Jane, Defender of Decura Chapter 26

A Plan is Forged

At the end of one of Bhaldural's tunnels opposite to the citadel, sat a small, rundown home-built into the rocky wall. At first glance, the woman who lives in the home appears to be nothing more than an old hag who has given up on social interaction. However, if you could withstand the smell and give her dirty house a more thorough search, you'd discover the wall behind the wardrobe has a staircase that leads much deeper into the mountain.

This long, spiraling staircase has remained hidden from both the emperor and his Oathbound for years. This was fortunate for the resistance, as the stairs led to their secret headquarters. It was here that they slowly armed the populous for their failed rebellion three days ago.

Today, the large underground warehouse is a lot less populated due to most of the dwarven rebels choosing to be arrested and sent to the mines rather than be fed to the colossal serpent. The few members who weren't present during the rebellion due to either injury or sickness had gathered at a large table to discuss their next move.

"Leaving the city is our only remaining option" said one of the dwarfs while resting his head on the table.

"Don't be such a moron" growled a second dwarf while being careful not to slam his bandaged hand on the table. "We can't abandon our home and leave our fellow citizens to suffer under Vanrig's rule."

"While I agree with you, I can't picture a scenario where our meager forces overcome Vanrig's Oathbound" sighed a third dwarf while scratching her ear. "Or that beast..."

"It's hopeless..." grumbled the first dwarf. "Where did that bastard even get such a monster?"

"What does it matter?" asked the second dwarf before looking at the human woman sitting at the end of the table. "There is still the secret passage. We can use it to sneak right past the beast. Isn't that right lady Scarlet?"

"Y-you are c-correct" mumbled Scarlet while fiddling with her long dark red hair. "The t-tunnel leads f-from outside the mountain right i-into the citadel..." Tears began to fall from the timid woman's eyes. "V-Vanrig has no idea I u-used it to e-escape, so it s-should still be l-lightly guarded..."

"How did you even find such a path in the first place?" asked the third dwarf. Scarlet tried to answer, but could barely speak a word through her weeping.

"It's alright dear" assured the second dwarf while smiling warmly. "You don't have to say anymore. You're free to go lay down if you'd like." Scarlet nodded and excused herself from the room.

"I cannot imagine what she must have gone through" said the first dwarf while shaking his head. "Being one of Vanrig's concubines must have been horrifying." All four dwarves shuttered at the thought of Vanrig's nightly escapades.

After removing the dark thoughts from his mind by giving his head a few rough thumps, the second dwarf pulled out a book from his robe. "Let's get back to the topic at hand" he said. "How many people can we muster for our plan?"

"A handful at best..." The first dwarf sighed. "Despite a lot of the city guard being just as eager to depose Vanrig, I doubt any of them will join us again after seeing that giant monster..."

The third dwarf leaning back in her chair. "I think Erik was the only one who escaped capture that day and lord knows where he is now..." she mumbled.

"He probably fled the city right after telling us what happened at the citadel" scoffed the fourth dwarf. "It would be easy for him. Erik was always good at sneaking around."

"Too true" chuckled a familiar voice, causing everyone at the table to quickly turn toward the staircase and spot Erik holding a large sack of gold coins while baring a smug smile on face. "Getting back into the city was a simple task for me."

"Erik... How good to see you" grumbled the fourth dwarf. "Please have a seat. We were just about to-"

"Flee the city?" interrupted Erik with a smirk. "It does seem like the best option. Even with our knowledge of the secret passage, dethroning emperor Vanrig would be impossible with just the five of us. However, if we were to free all of our comrades from the mines... Our sympathizers within the city guard would be more than eager to switch sides."

"Well you've just about figured it all out I see" growled the first dwarf. "But tell us, how exactly do we free everyone in the mines? They're guarded by several hundred guards, most of whom have had their loyalty to the emperor solidified through bribing. Not to mention the likelihood of several dozen Oathbound showing up to ruin this rescue."

Erik crossed his arms. "Thanks for the lack of faith" he chuckled as a dwarf, a reyn and two humans, the female one towering over everyone else, descended the staircase. "Luckily, I've got some new friends."

"We're not your friends" growled Patti while staring daggers into the back of Erik's head. "If this plan of yours doesn't work, I'm breaking your arm."

Patti's tense shoulders quickly relaxed when she felt William's hand rest on one of them. "Don't worry miss Patti" he said, causing Patti to close her eyes and smile. "I promise to do anything I can to help save Handaaf."

"I knew you'd say that" mumbled Patti while reaching to grab William's hand. "Thank you so much."

However, the second before Patti's hand reached William's, the old knight let go of her shoulder and turned to Jane and Nate. "Miss Jane... May I make a request?" he asked as Patti clenched her fist, disappointed at herself for missing a golden opportunity.

"S-sure Will" answered Jane. "What is it?"

William hesitated for a moment before bowing his head. "Please remain here where it is safe" he said, causing Jane to tilt her head slightly. "I haven't forgotten the promise I made to you miss Jane. I will protect you with my life, just as Albert did." William looked back up at Jane and put his hand on her shoulder. "However, while Erik's 'plan' is doable, it'll be far to dangerous for you and Nate. Please stay here, away from the fighting."

Nate went to protest but stopped when Jane brushed William's hand away. "Will..." she mumbled as her expression shifted to a more serious one. "I'm going and there isn't a damn thing you can say or do to stop me. You want me to sit here and do nothing while my friends go risk their lives? Like hell I can do that."

"Exactly" said Nate after crossing his arms. "Couldn't have said it better myself."

"But miss Jane, I really don't thi-" William didn't reach to end of his sentence as Jane raised her hand.

"Unless your next words are 'Thank you Jane. We're lucky to have you along!' I don't want to hear it" she said before flexing to show off one of her biceps. "Your training has really paid off. I don't think I've ever been this fit."

While it was true that Jane had gained a little muscle over the past two weeks, it was far from anything impressive. Were it not for her imposing eight feet height, Jane would probably just look like an ordinary nineteen year old who consistently exercised.

A big smirk appeared on Nate's face as he pinched Jane's stomach, managing to grab a little body fat. "Not bad" he chuckled seconds before Jane pinched his tail so tight he dropped to one knee.

William let out sigh, he knew trying to dissuade Jane was a pointless endeavor once she had made up her mind. "Very well miss Jane" he grumbled while rubbing his forehead. "We're lucky to have you along."

Jane gave William a smile, distracting her just long enough for Nate to free himself and give the tall girl a swift kick in the butt before quickly diving behind some crates.

As Jane started to stomp toward the crates, Patti gave William a concerned look. "Are you sure it's ok to let them help? she asked William.

"Having Jane's strength would be a significant help" noted William before shrugging. "Besides, I really doubt we could say or do anything to stop her." A smile appeared on William's face. "She's a brave one. For somebody with barely any battle experience, she didn't hesitate to leap in and save me from that golem. Without her, I would probably be dead."

Realizing he had someone else to thank, William turned back to Patti. "The same to you miss Patti" he said while holding his huge maul. "This weapon is incredible. Are you sure I can keep it? I thought you said you were saving it for the man you loved."

Patti struggled not to give William's thick head a thump and turned away. "Yes you can keep it!" she barked as her face's complexion started to match her red curly hair.

A little perplexed at Patti's tone, William turned back to see Jane effortlessly toss aside the entire pile of crates to get to Nate. "It's Nate I'm more worried about" he mumbled.

Having finished explaining the plan to his fellow resistance members, Erik walked over to William and Patti. "Is everyone ready?" he asked.

"I'm still not too sure about this" groaned Patti. "Are you sure getting arrested is the best course of action? What if they don't take us to the mines? What if your friends in the city guard don't help? What if you can't free everyone?"

"I got it all planned out" assured Erik. "I was leading the protest the other day so the bribed guards will be more than eager to throw me down there. Also, what do you mean by 'us' exactly?"

Patti crossed her arms. "Well I'm going too of course" she said. "I have to make sure my uncle is alright."

"I only need your two human friends lady" said Erik. "You and the reyn boy will only get in the way down there."

"I heard that!" growled Nate while on the receiving end of Jane's noogie. "There's no way I'm letting Jane go down there without me!"

"Thank you Nate" Jane said calmly before putting him in a choke hold. "I really appreciate it."

"And I'm not letting William go down there alone either" assured Patti after putting her hands on her hips. "You'll need all the help you can get in those mines."

"You're correct" said William before putting his hand on Patti's shoulder. "And you can be the most help back in your uncle's workshop, doing what you do best."

Before Patti could protest, William looked down at his maul. "Whenever your uncle would come work for the Pennynook guild, he couldn't go five minutes without talking about his amazingly talented niece" he said while rotating the weapon in his hands. "After using this in battle, I would be a fool not to agree. This weapon alone is better than almost anything the blacksmiths in Etin city could craft. It's very well-balanced."

"Well I did practice a lot while I was growing up..." mumbled a blushing Patti while rubbing her arm. "Do you want me to make you something?"

William smiled and nodded. "Absolutely" he cheered. "All of us could use better equipment for the long journey we have planned."

"Oh oh oh!" Jane suddenly darted over while still keeping Nate in her hold. "Do I get something?" she asked with a big smile while jumping up and down. "I'd love a really oversized weapon like most anime characters!"

"Anime?" asked the entire room while giving each other confused looks.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

An hour later, Jane and her friends had returned to Handaaf's house with Erik to enjoy a meal before beginning Erik's master plan.

"Alright, everyone all clear on the plan?" Erik asked. "We just have to get ourselves arrested and sent to the mines. Once there, the guard captain will await nightfall and 'accidentally' hand us our weapons before letting us out. Then we start the biggest escape in history."

"Won't the other guards try to stop us?" asked Nate.

"Some will sure" said Erik. "But the guard captain has assured me that almost all the men under his command support the resistance and will aid us once the fight starts. There are a few Oathbound and other soldiers loyal to the emperor but they shouldn't pose much of a threat if the entire mine and half of its guards turn on them."

"What about enemy reinforcements?" asked William.

"So long as we're quick, we should be able to either take over or at the very least, escape the mine before they get there" answered Erik with a grin before standing and heading toward the front door. "Now, let's go cause some trouble."

Patti sighed and stared down at the table. "I wish I was going too" she mumbled.

Suddenly Patti felt a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry Patti" said Jane with a calming tone. "We're going to get your uncle back, I promise."

"Thank you Jane" said Patti after wiping a tear away. "I promise to repay your kindness tenfold. Perhaps you'd like an axe? Or perhaps a maul like the one in William's hands?"

"I'll think up something before we get back" answered Jane while excitingly bobbing up and down.

"You don't have to make me anything" assured Nate while holding out his bow. "This is all I need."

"I doubt you'll need any new equipment" said Patti before smirking. "All you did against those golems was run around screaming."

Nate growled and almost reached for an arrow before being carried out the front door by Jane.

"Thank you for the food miss Patti" said William after standing. "I'll be right back with Handaaf."

Patti nodded as William headed toward the front door. However, the second he reached it, William stopped and turned back toward Patti. Noticing this, Jane motioned Nate to watch and the two peeked into the room.

"Before I go, there's something I need to do" said William before slowly walking toward Patti. "I'd be a fool not to do this." Surprised, a red-faced Patti shot out of her seat as William continued to get closer and closer.

"Oh my gosh Nate, oh my gosh" Jane giggled while tapping Nate's arm. "It's happening, it's happening."

"About time" whispered Nate with an approving smile.

When William got within arm's length, Patti's heart raced faster than ever before. Excited her patience had finally paid off, Patti closed her eyes and puckered her lips as William leaned toward her. "Oh William..." she thought. "I love you."

However much to Jane and Nate's shock, William simply reached past Patti and grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl. "One for the road, just incase they don't feed us down there" he said before taking a bite out of the apple and headed back toward the door.

Realizing she wasn't getting a kiss, Patti clenched her teeth before grabbing her uncle's spare cane hanging on one of the chairs. Before William had a chance to react, Patti began to continuously slammed the cane down on the back of his head, forcing the old warrior to flee out the door.

"You're such a jerk!" Patti screamed before slamming the door. "Come back with my uncle or don't come back at all!"

"What was that all about?" William asked while rubbing the back of his now lumpy head.

Jane was too dumbfounded to answer while Nate simply buried his face in his palm.

TO BE CONTINUED....