[Mkguild] Plain & Simple part 10

[Chris]

   Three months of planning, scouting, training and four hours of
careful and silent maneuvering through the woods led up to this moment.
Misha lay flat on the ground at the edge of the woods. The fox was
dressed in leather armor. Those parts of him not covered by the armor
had been dyed black. The armor itself was black as was everything the
fox was carrying. In front of him lay the massive ruined fortress.
Between him and the ruins was a hundred feet of open ground devoid of
any cover taller then his ankles. Behind him in the woods was over a
hundred other keepers all dressed like he was. All were waiting
patiently and quietly for him to make the first move. Laying next to
Misha on his right was Craig. On his left was Finbar.

   Misha was truly frightened and yet exhilarated at the same time! He
was doing something dangerous but he was really making a difference in
the war against Nasoj. He wasn’t just out causing random mayhem. What he
was doing could really change things for the better in the valley. But
also on his mind was that EVERYTHING and EVERYONE depended on him right
now. If he made a mistake besides getting himself killed he could get a
lot of other people killed as well.

   The soft sound of feet shuffling through the grass and weeds came to
him signaling the arrival of the people he needed to kill. He tried to
push all the doubts out of his mind and concentrate on the task at hand.
He peered into the darkness and he again thanked the curse for giving
him the superior senses of a fox. What would have been almost
impenetrable darkness for a human was a world of gray shadows for Misha.
He could clearly see two human like gray figures slowly walking through
the dark gray grass and bushes.

   These two were a patrol that routinely moved through this open ground
circling the fortress all night. The fox scout waited patiently till the
two Lutins were almost even with him. He gently tapped both Craig and
Finbar to let them know he was ready. Then he slowly stood up and hefted
his axe. The time for planning and training was over.

   Misha raced silently across the open ground in his hands was the
massive black axe that was over five feet in length. As he moved across
the broken ground his bare paws made no sound. In moments he was on the
two Lutins. The axe swept and then swept back and the two Lutins fell to
the ground dead. Misha didn’t spare them a second thought but raced
across the open ground to cover.

   Every second as he moved Misha expected a shout of alarm and a hail
of arrows. But there were no shouts or arrows. Instead the looming walls
of the fortress grew taller as he got closer. Resting at the foot of the
wall was a jumbled mess of tumbled rock of all shapes and sizes. Misha
picked a large one and dropped down behind it. He crouched there panting
as quietly as possible listening to the world around him. Quiet was all
he got in return. His attack had been unnoticed.

   Misha waited and used all his senses to identify everything around
him. His ears picked up the rustle of grass and weeds and they moved
back and forth in the slight breeze. His sensitive vulpine nose took in
all the scents and smells. He picked up a faint smell, the distinct
scent of first one lutin then a second off to his right. Looking in that
direction he spotted a particularly large pile of stones. The scout
nodded his head faintly. That was where the guards were.

   He moved slowly this time crouching low to the ground and placing
each step carefully. Misha could not afford to be spotted now. He had to
kill these two guards without any sound getting out to warn everyone
else in the fortress.

   The fox morph moved around the pile of stones with his axe at the
ready. He caught sight of two, green skinned people crouching in a
hollow. The axe swung with precision and the Lutins were cut in half
before they even realized the Keeper was there.

   Misha waited still and silent for a full minute alert and ready for
any trouble. His ears flicked about listening for the slightest sign of
trouble but all he heard was the soft sounds of the evening. From a
pouch on his belt Misha produced a lantern that was barely larger then
his hand. It was made entirely of iron painted black and had no openings
for light to show through, instead there was a very small shutter.
Inside was a small stone that had been enchanted to give off a soft blue
light. He took hold of the shutter and made sure it was pointed away
from the forest and back towards where Craig and Finbar were waiting. He
opened the shutter once leaving it open for several seconds then closed
it.

   He saw two figures appear out of the tree line and move silently
towards him. A moment later Craig and Finbar were kneeling next to him.

   Misha examined the two dead Lutins for a moment before nodding to his
friends. Then he pointed to his left and then to his two companions. The
fox waved his axe for a moment and then pointed to his right. There was
no need for any words. They all understood what to do. Now that they had
breached the picket line they had to widen it. 

   Misha crouched low and made his way across the ground to where he
figured more Lutins rested. The fox moved quietly, each careful
placement of his paws making no sound as he headed across the grass,
rocks and weeds. He had no problem picking out his path as his vulpine
eyes were perfectly suited for seeing in the dark.

   His ears picked out a faint shuffle ahead and to the right. Looking
there he caught sight of a large boulder. Angling toward it Misha raised
his axe. He raced around the large rock and saw three Lutins standing
there.  Without stopping he swung the axe. The only sound was the faint
whisper of air as it rushed past the axes razor sharp blades.

   The axe cut through two Lutins without the slightest resistance. Then
it swept back and killed the third one just as easily. Three bodies fell
to the ground with barely a sound.

   The fox crouched down as quiet and still as the dead that surrounded
him. The sharp tang smell of blood came to his nose as a warm liquid
pooled around his right paw. Deftly he used the massive blade to cut an
ear off of each one and tucked his grisly trophies into a pouch.

  Carefully Misha stood up and shook the blood off of his paw. Then he
slowly made his way back to where he had killed the first two sentries.
He found Craig and Finbar waiting for him.

   Misha pointed the lantern away from the ruins and back into the
forest. He opened and closed the shutter slowly three times. Then he
carefully placed the lantern on the ground and took the bow from his
back and knocked an arrow.

   Silence seemed to fill the world around him and he embraced it gladly
letting the lack of noise help him. In the stillness the slightest sound
would be magnified and would warn him of anything approaching.

   It seemed like hours but was really only a few minutes before his
sharp ears picked up the faint sounds of someone approaching from the
woods. Several figures appeared out of the darkness crouched low to the
ground. He recognized the lead one as George, his canine scent was
distinctive. The jackal bandit crouched next to Misha as the other
arrivals quietly spread out around them.

   Misha leaned close to George until his nose was touching the jackal’s
ear. “No problems so far,” he whispered in a barely audible tone.

   George nodded. “Good,” he whispered into Misha’s ear. “You and your
people take the Keep,” he ordered.

   The old bandit gave a short wave behind him. A few moments later two
figures appeared out of the darkness. Each was covered from head to paw
in black and crouched low to the ground. Their weapons were held at the
ready as they hustled to the ruins. Stretching out behind each of the
two were long columns of people, each dressed like the first. George
looked at the two leaders and nodded. Without a word the two columns
split and went in different directions.

   The jackal and the fox waited patiently as the two columns filed
silently past. When ten had gone past in each group the columns shifted
and went off in directions different from the first two.

   After another ten had passed two familiar figures appeared. Misha
nodded to Elissa and Merrow who nodded in response.

   Misha slowly moved off deeper into the ruins, axe in hand. Behind him
stretched two columns of people one led by Craig, the other Finbar.


*******************


   The dark shadow of the keep loomed up in front of him. As Misha moved
through the darkness towards the ruins he gripped the axe tightly in
both hands. It was at times like this that he could feel her. The
presence inside the axe was awake and talking to him, warning him of
things nearby that he couldn’t smell or hear. Usually she just watched
and listened but she occasionally woke up when things were interesting.
It boded lots of fighting and blood. It also meant that this was an
important event. Misha liked both ideas.

   “The tower has many entrances.”

   “I only need one.”

   “The western side, the corner closest to you. The door is of good,
solid oak and bound with steel. It looks rotted but the wood is strong.”

   Misha changed direction and angled toward that corner.

   There are five Raau Nuf,” the voice commented reverting to it’s old
tongue. “In the windows above you but most are asleep,” the voice added
with a tone of contempt.

   The fox had to suppress a bark of laughter. “They’ll get a lot more
sleep when I get to them.”

   “There are three Nakhtu-aa outside the door that must be dealt with.
A score more are inside. They are wide awake and alert.”

   The dark shape of the ruined keep loomed higher and higher till it
towered over him. Down at the level of the ground he spotted the shape
of a doorway.

   Off in the distance, to his right Misha heard a voice shout faintly
and then suddenly cut off. The fox moved faster less concerned about
silence then getting to the door quickly. From another direction came
the sound of a fight – metal ringing against metal and then a loud cry
that was clearly audible throughout the whole ruins.

   Misha muttered a string of curses and broke into a full run hefting
the axe over his head. A figured loomed up out of the darkness and the
disgusting smell of a lutin assaulted his sensitive vulpine nose.

   He swung the axe straight down and split the lutin from its head to
its chest. Without even slowing down Misha raced past the corpse and up
to the door.

   Two more Lutins charged straight at Misha, one spear aimed to
disembowel him and another that would bury itself in his throat. The fox
dodged to one side and swept the axe backwards the blades slicing
through bone and muscles with ease.

   In seconds he was at the door. From behind it he heard the sounds of
a bolt being thrown. He was aware of the rest of the group slowly
gathering around him.

  He paused for a moment then took a good stance and gripped the axe
more tightly. Then he swung the massive, black axe at the middle of the
door. In spite of the rotted and weathered appearance of the door there
was a loud ‘thunk’ when the axe struck solid wood. There was shouting
and confusion from behind the door. Misha swung again. The axe bit
deeply into the door cracking and splintering the wood. Even though it
was so dark he could see that there was a crack in the wood that ran all
the way from top to bottom.

   Behind him he saw Craig throw a javelin upward. A moment later the
prairie dog’s aim was rewarded with a loud scream.

   The fox swung again and this time the door exploded sending splinters
of wood and metal flying in all directions.

   With one good kick the rest of the door caved in. The room in front
of him was filled with Lutins who were running around in confusion.
Without a moments hesitation Misha rushed through the opening already
swinging the axe in a tight loop in front of him.

   Pandemonium reigned as his axe cut swaths through the Lutins. The
blades slashed completely through a lutin and the table he was standing
next to. Soon other Keepers joined him in the room. The fighting was
fierce but short. In moments the Lutins were dead. But the fighting did
not end. In one corner was a set of wooden stairs leading upward to an
opening in the ceiling. Down through that opening came a shower of
arrows, rocks and even pieces of wood. Keepers clustered around the
opening and shot, launched and threw arrows, spears and javelins back
up.

   Getting in had been easy. Now came the hard part – taking the rest of
the tower.

   From a pouch on his belt he pulled a leather wrapped object. He
unwrapped the leather and revealing a layer of cloth beneath it.
Unwinding that he uncovered a ceramic ball large enough that it had to
be held in both hands. Sticking out of the top was a short piece of
rope.

   Finbar chittered with delight as he lit the end of the rope on the
sphere with a small piece of burning wood. The fuse sputtered for a
moment then caught aflame and started burning down to the ball.

   The fox waited a moment then tossed the fire upward and through the
square opening leading to the second floor. Everyone stepped backward
trying to get as far from the opening as possible.

   Several long seconds passed and Misha could hear the fuse faintly
hissing as it slowly burnt down. Then there was loud, muffled THUMP and
flames shot out the hatch and through a thousand little cracks in the
ceiling.

    After a few moments the flames died down but smoke kept pouring from
hole in the ceiling. It began to fill up the room and wafted out through
the arrow slits and the open door.

   “Nice!” someone commented quietly.

   Misha hefted his axe and walked up to the stairs. Nothing came down
at him except smoke. He took a deep breath of fresh air and rushed
upward taking the steps two at a time. In moments he was on the second
floor. The fox morph looked around at the tangle of burning wreckage,
gore and broken bodies and broken furniture. The firebomb had done it’s
work well.

   A group of Keepers quickly followed Misha up the stairs and spread
out around the room.

   “Check for any survivors and put out the worst of the flames,” Misha
ordered. He looked up at the ceiling and found an opening where stairs
used to go through. The people above had removed the stairs leaving the
Keepers with a ten foot leap straight up. This was an obstacle but an
expected one. He walked over to the stairs downward. “Where is that
ladder?” he whispered downward.

   “Coming!” came the reply up through the smoke.


****************
  

   Dawn was breaking by the time Misha stepped out of the ruined tower.
The first rays of sunlight were bathing the ruins in a golden light. He
found George standing nearby under a bright red banner on a six foot
tall pole giving orders. The jackal nodded to the fox but didn’t stop
what he was doing.

   Misha waited patiently until George turned and looked him in the
face. “Yes?”

   “Tower’s clear. Three wounded but no one killed,” the fox answered.

   “Good,” George commented. “We’ve swept the ruins with no real
problems.”

   “We took them by surprise!” Misha said cheerfully.

   George nodded. “Now comes the smelly part. I’ve ordered your stink
pot up.”

   “Wonderful. I can hardly wait to smell it.”

   George gave a short bark of laughter. “It was your idea.”

   “How went the fight?”

   “Better than I’d hoped. Some wounded but thankfully no dead on our
side. We caught them off guard. We’ve located most of the holes and I’m
bringing in the fifth regiment to take over from my scouts. Things will
get a lot more exciting once that pot of yours starts burning.”


**************************


   It took six strong people to carry the large pot into the ruins. It
was twenty minutes before it was placed to the fox’s satisfaction. The
massive hatch he had spotted during their first trip here was still
closed and almost invisible.

   The fox examined the hatch for a long time looking for and disabling
the booby traps he had found the last time. He looked for more but
didn’t find any. It didn’t mean there were none present. Just that he
did not find any.

   Stepping to one side of the hatch he lit the fuse on the stink pot
and a fire bomb as well. Then he jerked open the hatch. A flurry of
arrows and spears flew out and struck the ground in front of the
opening, shattering harmlessly.

   He tossed the fire bomb down the hole and then rolled the massive
stink pot in after it. Then he quickly slammed the hatch shut and ran as
fast as his vulpine legs could carry him.

   Misha was some twenty feet away when there was a muffled ‘thump’. The
hatch lifted up and spewed wreckage in all directions, flaming bits of
debris rained down on everyone as thick clouds of orange smoke rolled
out of the hole.

   A small cloud drifted past where Craig and several other morphs were
standing. They instantly doubled over coughing and retching as the
terrible stench overwhelmed them.

   Misha backed away as fast as possible but the smoke was faster.

   Misha had smelled the stench before. After all he had made this one
like he had made a lot of others in the past. He knew what to expect.
But that had been when he had a dull human nose. When the smell hit his
sensitive vulpine nose it was worse, a thousand times worse.

   The stench hit him like a punch in the nose. He staggered backward,
the incredible smell making his head swim and threatening to overwhelm
him. Misha shook his head in a vain attempt to rid his nose of the
horrible smell. He could feel the bile rising in his throat and he
fought to keep from throwing up.

   “LUTINS!” Someone shouted behind him.

   Misha turned towards the voices and saw a group of Lutins stumbling
through the smoke and out into the daylight. All thoughts of the stench
vanished along with the nausea as the fox’s hands wrapped around the
hilt of his axe.

   The fox let out a loud yowl. “FUN TIME!” he screamed and ran straight
at the Lutins.

End part 10

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