Of Cats and Mice

[WrathOfQuacken 560]

Of Cats and Mice
8^th of the Grand Harvest, 1739
Told from the eyes of a Ves Republican Army leader.

The lovely, peaceful streets of Kaedrin were disturbed as several terrorists entered the city, soon raising their voices into shouts and brawling against one another in an effort to draw out guardsmen from the gatehouse. After the ruckus, an innocent passer-by was captured and dragged off for wearing an Imperial Army uniform. Under torture and threats, the soldier was forced to give up his name and rank by the Ves Republican Army provos. Deciding to spare the soldier’s life, the republican rebels left the soldier in the sewers with a marking on his forehead, and a dagger to leave him with means to free himself. Upon sneaking out of the city, they laid an ambush on the road between Rubern and Helena, where they halted folks who passed by in order to ensure they do not have connections with the Imperial Army. With blown cover, the foot patrol which they were waiting for, passed by with drawn weapons. Knowing they were outnumbered and outgunned, the rebels made a run for it. Amongst them was Valerine Wilson, the leader of the VRA. Upon being surrounded by four valiant soldiers, from both Helena and Kaedrin. Accepting defeat, the rebel leader lowered her blade and yielded, begging the men for mercy. Being tied and escorted to the Capitol for trial and a likely execution, she saw no way out, causing her to attempt to bribe one of the guardsmen, but to no evail. With no other option, she sat in her cell and began to write a final farewell, watched closely by a single soldier. Out of nowhere, a familiar face appeared- and then another! Before she knew it, she was being dragged out of her cell- and BANG. The guard behind her received a halberd to the head, causing him to fall onto the ground, but that was none of her concern. She heard the soldier speak of his brother, but thought nothing of it and instead, moved deeper into the Imperial building, navigating through any passageways they could find, eventually making their way into the home of a renowned Imperial Captain. The rebels could FEEL Imperial soldiers getting closer and closer as they tried to pick their way out. In their haste and carelessness, they jammed the lock- then another. With a final straw of hope, they picked the lock of a side door, allowing them to escape into the Capitol. Using whatever resources they had, they disguised themselves and separated, fooling the gate guard and slipping out undetected despite it being a close call. As Wilson left the city she let out a sigh of relief, managing to live another day. 

The only thing left behind in her cell, was her final letter written on a scrap of parchment, as she didn’t think to take it with her at the time, sure she would face execution.

Its contents read:

“To my beloved brethren in arms,

It appears my fight ends here, in tae chains of Imperial oppression.
In my eyes, it hast now become clear that tae dreams of a free
republic ist just a distant, long-lost dream.
But keep in mind that they cannae imprison us forever,
They cannae hang us all. 
Remain strong, for t’is war may only bae won by faith and hope.
Keep me in thy prayers so long thou breath.”

The rest appeared unreadable, soaked in some sort of puddle.

 

[kuerbis 3802]

Florence nodded a few times, unsure what to think of this. A small smile unwillingly creeps on her face after a moment, before she turns back to her work and her alcohol.