Rovan was brought before the Sultan. He did his best to look pathetic, and he thought he was doing quite a good job of it. All these stuffed pigs of leaders seemed to be fooled.
When he hatched this hair-brain scheme, Rovan wasn't even sure he thought it would succeed. But the feast for the Sultan's son Tugce had everyone in the city well enough distracted.
Viziers, Lords, and other influential party attendees were hurling insults at him and quite enjoying Rovan's arrival as a prisoner. They must have had too much strong drink and food that their minds didn't work properly. Then again, they are quite the arrogant creatures.
The only person who didn't seem fooled was Dagrim Kvore. He was watching Rovan like an eagle tracking a mouse. Rovan couldn't let his hatred of Dagrim distract him now. They'd get their chance to fight soon enough.
Rovan had hijacked a small fishing boat with Captain Dantes and his First Mate, Keerat, which allowed them to reach Port Royal without raising an alarm. Once in the city, Rovan took out a pair of soldiers so they could use their uniforms. Captain Dantes and Keerat put on the uniforms and were pretending to be soldiers who captured a prisoner.
Because of the festive mood in the city and the prevailing thought that the Hanwi Fleet and the Elysium had retreated, no one was on the lookout for enemies.
They were given a gondola and told to take the prisoner to the Sultan's Palace. Rovan had even ripped up his clothing and rolled in some mud to sell his woeful look.
They were let into Lalji's city gate with no troubles, even given cheers of celebration at the sight of another prisoner's capture. They came around the canal ring straight to the Sultan's personal dock, and no one even hesitated to let them up. They were immediately brought into the regale, most of the guests seemed quite enthusiastic about it actually.
Captain Dantes and Keerat tried their best to keep their faces hidden, but they were allowed to bring Rovan before the Sultan. The plan had come off better than Rovan had ever thought it could.
The sight of Olafur's tortured body gave him pause. Rovan couldn't show a reaction to it yet. His apprentice would have to wait a moment longer.
Rovan was forced to his knees by Dantes and Keerat and was hiding his chains from view. The room had quieted to hear what the Sultan was going to say to him.
"The mighty Knight in the Order of the Sun now kneels before his sovereign like the pathetic worm that he is. Well worm, do you have any defense for your treachery and treason? Do you wish to beg for mercy before us all? Or do you wish to end up like your apprentice over there, an example of what happens to all who betray the great Anahitiian people?" The Sultan lectured.
Instead of speaking his answer, Rovan began to stand up. The Sultan stood back a little at first, but Rovan had his head down and raised his hands helplessly before the Sultan.
The Sultan had a look of amusement at first, but then his gaze became fixed on Rovan's hands and chains. The Sultan's eyes went wide as he realized that Rovan's chains weren't secured at all. The Sultan looked at Rovan in surprise. Rovan lifted his head and gave the Sultan a satisfied grin. With all his might, Rovan slugged the Sultan square in the jaw, instantly knocking the sovereign unconscious.
Captain Dantes handed Rovan his sword that he had concealed under some robes. Keerat and Dantes had Gladius swords that came with the uniforms they stole. They began to clash swords with the guards charging after them.
Dagrim Kvore leaped from his chair with a sword in hand and rushed at Rovan. Their swords met with a heavy clambering. The metals' integrity on both their swords was being tested to its maximum as they were both swinging power strokes with all their might.
Chaos broke out as many of the attendees panicked. Yelling and screaming echoed through the extravagant hall. Many were trying to get on gondolas at the same time and it resulted in the vessel capsizing. People jumped into the canal.
Keerat was working on freeing Olafur of his chains. Rovan was completely absorbed in his duel with Dagrim to help. They were grabbing Olafur's sword, which had been brought to the dinner to be put on display as well.
The Sultana was attending to the Sultan and trying to revive him. The Princess and Prince had left initially but they returned with swords in hand, extra guards in tow. This was a good time to make their exit.
"Rovan, we're here to rescue Olafur not get revenge on Dagrim." Captain Dantes shouted.
Rovan gathered his wits about him and remembered his part in the plan. Before the Prince and Princess could return with their reinforcements, Dantes, Keerat, and Olafur were commandeering one of the gondolas.
Rovan kicked Dagrim in the stomach to get some separation. Then used his power to connect to break off a heavy beam to land on Dagrim, temporarily pinning him. Using the limited time before Dagrim could free himself, Rovan put his sword to the Sultana's throat and grabbed the Sultan.
"You're both coming with me." Rovan threatened.
Rovan dragged the Sultan's groggy body to the escape gondola, and the Sultana followed as ordered. Once in the gondola, Rovan used his powers to send energy blasts at the support columns. This started a toppling wave as the support structures were becoming compromised. The Palace was slowly collapsing apart as if an earthquake were attacking it.
Keerat and Dantes were the gondoliers as Olafur was still regaining his strength and Rovan was keeping watch on the Royal hostages. They took the center canal as it was more direct out of the city. The Prince, Princess, soldiers, and Dagrim Kvore were in a gondola in hot pursuit of them.
Rovan was very disappointed that Dagrim wasn't crushed by the falling debris. They could hear thunderous crashing noises as clouds of debris dust rose high into the air. The Sultan's Palace was destroyed.
As they passed patrols in gondolas that were at the corners that intersected with the center canal, the soldiers were helpless to stop them as Rovan had the leaders at sword point. They waited to pursue once the Prince's gondola passed by. They were picking up many tailing enemies.
As they went under the main gate, some archers thought of firing on them but realized they might hit the Sultan. So they held back. Rovan mockingly shrugged his shoulders at the soldiers.
The canal that led out to Port Royal was full of private docks and small merchant craft. Rovan kept an eye out for ambush or surprise attacks.
"Olafur, you feeling up to some fighting?" Rovan asked.
"I feel like throwing up mostly, but yeah, I can make do."
"You look awful." Rovan observed.
"You mean awfully good. An awfully good-looking fella." Olafur joked. "By the way, glad to see you alive. I wasn't sure if I'd ever see you again."
"Nothing was going to stop me from coming for you, not even death." Rovan assured.
"I know Master. I know. Even warned the Sultan there. He should have believed me." Olafur said.
The Sultan regaining some of his faculties, "So it's true. A Knight in the Order of the Sun lives. For now."
"Can you knock him out again?" Dantes asked.
"Be glad to do more than that." Rovan offered.
The Sultana, who had been silent until then, released a noise of rebuke.
"Does Milady not approve?" Rovan asked. "I'm surprised to find your stomach so easy to churn when you're married to the Devil himself. Perhaps I'm not being vile enough for you."
"Says the man racking up the crimes. Traitor, thief, kidnapper, murderer, and probably a million other things." The Sultan accused.
"Crimes? We didn't raise arms against you until you started killing our family. We didn't help overthrow Tsar Miro because we believed in a cause. We were just helping people who couldn't help themselves." Olafur joined.
"Says the Son and Nephew of swine." The Sultan insulted.
Olafur was about to continue arguing, but Rovan cut him off.
"He'll answer for his sins soon enough. Either at my hand or the courts in Hanwi." Rovan said.
"How are you going to get us to Ishavara? Are you going to row this gondola all the way?" The Sultana mocked.
"What crime have I committed against Hanwi? They were going to attack us first?" Graeo'gi defended.
"Chancellor Flaero said that he received intelligence stating you were sending a flotilla to aid Kittisek Khan. King Ohdakota was only trying to negotiate." Olafur said.
"Well, I see both sides of this conflict have bad intelligence. We were only ever going to defend our borders. We never agreed to help Kittisek Khan. Chancellor Flaero needs better spies." Graeo'gi said.
"Well, that's the first true thing you may have said in a while," Rovan observed.
Perhaps because they were distracted by the conversation, no one noticed a soldier hiding at one of the docks behind a ship. He managed to jump onto their gondola, practically on top of Olafur.
Olafur and the soldier were wrestling at the front of the gondola while Rovan kept a sharp eye on the Sultan. Olafur accidentally threw the soldier into Dantes and Keerat knocking them both to the floor. The Sultan tried to take advantage but Rovan gave him a swift elbow to the chest that knocked the wind out of the leader.
The Prince's gondola and all the rest were still in hot pursuit. This was the small opening they could exploit. They had plenty of soldiers to aid in the rowing, where it had been just Dantes and Keerat.
With the momentum stalling, the Prince's gondola slammed into the back of their craft. Dock workers and onlookers stared at the strange events happening in the canal. It's not every day you get to see your leader being kidnapped.
Keerat and Dantes had returned to their feet and were back rowing. Olafur kept his wits enough to throw the invading soldier overboard into the canal.
The Prince's gondola managed to pull along side of them and slammed into them a second time. Rovan stumbled a little but kept his balance. Dagrim managed to leap across and tackle Rovan.
The two gondolas were exchanging blows as Rovan and Dagrim fought on the floor. Olafur was aware enough to move to the Sultan and Sultana and keep them passive with his sword. He couldn't let their only leverage escape.
Rovan and Dagrim were to their feet, but as always when they fought, there was no real advantage. For the moment, they were not locked in battle with swords. They were grappling on the floor. Each trying to get a hold, but anytime one got a an advantage, the other got out of the hold.
The gondolas kept slamming into each other. Olafur was getting sick of the collisions and aimed his sword at the Prince's rudder. Olafur sent an energy burst that exploded wood fragments. The Prince's vessel lost the ability to steer properly.
Most gondolas are long and thin. They have little room for anything but passengers. These were the gondolas used by the royal houses. They were at least triple the size of a normal gondola. They had high sterns and bows. Extra wide in the middle to allow passengers to walk around. In this case, space to wrestle.
On the smaller gondolas, the steering is all in the gondolier's strokes. On these bigger vessels, they are too large. Massive oars and rudders make it possible for one man to row them. They can still move forward without the rudder, but the oars only move side to side.
With the Prince's rudder gone, they were starting to get separation from it. Port Royal and the open sea was within sight. Now they just needed to hope that the other participants were doing their part.
The fleet from Hanwi and the Elysium had not retreated. They had only sailed to somewhere to rest and repair the ships. After regrouping and setting course for Lalji, they found Rovan in the open sea on a small sailing craft he had stolen.
While Rovan, Dantes, and Keerat were infiltrating their way to free Olafur, the Elysium and the rest of the fleet had set their sights on Port Royal. Black smoke was on the wind and visible in the sky. Port Royal was burning.
The sailors from Hanwi had taken advantage of the powerful people being distracted. They had snuck a shore and targeted the merchant and Naval vessels. Incendiary arrows and other inflammatory tools were used to attack docks, ships, and supplies that were all around the main canal. The Anahitiian fleet was in ruins.
The feast had been to commemorate a major victory, but that major victory belonged to King Ohdakota's fleet. If they could get the Sultan and his wife aboard and off to Hanwi, then victory would be complete.
When Rovan destroyed the Sultan's Palace, some of the wealthy, and powerful people had died in the collapse. Some had drowned trying to escape. The Government in Anahiti was faltering.
Dantes and Keerat steered the gondola into a dock. Olafur forced their prisoners out onto the docks as Rovan and Dagrim were still fighting. Keerat and Dantes ran ahead to locate the longboats.
Rovan made a maneuver that let him roll to his sword and point it at Dagrim. Dagrim can be added to their prisoner list now as he had little recourse but to surrender.
Dantes was yelling for Rovan and Olafur to join them as they had found the longboats belonging to the Elysium. Crewman were waiting to ferry them back to their ships. There were also longboats from the Hanwi fleet there as well.
Rovan had already secured Dagrim in a longboat, as he kept his sword fixed on the dangerous man. Waiting for Olafur in one of the longboats for the Elysium was Valen. Her face lighted up when she saw that Olafur was alive.
"Olafur! Over here." Valen called him. Olafur had just put the Sultana and Sultan in the boat when he was tackled. Prince Tugce had caught up to them.
"Valen, go. Take the prisoners to the ship. There were other crewman in the boat with her. She reluctantly obeyed. Olafur and the Prince started to lock swords as he was trying to buy time to get the prisoners away.
Rovan loaded Dagrim on one of the Hanwi ships. As soon as he felt that Dagrim was secured in shackles, he looked back to see where Olafur was. He saw that Valen was with the Sultan and had made it to the Elysium, but no Olafur.
"God damn it. I've got to rescue the kid again." Rovan said to himself. Rovan dove into the water to swim ashore.
Olafur and the Prince were now fighting on the beach by the docks. Neither was gaining an advantage. They moved and countermoved. They were both strong and swift.
If Olafur hadn't been imprisoned and tortured, this might have been over by now. He was fatigued and losing energy. Sensing Olafur's weakness, the Prince sought to take advantage and moved for a kill stroke. Olafur had also attempted to end the fight with a kill stroke of his own. Prince Tugce's sword rested in Olafur's shoulder missing any vital organs. Meanwhile, Olafur's sword was sticking in the young Prince's heart.
They both slumped and fell to the sand. The Prince began to choke and gurgle on his own blood. It wasn't personal for Olafur, he was just trying not to die.
Soldiers were rushing towards Olafur, but he didn't have the energy to move. He suddenly felt light and that his body was moving towards the sea. Olafur looked to see that his Master was dragging him away.
"Wrap your arms around my neck and hold as tight as you can." Rovan instructed.
Rovan then swam back to the Elysium with the heavy weight of Olafur on his back. Crew from the Elysium moved to do what they could to help them.
Longboats and small craft filled with Anahitiian soldiers were making their way out to them but the fleet from Hanwi had already pulled anchor and were sailing away.
The Elysium was waiting for Olafur and Rovan. As soon as they reached the main deck, the anchor was pulled. Arrows and projectiles were being fired upon them. Some archers on the Elysium were firing back.
Some soldiers were attempting to climb onto the ship and board her, but crewmen managed to shoot them off with well-aimed arrows. The ship was moving into the wind and picking up momentum away from Port Royal.
They had secured the Sultan and the Sultana as prisoners, caused major damage to the enemies fleet and collapse the Sultan's Palace. Not a bad days work.
Valen had taken Olafur to the ships doctor and Captain Dantes was back at the command. Rovan went to speak with their prize prisoners.
"Today, the victory is yours, but do you think anything serious is going to happen to us when we reach our destination?" The Sultan told Rovan.
"That's not for me to decide."
"I'll tell you what's going to happen. I'll negotiate with the Chancellor, and I'll be pardoned in exchange for peace. I'll even offer supplies and weapons to help beat Kittisek Khan. They may even random me. I still have leverage."
"You'll pay one way or another for what you did to my family." Rovan threatened.
"Oh, you mean how Dagrim Ali your children's throats and stabbed your wife? I wasn't there. Blame him." Graeo'gi rationalized.
"Don't say another word about my family. You know it was on your orders."
The Sultan neither confirmed nor denied it.
"Your wife was a whore, so your children were whore spawn. No real loss." The Sultan said to antagonize Rovan.
Rovan stood over the sultan and ordered him to "Say their names."
"Stop the hero shit." the Sultan said, thinking that Rovan wouldn't dare do anything to him.
"Amaya, say it." Rovan again demanded.
"No" The Sultan said in defiance.
Rovan picked him up by the throat. "Say their names." Some crewman came over to intervene but Rovan gave them a look not to interfere.
"I am your ruler. You have no power to command me." The Sultan said in a labored voice.
Rovan put the Sultan down and chopped off the Sultan's right arm at the elbow. "Say their names. Javad." Rovan shouted.
The Sultan wailed in pain but didn't say their names as blood was flowing out his wound.
Rovan cut off the sultan's left hand, "Bita. Say it."
Still, the Sultan just wailed in pain, making threats towards Rovan. Rovan cut the head off the Sultan. "Amaya." Rovan said, and then walked away from the bleeding corpse.