Chương 20: According As Planned

Drake let my face go and I giggled again. Trying to make it look natural. Dragging my eyes away from Drake, I watched as the General and his men stood. All bowing in greeting as the King made his way towards the table. A very tall man with golden locks that twisted down his face. Leather straps crossed over his back with a giant sword protruding from his cloak. A red fleece cloak dragged behind him, I couldn't get a good view of his front as his back was to me. He sat down after greeting the gentlemen, waving a server over to him.

"Sorry about my late arrival. I was held up with court duties." The King's voice was dark and dead. Even his voice would scare babies. A fit voice for the Tyrants right hand man. The King was a notorious dealer of pretty much everything bad. A black market if you will. You wanted something illegal, you could easily obtain it through him. It was where he got most of the drugs he used on me.

"That's alright. Do you have what we asked for?" The General asked leaning against the table. The King dark laughter filled me with dread am shuddered.

"Yes yes. King Harold of the Eastern Kingdom has...more or less bent a knee to our cause. As soon as we threatened their daughter, they where all to willing to supply their goods. Their iron and gold will is ours for the taking." I leaned. closer, practically hugging Drake. I whispered in his ear as they continued to talk. What would they need gold and Iron for? Didn't they have their own stock?

"Good. That last mine was wiped clean. His Majesty is going to need as much as he can for that Secret project of his." I stopped whispering to Drake, my body tensing under him. That damned Project. What where they planning. "As soon as we get enough materials, we will kill them off. He does not wish to have loose ends. It's already bad enough that our General and her bitch brother disappeared under our noses. Drakos is so obsessed over his little toy. It's absolutely maddening." The General slammed his cup against the table. How touching that he thought of me often, and how ironic that I was sitting just a few feet away.

"You think that is bad? Some hooded freak has been uprooting all my caravans to our neighboring trade centers. It's so hard to get the drugs he has been requesting because of it. You may be looking for a bitch, but I am dealing with not getting my head cut off." The King said angrily throwing a cup of brown liquid back. He practically swallowed it in one gulp. Drake casually rubbed my back. I still hadn't picked up whispering to him yet, wondering if they would continue talking about the Secret Project. I glanced toward Jaden, who was leaning against the table and quietly talking to the others. If I stared at them long enough I could make out who they where. But I couldn't focus on that now, they where still talking.

"Aye, he has been a thorn in our side too. But he isn't the only hooded man running around. We have had multiple attacks on our bases significantly at the same time. Four hooded men is what we found. Dressed similarly to us so they damn well blend in. It's been a struggle to replace our help. We have had to take over many villages just to train new blood." The General grumbled. Four hooded men? But I only ever saw the three. Henchman, Master, and Drake. Who could the fourth man possibly be?

"For that Secret Project right?" The King asked, his voice raised with question. Was this where I found out what it was for? What I was training to be?

"It won't matter unless we have the missing General. He won't say why other than that she plays an important role in his plan for domination. So our key to success is her. We will find out where they are hiding eventually. She is helpless when it comes to her brother so we will use that against her. All I know is that we need to find her before we attack the Eastern Kingdom. He wants it done in a month." I nervously swallowed as I continued to listen. Sebastion was now in danger because of me. What would I tell him? Was Jaden listening as well? If he was still poking around the Guild, maybe I could convince him to sneak around and gather more information. I know it was a lot to ask since this was practically treason, but if they where so adamant like myself, we could bring him down from the inside out. Knowing I had all I was going to get, I turned my attention to Drake. He sat patiently, his hood hiding his face and expression

"We should go. We have what we need." I spoke as I turned to Jaden. His hood facing me. I could feel his eyes boring into my face as I rose. I knew he would hunt me down, I just hoped he wouldn't make it obvious as he could be occasionally reckless when he wanted something. It has been three years since I seen my old team, and I knew they would have questions. The exact reason I hoped I wouldn't run into them. So I quickly grabbed Drake's hand and led him through the dark tavern. He was quiet, watching me frantically claw our way out. Once we stepped off the porch I let him go, bounding down the steps, anxiety pulsing through me.

Now I just needed to figure out what to tell Drake. He would obviously have questions about my sudden lack of information, and about the little group that sat next to us so closely. I didn't want him to think that my loyalty was going to change, or had changed, or never changed. Thanks to Jaden being so suspicious, I knew he would drill me. As we got further from the Tavern, I felt Drake grasp my hand and roughly drag me into the dark alley way. I recognized it immediately as the one that I led them through that night they asked to recruit me, how ironic was that?

I felt myself trip under his rough treatment and he caught me, but not before slamming me against the wall and pinning my hands behind my back. I felt myself panic and tense under his sudden mood change. Ah shit Aria, what the hell where you going to do now? Clearly you pissed him off, again.

"You will start talking, and you will talk now. Do I make myself clear?" He demanded, his tone dark and dangerous. Surprisingly I found myself getting aroused by his rough touch. Our bodies pressed tightly together in the dimly lit alley way.

"It's not what you think! Those Assassin's at the table noticed me yes, but they are allies. They are devoted to me and to me only. They want Drakos dead as much as I want him dead. This is the first time in three years I had seen them, and I told them to lay low!" I hissed loudly as I heard running footsteps. I struggled against Drake's grip, knowing that if they saw me pinned up against the wall, they would have no problems shredding him.

"You are with holding information as well. Why?" He demanded, oblivious to the danger he was in. I sighed and glared at him. The running was getting closer and he finally noticed. His grip loosened as they came into view. Five Assassins dressed in black advancing on us. While he was caught off guard I twisted free from his grip. I placed myself between him and the others, blocking them from attacking.

"Enough! Stand down." I growled angrily. I watched as they in unison skidded to a halt. They where silent, waiting. I knew it was dangerous, but I pulled down my my mask and hood revealing my face. I heard a whispered gasp, and then a joyous shrill cry. The smallest of the group, Maya gleefully charged at me, practically skipping as she threw herself at me. I couldn't help the smile that erupted from my face as she collided with me. I wrapped my arms tightly around her. We may have been the same age, but she was such a child.

"You bitch, you left us here to worry about you! First you vanish for two months and when you do reappear you killed so many of his men! Only to disappear again after words. We all thought you where dead!" She wailed into my chest. I rolled my eyes as I stroked her hair, trying to soothe her tantrum.

"Maya, do not speak to you General like that." Alliah hissed as she grabbed her shoulders and peeled her off me. I readjusted my uniform, not able to hide the smile that lit upon my face.

"You look good kid. It really has been awhile!" Jaden said throwing off his hood. His brown shaggy hair flopping around as his hood fell. His gray eyes didn't hide the fact that he was pissed, but he still smiled anyways as he closed the distance between us. I held my arms out to him as he embraced me, ruffling my hair in the process. I would kill him later for messing up my hair. "Who is the dude with his hand on the blade?" He added nonchalantly. I abruptly pushed Jaden away and turned to him, briefly forgetting he was there.

"We need to find a quiet place to talk. There are too many prying eyes, and I have some...unpleasant information." I said as I watched Drake and Jaden stare each other down. They where both going to give me a headache if they didn't stop this.

"Can we trust him?" Jaden hissed angrily. I threw my arm up against his chest as he tried to step towards him. I wouldn't know how Drake would react if Jaden got into his bubble, but something told me it wouldn't be very pleasant to watch. Drake's temper was almost like my own, and when the bubble popped, it wasn't a pretty show. At least that was what his body language screamed. I placed myself between Drake and Jaden to put distance between them.

"Enough. You can trust me, and that is the only answer you need. Stop this before you cause a scene and we get unwanted guests." I growled again. Jaden seemed unfazed as he continued to glare down Drake.

"He had you pinned against the wall General, how can I trust a man who only wishes to hurt you?" His tone was dark, menacing. I could see the murderous stare in his eyes. Could I just turn back time and forget this ever happened?

"It was a misunderstanding Jaden so stop this. That is an order soldier." He tore his gaze from Drake and stared down at me. With a sigh he took a step back. Without knowing I was holding my breath, I felt my muscles relax slightly.

"Come on, I know a place we can talk. Drakos's lackeys' wont bother us." Alliah placed a gentle hand on Jaden. He gave a firm nod before pulling his hood back over his head. I pulled my mask over my face and as I watched them leave. A small headache throbbed gently and I couldn't help put rub my forehead, stressed of the mess that unfolded before me. I felt a soft hand fall on my shoulder and I looked up, weary. Drake had pulled his hood down, anger brewing in his eyes.

"Aria, look-" I cut him off with a wave of my hands. I didn't want to listen to his apologies because I would have acted the same way. Did I not once threaten to kill them all with a quick slice of my blade. I was just on the receiving end of my actions.

"Let's just go. I won't say anything about our small group, but they need to know just as much as you do about what I heard. The sooner we are done here, the better. I don't want to risk getting caught. Especially because....nevermind. Let's go." Because I was the most wanted woman alive for what ever dark thing Drakos had planned. I wondered if it had to deal with his threat for my to bear his child. But that would be absurd. I started to walk away from him, but he grabbed my arm and pulled me to him. I stood still as he wrapped his arms around me, crushing me to him.

"I am sorry I acted out. I let my emotions get the better of me because I fear for you. You have been pushing yourself so much lately. I know you are trying to prove yourself to me and you don't have to. I will do better to trust your judgement over my feelings." His feelings? What kind of feelings?

"We can talk about this later. Come on before they get a second wind and try cutting out your throat. Like I said, they are loyal to only me. I was just lucky that Jaden listened to me this time." I moaned and pushed away from him. I would have to work especially harder to keep Jaden's blades out of his body. I only ever fought with my team, not against them.

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