FARHAYVEN: VENGEANCE (124 page)

     Silk went straight to her family chamber upon her return to The Lair. There, she found her mother trying to console an emotionally wrecked Cotton. She briefed both her mother and her sister of Eclipse’s plan. This had the sudden effect of snapping Cotton out of her emotional torment. Her eyes became wide and lively. She listened with intent as Silk continued to explain Eclipse’s plan. They concluded that they had to act fast. Time was running short.

      Silk had put on her most sensuous and revealing dress. She went to the chamber that served as The Lair’s kitchen. Seeing that all was clear, she seduced the only on-duty cook and she did it with the least bit of hesitation. First she flirted and toyed with him and then she slowly pulled him away to a secluded corner. There she allowed him to touch her and she proceeded to make his sexual fantasies come true. Meanwhile, Cotton had sneaked in when the cook was distracted by her sister. She proceeded to pour the contents of the ceramic bottle into the two wine barrels there. And then she sneaked out just as quietly. Silk finally left the kitchen and met up with Cotton in a secluded tunnel. Cotton gave a ‘thumbs up’ to her sister. The first phase of the mission had been accomplished
!

     Meanwhile, Silk’s mother had discreetly gone from family chamber to family chamber to brief the other families of Eclipse’s plan. They, in turn, had gone out discreetly to brief others. By late afternoon, all those who were interested in leaving the clan were already aware of the plan. Fire had replaced the hollowness in their hearts and their eyes were wide with zest and anticipation. The time for action had come. They made their silent preparations. Clothes, food, medicine and what coins they had were packed in small cloth bundles. Fighting knives and whatever weapons they had managed to hide were retrieved, inspected, polished and sharpened; just in case Eclipse’s plan went awry. Their faces could hardly contain their eager anticipation. But they kept up the charade. They understood that
vengeance
required patience
!

     The red, fiery sun was just beginning to retire for the day; its lower extremities making contact with the horizon. At The Lair, more torches were lit in all the chambers and tunnels to combat the significant darkness that engulfed it even during daytime. The entire Shadow Deathmerchant Clan, Clanmaster Collart’s minions or not, gathered in the huge chamber that served as their mess hall. Several lines of people were formed as food was dispensed, but there was no fairness here as were the days of bygone. The minions shoved and pushed their way to the front of the line and took bigger portions than what was rationed to the rest of the clan. Then it was the average clansmen who shoved and pushed the outcasts to the end of the line. Outcasts, rejects, black sheep, fallen from grace, criminals; these were but a few terms used by the clansmen to describe people like Silk and her family. And when these outcasts reached the kitchen counter; they received only small morsels of food, as the food would have run out. But these outcasts never showed their anger, sadness or disappointment. They took the insults with grace and dignity, but awaited the reward of vengeance. Why
so
?
Because, they
were
assassins after all
!

     The mess chamber was filled with merriment and laughter.  Clansmen, minions or not, told stories and jokes. They reminisce of old times and bygone days. They kept up with each other’s progress.  Some friendships were renewed while a few were broken. And during these times, much food was eaten and much wine was drunk. This was the daily ritual of the clan. Once a day, every day, the clansmen would gather and have dinner together in the mess cavern. This was the ritual which had bonded the clan throughout the years. But on this evening, it would be its downfall.

     Though thrilled with excited anticipation, the outcasts had not expressed it. They showed their sullen, downtrodden faces just like the evening before and the ones before that. There was one hardly noticeable difference, however; none of them touched the wine. They took juices instead. They ate their meals quickly, as they usually did; and excused themselves early, feigning displeasure at how they were treated, which was, quite paradoxically, true.

     Except for the outcasts, almost all of the clansmen consumed the tainted wine; almost
!
There were, however, a small number of clansmen who did not consume the wine this night. They were Root and Bud Swerrell, and twenty of their followers. The reason they did not touch any form of liquor was that they were about to embark on a mission this very night. And unlike most of the clansmen this evening, their dinner was solemn and without cheer. They did not consume the wine. They did not joke and laugh. They ate their dinner gloomily and exchanged goodbyes with their family members, just in case they did not survive the mission. And unlike the outcasts, they were the last to leave the mess cavern. They were only scheduled to depart at midnight, so they wanted to make the most out of what could be their last dinner with their family and clansmen.

     Silk was not summoned by the clanmaster that night, but Cotton was. The younger girl cried when the minions came for her. But Silk comforted her. She did not tell her sister that it would be all right. She
promised
her that it would be all right
!
After regaining her composure, Cotton told the minions to come back half an hour later, for she had to prepare herself and make herself presentable to the clanmaster. Cotton did a quick sponge bath. After wiping herself dry, she then applied on her body some talcum powder mixed with the powder that Eclipse had given to Silk. This act was part of Silk’s plan.

     Meanwhile, at a chosen location about a quarter of an hour’s march from The Lair, the entire Royal Elementhar Pond and 2
nd
Pond, 3
rd
Lake met up with Ray and Eclipse. This location was known as a ‘staging area’. The staging area that they had chosen was secluded and easily defended, and more importantly; was not in the normal path of travel of the Shadow Deathmerchant Clan. Look-outs, mainly archers, were posted around the area to secure its location. At this area, they tethered their horses, stowed their supplies, set up a medical emergency tent, conducted all necessary final briefings and rested. Ray conducted the final briefing to Clover, Serene, Sky and the other commanders and they in turn, briefed their subordinates. Their plan was a go
!
By hook or by crook, the scourge of the Shadow Deathmerchant Clan was to be ended this night
!

     Their plan was to be as follows. Sky and most of 3
rd
Pond, 3
rd
Lake, designated as Blocker Force, were to position themselves to cover the main entrance of The Lair; leaving behind only their 5
th
River to guard the staging area. All of the swordsmen under Sky’s command were to function as archers for this mission. Their function was to shoot any and all clansmen who tried to escape from the main entrance. Meanwhile, 1
st
, 2
nd
and 3
rd
Rivers, Royal Elementhar Pond, designated as Striker One, under the command of Ray and accompanied by Eclipse and Spirit the White Wolf; were to enter The Lair via its western escape exit. Both 4
th
and 5
th
Rivers, under the command of Clover, assisted by Serene and accompanied by Dawn; were designated as Striker Two and were meant to breach The Lair via the eastern escape exit.

     Once inside, Strikers One and Two were to work their way towards the main chamber, evacuating Eclipse’s and Rake’s followers and any other evacuees in the process; and killing or capturing all other clansmen. Once The Lair has been secured, either Ray, Clover or Serene was to, via the conjuring of a series Heat Bursts with alternating colours, signal Blocker Force to enter The Lair. Blocker Force was to then ‘escort’ all prisoners, evacuees and the wounded to the staging area. Strikers One and Two were to then seize whatever assets and intelligence material they could find and return to the staging area. Then all of them were to leave for The Spot.

     The Royal Guards, both Sollenthars and not, began their personal preparations. They checked their weapons and equipment one last time. They drank water and ate a snack of biscuits to quench whatever thirst or hunger that they were feeling or might feel later. They smeared their faces, ears, necks and hands with earth and mud. Next they smeared a little tar, mixed with a lot of mud, on their armour and uniforms. They did so to camouflage themselves. Then most of them rested, while some prayed.

     It was about an hour to midnight, judging by the date and the position of the waning crescent moon in the night sky. The Royal Guards moved out. Sky led Blocker Force quietly along the river bank towards The Lair. They arrived there about a quarter of an hour later. As they approached the vicinity of The Lair, they began crouch-walking or even crawling into strategic positions to cover the waterfall. Sky sent half of his subordinates downstream. Their orders were that when they were out of sight of the sentries at The Lair, to cross the river in canoes that they had carried with them and move back up the river bank on the other side. This ensured that both river banks were covered. Striker Two moved out at the same time as Blocker Force, but headed upstream from the staging area. Half an hour later, they crossed the river upstream of the waterfall behind which, lay The Lair. They then proceeded downstream to search for the eastern exit. Striker One left the staging area half an hour behind the others. Theirs was a direct path to the western exit.

     The crescent moon shines dimly in the dark, yet clear, Fallsian sky. It is cloudless this night. Striker One approaches the western exit, which is a small and unlit cave opening, under careful guidance of Eclipse. Striker Two, under Dawn’s guidance, approaches the eastern exit, which is also a small and unlit cave opening. Then they begin to hear screams of ….pleasure
!
Erotic screams of pleasure
!

     It seems Silk and her friends are executing their part of the plan. Using the erotic screams, Strikers One and Two find the exits easily. Taking care to remain hidden, they see the sentries in full immersion of the passion of the body, outside of the cave openings where the bright crescent moon illuminates the beauty of the female form. They wait patiently. The screams die down. Silk and her friends dress up and enter the caves. The exhausted male sentries get up. They take but a few steps towards their casually flung clothes, then begin to stumble dizzily. The powder is taking effect. Their world is spinning. Finally, they collapse to the ground. Strikers One and Two move in. They bind the arms and legs of the unconscious sentries. The escape exits are secured. Strikers One and Two stream into their respective escape exits. And for the first time since its creation, The Lair is breached
!

     Striker One moves through the narrow maze-like tunnel until they reach a small cave. Dozens of women and children with yellow armbands greet them. Eclipse runs forward to hug her friends and family. This small outburst of emotion is the only sign that showed they were humans. The mental control and professionalism takes over again almost immediately. The evacuees file out the tunnel under the escort of Striker One’s rear guard element. Striker One moves into the next tunnel, with Eclipse still leading the way. They arrive at another cave, this one being twice the size of the first. Hundreds of evacuees greet them. Eclipse hugs a sobbing woman and whispers in her ears, ‘your daughters are brave
!
’ Silk’s mother nods and retreats towards the escape exit.

     Striker Two moves through a short, narrow tunnel and arrive at a medium-sized chamber. Approximately 100 evacuees with yellow armbands greet them with cold, unemotional nods. Clover nods back, but realises almost immediately the nods were meant for Dawn, who nodded back coldly. She sees fear in their eyes, fear of Dawn. But there was also a feeling of awe. Clover realises that they fear, yet respect, Dawn; which shows her elite status in this secretive society. The evacuees make their way out, escorted by Striker Two’s rear guard element. Striker Two proceeds into the next tunnel. The same scene repeats itself in the next chamber.

     Striker One arrives at the third large chamber. This chamber is four times the size of the first one. Shadow Deathmerchant Clan guards yell out in surprise upon seeing Eclipse and Ray. Eclipse sends an Airblade into one of the guards’ throat. Ray thrusts his fingers forwards and a Heat Burst slams into another guard’s chest. Both guards fall at the same time, one silently and the other in a single shout of agony. Striker One pours into the chamber. Airblades and Heat Bursts criss-cross in the air. Spirit’s fangs flash yellow in the torchlight. The bloodbath begins.

     Striker Two hears echoes of agonising screams. They know the battle has begun. They quicken their pace. They pour into their third chamber just as clansmen were rushing into the opposite tunnel. Dawn sends Airblade after Airblade into the air. Clover executes two Heat Bursts at two clansmen in quick successions while sprinting forward. The third clansman gets cut by Clover’s blade just as the second clansman hits the ground, dead. A Heat Burst from Serene puts an end to another clansman’s life as he tries to stab Clover. Another cut of the sword and Clover ends another clansman’s life. Serene and Dawn get into sword distance with the clansmen. Both female warriors swing the blades in a variety of angles, but with similar ferocity. Blood splatters and bodies fall. Screams of agony intermingle with battle cries from both sides. Swords clash. Flesh gets cut. Lives get taken. Dead clansmen lie on the ground. Clover and Serene look around. Striker Two sustained some injuries but no deaths. Clover orders her subordinates to pan out and search all the connected chambers. Women and children without yellow armbands get arrested. Those with yellow armbands get escorted out. Striker Two then enters the next tunnel.