Suddenly hearing footsteps behind her, the Chieftain's beautiful wife Vercia turned around and attempted to scream intruders, but she found a black-gloved hand placed over her mouth, stifling the scream. Immediately pushing her back against the wall while a royal mage rushed to the front to place a sleep spell on Vercia to stop her kicking and attempting to scream.
Placing her now unconscious body by the balcony door, Legate Droniu began to speak to his royal legionaries.
"Right, Royal Legionaries, we have our first target captured. Now it's time for the next phase of our plan to split up and capture their 6 children. Remember to stay hidden and silent while sticking to the plan and try not to throw up while holding these filthy animals."
Instantly after Droniu finished speaking, the royal legionaries got to work, splitting into pre-arranged groups and heading toward their target while also looking for the captured Romanium citizens.
Within ten minutes, the legionaries had successfully evaded all the Chieftain Guards placed in sentry positions and brought back the Chieftain children, four boys, and two girls, ages eighteen to ten. Unfortunately, there was no sign of the captured citizens, but that was to be expected as they would most likely be in the servant's quarters off this opulent mansion.
Deciding he didn't want to leave any Romanium citizens behind to a potentially cruel fate, Droniu split up his forces, sending ten royal legionaries to carry the High Chieftain's family back to a rendezvous point on top of the hill outside the city. Meanwhile, he would stay back with the remaining royal legionaries to attempt a rescue of the captured citizens.
Watching seven of the ten royal legionaries place an unconscious family member over their shoulders before nodding and jumping off the balcony and landing silently on the ground using their strong bodies from their personal ranks. Droniu began speaking while pointing at a map in a hushed tone to the remaining royal legionaries.
"The first part of the mission has been accomplished without a hitch; good job, legionaries. But we still have an important mission to accomplish. Our citizens are a vital part of why we became legionaries originally before reaching our current accomplishments. Without citizens, legionaries like us would be pointless, as there would be nothing to protect or care for.
Now, we must fulfill our duty as legionaries to our citizens and The King. We have a personal mission from His Majesty the King to find and rescue our brave citizens who have endured being captured and beaten by these filthy barbarians.
From the map we received as intel, the only entrance to the servant's quarters is below us and about ten steps to the right. At this time of night, the majority will be inside asleep, which will allow us to sneak inside silently. Upon entering, we must quickly identify who our captured citizens are, attempting not to make any extra noise before escaping back the same way we came in. While escaping, if we come across any guards that can be easily dispatched, kill them and make them bleed for their mistake of starting this war."
"Yes, Legate," Replied the royal legionaries in a whisper before they all stood up and walked onto the balcony before scoping out the grounds to check for any guard movement below. Upon no movement, they all, as one, jumped down, landing as if a feather had hit the ground, and immediately crouched before slowly walking toward the entrance to the servant's quarters, preparing to enter silently.
Slowly turning the door knob and entering the door, the royal legionaries were in for a shock, with the dim torch light illuminating fifty battered and bruised humans all cowering in the corner, on top of hay they were using for beds, afraid after they heard a commotion coming from upstairs earlier.
Continuing to wall forward, the legionaries removed their blackened helmets in an attempt to show that they weren't barbarians and that they came in peace. Reaching out with his hand and attempting to look friendly, Legate Droniu started to speak in a soft voice.
"Greetings. My name is Droniu, and I am the Legate of the 2nd Legion of the Kingdom of Romanium, and these guys are royal legionaries. I am here under His Majesty's direct orders to rescue you, our captured citizens, from their dastardly attack. We recently received intel that you were suffering under the High Chieftain household, and I am truly sorry that we could not rescue you sooner, but the war was toughly fought, and we believe it has been won with the death of your abuser Vercencalt."
Recognizing his blackened armor and accent, a young woman tentatively stood up, her legs shaking, and reached out her hand, connecting it to Droniu's hand before ending up in his arms, shaking and crying, happy that they had been rescued. Upon seeing this, more stood up, crying that their suffering was over and hugging royal legionaries, leaving around five people left sitting in the corner.
Suddenly, Droniu felt a tugging on his tunic under his armor. letting go of the young woman and looking down, he saw a little boy beaten black and blue with puffy eyes looking up at him. Kneeling down at the boy's eye height, Droniu immediately asked the little boy what the matter was.
"S-S-Sir, um, w-what about the rest of us not from your Kingdom?" Asked the Krosos little beaten boy with a stutter from nervousness.
"Of course, we will not leave you behind. You will join us and have a new life with your family in our Kingdom. What's your name, boy?" Droniu answered with a smile attempting to comfort the little boy.
"M-my name is Krosos, sir, B-But I don't have a family; slavery is all I have ever known," Krosos said while trying not to break down in tears.
Looking upon this four-year-old little boy, Droniu felt his heart tighten. How could the barbarians treat a child like this? He immediately picked up the little boy in his arms and comforted him, telling him that he had always wanted a son, but unfortunately, his wife had died in childbirth and that Krosos was to be his son from now on.
While still carrying Krosos in his arms, Legate Droniu addressed the crowd, telling them of their escape plan and what would happen next before they all left as silently as possible, escaping the way they had come killing a few unlucky barbarians on the way.