Mary Cruent. Month 10, Day 16, Year A.F 652. Neil Principality.
The room shakes as I wake up in my room, the smoke-filled city coming into view as I awoke. The plain room shakes once more as I changed my clothes and ready myself for a new day.
A few minutes pass, furious knocking erupts from my door. WIth my clothes fixed and with my morning routine is done, I open the door with my sword and daggers.
"MARY! WE'RE UNDER ATTACK." Egon shouts, his expression filled with panic.
"So?" I raise an eyebrow as I close the door behind me, locking it before looking back to the shocked Egon
Egon looks shocked at my emotionless response before an explosion takes him out of his reverie. He shakes his head as he mutters, "Like Father, Like Daughter, go figure."
I ignore his mutters as I weave through the rubble, I ask him, "So did the payment arrive last night?"
He shakes his head and irritation crawls its way up in my expression, Before I could rant, I shake my head to cool off and I look to him in question, "So, what has gotten you so panicked?"
Egon looks at me in a deadpan expression before speaking, "They are attacking the walls."
I scoot to the side as an explosion erupts at my side, "I see, so what made this one so different?"
The recent battle on our walls has been lopsided, they haven't even made a dent in our defence. Even the destroyed gate meant little when you can butcher everyone that tries to cross.
Explosions erupt as another volley lands on the city, sounds of screams and shouts erupt all around the destroyed city as the stubborn civilians, who wish to stay in their homes, cower from the barrage.
"They aren't attacking our side of the walls." I stop, as I take in his words.
Various thoughts pass through me as I ordered Egon, "Gather a hundred men, We'll be helping out our fellow soldiers."
Egon notices my expression and nods, he ran to the walls, starting preparations. Seeing this, I continue my leisurely walk in the wall's direction as I think about the recent movement the enemy has taken.
What do they even plan to do? Concentrating their forces might have worked if they took it quickly.
I close my eyes, to extend the range of my senses. Noticing the amount of magic concentrated there and the reinforcements coming from Brin and Dave, I sigh in relief.
No, they don't have the firepower to do something like that, certainly not enough to break through Lady Ivrida's defences.
Then what could their plan be? I continue to walk and look up, noticing the barrage of fireballs lessens. I look up as the concentration of which remains in the east, though mostly directed at the eastern wall.
The wall where most of the battle is happening, a realization then stops me and I immediately ran towards the camp, I weave through the rubble, moving as fast as I can.
A few minutes pass and I enter the command tent with a shout, "Egon, where are the men!"
Ivan chews on his breakfast and looks to me, his face full, I almost chuckled if the situation wasn't so dire,
He swallows before he replied, "I believe he was rallying the men."
"Good."
I exit the tent with a shout, "Gather the men under you, Ivan. You'll be moving out with Egon."
I try to ignore the disappointed sigh.
Another explosion erupts as the battle on the eastern gate turns fiercer. I look to Egon running towards me with a salute, "They are ready, Miss Mary."
I nod to him, "Good, gather a hundred more men, send them to follow me to the western gate. Also, notify the northern gate that Alvin has betrayed us."
Egon looks to me in confusion before nodding, "What!?"
"No time to explain!" I say to him as I move aside him, towards the men gathered.
"Follow me!" I shout to my men as Egon sighs before running off.
The resounding shout of affirmation was more than I needed as I run to the western gate, followed by the men behind me.
Another barrage of explosions reaches the eastern gate and I spread my sense to see their defence, a defence which was holding strong against the barrage.
I then focus my senses on the western gate, seeing it untouched. Along with the lack of firepower coming through that area, despite the presence of the demon knights. I grit my teeth as this only proves my suspicion.
A suspicion, that Alvin has already decided to betray the Neil Principality, I run faster as my men follow behind me. I run to the top of the walls, to scout out the situation.
I run up the stairs, my men following closely. I look towards the enemy camp and see a huge formation of demon knights, all headed towards the western gate.
"That bastard!" I inadvertently shout out in frustration as the loud noise of the gate creaking open enters our ears.
My men look around in confusion as I continue to run towards the gate, a plan forming in my head, a plan to stall their advance.
A battalion of Alvin's men arrives to meet us. Their leader shouts, "Halt! This gate is under the Albrien jurisdiction!"
I take my sword, before he could react, I swung up and an updraft blows them away, knocking them out, their bodies scattered over the battlements.
I can't afford to kill them now, not until they open the gate and show their true colours, only then can I accuse them of betrayal.
I look back with a shout, "Every man of the Albrien company are to be knocked out until I give the orders."
The men hesitantly nod as we continue to dash forward, The gate come closer to view, I see Alvin standing there with a smile.
"Miss Mary, quite a surprise to see you here."