Chapter 21
The Spies of the Coast
"During the dark wars the Queen of Death and Shadows sought the immortality jewel to protect her people.
Her dearest friend, some say lover, Emrys Darey was cursed by the Immortality Jewel that rests in the hollowed caves of Viridis Aurum.
There is no report whether he still dwells in those caves or has finally succumbed to death by leaving the cave. "
The following Korovian text from the Dark War articles has been transcribed by Brigid May Featherdune of the Featherdune Witch Coven.
Loud shouts echoed through the chaos of Apollon soldiers.
My eyes darted, immediately trying to spot Red.
I huffed a sigh of relief when I saw Inanov at his side with a sword raised and Red holding a dagger in his hand.
Rain dripped onto my cheek, its texture different, thick and warm.
I touched the droplet on my skin, seeing crimson, the metallic scent of blood seemed to drip more.
I looked up. Ten men. Hung in the trees, looking as though they were drained of life.
I inhaled and took out my fire blades, creating space between myself and the trees that crowded my surroundings.
A gurgled scream came from my right and within a heartbeat, the man was up in the trees, body drained and grey.
The enemy was quick, effortless, and quiet.
I concentrated, knowing that I could only trust my hearing.
Whoosh. The sound of rope. I darted to my left and swung my fire blade at the soldier in front of me.
It cut through the rope that was seconds away from strangling him and ultimately summoning him to the underworld of Riaan.
I reached for the fire blade in my boot and swung it immediately to the spot where the rope had come from.
I had to keep moving, standing still would make me an easier target.
My fire blade dropped from the trees. My jaw set when I saw blue blood smeared across the blade.
I picked it up and wiped it on my arm, summoning fire on the rest of my fire blades and held both in each hand.
I breathed in, knowing what was to come.
I was now their target of attention. I could hear the stirrups of rope being tightened.
So quiet... so stealthy but there were faint creaks of branches.
They walked amongst the branches, the trees were concealing them, I realized.
I closed my eyes and listened. My eyes snapped open as rope after rope came my way.
I slashed, trying to be as quick as I could be.
Trying to use whatever I was taught in the arena to assist my reflexes.
Suddenly from the corner of my eye, a rope struck true, hard and fast. I was going to be too slow to cut it.
My fire blades fell to the ground. It hooked around my neck like a noose and I struggled as I felt it begin to lift me into the air.
My feet kicked below me, trying to find the ground.
I took a strangled breath and reached for the blade at my hip while my other hand tried to stop the tightening of the rope around my neck.
I took the blade out to cut the rope above me and hit the ground.
A grunt escaped me, growing tired of defence and ready to be on offence.
I swung my fire blades in swift throws, they struck true as they landed in perfect spots.
No, not in the heart of the enemies, there were dozens of them and I only had five fire blades.
It struck in the dark wood of the trees.
And there, we could finally see the glowing blue eyes of the enemy.
The spies of the coast.
All covered from head to toe in black with only their faces partially covered.
I smirked and willed the fire to grow brighter.
Seeing their shocked, panicked eyes and hearing their hisses when they figured out they could not put the fire out satisfied me.
We could see them in plain sight now. "Arrows and bows men!
" I commanded the soldiers, unsure if they'd take orders from the likes of me.
Red was instantly at my side and handing me arrows.
I knocked my bow and fired the first shot. It hit a shoulder. Good enough.
From the corner of my eye, I spotted Akiel and Hulin getting bows of their own.
Soon after, more arrows were fired. The spies leapt, tree after tree.
Trying to get the advantage of darkness on their side.
Something stirred inside me, something more dark.
I followed after them and one jumped down, staying behind to face me.
No doubt trying to distract me before I got to the others.
It took out two rapiers from behind its back.
I dropped the bow and arrows. Taking out the last fire blade from my thigh, I commanded it alight.
The spy's eyes widened and I took a step forward which was my first mistake.
Rope tightened around my ankle and oxygen escaped my lungs as it lifted me harshly into the air. My world turning upside down.
A fucking trap.
The spy walked closer. The rapiers now gleaming as it looked up at me and picked up my fire blade. Instantly dropping it and hissing from the flame. An arrow whizzed past and I dropped to the spy's feet.
"Now, is that anyway to greet guests?" Adrion tsked.
The Prince of Apollo, looking stunning in his white and gold tunic, held a crossbow against his shoulder. He looked healthier, his eyes no longer strained. "I suggest you leave my warrior alone. Tell your lord we are here and that I am done with the theatrics."
The spy's blue luminescent eyes narrowed at the prince yet inclined its head, ran to a tree and disappeared. Their climbing skills were impeccable.
I panted on the ground, trying to catch my breath. Adrion's hand reached out to me, I grit my teeth and begrudgingly accepted his hand which was firm and warm as he lifted me.
"They killed your men," I spoke.
"Not all. Some," he answered nonchalantly.
"And you are just going to accept that. The danger they had to nearly all our lives," I argued, unable to understand the royal standing in front of me.
"Casualties were to be expected." The prince's eyes latched onto the fire blade on the ground, still alight and whispering the seductive call to destroy, perhaps he could hear it too. I commanded it to vanquish.
"Lives were lost, and more can be lost if they take us to their lord where we will be surrounded by more spies." I panted, still running on my earlier adrenaline rush that was slowly beginning to crash. With loose shoulders, he turned away.
"You are welcome for saving your life," he teased.
"Why is it so important that you must visit places like this in Terran?
What are you trying to prove to the king?
" I shouted, not understanding why a prince like him would be tasked with such an extreme goal.
My annoyance and confusion were beginning to subside and be replaced with anger.
That same warm, firm hand then gripped my jaw.
"Do not forget your place, warrior. I have given you more than enough answers.
If I need to send another ten, twenty or even fifty of my men to die, in order to achieve what I need, I will.
If it means getting you killed, it is a chance I must take.
Do not think of yourself as special with those powers and the title you now hold," he spoke darkly, his red eyes flaring.
Anger coursed through me, burning brighter than before with a tinge of hurt.
I don't know what went through my mind to assume he could have been decent; different from his father, not so cruel. But they're all the same. Heartless.
"Is that understood?" he whispered against my ears.
"Understood, Your Highness," I spoke with little emotion. He looked into my eyes, and what he saw made him turn away and let go instantly. I followed him, walking back to the soldiers that were regrouping. They stared at me with a look I could not decipher.
"You were good. The soldiers were impressed," a voice spoke up from behind me, it was Inanov.
Red stood beside him, grinning.
"But a bit of advice, protect the prince and only the prince. Do not get distracted and run after the enemy— leaving the prince alone," Inanov deadpanned.
"He seems fine to me," I muttered, feeling the anger in my blood boil at the mention of His Highness.
***
The spy that trapped me was leading us deeper into the forest where we climbed up high, and higher through the mountain.
The air here was fresh and the pine so thick and lush in the trees it created an abundance of shadows and shade—granting protection from the sun.
It was calming, nearly nourishing to my very being.
"Are we in Viridis Aurum now?" Red asked.
He picked up a stick and started swinging it, making loud whipping noises.
"No, not yet," Inanov answered, not the slightest bit amused at the boy's explicit boredom.
It was peaceful here. Hearing the crash of waves against stone, the sound coming in faint from below the mountain.
The spy had communicated with the prince to only allow a handful of people to follow her.
The rest of the men at the bottom of the mountain set camp all while burning the fallen soldiers.
"Good heavens of Apollo. How much more of this walking?
The king's advisor should not be subject to such treatment," Colfe, the pig of a man, complained to the spy who ignored him and continued leading the way.
"The fool is ignoring me. I'll show you what happens—" his hand now raised up to strike the spy. A hand caught Colfe's, the prince's.
"Come now, Colfe, you were given the chance to stay at camp. Yet you wanted to come with us." The prince's hand tightened around Colfe's wrist.
"Why yes, they say Viridis Aurum has the best wine..." Colfe trailed off, "—and I am also to ensure the deal with the lord goes well." The prince squeezed, nearly crushing his wrist. Colfe let out a painful grunt. "Stop. Your father would not condone this," he pleaded.
"The king is not here," the prince replied.
"Your Highness, he can be dealt with later." Inanov may have just saved Colfe's life because the prince dropped Colfe's wrist and continued walking.
"Come now, Serena, I know it's you. Did you think I wouldn't have recognized you? The sun has begun to set, no need to hide behind masks," the prince teasingly said to the spy.
Serena?
The spy dropped the covering that covered her blonde hair and beautiful face. It was a woman... a sickeningly pretty woman. "Consider it a test, Your Highness," she winked at him. They looked as though they had known each other for ages with how easily she spoke to him.
"It has been too long." He smiled. A smile that looked so rare and different on him.
She came up to him and hugged him, putting a firm kiss onto his lips.
Then continued walking ahead, her hips swaying, showing off her slim figure.
I burned red, hot with embarrassment. Confusion laced my thoughts as to why I was feeling this way.
She was pretty enough to be a princess. So it could be very possible that they had been lovers.
The thought was so sudden, that I almost hit myself for thinking it.
Why would I care about a royal like him being lovers with this spy?
Curiosity and another emotion I couldn't help nicked at me.
"We are here." Serena smiled, sharp fangs went over her lips as she stood before a cave opening. Serena was not only a pretty spy...
She was a damned vampyre.