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Chapter 177

  Henry expanded his senses. He expanded them as far as he could. There was still no trace of the magus’ presence. She had escaped and she had gone far. He didn’t know exactly when she started the teleportation spell. Not only that, he didn’t even feel its conjuration until it was too te. He tried stopping it by stopping the caster. That wasn’t enough. The spell was still activated.

  There was no anger or bitterness. There was only a sense of wonder and admiration. He wanted her even more now. Kiera was not an enemy. If anything, she was more of an ally. Her ck of rage towards the soldiers being sughtered was enough evidence. Knowing the kingdom, she wouldn’t be returning there unless she wished to be used as a scapegoat for the failure of this expedition.

  Kiera being the only survivor would definitely make the kingdom suspicious. If they began to question her, it would undoubtedly lead to her true identity being exposed. There was nowhere for the magus to go except Ulrum, where a potential ally awaited her. Henry knew it was only a matter of time before Kiera came to realise all of this and come back to him. If he had no time to spare at all, he would have just incapacitated her and taken her along instead of going easy on her.

  Fortunately, Henry had time, especially after he had destroyed more than half of the expedition's total forces. It was te now. It would be near dusk if he returned now. Any ter, it would be night by the time he reached Ulrum. Therefore, he decided to return to Ulrum now.

  As the day darkened, the sun descended towards the horizon, and the clouds returned. The morning would surely be pgued with storms and rain. Currently, the weather worked in Henry’s favour. The clouds provided him plenty of cover as he flew straight to Ulrum. He passed by the remnants of the expedition forces. He couldn’t wait for them to realise how utterly fucked they were.

  The main forces had all been destroyed. The remnants would not be enough to scale the hills with the Lavans bombarding them on the way up.

  Gradually, the familiar mountain ranges came into view. There were no soldiers crawling around the feet of the mountains. He heaved a sigh of relief. He already knew this but seeing it in person was just the confirmation he needed.

  “Whoa…” Henry gasped in awe. The mountains looked decrepit and frail before, made feeble by the passage of time. Now, it was beginning to look like an immovable and impassable terrain that no form of weather could tear it down. It was a marvellous sight and it tickled the fantasy part in him.

  The fortress was being built and from the looks of it, it was about a quarter done, which was amazing progress for half a day’s work. The scaffolding all over the mountains added to the atmosphere of the fantasy, though it was more reality than fantasy at this point.

  The Lavan soldiers, who were standing on the ramparts built into the side of the mountains, saw Henry’s approach. They waved him down, frantically. Henry flew down and hovered just right in front of them.

  “Lord Henry, your presence is urgently needed in the council chamber by Her Grace,” said one of the soldiers after they had knelt.

  Henry wanted to tell them it was okay to not kneel but knowing they wouldn’t listen, he gave up. He gave a nod and went to the council chamber hurriedly. Once there, he turned into his human form and nded softly without causing any colteral. He was getting used to this.

  “Where have you been!?” There was a loud voice in an admonishing tone.

  Henry frowned and turned behind him.

  It was Yu with arms crossed under her ample bosom. It was a sight for sore eyes. “Do you know how long you were gone?”

  Henry smiled wryly. “I know, I should have told you but—”

  “But nothing. I thought you would be back in a short time but hours went by and you were still…”

  “I know, Yu. I know. I’m sorry. But as you can see, I’m fine.”

  “This time,” she grumbled. She looked ready to explode but she calmed down in the next second. “This is difficult,” she sighed.

  “Everything’s fine, Yu. We don’t need to keep doing this.”

  “Look, I know I shouldn’t be paranoid but I can’t help it, Henry. I just can’t stop assuming the worst… Is this how those people felt when their loved ones went to war?”

  “I’m truly sorry but this is how things are. We’re not in the twenty-first century with all the ws and conventions.”

  “I know, which is why I followed you. I just… I just wish you would take me with you.”

  “...You know, I’m actually thinking about that too.”

  “Really?”

  “You’re no damsel. You’re more than capable of taking care of yourself. So, why not?”

  Yu smiled, her arms loosened. “You said it. No takebacks.”

  “No takebacks,” Henry agreed. “So… I heard there was something urgent?”

  “Oh, right. I forgot about that. Quick, come with me,” Yu said and quickly led the way into the council chamber.

  As soon as Henry set foot into the chamber, he noticed an unfamiliar presence amidst all the familiar faces. Kneeling in between Grand Marshal Leon and a Lavan guard he had seen once or twice was a person in dark garments with a hood draped over them. From the person’s scent and figure, he could tell it was a woman.

  Everyone in the room reacted to Henry’s presence. Their gazes swept over to him as if the bringer of the verdict had arrived. His women were there. They looked absolutely thrilled to see him, though Rayne was as always, being dishonest with herself.

  “Who’s she?” Henry asked, gncing at the kneeling woman.

  “A spy from the kingdom,” Rayne answered. She was the only one in the room sitting, besides Iluna, the Priestess and the de-facto leader of the Lavans.

  “Hmm… Okay, I have a lot of questions.”

  “Allow me to expin,” said Iora, sister and personal guard of Iluna. “This woman walked right up to us at the gates. She already had her cloak on. She announced herself as an ally for the princess and she was here to seek an audience with you, Lord Henry. She cims to have brought a message for you from the princess. She refused to let us know the message without your presence.”

  “We can’t be sure of her cims, Lord Henry,” said Mika. He was an advisor of sorts to the priestess. His physical appearance was that of a child. Like all Lavans, he too had traits of an animal on his appearance, though Henry couldn’t figure out which animal he was supposed to be.

  “Usually, we would just imprison or execute an intruder on the spot. However, Lady Rayne had told us you have some sort of cndestine agreement with the princess?” Leon asked. There was no warmth in his voice or tone. “Is that true?”

  Henry looked at Rayne.

  “Don’t look at me. I told them the purpose of the agreement too.”

  “Whatever your intent is, Lord Henry, the humans are not to be trusted.”

  Henry frowned. “Should we be discussing this in front of her?”

  “You need not worry, Lord Henry,” Iora assured. “The hood is enchanted with a spell that blocks all vision and sound from outside.”

  “Ha… neat.”

  “I’m still waiting for an expnation, Lord Henry.”

  Iora and Iluna stared at the Grand Marshal disapprovingly. They seemed to have plenty of things to say but they decided to leave it all to Henry.

  “It’s true,” Henry answered. “I have an agreement with the princess. She promised peace if she took the throne. She’s not lying when she told me that. I don't want a war and I’m sure you don’t want one either.”

  “Sometimes a war is necessary,” said the Grand Marshal. “We need to show our might and strength every once in a while, to deter any opportunist.”

  “At what expense, Leon?” Mika countered.

  “Better than waiting around to let our enemies gather their forces and attack us in huge droves. The expenses would be way higher then. That, I can assure you, Mika.”

  “Enough!” Iluna roared. “Remember our current purpose. We can talk about all of that after we have dealt with the current problem. Now, Lord Henry, if you would be so kind as to continue?”

  “Of course.” Henry nodded and approached the kneeling woman. “Have any of you asked anything of her?”

  “I asked for proof but this human can provide none,” answered Sarynn. “She’s very unaccommodating. And I found nothing on her that could prove her identity either.”

  “Don’t you have ways to make someone talk?” Henry asked, directing his question at Mika.

  “If you are implying torture, then of course we do, Lord Henry. However, if she is who she cims to be, we would be turning away a potential ally.”

  Henry shrugged. Even he himself couldn’t be sure if this woman was who she said she was. He had never seen this woman before. He knew only one person who was a confidant to the princess, her maid, and this woman was not her, going by her scent alone. There was only one way for him to know the truth. He gestured for Leon to lift the hood.

  The Grand Marshal looked towards Iluna for permission and she nodded. Only then did he lift the hood off of the woman.

  Pin, that was the first thing that came to Henry’s mind. There was nothing notable about the woman. She had neck-long curly brown hair, which was the norm amongst women of her age from what he had seen in Gretten. If she had blonde hair, it would even be more aligned with the norm. The next thing he noticed was how utterly calm the woman was, but that was only on the surface. Her heart was beating so fast that he wished that he had some earplugs.

  The woman let her gaze wander around the room before settling down on Henry.

  “Do you know who I am?”

  The woman nodded. “You are Lord Henry, the intended recipient of the princess’ message.”

  “Hmm… who are you to the princess?”

  “I’m her guard, my lord. One of many who posed as her handmaiden.”

  “Have you served her for long?”

  “From when I was a child, my lord. If it wasn’t for her, I would be out on the streets.”

  “To make your way through all those soldiers here is an impressive feat.”

  “It is the least we should be capable of to guard and protect the princess.”

  “I see… Well, what are you doing here?”

  The woman looked confused by the repeated question. “I brought a message from the princess.”

  Henry raised an eyebrow. “Did she now?”

  “Yes, my lord.”

  “What did she say?”

  “She said—”

  “—there’s a spy amongst us, isn’t there?”

  The woman’s eyes widened.

  Silence all around but Henry could hear the confusion, turmoil, and worry in all of the attendants’ hearts.

  Henry snickered. “It is as I expected. How typical.”

  “M-my lord? I don’t understand. How—”

  “You don’t need to understand. I have heard enough,” Henry said and held the woman in a chokehold. His sudden action seemed to surprise everyone but Sarynn and Rayne.

  “M-my lord!? W-what’s the meaning of this?” the woman asked despite having trouble to even breathe.

  “Culling a spy,” Henry answered and lifted her off the ground. “You’re no maid of the princess. You’re the king’s spy.”

  “Y-you’re mistaken, my lord!” the woman said, desperately, with her legs dangling and filing off the ground.

  “You’re good at acting. You should have joined the mummers instead of the king’s spy circle.”

  “P-please… this is a misunderstanding.”

  Henry sighed. “Is it? Then why aren't you addressing the princess as ‘her highness’? Also, if the princess has a message, she won’t send a maid. Lastly, you have the smell of brimstone on you.”

  The woman ceased her struggle, perhaps realising the futility in continuing her lies.

  Henry spared no more words and simply crushed the woman’s neck.

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