Chapter 46: Chapter 41 – Infiltrating the Capital

Seeing the capital for the first time made me realize why Karine had been so set on having a small group infiltrate it instead of committing to a long and bloody siege. Many of the capital’s streets were narrow with a small number of larger streets that passed under gates, a nightmare for any invading force. They wouldn’t need a lot of soldiers to hold it for an extended period of time. Possibly even long enough for the army scattered across the country to return and cause us a lot of issues.

The part of town we emerged in was shabbily built and the roads weren’t paved. It didn’t take a genius to realize that we were, in all likelihood, in the slums. Probably a place you would normally want to avoid. But it makes sense why an entrance such a this would’ve gone unnoticed there. Both because those who live there wouldn’t trust the city guard and also because the city guard wouldn’t go there too often.

Regardless, she hadn’t told us much of the actual plan outside of the very basics. As we skulked through the empty streets towards the merchant district, Karine told us what she had planned as the first stage of our infiltration: A riot, that would, hopefully, spread far and wide within the city walls. While there weren’t many card-carrying rebels in the capital, there were plenty of common people sympathetic to the cause. All they needed was a little nudge in the right direction.

Could it become bloody? Of course. No question about it. But her hope was that the commotion caused by rioting would be enough to distract the garrison and allow us to do what is needed. And that, maybe, possibly, they wouldn’t start off by executing seemingly desperate citizens. It’s a big if, though. The kingdom isn’t known for its lenience on civil disobedience.

The first step of this part of her plan was to meet up with some notables within the city, and she knew exactly where they would be. This being the capital, it has a very strong Guild presence; mages, merchants, craftsmen of every stripe congregate here. It goes without saying that it also has a large aristocratic presence, but they aren’t the kind of people commoners such as us could negotiate with and hope for a positive outcome.

“We’re here,” Karine said as we approached what looked like a gated manor within the merchant district, its style reminiscent of baroque. A guard was lazily standing next to the gate, not looking very attentive. Even with the siege on the city, some things don’t change.

I couldn’t help but sneer. I had expected us to meet in some more clandestine location, but I guess no one was really all that worried about being caught at this point. “Not very inconspicuous, is it?”

“No, it’s not,” she said with a shallow sigh, “But we need their help for any of this to work.”

With our exchange over, we walked to the guard and Karine shared some sort of coded sentence with the man who then opened the gate for us.

So far so good. It was going almost too smooth, wasn’t it? Considering how many setbacks we had had so far, I wasn’t exactly trusting our luck to have turned.

The path to the manor was immaculate. Perfectly trimmed decorative trees flanked it on both sides, and a hedge just beyond the trees walled it in.

“Let me do the talking,” Karine said, pointedly glancing at Vaqelin.

The three of us nodded without a word, and Karine knocked on the door.

Within moments, the door opened and we were greeted by an elderly man in the quintessential butler outfit.

Karine bowed shallowly.

“Welcome, Miss Strophie. Master is expecting you in the lounge with the others.”

“Alright. I apologize for my lack of decorum, but we’re in a hurry. These three are with me.”

The man nodded. “I understand.”

The man opened the door further and allowed us to go inside.

The manor looked as opulent inside as it did out. All the furniture looked expensive and intricate. Just one set of them would probably cost more than my entire home did. Vases, bouquets of flowers. Large portraits hanging on the walls.

Opulent, or gaudy. Take your pick. I would hate to live in a place like that.

Karine stormed ahead on her own and left us to follow the butler. He tried to keep us entertained by telling us about the manor and its history, but honestly, it was just like buzzing in my head. Under different circumstances, I might’ve actually enjoyed having a tour of the place, but this wasn’t the time.

After a few minutes of this unwarranted guided tour, we reached our destination.

“There you are!” Karine ambushed me the moment I entered the room after the butler had opened the door for us.

“She’s the summoned hero I told you about.”

“She doesn’t look very strong,” said an overweight middle aged man in a peculiar looking outfit. It accentuated all the wrong parts, making him look more overweight than he actually was.

“Oh, she might not look like it, but she made the black knight flee!”

“Is that so?” The man’s gaze sharpened, as if he was trying to size me up. “She does look like she’s been in a fight.”

“She’s why we’re here,” Karine said as she patted me on the shoulder, “The knight attacked us right at the entrance to the secret passage.”

“I see,” the man said, seemingly in deep thought.

“Do I have your support?”

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 “I thought this plan of yours sounded outlandish, but maybe it’s actually possible. You have our support.”

“Great!” Karine turned to us. “Could you three wait outside? We just need to iron out the details, it shouldn’t take long.”

Avilia embraces me from behind, interrupting my train of thought. “What are you doing?”

I can’t believe it’s been a week since all that happened already. Once the dust settled, we were given a room in one of the guest houses within the former royal district of the capital, while they figure out the details. Of whether we’re still needed, our reward and so on.

Honestly, neither of us wants to stay here for too long.

“Oh, you know,” I say as I slightly turn my head, “Keeping that diary. I haven’t had much of a chance to write as of late, I have some catching up to do.”

She kisses me on the cheek. “What are you writing about?”

“Right now, I’m writing about the whole infiltration thing.” I place the pen next to the still open diary. “I’m still surprised it actually kind of turned out the way she wanted it to.”

Avilia giggles. “A lot of things went wrong, did they not?” Her breathing tickles my ear. It’s not unpleasant. Not in the slightest. “Not only did the summoned hero actually show up, but we were actually forced to take part in the fighting.”

“Yes,” I respond as I nod ever so slightly, “At that point I wouldn’t have been too surprised if we had to actually carry the entire thing.”

“It was an interesting experience, that is for sure.”

“So,” I say as I take her hand, “What do you need?”

“I just wanted to talk to you,” she says as she gently leans her head against mine, “That is all.”

“Bored?”

“… A bit. I do not understand why they want us to stay here still. They have not called for us for anything for days.”

I’ve been wondering about that, too. What’re we really needed for at this point? To legitimize the new regime or something, since they still think I’m a summoned hero? I don’t really know. Karine knows that Vaqelin is a reincarnator now. Surely having their own home grown “summoned hero” should be better instead of someone of questionable pedigree such as myself?

“You know, since we don’t have much to do anymore, we could go out. We could explore the city now that it’s not being shelled all the time. Just the two of us. Who knows, maybe it’s actually nice when it’s peaceful?”

“You might think that, and you would probably be wrong.”

“How so?”

“I spoke with Karine earlier.”

“Ominous.”

“Funny. She told me that stories of two elves have spread around the capital.”

I can see where this is going, and I don’t like it one bit!

“… Let me guess, including that one of them is a ‘summoned hero’ or something?”

“Yes, of course. And that they were integral in what took place.”

I sigh. “Right. Of course. So, we’re kind of on house arrest, then?”

“That is one way to put it, yes. No one is literally holding us in here, but it is for our benefit. We could take our chances with our cloaks, but…”

“But if they figure out who we are, we’ll be swarmed. Is that right?”

“Yes.”

Darn it, we lost our chance to see the rest of the city!

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