Cinnamon Bun Chapter Three Hundred and Fifty-Seven - Upper Management

Chapter Three Hundred and Fifty-Seven - Upper Managent

We rushed up the final few floors, following the directions Id teased out of our harpy prisoner. Baron Vonowl was in for a rude awakening once we arrived.

On reaching the floor where the baron was hidden, Bastion gestured everyone to silence and approached the door to lean up against it. He listened for a bit, then ca down the steps to where we all gathered. Large floor. It sounds like a mostly open space. I can hear maybe a dozen people in there.

Thats a concerning number, Caprica said.

We can probably take them, we have the elent of surprise on our side, Amaryllis said.

That might still be tricky though, I said as I glanced back up. The door was the very last one at the very top. I was a little surprised that the tower didnt have roof access. Or maybe it was elsewhere? In any case, that wasnt our problem at the mont.

Bastion shook his head. We dont have ti to worry overly much about anything. Our titable is short. Id much rather we not get caught out by the returning pirates while loading the hostages back onto the ships, so we need to move quickly. Ill take point, Capricas guards can assist on the flanks, everyone else cos in after. If youve been holding anything back, now wouldnt be an unreasonable ti to use it.

Everyone shuffled in place, then Bastion launched himself up the steps, blowing the door with a boom, Capricas guards were right on his heels and the other soldiers rushed in right after.

I didnt wait long to follow.

The first thing I heard as I stepped in were panicked yells and the sharp crack of steel on steel. The top floor was more of an open plan than most of the floors below. A good quarter of the space was used up by a set of large cages pressed up against one wall and half-covered by curtains. The rest of the space was one large living area.

Harpy and human guards were rallying against Bastion and the royal guardsylph, maybe a dozen of them in all. They looked competent at a glance, but entirely unprepared for the sudden fight, and a pair of them were already groaning on the floor.

I tightened my grip on Weedbane and moved to the side, taking my place in the impromptu line that was forming as we stretched out across the room.

The guards wed surprised were backing up towards a stairwell off to one side of the room--probably the roof access. Behind them was a harpy in a finely-made suit of purple and blue cloth. He was red in the face and was shouting so rather rude things at us while backing up.

That had to be the baron!

My attention was snapped back to the present as I eeped and ducked under a sword swing. One of the guards was right in front of , an angry scowl in full display as he tried to chop into little Broccoli Bunch bits.

Focus, Broccoli, Amaryllis bit off. She reached out with her dagger-wand and filled the room with crackling lightning that speared out towards a trio of guards. One went down convulsing, but the other two raised their hands and the magic splashed off sort of shimring shield of mana.

These werent untrained pirates. They were a lot better at their job. But wed still caught them with their taphorical pants down. The guy I was fighting had a sword in one hand and a chair in the other, and unfortunately for him, he didnt seem to have the sa experience with chair-combat as I did.

I caught the tip of Weedbanes blade between the bars of the chair he was using as a shield, then twisted back, ripping it from his grip. I took a step back, then spun Weedbane around and flung the chair right back at the guard, dropping his sword in the process.

Then I kicked the chair as hard as I could, ramming the legs into his tummy so that he fell back wheezing.

Our foes were going down in quick succession, the surprise and the ferocity of our best fighters no match for them. Which is why I was surprised when the fighting suddenly ca to a screeching halt as soone scread.

Stop!

Everyone, minions and soldiers alike, froze up for a few seconds. Then the brigands ran backwards to the staircase pressed up against the wall. The harpy who could only be Baron Vonowl was halfway up the steps, a buckler held in both hands. He was huffing and puffing, and looking like he couldnt decide if he was angry or scared.

Just who in the world are you? he shouted.

I glanced around, then t Capricas eyes. She gave a sort of you explain this one nod. Hello! I said. My nas Captain Broccoli Bunch, and my friends and I are here to rescue the people you kidnapped.

What? he asked.

... Uh. Which part did you not understand? I asked.

Do you have any idea who youre ssing with? the baron asked.

Calamity snorted. An idiot with delusions of grandeur?

Im pretty sure youre Baron Vonowl? I asked. In any case, youre the guy being protected by all of these guards while, uh. I glanced over to the cages where I could see a dozen or so harpys standing up. They were in better shape than the prisoners down below had been, dressed in finery and very nice outfits, though their clothes had ended up a little tattered from being imprisoned. While these nice people over here are in cages, which kind of paints you in a bad light.

A bad light? Do you have any idea what youre doing? He swept a wing towards the cages. Those fools who were born into underserved power wanted to bumble their way into delaying an inevitable war instead of pressing our great nations advantage!

I blinked. Uh. Yeah, no, we already negotiated peace, more or less. I dont think anyone actually wants that war to happen.

The baron seethed. Then youre as great a fool as any of them! Our saviour, Rainnewt understood. He acknowledged our inherent value!

Okay, I think thats enough, Bastion said, interrupting what sounded like the beginning of a proper villainous monologue. Lay down your arms and surrender, and we will be lenient. Theres no need to die for soone like him.

A few of the barons guards looked to each other, then back at us. At the mont we were pretty evenly matched in terms of numbers. Then a couple of sylph ca into the room from the stairs and rushed to join us.

I could almost hear what they were thinking. There might only be even numbers here and now, but that would change soon.

The first sword clattered to the floor, then another.

The baron scread, then started up the stairs. Cowards! he shouted.

Calamitys bow twanged, but the baron ducked behind the shield he held and Calamitys arrow thunked into it. Spells started to fly towards him, but those of his guard who decided not to surrender rused forwards and magical shields shimred and popped as they intercepted the magic that should have hit the baron.

Before any of us could catch up, Vonowl threw open a door at the top of the stairs and disappeared out of sight.

The guards that decided not to surrender were punished for that choice as Bastion and the others t them with a sudden charge. Captain, go after the baron, Bastion shouted.

Got it! I replied. I crouched for just a mont, then shot up and over the fighting to land on the staircase. I sprinted up the remaining steps and onto the roof of the tower, vaguely aware that a few others were running after .

The towers roof was a flat space, with crenelations along the edges and a very slight incline that was probably there make water run to the edge. A strong wind blew across the rooftop, and at a glance, I could see the open expanse of cloudy sky and the great forest that surrounded the tower.

There was also, I noticed imdiately, an airship parked on the rooftop.

It was the sa class as the Redeed, small and light and with a soft balloon that was inflating itself even as I watched. The balloon was connected to a set of tanks that looked like they were recent additions to the rooftop.

The baron was onboard already along with two other harpies that hadnt been below and who were hurriedly preparing the ship for launch.

Hey! Wait! I shouted before taking off towards the ship.

I will do no such thing! the baron said. Look, Commander gumi returns, and with them the forces that will crush your pitiful rebellion!

I paused, shoes scraping on the rooftop as I turned to see that he was right. Off in the near distance were two airships, both unfamiliar and both heading towards us.

In the other direction, over the forest and much, much closer, was the Beaver Cleaver and the rest of our little fleet.

I had to warn them, the fleet was flying low over the forest, using the mountainous rise around the tower as cover, but that also probably ant that they couldnt see the pirate ships returning to the tower.

But no, baron first.

I ran across the rooftop, and the baron saw coming. Hurry up! he shouted before he grabbed a knife from within his doublet and slashed at one of the cords that was serving as an anchor. The ship tilted to the side and the harpy with the baron squawked.

One of them, thinking quick, pulled on a lever and the other cords snapped off, leaving the ship mostly free. It started to rise even though its balloon still seed a little under-inflated. Then the engine started up and the tubes filling the bag popped out of their holes.

The entire ship lurched forwards and over the side of the tower. Sohow, it was still rising despite the very early departure.

I reached the edge of the tower, planted a foot on one of the crenulations, and jumped.

I didnt exactly have a plan, but I figured it was as good a ti as any to wing it.

The baron seed quite proud of himself for his escape, at least until I crashed onto the side of his ship. Weedbane hooked onto the ships railing and my feet thumped into the hull, absorbing so of the impact of my hit.

I glanced down for just a second, then refocused on hanging on. There was a long, long drop below.

Then the barons face appeared above . You are a fool to even try to fight us, Captain. History will rember you only as an inconvenience.

Uh, arent you the bad guy? I asked.

There is no evil in setting the world aright! If it is necessary to use force to do so, then force must be used! he declared.

I was about to point out that that sounded pretty textbook evil when the baron planted a taloned foot on my scythe and pushed. I scrambled up, grabbing the edge and planted a foot on the ships hull so that I could climb onto the deck.

Vonowl didnt stop his monologue and I was too busy to interrupt. Youre about to learn why the harpy are superior, though it wont be a lesson thatll stick for more than a few long seconds, Im afraid.

I hissed as his talons ca racing down for my hand and I let go of the ship. I could reposition, but I couldnt regrow fingers. Then Vonowl swept down and, with a grunt, grabbed Weedbane by the sides of its blade and shoved it back and off the side of the ship.

I had a mont to feel everything in my tummy lurch before the ship started to fall upwards and away from .

I might have scread a little.

Then soone ramd into from the side and my vision was filled with blonde hair and buzzing fairy wings. Youre heavy! Caprica complained into my ear.

Oh, right, I had friends who could fly.

I took a mont to breathe in and try to stifle my adrenaline, then I shrunk myself to make it easier for Caprica to sylphhandle back onto the top of the tower where I was greeted by Amaryllis who smacked upside the head.

I probably deserved that.

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