บท 57: Feathers of deception
Bare feet ran over the cold, rough stones, aching as seconds ticked away.
Throat wheezing with every step he took, Adrain kept running, every minute crucial in this role of cat and mouse.
After ages stuck inside the castle he should be glad at all the fresh air he was getting but right now he wanted nothing else but to stay inside.
Loose shirts and pants made it so he felt every breeze as strong as it came, there was no protection from the cold. A cold that left him freezing.
His grip on his sword faltered ever so slightly, all concentration needed so that he didn't lose it accidentally.
Biting cold was one factor, barefoot landing roughly upon different stones yet another but what really made it all worse was the sack full of stones, dangling from his shoulder.
With his left hand, he barely kept a hold on the heavy load, knowing very well that if he were to lose one all would be over.
''Is this really..''a dry cough made it's way in between his words. ''necessary?''
Quick footsteps surrounded him, echoing all around before seemingly intertwining with the silence, as if that was all there ever was and is.
Limbs heavy, Adrian carefully twisted, barely blocking the other's sword.
"Don't you think this is a little unfair?''
His own body shivered from the cold, trembling as his effort increased to try and keep going yet Cyra was smiling like this was all just a goddamn breeze.
**Wich** it most likely was for her since she wasn't dragging tons of stones with her or maybe it was the simple fact that she was wearing warm clothes, unbothered by the cold.
Pushing away, Adrian bounced on his bare feet, throwing his sword at his opponent in a downwards cut.
Strengthening his grip on his sword, Adrian pushed befores stumbling as Cyra removed herself completely.
He was tired, tiring out rapidly but had no choice but to continue.
Toes gripped onto wet, cold grass before dashing away from the stone path laid out.
Eyes flashed around before picking an open field not that far away. "All this just for fighting.''
"Who said anything about fighting? More like a hunt and what a prize I will receive."
Chuckling at her remark, he ducked seconds later as an arrow wooshed above him, the system's flaring message in front of him alerting him.
A function he didn't know he had but one that had saved his life dozens of times already.
Skidding to a stop in the middle of the clearing, Adrian waited with baited breath for the confrontation that would come.
A confrontation that he wouldn't win, a fact he was well aware of as exhaustion settled in more, lack of real experience holding him back even more.
No matter if his body was used to it, his mind and soul wasn't!
With wide eyes, he twirled sideways, an arrow now lodged in a tree far behind him.
Expecting another he readied himself, and he was right to do so as a message came to life in front of him. Alerting him of danger behind.
Body moving faster than ever he flung himself sideways yet again, sword thrusting through the air where he had been standing.
''Good instincts!
Let's see how long they will save you.''
Evading again, Adrian and Cyra danced for what seemed like ages.
Blocking, cutting and clashing swords happened in a flurry of movements.
The clanging of swords and breaths of exhaustion and effort echoed around the clearing, clothes aligning in a firy combo of black and red, swishing through air as they twisted and fought.
Before ultimately the end came, Adrian crashed down after a misplaced footstep.
Body hitting the ground painfully as Cyra smirked victoriously, sword pointed directly at his neck in seconds.
"Ouch!" Exaggerated, Adrian groaned out as Cyra's foot stepped on his wrist, leading him to unclench his hands and letting Cyra immediately kick his sword away, far out of reach.
"Admit defeat!"
Leaning away farther as her sword cut deeper Adrian rasped out. ''I admit defeat."
perfectly aware of his racking honeyed eyes, he licked his lips in appreciation at the sweaty person standing over him. Whatever it was that held him back just days ago, vanished like snow in front of the sun.
''Tch, seducing me with your looks.''
''Is it working?''
"Oh definitely."
Letting her entire weight fall upon him, Cyra tooka advantage of the slight wince and kissed him.
"This would be so much easier if you would remove your sword."
Her lips smirked against his as she drawled out. ''And let my prey escape? No chance!"
''Then at least don't put your weight on me like that.''
''Are you calling me fat, prey?''
"With these muscles, god forbid no.
But still...''
"Shut it, my pretty prey.''
Getting silenced by flushed lips, Adrian smiled in the kiss as aggressive hands graced over his arms. His own fingers trailing her muscled arm, before disappearing in her jacket.
Goosebumps appeared more and more as he traced her scarred skin, mere fact causing his eyes to gleam in satisfaction.
Curious as to the story behind every single one, tracing them gently made Cyra groan upon his lips.
Her own hands wandering underneath his shirt, pulling it up more and more, annoyed expression at the bite mark that was still visible, sweat having erased the make up.
''They don't just vanish in a day, hun."
Just when she was about to retaliate at the humor in his voice, another amused sound came from the opposite direction.
''Well, this is what I call a training!''
With a raise of her lips Cyra got up and welcomed her teacher, who immediately slapped his hands on her shoulder as his eyes gleamed in satisfaction. ''I thought you welln discipline of mine."
Rolling his eyes, Adrian finally got rid of the sack full of rocks.
"Told you, she would swoon you."
''Yeah, yeah, since when were you watching?"
"Since you ran here, I'm still pondering over whether it was a smart decision or not."
"Seeing as she was using the surrounding as her advantage, left me at a clear advantage.''
Cyra was practically basking in the words she took as compliments.
''The trees could have given you cover.''
"I wasn't going to win anyways, I might as well try and even the odds on a more personal level.
None of her arrows could hit me so if she wanted to do something she had to get out of the trees and within physical distance."
"Did you find it unfair? The stones, clothes or the fact you only had one weapon. So many disadvantages for you.''
''No, it was hard but it's a teaching lesson. In life everything is rarely fair."
"Wise.''
Silence descended, both Cyra and Adrian patiently waited on Seriwen, who said nothing.
Glancing around and afterwards discreetly in front of him, a screen appeared with the time.
Four?!!
Swallowing maybe a little too rapidly, he already was preparing for June's summary of worry.
"It's late, I need to go.
I'll be back...in a few days."
He should finish with the other houses first and hopefully within a few weeks he can set up the spell.
* * *
Yawning, Acacius could barely focus, mind fogged considerably, unable to properly function.
Mainly because all the sleep he had those past weeks could be counted on his two hands, another reason was the very annoying rambling of his servant.
''...and you wouldn't even be so tired if you took better care of yourself, in fact as the emperor and the ruler you ought to know better...''
His not so smart servant was complaining...no..was scolding him. Not surprising considering he had even snooped around his office thoroughly, same with his bedroom.
Ofcourse Acacius knew why, still recording everything his servant did.
Which was why he had carefully hidden a document inside his secret compartment. June was aware of the compartment's existence so it would have been stupid if he didn't look.
Which he did, he even took it, not bothering with replacing it with a decoy. Merely acting as if he knew nothing when questioned if he saw the role, which he of course didn't.
He had seemingly and smoothly taken back the position as his servant, not even mentioning his time cleaning and such.
Not that he stopped bringing him various snacks like meals with tea.
Either way the boy was doing his job and had already sent a package containing the document to the division of spies.
The first of the two, Acacius reckoned June's own package must be on it's way to the castle.
A chance to unveil the truth.
The words that had been written on the paper his servant had received.
Who knew being a little manipulative and showing weakness here and there would leave him getting scolded for ages.
"Even with healthy food and lots of rest we are still all going to die.
So I don't see why you're bringing this all up."
The mention of dying didn't ease June's worries, for a spy he was very emotional.
"Don't even get me started on food, you barely eat. And what you eat is play pretend!"
"Your one to talk, if you are also done with this play pretend then you can leave.''
As nonchalant as he could, he waved towards the door. Not even trying to give the other another thought.
''I'm not playing pretend!'' It came out harsher than June intended yet he stood tall.
"Surely that means that I'm eating my fill?" Someone give him the same confidence, please. Snarling at your emperor like that, the nerve.
''I saw it, the way you continuously threw food away so people believe you ate.''
He didn't, infact, throw away the food. He kept them in a separate sack in the bin and later distributed them to people from the poorer regions of his empire.
Another reason why he arrived later and later, to the point of getting no sleep at all.
Acacius' continuous dismissal was obviously making the other fired up.
''You must have been seeing things."
"I know what I saw!
How long have you been doing that for huh?!''
Confronting?
''Presumptuous, why would I, an emperor, act like that?''
''Weeks, months or even years?! It has, hasn't it?''
Baffled, Acacius pursed his mouth and for just a second a flash of something was seen sparking in the other's eyes.
''Your silence says enough, it's been years and only now the truth's coming above water.''
Nose crunching in visible annoyance, Acacius dismissed the other entirely.
"Or more like you're losing your edge.''
''Have you lost your mind!?"
"Is it because you're sick?"
''You don't know what you're saying.''
It was clear that his words were becoming a last ditch effort.
''I don't?
How about the times you puked, where you discreetly acted like nothing happened or the blood that dripped from your nose every now and then.''
''All that waiting combined with sleepless nights, while I was off having fun, must have made you sick and delusional. Seeing things that aren't there.''
''Fun?
Don't lie to me, you can barely look at those recurring marks, you hide them as if they were the devil's curse. Marks that always appear on only one particular day.''
''Be very, very careful now.'' His voice was made of anger and tension. ''You are crossing a line, June."
The mention of his name left June surprised but even that lasted for just a second as he whispered.
"It was her, wasn't it?''
It was a whisper and nonetheless it echoed around the room.
''Shut your mouth!'' Fist slamming on the table, Acacius pushed his chairs backs. Shaking in his anger that he pulled over himself.
''Your highness, I didn't even mention a name. So why did you react so heavily, so out of character.''
Victory pulled at June's mouth as his own opened in realisation.
His blackish robe swished over the ground as he went towards his servant, even with his brave attitude there was a flash of fear. Hands trembling as they closed unconsciously.
His shaky yet somewhat strong and put together voice continued talking. ''She is the one pulling the strings, you're just a puppet getting used.
Staring him down with darkened eyes, Acacius replied. ''Puppet? I wonder if you'll say the same in the dungeon!''
June tried to say more words but the mumble was anything but comprehendable. Not that he had any more time to speak as Acacius' hand clenched around his throat.
Tighter and tighter until he felt the other weaken considerably, the consequences of his actions and words.
''Quards."
Not a second later the guards entered, a look of confusion between the hanging servant and Acacius.
Letting go with a harsh look, he commanded them to throw him in the dungeon until he said otherwise.
''Yes, your highness."
A slow cough came from June as he was picked up, clearly he was trying to speak but before he could Acacius spoke for him.
''You better keep quiet, only that way you can keep your life and that of your sister."
A look that could only be described as acceptance crossed the still pale face yet if you looked closely the glimmer of victory was still there, now coupled with defiance.
Joy.
Slamming the door close behind them, he watched the screen show the guards doing their jobs.
It wouldn't take long before rumours will fly to every corner of the castle before ultimately leaving to find more minds to fill.
The ruckus it would cause, he actually couldn't wait to hear all the theories from fan and foe alike.
A knock on his door had Acacius leaving his future plans for another time.
Sighing loudly he assumed his position of a tired, conflicted person at his desk. Hands circling around his temple in worry as he called out for the person to come in.
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