Gerhard was fast, but still cautious. He had to be at the front, since the others carried the Nightwalkers and Norbert, well was to scared.
He looked around and showed the others the best way down. But the further down they got the slower the progress downwards was.
They needed around two hours till they finally saw the wall. It was double the amount of time they needed when going up.
"This isn't good, but we could make it if we take out those on top of the tower. They are the ones who will most likely spot us.", Gerhard said concerned, while pointing at the sentries.
Norbert nodded, while looking around. He suddenly had a plan.
"There are two Hobgoblins walking towards us from the left. I will throw the white powder at them. The sentries will look towards them for a short time, but we need to be fast. Very fast. We can sneak through the right and take the same way we snuck out before. ", Norbert said, getting a nod from Gerhard and the others. This is their only chance back without making a big commotion. When they went up the mountain, they only had to look forward. Now they had to be cautious in every direction, since being spotted would mean certain death, because of the Nightwalkers on their backs. That is why Roschar said, kill if needed. Getting spotted was to dangerous. Gerhard knew now would be the time, where it could be the time to kill.
Norbert threw the white powder sack. And all six of them started to run to the right. The sudden screams of those two Hobgoblin guards, who got blinded not only got the attention of the tower, but of other patrolling units, too.
It worked better than they thought. They went to the place where they climbed down before and went up. Right now they where in Randan's territory, which was geographically they highest place of the village. Every unit seemed to run to the side where the powder spread.
"It worked much better than anticipated. Let's go.", Gerhard said happily. He couldn't belive that they did it without being spotted. But Norbert looked a bit annoyed. The white powder could lead to him. He would have to answer Randan, what he wanted up there after the war.
" Fuck that. If it comes to it, I will just say everyone of the the alliance could have taken some of the powder.", Norbert thought, as they all went towards Gargaschars territory.
The way there was as easy as sneaking out, but what got Gerhard pondering was why nobody would ring an alarm bell.
He asked Norbert and was shocked by the answer.
" Do you really think that one of them would want to go and tell Randan they have a potential Nightwalker inside his territory. They will try and find the enemy first or even make sure nobody of them tells that something even happened there. They aren't as well trained as Roschar's subordinates. Most lower ranked warriors are to scared to talk to superiors, being killed often as consequences for bringing bad news. I myself was shocked that they could become so obedient like your warriors are. ", Norbert said, being sure they have enough time till they are long finished with their plan.
They walked further and arrived at a big cave inside Gargaschar's territory. The only tricky part was the plaza, since they didn't have much cover, but even that was done after a while. The night was on their side. Even though it was a bit past midnight now it was still time for their plan. Rosch said they should only stop if they had less than two hours of the night, since the possibility of the Nightwalkers retreating would rise if they aren't deep enough inside enemy territory.
Norbert was happy after arriving, the cave looked to be of someone important. But he still proceeded with caution.
"We don't need to be cautious. My family head went himself to clean this place right after giving me the order to go get the prisoners.", Gerhard told Norbert, so he could relax a bit. If they would walk as slowly as Norbert did, they would never make it in time. You could see the greed in his eyes, but he was still a bit cautious.
They both went in and saw blood everywhere, but no bodies. It was terrifying, since the amount of blood suggested that there were a lot of Goblins inside the cave, when Roschar arrived.
They walked a bit down to the last room of the cave, which was a little prison. Inside was nobody.
The guards of Norbert started to put down the Nightwalkers. They were cuffed and their mouths were closed, so they couldn't move even a centimeter or make the smallest sound.
Gerhard started to chain them on the wall, their limbs stretched out to the limit. Like this they couldn't cut their chains. The clothes covering their mouths and eyes wouldn't get taken of at all. It took some time, while Gerhard did it. Norbert and his guards didn't even care, they were looting already, trying to hold as much stuff as possible.
Gerhard was now chaining the last Nightwalker on the wall. He turned around, taking some stuff that looked shiny. He was fast not like Norbert.
"Let's go. I don't want to be here when they realize that they can break out.", Gerhard said, while going outside fastly.
"We will come in a minute. The Nightwalkers want get it that fast.", Norbert said being completely blinded by the valuable stuff lying around.
Gerhard had a light awkward smile on his face, as if saying he knew that would happen. He turned around and dashed out even faster, while his smile changed into a frown.
Not even a minute went by, as a shout was heard. Gerhard stopped and looked back. He was a bit far away, but still to close. If a Nightwalker would get out now, he would be done for. But the one that came out was Norbert. He was running for his life. He was so close to Gerhard now, that he could see the expression of him. And Gerhards expression told him "you idiot".
But as soon as Norbert passed Gerhard, the face of Gerhard changed again. He suddenly looked disgusted and annoyed. He turned around fastly, taking out his dagger and cutting the tendons of Norbert.
"GYYAAAHHHHH What wa... Bluuurghhhh. ", before Norbert could even finish his sentence, a foot came down on his jaw, breaking it. Gerhard looked down on Norbert, as if he looked at a bug.
"You stupid being. Why didn't you just stay in there dying by the hands of the Nightwalkers. I didn't want to do it myself. I even tugged a bit harder on the sabotaged chains to show the Nightwalkers they are able to get out.", Gerhard said annoyed. He truly didn't want to do it himself, but the action of Norbert made it lighter for Gerhard. Norbert came out of the cave, leaving his guards as sacrifices, while still carrying as much loot as possible.
" Why did you do it? We are on the same side?", Norbert asked terrified, while his eyes were shaking. He had so much pain talking with a broken jaw. But he had to ask, maybe he could find a way out of this situation.
"Let's say, it is your own fault.", Gerhard said, as he mercilessly struck his dagger down into the back of Norberts neck. Norbert looked terrified, but the light in his eyes went out fastly, as a huge amount of blood sprayed out his neck. At least Gerhard didn't let him suffer.
Gerhard only looked for a second down at the dying Norbert, as he turned around and dashed towards the Moonwalker territory.
It took him only 10 minutes since the territories of Gargaschar and Rosch are pretty close. Gerhard went up the wall and stood besides Rosch, looking towards Gargaschars territory.
"Rosch, it is done.", Gerhard said emotionlessly.
"You did a great job.", Rosch said, as he looked towards Gerhard. Gerhard looked pained, but didn't want to show it.
"We have to do stuff that we don't want to do sometimes. That is what's it like to be a leader. Do you know who the first Goblins dying, by the hands of the prisoners, will be?", Roschar asked Gerhard.
Gerhard looked confused, but thought about it for some time, as he realized with big round eyes.
" The.... The females and ch.. Children nearby.", Gerhard said shocked.
" Right. And that will be haunting my conscience from now on. I did give green light to this plan knowing what will happen. But to make this place a better one we have to sacrifice sometimes. Even if it hurts. ", Rosch said with a painfully looking face. He had his own baggage to carry. That Gerhard saw now. He turned around and left, but Rosch said something more.
" Don't forget this feeling. Even if it hurts. The moment you lose this feeling, you won't be any better than Norbert, Slither, Randan and all the other bad leaders. You will start using your subordinates as if they are just minions you can throw at your opponents."
Gerhard stopped for a moment, but walked further to his subordinates pondering about what happened.
Yesterday, after the Nightwalkers made a retreat back into the forest.
Rosch went to Gerhard, who looked still a bit excited about what just happened. Having seen the attacks in such a good and perfect order made him stunned and excited.
Shooting at the Nightwalker's approaching while they were still in a huge group was perfect, because it killed the most possible amount and they could aim even though it was night. After that the Nightwalkers tried to separate, but the they were surprised by the fire bombs. Now the Dwarven mixed could see them perfectly getting their crossbows ready to attack them, which was fantastic. After that the white powder made them crazed and blind and than volley after volley of the terrifyingly strong bows rained down on the Nightwalkers.
Everything was beautifully executed and every weapon showed its terrifying might.
"Gerhard I need to talk to you. Come with me.", Rosch said to him and they walked towards a silent and empty spot.
Gerhard looked confused and waited for Rosch to talk. And after a while Rosch started.
"I want to kill Norbert and need your help for it.", Rosch said without hesitation. Gerhard was shocked and his brows went down. He looked angry.
"When I accepted and joined your family, my only condition was that we wouldn't betray my human mixed family. You swore on it. Why should I want to fight them?", Gerhard said almost enraged. He didn't think Rosch was that kind of being, breaking promises.
"I know. That is why I wanted to ask you, if you are okay with it. I could have done it without you and behind your back, but I didn't want to. Just think about it. Who will be the most likely to betray us?
It's Norbert. He isn't loyal, the only thing he sees are shiny objects. If Randan gives him something valuable, he will tell all of our plans to him. You shouldn't be loyal to him. You should be loyal to your race. To the human mixes. If he is gone and they come under our rule, do you think they will have it better? ", Rosch said calmly. Which shocked Gerhard.
"Why are you telling me all that. What if I say no?", Gerhard asked suddenly.
"I respect you and want to hold my promises that I made with you. In about two or three days we will execute the plan and it will be you practicing in it as the leader. Sleep about it and think about it. Take your time to decide. And at the end you have the right to chose. Kill him or not, I won't judge your decision. At the end, if he goes over to Randan, it will be just one more enemy to take care of. He may even stay with us, we don't know. So just do what you think is best. ", Rosch said shocking Gerhard completely. Rosch went home after that, but Gerhard stood there for a long time thinking about what to do.
The present day.
Gerhard looked a bit lost as he walked to his subordinates.
" I did the right thing. Norbert is cowardly and greedy. I gave him so many chances, even saying at the end to him that we need to leave, but he was greedy till the end. And even running away without his guards, while carrying his loot. He was truly unsaveable. ", Gerhard walked further, but now more determined that he did the right thing after pondering about it for some more.