Chapter 223: Avatar Tori is Here

Chapter 223: Avatar Tori is Here

Wood splintered above them and as Tori dragged Gideon past the threshold that was barely held up by a column of packed dirt, she strengthened the energy output of the ice crystal to surround them and block the sudden gush of hot air blowing out as the interior roof collapsed.

Guevera! Fabian ran towards them and shoved a single-handed sword through his belt and quickly supported Gideon on his other side.

He inhaled too much smoke. We need to get somewhere safe so I can purge it, otherwise, he cant escape like this, Tori said as she and Fabian dragged Gideon between them. She looked around the yard as she led them to the side, further away from the burning shed.

There was smoke and ashes drifting in the air. Those werent good to inhale either. They needed shelter and the closest building was the large house where they were, but Adrien would be back soon, and the large house was the first place any additional guards would go.

She turned her head back to where shed trapped the six men originally guarding Gideon and almost jerked back. Six bodies were limp, hanging from the waist down in various angles while still encased in dirt from the thighs down.

I took one of their swords after I killed them, Fabian said. You can have your dagger back.

Hold on to it. We need to find a shelter first, she replied. Against the firelight, she could make out a several story tall steeple of sorts not too far away. She gritted her teeth and grounded. Follow me. Theres a church down the road. Lets go there. I dont know when morning will come, but as long as no one finds us, we can wait and try to get a better view of the area from the steeple.

Fabian nodded and Tori led them around a low stone wall at the back of the large house. Rather than take the road and be sighted easily, she led them in between abandoned yards to get to a derelict church. It was an old wooden building and since the village appeared abandoned long ago, they didnt face much resistance breaking in through a back door.

It was dark and while Tori had clear quartz on her bracelet, she didnt want to risk turning it into a light crystal and alerting enemies. The wood was old and creaked with every step, but Tori couldnt sense any heartbeats in the building. She had Fabian remain in place with Gideon as she felt around to try to find stairs.

A wooden door was hanging off its hinge and when Tori pushed past it, it nearly fell. However, right behind it was a set of narrow stairs. Tori kept her hand on the wall and took careful steps until she reached the top of the steeple.

The steeple likely once held some bells and had glassless windows on all four sides so the sound could be heard. Light from the nearby shed fire came in through those windows, which was good enough for her to work with. She went downstairs as fast as she could without damaging the aged wood.

Anything? Fabian asked as he leaned against the wall, still holding a wheezing Gideon.

Can you help him up the stairs? Ill put a silence charm around us when were up there. When you reach the top, stay low and avoid the windows.

Fabian nodded and followed as Tori led them to the stairs. She followed behind them in case Gideon fell, but though he was wheezing, he was still able to climb up. When they reached the top, Tori had Fabian sit in the corner before she dragged a crystal around the walls.

Gideon? Fabian said as he laid the second prince on the dusty floorboards. Are you all right?

Gideons breathing was shallow, and Tori crawled over, trying to stay low to avoid being seen from the windows.

Lift up his shirt so I can write a purification charm, Tori told him. Fabian nodded and gathered Gideons shirt hem, tugging it up to his armpits. Tori fished out her mem crystal and began the draw across Gideons chest and abdomen. Take deep breaths. Slow, deep breaths.

Gideons chest trembled with his first few breaths and his red face contorted with pain. However, the more he breathed, the easier it became.

Tori slumped back against the wall.

Theyre going to start searching for us sooner or later, Fabian told her. What do we do?

Tori had her eyes shut. We cant do anything except hide until we figure out where we are. We dont know where to go if we dont know where were starting. Anyway, Gideon will need time to purge the smoke. Lets take a moment to recover.

Fabian nodded and looked down at Gideon, whose head was resting on his lap. How is it?

Burns less.... Gideon wheezed.

Keep your breathing even. Let the charm do its work, Tori told him. She pursed her lips and frowned. This is classified information, but I dont have a choice. Adrien Rosiek is suspected of being a Duraga Federation agent planted in Soleil. With him attacking your carriage, kidnapping us, and trying to burn Gideon alive, its fairly obvious that even if hes not an agent, he is in some way trying to cause turmoil in the empire.

Fabian looked over at her with squinted eyes. Was Alessa involved?

Alessa was involved? Gideon tilted his head up as much as he could to look at Tori and didnt seem to want to believe it.Updated from novelbIn.(c)om

She believes that Im a spy for foreign forces and that Ive gotten close to Piers and other influential people in the empire to gather information to give to a foreign enemy.

A spy? Gideon choked out. He crinkled his eyes. Thats not true.

Yes, I know its not true! Tori snapped. But she saved Rosieks life and trusts him completely. I dont know how long hes been feeding her lies, but shes been watching me and everything Ive been doing seems to support his conspiracy.

How do you know its Rosiek? Fabian asked with uncertainty.

Hes been watched by Piers and Piers intelligence team for some time now, and there are many unanswered questions on his background. Its as if he appeared out of nothing. He also has suspicious contacts. The spice vendors who supplied spices to the Golden Cow were smuggling in spices from a tunnel in the northeast mountains. You know how Axton had to suddenly go on an errand and we had to postpone his surprise party? She looked at the two and could see them nod. He went on a mission to collapse the tunnel.

What if Rosiek didnt know? Gideon asked, grimacing.

Von Dorns sword instructor. Suspicious workers who only work for him. Questionable resources and associates who also appeared out of nothing. He developed a vast network within Soleil ideal for moving not only goods, but people, Tori said. She took a deep breath. Also, before I found von Dorn, they brought me to him and Alessa. Her eyes lowered and she shook her head. She really believes that hes an agent of Soleil and when Rosiek saw her out, the men left in the room with me said they planned to kill us. To burn Gideon alive and then frame me for his murder.

If he was an agent of Soleil, my brother wouldve known, Gideon said. His voice was a bit hoarse, but he was breathing better. I trust my brother.

Tori stared at him for a moment, a bit irritated that he didnt trust her after she dragged him out of a burning building, but instead relied on his unwavering belief in Piers. She gave him a disgusted look before turning to Fabian.

By the way, von Dorn, they also suspect youre a traitor.

Fabians head shot up. Me? Why?

Guilty by association with me, I suppose. I dont know. They didnt make sense and anything I said to Hart was met with fervent rejection. She said she knew Id try to change her mind and that I was lying. She shut her eyes and did another sweep for nearby heartbeats. Im not lying.

I know, Fabian said in a quiet voice.

How long do you think it will take for the sun to rise? Gideon asked in a strained voice.

Stop talking. Just concentrate on breathing, Tori told him. And I dont know. There werent any clocks, and I dont have a time piece on me. What about you two?

Fabian patted his pocket and shook his head as he tried to empty it out. Nothing.

Gideon swallowed hard and moved his hands to his pocket. Also, nothing.

They took your ring. They mustve taken away anything that could be useful for escape, Tori said. They were smart, but not smart enough to hide them. My dagger, bracelet, and your ring were on a desk.

What about our comcry? Fabian asked. Tori shook her head.

They might have left them behind. My comcry and Gideons can be tracked.

Gideon squinted at her. When could my comcry be tracked?

Since I became your part time Lyce guard, Tori said. She wasnt sure if he could see her deadpan expression, but gave one anyway. Your brother said he was worried.

Gideons ash smudged face broke out into a smile. I have a good brother.

Tori snorted. We can only wait for the sun to rise and give us some light. Its too dangerous to run out in the dark. You cant see where youre going and if youre injured or fall into a trap, our problems are worse. You have to be prepared to leave as soon as we have a direction. If my estimation is correct, we shouldve only been asleep for a few hours. While potent enough to make us sleep quickly, I dont think we were around the poison long enough to have breathed in toxins to sleep for more than a few hours.

Fabian nodded. Everything happened so fast. I didnt know what was happening outside.

I wont activate the noise canceling crystal next time, Gideon said with a grimace.

Good, youve learned, Tori said. She took a deep breath and clenched her hands. Heres the plan. When I start to see the rays of sunlight on the horizon, Ill use my clear quartz as a light flare. Itll be dark enough that the signal can be seen for a long distance. Im sure by now, people are searching for us and will be on the lookout. That will alert searchers of our location.

Then, we just stay here and wait? Wont the crystal let the enemy know were here? Gideon asked.

Tori shook her head. We cant stay here. I dont think this village is very large and theyll find us within minutes. Also, there are...a lot of people here.

We hardly saw anyone, Fabian told her.

Tori drew in her lips and looked down. Dread twisted in the pit of her stomach and her heart ached. There was no way she and Fabian could fight off the number of heartbeats she found. Even if they ran and tried to thin out the pursuers, their abilities were limited.

We went around the back and were careful to avoid them, Tori said as she swallowed and tried to keep her voice even. When the sun rises, Ill activate the light flare. If anyone sees it, they will reply with a light flare of their own. She lifted her eyes and looked towards Fabian. When we see that flare, run in its direction and dont look back.

What if we dont see a flare? Gideon asked.

Well see what the terrain is once the sun rises, before I activate the flare, Tori told them. The flare is extremely bright, so when I activate it, turn away from it, shut your eyes, and cover them with your hands. Dont turn around until I tell you or it will blind you, and we dont have time for you to be temporarily blinded.

How many times can you use the crystal? Fabian asked.

With the amount of energy, I can put into it, twice before it runs out. The light uses a lot of energy. She looked at Gideon. When you flee, Im going to give you the crystal. Dont use it as a flare. Activate it if youre cornered. Do you understand? Point it towards your pursuers, shut your eyes, ground, and activate it, then count for five. Anyone who looks at it will be blinded for a few hours, and you can keep running.

Gideon nodded.

Fabian narrowed his eyes. What about you?

I need to stay here. I can see the village and the surrounding area from here and can provide cover for you while you flee, Tori told them. I also need to gather a lot of energy to contain the threat and I cant do that if Im running. Its better for me to stay here and keep them back.

Then well stay with you, Gideon told her, as if it were an obvious choice. Were not going to leave you.

Gideon, Fabian said in a tight voice. Shes going to be a decoy.

What? Gideon struggled to push himself into a seated position. He nearly slipped when his arm gave out, but he still forced himself up. He shook his head. No, are you crazy, Guevera? We cant leave you!

Tori cracked a small smile. I never thought Id hear you say that.

Be serious! Gideon choked out. How can we leave you behind? Just run away with us! Wont we have a better chance if you stay with us?

Both von Dorn and I arent enough to fight off the army hiding here.

The two went quiet save for Gideons trembling breath. What do you mean army?

Tori took a deep breath. Im not going to explain much, but when I was searching for von Dorn, I thought he could be underground as I couldnt find him on the surface. When I found him, I found a few more...people, nearby. I thought they were guards, so I extended my search to see how many there were and.... She bit her lower lip. She held out her hands. This village sits on a vast network of underground tunnels and caves. They probably stretch out into the countryside, but there are....thousands of people under this village.

Gideon shook his head. Are they villagers?

Tori bit her lips. She vaguely remembered the glowing location on the crystal table on Piers birthday. The area was near Geyser Cliffs. When Axton collapsed that smuggling tunnel, there was evidence of soldiers having passed through. We dont know of any mass infiltration from the Duraga Federation; we havent seen one. But they mustve gone somewhere.

Dont be rash, Guevara, Gideon said with a frown. What if theyre villagers? Did you see them?

Villagers would have no need to live underground when there is a perfectly settleable village on the surface, Tori told him. And as weve been sitting here, Ive been monitoring the patrols. Those who are done seem to go underground and another set come up to replace them.

But are you sure theyre not villagers? Fabian asked.

If you make a mistake-

I will find out, Tori told them in a firm voice. So, I have to stay and confirm my suspicions before I act. If it is an army hiding here, even if we hide and wait for rescue, our people will be outnumbered when they come. If we run together, well be overwhelmed if they come after us. Id rather not take the risk if it is an army.

The rest of his words were in another language Gideon couldnt understand, but it was clear the horsemen did. Whatever Lord Kasen said angered them and they began to yell, but before they could move forward, another man swept through like a shadow. Gideon could smell the scent of blood in the air as men fell from their horses, covered with blood. The horsemen in the back tried to get their panicked horses to calm down as they shuffled back.

Where are you going? The newcomers amused voice chuckled. You kidnap my little sister, and you think Ill let you live?

Sebastian, why dont you show them why youre nicknamed The Monster, Lord Kasen said.

Gideon could feel a wave of crystal energy emanating from Lord Sebastians sword. He recalled all stories hed heard of his brothers master from when he was a child. This man single-handedly beat every single imperial knight during the Anniversary Tournaments.

Your Highness, Lord Sebastian said as he shifted his position and raised his sword over his shoulder. Cover your eyes. This isnt going to be a pleasant sight.

Gideon shut them. He heard screams, shouting, the cries of horses and men as blood and urine filled the air. He scrunched his face and turned away until the screaming was done. When there was silence, he dared to open his eyes.

No animal or man survived from the enemies that surrounded them. Gideon felt his entire body go weak at the sight of corpses littering the ground and blood splattered on shriveled tree bark.

Lord Sebastian flicked his sword to get rid of the remaining blood.

Senior! Ive got von Dorn! That was Axtons voice. Gideon turned around and shouted as Axton reached them with Fabian slung around his shoulders.

Fabian!

Hes fine! Hes just tired, Axton said. He used up an incredible amount of energy to go after those archers.

Im fine, Fabian said as Axton knelt down and slid Fabian off, letting him rest on the ground. I just need a moment.

Gideon. As he fell to his knees beside Fabian, he looked up and saw Piers with a sword at his side, still wet with blood. His brothers eyes swept over him, looking for any wounds. When he didnt find any, Piers looked around and frowned. Where is Tori?

She told us to run. Shes still at the village, Gideon replied at once.

The village? Lord Sebastian asked.

Guevera created a wall around the village. She wrote a lot of sacred geometry and charms-

Shell overexert herself. Lord Sebastian frowned.

Do you remember what charms she wrote? Lord Kasen asked Gideon.

He shook his head. No, it was dark. She was writing like mad. She said she was taking precautions for her safety and had a charm from Alvere-

Kasen! Lord Sebastian shouted at once, whirling around to look at his brother. Lord Kasen looked at Axton as he reached into his coat pocket.

Did your brother give you a safety charm? he asked. Axton nodded and immediately reached into his pocket and handed it to Lord Kasen. His blue eyes narrowed as he grabbed the charm and wrote a series of characters across it. At once, a breeze seemed to pick up around it, making it flap in the air as Lord Kasen held it up. Find my sister.

He released the charm, and it flew out of his hand.

Follow it! Lord Sebastian shouted and he and Piers raced after the charm that seemed to be caught in the wind.

Axton, you stay here with von Dorn and the second prince. The knights will arrive soon, Lord Kasen told them before turning around. Were going to get Tori.

His eyes widened and he threw the door open.

When he had returned, all he could hear was the crackling of the fire at the back of the house. It seemed that the second prince met his planned demise. Before they cleared the village, he needed to place the ring that had been on the second princes finger back on the corpse.

Adrien had a smile on his face when he returned from seeing off Alessas carriage. Hed stood at the broken gate of the village, watching her carriage disappear into the night. If she knew that everything hed told her was a lie and that it wasnt Countess Guevera who was a spy, but him, he didnt know if she could take it. Alessa trusted him and believed him for so long.

Ill make it up to her. She saved his life, she deserved to live without worry. As soon as his father led their tribe and the others into Soleil, hed take Alessa back to where shed be safe from the war.

She was lovely now, but in a few years, shed become a more mature beauty. Someone much more to his taste.

Adrien had walked down the hall and licked his lips. While Alessa had yet to mature, there was another young woman who had put on the curves he particularly enjoyed. Hed been surprised to see the Countess had blossomed so well. He always did have high expectations of her. Blue eyes and black hair against that porcelain skin were his favorite.

A part of him regretted that he didnt tell his men to wait until he returned so he could enjoy her first. The first prince was a strange one. It was impossible for him to have taken the Countess already. Adrien had quickened his pace, growing impatient to grab her mass of curly black hair in one hand and pull her head back as he punished her for being a thorn in his side.

He didnt think the spoiled daughter of the Guevera March would turn out as she did, but as long as she didnt get involved further, they could proceed. Ten years of slowly smuggling in their men through the mountains to build up a hidden army couldnt go to waste because of one girl.

She had been snooping around the spice vendor he sent to the Golden Cow and shortly after, he heard that the tunnel the spices came through collapsed. Those tunnels were ancient; how could she not have anything to do with it? Since their first meeting, she'd been a hindrance and didn't act the way his people reported. His intuition told him that the longer he let her live, the more problematic shed become.

The sounds of torment and grunts of pleasure didnt spill into the hall, and as he had approached, he worried that his men had already ruined her. Then, he opened the door.

His right-hand men were frozen in place. A chill still filled the room as their skin took on a strange, pale pallor.

Astor! Kryga! He cried out their names as he rushed in. As soon as his hand touched them, he recoiled. It was like touching ice. His wide eyes swept over them, and he shook his head. No....

A flash of light came from the window, overpowering the light crystals with their blinding white light for just a moment. Adrien winced at the brightness and turned his head away from the windows.

When it faded, he squinted and looked outside. The light had shot into the sky and his face fell. He snapped his head towards the desk and swore. The second princes ring remained, almost as a reminder that he hadnt gotten rid of the items when he shouldve. The Countess bracelet and dagger were gone.

He let out a growl and ran out of the house. Theyve escaped! He stopped the first set of patrols he ran into on the street and shouted orders. Send the cavalry and the archers out in all directions! The Countess has escaped! Find her and kill her!

Yes, my lord! He was saluted as his men rushed in multiple directions. Adrien looked towards the house and the pillar of smoke rising behind it. His lips tightened into a frown. Why did no one come out when he yelled?

He ran around the back, towards the shed. The shed was still burning, but six bodies were partially buried in the earth in front of it. The blood drained from Adriens face as he stumbled to a stop. All six men had fatal wounds around their necks and chests.

Impossible.... A shallow breath left his lips as he looked towards the shed. He didnt need to look inside to know that the second prince wasnt there.

A tremble came from beneath his feet, and he stumbled back, looking down at the dirt. He narrowed his eyes and just as he questioned whether he really felt something, the ground shook again.

What is that! He stumbled back and felt his stomach turn as a massive wall of earth rose from the ground, as if being pushed up by an unknown force. For a moment, he could only stand where he was, trying not to fall over as he watched the ground crack and birth a thick barrier as tall as a house.

It wasnt only in one place, either. The earth began to rise along the perimeter of the village. His eyes widened. They were being closed in. The main entrances to the cave system below were within the village grounds.

Who was doing this?

He turned around, looking for a source.

His eyes caught a movement from the belltower of the old church. His eyes narrowed and he grit his teeth.

That bitch.

He ran past the bodies in the yard and out into the street. He ignored the yelling coming from all over the village as the wall encircled them. They could get out if they broke through the wall, but he didnt know how long it would take or if the Countess would do something else before they could get out. He couldnt risk any more interference.

She may have been proficient in crystals, but everyone had a limit. After raising the earth wall, shed be exhausted.

Adrien ground his teeth and sneered. Hed punish her until she couldnt remember her own name. Then hed kill her. Maybe hed kill her in front of her beloved first prince. Yes, hed love to see their expressions.

He burst through the doorway of the church and ran down the aisle, past the broken pews. A wooden door was on the ground to the side of the altar, revealing a dark stairwell. He didnt hesitate.

Adrien ran up the stairs, his heart pounding and his hands ready to rip her apart.

Cool air brushed him as he reached the top of the belltower, but along with it was a heavy pressure in the air that almost suffocated him upon arrival. The small space crackled with energy that made his skin rise and his earlier race to apprehend the girl came to an immediate halt.

A young woman was seated on the floor, towards the corner furthest from the stairs, eyes closed and relaxed as energy flowed around her. Her legs were crossed beneath her and her palms were on the floor on either side of her. Dust and small debris were caught up in the moving air inside the bell tower, but where she sat, she was untouched.

Not a thread moving on her clothes. Not a stray strand of black hair out of place.

Theyre long gone. It took you long enough. Her voice was calm, as he remembered it being whenever they clashed in Horizon.

The corners of his lips tugged upwards. They wont get far.

I dont know. Theyre running pretty fast.

Horses run faster. He remained by the stairs. He took a step closer and the breeze that had appeared to sway through the bell tower picked up. He narrowed his eyes as the wind grew stronger. Was this her doing? He gritted his teeth and narrowed his eyes. They left you behind?

I volunteered. Theres something I needed to know first, she replied with ease. Why do you want to frame me of all people? Surely there were better targets.

Adrien laughed and looked at her with contempt. She didnt seem to realize her value at all. Soleil was built on the backs and the bloody swords of its marches. Only they would rival the imperial power in military might. If they turned against Soleil, the empire would fall apart. When it does, we can reclaim our land.

She didnt seem moved at all by his statement and it only served to irritate him.

There are channels you can go through to file for reclaiming land, she replied. Was she being sarcastic?

Soleil will never yield territory willingly to us from the Duraga Federation, Adrien scowled. Soleil says it conquered these lands, but they also drove many out!

That was several thousand years ago, and during the Classical Period, there were open borders for nomadic tribes-

We want Soleil gone! It wasnt enough for mere access. They wanted the territory. How could a handful of villagers take over all of Soleil? With their warrior class. His ancestors were pushed further and further away from the heart of the empire because they refused to submit, and were thus forced to compete with the nomadic tribes in the east for land that couldnt sustain them all.

For centuries they tried to regain their lost territory, but against a formidable monolith of an empire, what chance did a few tribes with no permanent settlement stand?

It was why his family began a unification of their own.

His pride at how far his family had come was dashed when he saw her sneer.

With what army? You and your handful of guards? The chances of your men finding the second prince alone is small. We hardly saw anyone here when we rushed out of that house and the six guards are dead.

Adrien let out a laugh. She was skilled with crystals, as he was told, but she was still just a teenage girl. He lifted his hand to shield his face from the wind as he inched closer to her. Do you really think that those men were all I have?

Those patrols won't be able to escape the village with the wall up.

There are more of them and another way out. Its only a matter of time. I have thousands of men here. At my order, they will emerge and kill the second prince.

The Countess let out a small snort that he could hear even over the howl of the wind. What thousands of men? We saw a dozen at most, and they were so easy to avoid, it was almost pathetic. Youre just as delusional as you were in Horizon, Rosiek.

He took a step towards her. The loose fabric of his clothes whipped around him, and he could feel pressure push him back. Adrien looked towards the girl on the floor. She didnt open her eyes, but he didnt drop his guard. He hated that she looked so calm.

Adrien could feel his blood boiling as he glared at her serene figure, wanting to replace her tranquility with fear. His lips turned into a snarl. She wouldnt be so calm if she knew what awaited her below.

An army of ten thousand, five-hundred men are under my control, Countess. He watched her face, waiting to see her shudder so he could revel in it.

Ten thousand, five-hundred, and twenty-seven to be exact, she said. He caught her full, pink lips curling up into a smile. Thanks, Rosiek. Countess Guevera opened her big, blue eyes and met his. Thats exactly what I needed to know.