In a secret cellar accessed through the kitchen of a quaint restaurant, the ringleaders of the rebels were holding a cheerful meeting. Ten days had passed since the young master of the Baena family was attacked, and the number of orcs in the city was now almost negligible.
The most surprising news was that the three noble families had fired the orcs protecting their mansions and serving them, without hiring anyone in their place. What luck this was; one of their main targets was left completely defenseless.
While the anti-orc campaign continued in the city, City Lord Marcos's announcement that he would address the public two moon cycles later gave the traitors the date of the expected time. Only a few people remained by the young man's side, but they had many supporters within the city guards.
While all this was happening, orcs were not idle either. While some of the warriors coming to the camp outside the city were leaving, others were returning through the tunnels. The orcs hiding in the shelters did not consist entirely of those leaving the city; among them were also Çekiçdöven's soldiers who had besieged for months and dug tunnels day and night.
"My heroic captains, pillars of my army, the day we have been waiting for, like the miserable humans, has finally arrived. If they have plans, we have unbendable wrists and unbreakable weapons!"
Alyon was very harsh while speaking; he was like a child thinking let morning come so I can wear my holiday outfit. While looking at his subordinates, his eyes were shining, but he turned to Nafız beside him for her to continue.
"Our purification operation will start in two days, gentlemen. Listen to me well; I will tell you all your duties!"
When their commander spoke, they all set about listening with rapt attention.
"As you know, the members of the noble families are being hosted in our tribe in the Arid Region. I suspect the rebels, thinking they still live in their mansions, will target these places! One of you will wait for the comers in each mansion; I guess you will host them as required!"
The faces of the commanders smiled; this time there was no need to hold back. They would prune whatever their eyes saw, but the question was who would stay in which mansion.
"Vahşiduvar will be in the Cervantes house, Sangre in the Agustus house, and Chief Alyon in the Parthenia house!"
With the last name mentioned, excited facial expressions gave way to astonishment. Nafız chuckled and continued speaking to answer the question in minds.
"Our goal is to unite the Orc Steppes, and when this happens, the person who will rule the continent will come from Alyon's lineage. For what will happen in the city two moon cycles later not to leave a stain on future days, your chief must not appear around!
Kuyag, you will continue observing; I want you to be in the crowd while Marcos addresses the public!"
When Nafız clarified the subject, everyone's mind cleared; since all the blame would remain on her anyway, it was most logical for events to continue this way.
"I, Asiyürek, and Kübey will stand by the Lord as his bodyguards. I am very curious about what our new captain will do, especially when the time comes to prove his mettle!"
After the Blood God's words concluding by turning to him, there was not the slightest uneasiness in Asiyürek's gaze. He was also looking forward to this day; he had to show that he was no longer the old timid man.
"Let them enjoy these last two days, let them speak freely about orcs here and there; let's see what they can do after I say my last word!"
The orc council dispersed, and when the darkness of the night fell, those assigned duties took their places and started waiting. Çekiçdöven was also returning to the head of his army; the order he received was completely different. In case of any mishap, he would enter the city with his army and kill until no one breathing remained.
Finally, the sun sent its rays onto Parthenia for the rebels' liberation day. While the public slowly gathered in the city square, the rebels preferred to wear long items to hide their weapons. When Marcos arrived at the stage set up in front of the monument he had erected in the name of radical changes made, his three bodyguards dressed in black from head to toe with their faces invisible were waiting behind him.
This time everything was different; while the City Lord spoke, members of the three noble families were not by his side to listen to him. Only high-level city guards were on the stage, and what a coincidence that they were all in cooperation with the rebel traitors.
While these were happening in the square, the mansions of the three noble families were being blockaded by hundreds of people. These people were members of smaller families and were burning with the dream of the riches they would find inside. All eyes turned to the signal to be given; after that, they would have the right to do looting, rape, murder, all of it.
"My dear fellow citizens of Parthenia! Dark clouds are hovering over our city; as far as I understand, you are in unrest. I was as sad as you about what happened to the young master of the Baena family, and all my guards are searching for the criminals day and night!"
"The criminals have already fled the city, sir; you helped them leave with your own hands!"
Marcos had just started his speech when, as soon as he finished his first words, provocateurs in the crowd got to work.
"Please do not believe these rumors. The presence of orcs here was a requirement of a process; after receiving their help in the defense of the city, they left when the time came!"
The crowd was grumbling; these words were not enough to satisfy them; the seeds of discord sown among them were about to sprout.
"Cut it out; who do you think you are fooling? Everyone knows who brought you there; you came to power thanks to that killer female orc!"
Although no one saw it, Nafız was grinning from ear to ear after the words. As expected, the atmosphere was getting tenser moment by moment.
"Under Lord Astute's administration, you were all treated as worthless beings; don't you notice the changes in your lives at all? Doesn't any of you see that our city has developed since the day I became Lord?"
Marcos lashed out; while spending his day and night for the good of the public, how could they believe the words of people who oppressed them in the past and stand against him?
"Don't tell us fairy tales, kid; everyone knows how you sold the city to orcs. Creatures we wouldn't let lick our feet yesterday are wandering our streets arrogantly today!"
The crowd, whose mood changed after the City Lord's words, was being manipulated again by men hired by traitors.
"My commanders, how can you sit comfortably like this after what was said to your lord? Catch those troublemakers quickly!"
The Young Lord turned to the soldiers under his command and ordered, but it seemed his request wasn't taken much into account. The command echelon of the city guards, not breaking their composure where they sat, looked at him blankly until their leader stood up.
"Our Lord? Who do you think you are? We had a lord, and you ambushed and killed him together with orcs in the arena!"
Movements started among the gathered mass of people, and rebels infiltrated among the guards were also taking action.
These people had deceived other commanders not on their side with the excuse of a meeting and locked them in a dungeon. They hadn't killed them because they had a better idea in mind. When everything was over, they would execute them all in this square.
"Commander, know your place! Did you forget the penalty for disobeying orders?"
The leader of the city guards answered the directed threat by laughing heartily.
"How could I not know, puppet Lord? If you don't believe, you will learn when I apply it on you in a moment."
"Today is the day; attack, my lions!"
When the commander of the rebel traitors gave his order, a big bomb was ignited in the heart of the city. There was no turning back; the struggle wouldn't end unless one of the two sides was destroyed.