Chapter 113 King Brahmi (1/2)

”Okay... I did not see this coming.” The door opened up to the most luxurious room Nix had ever seen. Silk covered walks, exotic furs lining the gold tile floors; sofas, chairs, and cushions of all shapes and sizes were set up throughout the room. The smell of lilac and rose petals tickled pleasantly at his senses.

Slowly they stood, women of all shapes, sizes, and colors. Each seemingly more beautiful than the next. A particularly lovely blonde threw herself at Chiba.

”Aunty Chiba!” She was wrapped in red silk and had white flowers braided into her hair. She hugged the swordmaster tight. ”I was so worried about you.”

/Inferno: Pon: Nope... not buying it.

/Inferno: Wind: Completely impossible.

/Inferno: Chael: No way they are related.

Nix didn't bother to count, there were a lot of them. ”Explain please.”

Chiba turned to face him, pulling the blonde with her. ”This is Mari, my sister's child, you probably already guessed. The resemblance is uncanny.”

”I'll let that go for a bit. Why am I here?” Nix knew there were at least a dozen guards dead, and the Southern Wing of the palace was in flames.

Chiba frowned, the expression making her look even more like an old man. ”It's Brahmi. You had to guess he wouldn't be happy with losing a country right?”

Nix sighed heavily, ”war?”

Chiba shook her head. ”Nothing so grand or honorable. His army has been dismantled. A smaller and more reasonable 'governor's mansion is being constructed away from the capital.”

Pon whistled softly, ”it's like they are pushing him to do something rash.”

Chiba nodded, giving Pon a wink. ”This Palace was to belong to one of the new Princes of the Central Kingdom.”

”So Brahmi has decided to torch it?” Nix shrugged, ”I don't care if he burns this place. Let's get them out and head home.”

Chiba's old eye's glittered dangerously, though her face was remarkably calm. ”He has ordered that his harem stay.”

[Whisper: Nix to Chiba] Why is your niece part of the King's Harem?

[Whisper: Chiba to Nix] Sadly, she has my looks, but not my skills or brains.

[Whisper: Nix to Chiba] So this was the answer? An old man's plaything?

[Whisper: Chiba to Nix] Relax. Who knew you were so uptight? The old fool leans in a different direction. Every one of these girls are virgins.

Nix smiled at Chiba's Niece, ”We'll do this the hard way then.”

”Forget about fighting apprentice. My backup isn't here, and you four aren't good enough.”

Chael had been trying not to stare at the women, it was definitely a losing battle. ”We aren't? Who's your backup?”

/Inferno: Nix: Why did you ask that?

Chiba smiled and leaned closer. ”His name is Baiter... Have you seen him?”

Mari laughed, but quickly covered it up with a hand.

/Inferno: Nix: Shit... I think they are related.

Nix closed the door and glanced around the room. ”We are on the second floor?”

Mari nodded, ”the door you came in is the only entrance.”

”What about porting out?” Nix frowned when Chiba immediately shook her head.

”Brahmi has a safeguard against thieves, you can't port out from anywhere on the grounds.”

Pon pulled some of the silk coverings off the walls, the walls behind it were made from stone. ”This place is just a pretty prison Nix.”

Chiba nodded in agreement. ”Normally they aren't confined to this room. Even though the army has been dismantled, he still has a few hundred of his Palace Guards.”

/Inferno: Nix: Pull all that silk off the wall. Let's make sure we aren't missing something.

The four of them began pulling the silk off the walls while Chiba talked quietly with Mari.

”Over here Nix.” Chael called from the far side of the room.

Nix stowed the huge pile of silks into his inventory, no use letting them go to waste. ”What did you find?”

Chael slid a wall panel open. ”Dumbwaiter.”

”That leads to the kitchen, its way to small for a person.” Mari had followed him, her voice sounded right behind his ear.

Nix didn't answer, he slammed both fists into the wood paneling and started tearing large pieces out. In a few moments, he had opened it up from the floor to the ceiling. He had broke the platform also, the only part left were the two ropes that made up the pulley system. ”Should be large enough now. One of us at the top, the other at the bottom.”

”Me! I have the most experience with this sort of thing.” The old mage was sliding down the rope before anyone could react.

/Inferno: Chael: Did Pon volunteer?