Return to Jorgaldur Volume IV: Reunion

Battle in the throne room (I)

The power of the book put increasing pressure on some of the nobles, as Eldi Hnefa read the first of the laws. That was a development that no one had expected, and that brought these nobles to a cliff's edge.

Not even the high human had been quite sure of the role the Book of Judgment could play before he went looking for it. Nonetheless, once he had held it in his hands for the first time, he had felt a small portion of its power. Now, it was much clearer. Unlike the sacred sword, that book was the real deal. Not only was its legend not exaggerated, but it fell short.

Suddenly, there was a loud explosion, and the stained-glass window burst into a thousand pieces. Luckily, there was no one around, and everyone had enough level. One way or another, they managed to protect themselves from the glass shards, or at least minimize the damage.

Immediately after the explosion, five shadows appeared as they entered through the gap left by the stained-glass window. It didn't take them long to find Eldi's position, and turn their weapons on him.

They had been given the signal to act earlier than planned due to the haste of events. The book had turned out to be more dangerous than anyone had imagined.

They weren't the only ones to act. Through the main entrance to the throne room, royalist soldiers began to arrive. They were same ones who had stood firm while the visitor had advanced down the hallway. Those soldiers were supposed to guard the exit, but they had been given a more extreme order. They were to attack Eldi Hnefa.

However, when the soldiers entered, they stood paralyzed, not really knowing what to do. Their target was floating in front of them, with a book in his hand. For a few moments, they hesitated, but finally they lunged at him.

The royalist officers who were in the throne room, with Liodon disguised among them, were also ordered to attack. They felt a little afraid, but they had no choice but to follow orders.

Furthermore, the royalist nobles and their bodyguards were preparing to join the fray against Eldi Hnefa. At this point, it was no longer necessary to keep up appearances. The Book of Judgment had annulled all other plans. It had left them no other way out.

The other four visitors also had to attack at that moment, and they had to be the firsts. The others would support them, but they were the hit-team.

Elsa had been very clear about it. Eldi Hnefa was a visitor with a multitude of skills and resources. To confront him, it was best to use similar ones. If it was four against one, so much the better.

Gjaki frowned as she advanced towards Eldi. Her companion was supposed to hide behind Rock Walls temporarily, thus giving them time to catch their enemies by surprise.

She hadn't expected that all of his enemies would attack so determinedly and at the same time either. However, it fell within the possibilities they had talked about. It was the most dangerous of them.

Nonetheless, Eldi stayed in the middle of the room without moving, with a book in his hand, and without even taking out a weapon. It wasn't part of their plans.

"Shit! What're you doing?" she asked herself, worried.

Her companion himself hadn't anticipated behaving like this either. Unfortunately, once he had started reading the book, the battle mage had realized that he couldn't stop. The fact that he was floating was an added curiosity.

One after another, the five shadows that had entered through the window fell to the ground. They were badly injured or dead, with arrows stuck in their backs. At first, it was one arrow for each, but others followed just a few moments later.

They believed that their attack would catch their enemies off guard. Little did they know that an elven couple had had them in their sights from the beginning.

By breaking the stained-glass window, they had also broken the barrier that protected it and them. Therefore, arrows shot three by three with Three better than one, and those that continually came out from the bow of Elendnas, stuck in those shadows.

Meanwhile, the goshawk had approached the window, and was watching carefully to mark targets for her sisters. Although it wasn't easy. There, a pitched battle had begun.

Konsje moved forward, as Linhlen remained a little further behind him, and behind another of his companions. The officers had received the order to support the attack against Eldi Hnefa, and against the rest of the enemies.

As things stood, it was evident that today's actions would lead to a point of no return. Even if they risked a civil war, they intended to wipe out all the opposing nobles, and Eldi Hnefa.

Of course, in this case, there was the small detail that Linhlen was actually Liodon, and that he had sentenced those two officers to death. As soon as they turned their backs to him, he took out two swords and pierced them from behind at neck level.

They were wearing armor but no helmet, as they were at an official event in the throne room. So, Liodon took the opportunity to attack their most unprotected spots.

Most of the officers didn't realize what was happening, as they had also advanced. All but three, who turned towards Liodon.

No need to continue hiding, he took up the third sword, while leaving the others where he had stabbed them. Liodon had hidden it until now, but when he unsheathed it, one of the Twin Shadows was exposed. He blocked one of the enemies, while dodging another by jumping back.

He didn't worry about the third. Near him, there was a servant crouching and covering her head, terrified, or so it seemed. She suddenly unsheathed a sword similar to Liodon's, which had been camouflaged within the disguise. With it, she slit the throat of the third attacker, and reunited with her twin brother.

The two enemies looked at them as surprised as they were alarmed. Those swords had become very famous in a short time, largely because of who their wielders were.

They took a couple of steps back, still facing them, wanting to ask for help. However, it was too late. Their level wasn't comparable to the sibling's, and these had just clashed their swords.

Several blades of light emerged towards the officers, severing the arm and foot of one, and ending the life of the other.

The one on the ground was finished off by a poisoned arrow. The person who had shot it was one of the rebels who had infiltrated the commando that had attacked Eldi in the palace hallway. She winked at them, and gave them a thumbs up, smiling.

They returned her gesture, but were too worried to smile.

"" Dad..."" they looked uneasily at the motionless figure that was floating.