Chapter 45: 43 – Bandits and Brats

POV - Sara

Beth, one of my subordinates on the mission team, comes up to me. "Miss Sara, we should be arriving at the mining site tomorrow, correct? Any specific Instructions?"

"Same thing as last time, Beth. You and Claire take command of the other eight, and guard the wagons and the additional drivers we brought. Be prepared if there are runners or scouts that you encounter, so don't drop your guard until it's done. From what Queen Nikita said, we should be able to commandeer enough wagons and horses, but needed the extra hands to drive them.

"Because this mining operation is relatively large and they also have a fortified position, Queen Nikita will be joining me on the assault this time. If you leave at first light you should arrive in the early afternoon. I rested in the wagon today, so after you're all set here, I'll jog out for a night assault with the queen. Any questions?"

"No, Miss Sara." Claire gave a salute. "Just be safe out there. Just like you told us, don't drop your guard."

"Thank you, Claire," I said. "Queen Midnight hammered that into my head during the dungeon dives."

She really did. I once asked her why, even against weaker monsters than the dragonids, she always stayed on guard and ended them almost to the point of overkill. She said,

'It's a stupid fucking trope that an enemy you let live, or letting your guard down too early, ends with a crossbow bolt or dagger in the back. It's something completely avoidable. So make sure all enemies are dead and don't be swayed by them. It's extremely rare for someone to change in any meaningful way, and not worth the risk of leaving a potential threat alive.'

It's a very harsh assessment on people as a whole, but I don't think it's completely wrong. During the last assault, I did hesitate. The last few men all dropped their weapons. Eyes with tears pouring out and runny noses, they begged. They begged me, promising anything and everything. Just let them live and they'll never do this again. Spare their lives and they'll change. 

They kept promising over and over. For a moment, I hesitated. For a second, I wanted to let them walk free. To give them a chance. Then I caught sight of one of the women that was in that final room, and my mind flashed back to when I was in her position. That made up my mind. Within seconds, the defenceless men on their knees were all dead. I wasn't here to help trash find a better path. I was here to kill them and bring these people back from their own hell.

What would that woman think if I spared her tormentor? How many people have begged for their lives and been killed or raped by these people. No. As soon as Her Majesty sent Queen Nikita and myself on these missions, the death of these people was decided. 

What'll be harder for me, I think, is when we are fighting the church. When the common soldier is on their knees surrendering, will I be able to pierce with my spear? If my situation was different, I could've easily been one of those soldiers. Just doing their duty, attempting to protect the people without knowing what the church is actually like. Her plan will even involve killing good people that try to rebuild the church. Will I be able to kill them?

Although, I guess that's war. All I can hope for is that Her Majesty sends us where the truly wicked are and that we're able to bypass as many innocents as possible. Even so, I know I'll have to kill many people, and that not all of them will be targets of my hatred, I'll follow Her Majesty. I'll be her spear as she assaults the Empire, and I'll be there when she changes this world.

At last, the time to leave has come and I calmly jog off at a pace few could match while sprinting. Eventually, I see a castle in the distance. It's smaller than our home, and surrounded by wooden walls like our fields. It looks like at one time it had a stone wall around the general area, but it only looks like a raised hill line now. I see people moving in the dark as I look over the area.

Queen Nikita flies down. "Hey, Sara! You ready for some fun?"

"Hello, Navi. You've assessed the area I assume. What's the best course of action to take?"

"Right on! So, here's what I'm thinking. I could just drop rocks on the castle, but Vamps would scold me for needlessly killing the people we want to take. I've confirmed the people we are here for are being held there. I think a two pronged attack would be best. 

"The highest levels I've seen are a few in the mid 40's. If you bust right through the front door stabbing like a wasp, it'll draw everyone's attention and I can fly around and make a hole to enter in the back. Keep your assault moving slow so that way you still block the door some. Just remember what Lia told you to do in the different potential situations. Her responses may all seem ruthless or uncaring, but they have their reasons."

I nodded. "I know and I'll remember. And after you attack from behind?"

Navi smiles mischievously. "I'll make sure to draw some heat off you and add confusion to them. Maybe take out their leaders. Then I'll back out and let you push in hard while I fly around the area to kill any runners. Mines should be pretty clear except for guards, so just stabby stab away!"

"Sounds good. When should we begin?"

"Whenever you're ready!"

Taking a breath to steady myself, I jog towards the gate in the night. This'll be a loud and obvious attack. Assassinating is not my forte. After Her Majesty tested the armor against a horde of ogres, I know I have little to fear from these people. Now then, let's draw as many of you out as I can.

*Ding ding ding!* A warning bell begins sounding as I slow to a walk approaching the gate. As I get to the base of it, a man pokes his head over the wall. 

"Who the fuck are you?" he spat.

Without saying anything, I kick the gate and it breaks off of its hinges. One of Her Majesty's rules is to never talk or explain yourself to the people you are going to kill. Only talk to someone if you think they have information you need. As soon as you get it, they try to stall, or don't have it, kill them.

With the gate down, I'm cemented as an enemy and the four men behind the wall all rush at me. Garbage. No form. No coordination. They're just like goblins. 

As the first approaches, I stab him in the chest with my mithril spear straight through his leather armor. Pulling my spear back, the next is almost upon me, and I hit him in the head with the haft by the butt. As he's falling, I plant the spiked butt end of my spear into his mouth and through the back of his head. Using my spear to pivot and swing my leg out, I kick a third bandit in the head so hard I felt his skull shatter. Landing, I blocked a halfhearted swipe with a sword by withdrawing my spear and then slashed the last guard across the neck with my spearhead.

I can hear shouts in the distance. This distraction to draw everyone out worked. To keep the pressure on them, I rush across the small courtyard and up to the two guards at the castle door. They both prepare themselves with their spears. I deflect one stab with my spear in one hand and catch the other spear in my other hand. I pull it out of his hand as I stab the first one. Now alone and without a weapon, the guard's eyes open and he takes a step back. He receives a leg sweep from my spear before falling on his ass and having the butt enter his skull. 

Taking a couple steps back, I lower my shoulder and push off the ground as hard as I can. Ramming the doors with my armored shoulder. With a shower of splinters, one door breaks down the center and the other twists, attached only by one of its hinges. After that entrance, I'm greeted by a dozen arrows and some magic.

As the fire and earth magic impact weakly against my armor, the arrows bounce off harmlessly. This armor truly is without equal. Brandishing my spear, I get into a stance and move forward into the crowd of sword, mace, and spear users. Compared to the dragonids, these people are slow and weak. Compared to the endless waves of drakes, these people lack decisiveness in their actions. I can see it as I mow them down; The fear on their faces and the sight of their own impending death. One after another they come, and one after another they die.

As the room clears, some of the archers and mages run for their lives. That's fine. I'll be with them momentarily. Cutting through more people, I get a message from Navi.

(Hey, Sara! I caused some destruction on the back side. I'm heading out now, so feel free to go crazy and don't worry about runners!)

(Understood.)

With permission now granted, I redouble my efforts and change from letting them come to me, to going after them. The sudden change took a couple by surprise. As my spear tip enters the eye of one, I backhand another with my gauntlet and shatter his jaw.

More and more I push forward, aiming to my left to begin checking rooms. As a habit from the dungeon, I always find myself clearing left first. Odd, the little things that you pick up. 

With a sense presence skill much higher than any hide presence that trash like this has, I kick down doors and kill any cowards hiding within. Then I reached a room that had a situation I hoped to never encounter, but was warned and trained by Her Majesty for.

"Get back! Get the fuck back or I'll kill her!" the bandit frantically screamed.

When I was a knight, we were never taught about hostage situations. However, when I was trained to lead this task force? Her Majesty drilled this into me. What she said was when someone takes a hostage, they are desperate. They believe that by threatening harm to the hostage, they can do more harm to me than actually attacking. 

Her Majesty said there were only two ways a situation like this could go. The hostage will either live or die. Their life doesn't have value to the bandit. Their life only has value if it can be used as a shield against me. She taught me that if I harden my heart and ignore the hostage, then it looks like they have no value. 

Don't speak. Don't ask to spare the hostage or curse the bastards. Opening a dialogue, any at all, only gives the bandit a hope that the hostage has some value to me. Although, if it looks like I don't care? Then the bandit is holding something that he can't use. He is short a hand and a weapon that could be pointed at me to extend his life a second longer. 

If the bandit follows through on the threat and kills the hostage, then it's a terrible thing, but would have most likely happened regardless of my actions. Following through with what I was taught, I silently rushed the bandit across the room.

His eyes go wide with fear as I move. "Stop! I'll do it! Shit!"

The bandit pushes the scared woman at me and tries to lift his dagger as if it would protect him from my spear. Like a nail being driven through clay, my spear pierces his heart with almost no resistance. I quickly go to the woman now on the ground who looks at me with the eyes of a cornered rabbit.

"We're here to help," I said. "Stay here and hide. We'll come save you when the bastards are all dead."

Without waiting for a reply, I move on. I have a job to do, and as much as I want to help her, until the bandits are cleaned out, it isn't the time. Leaving the room, I breathe a sigh of relief. The hostage situation ended well this time, but by no means do I think it'll always end the same in the future. 

One after another I clear the rooms of bandits. Like mice being chased around a room until they reach the door, I encountered less and less as they scurried to escape me. That's fine. I knew if they reached the door that their deaths were still insured. Most likely in a more painful way than by my hand. It took almost thirty minutes, but I was back to the entry room after going around the castle.

I spoke to Navi. (I'm starting on the second floor.)

(Gotcha! I'll be enjoying my barbeque! Hehehe!)

I almost pity the bastards who tried to run. Starting on the rooms of the second floor, there were even less than the first. Likely many of them tried to run when I was circling the first floor. Looking at the bodies already around, it seems like Navi has cleared some of this already.

Checking some of the rooms, I make it to what I assume is the master bedroom where a man is impaled with a stone spike going into his asshole and out of his mouth. On a wall of the room are shelves from floor to ceiling with dozens of skulls on them. Sick bastard got what he deserved.

Turning my back on the macabre scene, I continue my task. Once done, I make my way back to the ground floor. Only a cellar remained to be checked. As I walked down, I had a bout of nostalgia. The smell of piss, shit, sex, and death. When I reach the bottom and look around, it's exactly like I had thought. Dozens of men and women separated in cells on different sides of the room. I quickly scan the area and notice no bandits are around. 

"Everybody!" I called out. "We're here to help. The bandits in the castle are dead. When we clear the few remaining outside, I promise I'll be right back and get you all out. Please be patient until then. I'll be back soon."

Again not waiting for a response, I head back up hearing a few shouts, cries, or questions behind me. Until we can get everyone together with all the bandits cleared, I need to focus on my task.

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(Castle is cleared,) I tell Navi.

(Good job! You're like an angry hornet!) she said. (Let's clear the mine and then get everyone to the entry room. I think most left the mine to go to the castle, but better to be sure.)

(Agreed. Want me to clear as you handle runners?)

(Yup! You flushed out a bunch that time!)

Jogging to the mine entrance near the castle, I descend into the depths. Being able to see clearly in the dark is convenient for places like this. Taking the left tunnel as they split, I work my way through. 

It seems like everyone that was here has gone. As I was approaching the end of the last tunnel, I felt a presence. It was hard not to. They were breathing heavily, and I could hear a couple sniffles. Coming around the corner I saw the origin of the sound behind some crates of ore.

"Rahh! Die!"

A boy about 8 years old rushes sloppily at me with a dagger. Short, badly cut dirty brown hair with only being about four feet tall. I smack the dagger out of his hands with the haft of my spear and grab him by the back of the collar. What the fuck? Why's a brat here? Everything Her Majesty taught me, I should just kill him. He came at me with a dagger. Is wearing clothes similar to the bandits, if a bit oversized. But… It's just a brat. She did only have one exception when she trained me.

"Let me down!" the kid screamed and squirmed. "I'll kill you! I'll cut open your stomach, and, and, and… and it'll hurt! Let go of me right now! You'll regret coming after us! More of the guys are on their way to kill you! So let go of me and die!"

I unequip my spear and gauntlet and flick him lightly on the forehead before equipping the gauntlet again.

"Ow ow ow ow ow!" He reaches up and runs his head. "I'll definitely kill you! That hurt! Ow ow ow!"

*Bam* This time while still holding him in my left hand, I punched the stone wall with my right, bursting some chunks of stone from the wall and making a small crater in it. The kid's eyes went wide and he finally stopped struggling and froze as I held him aloft. Crap. Now what am I going to do? What would Her Majesty do…

"Boy," I said as I lifted him up so we were eye to eye. "Are you a bandit like all of the ones I killed in the castle?"

"I! ...Wait... They're all dead? All of them? No... You're lying! You're a damn liar! When they get back, just you wait!"

This brat… I take out some rope and tie his feet to his hands behind his back. Having to put a knee on his back to hold him still. Now that he is hog-tied and still trying to spout nonsense, I cut off his shirt, wad it up, and used the edges to tie around his head. Gagging him with his own shirt. Looking at the skinny little kid, he probably hasn't had a decent meal in who knows how long.

With the mine empty of people, I grab him by the rope between his hands and feet and carry him out like a piece of luggage. Now. What the hell am I going to do with this kid? When I exit the mine, Navi calls out.

"Sara! I didn't know you were a shotacon! And an S! Wait, is Steph an M?"

Ignoring that comment.

"Hello, Navi. I found this brat hiding behind some boxes in the far back of the mine." I lift up my luggage to show her. "I couldn't bring myself to kill him, so I brought him with me. He isn't very cooperative yet. Still thinks the others are coming."

"Then let's bring him along!" she cheerfully said while dancing through the air. "He can check out the aftermath of your fight and just lay there tied up while we release all the captured people."

"That… wouldn't that really get to him?"

"Well, yeah, but he only has two choices. Accept what happened and come with us quietly, or die. If you can't kill him if it comes to it then I will."

The eyes of the luggage go a bit wide at that. Well, we still have a job to do.

I nod. "Alright. Let's pile and burn the bodies so we can release everyone and get them ready before the wagons arrive."

It may be cruel, but if being a bandit is the life this brat wants, he needs to see what happens to them. As I drop him on the ground in full view, we begin gathering all the bodies and making a large pile. If I glance at him I can see fear in his teary eyes. It hurts me to do this, but this should at the very least show him that none of the bandits will be coming to kill us.

With the final one piled up, Navi lights it on fire as the boy watches, all fight now gone from him. I'll try dealing with him again afterwards. Navi hides until we confirm if they'll come with us. I go to the cellar and the hostage room and gather all the people that were trapped. There were almost one hundred. Roughly seventy being men. A few couples seemed to be able to reunite. Everyone received a basic robe. If they stay, they'll get one of Steph's kits or if they go, one of her other kits.

I gather everyone together and get their attention. "Hello everyone. My name is Sara, and I was sent here by my queen when we discovered these bastards were here. I will say this now. We are not a part of the Empire. However, we have a safe place free from monsters and the fake god of the Empire. We would like you all to come live with us as free citizens, and will provide you with money and help to get on your feet. There are many that live with us that were in a similar position to you. However, if there is anyone who would like to return to the Empire, please come forward now. We'll give you some provisions and you can begin your journey. Would anyone like to return to the Empire?"

Like last time, nobody comes forward. Whether from fear of me, fear of traveling alone, or fear of the Empire, I don't know. In the end it doesn't really matter.

"Then everyone is willing to give living with us a try, and is ready to renounce the fake god and the Empire?"

A few small nods. I just try to copy Her Majesty but I'm definitely not as good at this as her.

"Then please come forward. I have a bag for you with clothes and basic provisions. I also have water and soup, so please get some food in your stomachs and rest. I have wagons and people that will arrive tomorrow, then we can load up and move to your new home."

As instructed, no mention of vampires or fairies until we are leaving and there's no turning back. Now then. Time to figure out what to do with the brat.

I walk back over to him. "We're going to have a chat, boy," I say as I lift him up by the rope again. Unlike last time, there's no struggling. No fighting. Just acceptance of his situation.

I bring him far enough away from the new people so that I can talk to him without being overheard. Then I set him down, untie the rope, and remove the gag. He doesn't try to run and only sits, trying to put a brave face on to cover up just being a scared snot-nosed kid.

"I'm tired of calling you 'boy.' What's your name?" I ask in a more gentle tone.

"...Degare…" he mumbled.

"Well, Degare, my name is Sara. What the hell are you doing being a bandit?"

"Not like I wanted to be one…" he said, staring at the ground. "They picked me up off the streets in a town when I tried to swipe some coin…"

"And what happened?" I prodded.

"They brought me here. Robbed, kidnapped, and killed some people on the way. Got me to tend to the horses and muck the stable for some food each day for the last year or so."

"Then what were you doing in the mine?"

He looks away. "I heard fighting and sounds of people dying. So I hid. I would sometimes sneak into the mine to be alone. So I went to my spot. Then you showed up."

I squat down. "Do you want to be a bandit?"

"Course not," he said, finally looking at me. "I hated all of them. All those guys were mean and beat me or kicked me if I forgot something or for no damn reason at all. But I want to eat."

"So if you had a good way to earn a full stomach, you would stop being a bandit."

"You got a good way I can work for some food?" he perked up a little. "I'm a hard worker. Don't mind shoveling piss and shit if that's the job."

"I do." I held up a finger to stop him from saying whatever he was about to. "But you'll have to work hard in a different way. You know all those bags I just gave out to people? You need to help make more. We have all the items back home, but I need good workers like you to put them together. Do a good job at that, and I'm sure I'll have some more jobs for you. No robbing and no killing people. Just honest work you can do for a full belly and even some coin afterwards to get whatever you want. We'll give you a roof over your head, so no slumming in the streets. Deal?"

The brat's eyes started to shine a bit. Whether imagining a full stomach or some of his own money, I can't say. Thinking about what Her Majesty told me, probably a bit of both. As much as she hammered in to kill everyone and leave no potential threats, she had one exception. 

She told me how orphans will do anything to get food, water, or shelter. Nobody wants to be hungry. They start out stealing food, then money or items, and eventually get picked up by gangs, bandits, or other unsavory groups. She said that once a kid was too far gone, they were just another bandit, and to kill them where they stand. However, catch a kid early and give them honest work to earn their food, and you could still make them decent people. Kids are malleable but adults set in their ways. 

"Come on Degare." I held out one of the bags. "Here's a bag with your own things. These are yours now and if you want your meals, stick with me as we take care of everyone. Got it?"

"Sure do, Miss Sara!"

Watching him hurriedly tossing on his clothes with hope and excitement lighting his face, I think I got to him in time, Your Majesty.

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