The entire night, Drayce and the combined troop of Abetha, Griven, and Megaris continued to move towards Hatha. From there, the battalion of soldiers were left to capture and reinforce Abetha's northern fortress.
The elite squad sneaked past the battlefield and crossed Hatha's border at midnight as planned. Around dawn, they stopped and camped in the forest deep inside the Kingdom of Hatha as they needed to rest after riding for a whole night.
"This forest is safe as they don't keep watch here due to threats from wild animals," Sir Berolt informed the weary men.
Arlan sighed as he commented, "Humans are scarier than wild animals, and they act scared of the poor things."
"True!" General Cavrois agreed and spoke as he looked at everyone, "We need to get the exact location of the place where they had kept the Crown Prince. Our spies haven't sent any communications yet."
"Considering it's only been three days, they wouldn't have taken the Crown Prince too far. They must be somewhere close to the Hathan and Thevailes border.
"Their military border base which is close to the northern Hathan border," Arlan concluded.
Drayce nodded, "Hmm! By how fast we're traveling, when we reach there, it will be daytime, so we need to wait till the night to sneak in."
"Till then, we will get his exact location," the military general added.
Tents were set up, and everyone went inside to rest except for those stationed to patrol the area. Drayce and Arlan had to share the same tent.
"Today, you are fortunate to share the bed with me," Arlan concluded as he started to remove his dusty armor.
"If you do something to trouble me, your thing won't be that fortunate," Drayce countered as they were about to enter their tent.
Just then, they heard something, and both held onto their swords to pull them out of the scabbard. From beside the campsite, there was a rustling of dry leaves.
Squeak!
They heard the familiar sound and realized it was only a rat. Drayce couldn't help but smile.
Arlan noticed that wide grin and asked, "Are you so tired that you're already happy to see an ordinary rat?"
Drayce couldn't explain why he smiled but said something the next moment that shocked Arlan.
"I am the devil. I can burn you."
Arlan gave him an awkward gaze as if he was disgusted with it. "Are you showing your power to that poor thing now?"
"Doesn't it sound good to the ears?"
"My ears felt disgusted," Arlan said as he went inside the tent.
Drayce continued to look at the rat that quickly disappeared within the bushes around them.
He couldn't stop but remember those lines Seren said every time to scare anyone whenever she was cornered.
After quietly laughing, Drayce went inside the tent where Arlan already got his place prepared. He stretched his body to relax it.
Noticing the smile on Drayce's lips, Arlan deliberately shifted to one side. "You seem weird today. Better stay away from me."
"Rest assured. I prefer to embrace one rat instead of you."
With a scoff, Arlan turned to one side, his back facing Drayce.
Drayce lay down as he stared at the center of the tent, still thinking about those rare purple eyes before he fell asleep soon.
--------
(Seren's POV)
The next morning, I woke up in my bed with a lazy smile, stretching my arms and legs leisurely. Martha was not here to nag me, and I could sleep till late. But the next moment, I realized something and sat up in my bed.
I looked around and touched my face and hands and thought, "I am alive! I thought I won't wake up after having that meal."
Being alive was a happy surprise.
"Is Martha back like last time and has cured me?"
I jumped out of my bed and went to Martha's room to check if she was there since she was not in my room. Her room was empty. I went down to the lower floors of the tower to check and even went out to see if she was in the garden, but she was not there either.
"Kitchen! Ah, I forgot to clean it yesterday. She must be busy cleaning it." With a smile, I walked towards the kitchen on the ground floor. "I hope she won't scold me for burning everything."
However, Martha was not there too, and the entire kitchen was still a disaster.
"Did she go to visit my father?" That was the only other reason I could think of as I returned to my bedchamber.
"I should get ready and welcome her nicely. She might spare me from scolding." Just as I moved towards the bath, I heard some noise coming from my window.
Turning around, I saw the same eagle with a similar square-shaped thing wrapped in blue silk cloth.
"Again?"
It came as a big surprise, seeing that I initially thought it was sent last night to harm me, and Martha must have treated me.
However, if the food was to harm me, there was no need to send it again. The person would think I am dead by now, or were they trying their luck again thinking I didn't eat last night's food?
So many questions arose in my mind, but the fact that troubled me more was that this meant Martha had not returned yet. If she was here, no bird or anything would have dared to come here.
I went to the window, and that bird fled away like it did yesterday. I looked at his vanishing figure and mumbled, "Who is sending you to me again and again? Is it my father?"
Lost in my own thoughts, I took the warm wooden box inside. I was saddened by the fact that Martha was not back, and I didn't care if there was poison in this food.
"She should get punished for leaving me like this."
Only after I had a bath and fixed myself did I open that box and emptied the treat of a royal meal for breakfast.
This bonus second chapter for today for all of your support towards the novel. Keep voting and writing your lovely comments.
After a couple of hours of rest in the forest, the sun had already brightened up the clear sky. The elite rescue squad had a quick meal before they readied themselves to leave and reach the Hatha-Thevailes border. By late noon, they quietly crossed the majority of Hatha through its dangerous forests until they arrived in Niaris, the northernmost province of Hatha.
Niaris was the territory of Marquis Godfrey Percy, who was also the general guarding the Barknor Fortress. Beyond its walls lay Thevailes.
The rescue squad was waiting for the information from the spies inside the fortress while they observed the situation from a distance, hiding behind the dense forest trees.
Barknor Fortress was not just a single castle but a small walled city with high and tough walls. As the frontier of Hatha, its terrain was elevated, allowing the soldiers stationed on the walls a good eye view of the land on either side of the wall. It had a single gigantic wooden gate to allow people to enter the fortress; as such, even on peaceful days with fewer soldiers guarding its entrance, it was a difficult place to sneak into.
However, today, it could be seen that an entire platoon of soldiers was patrolling the walls in turns. At the gate, more soldiers riding horses were coming in and out.
The armors of the soldiers belonged to both Hatha and Thevailes.
"When I came here in the past to visit Marquis Percy, it was not as heavily guarded," General Cavrois commented. "They obviously had long prepared to wage this war."
"General, this is not enough to confirm that the Crown Prince is here, only that they are expecting to be attacked," the commander of the knights, Sir Berolt, replied.
Beside them, Arlan and Drayce observed the scenario quietly, looking at the few horse carts entering the fortress once in a while.
"We can use them to sneak in." Arlan signaled to his friend.
"We need to seize one prior to reaching the main road," Drayce added.
From where they were observing, they could see the soldiers verifying the identities of each and every person in the carts and carriages entering the fortress.
"The way they are checking everything so strictly, it won't be easy," Arlan concluded.
"Who likes it easy?"
"True!" Arlan grinned.
Just then, Abetha's spy returned with news.
"Commander!" He bowed to the commander of Abetha's royal knights.
Sir Berolt nodded lightly, approving him to talk.
"The Crown Prince is indeed inside the fortress. He's being held inside the Marquis' estate. Although he is detained as a guest and not imprisoned, many soldiers are guarding the entire place, especially the room where the Crown Prince is. It will be extremely difficult to enter," the spy explained.
"Did you get the exact location?" Sir Berolt asked as everyone focused on it.
"Yes, Commander!" The spy pulled out one folded white cloth and opened it to show his commander. Spreading it on the rock nearby, the spy pointed at one location where he already drew a huge cross to show the concerned location. "Here. They are keeping the Crown Prince here."
Drayce observed the marked location and spoke, "We must enter tonight, or else they might move him elsewhere, and it will only be more difficult for us to get him." He then looked at the spy. He pointed at the gate. "Where are those carts coming from?"
The spy replied, "Abetha has declared war against Hatha. Although this is the north, the people from the small villages nearby are flooding in together with food and other necessary things for the large army stationed inside."
"What kind of other necessary things?" Drayce prodded.
"Well…" The spy cleared his throat awkwardly and spoke, "Since the Thevailes army is staying inside along with Marquis Percy's army, every night, women are brought to entertain the soldiers, especially for the higher-ranked officials."
"Women?" Drayce mumbled as he looked around, smiling slyly at Arlan. "But we have handsome man only."
"What?" Arlan exclaimed as he stepped back.
"Time to put your handsome face to use," Drayce replied.
Cough!
Cough!
Others couldn't believe what Drayce said. The knights from Megaris who knew how their King was like pitied Prince Arlan.
Arlan rapidly shook his head. "No. Whatever you're thinking, don't you even think about it. I prefer to use my war skills instead.".
Ignoring him, Drayce looked at the spy questioningly. The spy was smart, but he spoke hesitantly, seeing the reactions around him, "I heard...the main commander of Thevailes, Giles Seeiso, is fond of men…."
"We are good to go then," Drayce commented and looked at Arlan, "Get ready."
"Are you insane, Drayce?!" the prince shouted in panic.
"I'll make sure to protect you. Trust me!"
"My a…" Arlan stopped with a heavy frown and turned towards where they hid the horses. "I am leaving. I believe one devil is enough to take that entire fortress down."
Sir Berolt and General Cavrois looked at each other, not knowing what to do, while the spy stood quietly, scared to the bones that Prince Arlan might kill him.
Just then, one soldier came to them on a horse. He was among the scouts in charge of exchanging communication with the main army to update them regarding the state of war.
The scout climbed down the horse and approached the military general, who signaled him to talk.
He saluted. "General, we have successfully recaptured the Northern Fortress. The army will start marching towards Hatha's capital after a day's rest."
Drayce did not stay to listen to the rest of the report as he left to get his upset friend.
"Don't follow me," Arlan warned as he was ready to get on his horse.
"You are the only one we can use. If we use those old men or those tough-looking knights, will it work?"
Arlan turned to look at Drayce, giving him a mocking smile. "To me, you seem to be the best option."
"My red eyes are famous everywhere, and they all had seen me in previous battles. Don't forget, Thevailes lost to Megaris. That Giles Seeiso must still be cursing me even in sleep, as I personally gave him that long scar on his face."
It didn't calm down Arlan. "I am the Crown Prince of Griven. Do you think he doesn't know me?"
"We can make changes in your appearance. It's nighttime, so we can take advantage of it. My eyes glitter even more in the night, so I really am not an option."
Arlan refused to budge. "Instead, why don't you use your powers? It will be an easy win for our side."
"Let's fight the human way. I don't want them to cry over an unfair fight. Besides, we're here to save someone, not cause a massacre."
"So, your morals are more important than my dignity," Arlan countered.
"As a warrior, we should be ready to do anything. I am sure the future King of Abetha will thank the future King of Griven for this life-saving grace."
Arlan turned silent, and Drayce understood that he had successfully persuaded his soft-hearted friend.
"But if that general puts even a finger on me, I'll make sure to be on the throne next to you as your Queen."
"Fine," Drayce agreed as he smiled.
Finally, the two returned to where others were, talking about how to conduct their crazy plan.
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