In a large open hall sat a short, rotund, greasy looking man dressed in gaudy clothes and adorned in gold chains and jewels in a bid to show off his wealth. He was clearly frustrated, his dark beady eyes scanning the room constantly as his entire leg shook nervously. Paintings and tapestries all depicting himself in heroic poses decorated the walls. Either side of the finest carpet that lead up to his seat of power kneeled servants, all female and all with torn clothes and bruised skin. By his side stood an impeccably dressed butler and he took this moment to turn to him.
“Walter, You say Henrick reached the capital an hour ago? Does that mean they failed?”
“I do not believe so Lord Drax, As Duchess Eluna wasn’t a part of Duke Aldan’s group it is more likely they are being cautious and have taken a longer route back here so as to avoid Duke Aldan and his retinue.”
“Ah, yes, of course. That means she will soon be mine.” Lord Drax twitched with glee his hands and face suddenly animated with excitement. “Eluna, Eluna” he muttered to himself “I told you you’d be mine one day no matter what. Even that stupid, handsome Henrick couldn’t keep you from me.” He slowly ran his tongue over his lips as if savoring a fine food or wine.
As his excitement reached its peak, he was suddenly jolted the from his seat by a jarring cacophony of clashing swords that erupted just outside the room making his heart palpate with dread. Then, just as abruptly as the thunderous clash of swords had appeared it abated. Lord Drax was left visibly shaking, prostrate in front of his ostentatious throne with all his servants apprehensively looking on.
A boom echoed out and wood splintered as the double doors to the hall burst from their hinges to fly into the room.
“Drax, you’ve put us in quite the dilemma. Did you not think it important to tell us that Aldan and his brother would be travelling together. We accounted for the earth mage but having another of the ten strongest in the kingdom fighting alongside them put us at quite the disadvantage. We lost thirty five fighters in a single strike and as such we have taken thirty five of your men’s lives to accompany them on their next journey.”
“I…, I understand” Drax managed to stutter out “thank you for your leniency.”
“Leniency? Oh no that was merely balancing the books. You owe us five times the amount originally quoted based on the mission difficulty. You know our prices and something like those conditions is at least three times the price but you’ve also received an additional fee for withholding vital information.”
“I didn’t withhold it. My spy inside the family informed me that he had commanded everyone else to stay behind and guard the estate and barracks. It was only supposed to be him and Rhys.” The words flew from his mouth so fast they were barely intelligible.
“Oh, so you think it’s our fault?”
“That is not what I said” he whimpered “I just meant”
“It doesn’t matter what you meant. Just be glad Rex One isn’t here” bold, heavy footsteps sounded as a new cloaked figure entered the room with an unconscious woman under their arm “you failed in your information gathering. We would have done our own but you assured us yours was accurate hence the ‘reasonable’ price we offered you.”
“My apologies” Drax almost yelled out.
“I don’t want your snivelling apologies. Settle the bill right now or we take Duchess Eluna back and let Duke Zelos know of your involvement.”
“Of course, of course. Walter, quickly the funds.” He cried out turning to his butler.
“Yes Lord Drax.” He answered abruptly turning and heading to a safe behind the largest painting in the room from which he promptly returned with five bags of gold.
“Good, you can keep your worthless life a little longer.” He said as he gently lowered Lady Eluna down “oh and Drax, don’t use our services again. One has already removed your name from the register. To step foot on our properties could mean your death depending on their mood.”
“I understand. Thank you for completing this task.” He prostrated even lower.
A moment later he lifted his head and saw they’d already vanished, a sigh of relief escaping him. It was then he noticed all the servants still in the hall.
“Walter”
“Yes Lord Drax.”
“Kill them all” he commanded.
“As you wish Lord Drax.” And with a blur he was gone from his side and stood at the opposite end of the hall. The servants stared mouths agape at the sheer speed shown by Walter before they began to clasp their necks, blood trickling over their fingers turning their hands a bright red. Their words and breath gurgling in their throats.
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“Thank you Walter, it is so nice to have someone I can always rely on.” He said a smile finally showing on his face.
“I completely agree with you Lord Drax.”
“Now, please arrange some quarters for Duchess Eluna. And dispose of all…” he waved his hands in circles indicating the mess in front, as he paused “this” he finally finished.
“Certainly Lord Drax. Might I also be presumptuous and arrange a bath and a change of clothes for you?”
“Ah yes, have to make a good impression on Duchess Eluna now don’t I.” his chubby face once again showing a dark hunger as he moistened his lips completely disregarding the fact Walter had suggested it due to the large yellow puddle he’d been lay prostrate in.
Lord Drax was considered the sixth strongest individual in the Kingdom but even he wasn’t daft enough to tussle with Rex One, leader of the dark guild, Nox Reges, more commonly known as, the Night Kings. They may not be ranked individuals within the Kingdom but Drax was sure, having met them once in one of their gambling dens, that they could probably give Duke Zelos a run for the title of second strongest in the Kingdom.
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Duchess Eluna stirred from her slumber, her eyes opening to reveal an unfamiliar sight, a large circular room with tall, towering stone walls. Upon closer inspection she realised it was clearly a part of a tower, it had a large metal reinforced door and one thin window that showcased a slice of the night sky outside. She found herself laying on sumptuous four poster bed, decked out in luxurious linens that spread out like soft pools of water. Nonetheless, aside from the lavish bed, the chamber was lacking any furnishings and as she observed her surroundings realisation flooded her face, she was a captive and this, was her prison.
A rush of memories inundated her, transporting her back to the carriage, her son in the loving embrace of Maria. The recollection of Maria's fate was too terrifying to contemplate, overriding all other thoughts except for the well-being of her precious child. She tried to focus, had she been able to protect Crius from harm? Images of the incident flooded her mind, but they were hazy and hard to grasp, only fragments of her screams reverberating as the scene dissolved into darkness. She played the scene in her mind repeatedly, hoping to unearth the fate of Crius, was he alive, was he hurt, or worse? With every replay, her mind conjured up increasingly dire outcomes for him.
Finally, after what felt like an agonising eternity of torment lost in her thoughts, the sound of approaching footsteps brought her back to reality. With a surge of determination, she pulled herself up from the cold stone floor, gripping the bedpost tightly, ready to fight her captor head on and regain for her freedom. A bolt slid on the outside of the door, and she clenched her fists ready, bracing herself for battle.
“Ah, Duchess Eluna. It brings me great joy to see you awake at last.” Lord Drax said, his smile sending shivers down her spine. “I worried that the tragic death of your son would leave you bedridden for days.” His words hit like a hammer to the heart, crushing her soul with grief.
As she started to slump, he appeared at her side, arm outstretched to catch her. “Don’t worry” he whispered into her ear with a sickening sweetness. “You’ll have another son soon enough. Whether you’re willing or not, I will ensure you give me an heir to the throne.”
Her body was numb and unresponsive as Lord Drax callously ripped away the remnants of her already tattered garments and lay her back on the bed. Overwhelmed with sorrow at the thought of her lost son, her eyes grew detached and vacant as tears welled as she let the darkness take hold and slipped once more into unconsciousness.
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“Rhys, tell me what news you have.” Duke Aldan was quick to assert his singular focus as he came out of the healing room. Those we left behind to investigate the scene and corpses left behind found very little to go on but there was something that two of them carried. It looks like a gambling chip and…”
“Nox Reges” Duke Aldan said through gritted teeth, spittle flying from his mouth.
“Exactly” Rhys confirmed. “Our investigations led us to Nox Reges, a dark mercenary guild that is rumoured to take on the worst missions imaginable and is also supposed to be the organisation running a lot of the underground gambling dens and slave auctions.”
“Who hired them?” Fury evident as Duke Aldan once again cut Rhys off.
“We don’t know for certain…”
“Who?”
“One of our spies reported that black garbed men attacked Lord Drax a few hours ago. It seems it was a penalty of some sort.”
A roar filled the air and flames rolled off Lord Aldan’s body as his anger took hold.
“I. WILL. KILL. HIM.” He roared to the sky
“Henrick, we can’t. I’d happily help you but killing another noble without a King’s tribunal is an executable offence.”
“They tried to kill my son. They have my wife. You expect me to follow the rules of a king who may or may not be dying? A king who if he recovers will probably thank me for bringing back his daughter.”
“I know. But without the King to command it the other nobles will form the council and you and Drax won’t get to vote but we both know the slimy weasel holds the majority at the minute. Remember it wouldn’t just be you, they’d execute Crius and Eluna too. That is the King’s rule as it currently stands in the Book of Judgements.”
Cold fury was still visible in the eyes of Lord Aldan but he finally acquiesced. “Fine, give me the location of the Night Kings. I’ll send them on to the starry skies first.”
“I'd hoped you’d say that. Most of them are elusive but I have found one of the gambling dens and it appears that one of the five Kings spends most of his time there running the show.”
“Good, let us head there now with a handful of the guards.”