Chapter 781: Ashlynn’s Next Target
If anyone else had said what Thane just had about capturing the minds of a young lord and his escort and forcing them to march all the way to the Vale to be captured, there might have been some argument. After all, sorcery powerful enough to ensnare the mind of even one or two people was taxing enough that few sorcerers could maintain it for more than a few minutes.
But nearly everyone present had also been present when Thane demonstrated his ability to command Savis, and the memory of the lupine vampire all but whimpering as Thane commanded him to ’heel’ was enough to convince everyone present that Nyrielle’s greatest progeny really could accomplish this feat as effortlessly as he made it sound.
"None that would be affected by what you do tonight," Ashlynn said after a moment of thought. "Thank you, Thane," she said with a warm smile. "I know it isn’t easy to do things this way, but the fewer people who lose their lives in this, the easier it will be to bring the march to heel when this war ends."
"I know," Thane said, smiling in pride as his ’little sister’ worked through her plans. After hearing the news of her sister’s treachery, he’d been worried that she’d lose focus on their larger goals in her haste to resolve matters with Jocelynn and Owain Lothian, but it seemed like he’d been worried for nothing.
"In that case, Marcel, I’ll have another task for you," Ashlynn said. "But the timing won’t be as critical. I just need you to obtain a few things for me that may be hard to find in winter."
"The whole of my little business empire is at your disposal," Marcel said, bowing in his chair with a flourish as he placed his hand over his heart. "If it can be found in the Kingdom of Gaal or even the hidden villages in Lothian, I’ll find whatever it is that you require."
"Thank you Marcel," Ashlynn said before she turned to face the first of the commanders whose support she needed this evening. "Commander Savis," she said, addressing the white-furred vampire who commanded the Second Army of elite forces. "I need to borrow Captain Ipiktok and his men, along with twenty men from your Black Wolf Brigade," Ashlynn said as she glanced briefly at Ollie and Virve.
"My men are yours to command," Savis said, smiling widely enough to reveal his elongated fangs. "But if it’s Ipiktok’s Tuscans and the Black Wolf Brigade, you won’t be taking many prisoners. The Black Wolves are trained for slaughter and the Tuscans aren’t exactly... subtle in their methods."
"I know," Ashlynn said, meeting the Golden Eyed vampire’s challenging gaze directly. Wherever she could, she was working hard to minimize casualties but for this plan, casualties were not only unavoidable, they were a necessary component of her plan. "Commander Bassinger, I’d like two dozen of your men as well, placed under the command of Constable Daithi," Ashlynn said as she glanced at Ollie.
"Daithi proved himself well, Ollie," Ashlynn said proudly as her expression briefly softened. "For this attack, I intend to slaughter soldiers but we can take servants captive and I think having the good constable with us will help to put their minds at ease, at least enough to prevent anyone from escaping that we don’t want to get away."
"We even have a friend to rescue along the way," she added. "And our debt to Mister Otis for his help is long overdue."
"Otis?" Ollie said, blinking in surprise at the name he hadn’t heard in more than half a year. "You intend to attack the Summer Villa," he realized as he thought about the cook who had set the kitchens on fire to cover for their escape after Ashlynn killed Sir Kaefin for attempting to force himself on her.