Chapter 32: Borderlands [2]

"Over here!" Aniruddh called out, spotting a narrow path that led deeper into the forest.

Aniruddh deflected an arrow aimed at him with his sword as they moved into the narrow path, quickly followed by the others. Sensing an enemy pursuing them, he turned on his heel and stabbed the assassin in the chest, then planted a solid kick to the stomach, pulling his sword out of the enemy's chest and disrupting the attack.

"Keep running! We'll take them out one by one," Aniruddh commanded.

Sachin, running alongside him, glanced back. "Two archers by the looks of it, and the rest are close combatants," he noted between breaths.

Naiki, sprinting in the middle of the group, said. "We need to neutralize the archers first. They're the biggest threat in this terrain."

"Agreed," Aniruddh said, his mind racing. "Sachin, Hansraj, and I will focus on the close combatants. Naiki split and ambush an archer once we make that turn by the rock,"

They sprinted toward a huge rock, with Naiki splitting from the group. Hansraj sliced and killed another assassin, while Sachin held back the advancing enemies by using his body and shield to block the narrow pathway.

"Sachin, retreat! We killed two," Aniruddh ordered, slicing the neck off an assassin, instantly killing him.

The group retreated and took cover behind a tree, taking a moment to catch their breath. Suddenly, they heard a scream, followed by a growl.

"Naiki killed the archer," Hansraj reported, his voice filled with relief.

A few moments later, Naiki emerged from the shadows, wiping her blade clean. A bow and arrow from the assassin on her back "We need to keep moving," she said urgently. "There are more of them approaching,"

Aniruddh nodded, his eyes scanning the forest. "Let's head deeper into the woods. We need to find a place to regroup and plan our next move."

Sachin, still breathing heavily, agreed. "We can't stay here. They'll keep coming,"

The group moved cautiously, sticking to the shadows and using the dense forest to their advantage. Aniruddh led the way, his senses heightened and alert for any sign of danger.

After a while, they found a small clearing surrounded by thick underbrush. It provided a good vantage point and some natural cover.

"There is one more archer left. I will take him out," Naiki said, determination in her eyes.

"They are approaching," Hansraj whispered, his voice tense.

"Naiki split off and take care of the archer. Give us cover from a distance," Aniruddh ordered, his voice steady despite the situation.

Naiki nodded and disappeared into the shadows, moving swiftly and silently.

"Sachin, lure them to that tree," Aniruddh pointed to a large tree behind them. "We'll take cover and stab them as they pour through."

Sachin gave a quick nod and moved into position, preparing to draw the assassins toward their ambush point. He picked up a rock and hurled it into the forest, creating a loud noise to attract the enemy's attention.

As the assassins closed in, Sachin sprinted back toward the designated tree, drawing them into the trap. Aniruddh and Hansraj took cover behind the trees, their swords ready.

The first assassin burst through the underbrush, only to be met with a swift strike from Aniruddh, who plunged his sword into the man's chest. Hansraj followed suit, cutting down another assassin, his blood splashing on the grass.

Naiki crawled through the chaos, taking silent steps in the night, and saw the remaining archer aiming at Sachin. She positioned herself at a distance, aimed carefully, and released an arrow. It whistled through the air and found its mark, hitting the assassin in the head. He dropped dead like a moth to the flame.

Aniruddh, Sachin, and Hansraj retreated deeper into the forest, employing hit-and-run tactics. They used the bodies of fallen enemies as shields, dislodging weapons from their foes.

In the midst of this, an assassin managed to stab Hansraj in the thigh emerging from behind the bushes, while he was blocking a blow. An arrow whistled through the air, piercing the assassin's torso, and Sachin bashed his shield onto the assailant, driving his sword into the man's chest.

"ARGH!" Hansraj screamed, bleeding profusely from his thigh.

"SACHIN, DON'T LOSE FOCUS! THERE ARE ENEMIES LEFT!" Aniruddh shouted, gripping his sword tightly.

Sachin, eyes wide with concern, quickly moved to protect his brother, fending off more attackers. Naiki, from her vantage point, continued to provide cover, picking off any enemy that dared to approach.

"COVER HANSRAJ AND GET TO SAFETY! NAIKI, PROVIDE COVER FOR SACHIN TO RETREAT!" Aniruddh's scream echoed through the forest.

In front of Aniruddh stood three assassins dressed in all black, their eyes alert and focused on their target.

One assassin lunged at him, swinging a blade towards his side. Aniruddh quickly ducked and stepped outward, sprinting in the opposite direction of Sachin and Hansraj. Aniruddh was scanning the terrain around him looking for hidden enemies.

' Considering their desperate attempt they seem to be the last men,' he thought taking a sharp turn behind a rock, then turned to face the assassin, narrowly dodging a swing aimed at his neck.

The assassin's blade whistled past his ear, and Aniruddh used the momentum to his advantage. He grabbed the assassin's wrist, twisted it, and drove his sword into the assassin's side. The man gasped, eyes wide with shock, before taking his last breath.

Aniruddh blocked a stab from another assassin using the body of the one he had just killed, pushing the corpse onto the attacker and trapping the sword in the ribs of the dead body. He pulled out a dagger hidden in his thigh and swiftly stepped aside, stabbing the struggling assassin in the neck. The blade pierced the neck with insane precision, splashing blood like a sprinkler onto his clothes.

The final assassin, seeing his comrades defeated, hesitated. Aniruddh seized the moment, closing the distance and delivering a precise punch to the assassin's chin. The man crumpled to the ground.

"YOU DAMN BASTARDS, WON'T LET ME SLEEP FOR A BIT!" Aniruddh yelled, as he got on top of the crumbled man, stabbing the assassin's face multiple times in a rage. Blood spit out like a fountain, and the lifeless body twitched with every stab.

"HA! ALL OF THEM ARE DEAD NOW. I can finally rest," he muttered, soaked in blood and mucus from the repeated stabbing. Breathing heavily, Aniruddh wiped his blade clean and scanned the area. The immediate threat was neutralized.

Meanwhile, arrows flew through the air with deadly precision. Naiki's cover fire allowed Sachin to safely drag Hansraj into the cover of the dense forest. They finally found a small, concealed clearing where they could take a breather. Sachin quickly tended to Hansraj's wound, using a torn piece of cloth to bandage his thigh and staunch the bleeding.

Aniruddh and Naiki joined them after clearing all the remaining enemies.

"How's Hansraj?" Aniruddh asked, his voice steady but filled with concern.

"He's stable for now," Sachin replied, tightening the makeshift bandage. "But we need to get him proper medical attention soon."

Naiki kept her bow at the ready, scanning the surroundings for any further threats. "We should move to a safer location and find a doctor," she suggested.

"Before we leave, we need to destroy any traces of us being here," Aniruddh ordered.

"Sachin, come with me to the hut to gather our things. Naiki, take care of Hansraj while we clear the traces."

They walked slowly, catching their breath and navigating back to the guest house in Neelapalli village.

Sachin voiced his concern, "Your Highness, this has already been the second attempt this week."

"It's nothing new," Aniruddh replied with a grim expression. "That bastard of an uncle sees me as an eyesore."

"Father is also not in the right mind," he continued. "He's just a puppet, while my uncle and the prime minister control the kingdom. Of course, they wouldn't want to lose control."

As they reached the guest house, they found it eerily silent. Aniruddh and Sachin quickly gathered their belongings, ensuring they left no trace behind.

Aniruddh glanced around, ensuring no evidence was left behind. "Leave two gold coins for the trouble, on the bed," he instructed, wanting to show a token of gratitude for the village's unknowing hospitality.

Sachin complied, placing the coins on the bed inside the guest house before rejoining Aniruddh.

"Don't you have the Kasim Sultanate's crest swords that we got off those soldiers for a good price?" Aniruddh asked.

"Yes, what about it?" Sachin looked puzzled.

"We can't dispose of the bodies, and the Vijayanagara Empire will be catching up to us if we don't deal with them properly," Aniruddh explained.

"So instead of disposing of them, we'll make them look like assassins from the Kasim Sultanate who failed. Stab their bodies with those swords and leave them in their hands or close to them,"

Sachin nodded, understanding the plan. "Take any belongings that show they are from our kingdom," Aniruddh added.

"Understood, Your Highness," Sachin replied.

They quickly set to work, leaving two gold coins on the bed as a token of gratitude for the village's unknowing hospitality. Sachin and Aniruddh then planted the Kasim Sultanate swords near the bodies of the assassins, making it appear as though they were invaders from the rival kingdom.

They also removed any belongings that could trace the assassins back to their kingdom.

Once the task was complete, Aniruddh took one last look around to ensure everything was in place. "Let's go," he said.

' Hopefully, this will buy us time from the 'That prince', ' Aniruddh thought, stroking his chin.

The night was far from over, but they had managed to evade immediate danger. Aniruddh's mind was already working on their next steps, determined to stay ahead of those who sought to end his life. They later met up with Naiki and Hansraj began to move elsewhere.

The group then slipped into the forest towards their destination, leaving behind a scene that would mislead any pursuers and buy them precious time.

Author thoughts

Just felt like releasing this chapter as well :)))