Page 166 of A Crown Without Mercy

“I think she has been here far too long,”Kundar said to his men telepathically.

“We need to keep an eye on her,”another replied.

Her eyes snapped open and she hastily walked ahead of them.They think I am not of sound mind,she said to herself, feeling as though she was being disparaged once again, having listened to their conversation.

After a long trek, the sounds of rushing water grew in intensity. “This is the place,” Cathagne stated.

The trees parted before them, and they stopped at the edge of a large river whose water sparkled and glinted beneath the rays of the sun as if someone had poured stardust into its depths. They were taken-a-back when they looked up at the enormous silver orb, looking as though it was sitting a-top the waterfall. Its molten-silver colors swirled as if being pushed by the rushing swells. A wave of liquid silver poured over the rocks and into the hollow of a pool which spilled down the side of the mountain, feeding a smaller waterfall which plunged into the aquamarine river mere feet from where they stood.

Cathagne leapt across the river and led them up a thin, winding path, which led them around the opposite side of the waterfall. She pulled a large branch, pushed it aside, and a makeshift door opened, revealing a rather large cave.

Cathagne walked in and stood next to a makeshift bed and looked at Kadric. “She can rest here.”

Kundar looked at his warriors. “Check the outlining areas.” He then followed Kadric and Cathagne into the cave. As he walked around, it was clear she had turned it into a makeshift shelter. Not only did she have a small bed made of timber, there was a table and two chairs, a cracked mirror hanging from a root traveling along the cave’s wall, a few of her belongings, and a dozen paintings leaning against the walls, and placed on makeshift shelves.

Kadric pulled a small blanket over Sylvana and looked around. “What is this place?”

She turned, faced Kadric and crossed her arms over her chest. “I stay here whenever I can. It ‘tis my only escape from thy cruelty of thy Faye.”

Kadric placed a hand on her shoulder and gently stroked it. “I am sorry you have suffered so, but you are safe now.”

For the first time since meeting her, she smiled. “You are very kind, Kadric Orfaedo. Sylvana is lucky to have you.”

Chapter 24

Riordanandhiswarriorshad rushed into the fray, attached the wounded and exploited the weakness of those who were battle worn and in a weakened physical state first. Arrows were hissing through the air, the sounds of metal meeting metal and the roars and screams from the fallen and wounded surrounded them in an illusion of chaos and violence. Nosferatu, Lycan, and Faye fought with controlled movements, thoughts, and ages of experience on the battlefields. However, having turned on each other, small groups of Faye and Lycan were being surrounded and slaughtered by the Nosferatu warriors.

One of the Faye warriors was grappling on the ground with a wounded Lycan; their bodies clenched around one another, fighting for dominance. The Faye warrior hooked his leg around the Lycan’s neck and rolled his body on top of the Lycans and just as he raised his dagger, Marius leapt on top of the Faye and drove his body into the Lycans with his foot. He then plunged his sword through them both; immediately he pulled his blade from their bodies and brought it across their necks, severing their heads.

He stretched his arms out, lifted his chin, and a guttural roar overshadowed the sounds of battle. Seeking another victim, he noticed Riordan, Nicolai, and Kieran fighting close to one another across the field.They have become a force to be reckoned with. I have missed their early years. I will not miss their latter, he thought.

Another Faye attached from the side, and he swiftly ducked, grabbed the Faye by the throat, and drove his blade through his chest. The Faye’s eyes widened, and he wrapped his hands around the sword. Marius slowly pushed the blade further through his body and watched his pupils dilate.

“I take your life in the name of vengeance.” Marius recoiled his blade, tossed the Faye to the ground, and turned his attention back to his grandsons. He then scanned the immediate area for any threat headed in their direction.

Riordan pounced on a Lycan’s back, and before it had time to react, Riordan drove his sword through his flank. The Lycan roared, whipped his right arm around and it crossed Riordan’s temple, knocking him back. Riordan landed in a half-crouched position and as he stood, he felt two large hands seize his neck, the elongated claws burrowing into his flesh. He reached behind him, wrapped an arm around the Lycan’s neck, flipped it over his body, slammed him to the ground, and drove his blade through his heart.

As Riordan backed up, he heard Marius’s voice yell his name from across the battlefield as if warning him. He spun around and found himself face to face with Kieran, who placed one hand on his shoulder and drove his blade through his chest.

Riordan grabbed a fist full of Kieran’s vest and looked at him with a thousand-yard stare, and Kieran’s eyes were cruel and pitiless.

It took a moment for Nicolai’s horror-filled thoughts to register Marius screaming his name, and the sight of Kieran attacking Riordan slammed all those witnessing the attack into silence.

Nicolai leapt to Riordan’s side, and with a swift front kick, sent Kieran spiraling backwards.

“What the fuck have you done? Are you out of your goddamn mind, brother?” he roared.

Riordan grabbed the hilt of the sword with both hands and stared at it.

“Rio let go,” Nicolai said, before pulling the blade from his chest. He then tore Riordan’s tattered vest and tunic open, and the blood ran down Riordan’s chest and stomach.

Riordan grasped Nicolai’s shoulder with one hand, and covered the gaping wound with the other. He then pulled it back and looked at the blood as it dripped from his palm and ran down his wrist. He looked at Nicolai, whose face was ashen.

“You’re going to be okay, brother.” Nicolai said with a trembling voice. Tobias and Rhazien appeared next to them. “What the fuck did Kieran do?” Tobias raged.

Riordan dropped to his knees; Nicolai dropped with him, and Tobias and Rhazien kneeled on either side of them. Marius, however, materialized over Kieran and grabbed a fist full of his vest and snarled in his face. “What the fuck have you done?” With a swift punch Marius knocked him unconscious.

The rest of their warriors allowed the remaining Faye to retreat as they formed a large, protective wall around Riordan, Kieran, Nicolai, and Marius, not sure what to think or what else to do in this moment. However, leaving them unprotected was not an option.

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