Kapitel 26: 25: May You Rest in Peace
Beta'd by SnowyEgrett
From the horizon, a carriage zoomed into sight as the person driving the carriage urged the horse to run faster.
Drystan clenched the reins tightly in his hands as he glanced back from time to time.
Nearly three hours had passed since the two of them had left the Yaxley Duchy. Adrastus might have slipped out of the scene and was probably on his way to the Church of Temperance in Oxford with Martin.
Up till now, their journey had passed without a hitch. But Drystan couldn't be too sure. Life was, after all, an unpredictable play.
They were about half an hour away from their destination. As long as they managed to rush into the Church and get Eleni married to Martin in the presence of Father, their pursuers wouldn't dare do anything.
And Duke Yaxley would have no other choice than to disown his daughter. Then, she would be free to be with Martin.
As their destination came closer, Drystan could hear Eleni's restless movements inside the carriage.
He turned his head slightly. “Are you tired, My Lady?“ He inquired.
Eleni denied firmly. “Keep going, Sir Drystan Meyer. I am fine.“
Drystan heaved a sigh and stopped the horses. As the animals stopped, the carriage came to a halt as well.
“We've been travelling non-stop for the past three hours. You must be tired,” he explained. “And if you aren't, then I am.“
Eleni let out an imperceptible breath of relief and shot him a tight-lipped smile.
Drystan jumped down from the coach man's quiet and dusted his dress. In this entire process, he had not found an opportunity to change into normal clothes.
He sighed, turning his neck and cracking it. Forget it. He would just burn it down once this was over.
A faint and distant rustling made him freeze for a split second.
What was that sound? Drystan doubtfully glanced at the carriage's window, but Eleni did not seem to notice the sound.
A shiver went down his spine as Drystan concentrated his senses on the faint sound.
For the first time in a while, Drystan was thankful to his uncle and grandfather for making him go through a hellish training.
Because that sound wasn't his imagination or hallucinations. It was the sound of multiple carriages approaching them.
Drystan forced himself to move.
Judging from the sound and tremor of the ground, their only fortune was that the carriages were far enough for them to run away right now.
His mind worked in a rapid speed as he sprinted towards the carriage and quite literally hauled a very confused Eleni out. Placing a finger over his lips, he shushed her.
“No questions. Just listen to me and run into to the left,” he said, dragging her away from the carriage. “Run straight ahead into the forest and don't look back. I'll be right behind you.“
Eleni frowned in concern but did not raise unnecessary questions and ran in the direction he pointed.
In a brief moment of hesitation, her steps paused.
“Go!“
Eleni's eyes shone with tears as she nodded, turned around and said. “Follow me soon.“
Drystan nodded, turning to the horses, he hurriedly freed them from their restraints and watch them gallop into a different direction from Eleni.
Sighing in slight relief, he looked at the carriage and calculated the time.
“It's enough time to incinerate this,” he muttered to himself and jumped into action.
Seemingly out of the blue, he procured a bottle and drew out a backsword from his back.
With decisive ruthlessness, he hacked down the carriage into pieces, put away the sword and emptied the content of the bottle on the wreckage.
Only he knew how he had managed to set the carriage alight. Drystan shook his head as he ran to the direction Eleni did, leaving behind dark smoke rising behind him.
It would have been a foolish idea, because the rising smoke would have alerted their pursuers of their position. However, according to his calculation, by the time Duke Yaxley's men did reach the place from where the smoke would be visible, the carriage would already be nothing but a pile of cold ashes.
So that was nothing to worry about.
Drystan ran through the forest behind Eleni as the noble lady panted, out of breath. That was understandable. Growing up, she never have had to face such a situation.
Drystan ran up to her, his gait remarkably steady for someone wearing knived heels.
Grabbing a hold of her arm, Drystan looked at her.
“Let me lead,” he whispered to her. “And do not panic.“
“Why, because we are being followed?“ She asked nonchalantly.
Drystan nodded. “Yes. Now from here, go right and go through a narrow trail. It will lead you to the Church's backyard.“
Eleni looked at him with a frown, she opened an closed her mouth before speaking.
“Why is that connected to Church?“ She asked. “And what about you?“
“It is a hidden trail,” Drystan answered, his dress fluttering beautifully as he ran by her side. “It used to be my ancestors property, one of the previous generation Marquesses donated the building to the Church. I will tell you other things in detail later. Go, now. They are drawing near. I'll stop them. As I said before, don't look back unless you want to be traumatised.“
Eleni gave a stiff nod, she didn't want to become a hindrance to him but she hoped for his safety.
“One, two, three!“ Drystan counted as he let go of her arm and gave her a push before turning around and running back.
Eleni decisively ran through the coordinates he had given her.
Unable to resist her restless urge to look back, she turned around.
— And oh, did she wish she hadn't?
As soon as she turned her head to have a look at Drystan, she saw the man charge at a person. His dress fluttered as he drew out a sword and lunged at the person.
He seemed to have become the embodiment of doom.
Eleni froze as soon as she saw blood splashing on Drystan, colouring his dress and face in hot red.
Her body refused to move and she bitterly regretted turning around.
Away from her, Drystan launched a sequence of attacks at his opponent and parried his attacks.
Suddenly, in middle of the fight, Drystan threw out his free arm and a bladed fan whizzed through the air—
— towards her.
Eleni's heartbeats roared in her ears as she hastily dodged the fan and ducked.
After that, Drystan stopped paying attention to her and focused on his opponent.
Eleni trembled as she sluggishly turned around and saw the fan lodged into the throat of a man who'd sneaked behind her at some point.
The bright red blood was gushing out of the corpse's throat as Eleni stared at the dead body in daze. Her face was pallid in fear and shock.
“What are you doing?!“ Drystan roared as he thrusted his sword at the attacker and kicked at him ruthlessly. “I said run, Eleni Yaxley!“
Eleni shivered as she turned around and made a run for it. Her hands trembled as she sprinted away from the fight.
She needed to run away. Drystan wanted her to.
Drystan watched Eleni's back disappear from his line of sight and then focused his attention on his enemy.
Drystan lunged at him and slashed the assailant's arm, the cut gushed with blood. The assailant grunted.
“For a man dressed in women's clothes, you sure do put up a fight!“
Drystan sneered. “I can and will kill you.“
The man let out a guttural laugh and swept the blade at his legs. Drystan jumped and dodged the attack, then kicked the man's guts.
With his breath kicked out of him, the man instinctively pressed a hand against the sharp pain that shot through him.
“What the fuck?!“ The man swore, looking at his blood stained hand in shock.
Drystan smirked devilishly and laughed. “You thought my only weapon was this?“ He held the sword. “Enough fooling around, I have a wedding to attend,” he face turned cold as the British winter. “Enjoy your trip to hell.“
He lunged and slit the man's throat.
As the attacker gripped his neck, he stared at Drystan, blood seeping through his fingers. He staggered and croaked.
“You...“ he pointed the other hand's finger at the man who was awash in his blood, his face was stained with blood, his clothes soaked in blood, the red liquid splattered across his face and dress, leaving dark stains on it.
But most importantly, his eyes. His eyes looked at the dying man with detached indifference and cold apathy.
It was as though he wasn't looking at a man who was being stripped of his life but rather an already dead corpse.
“You... Are a de, devil.“ The man accused him with his final breathe.
Drystan closed his eyes, remorse in his dark amber irises shone as he took a deep breath.
“I shall see you in hell, warrior,” he sighed, drawing a cross respectfully. “May you rest in peace.“ He quickly stood up with the help of his sword and limped towards his destination.
Pausing beside the second assailant, he pulled out his fan and snapped it shut before walking away.
This wedding couldn't afford another delay.
The Marquess dragged his sword on the floor as he left behind a scene of bloodbath and carnage.
His own wounds, however old or new, remained unattended, festering.
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Author has something to say:
Author: Sorry if the action sequence sucks, I have almost no experience in writing action. Also, this novel will be paywalled soon!
I hope you will accompany me through this journey!
Geschenke
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Rangliste 
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