by Guest 16th April 2022, 6:50 am
There it was. A large camp that housed at least twenty or so warriors of different types, all wearing the colours and garb of Desierto. They had come to ruin the lands of Minstrel while pillaging and kidnapping those they came across. Honestly, it didn’t sound like a bad plan to the currently red haired woman, watching from a distance, her potent slayer senses allowing her to see from a great distance. In fact, it was such a great idea that Shirayuki had decided to turn the tables and do a little abducting of her own. She hadn’t told her employers that of course and had simply said she wished to fight for the honour of Minstrel, which she supposed was kind of true. Her mentee, the lovely sweet Aristotle, came from the country and the kitsune wanted to forge a stronger bond with her new ally and what better way to do so then help defend the girl’s country in her own way? Call her soft or whatever but Shirayuki still wished to do it regardless. Of course, there was another reason too. The Ironheart Pact had a massive amount of wealth and had been willing to pay her an awful lot of jewels.
“So, how’s it looking?” An accented voice uttered, taking a seat beside the mage.
“Like the perfect place for us to strike, if you girls are ready for it.” Shirayuki replied with a smile.
“Ready? These thugs are invading our country. Of course we are!” The fencer angrily stated, swinging her blade impatiently.
“Then summon them to the wagon and let’s discuss tactics.” The shapeshifter responded.
The fencer eagerly did just that and after five minutes or so, all ten of Shirayuki’s company were sitting in the large wagon, guns and blades polished and ready to go. There were six women with rifles, rather young and inexperienced by the looks of them but with a steel in their eyes that the kitsune couldn’t help but respect. They were prepared for what was to come and it would serve them well. Along with the gunners were four fencers, all wearing a rather flashy outfit and seemingly more confident in their abilities. Well, they had to be if they were wearing such garish gear. As for Shirayuki, or Shadow as she was known as by the people of Minstrel, she was wearing a standard mercenary’s outfit although it was rather revealing when it came to her chest, showing enough to perhaps put off her opponents. Of course, if things went well, they wouldn’t see her at all.
“Here’s the plan,” she started, her green eyes surveying the group, “The soldat’s are going to stay up here at the top of the hill and take out any beasts that they can see. There are more than a few tamers in the camp and the beasts have very little value to me. They may take more than a bullet or two, so don’t be afraid to let loose. Don’t shoot the tamers themselves though if you can help it. I want them alive.”
“Why?” one of the soldat’s interrupted, “We should kill them for daring to attack us!”
“Maybe but you are under my command and will follow my orders,” Shirayuki replied, “My intentions are to abduct as many of the enemy as possible and sell them off.”
“You’re a slaver?!” Another of the soldat’s snapped, “You’re no better than they are!”
“If you want I’ll sell you to them instead,” The redhead coldly answered.
That seemed to have the desired effect and the interrupters fell silent again.
“As I was saying,” she went on, “While the soldat are handling the beasts, the fencers among you will be engaging the desert warriors and making sure that they don’t reach the gunners. I expect you to watch each other's backs and keep yourselves covered. You might not like my reasons but what we’re doing will help your people by removing these thugs from the battlefield.”
“Where are you going to be?” A fencer asked, eyebrows raised.
“I’m going to go down there and stir them up for you. I can move unseen and am particularly good at making sure my opponents can’t move. I’ll give you plenty of opportunities to work your magic and meanwhile, I’ll be using mine to grab those who we defeat. By the time we're done, this wagon is going to be filled with captured enemies. There's also a raider down there who I’ll handle personally. I’ve heard that they’re stronger than the rank and file so it’ll be best if I handle her one on one. Any questions?”
“Do we get a cut of the profits?” Yet another soldat asked dryly, which actually got a laugh from some of the others.
A smile crossed Shirayuki’s face before she responded, “So much for not liking my work. I’ll make you girls a deal, for each beast you slay or soldier you capture, I’ll give you a bigger slice of the profits. How’s that?”
The women looked at each other, a competitive look in their eyes, before they all nodded in agreement.
“Then let’s get started,” she added, before exiting the wagon, her small battalion following closely behind.
(871 Words)