Chapter 53 - Monster
Sir Berolt invited the three royals to an empty house beside the physician's lodging, where he had prepared a map on the table in the middle of the room. The military general of Abetha followed them soon after as he asked his two trusted men to stay with Slayer.
"Sir Berolt had explained to me the previous escape plan, but we need to change it now," Cian said to the people surrounding the map.
Arlan nodded. "We can't take Slayer on a long journey, and passing through the mountains to enter Megaris would be rough and difficult for the civilians as well."
"I have a proposal," Cian pointed towards a place on the map.
"I know of this place as I was once stationed here with my royal troops to deal with the border issues of Hatha. I am familiar with this entire area. With one severely injured man with us and few others who might not handle the long journey, it would be better to take this route. It's the forest deeper into the mountains, far from the towns and villages. There are places where we can allow them to rest in hiding to avoid enemies, and it is also advantageous if we are forced to fight with them in this situation."
Nobody had any issues with the new escape route.
Drayce tapped at the map along the mountain range between Thevailes and Megaris. "We do not need to abandon the old plan completely."
Arlan looked at Drayce and realized what was cooking in his friend's mind. "It's better that way."
Cian looked at the two as he also understood what they meant. "If we will proceed with that, we should use Godfrey Percy in front."
General Cavrois agreed, "He will be the one to take us out."
"Bastard can be of some use before he dies," Sir Berolt commented with an irritated huff.
With the amended plan finalized, everyone got to work. The knights found an ordinary but sturdy cart that would be pulled by two war horses they got from the Marquis's castle.
The cart was big enough to let Slayer's tall and robust body lie in it comfortably, and the old physician could sit inside with him together with his apprentices. The knights escorting them brought out several bags of medicines and resources that the troop would be needing for the trip.
All were ready to leave in no time. One more sturdy warhorse was led to the group, carrying a bloodied old man who was tightly bound in rope.
It was no other than Marquis Godfrey Percy.
The man looked in pain as his tongue was cut. His eyes could barely be opened, showing how much pain he was in. His mouth was covered with a cloth that had blood on it.
The physician, who was busy instructing his apprentices, looked at Marquis Percy and his eyes showed that he recognized this person.
Drayce looked at the physician. "Give him something so he won't die on this journey."
"I only treat humans, sometimes animals, but never monsters," the physician replied.
The physician's words surprised everyone, but before anyone could say a word, Drayce spoke, "We need to keep the monster alive to give him a death befitting a monster."
The physician didn't argue and went towards the Marquis, who was lying numbly on the horse. The physician checked his pulse and mumbled, "As expected, this monster can't die with only this much." The physician pulled out a few needles and pricked them in the Marquis's neck. He turned to look at Drayce, "He won't die with blood loss for at least a day. An easy death isn't enough to pay for his sins. Make sure he dies horribly."
They were ready to leave.
Soon after, their troop rode strong horses with Slayer, and the physician's group protected in the center. The horse that carried Marquis Percy was in front, with two knights on either side.
The fortress residents could see the view of Great Marquise Godfrey Percy was being dragged and paraded by the enemies along with them as they left the fortress.
Although the initial rescue team only numbered less than thirty men, after Abetha's military general ascertained that their crown prince had been found, the support soldiers from Abetha and Griven who sneaked in after them were given a signal to paralyze the army inside the fortress. Without their leaders, the captive enemy soldiers could only look at everything but do nothing.
Just after the royal troop left, General Cavrois led the rest of the allied soldiers to protect Drayce's group from being attacked from behind. As expected, the escape was not easy. Less than an hour after they left Barknor Fortress, a battalion of Thevailes soldiers reached the fortress. The colonel leading that battalion got updates about the escape of enemies.
"Colonel, they took Marquis Percy with them."
The colonel, who was already angry over such defeat, growled, "They all will be hung on the wall of this fortress." He ordered in his loud commanding voice, "Get ready to leave!"
"From what the scouts gathered, it seems like they will enter Thevailes to cross the mountains to go to Megaris," their informer said.
"Makes sense. The King of Megaris is with them, and his military has already crossed the Thevailes border and is marching towards our capital. The King of Megaris will probably convene with his main army," the subordinate of the colonel added.
"Megaris will see their king dying in my hand. He dared come this far, asking for his death," the colonel growled.
The Thevailes battalion left to follow Drayce and his troop on the way to Megaris.
Thevailes felt humiliated. It was them who started this campaign against other kingdoms, only to find the King of Megaris screwing up their plans. Not only did the young king himself fearlessly enter enemy territory, but his army also successfully crossed over the natural barrier of the mountain range between their kingdoms and was attacking them. Hence, it was evident that he would definitely return to Megaris instead of returning to Abetha. This young King of Megaris wouldn't miss the chance to show his people that he personally led the army and captured the enemy.
A night had passed, and soon, the sun had risen. As pursuers, the battalion led by the colonel did not dare rest.
After hours of riding, finally, before noon, the Thevailes battalion spotted the enemy troop while crossing a deserted land that had no greenery except for one or two dried shrubs. Ahead the desert was a more barren land with rows of huge rocks here and there, with scavenger birds fled in the sky to search for food.
A single cart surrounded by men on horses.
Although they weren't wearing armors or uniforms, the colonel was convinced this was the troop led by the King of Megaris.
"Charge!" the colonel roared.
At the sight of the approaching enemy soldiers, the royal troop stopped near the rocks and turned around to face the Thevailes battalion instead of running away.
"Why did they stop?" asked the Thevailes colonel as he lowered the speed of his horse to stop and check the situation.
"Seems like a trap, colonel," his subordinate replied as he pulled out the binoculars to check on their enemies. He saw the old man tied on the horse, and that was Marquis Percy. "Marquis Godfrey Percy is with them."
The colonel took the binoculars and saw the condition of the Marquis, which angered him. He and the Marquis belonged to the same faction. If they were to lose control of the Niaris territory inside Hatha, their faction would weaken once the wealth was distributed after the war.
"They all are going to die today," the colonel said through his gritted teeth. "They are less in numbers. We can get them."
"Seems like they had a plan and…" the subordinate tried to say but got interrupted by the angry colonel.
"Doesn't matter. It's either them or us."
As he said these words, the battalion reached the small troop, ready to paint this land with blood.