Vaehandre: Where The Stars Fall [Under Revision]

Chapter 35: Hidden Blades

[Thief Bank Heist Mission]

The road was rough, and the hour went by slowly. Their branches were tall but not enough to hinder sunlight that had just fully risen above the mountains. Ingrid was fast asleep, leaning by the window in the passenger seat closest to the coachman. A ray of sunlight shone at her eyes, and her eyelids fluttered. Waking from her slumber, she glanced sharply at Distira. "Why didn't you wake me up sooner?"

"Nothing has happened." The Southern mage said before looking out the carriage window. Her gaze shifted from tree to tree.

Ingrid shook her head. "Alright, you should get some rest as well."

The Southern mage maintained her gaze. "As you wish, sorceress."

Raising both her brows, Ingrid stared at Distira until she finally glanced at her.

After a while, one of their carriage's wheels plunged into a puddle on the road, rousing Gytha. She awoke to the sound of neighing from the horses. "Argh, are we there yet?"

Ingrid and Distira looked at her.

"Not yet, just about halfway there, I think. We've been on the road for at least five hours," said Ingrid.

Distira reached for her staff and placed it in front of her. "Good, now there are two of you awake; I feel a lot more comfortable sleeping now." She leaned back on her seat and let the staff rest on her abdomen.

Ingrid watched Distira close her eyes, then glanced at Gytha. She had something black crawling on her palm. "What's that you got there, Gytha?"

"Oh, just a beetle. In case I have to cast a spell. I have several in a jar in my pack. I've made sure to only gather mealworm beetles since there are so many." Gytha narrowed her gaze on the beetle for a moment. "Is it true that you can perform spells without draining any life force?"

Glancing to the side, Ingrid breathed in deeply. "Yes, I can."

Gytha smiled. "Some of the older students say that that's why you're Lady Moira's favorite."

"So I've heard—" A thud sounded from behind Ingrid. She looked behind her and saw that the coachman had fallen. She immediately lifted her hands to the sides, stopping arrows from entering the carriage. They were shakingly held up in the air. "Distira!" she said as she glanced at her."

The Southern mage twisted her staff once, then twice, allowing a blade to slide out of it. It was as long as a short sword but only as wide as a dagger.

There was a bang on the door. Gytha used a pushback spell to thrust an assailant aside. Distira kicked the door open as a man with a hidden blade approached, sending him toppling to the ground.

Ingrid kept her hands up, stopping more arrows from harming them.

Distira had slashed the throat of the downed assailant and twisted her staff a third time, giving her a second blade. An assailant holding two axes slashed at her. She ducked sideways and cut him on his inner thigh, rendering his right leg immobile. Coming back around from her spin, she cut off one of his ax-wielding hands.

Not far from the carriage, an assailant with a dagger was nearing Gytha. Distira quickly threw a knife at his neck. He fell, clutching his bleeding throat. Gytha screamed at the sight of him.

Hearing a crush of leaves behind her, Distira barely dodged a strike from a spear. The spear's blade had drawn blood from her forehead.

"Distira!" Ingrid called out.

After evading three more thrusts with the sharp head, Distira grabbed the spear and gripped it in a way that both she and her assailant were standing face to face with the spear between them.

The assailant had long hair and was much more slender than the other assassins. Distira saw the youth in her eyes. The assassin then kicked her on the knee, causing Distira to kneel.

The Southern mage quickly pulled a small knife from her vest and stabbed her assailant in the lung. Blood poured out from her chest as Distira held her up.

The assailant coughed out blood, and Distira gently laid her on the ground. Distira watched the light leave her eyes as the young assassin stopped moving.

Ingrid crushed the heads of two more rogues. Gytha cast another pushback spell snapping an assailant's neck when he landed on a boulder.

Ingrid and Gytha approached Distira.

"Are you alright?" Ingrid asked.

Distira was standing over the girl assailant's body. "She must have been no older than sixteen." Shaking her head, she wiped off the blood on her face.

After glancing at the young assailant's body, Ingrid placed her hand on Distira's shoulder.

Seven dead assassins laid around them. Ingrid looked at each one. "What could Alyson, Bertha, and Ella have done against all this?" She glanced back at Gytha and Distira.

"They must have been sent here for a specific target to have attacked the same group twice," Distira noted.

Gytha went near the carriage. "I'm surprised the horses haven't ran off."

"These are Moira's personal horses. Specially trained to not scare so easily. They were trained for battle," Ingrid replied.

At a distance, they heard more horses approaching. Ingrid and Distira moved closer to Gytha.

Distira gripped both her blades, Gytha grabbed another beetle, and Ingrid stepped forward with one hand raised in front of her chest. She saw the gray banners and breathed a sigh of relief. "It's okay," she said to Distira and Gytha. "They're Rathornian knights."

The company of men halted, and the lead rider swung his leg over his horse and stepped down. He removed his helmet and placed it on his horse. He looked at Ingrid with a worried expression.

"Henry?" Ingrid lowered her hand and approached her brother.

"Ingrid," he said with a grin.

She ran and wrapped her arms around him. Henry lifted her off the ground in their embrace. They made half a twirl before he set her down and asked, "What happened? I'm glad you're alright."

"Rogue assassins, I presume." She moved her head from side to side.

Henry nodded. "Let's get you three to the safety of Rathorn," he said as he placed his arm over her shoulders. He gave Finnian a look.

The marshal waved his hand in the air in a circular motion and the other nights surrounded the carriage. He approached the carriage and got off his horse.

Distira and Ingrid were already in the carriage.

Finnian was about to get on the driver's seat when Gytha stopped him.

"It's okay, I know how to drive the carriage, good sir," she said with a smile.

"Are you sure, my lady?" Finnian asked.

"Yes, I'm sure."

"Alright, just follow our lead, my lady."

The other knights had dragged the assassins' bodies and piled them at the side of the road.

Distira glanced back at the pile before the carriage departed.