[center][h1]A while ago...[/h1][/center]
[center][img]https://i.postimg.cc/FRwJf2zV/sdcheader.png[/img][/center]
He drew in a deep breath. No, he had to act. There wasn’t any other option.

But resolve alone didn’t—[i]couldn’t[/i]—change reality. Charging into a building under an arcanist’s spell was a terrible idea, more often than not. The magic had to be dispelled first, and while that was a straightforward enough task—Yasawen was trained in counter-arcane arts—-keeping it hidden from the prying eyes of the crowd would be nigh-on impossible. If Cynric could notice a stone flying under the influence of magic, then surely someone would witness a whole building being cleansed. 

Sjan-dehk grimaced. The risks he’d be asking the Viserjantan arcanists to take wouldn’t be small, and that wasn’t even considering the official reprimands and other punishments that’d be waiting for them—himself included—once they returned to their ships. This would, after all, be a direct violation of orders. 

He shook his head. Now wasn’t the time to worry about such things. [i]“All sails and all speed,”[/i] was what his former commanding officer, Nashra, would’ve said. And of course, she’d always follow it up with, [i]“We’ll do what’s right, right now, and deal with the consequences later. Let’s go!”[/i]

A mirthless chuckle left his lips. [color=1E90FF][i]“Let’s go, then,”[/i][/color] he said beneath his breath.

[color=DC143C]“Cap’n, ye still wi’ me?”[/color] It was Cynric.

[color=1E90FF]“Yes,”[/color] Sjan-dehk replied. [color=1E90FF]“Sorry. I was thinking. We must act. But first, I will speak with my people.”[/color]

A grin curled Cynric’s lips, and he nodded. [color=DC143C]“Aye, ‘tis what I was thinkin’, mysel’. I’ll ‘ave a chat wi’ my fellas too, but I’ll kick ta’ feckin’ doors on me ane if I ‘ave tae. I’m after a feckin’ drink, and nobody’s gae’n get in my feckin’ way o’ gettin’ one.”[/color]

With that, he turned and walked to his crew. Sjan-dehk did the same, marching over to where Iyen and the arcanists were gathered. [color=1E90FF][i]“Dahsahn, Yehn-tai,”[/i][/color] he called out along the way. He didn’t need to say anything else—the two men answered with shouts of acknowledgement and quickly fell in behind him.

Iyen greeted him with a small, knowing smile as he approached, as if she already knew exactly how things were going to play out. She leaned against a streetlamp, with one hand resting on the pistol at her hip, the other idly tracing the rope coiled across her body. [color=228B22][i]“So,”[/i][/color] she said breezily, dragging out the word. [color=228B22][i]“What do you have in mind, Sjan-dehk?”[/i][/color]

He didn’t answer her. Instead, he fixed his attention on Inshahri. [color=1E90FF][i]“Shahri.”[/i][/color] 

The girl immediately stopped brushing dirt from her skirts and turned to him, her eyes expectant.

[color=1E90FF][i]“Tell me again,”[/i][/color]  he went on. [color=1E90FF][i]“How bad is the magic in there?”[/i][/color] 

[color=98FB98][i]“Very bad, Captain.”[/i][/color]  She stole a nervous glance at the tavern, her hands tightly gripping the fabric around her waist. [color=98FB98][i]“It sounds…It sounds messy—I mean, dangerous. Very, very dangerous. And it can hurt people too! It already has, and still is!”[/i][/color]  

Sjan-dehk frowned. [color=1E90FF][i]“So it’s not just…Shrouding the building? It’s not just isolating it?”[/i][/color]  He paused, trying to think of a better word for what he wanted to say, but finding only the official Commonwealth designation for the spells he had in mind. [color=1E90FF][i]“It’s, ah, not a defensive spell?”[/i][/color] 

Inshahri shook her head. [color=98FB98][i]“No, no, it’s not defensive! It can do more than that, but…But I think only to those inside?”[/i][/color]  Her face fell, and genuine distress crumpled her features. [color=98FB98][i]“Sorry, Captain. The magic’s powerful, and really, really loud. I can’t tell anything more than that.”[/i][/color] 

[color=1E90FF][i]“That’s alright, Shahri,”[/i][/color] Sjan-dehk said, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. [color=1E90FF][i]“We never really know our opponents until we face them, anyway. You’ve done well enough.”[/i][/color]

Iyen’s smile turned into a playful grin, and she pushed herself away from the streetlamp. [color=228B22][i]“Oh my, Captain, you’re calling them opponents already?”[/i][/color] Amusement dripped from her words. [color=228B22][i]“Sounds like you’ve come to a decision.”[/i][/color]

[color=1E90FF][i]“Yes,”[/i][/color] Sjan-dehk replied. [color=1E90FF][i]“But I’m not—”[/i][/color]

[color=228B22][i]“You can count me in,”[/i][/color] she said, as if he hadn’t said anything.

Sjan-dehk blinked. [color=1E90FF][i]“Iyen, I haven’t even asked yet.”[/i][/color]

[color=228B22][i]“You still think you need to ask me? Oh, you wound me, Captain.”[/i][/color] Were it not for the mischief on her face, and had Sjan-dehk not known her as well as he did, he might’ve believed that she was actually upset. The giggle that flowed from her lips did plenty to give her away as well. [color=228B22][i]“Did you really think I’d return to Sudah and let you have all the fun?”[/i][/color]

She shook her head. [color=228B22][i]“Not. A. Chance, Sjan-dehk.”[/i][/color]

Sjan-dehk couldn’t help but chuckle and give her a grin of his own. Iyen was right, of course—he shouldn’t have expected her to do anything less than jumping head-first into the mess with him. Danger and trouble had always been something they faced—and often found—together. This wouldn’t be any different. [color=1E90FF][i]“Thank you, Iyen,”[/i][/color] he said. [color=1E90FF][i]“I owe you one.”[/i][/color]

[color=228B22][i]“And you’d better remember that,”[/i][/color] Iyen replied in a sing-song voice. 

Dahsahn cleared his throat. [color=B0E0E6][i]“Pardon me,”[/i][/color] he said, pressing a fist to his chest and bowing his head to both Sjan-dehk and Iyen. [color=B0E0E6][i]“But there’s a hostile arcanist in there casting a spell we don’t know much about. You can’t be serious—”[/i][/color] He caught himself and swallowed. [color=B0E0E6][i]“I mean, with all respect, Captain, trying to push into a building like that with just the two of you is…Tactically unwise. That's my opinion, of course.”[/i][/color]

Sjan-dehk opened his mouth—half to agree, half to ask the arcanists for help—but Yasawen spoke first. 

[color=FFFF00][i]“I–I can dispel the magic,”[/i][/color] he said. 

[color=FF91FA][i]“You?”[/i][/color] Hasehnya exclaimed, her eyes wide in surprise. Yasawen’s cheeks reddened, and he looked at the ground between his feet. [color=FF91FA][i]“Oh, no, no, I—That’s not what I meant! S–Sorry Yasa! I, um, I know you’ve been studying hard and you’ve definitely gotten better! I–I mean, everyone knows how hard you work!”[/i][/color]

She ran her fingers over her braids and hurried on. [color=FF91FA][i]“But we, um, we don’t know much about the spell. And that’s not your fault, Shahri! Y-You told us that it’s powerful and that’s good enough! I–It’s just when spells are that strong, we need strong counter-spells, you know? And, um, you’re a really good healer, Yasa! So much better than me, really! B–But dispelling is different, you know? A–And I’m a little better at that. I can use the stronger counter-spells.”[/i][/color]

Yasawen sighed. He nodded once, still not looking up. [color=FFFF00][i]“I…I understand, senior Hasehnya.”[/i][/color]

Hasehnya cast an apologetic look at Yasawen before turning to Sjan-dehk. She breathed in deeply. [color=FF91FA][i]“I’ll do the dispelling, C–Captain.”[/i][/color]

Sjan-dehk didn’t reply immediately. For a moment, all he did was look between the two arcanists, his brow furrowed in bafflement. He wasn’t quite sure he understood what he’d just heard. Were they bickering over who got to volunteer for a task that would have them break regulations? One that would undoubtedly land them in no small amount of trouble? 

[color=1E90FF][i]“You two…”[/i][/color] He spoke slowly, as if he were speaking to someone who didn’t understand Viserjantan. [color=1E90FF][i]“You two do realise what you’re signing up for, right? You’ll need to use your abilities, and that means breaking regulations. That means getting into a lot of trouble. You understand that, right?”[/i][/color]

Yasawen lifted his head just enough to meet Sjan-dehk’s gaze. [color=FFFF00][i]“Yes, Captain,”[/i][/color] he said. [color=FFFF00][i]“I understand.”[/i][/color] He swallowed. [color=FFFF00][i]“But it can’t be helped, right? Shahri reacted really strongly to that magic, and–and it’s the first time I’ve seen her like that, so it has to be really, really bad. I–I know we’re not allowed to use our abilities, but if…If people are being hurt, we have to help. That’s the right thing to do, isn’t it?”[/i][/color]

[color=98FB98][i]“Yes, yes!”[/i][/color] Inshahri almost squealed as she slipped her arms around Yasawen’s shoulders and pulled him into a quick hug. [color=98FB98][i]“Yasa, you know me so well! I wouldn’t make so much noise about this, otherwise!”[/i][/color]

Beside her, Tehwasang laughed quietly before separating her from a crimson-cheeked Yasawen. [color=DEB887][i]“And we, as good seniors—”[/i][/color] she glanced at Hasehnya [color=DEB887][i]“—can’t just let our juniors run off on their own, can we? We have to do our proper duties and watch over them.”[/i][/color] She giggled and winked at Sjan-dehk. [color=DEB887][i]“And if we end up getting into trouble…I’m sure we can think of something.”[/i][/color]

[color=98FB98][i]“I’m not your junior, though,”[/i][/color] Inshahri piped up.

[color=DEB887][i]“You’re younger than me,”[/i][/color] Tehwasang said with a smirk. [color=DEB887][i]“That makes you junior enough.”[/i][/color]

Hasehnya’s nervous eyes flitted between her fellow arcanists. [color=FF91FA][i]“I–I agree,”[/i][/color] she said with a nod. [color=FF91FA][i]“It’s just like the stories we read. W-We have to do what’s right. And besides, I…”[/i][/color] She trailed off, shaking her head and drawing a deep breath to steady herself. In as firm a tone as she could manage, she continued, [color=FF91FA][i]“I won’t let junior Yasawen do this alone! If he goes, I have to go too. It’s my duty as his senior!”[/i][/color]

Tehwasang giggled and clapped her hands. Redness spread across Hasehnya’s cheeks. In a softer voice, one closer to a murmur, she added, [color=FF91FA][i]“S–So if, um, Captain Sjan-dehk needs me to dispel the magic, I will.”[/i][/color]

Once again, Sjan-dehk couldn’t find the words to reply. All he could do was look at them with astonishment written all over his face. These four arcanists were mere youths—Yasawen and Inshahri were only fifteen, and the other two couldn’t be much older. And yet, they were prepared to use their abilities to save people belonging to a land that would sentence them to death for doing so. It wasn’t as if they didn’t know that—it was Sjan-dehk that’d insisted on mentioning the Caesonian penalties for magic in the new regulations. 

And still, none of them had hesitated. Not even for a moment. 

Sjan-dehk let out a long breath. [color=1E90FF][i]“Alright then,”[/i][/color] he said, giving them a single nod. [color=1E90FF][i]“I appreciate the help and you have my thanks. But we’ll do this properly and safely. That means staying close, following orders, and above all, no playing the hero. I won’t hesitate to personally throw you back onto Sada Kurau if any of you dare to get hurt. Understood?”[/i][/color]

The four of them answered with nods and acknowledgements. 

[color=B0E0E6][i]“You should listen to the Captain,”[/i][/color] Yehn-tai chimed in. The sniper had been silent this entire time, but now he looked around with a smile on his perpetually tired face, and a whistled tune on his lips. [color=B0E0E6][i]“Leave being a hero to those of us in uniform, eh?”[/i][/color]

Sjan-dehk looked at him. [color=1E90FF][i]“I suppose that means you’re in, too?”[/i][/color]

[color=B0E0E6][i]“You know what they say, Captain,”[/i][/color] Yehn-tai replied. [color=B0E0E6][i]“Sada Kurau follows her Captain…”[/i][/color]

[color=B0E0E6][i]“…And so does her crew.”[/i][/color] Dahsahn finished the saying. He stood to attention and saluted Sjan-dehk. [color=B0E0E6][i]“My section and I are ready for your tasking, Captain. Just say the word.”[/i][/color]

Sjan-dehk swept his gaze over the assembled Viserjantans—the arcanists clustered together; Iyen leaning against the streetlamp once more; Yehn-tai with his rifle resting on his shoulder; Dahsahn standing ramrod straight and stock-still. It wasn’t a sizable force, but it certainly was a formidable one. With the exception of the four youths, everyone here was a veteran of countless battles. Sjan-dehk felt a familiar grin creep onto his face—the sort of grin he had whenever a fight was imminent. 

He forced it away. It was time to plan.

[color=1E90FF][i]“Sergeant,”[/i][/color] he called to Dahsahn. [color=1E90FF][i]“You’ll take your section and circle around the back of the tavern. There has to be a rear entrance of some kind. Find it, secure it, and don’t let anyone in or out once we make our way inside. If you hear fighting, breach and join the fray. Understood?”[/i][/color]

[color=B0E0E6][i]“You got it, Captain,”[/i][/color] Dahsahn replied. [color=B0E0E6][i]“Do you want me to move the men out now?”[/i][/color]

Sjan-dehk nodded. [color=1E90FF][i]“Yes. Go now.”[/i][/color]

[color=B0E0E6][i]“As you command.”[/i][/color] Dahsahn snapped to a salute and hurried away, commands already flying from his lips as he returned to his section.

[color=1E90FF][i]“Yehn-tai.”[/i][/color] Sjan-dehk turned to the sniper. [color=1E90FF][i]“Take your spotter and find somewhere up high. You’ll be doing a lot of moving, I’m afraid. First, find a spot to watch over Dahsahn’s section. Once they’re in position, find another position where you can overlook the front of the tavern. Give us a signal when you’re ready. That’s when I’ll have Hasehnya start casting. You’ll keep an eye on her. If you see anyone approach her with bad intentions…”[/i][/color]

[color=B0E0E6][i]“I’ll drop them,”[/i][/color] Yehn-tai finished. Then, he frowned. [color=B0E0E6][i]“There’s a lot of people here though, Captain. I’ll keep an eye on all of them as best I can, but if I start shooting anyone who looks unfriendly, I’m going to make a lot of corpses.”[/i][/color]

Sjan-dehk chewed on his lip. [color=1E90FF][i]“I’ll talk to our Caesonian friends, see if they can help us control the crowd or get rid of it. For now, stick to those orders. Move.”[/i][/color]

[color=B0E0E6][i]“Will do, Captain,”[/i][/color] Yehn-tai said. He yawned, hefted his rifle, and jogged away. 

Iyen hummed and tapped a finger on her chin. [color=228B22][i]“So…Dahsahn and his section are watching the back door, Yehn-tai’s keeping an eye on the front.”[/i][/color] She looked at Sjan-dehk, her lips pouted childishly. [color=228B22][i]“I hope you’ve got something for me, Sjan-dehk. Otherwise…”[/i][/color] Her pout changed into an impish smile. [color=228B22][i]“I’ll be upset.”[/i][/color]

Sjan-dehk rolled his eyes. [color=1E90FF][i]“Don’t worry, Iyen. You can have the second floor to yourself. If things get loud, sweep it, clear it, and make sure we don’t have any surprises coming from above.”[/i][/color]

[color=228B22][i]“If?”[/i][/color] Iyen frowned. [color=228B22][i]“Sounds like I could just be sitting on my arse doing nothing.”[/i][/color]

[color=1E90FF][i]“Don’t worry,”[/i][/color] Sjan-dehk repeated. [color=1E90FF][i]“I’ve a feeling that things will get violent even if we try to be peaceful.”[/i][/color]

[color=228B22][i]“I’ll take your word for it, then,”[/i][/color] Iyen said and started walking away. [color=228B22][i]“Don’t leave me waiting too long!”[/i][/color]

With all the veterans settled, Sjan-dehk could finally address the arcanists. [color=1E90FF][i]“Hasehnya,”[/i][/color] he called, his tone a touch gentler than before. [color=1E90FF][i]“Do you need anything for your spell?”[/i][/color]

[color=FF91FA][i]“Oh, I–I don’t need anything, Captain!”[/i][/color] Hasehnya blurted out. She turned to the tavern, her head tilted as if studying it. [color=FF91FA][i]“Um, m–maybe I need some space? I–I should look for a few spots and–and see which works, to be safe…But–But if there’s no time I–I don’t need to do that, really!”[/i][/color]

[color=1E90FF][i]“No, no,”[/i][/color] Sjan-dehk replied. [color=1E90FF][i]“I’d rather you be as safe as you can.”[/i][/color] He looked at the other three arcanists, one by one. [color=1E90FF][i]“Tehwasang, Yasawen, Inshahri, help her with what she needs. Also, Tehwasang, take care of Hasehnya after she’s done casting.”[/i][/color]

[color=DEB887][i]“That’s what I do best, Captain,”[/i][/color] Tehwasang said with a grin. [color=DEB887][i]“And you can just call me Tehwa.”[/i][/color]

[color=1E90FF][i]“I’ll try to remember that,”[/i][/color] Sjan-dehk replied before turning to Yasawen and Inshahri. [color=1E90FF][i]“I’ll need you two with me when I go into the tavern.”[/i][/color] Looks of surprise spread over their faces, although Inshahri’s seemed more eager, while Yasawen’s had an uncertain, apprehensive tint to it. [color=1E90FF][i]“Even after the spell’s gone, we still have an arcanist to deal with, and I’m sure they’ll try casting again as soon as they get a chance. Inshahri, you’ll have to find them before that happens. Think you can do it?”[/i][/color]

[color=98FB98][i]“Yes, yes!”[/i][/color] Inshahri nodded. [color=98FB98][i]“If I’m inside, I’ll know who it is for sure!”[/i][/color]

[color=1E90FF][i]“Good.”[/i][/color] Sjan-dehk shifted his attention to Yasawen. [color=1E90FF][i]“Once Inshahri finds the arcanist, you’ll silence them. I don’t need you to do anything big. Just make sure they can’t cast anything. Can you do that?”[/i][/color]

[color=FFFF00][i]“I–I’ll–”[/i][/color] Yasawen started. Then, he drew in a steadying breath and nodded. [color=FFFF00][i]“Yes, Captain. Of course.”[/i][/color]

[color=1E90FF][i]“That’s what I like to hear.”[/i][/color]

Sjan-dehk gave him a clap on the shoulder before addressing the arcanists as a group. [color=1E90FF][i]“Alright, I think I’ve said enough. All of you have your duties, so get to it. I’ve got things to discuss with our Caesonian friends, but I won’t be far. If you run into any trouble, just give me a shout. Understood?”[/i][/color]

The four of them nodded—Inshahri and Tehwasang more enthusiastically than the other two—and replied with a chorus of acknowledgements. Moving as a group, they hurried to their tasks. Sjan-dehk kept an eye on them for a while longer, partly to make sure that they were doing as they’d been told, and partly to give himself a moment to collect his thoughts after issuing so many orders in rapid succession.

He counted ten heartbeats. Then, he went to find Cynric.

[i]Recompense[/i]’s captain hadn’t strayed far from where they’d interrogated the thug. He was standing by the edge of the crowd, his arms folded as he conversed with a handful of his crew. An overly-curious onlooker tried to force his way through, and was quickly turned back by an expletive-laced shout from Cynric. Then, as if nothing had happened, the red-haired captain returned to his conversation. 

[color=1E90FF]“Captain,”[/color] Sjan-dehk called out as he drew closer.

[color=DC143C]“Aye.”[/color] Cynric turned around. [color=DC143C]“Ah, I s’pose ye’re done talkin’ wi’ yer fellas?”[/color]

[color=1E90FF]“Yes,”[/color] Sjan-dehk replied. 

He gave Cynric a brief outline of the plan—not because of secrecy, but because his Caesonian still wasn’t good enough to allow him to be any more detailed. Even so, Cynric listened attentively, his brow knotted in concentration and hand rubbing his chin. [color=DC143C]“Well, feck me,”[/color] he said once Sjan-dehk finished. [color=DC143C]“That’s nae jus’ a plan, that’s a whole feckin’ operation. I like it. But ‘avin’ yer…What d’ye call ‘em? Arcanists, was it?”[/color]

[color=1E90FF]“Yes,”[/color] Sjan-dehk confirmed. [color=1E90FF]“We do not use words like witch. It is…Not good.”[/color]

[color=DC143C]“Arcanists,”[/color] Cynric repeated. [color=DC143C]“‘Tis a fine word. I’ve tae start usin’ it more, aye I dae. Anyway, if ye’re gae’n tae ‘ave ye arcanist start castin’ ou’ ‘ere in ta’ open, then I’ll ‘ave my fellas watch ta’ crowd. Maybe e’en get some o’ ‘em tae feck off. I’ve tae admit, though, I’m nae sure we can get rid o’ it entirely, but there’ll be nae as many eyes watchin’, at least.”[/color]

[color=1E90FF]“Yes, that is also my concern.”[/color] Sjan-dehk glanced at the crowd. Although it’d thinned a little—he supposed most had only been interested in the confrontation with the thugs—there were still a fair number of people loitering around. [color=1E90FF]“As long as they stay away from the arcanist, and they do not harm her.”[/color]

[color=DC143C]“Oh, dae’n ye worry about that, Cap’n,”[/color] Cynric said, his lips curled into a confident grin. [color=DC143C]“We’ll make feckin’ sure o’ that, aye. What we ough’tae worry about though…”[/color] He tilted his chin towards the tavern. [color=DC143C]“Ye ‘ave a plan on ‘ow ye wan’tae go in? I know I said somethin’ about kickin’ ta’ door down, but ‘twas just a figure o’ speech, aye it was. Those fellas inside’re gae’n be feckin’ nervous once we feck wi’ their spell. We charge in like feckin’ madman, an’ they’re gae’n start stabbin’ an’ shootin’, I reckon.”[/color]

[color=1E90FF]“Yes, that is likely.”[/color] Sjan-dehk placed his hands on his hips and chewed on his lip. [color=1E90FF]“I think it will be better if we go in peacefully. Like we want to talk.”[/color]

Cynric nodded slowly. [color=DC143C]“Aye, that migh’ work. Wi’ou’ their magic, they migh’ be more willin’ tae negotiate.”[/color]

[color=1E90FF]“Yes. That will also give my arcanists time to find theirs. They will stop them from casting.”[/color]

[color=DC143C]“Aye, we’ll ‘ave tae take ‘em ou’ first, that’s fer feckin’ sure.”[/color] Cynric rubbed his chin, deep in thought. Then, he turned to Sjan-dehk. [color=DC143C]“‘Ow about I take ta’ lead when we gae in, Cap’n? I’ll dae ta’ talkin’ an’ be enough o’ a gobby shite tae keep ‘em lookin’ at me. Yer fellas can dae what they need, an’ e’en if we feck up, an’ it aw’ goes tits-up, I reckon it’ll be distraction enough fer yer other fellas tae take ‘em by surprise.”[/color]

Sjan-dehk had no disagreement there. [color=1E90FF]“Thank you,”[/color] he said. [color=1E90FF]“That would be good.”[/color]

The breathy trill of a bamboo flute put an end to their discussions. To an untrained ear, it might’ve sounded like nothing more than a simple song—interweaved with the evening noise, and yet still able to cut through it all. But Sjan-dehk knew better. It was Yehn-tai’s signal that everyone was in position.