The Royal Taellian Police Force were known for their efficiency as well as their brutality. It did not take long for them to round up the majority of Johnathan Bernard’s agents in the city and put them up for questioning; including the two men sent to warn Bernard of the threat to his organisation. For this reason, the Phantom King did was not aware of the attackers on his doorstep until a number of scouts reported in, hastily blubbering accounts of the enemy. “Taellian soldiers fast approaching from the north, sir!”
Bernard was expecting Grey Skull, perhaps a friendly ‘hallo!’ from his old friend Avenberch, but not this, and not so soon. He knew right away he would have to evacuate the camp and leave everything behind, including most of his men. No doubt his people could fight, but based on the reports from his scouts, he was already heavily outnumbered. The only downside to hiding your home in a seaside crevice is that you’re exposed in the event of a large attack. “This doesn’t add up,” Bernard said, pacing back and forth in his quarters. “So many men just for me, and primed for battle! Even my crimes haven’t warranted this!”
“Do you suppose they want something, sir?” said Saizo, the right hand man.
Bernard grinned. “No doubt.” He turned to one of his men. “Tell the boys to take what they can and run. Anyone willing to stay and fight is happy to do so, it’s a free man’s world after all.” To Saizo he said, “Now if you would please follow me.”
Bernard took his coat from the chair and threw on a rugged top hat; his favourite one was being repaired by his tailor, who was likely about to be arrested. He then opened the draw in his desk and collected his revolver and a flask of whiskey. “Now I’m packed. Time for a fieldtrip!”
For a moment there was a great deal of ruckus outside, the boardwalk rattled as heavy boots stomped back and forth, and men yelled and armed themselves for battle. The Phantom King liked to surround himself with the kind of man who fought for the sake of spilling blood. These types did not seek money or power or love; they only wanted to win. Saizo was one of these men, though he still seemed a boy in most eyes, he had proven enough times to Barnard the kind of warrior he was.
The noise ended just as quickly, and to his alarm Bernard could hear weapons clanging against the boardwalk. He had moved to a secret door hidden behind a bookshelf – perhaps not very original, but he was old fashioned like that. For some reason he was compelled to stay, call it a king’s curiosity. Bernard was hailed by the firm and threatening voice of a woman. “Johnathan Bernard! We have you surrounded! Come out, we just want to talk!”
Saizo looked to his master with eyes that questioned what he was about to do. Bernard holstered his revolver and peeked his head out of the cave entrance. The precipice above was lined with soldiers, silhouetted against the sky like crows of a rooftop. For some reason his men, every single one, even the strongest, were kneeling. Their muscles were tense, and their faces turned grotesque as if they were writhing in agonising pain. Some men collapsed and fell from the boardwalk to crash into the sand below. Bernard was in shock. “What is this?” he wondered. “Why are you bowing down?”
There emerged on the boardwalk from afar the woman who had hailed him. She was no ordinary officer, that much was clear. She was draped in a dirty black-leather coat that was ragged and scorched, her hair was a luscious auburn and her eyes were the colour of blood; two dark pools to complete a despairing glare. Her lips were filled with poison. “Were you expecting a skirmish?” she demanded, as she approached Bernard, who stood alone in the entrance of the cave. “My name is Amelia Dredd—”
“Is that your real name?”
“Fifth commander of the recall squad, and as you might have guessed, an anomaly. My power is absolute submission.”
A rasping pain befell the Phantom King and his muscles jolted and tensed, his blood became heavy, as if it had turned to wax, and free of his mind, his body was forced to the floor. The pain! My blood is boiling! Every attempt he made to raise his head sent volleys of pain down his spine. I can feel my muscles tearing in half!
Amelia Dredd crossed her arms and smiled. “Hurts, doesn’t it? I’ve never known a king to kneel. Now, Johnathan Bernard, you stand accused of numerous war crimes against the province of Taelliwey, the most heinous being the production and supply of three explosive devices used against the crown, and thus the murder of over two-hundred civilians.”
Though it hurt immensely, Bernard was able to speak, but his voice was hoarse and strained. “Josiah Avenberch. Try paying him a visit. I’m no warmonger!” Some imaginary blow to the head forced his mouth to close.
“Josiah Avenberch is dead,” Amelia snarled. “Do not deny, Mr. Bernard, we have the evidence, as well as the names of your co-conspirators.”
Bernard spat. “You don’t know anything.”
Amelia Dredd drew out a list from her pocket and began to read aloud. “Samuel Ford. Arlandra Knight. Devin Shephard. Juliet Haines. Ashley Wilson. Christel Saan. Hazel Kisani, also known as Hazel Saan. We know more than you think.” She now addressed everyone in the camp. “You will find that the crown is merciful, and full pardons will be offered to any man or woman who can apprehend any one of these criminals!”
Bernard felt that if he did not relieve himself of this pain his spine might snap. He knew now that he could not beat Taelliwey, not like this, not with the entire military after him. I must find the others. We have to take down Josiah. He groaned. “Argh! Saizo… Emergency protocol!”
It is a rule of life that one’s home should always be laced with explosives in the event of an intrusion. Saizo possessed the detonator, and with the push of a button the entire camp was engulfed in fire, and the boardwalk reduced to splinters. The force of the blast knocked Bernard back into the cave; he sat up with his ears bleeding and once again he had lost his hat. When the awful ringing in his head went away he heard Saizo’s voice telling him to get up, and the clang and rumble of rifles being fired. Smoke clouded everything. The only way out now was the initial escape; the doorway hidden behind the bookshelf. Before Bernard left he gathered up something else, and old diary from his early days, something that might help when the time came for payback to be issued. The two fugitives slipped away like mice into the hidden passages of the caves. I won’t underestimate you again, my old friend.
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