"After seeing this grisly scene, I passed out and did not wake until this morning. I went to my troops at the outer wall first to give them this horrific news and to instill in them the importance of being ready for an impending assault from whomever the assassin worked for. I then came here to report to you. However, I would like to continue to investigate what went on and then present my final findings to you in a week's time," he stated flatly.
Silence fell over the council. His report was not what they were expecting at all. Their initial beliefs did not fit what he had told them. There would be no reason for Yukio to kill his good friends, Bronwen and Marek. They believed what he had told them about the events he described to them in detail. They would support him in his request to continue to investigate the murders.
"General, I believe I speak for all of us when I say that we are deeply sorry for your losses. We know how much you loved our queen and that you were very close to both Marek and Bronwen. We will do what is needed to find the killer responsible for these heinous crimes. We will need to send a message to Queen Kishi right away," said the council member on his right.
"It brings me comfort to hear you say that. Please, do not delay in sending a message to Kira's sister. We need to prepare for three funerals for three fallen heroes. I will be in the castle where this all began if I am needed," he said quietly. I cannot believe the fools are so easily manipulated.
"Do not worry about the arrangements or the messages that will need to be delivered. Use your unique abilities to unravel the mystery behind these cruel acts. We will convene officially one week from today at high noon," the council member to his right said.
The council members stood up and left the hall at once. They needed to work on the arrangements for the funerals, sending messages to Queen Kishi and King Ciel, and notifying the home guard about the tragic events. They would need to be better prepared for follow-up attacks. This preparation would be the undoing of General Yukio's secret plans. Yukio thought that he had convinced all of the council, but he was gravely mistaken in his assumption. This too would end up costing him dearly in the end.
CHAPTER 11
General Yukio filled the remainder of the week with secret meetings with his troops where he explained in detail his plan of attack. He also worked feverishly on investigating the events leading up to the brutal murders. He spent the day after the council meeting trying to discover the magic that had been employed in the bedchambers. He knew that magic leaves its mark for only three days, so he only had that day to figure out what happened. The only thing he discerned was that Bronwen was using his magic to conceal himself, which confirmed his suspicions that his wife knew Marek was up to no good. What puzzled him was the presence of magic so powerful that he could not begin to guess who it was or what their purpose for being there was.
After the first day of investigation, Yukio concluded that Bronwen and Kira had an understanding that General Marek was the assassin. This realization only infuriated him more when he thought of his last conversation with his former friend before the tragic event occurred. He had given Marek specific information that he then used for his own evil designs. He had assisted the scum by giving him the perfect secret location to commit the murder of his wife without the possibility of being discovered. The poor chairman was an innocent bystander who merely got in the way. At least there was swift justice for that treacherous villain.
On the fourth day after Yukio's meeting with the council, Commander Favian arrived with the remainder of the army sanctioned by Queen Daria for the protection the high elves. The united troops began their final preparations for the siege during the cover of night. The newly arrived men had to hide themselves during the day because General Yukio did not want to raise any suspicion among the home guard or cause the people to panic at the sight of reinforcements. They may worry that they are going to be attacked and react in a way to threaten their plans. The general also wanted to keep the element of surprise as one of his weapons in this tactical strike. The members of the army who were hiding during the day had the task of setting traps for anyone who would try to escape during the attack. They also set up a perimeter around the southern and eastern sides of the mountain to protect against an attack from the elves or Queen Kishi.
The day before General Yukio's army was to lay siege to Alanderas, a last-minute meeting was called to make final preparations. The general gathered together outside the western outer wall with his commander and captains. This would be his final meeting with them before their plans were put into action. He wanted to make sure everyone was on the same page as far as the assault was concerned, and he also wanted the captains to ask any questions the troops may have brought to their attention. This would show that he genuinely cared about everyone in the army and that he also valued their insights.
"Men, thank you for coming," Yukio welcomed them.
"Thank you for calling us together, General," Commander Favian replied.
"Right, let us get down to business then. Behind you is a secret entrance that will take the troops into the courtyard of the royal palace. It is placed to the left of where the wall meets the mountain. This passage is large enough to take horses and some heavy equipment, so that is exactly what we are going to do. Commander Favian will lead his men tonight through this hidden path so he can spring the trap at high noon tomorrow," explained Yukio.
"Will we be able to take the large siege weapons?" asked Commander Drujien.
"You will be able to take the arrow launchers but not the catapults," replied Yukio.
"Is there a room large enough within the mountainside to hide us until wait to spring our trap?" queried Favian.
"Yes, there is enough room to gather within the mountain. There is an area that I had created for a different purpose that will suit our need now. During the night, I will need to have you lay out some traps and drag some oil lines. This way we will maximize the amount of confusion when we set the oil ablaze. The smoke will lead many of the high elves to the traps you laid and allow us to gain the upper hand in the battle and enable us to crush them swiftly," Yukio said as he slammed his fist into his other hand.
"What will be the signal to attack, and who will lead the men from the outer wall?" asked Commander Favian.
"I will have Master Aiden send a volley of arrows at the home guards protecting the main entrance. He will lead the main body of the army into battle while I take care of the council members," he explained. At the mention of Master Igrol's name, a collective intake of breath was heard from the group gathered together around General Yukio. They did not understand how this master of the sword could do such a thing since he was back in Nairi. They all feared and revered the master and were excited at the possibility of his help in the fight.
"How will Master Aiden reach us in time to lead the army?" asked one of the captains. Aiden walked out of the rock wall where the secret entrance was supposed to be as if the question was his queue to appear. More gasps of amazement came from Yukio's leaders. It was clear that some of the captains were having trouble processing the ever-changing situation.
"General Yukio, I have come as fast as I could. I take it from your councils thus far that I am in time to fulfill your request," Master Aiden said solemnly.
Yukio bowed before the master, recognizing his abilities as a swordsman and as a warrior. The rest of the group quickly bowed themselves following their general's example. Many were too surprised still to say anything. They simply stood there with their mouths open in awe. Aiden had a long, violent-red goatee that was braided with gems. His bald head shone brilliantly in the sun as he stood before them. He was shorter than the general, but not by much. He had a much more muscular physique than any other warrior and was as powerful as Yukio himself. His legendary sword, Keahi, was strapped across his back in the custom of master swordsmen. The blade had been imbued with the power of fire by dwarves and was of such fine craftsmanship that it looked as if it had never been used.