First Light of a New Age

Chapter 128: Glorious Execution & Internet Trolls

Minutes passed. Then the carriage moved forward again, but only briefly. Outside, the sound of hooves clattering against cobblestone drew close and the head guard reappeared beside the window with a tense expression.

"My lord…" he said slowly. “The guards… they rejected my offer of coins.”

Mhuk sat up straighter. "Guards that rejected money?"

"Yes, no hesitation like it meant nothing."

The fat merchant lord rubbed his chin, feeling intrigued by this news. "How strange indeed. Nevah’s city guards are some of the greediest in the kingdom."

“There’s more.” His guard seemed nervous as his fingers tightened around his sword hilt. “The city… feels too quiet.”

"Hmmm?" Mhuk pushed away the girls and he leaned out of the window to see for himself.

And true enough, he sensed that the energy in the city was different as the streets, which are usually bustling with merchants, prostitutes, drunkards, and street magicians, were eerily empty. No laughter, no children, and no open stalls, just shuttered windows, locked doors, and a strange unnatural silence that held to the air like fog.

"Send someone to find out what is going on!" Mhuk quickly ordered.

“Yes, my lord!”

But before the command could be fully acted on, the carriage came to a sharp stop, causing Mhuk to fall forward with a yelp but was caught clumsily by one of the girls.

“By the gods, what now?!” he angrily yelled.

The head guard’s land dragon growled again and stamped the stone.

"The merchants ahead of us suddenly stopped!" His guard quickly informed his master. "I will go and find out why!"

Mhuk’s brow furrowed. “Well go then! See why! Before I burn the whole damn city for wasting my time!”

But before the head guard could move his war-dragon forward, a sudden voice rang out through the deadened cityscape, loud, commanding, and in a tone that brooked no argument.

It didn’t come from a single direction, it echoed across stone walls and empty buildings, magnified by some unseen sorcery or hidden device loud and clear enough for everyone to hear.

"All individuals, please step out of your wagons and carriages. Riders are to dismount from their land dragons and all weapons are to be placed on the ground immediately!"

The convoy came to a standstill.

For a heartbeat, there was only silence, then the merchants and their guards were in an uproar when they had these demands from the unknown speaker.

“What?! Who said that?!”

“Where’s it coming from?”

“Protect Lord Mhuk!”

The guards drew their weapons and formed tight rings around their carriages, moving their eyes to every window and rooftop, while wagon drivers locked and loaded their crossbows and looked around nervously, ready to fire at unseen assailants. The heavy dragons growled with their claws scraping stone as they paced anxiously.

Inside his carriage, Mhuk pushed aside the silk curtain and peeked out of the carriage window in surprise.

"What in the gods’ name is this madness? Have the royal dogs gone feral? Are they robbing noble merchants in broad daylight now?!"

The same disembodied voice thundered again, sharper this time with a terrifying finality.

"You have until the count of five to comply, or we will take action!"