Fallout:Blood and the Bull

Any opinion and comments are welcome

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As soon as we crossed the castle walls, I gave the order to gather all available men. The garrison mobilized quickly, with soldiers taking positions along the walls and in the inner courtyard. From there, we observed the group of elves gathered outside our defenses. They were numerous, almost equal to us in number. A sight that, while concerning, was not entirely unexpected.

We had what they wanted, and that was clear. Their attention was not on our defenses or the movements of our men. Their focus was entirely on the captured elven woman. Even bound and gagged, her presence seemed to radiate an importance that kept them here, on the brink of a decision that could cost us dearly.

That was the real issue. She was both our advantage and our threat. If she managed to escape or was freed, there was no guarantee that the elves would honor their word and retreat. They could use her release as a signal to attack anyway. But if we tried to interrogate her or harm her, it was equally likely that those outside would retaliate immediately.

From my position on the walls, I observed the enemy group. Although they showed no signs of impatience or overt aggression, it was evident they were ready to act. Their movements, though subtle, spoke of coordination that I could not ignore. These were not armed peasants or improvised mercenaries. Each of them knew exactly what they were doing, making them a dangerous threat.

I turned my gaze to the elven woman, surrounded by an escort of my men. She was seated, her hands and feet bound, with the gag still securely in place. Her eyes rose to meet mine, and once again, I felt that strange calm that seemed to emanate from her, as if she had no fear, as if she possessed a certainty I did not share.

The elven woman grew more intriguing with each passing moment. Her resistance to interrogation wasn't mere obstinacy but something deeper, something she clearly didn't want to reveal. Her persistent calm, even in the face of my sword and the tension of her capture, pushed me to a level of frustration I couldn't ignore.

That's why I decided to change tactics. The elven leader would be the weak point.

I ordered him to be brought into the castle. Through a controlled exchange, he was escorted inside the walls under strict watch. When he finally stood in the courtyard before me, I saw that his demeanor had not changed. His calm matched that of the woman, but I knew the weight of the situation was affecting him—especially with her there, tied up and guarded, at the center of everything.

"Welcome," I said with a smile devoid of warmth. "I assume you already understand how things work here. You talk, I listen. And if what you say convinces me, perhaps we can all walk away with something. If not, well… I don't need to remind you how this ends."

The elven leader looked at me with a mix of disdain and resignation. His silence was provocative, but I wouldn't let it derail my strategy.

"Let's call it simple curiosity," I continued, stepping closer. "Who is she, and why are you risking so much for her life?"

At first, he didn't respond. His eyes shifted to the woman, who remained silent, watching with that same unsettling calm. Finally, his gaze returned to me, and he spoke.

"She's more important than you can imagine," the elf finally said, his voice low and tense. "You wouldn't understand what's at stake, nor do I intend to explain it."

I smiled coolly, not breaking eye contact. "That's not a very convincing answer. You risked facing me, knowing you wouldn't win, all to protect her. I don't need to understand your reasons to know she's worth more than she seems. So I'll ask again: Who is she?"

The elf clenched his jaw, clearly torn between protecting his secrets and the reality of his situation. His eyes returned to the woman, who, though bound and gagged, maintained that expression of unshakable serenity that was beginning to unnerve me. There was no submission in her gaze, only a strange patience.

"She's someone you'd die for, if you knew what I know," he finally said, his tone more of a challenge than a response. "But I won't risk more words with you. What you do with the rest of my men is your business. With her… I can't negotiate."

I let out a dry laugh, crossing my arms. "Can't negotiate? Interesting choice of words for someone tied to my terms. Look around. You have no options. If you want her to live, if you want to leave here with her, you'll have to yield."

The elf tensed, his gaze now filled with a mix of fury and resignation. I could see he was calculating, weighing his options. He knew he was cornered, but he wouldn't surrender easily.

"What do you want?" he finally said, his voice dripping with venom.

"That depends on what you have to offer," I replied, leaning slightly toward him. "Because let me be clear: I'm willing to return her. But only if I find something that makes it worth my while."

"Well, first, what were you doing here?" I asked, letting my tone sound casual, as if the answer didn't matter much, though my eyes stayed sharp on every movement he made.

The leader raised his chin, as if clinging to a shred of dignity. "We're on a mission to seal dungeons. Their existence threatens to destabilize the entire kingdom, and it's our task to ensure those fissures don't spread."

"Interesting," I replied, letting my smile widen. "Well, I suppose for the trouble of saving this important female," I said, gesturing carelessly toward the bound woman, "I could charge a reward. You know, something fair for my time and effort, considering those orcs clearly would have finished you off if not for my intervention."

The elf glared at me but said nothing. I continued, enjoying the moment. "Of course," I added with a slight nod, "I'll ignore for now that I also killed some of your people. Pure coincidence, right? They were in the way."

"Reward?" the elf spat, his voice laced with barely contained rage. "You want gold? Relics? What could you desire to justify your barbarism?"

"Barbarism, barbarism," I repeated, savoring the word. "Call it what you like, but your 'important female' is still breathing because of me. Don't you think that deserves something in return?"

"What do I want?" I repeated, a smile that didn't reach my eyes. "It's not gold, nor trinkets, nor even information. It's something much more tangible. Whatever you found in that dungeon."

The elven leader clenched his jaw, his eyes hardening as he stared at me. "We found nothing that would interest you," he said, but his tone betrayed the lie. Something in his posture, the slight shift in his gaze, told me he was hiding something.

"Come now, don't underestimate me," I replied, stepping toward him. "I knew there was something in that dungeon before you arrived. I'm not some fool wandering ruins for fun. You found something, something important. And I want to see it."

"Do you think I'll just hand it over?" he retorted, his voice dripping with contempt. "You have no idea the danger it represents."

"What I think," I said, my tone growing colder, "is that you're in no position to negotiate. Look around. Your group is bound, defeated, and this 'important female' you're so desperate to protect depends on me to survive. So yes, you'll hand it over. Because the alternative won't be pleasant."

As the elf hesitated, I could see the conflict in his face. Finally, he exhaled a frustrated sigh and looked at me with a mixture of fury and resignation.

"Weapons of steel, iron armor, and books?" I repeated, feigning disinterest as I examined the elf. "What a mundane haul. I expected something more impressive from a dungeon."

The elf frowned, clearly irritated by my tone. I knew what I was doing—minimizing the value of their discovery so as not to reveal how much it truly interested me.

"Regardless," I continued, shrugging, "I'll take it. All of it. Weapons, armor, books—whatever you found. It's the least you can do after I intervened and saved this important female from being torn apart by orcs. Of course, we'll ignore the fact that some of your people also fell by my hand."

The elf clenched his jaw, his eyes burning with a mix of fury and resignation. "Those weapons don't belong to you. They were found to serve a greater purpose."

"A greater purpose?" I replied with a mocking smile. "That sounds noble and all, but unfortunately, your noble intentions don't pay the bill for saving your lives. So, let's call this an exchange: I let you live, and you leave the weapons. Everyone's happy, wouldn't you agree?"

"This won't end here," the elf growled, but he made no move to resist. He knew he was trapped.

"Maybe not," I said calmly, leaning closer to him to ensure my gaze left no doubt about my resolve. "But right now, you're at my mercy. And I assure you, I have little patience for games. Tell your men to bring everything here—now—or I might reconsider letting you live."

The elf hesitated for a moment, his pride clearly at war with the reality of his situation. Finally, he nodded with bitter resignation, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly.

"I'll bring what you ask," he said, his voice laced with bitterness but firm, the tone of someone left with no choice.

"A wise decision," I responded coolly, allowing a cold smile to touch my lips. "Do it quickly. I'm not a particularly patient man, and I'd prefer to have this settled before the day turns any more unpleasant."

The elf left the castle, his steps firm and filled with resentment, though his shoulders sagged with resignation. His men followed, their hardened glares directed at me and my group. I didn't stop them; I knew they would return, as they had no other choice.

Hours passed before the elf returned, accompanied by his group. This time, they brought the promised loot: a collection of steel weapons, some iron armor pieces, and a pair of leather-bound books that looked as though they had seen better days. The items were carried in a makeshift cart, and it was clear from their expressions that they had debated this decision bitterly before complying.

"What you asked for," the elf leader said, pushing the cart to the center of the hall where we stood. His tone was sharp, almost defiant, though he knew he wasn't in a position to negotiate. "Now fulfill your part."

I smiled as I approached the cart, inspecting its contents without hurrying. The steel swords gleamed under the dim light, their edges intact despite their apparent age. The armor, though slightly worn, remained functional. And the books... They were what piqued my curiosity the most. There was something about them—the ancient marks and the accumulated dust—that suggested they held forgotten knowledge.

"A promise is a promise," I said at last, my tone almost magnanimous. I gestured for my men to release the remaining elf prisoners. The ropes were cut, and the captives quickly reunited with their leader, casting me looks filled with barely-contained hatred. Only the elven woman remained bound and gagged, ensuring no further attempts at mana manipulation.

The elf leader wasted no time. "We're leaving now," he said, his voice low but dripping with venom. "But remember this, human: what you've taken from us won't remain yours forever. One day, you'll pay for your actions."

"Perhaps," I replied indifferently, shrugging. "But that day is not today. Now, leave before I change my mind."

As the elves disappeared over the hills, I didn't allow myself to relax. The threat of a counterattack remained real, and their promise to leave peacefully could very well be a ruse to divert my attention. I immediately ordered the garrison to prepare.

"Archers to the battlements!" I shouted, and my men moved swiftly, their steps echoing against the stone as they climbed to their positions. Each archer took their place, bows drawn tight, eyes scanning the tree line. While our skills couldn't match the precision of elven archers, we had one advantage they did not: the walls of this castle. From this elevated position, any assault would be an arduous task, even for them.

The gates were reinforced, and I assigned additional guards to key points within the castle. Despite the palpable tension among my men, there was something reassuring in the routine of preparation. We knew that while the elves were superior in experience, they couldn't easily overcome us if they faced us with equal numbers and our fortified defenses.

Time passed slowly, marked only by the creak of wood and the whisper of bowstrings as soldiers adjusted their weapons. Every shadow in the trees was watched with suspicion, every sound amplified by the silence that enveloped the castle. But the attack never came.

Against all odds, the elves kept their word. They had left, just as they said they would.

"Is that it?" one of my men muttered, his voice laden with disbelief as he continued to stare at the horizon.

"That's it… for now," I replied, though my tone was far from relaxed. I knew this wasn't a sign of permanent peace but a strategic withdrawal. Elves don't forget, especially when it comes to humiliations like this.

"Don't leave your posts," I ordered firmly. "Keep your eyes open. If you think this is over, you might find yourself in for an unpleasant surprise."

As the garrison maintained its vigilance, I retreated inside the castle. In the main hall, the loot recovered from the dungeon awaited on a table. The steel weapons, their edges gleaming, were an unusual and nearly mythical find in these times. The armor, though worn, remained functional and could make a significant difference in battle. But it was the books that drew my attention. Their worn covers and ancient appearance suggested forgotten secrets—knowledge that might be worth far more than any sword.

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Any opinion and comments are welcome