indeed reclaim the city, and when Win’s grandfather returned, Anzo was appointed city lord for his valor.

Anzo became a trusted vassal of the Lufian family and Win’s great-grandfather after that. He was the one to return the body of Win’s grandfather to the Lufian estate when his father was still young. He was also one of the first to swear fealty to Dagobert when Win’s great-grandfather died soon after, second only to Marcus.

Win shakes with anger. For such a man to betray his father’s trust enrages Win. Win finds it pathetic that a man who served dutifully for three generations must be stopped by a fourth. Win supposes that there’s no man better for Rolant to serve than another old man who forgot his loyalty. Then he shudders at the thought he might need to fight two old men with that kind of strength.

Win strengthens his resolve and shores up all his courage. He will not let himself falter here. Win dashes forward into the dark, intent on reaching Rolant and Anzo sooner rather than later. Eventually Win comes to a stone door set within the dirt. It’s sturdy, and Win can’t find a way to pry it open. He tries once to cast a spell, only to feel it fizzle away before the door can be morphed open. Win puts his all into powering up his leg. With the full force of the wind behind him, Win slams his heel into the door. It cracks and breaks open slightly. The force of the blow shakes the tunnel slightly. With another powerful blow from his fist, Win opens up the opening in the door. The light from his orb begins to fill the next room. He kicks it once more for good measure. With the opening now large enough for easy passage, Win steps into the room.

It’s a strange room. The entire room is stone, entirely unlike the tunnels leading to it. In the center is a small stone pedestal, a crystal orb set atop it. The orb throbs with purple light, its immense magical power immediately obvious to Win. Inside the room is Rolant, not paying Win any mind, near the entrance. On the other side of the room, the orb between them, is a shriveled old man with a pallor as he approaches death. His skin is wrinkled, and barely holds onto his prominent bones. His dull robes only heighten his sickly appearance. As Win faces the two old men, he crackles with electricity.