Vaehandre: Where The Stars Fall [Under Revision]

Chapter 45: Civilities Clash

It was early in the morning on the day of the duel. Aiden was watching the sun peek over the mountains when he heard a knock on the door.

Henry stood in the hallway with the leather armor in his hands. "Here as requested," he said before handing them to the lord.

Examining it for a while, Aiden saw that set of leather armor had a breastplate, pauldron for the shoulders, vambrace for the arms, and greaves for legs. He took it from Henry. "I'll have to guard my thighs with this set of armor."

"And so will Hesev. Unless they've found a way to make leather armor more mobile."

Aiden scoffed. "I'll meet you outside." He nodded at Henry.

The Knight Protector made a slight bow.

● ● ●

Arriving at the infirmary, Ingrid was greeted by Gytha. She looked at the crowd of healers moving out of the infirmary. "Where is Distira?" she asked.

"She's gone to check on the delivery of intatem flowers. They've been delayed for almost two days now."

"Did she at least take guards with her?"

Gytha bit her lip. "You know how she is."

"Alright, get the supplies moving I'll send someone to check on her." She briskly walked toward Henry. "I need you to go find Distira."

"What about Aiden?"

"I'll watch over him."

Henry raised a brow.

"I can handle it."

Nodding, he strode towards, Aiden.

"Is everything alright?" The Lord of Rathorn asked.

"Yeah, I just have to go check something."

Aiden looked around wearily.

"Just focus on the duel."

"They're planning something aren't they." Aiden looked at Henry.

"And we'll be ready for them."

The Lord of Rathorn patted Henry on back.

● ● ●

Distira followed the supposed route of their delivery of intatem flowers. While she walked along the path, she noticed a significant change of direction in the tracks on the mud. It curved toward the side of a storage delivery post. The tracks made a puddle in the shape of a crescent moon.

Nearing the delivery post, there were two wagons in their shed with the one closest to the side door having stacks of smaller crates in them. She looked under the wagon and saw puddles of dried blood. It had dripped from a large crate that was on the other wagon. Hearing footsteps from inside the delivery post, she hid behind a crate by the last wagon. Two men were carrying a body.

"Open the crate Rem!" one of the assailants yelled.

Distira saw the assailant by the wagon wipe blood off a hidden blade and tuck it under his arm.

"Why didn't they tell us more deliverymen were coming this morning?"

"Just get the crate open."

"What about the intatem flowers?"Rem brought out a knife and pried open one of the sides of the lid on the crate.

"Let the bears handle it. Any time now, Rem."

The Southern mage heard the last nail creaked and the lid fell over to the side.