Page 123 of A Crown Without Mercy

“This is Lexie, and she is my new friend.” She walked over and sat down on the rug in front of the hearth, and Lexie sat next to her. “Look at the dolls she brought for me.”

“They are beautiful, Mira,” Calista stated, as she kneeled beside her.

“Mira, would you like to meet a few of my friends?” Sylvana asked.

Mira gave them a radiant smile. “No. We are having fun.”

“Are you sure?” Calista asked.

“Yes. I’m sure.”

“Okay, we will check on you in a bit.”

Mira turned her back and she and Lexie continued dressing the dolls.

“If Mira needs anything, we will be in the gardens,” Sylvana said.

“Yes, milady.”

After Nicolai, Kieran, and Klyn staked Dronve to the ground, Riordan kneeled over his body and ripped his shirt open. Dronve let out muffled screams of agony when his skin parted beneath the tainted steel. “The smell of fresh blood will draw the inbred to you,” Riordan said. “It’s also rewarding to know you will feel your own poison.”

When Klyn walked over, Riordan stepped back. “I’ll remove our scent,” he stated as he waved his hands over Dronve’s body. They then leapt into the canopy, cloaked themselves, and waited while another group covertly pushed the inbred into the immediate area.

After what felt like hours, they heard the snapping of branches and heavy panting as the creature drew closer. The brush parted and its enormous head appeared and swayed from side to side. It then lifted its nose into the air, drew a few deep breaths, and retracted its blackened lips, and snarled. The thick saliva dripped onto the ground and its yellowish eyes glowed in the dark when it pinned its sights on Dronve.

Dronve twisted his body, kicked his legs, and fisted the chains, doing his best to yank the stakes from the ground all the while the sounds of his muffled screams of terror rose into the canopy.

The creature cautiously stepped closer, cocked its head, and twitched its ears. It let out a thunderous roar, leapt towards its prey, slammed a heavy paw onto Dronve’s chest, and bared its enormous canines; with an explosive series of strikes and bites, it tore chunks of flesh from his body.

“Now!”Riordan called out telepathically.

They dropped from the trees and while Nicolai, Kieran, and Klyn held it back, the rest of the warriors stood in a half-crouched position, ready to intervene.

Riordan shoved Dronve’s dagger into its abdomen in rapid succession; the creature let out a ground shaking roar and flung its heavy body to the side, which forced them to stumble to the side and partially release their grip. It then lunged at Riordan, who leapt out of the way, spun around, and shoved the dagger into its flank multiple times.

“Release him!” Riordan ordered.

They leapt out of the way, cloaked themselves, and watched as it stumbled through the brush and disappeared.

Riordan tossed the dagger onto the blood saturated ground next to Dronve’s remains. “That should do it.”

“Is everyone accounted for?”Nicolai asked telepathically.

“Yes, milord.”Rhazien replied.

Nicolai walked over and stood next to Riordan. “Let’s hope this works.”

“Nicolai, I need you and Kieran to stay behind and make sure the area is cleared of any sign of our presence.”

“Will do,” Nicolai replied.

“Rhazien, you and your warriors need to sweep the South side of the river one more time before heading back. Klyn, you and yours will come with me so we can make another sweep on the North side.”

Riordan and his warriors traveled through one of the village’s market which on a usual day would have been raucous and hectic, however because of the heavy downpour it was as quiet as a grave. A faint sound caught his attention; he pulled the reins and cocked his head in its direction.

“Milord?” Klyn said, as he stopped next to him.

Riordan held up his hand and listened intently before dismounting Skadi. All those riding with him fanned out to secure the immediate area.

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