As the sun began to rise over the horizon, painting the sky in breathtaking shades of reds and purples, I found myself leaning against a wooden post on the training grounds. My unit's ring stretched out behind me as I watched the clouds scattered across the painted sky. The journey to Cloudwing Base will take us a about two days, depending on the weather and our ability to avoid straggling bandits along the way. I have already gathered all the supplies we might need and placed them by my front door, ready to be summoned when we need to set up camp for the evenings. My ears perked up at the sound of approaching footsteps just beyond the stairs that led to the training grounds.
"She's going to kick your ass, you know she hates gifts." Jasmine mused as she ascended the steps.
"Nah, she loves me too much." Felix countered, and I could hear the smile in his voice, causing me to bite back a smile.
"I bet you 10 gold marks she's going to put it in a drawer and never use it." Matthew mused.
"You're on." Jasmine countered, and I snorted as they reached the landing to the grounds.
"You idiots are late." I shot and I drew my attention to them as they approached, clad in matching black fighting leathers like mine.
"You said we leave at 7, but it's 6:45. I'd say we're early." Matthew cooed, his voice always reminded me of cats in heat - slightly crackly and hoarse. Before I could say anything, Felix reached out to smack his second against the back of his head, rolling his eyes.
"That's a sure way to have your ass kicked." Felix added before they reached me and extended a small wrapped box. "A welcome back gift." I eyed the delicately wrapped present, raising an eyebrow before locking eyes with Jasmine. She had a small grin, waiting for me to react in my usual way to a gift. It's true, I don't like them. I have little interest in gifts. I don't need them. Everything I needed was already on me, strapped to my thigh and sheathed at my sides in leather holsters. I met Felix's expectant gaze and let out a deep sigh before taking the present from his outstretched hand. I might not like them, but I dislike seeing my friends' hurt expressions even more.
"You know how I feel about these, Felix." I shook the present next to my ear, hoping to catch the faintest sound that might reveal its contents.
"I think you'll like this one." He said nothing more as he shoved his hands into his pockets, waiting. I dug one of my long, black painted nails into the wrapping, ripping it in one smooth motion. It was a small, grey cardboard box. The lid barely fit over the base when I flicked it off. My brow shot up at the silver band inside. A necklace? I carefully pulled the silver jewelry piece from the foam interior, holding it up to the sunlight breaking over the tree canopy. The band was thin with a small clasp at the top and a small dagger dangling at the bottom. A dagger matching the ones in my earlobes perfectly. I fought the smile threatening to spread across my lips as I leveled a stare at Felix. I could see the anticipation in Matthew's blue eyes as he waited for me to pocket it, but I quickly worked the clasp and fastened it around my neck. I fought a smirk at the way Jasmine clasped her hands together before extending one to Matthew, expecting her payment. He whispered a curse before fishing out the gold marks from his pocket and handed them to Jasmine.
"Thank you, kindly." She mused before pocketing the money, and I gave Felix a curt nod in thanks, causing his brown eyes to sparkle like stars.
"Can we go now?" I mumbled, and they all nodded in agreement. Jasmine fell into step to my right, and Felix to my left, leaving a brooding Matthew to follow behind us.
"You owe me half of that." I whispered to Jasmine, and she rolled her eyes before fishing out five gold marks and sliding them into the pocket of my leather pants. "Good girl." I could see the blush on her cheeks from the praise. She always had a thing about praising and I wasn't above leveraging it from time to time.
Once we reached the forest edge, we all broke out into a sprint, our booted feet pounding against the forest floor before our skin began to prick, our bodies shifting to allow the wolf to take control. A heartbeat passed, and the sound of paws in the dirt filled the air as we moved through the forest, with yips and barks of excitement cutting into the quiet morning. I ran in the front, my red wolf purring with delight to be let out. Jasmine's gray wolf stays close to my side, always within reach. Felix's black wolf was to my left; he had patches of grey throughout his dark fur, as if the sun had bleached a few spots over the years. Matthew's cream-colored wolf trailed behind. During our travels, we always used a diamond formation to protect ourselves from all sides. We swerved around trees and bushes, always staying in formation and never drifting farther than a few feet from each other. Felix let out a low howl, sending a few birds scattering into the blue sky, and the rest of us mimicked him. My claws dug into the dirt as we ran, kicking up stones and roots along the way. Another low howl emanated from deeper within the woods, to our left. A scout. Informing us that they are aware of us leaving. A few small critters jumped from our path as we ran by, and Felix playfully nipped at my hind leg, causing Jasmine to growl in response. She was my second after all, but I glanced over to see the playful glint in their eyes before I swerved around a large tree.
We ran for almost an hour before we emerged from the forest into the open, rolling hills of the midlands. The Molten Stream river ran through the middle of the continent. The water of the river originates from the melting snow on the Strattham mountains, with the main road running alongside it. The road branches off into smaller roads leading to towns and other clan territories. We passed over a few hills, bounding over smaller bushes and trees that were still growing, as we made our way to the main road. The road was pretty quiet most of the way, with only a few carts and travelers on horseback. The horses bucked when we passed, nearly knocking a few humans or lesser fae from their backs. Several towns were scattered along the main road, all human settlements. Some towns are bustling with life, some are nearly run down from bandits over the years, and some are completely deserted with roofless townhouses. A handful of squatters can be seen making fires next to broken doors and shattered walls.
We ran for most of the first day, only stopping occasionally to drink water from the river and hunt small creatures that dared to wander from the safety of the forest before we were running again. By the time we reached the Vicepath Canal, the sun had started to set, painting the sky in shades of purple and pink. The Vicepath Canal ran directly from the Dunmar Ocean and stopped short of the northern part of the Westpond Forest. A landmark indicating the boundary between human lands and Mountain Fae lands. Once we crossed it, we would officially be in the Mountain Fae territory. Jasper said one of their scouts would be waiting for us by the main road that led into their lands, so we stayed on the road until we reached the bridge that crossed the Vicepath canal. Felix passed me as I slowed to a trotting pace, Jasmine keeping up beside me, and Matthew taking Felix's spot on my left.
"Do you think the scout will be here already?" Jasmine mused beside me, shaking her fur.
"Jasper sent word that we'll be there around dusk." I answered, lifting my gaze to the sky. Small flecks of clouds still danced along the pink and purple hues of the sky, and my tongue darted out to lick the lingering blood on my muzzle from a rabbit I caught almost an hour ago. Felix came to a stop on top of the bridge, sitting down with a huff as he waited.
"We should make camp in the Northoak woods when we're done here." Matthew added as he trotted beside me, his head low to the ground. The Northoak woods didn't hold a candle to the Westpond forest; it was barely a fifth of the size and had a much different variety of game compared to those that roamed back home. Moose were especially common in this area, and I've always wanted to hunt one. They were nearly the size of our wolves, but the Mountain Fae didn't appreciate outsiders hunting their game. My ears perked up at the sound of feathers fluttering above us, and a humanoid eagle landed just beyond the bridge. Its yellow eyes zeroed in on us as we crossed the bridge, where Felix took his place to my left once more.
"Commander Sylvia." The eagle's voice was raspy, like a crackling fire.
"Jasper already sent word that we'd be coming." I answered, shaking out my fur.
"Yes, Ma'am. I will report to Cloudwing Base that you have entered our territory." With that, the eagle shot back into the sky, letting out a loud peal call in the process, and more answered deeper into the territory.
"I always hate that noise; it makes my ears feel like bleeding." Felix mumbled beside me as we stepped back onto the plush grass beside the canal.
"They say the same about our howls." Jasmine teased, shooting him a wolfish grin.
We all fell into a slow trot again over the small expanse of grass that led to the Northoak woods and came to a stop at a small clearing after a short walk. Fur and magic rippled around us as the wolf retreated beneath our skin. The leather felt cold against my heated body after hours of running, but the breeze felt crisp with the lingering snow-capped mountains in the distance. Helping to cool the sweat that clung to our bodies. We surveyed the area for a few minutes, focusing on any unusual sounds, with our hands close to the hilts of our blades. I rolled my shoulders once it was clear, the massive broadsword strapped against my back shifting with me. With a flick of my hand, our supplies appeared beside me. I reached down to grab the first tent and tossed it to Felix, who was lounging by one of the trees, while Jasmine grabbed the other.
"I'll start a fire." Matthew cooed as he kicked a small tree at the edge of the clearing, splintering the still-growing branches before breaking them off. I nodded before dropping down onto one of the rocks in the clearing, sighing at the scent of pine and catmint.
I don't know when I dozed off, but when I woke up, the fire was roaring in the middle of the camp, and the tents were set up beside each other. The three of them were laughing on a log they had pulled over to sit on. I quickly stood up and brushed the dirt from my leathers before sitting down beside Jasmine.
"You're awake. Want some?" Jasmine smiled, extending a skewered piece of rabbit.
"Don't mind if I do." I nodded my thanks before taking it and biting into the slightly charred meat.
"I'll take the first watch tonight." Felix added, licking his fingers still dripping with fat.
"Don't worry about it; I had a nap. I'll take the first watch." I countered, and he opened his mouth to object, but I leveled a stare at him, and he stopped himself. An owl hooted in the distance, perched on one of the many pine trees throughout the woods, and my ears twitched at the sound.
"Man, I love the sound of sleeping woods." Matthew mused, chucking his wooden skewer into the fire.
"It doesn't compare to the Westpond forest." Jasmine added, leaning into my side as her gaze settled on the fire licking at the wood. I instinctively curled an arm around her shoulder before finishing off the piece of rabbit, bone and all, and tossed my skewer into the flames.
"You guys should get some rest." I mumbled, planting a kiss on her chestnut hair before standing up and adjusting the broadsword on my back.
"Don't have to ask me twice." Jasmine cooed as she made her way to one of the tents, with Felix and Matthew following closely behind her towards the other. I stepped over the large log, making my way to the edge of the clearing, watching as the stars slowly started to blink into the dark blue sky.
"Hey, Syl?" I pivoted to look at Felix, who was lingering by the tent. "Wake me up in a few hours. You should get some rest too, just in case." I nodded and watched him slip into the tent. In case we're not the only clan heading over to Cloudwing Base. I'm sure each clan is curious to know what exactly was taken from the outpost. I doubt the Ocean Fae will make an appearance, but I am certain that we'll be running into the Desert Fae. I hope to Fachtua that Timos won't be there. The male always made me unnervingly angry. Son of High Lord Wyn Inahorn, known by his people as "The Animal." He was a real dick, having several human slaves over the years. Unfortunately, they rarely survived a year in his service, often enduring torture or abuse for minor infractions. I've heard about his most recent servant being burned at the stake for getting his dinner wrong. Fucking ass. I didn't care much for humans, but I still didn't like bullies. The lordling and I have gotten into multiple fights over the years. I've never lost a fight against him in my fae form. His scorpion was a deep black, absorbing the sunlight, and his exoskeleton made it hard for my fangs to penetrate. However, it never stopped me from leaving him with a few more scars. The poison in his tail has left me bedridden for two days, but I never cared, as long as he tapped out before the poison rendered me unconscious. You need to learn not to fight uphill battles. Jasper mentioned that the last time I got into it with Timos, but he still had a hint of a smile afterwards.
I settled down against a tree trunk, watching the forest beyond the camp. Seeing in the dark was easy for our kind, not as easy as in wolf form, but I am still able to make out the creatures scurrying along the forest floor. A few rabbits slipped into the camp, their noses twitching as they hopped closer to the fire, but quickly turned tail at the smell of the cooked rabbit lingering by the log.
I spent the next few hours watching and listening, keeping my breathing slow and controlled to focus more on my other senses, but the night was quiet. Lest for the hooting of owls or rustling of leaves in the trees. A small twig snapped to my right, and I was on my feet in seconds, with my broadsword in my hand. The cool leather of the hilt bit into my palm as I strained my hearing. Another snap, and I slipped behind the tree, out of sight. The smell of alcohol, sweet and fruity, mixed with sweat and metal. Bandits? I unsheathed a dagger at my side, holding the tip of the blade between my thumb and forefinger as I crouched down in the shadows of the tree. Several men stumbled into the clearing, each with a sword strapped to their side and one had a bottle clutched in his hand, one after the other. Only three. They wore tattered white shirts loosely tucked into their fabric pants, and their feet were covered in muddied boots. A small emblem was stitched onto the pocket of their shirts: a red hand and two crescent moons. Human rebels.
"We should burn the tents." The person holding the bottle whispered, pointing towards the tents where my friends were sleeping.
"They could be human too." Another countered, his eyes searching the darkness, but I was hidden.
"Doesn't matter, they're in the mountain bitch's territory. If we don't kill them, the eagle bastards will. We'll at least do it quickly, and if they are point ears, then it's a win-win." The one with the bottle mumbled, taking another swig from it.
"I'll go check." The shortest one tiptoed into the clearing. A small smile tugged at my lips as I pulled the dagger back and flicked it in the man's direction with deadly accuracy. The blade embedded into the man's side all the way to the hilt, eliciting an ear-piercing scream that sent goosebumps racing over my skin. Before the others could even react, I was upon them, moving faster than any human could track, my broadsword cutting cleanly through the first man's neck. His head thumped onto the ground at my feet, and the bottle shattered as I threw the blade at the last man, hitting him square in the chest. The force of the throw sends the man hurtling towards a tree, the tip of my broadsword embedding into the trunk with the man dangling from the blade, already dead. Another scream tore through the air as the others rushed from their tents, swords drawn. Only one person was alive, still writhing in pain on the ground, clutching the dagger in his side. If he removed it, he would bleed out in seconds, and I need answers.
"What the fuck -" Matthew started, eyeing the body at my feet before focusing on the one still alive, trying to crawl away.
"Guess we're not needed." Jasmine cooed, a smile on her lips as she sheathed her broadsword.
"Are you alright?" Felix asked, eyeing me carefully as I yanked the blade from the tree. The body slumped onto the ground. I whipped the blade to the side, sending blood splattering onto the grass of the clearing before I sheathed it on my back again.
"Is that even a question?" I smirked, and he mimicked it. I stepped over the body and made my way towards the one trying to crawl to the safety of the trees. "Let's get some answers, shall we?" I mused before grabbing the man by his shirt and hauled him to his feet. He was nothing more than a featherweight. The man swung wildly, missing my jaw by an inch, and I lifted a brow before slapping away his next punch. "Calm down, already. Answer my questions, and we'll let you run." The man eyed me slowly, with pain and fear evident on his face, as he stopped moving and slowly nodded.
"What were you doing out here?" Felix started, coming to stand beside me. The man stayed quiet, his gaze flicking between us and a dark stain swept over his pants, contrasting with the red staining his side. Piss wracked my senses, causing me to scrunch my nose in response.
"I don't really like that part." I used my free hand to grab the hilt of the dagger in the man's side, and he screamed again at the movement. "Answer the question."
"We knew that the sacking of the outpost would attract more fae here, so we waited to take out the stragglers." The man hissed through his teeth, his eyes squeezed shut in pain.
"Did the human rebels or bandits attack the outpost?" Jasmine chimed in, and the man kept quiet. I twisted the blade an inch, and he screamed again.
"No!" The man's body shuddered, and I could see he was fighting to stay conscious. Felix eyed me, and I met his gaze for a second; he was thinking the same thing. If it wasn't humans, then who?
"Are there more in the woods?" Matthew drawled from where he was now sitting by the fire, not bothered by the human's head a few inches from the log.
"No, the others left earlier. We decided to start drinking before we head back." The man's eyes fluttered, and I sighed as his body grew heavier.
"He's bleeding out." I sighed, and Felix nodded.
"I'll do it." Jasmine added and drew a dagger from her thigh holster.
"You said you'd let me live!" The human pleaded, his eyes wide open now as he watched Jasmine.
"Like you were going to let us live? At least we aren't burning you alive like you would have." I sneered, and the man's eyes widened in fear. "She'll make it quick." I yanked the blade from his side, and before he could scream again, Jasmine's blade slid across his throat. Gargling the scream.
"Guess we know nothing more than before." Matthew sighed, chucking a piece of wood onto the fire. The body dropped at my feet, and I used the unstained part of the man's pants to clean the blood from my blade.
"At least we know the humans didn't do it." I corrected, and Jasmine sighed beside me.
"Well, at least I can go back to sleep." Jasmine yawned, and I bit back a smile.
"I'll keep watch and dispose of the bodies." Felix said as he patted my shoulder. "You should get some rest; there are still a few hours before the sun comes up." I nodded in reply, and Jasmine hooked her arm around my shoulder, leading me to the tent with a bright smile.
"Don't burn the camp down." I shot over my shoulder before slipping into the tent. The inside was spacious enough for both of us to sleep comfortably, with pelt rugs laid out to prevent the cold from the forest floor from seeping into the tent. I dropped onto one of the pelts, sighing at the softness as Jasmine laid down beside me before worming into my side. I wrapped my arm around her, feeling the warmth of her skin dispel the cold of the night air after hours of keeping watch, and it lulled me to sleep.
╭──╯ . . . . . . . . . . ╰──╮
We were up early the next morning, with the sun barely touching the horizon, inching closer to dawn. The others packed up the camp while I got rid of the fire. Once everything was neatly packed, I sent it back to the house with a swipe of my hand.
"Man, I can still smell the piss." Jasmine complained as she sat on a rock, sharpening my broadsword.
"How do you think it felt to sit watch for hours with that smell?" Felix mumbled, scrunching his nose.
"Bunch of babies." I teased, holding a hand out to help Jasmine back up before taking the sword and sheathing it on my back again. We all suppressed our laughter as our skin tore and our bones yielded to the wolves again. In a heartbeat, we were running again. The forest was bustling with animals as the sun was close to breaking the darkness of the sky, soon painting it a beautiful shade of purple once again. The trek up the steep hills was littered with loose rocks and snagging roots, causing us to slow our pace slightly. The mountain loomed in the distance just beyond the tree line, and the frosty tips glistened in the sunlight. Small flecks of color dotted the skies, the only indication of shifters scouting from above, as the wind masked the sound of their wings the higher we ascended.
By the time we cleared the woods, the sun had already settled in the sky, and we were a mile or two from Cloudwing Base. We only stopped once to hunt, savoring the small deer in record time before we were moving again. The sun was at its peak when the outpost came into view. A few miles ahead of the Strattham Mountains. It was fairly large for a small outpost, with high battlement walls and indented parapets along the ridge, where archers were stationed throughout. The large metal gate was wide open, with one side hanging at an odd angle from a single hinge. Blown open? Jasmine shuddered beside me, shaking out her gray fur. A few soldiers waited for us at the gate, clad in leather. As soon as our paws touched the cobblestone in front of the gate, the wolves receded and I casually slipped my hands into my pockets, examining the damaged gate.
"Quite the entrance they made." I mused, receiving a leveled glare from the lesser fae behind the guards, which I only returned with a lazy smile.
"You must be Commander Sylvia." One of the guards added, tilting his head to the side to indicate that we should follow. Felix and Jasmine stepped closer to my side as we fell into step with the guards. Matthew snapped his teeth at the lesser fae as we passed through the gate. I could hear his heartbeat spike at the taunting and suppressed a smirk. The courtyard was a decent size, with training dummies to the right of the large opening and a pile of burning bodies to the left. Smoke filled the space, and the smell of burning flesh assaulted my nose. The people who died here? Looks like more than 10.
"How many did you lose?" Felix asked for me, and his hand brushed my lower back.
"Ten in the initial assault, five more from their injuries." The guard answered without even glancing at the bodies burning to ash.
"Is Commander Adrel Stagforge here today?" I asked as I took in the stone building up ahead. The windows were mostly intact, with only a few shattered within the walls; one wall was completely demolished. Shards of stone scattered across the courtyard where the wall was blown open. Possibly where the weapons were stashed. Losing the Palladium weapons was a great loss for us. Whoever took them now has the means to kill us. But if it wasn't the humans...
"Commander Sylvia." I tore my gaze from the broken wall to see a tall, slender man. His long black hair was pulled into a low ponytail that nearly brushed the back of his legs. A small smile tugged at his lips, and his yellow eyes seemed to stare through me. Commander Adrel.
"Good to see you, Adrel." I tipped my head in a gesture of greeting, and he returned it.
"You got here sooner than we expected." Felix's hand dropped from my back as we came to a stop in front of the commander of the base.
"We had good weather on our side." Jasmine answered, crossing her arms over her chest as she glanced around the courtyard.
"Come in. We have lunch prepared in the great hall." Adrel drawled before walking in through the large wooden door.
"I won't say no to food." Matthew chimed in, pushing past us to follow the commander.
"Any trouble on the road?" Adrel asked over his shoulder as we entered the hall. Two wooden doors lined the walls on either side. One room had lavatories, while the other contained a small storage room stocked with fresh weapons and gear. The stone walls echoed with each footstep, and the ceiling was adorned with small chandeliers, casting a yellow light onto the stone floor.
"We ran into some human rebels." Jasmine answered, brushing against my side as we moved.
"Disposed of them?" The commander asked, glancing over his shoulder, and I grunted my answer. "Good, we've had an influx of bandits after the outpost was hit." I'm not surprised; they slipped past your damn scouts so easily.
"Did they take anything else besides the weapons?" Felix asked, following my gaze to the great hall ahead of us.
"Yes, they stole some of our horses and a lot of rations, but the biggest loss was the weapons."
"How did they get here? Why didn't the scouts notice them?" I finally asked, trying to keep the bite out of my tone. We passed another hallway to our right, which possibly led to the infirmary if the smell of blood and antiseptic was any indication.
"That we don't know yet. I'm well aware that some clans believe it was an inside job, but we can assure you. No one here would be foolish enough to do that." The commander's statement had a harsh tone, but I brushed it off. Anyone would be upset if someone claimed that about their unit. We finally entered the great hall. Large wooden tables were placed around the room, where a few soldiers were enjoying their lunches. Some were still in eagle form, while others eyed the shifters with envy. The ones in shifter form were scarfing down raw slabs of meat, while the others dined on roasted veggies and pan-seared meats. A few lesser fae brushed past us, giving us broad smiles in greeting. Jasmine, of course, returned the smile. She had a fondness for the lesser fae. They're not the usual egotistical assholes like the high fae, she once admitted. Commander Adrel led us to one of the empty tables and gestured for us to sit. As we settled in, a young female came running in, sweat coating her skin from training, and whispered something to him. I immediately strained my ears.
"The Desert Fae were just spotted entering our territory." The commander nodded once, and the female left again. I could feel the frustration simmering just beneath the surface. I swear, if Tomas is among them...
"Stop bouncing your leg." Jasmine's whispering voice beside me made me snap my gaze to her. I didn't even realize I was bouncing it. She idly rested a hand on my knee, and I immediately stopped.
"I have a few things to take care of. I'll join you soon." With that, Commander Adrel took his leave just as a few servants brought us plates of food. The aroma of spiced vegetables made my stomach rumble, and I wasted no time diving in. The rest following suit.
"Do you think Tomas will be with them?" Matthew asked around bites and I couldn't help but let out an annoyed growl as I sank my teeth into a chicken leg.
"Let's hope not." Felix mused, trying to hide his smile. "Otherwise, our commander will shed more blood than what has already been spilled here." I leveled a glare at him, and he returned it with a cocky smirk.
"She's going to stab you with that bone if you don't stop." Jasmine mused beside me, with a mouth full of food.
"Stop fucking around and finish your food. I want this recon done before the Desert Fae show up." I mumbled through gritted teeth before taking another bite of the chicken.
Of course. Commander Adrel was nowhere to be seen during or after lunch. So, we spent the rest of the day inspecting the damage the outpost suffered during the assault. Some rooms were ransacked in search of items to steal, including both the rooms and offices. Beds were turned upside down, and the contents of trunks were scattered around the rooms that had yet to be cleaned up. Some windows were smashed, and doors were torn off their hinges. Most of the common areas had already been cleaned, with a few servants still sweeping or washing dried blood off the stone floors. We were able to speak to some of the injured guards, but their answers were all pretty much the same. No one saw the attack coming. The attackers were dressed in hoods. They made no sound when moving, nor did any of them speak, but they moved as a controlled unit. They didn't smell like humans or Fae, which made my skin crawl. Some fae can conceal their scent through years of training, but that still doesn't explain why they would target this outpost in particular. There were countless other outposts with more weapons, more rations, and more intel. Why this one? And why did no one notice their entry into the territory? I was hoping that coming here would give us some answers, but it only added to the questions. The weapons room was the last place we went to. The door was blasted off its hinges and shattered against the far wall. The room was completely empty; not a single crate was left. No calling card, no evidence. Like wraiths in the night.
"Do you think someone here did this?" Matthew whispered as he stared at a few scratch marks on the floor leading towards the blown-out wall. How did they haul the crates out of here?
"I haven't ruled it out." I finally answered, brushing my hand against the cracked stone beside the hole in the wall. The stone was hot to the touch, as if it had shattered from intense heat that lingered for days.
"The sun's about to set. Looks like we'll have to stay the night." Jasmine's voice echoed from the courtyard, just a few feet away from the weapons room. My skin immediately felt tight. That means I won't be able to avoid that bastard. Felix came to stand beside me, his eyes fixed on the ceiling for any signs of bomb residue, but there was none; I had already checked.
"I wonder where Commander Adrel went." He whispered beside me, finally shifting his gaze towards me. "Do you think he might have been a part of this?"
"I doubt it. The way his scent shifted when we mentioned it leads me to believe he was just as annoyed by it as we were." I answered honestly, dropping my hand from the stone and shoving it back into my pocket. The sword on my back suddenly felt a bit heavier. Running for two days straight drained me more than I had anticipated. I let out a long sigh and felt a heavy arm drape around my shoulder.
"We should get some rest; maybe we can leave before the Desert Fae show up tomorrow morning." Felix mumbled, still staring at me, and my brow furrowed.
"What is it, Felix?" I didn't meet his gaze but kept my eyes on the charred bodies in the far corner of the courtyard.
"I can see you itching for a fight. Maybe this time you should just leave it be." He meant Tomas. I know I should just drop it, but I can't.
"What exactly is it with you and Tomas?" Matthew asked as he stepped over the chunks of stone that littered the courtyard. Jasmine shot him a warning glare. He knew better than to ask.
"Don't expect her to answer that." Jasmine whispered as Matthew went to stand beside her. Only a few people knew what happened between me and the heir to the Desert Fae. Jasmine and Felix included. They were there that day. When the arrogant young lord strolled into Brackenridge. Acting as if he owned the place. He was on his usual hunt for slaves and chose the wrong town to do it in. We were all hanging out in the Moonshine Lounge when I heard the screaming. I rushed outside to find him cutting down humans left and right. Young children begged for their lives, but he didn't care. He lost his temper when one of the orphans asked him for food. Such a stupid thing to be enraged about, but he only said: You'd ask a god for food! He then cut down one of the other orphans and instructed the child to eat the corpse. I only saw red after that. Brackenridge was my town. The place that kept me alive for 15 years. The place that was a sanctuary for me and this bastard was destroying it. I rushed out of the Moonshine Lounge, daggers in hand, within seconds. Normal steel did little to our kind, but Jasper gifted me a palladium dagger for my 40th birthday. It was the only blade that could leave a scar on our otherwise perfect skin. I remembered his scream when my blade slashed across his cheek, scorching the skin around the wound like a venom. That was the first brawl we had and our initial encounter. To say his father was furious was an understatement, but of course, Jasper had my back. Tomas was never allowed to set foot in Brackenridge ever again. However, I had to offer him a personal apology for the scar that marred his face. I didn't mean a word I said, especially after he killed Don Brooks that day. It happened after The Cripple dared to smile at him, right after I had cut him. I might not have cared for The Cripple, but he was one of the few people still alive from my days as an orphan. The Leader and the Joker died a few years after I left. People said they drowned, but I knew they had stolen from the wrong human lord and died as punishment. How Don survived all those years, I never knew, but he was one of the last still alive that day. I would have killed the Lord if Jasmine and Felix hadn't pulled me off him. I would have made it slow, scattering cuts all over his body with a smile on my face. I know what he does to his slaves, and no one in Brackenridge will ever be made to endure that, not while I live.
A hand brushed the back of my neck and pulled me out of the memory. I lifted my gaze to find Felix smiling at me, with understanding in his eyes. "Let's get some rest. Tomorrow is going to be a long day." I simply nodded, and he led me back into the stone hallway. Jasmine and Matthew followed closely behind, sidestepping the falling pieces of the wall. I heard a loud smack from behind and knew Matthew would be getting an earful about the question later. He knew better. Just the memory left a foul taste in my mouth and made my vision blur with rage. Talking about it would have me tearing that half-shattered wall down to its foundation.
We were split into two rooms, Jasmine and I in one, and the males in another. All on the second floor in the west wing, where Commander Adrel's room was located. The commander was nowhere to be seen for the rest of the evening. Chances are, he flew back to their capital to meet with High Lord Usunaar. Providing him with an update on the status of the outpost. Most of the base was intact and will be in working condition in a week or two, but the commander will get one hell of a tongue-lashing for letting the attackers get away with the weapons.
