There has been an unfortunate and unexpected death in my family. I am taking some time to myself to grieve and be able to come back with full force and continue writing for you. I am sorry that this event if keeping me from you, but I can't find myself able to write and focus solely on my book. Please forgive me, I shall be back soon. Thank you for supporting me and reading my books! This adventure has meant so much to me, and I am glad to have been able to share my creativity with you. I'll be back soon!
I turned my head in the direction of Marquise's voice. There was a slight hint of anger in his tone as he grabbed my attention. His body was stiff and his eyes where narrowed in disgust. Michael looked as pale as a ghost next to him. I could see he was slightly trembling, but I couldn't tell if it was from anger, or distress. It was clear that what ever they found disturbing, and I could only think it was from Jeremiah's body. Which I wasn't far off. Dragging between them was a very limp and raggedy looking Jeremiah. His once long blonde hair was now matted and caked with mud and blood. The way his body dragged stiffly in between, made me think he had been dead for awhile. Probably even before that letter was sent to us. They dropped him carefully face down in the dirt, blood caked all over his body. My stomach churned at the state of my scout, feeling sorry that he had bee
We sat out by the abandoned mill well into the night. The flames from Jeremiah's body where nothing but a cloud of smouldering smoke by the time we decided to leave. His ashes lay in a unleveled heap, red coals still lit from the fresh fire. It was hard to wrap my head around his death. It wasn't my first time dealing with the death of my soliders, but for some reason this one was different. A heavy wait rested against my heart, and it only increased the more I dwelled on it. Was I becoming too soft? Or was I just so worn out that every little thing was affecting me? I use to be seen as cold and strong. I could take men into battle and come out the victor, never fearing for the my life or others. I didn't have to because we where unbeatable. But recently, everything has been going down hill. This was the second time I had been hurt in such a short time, I was becoming dependant on Nicklos, and
Despite how dangerous this situation is, I didn't feel uneasy staring at the large stone walls. Although with how dense and fortified it was, it really seemed like they where trying to keep the people of Stratheom in rather than out. On top of the walls there was large metal rods. Each rod had a ring of spikes protruding from each rod, making a large wall of pointed metal. Thick green and slick vines grew up the wall. Cracks made their way up the wall in scattered rivlets, making it look old and unkept. The large wrought iron gate creaked loudly as the wind slightly pushed it back and forth. Almost like a loud mournful screech that bounced off the walls and ripped through the air. You could even say it sounded like a helpless abandoned and wounded animal every time it slightly shifted. The door it self was so rusted, it was more orange in color, than it was black. The
I wasn't exactly sure if I was more surprised by how elegant the place looked inside, or how clean it actually appeared. I never would have thought that a quaint building, would exist in side the "City of Criminals". Who ever this Tucks was, clearly cared about his appearences, and wasn't like the other notorious criminals crawling about the city. It would make sense why Nicklos preferred this man so much. how does a clean man like Tucks, stay in a horrid place like this? Marquise was silently observing surroundings as well, his face stoic and unwavering as his eyes passed diligently over the room. If he was impressed, he didn't lead anyone to believe so. But I on the other hand loved how the room looked. The faintly painted beige walls, the tall windows with white drapes covering them, the black chairs and sofas placed so meticulously. It even looked better than the royal library, and there was
Fingers threaded through my hair as I slowly let my eyes drift open. I was met with two bright golden eyes, so full of sorrow and worry. They shifted slowly back and forth as they looked down upon me. Nicklos had two very dark bags under his eyes. A wry smile formed on his lips as I quietly stared up at him, to tired to form words. He continued to run his fingers gently through my hair as I mustered the strength to greet him. I glanced around the room, wondering how it matched up with the rest of the inn that we resided in. To my utter surprise, it was smaller than the grand lobby we entered in. There was enough room for one long table, completely filled with herbs and jars of ground plants. Two chairs, one resting next to the table, and the other sat next to the door. Then a metal table which I was sitting upon. Multiple plants hung upside down, tied with a thin twine to keep them
Nicklos had instructed me on how to reach the dining room where everyone was sitting. It gave me time to truly examine what the inn looked like. It seemed similar every where in the building. Long white hallways with many oak wooden doors. Gold trim around the doors to give it an elegant look. Polished marble tiles that reflected your reflection. It shined brightly with the torch lights too. A few stray plants sat in the hallways, giving off this beatiful wild flower aroma as you walked. It was like walking through a garden without actually walking through one. I had to walk down three flights of stairs to get to the dining hall, and with a freshly prodded wound, that wasn't exactly easy. By the time I reached the dining room, my leg was burning, and I was seemingly out of breath. I leaned against the golden door frame to the open dining room, and heaved quietly. I didn't want the others t
"You can't make decisions for two people. Respectfully, Nicklos and Alliah are both adults who can make their own choices. You can't force one person to make a decision when the other might not even agree." Marquise angrilly slammed his fist on the table. I was taken aback by his reaction. This wouldn't effect him in anyway, so why would he intervene on my behalf? Tucks sat quietly, eyeing him up and down. His face remained nuetral so it was hard to tell if he was angry or not. Even though I inwardly agreed with what he said, he still couldn't speak to a member of the royal family like this. It was ground for execution and I really didn't want to lose another member of my military. Gritting my teeth, I stared down at the table. Sorry Marquise, this wasn't your battle to fight. "Marquise, I appreciate your eff
"Here you are. I have been looking everywhere for you. Why aren't you sleeping in the barracks?" Nicklos's voice stirred me from my deep thoughts, causing me to flinch under his tone. That tone that radiated with quiet anger. I have been avoiding him and everyone else since Uriah's beatings. The pain that he inflicted still coursing through my muscles like a silent reminder. A reminder that I would never been seen as equal. Rocks bounced off the cliff edge and skittered towards the ground as Nicklos came to sit next to me. I refused to look at him, knowing that once I make eye contact with him, I would become a bubbling mess. Fatigue mixed with self pity clouded my thoughts. I didn't want him to see this weak side of me. I was suppose to be a Knight. Not a coward. He bumped my shoulder gently, trying to nudge an answer from me. Thankfully I was so tired that I could
I will skip the boring bits and just tell you what happened next. Things actually went more smoothly than what I had expected. Illia was tossed in the dungeons as soon as I arrived per my request. She did her obviously tidbits of flailing and screaming how unjust I was for arresting her without a reason. Of course, my father tried swooping in and saving the day. But with the evidence in hand about her treason to the kingdom, she was soon after locked away. I couldn't explain to you how good it felt knowing that I was uprooting the problem. That and she was a terrible human being to begin with. Uriah's father had been in tow of my father, and was then given the evidence of all of my father's wrong doings. After scanning through the documents, he went through a trial that lasted well over a year. In that year, Laylia was caught trying to sneak into the border of my kingdom and was arr
The air between all of my soldiers was heavy with silence. Almost like an invisible weight bad been placed on everyone of our shoulders. Grief hung above their heads, having lost one of our own, and learning that their was a traitor amongst us. Even as they sat on their horses, baccks straight and reigns loose in their hands, they still hung their heads. General Bregus was probably the most quiet out of all of us. He uttered not one word since we told him what had gone down the last few days. There was a strangled grunt from his lips, but he uttered no more since then. As he rode by my side, I was able to gauge his reactions. But it was hard to read him as he stared blankly into the distance. His eyes where on the horizon, but his mind had wandered into his own thoughts. It would almost seem like he had even paled a little, grieving in the silence of his own mind. I know that Micha
The breeze brushed through my hair with gentle fingers. It caressed my face and body with its cold embrace, making me shiver. Goose bumps formed on my arms, making my skin tingle against the leather I had dawned on earlier this morning. We were finally free. No longer mingling with criminals, no more stuck behind the many walls of the city, we were free. Instead of the pounding laughter of loud and drunk people, the air was filled with the thunder of horse hooves frantically trying to put distance between us and the city of criminal. The trees where giant blurs of dark and light greens as we raced through the tightly knit forest. Twigs and leaves laid snapped and torn apart under the heavy beats of our horses hooves. In our desperation to get back home, we neglected to actually hide our trail. All our hope was on them being so distracted they wouldn't know where to start l
Just as expected, the streets where lined with criminals. Their pace was slow as they crawled through the streets like timid cockroaches. I watched as the sea of people flucuated, a gentle tide coming in and evading back into the ocean. The murmurs that rose above the steady beat of feet across the stone pathway, was like a mother hushing her child back to sleep. But it came with a dark whisper of warning as they passed by. The gentle whisper of death caressed their lips as the words escaped their lips. Like a gentle chant, all I could hear was 'Laylia wants their heads.' Who else would she be talking about other than us. We single handedly walked through her walls, the comfort of her own walls, her territory. Her privacy was disrupted, and the quiet comfort of the suprise she had been building for so long was now in disarray. No longer was she able to have the upper hand in her plot to over throw my h
Whilst rubbing sleep from my eyes, I wobbled down the stairs like an infant toddler. I hadn't completely woken up yet and I don't think I was fully recovered from yesterday's endeavor. Honestly, from looking at the rest of the crew, I don't think they would agree either. On the couches laid an exhausted looking Micheal. His head was lulled to one side, mouth slightly popped open with a small sliver of drool coming out. It oozed out in a small stream of clear liquid spittle. He had somehow managed to fall asleep with his arms crossed over his chest. One of the very few men that I have met that doesn't snore like a loud fog horn. Seria had two big black and saggy bags under her eyes as she laid passed out on Micheal's lap. Her arms where crossed over each other upon his lap, making a makeshift pillow out of her own muscle and flesh. Her body was a straight as a board until you came u
When the room had finally grown silent, I decided to dare a glance over my shoulder. I could see a clear line of sight straight to Maxwell's cell. The guards instructed to watch over him, where not in my line of sight. Knowing that they wouldn't be able to see us, I moved away from Seria. She sat frozen in place, hands clenched into tight fists as she stared into space. I waved a hand in her face, trying to coax her out of her deep thoughts. But she continued to stand as still as a statue. "Seria, I'm sorry I put you in an uncomfortable spot, but your dress would have given us away. I have no intentions of harming you if that was what you where worried about." She didn't say anything as she continued to stare off into space. My frustrations where starting to grow as I tried to stir her from her thoughts, but nothing I did was working.
"I am not going to help you, so you might as well kill me already you stupid woman." Maxwell groaned angrily. You could sense the defeat in his tone as he spoke, like a man who was ready to just give up. I gingerly approached the gate door, kneeling down to his level and hoping he would recognize me. I wrapped my fingers around the cold wrought iron and giggled it slightly, testing the weakness of the gate. Unfortunately it didn't budge. "Maxwell, it's Michael. The Princess sent out a small team to rescue you. It hasn't been an easy journey, but we are here now so don't worry." I said jiggling the door once more. There was a dark and weak chuckle that radiated from Maxwell. "Don't bother Michael, I am far to weak to be escorted out safely. You would be killed because of me. Laylia that bitch has been to
How can a woman dressed in bright green clothes disappear so quickly? There was no way she could just up and vanish without a single warning. With her attire, any man would love to shove their greedy and grim covered hands all over her. Especially in this establishment. I don't know what infuriated me more, her vanishing and not telling me what she had planned, or that someone would even dare pray on her. I had to find her fast before someone else decided to grab a hold of her. How did I casually hunt for someone while my heart was racing and my panic was starting to spike. I had no doubt she could handle herself if things went sideways, but I would still rather be at her side if things did turn sour. I knew I made her mad when I vented my frustrations on her, but not enough to abandon me in a crowd full of horney men and lustful women. Soon I would be seen without
Six months I have been training for field work. I was barely even close to graduating, and now here I am. Sitting in the enemy territory with little experience on sneaking around. I wasn't the best for remaining unseen. Anytime I snuck out of the Kingdom, father would always catch me. I was even caught on the last excursion to find the bandits. It was the first time I had ever met her Majesty. I thought she would give me a verbal whipping for sneaking out on to missions before my graduation, but to my surprise she remained docile. When I offered to go along in my father's stead, I didn't think that this journey would be this perilous. I mostly just wanted to get back at Emmanuel for hurting my father. But it turned into more than that. My best friend is dead, my other friend is a traitorous, and my future Queen has her family's secret history to shoulder. Princess Alliah has become quite tired w