22
Xander and Cole take me down to the armoury that sits just below Xander’s office.
I stalk into the small room, as Xander holds the door open for me.
The armoury is lit by a few torches on the wall, the room filled top to bottom with shelves and cases storing all types of weapons.
From swords and daggers, to battle axes and cross bows.
I’m not going to bother changing into fighting leathers, my combat pants and tight long sleeve will have to do.
But that doesn’t stop me picking up a women’s steel plated corset from where it’s hanging.
Strapping it to me feels so natural, it’s much like the one I had back in Hidale before the King stole me away.
Cole sees me lacing it up, looking over with something akin to humour in his eyes. “I wouldn’t have thought an invisible assassin would need armour?”
“Everyone bleeds.” Is all I reply.
I pick up some straps to attach to my pants, for the daggers I already grabbed. Then, to even my own surprise, I reach for a sword for my back as well. I have used swords plenty of times but I much prefer the subtlety and lightness of a dagger.
This however, feels different. Less the stealth of an assassin's job and more the battle of soldiers.
Xander watches me curiously as he grabs his own weapons and attachments, only one dagger I notice but he instead has two swords draped down his back. Obviously his preferred weapon.
“So where are they?” I ask while adjusting my weapons and making sure everything fits right.
It’s Cole who answers me, having known the information from his soldiers on patrol. “A small town just beyond the wall, there’s a few different types of hybrids that live there, but my sources say they’re only attacking the centaurs.”
“For now.” Xander says, a promise of death dripping from his voice. I hadn’t seen him like this since he killed
Bentley when we first met.
We rush out of the armoury not a moment later, running straight for the stables. I look up and see the clouds looking angry above us, threatening a down pour.
No one hesitates as I grab my own horse, our time is limited and there is no use arguing about whether or not they can trust me.
We race out of the stables, riding faster than I have ridden in years. The wind rushes past my face so aggressively that I don’t even have a chance to look back and see how many of Xander’s royal guards and soldiers are following behind us.
The guards at the wall already have the gates open and ready. It takes us mere seconds to clear them.
I let Xander and Cole lead as I have no idea where this small town is in Erador, having spent no time in this part of the lands.
The rain starts to descend on us as we ride on, mixing with the wind and splattering our faces.
I have to look down slightly to even see at all.
Trusting that the horse will take me in the right direction as I stare at the dark graveled path below.
Watching as the horses' hooves splatter in each of the puddles.
It doesn’t take long before I smell smoke and look up, squinting against the rain.
I see bright orange flames ahead and I know we’re near.
The rain is heavier now, yet doing nothing to soften the flickering flames.
There must be a fae that can wield fire, the flames are far too vicious, far too angry to be of natural causes.
I push my horse to go faster, ignoring the wave it sends to my stomach and the harsh slaps of the rain against my face and body.
The small town comes into view, some of the houses engulfed in flames and I’m sure the rest will follow suit soon.
I hear the sound of horses hooves on gravel before we enter the town.
Fae and centaurs alike running wild around the gravel streets.
The centaurs, with their half horse bodies, running much harder and faster.
Yet they have their own herd of Hidale soldiers running after them.
Clearly still the targets, maybe because they’re one of the only obvious hybrids.
I jump off my horse, ignoring the yells from Xander and the sounds of Erador’s soldiers arriving behind us.
Pulling the sword off my back, I head into the town, not quite running but not a slow walk either. I turn myself invisible and start my hunt. Moving down the gravel path, with the houses either side of me.
I see a flash of maroon flick past my peripheral vision on the right side. I turn my head and see a home with their window smashed open, not yet in flames. Knowing Hidale’s uniform all too well, I run forward and kick down the door, holding my invisible blade up in front of me.
“Where are you hiding them!”
I hear a man shout, followed by trembles and whimpers of what I presume to be the people who own this home.
I hear a slap of skin against skin from the room to my left, followed by a woman's scream and cry.
My lips form a tight line and I take one hand of my blade, moving it to the door handle.
I twist the knob and yank the door open, revealing the sight of a woman and two little boys crouching down on the floor in front of me.
The woman's cheek bleeding and her wide eyes staring right through me, to the door that would have opened by itself.
Hidale’s soldier is to the right, staring at the doorway as well. Brows furrowed, eyes laced with venom.
“Cover their eyes!” I shout to the woman, giving away my location. The soldier turns on me, realising that there is in fact someone in the room.
I don’t wait to see if she’s done as I commanded before driving my blade straight through the soldier’s stomach, not giving him a chance to try and fight me.
I turn visible and watch as the woman’s eyes go wider than I thought possible.
“Run now, to the edge of the city. Erador soldiers are there waiting!” I exclaim, ushering her towards the door with my hands. She collects her boys and breathes a quick thank you before running out the door.
I turn invisible again, walking towards the window readying to jump out. But not before stabbing my blade through the now fallen soldier's neck, making sure the job is done.
I jump out of the window and increase my pace. I’ve no idea where Xander and Cole have got to but I’m sure they’re fine none the less.
I look around, the flooded gravel streets are filled with fire and a mix of maroon and grey soldiers.
I start my search for more fae and hybrids needing to be saved in the town's homes, knowing that Erador’s soldiers will have the streets covered.
I clear three more homes before I hear the unmistakable sound of a male’s guttural scream. I turn and run in the direction I think it came from. Strands of my wet hair slapping my face as I do.
I peer into the window of the house nearby. My eyes narrow as I see a centaur half buckled over in pain, blood pouring from the wound in his stomach.
There’s two of Hidale’s soldiers in front of him. One of which is lifting his sword up, ready to finish him off.
I don’t give him the opportunity as I smash the hilt of my blade through the window, bringing their attention to me.
Though they still can’t see me and don’t notice that I’m already inside as they rush towards the window.
Taking my opportunity I run my blade through the soldier closest to me, causing him to scream in agony and clutch his chest as he falls to the ground.
The other soldier looks around frantically, fear tracing his eyes.
“Where are you!” The soldier shouts, I quickly move behind him, ready to whisper in his ears.
“Everywhere.”
The soldier stumbles forward but turns around in an instant, swiping at where I once stood. I let out a harsh laugh.
I start to get lost in my thirst for vengeance, when the centaurs groans snap me back.
I move towards the soldier in the next second and run my blade across his throat. Needing this to be over quickly, so I can help the wounded hybrid.
I turn visible again, making sure I don’t freak the centaur out and quickly run to help him. I run my hand over his wound, it’s quite deep but nothing Mannuel can’t fix.
I’m certain Xander and Cole would have brought him along so I tell the centaur to head towards the entrance of town, where I assume the healer will be.
Centaurs, thankfully, are quite strong and this one has the capacity to gallop out of here without my help, giving me more time to jump out of this house and help others.
I spot Xander as I jump out of the window, he’s just dropped another two of Hidale’s soldiers and freed a man with his daughter who both look to be Faun’s.
With their lower halves that of a goat and their heads protruding horns. Guess centaurs aren’t the only hybrids in this town. Well, hybrids that have physical attributes anyway.
Xander looks over to me and then towards the Centaur running away clutching his chest.
And I swear, for just a second that he can see through my invisibility.
But he turns just a moment later and races off to help someone else.
I do the same, running off in the opposite direction to clear more houses.