Further escalation

The same arrogant servant leads them outside. Kael is relieved to see that nothing seems to have happened while they met with Rastus. He had half expected to find the honor guard slaughtered, and an ambush awaiting them. Instead, he sees the estate guards having a calm conversation with the troops they brought with them.

As Kael and Ria approach, the same guard who greeted them at the gate meets them. Kael hadn’t realized how young the man was, looking barely out of his teens, if even that. He has nervous expression on his face as he looks between Kael and Ria.

“Champions…did he…did you come to terms?”

Ria sighs. “No. Your employer is a stubborn, overconfident man.”

The guard nods, chewing on his lip nervously. “So, what will you do?”

Kael shakes his head. “Now we will return to Lord Greyheart, and he will decide what to do. Most likely, he will declare Rastus Malen an outlaw, and order his arrest. The next visit will be less pleasant, I’m afraid.”

There’s a flash of fear on the young guard’s face, and Kael can hear murmurs among the other guards within earshot. The guard shakes his head, clearly conflicted. “I don’t wish to be your enemy, Champions. But I swore an oath of loyalty when I signed my contract. What do I do?”

Kael looks at the young man, and sighs. “There are no easy answers. Obviously, I would encourage you to throw down your arms and surrender. But only you can say how that would affect your honor.”

Ria nods. “It’s a question of how much do you owe Rastus. Would you give your life to protect him?”

Kael is about to say more, but stops when he feels a telltale tingling up his spine. Magic, strong magic. Instinctively, he calls upon his power, protecting his nullification outward. Suddenly, there’s a blinding blue-white flash, and a wave of heat and pressure. Even protected by his nullification aura, Kael, Ria, and several guards within its radius stumble. Blinded by the flash, Kael nevertheless rips his sword free, hearing Ria pull her axes as well.

His vision clears quickly, and Kael realizes that he won’t need a weapon. A hot wind blows ash into his face. In a circle reaching nearly to the walls, everything even slightly flammable has been reduced to white ash. Even the mansion is reduced to a few skeletal remains, even now crumbling. Within the courtyard, the only survivors are Kael, Ria, and a few guards who happened to be close enough to be within his aura. Even the honor guard has been obliterated, their weapons and armor all that remain, bent and twisted like wax impressions left too long in the sun.

The young guard Karl was speaking to is looking around in horror. His frightened eyes meet Kael’s, and after a moment he throws his spear onto the ground.

“I surrender!”

On the wall, the guards do the same, immediately throwing down their weapons. Kael and Ria share a glance, and Ria shakes her head. “I suppose it’s too much to hope for that Rastus just died?”

Kael grimaces. “I doubt it. But I also doubt that he expected us to survive that.”

Ria puts a hand on Karl’s arm. He can feel her trembling slightly, a mix of adrenaline and panic. “Thanks, big guy. I owe you.”

Kael nods, too wrapped up in his thoughts to respond immediately. “We need to report back to Lord Greyheart. This is…not good.”

Ria chuckles darkly. “An understatement if I’ve ever heard one, big guy. But you’re right.”