Assault on Khalfi 1(Sabato's POV)

"Khalfi was the original mission and an easy one, initially. The Sultan was suspicious, that must have been why he reached out to the black hands to reclaim Khalfi instead of using the Tuaree armed forces.

Khalfi was one of the smallest villages in the northernmost borders of Tuarland. The residents are farmers but like most Tuariz, they're tough and strong-willed. When the border guards protecting their little village were killed by the invading Orc raiders, they took up arms to protect their lands, but most of the men were massacred, and the women were forced into servitude and violated in unspeakable ways.

Captain Hadeshi returned after a day and most of the men were still suffering the hangover from the previous night. Tuaree hospitality is a combination of the best drinks I ever tasted and don't even get me started on the women.

"Get up you a bunch of drunken bastards," Captain Hadeshi thundered as he walked into the little room rented to us by the brothel owner who must have been a familiar.

Familiars are locals who get recruited into the ranks of the black hands mostly by team captains. The familiars provide the captains with everything they need when they operate in the region. This includes information, housing, feeding, weapons, and everything they might require. The familiars get paid for their services of course because sometimes they get into danger and sometimes lose their lives.

"Saito! Come over here," the captain called.

Saito joined us after having a moment of whispering with the captain and the brothel owner whose name was never revealed. He and the captain joined the team later and we all sat in a circle with our weapons drawn in front of us.

"The mission is the village of Khalfi," the captain started. "The village has been invaded and successfully taken over by the Orc raiders and it's now our job to recover it for the Sultanate."

"A bunch of Orcs shouldn't be a problem," I said, smiling cheekily

The whole team glowered at me, surprise, and anger on their faces. I immediately kept quiet and didn't utter a word again.

Saito brought a map and placed it at the center. We all moved in to listen to the mission plan as the captain started to talk.

"We have a reason to believe the raiders are not planning to leave soon, they have dug in deep and they might be looking to even expand. The next village of Ashkur is likely going to be next. So we have sent Tenoko to the village head while you slept like a bunch of lazy civilians, she's going to convince him to work with us to save his village and take back Khalfi in the process. The Sheenzu should be able to get her to Ashkur in a day undetected, and we should be able to rendezvous there on horses in three days and start the assault on the fourth.

"This plan must not be told to anybody outside this room, there are agents in the sultan's court that would see to it that we fail. "

After the plan was explained, everyone moved to their previous sitting position where their weapons lay in front of them and sat.

"If you have any questions about any part of the plan, speak now," Saito announced. He stared at everyone present one after another but nobody said anything. I took it as a clue that no question was expected and you're expected to have paid attention and listened carefully the first time.

"Good. Now if you are gripped by fear, or for any other reason you want to back out of this mission and not perform your sworn duty...unsheathe your weapon now and take your own life with your honor still untainted, before I have to do it for you and your name goes down as a coward and you shame your family," the captain declared openly.

The whole room got so quiet I could hear as the men exhale and inhale. After a while and nobody spoke, the captain grabbed his weapons and suddenly stood up.

"Prepare for the journey ahead, men! Saito, you take three men and the brothel owner will get us good horses. Sabato, you grab your things and come with me," he shouted.

I grabbed my swords and ran towards him. When I got to him, he was already outside the brothel waiting.

"You are too slow, boy. If you ever make me wait again, I'll kill you," he said sternly.

"Sorry, Captain!"I responded.

"You're my security for the day, and if you tell any of the men about anything you see where we're going, I'll..."

"Kill me, captain. I understand, sir," I interrupted.

"Good. You're a fast learner, he strung up his hood, started walking, and I followed."

We made our way through the streets of the city for what seemed like an eternity. The streets were crowded with people going about their daily business. The sun's heat made me tire quickly and difficult for me to concentrate. The thirst and heat made me long for home, where the weather is always cold, windy, and snowy. Snowlandia never gets hot. The seasons are three, the Wintertide, the Rainytide, and the Dogdays which is the least cold of the seasons. The Dogdays got its name from the tradition of dog walking which was done during the season, the heat gave Snowlandians a sense of holiday. Festivals and the notorious tournament of the white dragon are held during this time.

As my mind wandered off to my home, a sudden stop by the captain brought me back to reality. We had stopped in front of a building. The guard greeted the captain and allowed us into the gates. I noticed the street was less crowded for the first time. Two other guards armed with long lances collected our weapons and allowed us into the main house.

We made our way into the courtyard and the guards didn't follow us. There I was met with four ladies...the types who aren't ladylike. They grabbed me by my shoulders and we started dragging me to another part of the building, I did not in any way protest, no I couldn't. They were the most beautiful women I had ever laid eyes on. I turned back and saw the captain talking with another lady, I didn't know she was the princess then but I knew she was different from the rest. I knew she was royalty.

The next morning, I was woken up by the captain. He opened the blinds, letting in the bright morning sun as he shouted "We need to leave now! Get dressed."

I was indeed naked and all the ladies I had spent the night with were nowhere to be found. I quickly dressed up and ran after the Captain.

"Did you have fun last night?" he asked, looking as tough as always.

"Yes, Captain," I responded.

"Good, you're a man now. Now act like it and move your ass! We have to link up with the team."

We made our way to the biggest market in the city and suddenly, the captain stopped in front of one of the stores. The merchant started to advertise his goods but the Captain paid no attention to him. He continued to browse through the goods.

"We're being followed, Sabato. Probably an assassin, he's been stalking us since we left the lodge," he whispered.

"What should I do, Captain," I asked.

"You proceed to the camp. I'll deal with this assassin. I'm sure he targets me."

"Wouldn't it be better if I assisted you?"

"Just do as you're told, boy!

I started heading to our initial route and the captain suddenly swiveled into an alley and the assassin followed him. The man was hugely built, twice bigger than the captain. He was dressed in the black attire of the ashasha I wasn't going to just leave him at the mercy of an ashasha.

He's going to need my help, I whispered as I turned back and ran toward the alley.

Immediately I ran into the alley I was greeted with the metallic clanking of swords meeting, and grunting.

The two men were engaged in a fierce fight and the captain was having the upper hand. I got closer and he looked back at me.

"What the hell are you doing here, Sabato?" he screamed.

The distraction gave the assassin an opportunity, he landed a blow on the captain's face with the base of his sword, and the captain fell violently. I unsheathed my sword and rushed at the enemy, hoping to save the captain and maybe reduce the scolding I would get later. I swung my blade at him with all my strength but he read my move and countered it, I staggered and he kicked me to the ground.

"Fucking vermin! You thought you could take me?' he screamed as he got closer ready to land the killing blow.

He raised his weapon, and I had made peace with my death. His chest bursts open and the captain's long sword emerged from the wound, stabbing through clothing, skin, flesh, and bones. Blood splattered on my face and I couldn't see for a moment. When I regained my sight, Captain Hadeshi removed his sword from the assassin's back who had fallen to his knees, and in the same chain slashed his head off.

He grabbed and pulled me off the ground and mumbled, " we need to get to the camp as fast as possible, Sabato. We have been compromised."