Chapter 15

Transcendence
Chapter 15: Traitor
Theramore
Ichigo had his horse trot casually towards the massive entrance of Theramore; the large wooden gates were wide open and granting them a grand entrance to the city, it had been a day since they had left this place to search through Shady Rest for clues as to who attacked and who the traitor may be. They had spent the night in the desolate town, forced to remain there after Ichigo had ventured off into the Barrens and returned several hours later, the shield he carried no longer in his possession and his lips seals as too it's and his whereabouts. Tarem was no pleased with his disappearance, he had thought he had run off and simply cracked under the pressure, he was willing to leave the boy behind and continue his investigation but his Night Elf friend had urged him to remain.
Even though a night was waisted they had returned to Theramore with news on the attack and also a lead on who the traitor, Lieutenant Paval Reethe, a man in the Theramore Guard and likely a former member of the Kul Tiras Navy back in Lordaeron. It was likely due to his previous affiliation with Kul Tiras that he helped the Traitors, and also his hostility towards the Horde played a part in it, but that would be left up to discussion when they meet with the Captain and also drop James Hyal off at the Inn. He had not spoken a single word since they found him, only singing a single verse of that song of his every few minutes, it was tragic to see a man broken in such a way that the only way for him to maintain and sense of sanity is to sing that song.
They passed through the gate and noticed that the guards were focusing intently on them; they knew exactly who they were and also what they were looking for. Because of that there were many mixed feeling within the guard about the investigation, and the implications on such a thing. Many were angry at such a suggestion, that the people who fight for this city and its people would turn against it, and some were angry that there could be people who would turn their backs on their brothers and the innocents they were meant to protect. A few were anxious, waiting for the investigation to bear fruit and see what it would bear and others were afraid, some thoughts that the people they have worked with for years could be traitors and also murderers if the assassination attempted on Ichigo was anything to go by.
The Young substitute dismounted his steed and led it to the stables, behind him Adelina and Tarem followed, bringing their horses into the stable and tied them to a post and then moved off. Tarem had gone to escort the almost catatonic James Hyal towards the Inn, intending to get him a room so that he could at least be comfortable.
"Go to the Barracks and find Captain Vimes." Tarem said, he went for his pocket and pulled out the badge and threw it to Ichigo. "Tell him about what we found and no one else, I'll catch up when I sort out Mr Hyal's accommodations."
Ichigo and Adelina nodded before turning and moving towards the Barracks down the road, as they walked more guards stared openly at them. Both Ichigo and Adelina had becomes something of news as of late, the people who were going to be unveiling the Traitors of the Theramore Guard.
"I don't like it when they stare." Adelina murmured; turning her head away from the guards whose eyes were all focused on them, but their eyes quickly turned elsewhere when the menacing glare Ichigo had been sent their way.
"Ignore them. When we find out who is behind the massacre, then we are going to clean house." Ichigo replied, his voice deathly serious as he walked through the main entrance to the Barracks, not bothering to look at the two guards who were glancing at them as they passed.
Ichigo along with Adelina moved through the narrow hallways moving past patrols and glances without care, they eventually came to the door they were looking for, Ichigo knocked twice and waited to be given permission to enter.
"Enter" a crisp reply from inside the room was heard, opening the door Ichigo and Adelina entered Captain Garran Vimes office, he was behind his desk overlooking reports, of what nature and detail Ichigo could not tell. "You’ve returned. I feared I would have to send out a search party after you did not return yesterday afternoon, what was the delay?"
"I had to clear something up before I could come back." Ichigo replied, he watched as the old Captains eyes narrowed at him, he may have allowed Ichigo into the investigation, but allowing him to give half-assed excuses was something he wouldn't allow.
"Don't try to be smart with me boy." Vimes warned; glaring at the young substitute. "If your actions cause harm to this investigation, I don't care how small, I will throw you into the stockades and you will stay there until this is done."
Ichigo stared at him with a completely neutral expression, he knew he couldn't tell him he went to see Drekhve, it would likely be borderline treason to do so, and even if the Tauren promised to look into who may have attacked the place, it still wouldn't help him.
"I met someone who can help with the Investigation, he says he will look into it and see if he can determine who the people were that attacked." Said Ichigo, the old Captain's never left Ichigo's.
"Can this 'Someone' be trusted?" asked Vimes, he knew that the boy had little to no contacts out there, also there was likely only one group out there who could find out who attacked the town, and that was the Horde.
"I trust him enough to not lie to me, also he staked his honour on It." said Ichigo, Vimes was silent for a moment, as much as he didn't want to have the Horde having any part in this investigation he would have it remained within these walls, if they found out then it could be covered up by them. But since they already knew who attacked the town it was pointless to try and cover up the evidence, it would only end with further mistrust between the two factions, and that was something neither wanted at this point.
"Alright, I'll let it pass, for now." Vimes ended the line of questioning there, and moved onto another. "What did you find at Shady Rest?"
"We found one of the shields; it's in the possession of the one who is looking into the attack." Ichigo saw Vimes grimace at the fact he handed evidence over to a member of the Horde. "Also we found a survivor, James Hyal, he's in no shape for questioning; the death of his family has devastated him, you'd be lucky to get a single word out of him."
"Where is he now?" Vimes inquired.
"Tarem had taken him to the Inn." Vimes nodded, the man had been out in that town for two and a half days, he would likely have not lasted another if he wasn't found, and the trauma he suffered will likely mean he will never return to any sense of normalcy.
"Is there anything else?" Asked Vimes, they had nothing but a piece of armour that was no longer in their possession and a witness who couldn't talk; he hoped that there would be at least something they could use.
"Yeah. This." Ichigo replied, throwing a badge onto the table, a Theramore Guard badge, Vimes picked up the dirty piece of metal and examined it, it was definitely a guard badge, it was a Lieutenant’s badge with Paval Reethe emblazed on it.
"So, one of the guards was there." Said Vimes, visible upset about this development "When I'm usually given a guard badge, it is to say that a man or woman has fallen in battle, and I'm left to bring the grieving family the news. Sometimes we never know what happened to them, but never would I have thought that they would bring me the badge of a man who would forsake his duty."
There was a tense silence as the Captain gazed into the gold and silver badge, his eyes losing their ferocity and becoming dull, the thought of a man he worked with turning traitor weighed heavy on his shoulders. But the fact that he may not be alone made that burden even harder to carry, no one hates traitors more than Ichigo, he had seen Aizen and Ichimura cut down people they once considered friends and allies for no more reason then they were in the way. So the fact that the Captain had turncoats in with his people did not sit well with the aging captain, Vimes placed the badge on his table and them exhaled tiredly.
"I don't know him personally, but I know someone you can talk to that will know, his name is Adjutant Tesoran. He is the records keeper in the Barracks, he is just down the Hall and in the records room, speak with him and report back what you find out." Said Vimes, Ichigo nodded and turned to leave, walking out into the hall both he and Adelina moved to find this records keeper.
It wasn't that hard, just down the hall like the Captain said, the records room was a large room with many shelves with books and scrolls, obviously this man handled all the information about troop movements and the guards. Ichigo entered and found a man with short cut black hair and a beard behind a desk sorting out some documents, leather armour instead of plated metal and wearing the signature tabard of the Theramore Guard.
"Excuse me" Ichigo started, getting the man's attention, the Adjutant stopped sifting through the papers in front of him and looked up to his two visitors, his surprise was noticed when he recognised Ichigo as the man who was part of the investigation into the Shady Rest massacre.
"Yes, how can I help you?" Tesoran asked.
"I'm looking for anything you know about a Lieutenant named Paval Reethe." Ichigo replied, the records keeper was still for a moment before getting to his feet and moving towards the shelf on the far wall behind him.
He scanned the books and looked for the right one, as he did this he didn't ask any questions, he knew well enough that if he tried to ask questions he shouldn't he would likely cause whatever he is looking for to be exposed. There were eyes and ears everywhere in this Inn, and if anything was revealed to soon, especially to those who yet can't be trusted, then it could cause any number of problems in the investigation to occur.
"Ah, here it is." Said Tesoran, holding a large ledger in his hand, nearly three inches thick and bulky, he dropped it onto the table and then began shifting through the pages. "Let's see… Reddon… Redpath…Ah, here it is, Lieutenant Paval Reethe, joined the Theramore guard along with most of the recruits that came across the sea with Lady Proudmoore; enlisted with the marines of Kul Tiras at the age of sixteen. Distinguished service, promotions..."
He paused for a moment, Ichigo looked at him expectantly.
"Listed as missing, was meant to be stationed at North Point Tower, but he never showed." Tesoran finished, but Ichigo knew that he was pointing in some other direction than him being missing, Tesoran knew about the investigation and he knew that even if that was the case he would likely be thinking the same thing: Traitor.
"When did he leave?" asked Ichigo
"Early morning; two days ago." Said Tesoran, Ichigo knew now that Reethe wasn't the one who had order the assassination attempt on his life, that meant one thing, there was someone else inside Theramore who ordered it, it was almost definite.
Ichigo thanked the Adjutant for his service and quickly departed.
"If Reethe's left in the morning of the same day we arrived, then that means he wasn't the one who ordered the Assassin to kill you." Said Adelina, Ichigo agreed, and since there was a short window between when they arrived and when the Assassination attempt had taken place, there could be any number of officers or soldiers that could have hired the man to kill him.
"Come on the Captain would want to know about this." Said Ichigo, unknown to both of them they were being watched by a young woman with short cut brown hair and wearing brown leather armour.
Ichigo knocked on the door and waited to be called in.
"Enter" obeying the command, Ichigo entered the room and found Captain Vimes and Inspector Tarem speaking with one another, also there was a third man in the room who was standing beside Tarem. "Falgran Hastil, I want you to locate the source of those footprints, find where they lead and report back to me, immediately."
"Yes Sir" said Falgran Hastil, he saluted his Captain before marching towards the door and out into the Barrack and likely going to the stables to get a horse to find out where those print lead, and Ichigo hoped that they would find something.
"I spoke with Tesoran, he said that Paval Reethe is missing, disappeared on the road to North Point Tower." Said Ichigo, to which both Tarem and Vimes shared a look, which Ichigo suspected that they might know where he may have gone if he decided to desert the guard. "You know where he is?"
"Possibly, over the years we have tried to maintain control over the marshes, and to do so we built many watch towers, one of them is known as Lost Point tower, its south of where Shady Rest is." Tarem replied.
"Why didn't you tell us this before, we could have gone there after we arrived the first time." Ichigo said.
"We didn't know that the traitor had fled." Tarem said, trying to calm Ichigo. "Also we only found out that Kul Tiras has a small base there."
"Alright, when do we leave?" said Ichigo
"You can leave now; Tarem will escort you back to Shady Rest, as he will be remaining to continue the investigation." Vimes said.
Ichigo nodded and left with both Adelina and Tarem, their destination Lost Point Tower.
Dustwallow Marsh
Ichigo's third trip through the marshes on horseback was much easier than the other two occasions, the first time he had fallen from his horse many times, the second time he was able to stay on but nearly fallen off multiple times, but luckily he was getting the hang of it. But even though he would be glad that he was riding with little worry of falling off, his mind was elsewhere, thinking about yesterday when he found James Hyal inside that room cradling the bodies of his wife and son. The very thought made it hard to feel despair, to have everything taken from you, your friends, your family, it would destroy you, he was no exception, as strong and tough he tried to appear, he had one fatal flaw. The desire to protect.
Though one would call it admirable to protect others and loved one, but he always believed that he could protect everyone he cared about and the people around him, that he was infallible and couldn't be beaten while he had those who were counting on him. But that didn't save Lynn and Jimmy, that didn't save all those others in the town, he was swatted away like nothing more than a fly and those he was meant to protect were dead, how was he meant to fight if he couldn't protect those around him. How was he meant to save people if he couldn't beat the enemy, here he was weak and at the mercy of foes that could beat him with powers beyond his comprehension, how could he do anything if he couldn't even save a single person.
"Ichigo?" asked Adelina, the substitute turned to the young druid and saw the worry on her face. "Are you alright?"
Ichigo didn't want to talk, he didn't want to speak about it, and he didn't want to tell her that he was having doubts about his capabilities to protect those around him, that he couldn't keep them safe, that he was weak.
"Ichigo, I'm here, you can talk to me." Said Adelina, Ichigo didn't listen, he couldn't keep his mind away from the fact that he had failed to do what he couldn't so many years ago, protect someone dear to him, to protect the innocent, to protect a mother…
He couldn't protect his mother back then, and he couldn't protect people even now, what hope was there if he couldn't protect others, what point in there was fighting if he couldn't defend people from all the evil that comes after them, what was the point of all this!
"Ichigo…" the substitutes' head whirled on Adelina, a scowl of irritation on his face, he didn't want to talk about it, why she couldn't understand that was beyond him, but as he moved to yell at her to leave him be he saw her face, she had a quivering lip and looked morose as unshed tears gathered in her eyes. "Please, I know what it's like, I how much it hurts, please, don't let it hurt you."
Ichigo's anger evaporated quickly at the sight of the crying elf beside him, her watering orbs of light made his feel guilty for holding back for so long and moving to snap at her, she had more right to despair than he did and all he did was ignore her. Adelina was a kind hearted girl who had been dealt a blow, both mentally and socially, that had left her a wreck, her parents deaths had caused her nothing but grief and that grief had caused her nothing but scorn from her people. He had no idea or right to think that just because she acted like a goof she was alright, she did it to hide her pain, she knew more about it than anyone else and the fact that he, her only friend, was falling into the same dark pit of despair she did, broke her heart.
"Adelina, please don't cry." Ichigo said, his voice soft and comforting, he reached out to clasp her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "I'm sorry, I know that I have been distant, but I have a lot on my mind."
"I know it's hard, to see nice people suffer, I know because I have seen it, felt it, experience it." she said, her voice stuttering as she spoke every word, again Ichigo felt guilty, his distancing himself from her had caused her more pain, she was a scared girl who didn't want someone she cared about to leave and his actions had made her think just that.
"Adelina, don't worry, I won't let that happen to you again." Ichigo promised, but she could only give him a sad smile.
"Do you believe that?" she asked, catching him off guard, she could tell that he didn't have the same convictions in his voice as when he spoke to her many times before, he was uncertain and full of regret. "You say you will protect me, but how can you do that when you don't believe you can."
Ichigo could only stare at her with wide eyes, how was he meant to protect others when he had doubt, he was always ready to protect others, and he would go to any lengths to protect the innocent and the people he cared about. But when he thought about it, he knew she was right, he couldn't think about protecting people, but if he was able protect them, he doubted his own power and resolve to protect those around him, he knew he couldn't protect everyone, but he should at least be able to save those around him.
"I don't know if I can do this." Ichigo said, his voice wavering as he tried to remain composed. "I have always thought that I could protect everyone I care about, I knew I couldn't protect everyone in the world, but I always thought I could protect those around me."
"Ichigo, protecting people is always a hard task, sometimes warriors give into despair because they failed one to many times, and sometimes you have to accept that not everyone will survive." Adelina said, but Ichigo didn't believe that, not for one minute did he believe that he couldn't do that, he had done it before; he had always brought them back. "But, I ask you: how many more would die if you didn't try?"
Ichigo halted his retort and listened to her finish, he was struck dumb by that, how many would die if not for his actions.
"You may not be able to save everyone Ichigo, but you are saving people with every swing of that sword, and as long as you do that, you will protect people and even if you fail to protect someone, learn from it, do better and never stop." Adelina said, smiling at Ichigo with actual kindness and care, she hoped that it was enough to get him to realise that not all is lost.
Ichigo thought on those words, he knew it was naive to think that here were death and bloodshed were as common as sand in a desert that he could protect these people, but he wasn't someone who just did his best and hoped that as many as possible survived. How could he live with himself knowing that someone died while under his protection, especially all those people in the town, he could have saved many of them, stopped the attack and no one else would have been hurt. But Ichigo knew she was right, here he could do only so much against them, no matter what he could do there would be death, many would die and there would be no stopping it, and if that was the case, then maybe he should try to save them.
"Thanks Adelina, I needed that." Ichigo said, a small and genuine smile gracing his lips as he looked at her, one that was shared between them, as much as it hurt Ichigo to think that his actions would come short, he was glad that at least he could make a difference rather than let more people die; it was cold truth, but a realistic one.
Lost Point Tower
Ichigo and Adelina were walking down the stone paved road towards the tower, they had to leave their horses at the town, the road was too narrow to navigate effectively with horses and also, it would allow them to sneak into the area without being noticed. When asked specifically what they had to avoid while travelling down the path, Tarem said something along the lines as. Big Black Dragons, fucking perfect, although they may live in the southern parts of the swamp, they were known to travel in search of food or something to kill. Luckily they hadn't encountered any reptiles of that variety yet, and the last two hours they have been walking, the only thing that followed them was the flies, the stink and the glowing eyes that seem to be coming from the canopies of the trees.
Luckily they stayed in those canopies and didn't come out, but the feeling of being watched by things did not help the mood in the slightest. The camp that was just south of the town, was actually more along the lines of: a two hours hike through the swamp on a road that is only considered as such because there is nothing on it. Ichigo hoped to finished up the business in the Kul Tiras camp quickly, he really wanted to get back to Theramore, he didn't want to spend another night in this place, but from how late it was and how long it would take, they wouldn’t be making it back till tomorrow.
As they come out into a small open area they noticed the tower up ahead, a simple stone built tower on a raised and walled off platform, the highpoint of the tower seemed to be crumbling away, and large sections of the wall appeared to be in the same condition as well.
As Ichigo and Adelina moved closer they could see people near the tower, many wearing simple grey armour and with green tabards with an anchor on them similar to the Theramore Guard. But there were several that appeared to be of the guard, with the same white tabards and golden anchors, likely people who deserted Theramore.
Most were in a small camp off to the side of the tower, some were patrolling around the raised platform of the towers base to see if there any intruders, Ichigo could see about two of them at the front guarding the tower, and three more moving together around it. Not to many, but he needed to find someone who could give him information on where Reethe is, if he is here then he would take him back to Theramore and if not he would track him down and do the same thing.
The camp was a simple group of tents and sheets coverings, these people were obviously not as well equipped to keep out the elements, but they were more than well off when it came to armaments and weapons, dozens of pieces of armour and a variety of weapons were stacked before them. In crates, racks and even a few of the guards were wielding and using them, but Ichigo only had to look at the symbol on the crates to see that it was the crest of the Horde, these were likely the supplies that had been stolen from the caravans and then given to these Kul Tiras deserters. As he walked up the ramp, to see about finding out who was leading this bunch of traitors he was stopped, two guard in heavy armour appeared before him, and both had a simple sword and shield as their weapons.
"Halt, put down your weapons, you may be a boy, but I won't hesitate to cut you down." One guard threatened, pointing his sword at Ichigo, as a response Ichigo drew Zangetsu and in a burst of shunpo he appeared behind the two guardsmen and swung at their backs.
Using the blunt edge of Zangetsu he struck the one on the right in the side, sending him crashing into the other man, both were thrown through the air and collided into the stone wall around the platform and knocked out cold.
"Adelina, can you protect yourself?" Ichigo asked, Adelina nodded to him and he nodded back "Alright, stay outside and if they see you, blast them."
Ichigo sheathed Zangetsu on his back and walked into the tower, he was confident that Adelina could defend herself from a few deserters while looked around for Reethe's. The Interior of the decrepit tower was a small squad of guards sorting through the armour and weapons they had acquired from the Horde. Most of them missed Ichigo entrance and also his quick dispatch of the two guards outside, he gazed around looking for someone who could be in charge of this mob of traitors; his search was completed when one of them spoke up.
"Hey! What are doing in…? Lieutenant, we have an intruder!" shouted one of the men, all the guard stopped what they were doing to look at the entryway to see the substitute shinigami standing there with a scowl on his face and a wide stance.
A man with short cut copper blonde hair and a goatee, the man was in the process of having his armour fastened to himself, all that was really missing was his right shoulderguard; he turned to look at Ichigo and sneered when he noticed him.
"Who the hell are you boy?" shouted the 'Lieutenant', Ichigo's eyes focused on his and he felt his anger flare, was he the man he was looking for?
"You, are you Lieutenant Paval Reethe?" Ichigo demanded, his tone carry the heat and anger that made a fire elemental cold in comparison, he wanted nothing more than to go over to him and beat him to a bloody pulp.
"Reethe? That cowards, hah! What the hell do you want him for?" was Ichigo's response from the man, which made him annoyed, if he wasn't Lieutenant Reethe then who was he?
"Who are you? And where is Reethe?" Ichigo said, stepping forward threateningly, which made the eight other guards go for their weapons; Ichigo glanced around and saw that many of those said weapons were definitely weapons of the horde.
"Me? My name is Balos Jacken, Lieutenant of the Kul Tiras insurgents in Dustwallow Marsh, and also the guy who going to kill you for coming here." Balos replied flippantly; moving forward with a mean-looking jagged sabre in his right hand, ready to use it to carve Ichigo apart.
As the Lieutenant moved closer his men stayed where they were, ready to assist if the boy in front of them proved to be more trouble than he was worth. But to all of them the boy was no more threat to them than a peasant with a pitchfork, but Ichigo was by far the most deadly warrior they had yet to witness.
Balon aimed his sword to stab the boy in his right breast, he didn't want to kill him quickly; he wanted to know if he had found this place by accident or that the Theramore Guard had located them. But in a second Balos' sabre had been blown from his hand, the boy had drawn his blade at a speed that rivalled anything they had seen before, one moment it was on his back and then the next it was in his right hand and over his chest.
Balos listened as his blade hit the ground, two metallic thuds could be heard; one for each of the two halves the blade had been severed into. Ichigo’s attack had not only destroyed the blade but also thrown it from the wielders hand. Balon looked on in shock at the boys speed in drawing his weapon and using it, he had never seen anyone draw a sword that fast; he had never seen anyone who could wield a sword as large as they were. How could someone move a blade that fast?
Before Balon could react he felt a sharp pain pass over his chest, he had seen a blur and felt pain, and he stumbled away from the boy after he had delivered a horizontal cut along his chest, cutting through his armour and flesh easily, he feel to the ground grasping at the wound he had been delivered.
"You will tell me where he is." Ichigo said, Balon looked up at him, his eyes widening in shock as he saw his eyes glow in a yellowish gold, anger and hate radiated from those eyes and promised only a painful and gruesome end, he was wrong to think this boy was normal, he was something much more horrible.
"Got to hell!" Balon roared in defiance, before he scrambled to his feet and backed away from the boy. "Kill him!"
The guards didn't waste any time and attacked, Ichigo took note of them all, he could deal with them easily enough and without having to kill them, all he had to do was knock them out and then he could deal with the Lieutenant. The first one swung his mace towards the back of Ichigo's head, hoping to cave in the boy's skull easily and without a fight, but Ichigo ducked under the swing and let the Morningstar pass over his head, Ichigo twisted to the right and cut into the stomach of the man with Zangetsu. The deserter met to floor, his weapon on the floor and his hands trying to grasp at the wound that he couldn't reach under his thick armour, but Ichigo didn't pay the wounded man any attention, he still had seven others to deal with.
One came right behind the first that was struck down, a bastard sword in both hands ready to cleave the substitute in twain, but Ichigo was faster, shooting Zangetsu up he struck the side of the sword and then forced it away, before pushing it down onto the stone floor. Raising his Zanpokuto up Ichigo cut into the man's stomach and chest and sent him reeling back, turning around quickly Ichigo deflected a sword aimed for his back, as the blade moved aside Ichigo closed in and punched the man square in the jaw. As the man fell into unconsciousness and towards the ground, Ichigo twisted around and blocked an axe meant for his back; Ichigo raised his iron boot and kicked the man in the midriff and knocking him into the far wall of the tower.
Half of the guard had been taken out before the others could register it, and now all that was left where the four standing idly around him. They were now taking a little more cautious approach to dealing with him, trying to work up the nerve to attack, but he would have none of that. Rushing towards the closest target, a woman with a sword and steel tower shield, she raised her shield to block the incoming attack and save herself for a only a moment, but the blade never came.
Instead her shield was shattered and then a fist connected with her stomach. She was blown away and connected with the stone staircase behind her, shattering it before sliding down and landing on a table piled with weapons, she didn't feel it though; she was already unconscious before she even was thrown from her feet.
Ichigo was surprised on how easy he was able to shatter the steel shield, he looked at his hand and saw or glowing with energy, small tendrils of arcane magic was coiling around his fingers and palm, it was likely that this was one of the special qualities Shakil'hi told him about. Before he could think on how this could serve him in the future he was forced to lean back or have his head skewered by a spear, the polearm came in from his right, turning Ichigo saw a single man with the spear in his hand. Grabbing hold of the shaft, Ichigo pulled the traitor Theramore Guard closer before he swung Zangetsu in an upward arch and cut clean through his armour and into his chest, the man fell away with a sever gash across his torso.
Ichigo heard footfalls coming towards him from his left, turning he used the spear that was still in his grasp and tossed it towards the traitor guardsman, the tip of the spear pierced the man's shoulder and went right out the other side. The man was on the floor crying out in pain, leaving only the two guardsmen to defend themselves and their leader from his wrath, as much as Ichigo was a ruthless warrior, he had his own brand of mercy; he would cut you down, but not apart. He wasn't a killer, even in this world he would never sink to a level as low as the monsters he fought, not as long as he breathed would he forsake himself and become a killer, he was someone who protected life, not end it.
Ichigo strode towards the two guards who were watching over their commanding officer, both had looks of pure terror on their faces, all it would take to beat them was to take away their only means to fight and defend themselves. Ichigo was standing only few feet in front of them when they made their desperate attempt to attack, swinging the claymore and axe in unison, hoping either would land their mark and kill the monster that was assailing them. But with a single swing of Zangetsu, the two weapons were forced from the two soldier's hands and away, leaving two shocked and terrified guardsmen to look on at the golden eyed warrior before them.
"You know, the monster in my head is telling me to kill you and eat your souls." Ichigo said, it was dispassionate and promised that it was going to happen no matter what they say, for even if he had no moral conscious, whatever kind of insanity that was going on inside his head showed that he was not stable. "But you would make poor meals, leave."
The two guards didn't have to think twice, they could survive in the swamps, but against the thing that took out all of them in short of a minute, there was nothing but certain death waiting for them if they tried to fight that golden eyed monster. Ichigo didn't even give them a backwards glance as they rushed out the door, his golden orbs focused solely on the man pressed against the wall, shaking in his armour as Ichigo’s glare bore right into his very soul. Ichigo approached and as he did he let Zangetsu hang nimbly by his side, but his stance was still that of someone looking to fight, to kill, he needed the man to understand that, he needed him to see that if he didn't speak, Ichigo would let Zangetsu do the questioning.
"Where is Paval Reethe?" Ichigo demanded, his words low and dangerous, as lethal as the very edge of his blade and whichever one would claim Balos was undecided at the moment.
"I-I don't know" he cried out, his words hard to form with those evil eyes staring into his own, he would think that eyes like that would search through his own and find the secrets without having to speak, for the man in front of his was not human, he was a monster.
"Where?" said Ichigo, his tone becoming much more heated, and soon black began to seep in on his sclera, closing in from the sides and moving towards his golden irises, Balon was practically pissing his pants.
"H-H-He left, came here a few days ago, said we had to try and get the warriors ready, something about Horde planning on attacking Theramore or something." Balon said; Ichigo simply stared on waiting for him to continue. "The man was nuts, we kicked the bastard out when he tried to get us to raid the damn ogre compound up north, the man's nuts, saying they had to stop the Horde before it was too late."
"Where did he go?"
"I don't know, the swamps, it's the only place I can think of, he took some supples and just left without another word." Balon said, raising his hands defensively "Please, I told you everything, don't kill me, please don't kill me!"
Lieutenant Balon stood there for a short while, waiting for the man to reply, but was met with silence, he dared to open his eyes and lower his arms and he saw… nothing, the man was gone as if he had never been there. He looked around frantically, his men were still unconscious on the ground and more worse for ware, but they were alive, luckily, he could barely keep himself up and he decided to allow his shaking legs the rest they needed by crumbling to the floor. Looking at the entryway where that demon had come only three minutes before and utterly broken them, he hoped that nothing else came this way; he prayed that whatever he was or what sent him didn't come for them again.
Theramore, the Next Day
Ichigo and Adelina rode through the gate into Theramore, they had spent the previous day and most of the current morning out in the swamp. Barely having time to get anything to eat or even drink, and they were exhausted, both physically and mentally from what this investigation had forced out of them. But even though midday was approaching there was no signs of sunlight, a constant downpour had beset them yesterday afternoon and had not stopped since. They had been forced to remain in Shady Rest for the night, not wanting to risk getting trapped in the rain and swamp especially at night.
But now they had returned and would be able to rest, all they needed to do was speak with Vimes one last time before they went back to the Inn and get some much needed food and them some rest. Depositing their mounts at the stable they moved towards the Barracks to get the meeting out of the way. The Guards at the front of the Barracks were clearly restless in the rain, but even though the rain had not even begun to halt, the Red and Blue teams were still up to their usual fighting session. Ichigo passed through the open gate of the keep and moved into the dry confines of the barracks, already the warm air was forcing away to cold sensation on their skin.
Going to the Captains office Ichigo knocked on the door and was granted permission to enter, when he entered Ichigo saw Vimes sitting at his desk and speaking with another man, he wore similar armour to Vimes but had a Lieutenant's badge on his left breast.
"You back, well, what did you learn from the traitors at Lost Point?" Vimes asked.
"They're a mix of Theramore Deserters and Kul Tiras soldiers." Ichigo said, that had taken Vimes slightly by surprise, he knew that there were a few of his men that had deserted after the Theramore Incident nearly three and a half years ago, but he would have thought they simply deserted and left for greener pastures.
"How many of them are there?" asked the stranger, Ichigo turned to him and didn't respond immediately, the man caught on and said "My apologies, my name is Lieutenant Caldwell."
"Ichigo Kurosaki." Replied the substitute; taking in the Lieutenants slightly puzzled expressions.
"A unique name, aside from that, how many of them were there?" Caldwell inquired.
"About two dozen; took out about half and left the commander in charge in a puddle of his own piss." Ichigo said; that surprised Caldwell at the vigour and anger in Ichigo's tone and the way his scowl deepened, he may appear young but he was a fighter. "Reethe wasn't there however, said he departed from them after he suggested they raid an ogre compound up north."
"That must be the Stonemaul Camp; it's an ally of the Horde, why would he try to attack them for?" Caldwell asked.
"Reethe thinks that the Horde is planning an invasion of the area, says they needed to attack the ogre camp before it was too late." Ichigo said.
"Can we confirm what he was told was true or not?" asked Vimes.
"No idea, the guy didn't believe Reethe, says he was crazy and eventually they threw him into the swamps, he could still be out there, trying to survive." Ichigo said.
Vimes was quiet for a moment, he was thinking this through very thoroughly, he needed to find out where that damn traitor was, he had information that was vital, he may know who the attackers were and also might have information on their current movements. He would need to send someone to deal with the deserters and also look for Reethe, he had two candidates before him, but to bring back the deserters would take some effort and to find one man wouldn't be too hard for a small group.
"Alright, I have an assignment for both of you" Vimes said, looking between Ichigo and Captain Caldwell. "Caldwell, I want you to go to Lost Point and deal with them, bring them back here alive if you can, if not just anyone who surrenders."
The Lieutenant nodded in confirmation of the order.
"Ichigo, I want you to locate Reethe, go through the marshes, it's not so big that you can't find one man in it, he would likely keep himself away from the southern marshes and also the western area, to dangerous, so he would be somewhere in the Quagmire." Vimes addressed Ichigo, to which the substitute nodded in confirmation "Do you need assistance?"
"No, I can deal with one man in the middle of a bog." Ichigo said, to which the Captain nodded to in understanding, he knew the boy was tough as nails, he wouldn't mind having the kid in his guard or at least in the marines, he would a damn good asset for Theramore.
"Alright, get ready to leave tomorrow, Caldwell send me a report of the people you wish to accompany you, and make sure that they are trustworthy." Vimes ordered, to which the Lieutenant nodded and then took his leave, passing Ichigo without a word and exiting the office, as he closed the door and his footsteps took him away from the office the substitute spoke up.
"Can we trust him?" Ichigo inquired, there was a risk that there were traitors in Theramore, how many is not known and taking a risk that he or one of his men may be a traitor was not something that could be taken lightly.
"I've known the man for years, he's devoted to Theramore, and I trust him." Vimes said, his voice not wavering in the slightest that the man he is trusting could be a traitor.
"He was the one who I talked to when I first came here; I talk to him about the attack." Adelina said.
"Yes I know, he sent the report and when it was brought to my desk I found it in the morning." Vimes replied.
"But I talked to him at night." Adelina stated.
"Yes, he said that, told me that he sent a soldier to deliver it, said the idiot must not have understood the urgency and didn't bring it to my attention quick enough." Vimes replied bitterly.
"Nice excuse" Ichigo said, sarcasm lacing his words, which irritated the aging captain.
"I don't expect you to trust him, you are likely the only person I can rely on here, and that is why I am sending you after Reethe." Vimes said, relenting to the boy in a subtle way, after all he may see Caldwell as a friend and fellow soldier, the risk for any one of his men being a traitor or supporter was too risky for them being sent after Paval Reethe. "Now go, get some rest, the swamps aren't going to be disappearing anytime soon, but let’s hope the rain does before you leave."
Ichigo nodded and left with Adelina, they exited the Captains office and then the Barracks, the rain still pouring hard. Quickly dashing through the small curtain of water in front of the exit both Ichigo and Adelina dashed towards the Inn, looking to get some food and sleep in a warm hearth. They had been working hard the last few days, going through the swamps and fighting against deserters and wildlife, they needed some hot meals and rest in a warm and cosy bed.
Walking into the Inn they saw many patrons drinking and laughing, not a single person likely knew what had happened at Shady Rest, no one knew that everyone there was dead and the town was burnt to nothing but cinders. Maybe it was better that way, the less they knew the better off their lives would be. Ichigo had seen what happened to James Hyal, although these people may not have family there or seen them killed; the trauma in on itself would still be too great for these people to deal with. Finding an empty table the Shinigami and Druid took their seats and waited, they've had a long day and needed rest and sustenance and it was likely going to be a while before they got any rest before they had they had found Reethe and discovered who the traitors are within the guard.
"I wonder how long this is going to go on for." Said Adelina. Looking around at all the patrons who were blissfully unaware of the carnage and destruction that had committed outside the walls of their fair city. The only thing they had seen was Ichigo dispatch that Assassin and that was covered up as an explosion when an Alchemist accidently mixed one concoction with another. How they were able to explain that an explosion occurred on the second floor of the Inn was beyond him, but somehow they did it.
"Yeah, these people don't know a thing about what is going on." Ichigo responded, looking at a group of dock workers cheering and smashing their mugs together, completely unaware of what was going on. "But, maybe it’s better this way, keep them in the dark until the danger has passed, that way they can grieve and not have to fear that it will happen here."
"Yeah, I would like to forget what happened." Adelina murmured, her head drooping forward, hiding her pained expression as she thought about the town, Ichigo slid a little closer and put his hand on her shoulder and tried to comfort his friend.
"Hey, look at me" Adelina looked into Ichigo's kind brown eyes and saw a small smile on his face. "Don't worry, everything is going to be alright, we're going to find Reethe and make both the people who attack Shady Rest pay and the people who let it as well."
Adelina looked into his eyes for a few moments longer, the determination and kindness in them making the burden on her heart lighten as she gazed deeper, she could feel her worries and grief over the incident evaporate and she could only smile back. Before the moment could continue however someone came over and knocked into their table, looking up they saw the barmaid with the eye patch looking down at them, a neutral expression on her face as she gazed at them for a moment.
“Oh hello Lillian, are you well?” Adelina asked with a smile.
“Pretty good.” Lillian replied, looking at Ichigo. “You’re that kid we helped up into the room a few days back.
“Yeah, thanks for that.” Ichigo said bowing his head in thanks.
"No problem, anyway…" she stated off, looking at Adelina. “Seeing as your boyfriend here is alive and kicking, I guess you can relieve those urges of yours on his well-toned body rather than going to the barracks and asking the guard to do it for you, huh?"
A few nearby patrons halted and looked on in shock at the words that left the bar maiden's mouth. One of them was actually a guard and was both shocked and dejected, thinking how he fucking missed that lass when she was going through the barracks and looking for company. But he wasn't the only one, while some of his friend did spit-takes or choked on their liquor, many other patrons halted their conversations to look at the boy and the girl he had under his wing and likely from what Lillian had said, under his sheets.
But the biggest reactions came from both Ichigo and Adelina, the former sporting the most shocked expression he had ever shown in his entire life and was as red as a tomato, while the latter had her head lowered and trying to hide her glowing blush. There was a silence for a while, no one speaking as they simply gazed at the boy, who they now viewed as fucking hero for catching that kind of fish and also a young and likely unabated one at that, it was at this moment that Lillian decided to ask another question.
"So, what can I get for you this evening?" she said, a smirk on her face at the expression on the face of the young man before her.
Barracks, Caldwell's Office
Caldwell was sitting in his chair leaning on his desk, his hand on his face and rubbing his forehead and eyes, the other was clenched on the table and supporting him up, he was in a situation he didn't account for. He had hoped that he could have rectified this situation before it got this far, now he had no choice but to take actions personally, the boy was on the way to discovering where Reethe is and also learning about him and all his men's involvements in this conspiracy. He slammed his fist into the table, it wasn't supposed to happen like this, Hallan should have killed that girl the morning after she came here and that assassin should have killed that boy, he was just lucky that the bastard impaled himself on his own poisoned daggers, saved him the trouble of doing it himself.
Now he was being sent out to retrieve some prisoners, he had expected that Vimes would have sent him also to find Reethe, but no he sends that boy out to do the job he was meant to do, damn it, the boy was becoming a nuisance. He had survived the attack, brought back information that even he was not fully privy to and made it aware that there were traitors within the guard, although he was doing a service by allowing the attacks on the Horde caravans, he knew that he should have seen about regulating the attacks. To many and it draws attention, and now the town was gone, the guard was under investigation for link to Kul Tiras and also the only loose end out there was being searched for by one of the people that wasn't supposed to be alive.
"Hallan" said Caldwell, coming through the door was his most trusted soldier, he had her do all the tasks that he needed done, and on one occasion the most crucial one that he had ever asked her to perform, she had failed. "Gather the men, we are going after the boy when he is looking for Reethe, we kill them all, no survivors."
"Sir, I can deal with them, the boy is an upstart; he won't be any difficulty." Said Hallan
"You said the same about that damn elf girl, and look, she is still alive" growled Caldwell, glaring at his private, who remained composed and only tensed visibly to show that his words had the desired effect of making her nervous. "You're lucky you're not someone else, I would have had them removed for their incompetence for not being able to do a simple job."
No, he wouldn't allow this to slip through his fingers, he would need all the help he could get to deal with these two nuisances; and he had just the plan to do it, and he would need a lot of men to make sure it went smoothly, he could easily make it so. A few words to the Captain and he would agree, and once he was outside the walls he would track the boy and then, once he found Reethe he would kill them all and then go on with his little mission and then report back. Any delay could be said that the enemy was putting up a fight, or that the path they took forced them to a halt for a time, or that they had to question the Kul Tiras prisoners to learn if there were more camps nearby.
But first he would need to deal with those two children, and once they were dead all that was left was to make sure no one found out who was responsible, a few indiscrete movements here and there and they could find a scapegoat and then they were free and clear.
"Get the men together; tell them they were going to end this threat once and for all." Said Caldwell, to which the Private saluted and retreated from the room to tell the rest of the men that they were going to be killing off three birds with twenty swords.
Theramore, Morning
Ichigo and Adelina were moving along the road through the marshes, moving towards the central swamps in the middle of Dustwallow Marsh, but they were not alone with them was a large escort of over twenty knights. They were part of Caldwell's contingent to capture the deserters at Lost Point; along with them was a large wooden and steel paddy wagon to hold the prisoners while they were transported back to Theramore. As much as this was an impressive and awe inspiring force, Ichigo and Adelina's minds were elsewhere at the moment, they were currently trying to get the events of last night debauched outburst from Lillian that had caused them untold grief.
Adelina made it very clear to Ichigo that she liked him as a friend and although she thought his muscles were attractive and quite tantalising, the words alone aren't what gave him pause but the thousand miles she had when she said them. And Ichigo made it known that he didn't have any interest in having any relations with her other than being her friend, which he said would be the only think they become over his stay on this world. But even as they cleared up this little problem, they still had some tension between them, although what kind of tension was not fully discussed upon, mainly because neither wanted to admit anything or make any more insinuations.
For the most part they agreed that until everything mellowed out a bit they would try to refrain from speaking with one another about more intimate matters about themselves, the tension was still high and the last thing they wanted to do was add to it by a few misplaced words. Ichigo motioned his horse forward with a light tap on its sides, moving off the stone paved path and into the swamps, meanwhile moving out from behind them were a group of twenty warriors, they continued on the path and moved northwards, towards North Point Tower. As both Ichigo and Adelina moved into the swamps they didn't realise that the people who they were accompanying up until now, were out for their blood and intent on collecting it when they found their quarry.
Caldwell looked at the two as they retreated into the thick confines of the marshes, it wouldn't be hard to pick up their trail once they started following after them, all they had to do was put the horses and wagon somewhere and follow them by foot. Then once they found them with Reethe they would surround them and attack, it wouldn't be took hard to deal with a coward, a girl and that damn boy, but still if he was able to take out ten men, then he was a very dangerous threat.
"Keep moving, once we pass North Point we go after them." Said Cladwell
"Why didn't we kill them here and then dump the bodies?" asked a soldier.
"Because doing it here would draw attention, there are guard along this road, they see us killing them or even discover the bodies we are the first suspects." Said Caldwell, he motioned his hand forward, he was done talking, he wanted to find that boy and have him killed before this got any more out of hand, and soon enough he would do that along with the traitor Reethes.
Chapter 14	Chapter 16