Page 63 of Warrior Princess
Adler, driven by desperation and a sudden surge of courage, parried the first few blows with surprising skill. The twobrothers moved with a grace that belied the violence of their intentions, their swords clashing in a lethal ballet.
The crowd parted around them, forming a circle that became the arena for their private war. Adler fought with the ferocity of one fighting for more than his life—he fought for the soul of Eldwain.
As the duel intensified, Caelan's superior skill began to overpower Adler. Blow after blow, Adler's defenses weakened until, with a swift and brutal motion, Caelan disarmed him, sending his sword clattering across the stone floor.
Adler stood defenseless, his chest heaving as he faced his younger brother, whose sword was poised at his heart. The hall held its breath, the silence oppressive.
“Any last words, brother?” Caelan's voice was soft, almost regretful.
Adler lifted his chin, his eyes resolute. “You may kill me, but you willneverrule Eldwain!”
With a nod, Caelan sunk his sword deep into Adler’s chest. Blood spewed from his mouth and he hunched over.
Adler smiled, his teeth bloody as he grinned at his brother. “May we haunt you in the afterlife.” With those as his final words, he collapsed to the ground. The final obstacle in Caelan’s way had been eliminated.
Silence encompassed the grand hall as everyone stopped fighting. The victor was clear.
Caelan may be king, but the fight for Eldwain's future had just begun.
26
Me, Ronan, and Shiro were swept along with the throng of frightened attendees and escaped through the shattered window. We bolted out of the palace grounds, past the gates, and raced back into town, away from the chaos that had overtaken Eldwain’s royal family.
Ronan kept a tight grip on my hand as we navigated the crowded streets, scanning our surroundings for danger. The air was thick with tension, and the buzzing crowd painted a picture of confusion and fear.
I tugged his hand. “I need to make sure Marcel and my parents made it out okay.”
“We'll find them, Leila,” Ronan assured me, his voice steady despite the chaos. “Let’s get to the inn first. We’ll regroup with the others and then figure out our next move.”
Shiro, ever watchful, led the way with his keen senses alert to any disturbances, gliding with a predator’s grace through the throng.
The familiar sight of the inn was a small relief in the midst of turmoil. The innkeeper recognized us immediately and hurriedly ushered us inside, casting anxious glances overhis shoulder. Inside, the inn's common room was abuzz with patrons seeking refuge and clamoring for news. We quickly made our way up the stairs to our room to plan our next steps.
“I'll go back out and look for Marcel and your parents.” Ronan reached for the sword on his belt, which I thought he'd left behind at the palace since weapons were not allowed inside. Leave it to Ronan to find a way to stay armed. “Stay here with Shiro. It’s not safe for you to go back out there.”
I hesitated, torn between the urge to find my family and the desire to keep Ronan safe with me. “Be careful,” I finally said, my voice thick with worry.
“I always am.” Offering a small, reassuring smile, he turned to Shiro. “Keep her safe.”
Shiro nodded, his eyes serious. “You can count on me.”
Spearing me with one last look, Ronan disappeared down the stairs and back into the maelstrom outside. I moved to the window and watched the chaos unfold in the streets below, my heart heavy with concern for my family and Ronan.
Shiro came to stand beside me, his presence comforting. “He’ll find them.” His words were confident, tinged with the power of a god. “Ronan is resourceful, and he won’t let anything happen to them—orto you.”
“I’m worried about him, too. He’s only one man, Shiro. He’s not invincible.”
Shiro gave a reassuring smile. “Very true, but demon blood runs through his veins… my blood. He’ll be fine.”
I nodded, trying to draw strength from his assurance. We watched together as Ronan crossed the street and was lost in the crowd.
Time crawledat a sloth’s pace. To fill the hours, I paced the room while Shiro watched me go back and forth.
“He’ll be fine… they’ll be fine,” he said for the umpteenth time.
But my mind had already conjured a hundred different fates that certainly must have befallen them. “It’s nightfall and they’re still not back! Something’s wrong. We should go search for them.”
Shiro shook his head. “It’s not safe out there for you. Caelan has just slaughtered his family so he could take over Eldwain. If he sees you, it’s game over.You’rewhat he needs to overtake Valoria. He’s high on power and would undoubtedly do something reckless, like force me to kill him.”
