Ruthless 🗡️/ Fourth Wing

Chapter~25

It takes one wrong move from Luke to end up in the position we are in now.

All I see is Luke sitting in the chair being held brown with chains. Bloody and bruised just like Xaden and Liam's Fists.

"God Dammit just tell me" I say in frustration. In the cobblestone walls of the seller I feel claustrophobic. I can't take it any longer, and with that I take the dagger from my thigh, and I make one last threat.

The dagger gleams ominously in the dim light of the cellar, its edge catching the flickering torchlight. Luke's eyes widen in fear as he realizes the gravity of the situation. The tension in the air is palpable as you hold the blade menacingly, I feel frustration boiling over into desperation. Sweat beads on my forehead as I await his response, knowing that this moment could change everything.

"Did you get the letter?" he asks, his gaze fixed on me.

"No, I haven't. What letter?" I responded, arms crossed, anticipating his answer. Xaden and Liam watch the tense exchange.

"The letter was sent. You should be receiving it soon."

"Tell me, what's in the letter?"

"The thing is, I don't know exactly, but it's an invitation."

"Well, that's great, if only you could explain," frustration seeping through my words. We engage in a staring contest, each waiting for the other to crack under the pressure.

"Wait for the letter. It would be better to explain but you most certainly do not..." His sentence is cut short as his head rolls to the other side of the cell. Shocked, I turn to Xaden, who is now splattered with blood.

He stood holding the blood-stained dagger, the weight of Luke's final words hung heavy in the air. Xaden and Liam exchanged a silent glance, their expressions mirroring the tension that permeated the dimly lit cellar.

With a heavy sigh, I released the dagger from my grip and turned away from Luke's lifeless form. The walls of the cellar seemed to close in around me, suffocating me with their oppressive presence. I needed to escape, to find solace in the familiar confines of my dormitory.

Flashback:

A week ago, I found Luke shadowing me again. It wasn't the first time—he'd always lingered just outside my line of sight, watching, waiting. But this time, the look in his eyes was different. There was a tension to his posture, a coldness that sent a ripple of unease through my chest.

I had just left the library, my thoughts racing through everything I'd uncovered about the dragons and the fire signet, when he appeared from the shadows, stepping into my path.

"Nora," he said, his voice low and smooth. There was something in the way he said my name, as if he was trying to taste it on his tongue, something that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

"What do you want, Luke?" I asked, already irritated. I didn't have the patience for his games anymore. He'd been giving me cryptic warnings for weeks now, his motives always just out of reach. But something about him today felt off. I could sense it in the air, like a storm on the horizon.

He stepped closer, and I instinctively took a step back, my hand hovering near the dagger hidden in the folds of my tunic. His eyes followed the movement, a faint smile curling his lips.

"I think you should be more careful, Nora. There are people who would use your curiosity against you. People who have far more power than you could imagine." His voice was laced with a subtle menace that made my stomach churn.

"What do you mean?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady, though I could feel the fire rising in my veins, unbidden and uncomfortable. There was a pressure building inside me, as if the earth itself was calling to me, urging me to listen.

Luke leaned in, lowering his voice to a whisper. "I don't want to see you get hurt. I really don't. But if you keep digging into this, you won't have a choice. They'll come for you, Nora. And once they do, there's no going back."

The warning wasn't new. But there was something in the finality of his words that made my skin crawl. This wasn't just a threat; this was something personal. Something more.

"I'll be fine," I said, forcing the words out, but deep down, I wasn't so sure anymore. His gaze never wavered, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of something in his eyes—a flicker of something darker than I was ready to confront.

"You think you're ready for what's coming?" he asked, voice colder now. "You think you're prepared for the truth? Be careful, Nora. The wrong move and you'll be playing their game. You'll be just another pawn in their hands. And I'll be the one to make sure you don't survive it."

I took another step back, my pulse quickening. The sense of danger that had been building in me finally reached its peak. "You don't scare me, Luke," I said, trying to sound braver than I felt.

"Oh, I don't need to scare you," he replied, his smile tight, a sharp edge beneath the calm façade. "But don't mistake me for your ally. I'm not here to help you anymore. I'm here to warn you. If you keep digging, you'll wish you never started."

Before I could respond, he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving me in the shadow of his threat. His words echoed in my mind long after he was gone, like a haunting reminder of the danger that lurked just beyond the edge of everything I knew.

The journey back felt interminable, each step weighed down by the burden of unanswered questions and the weight of guilt. What had Luke known? What secrets had died with him in that dank, shadowy cell?

Upon reaching my dormitory, I pushed open the door with a sense of trepidation, unsure of what awaited me on the other side. Yet, as my eyes fell upon the elegant envelope resting on my neatly made bed, a spark of curiosity ignited within me.

The contrast between the opulent envelope and the austere surroundings of our wing was striking, lending an air of intrigue to the mundane surroundings. With trembling hands, I reached out and plucked the envelope from the bed, the soft rustle of paper echoing in the silence of the room.

For a moment, I hesitated, my fingers hovering over the seal as though afraid to break the fragile barrier that separated me from the unknown contents within. But curiosity prevailed, and with a decisive motion, I tore open the envelope, my heart pounding in anticipation.

As I withdrew the letter nestled within, the words on the page seemed to dance before my eyes, taunting me with their cryptic message. It was an invitation, just as Luke had said, yet the true significance of its contents remained shrouded in mystery.

With a furrowed brow, I began to read, my mind racing with questions and uncertainties. What secrets lay hidden within these carefully crafted words? And more importantly, what role would I play in the unfolding drama that awaited me?

As I pondered these questions, the flickering torchlight cast eerie shadows across the room, imbuing the air with a sense of foreboding. Little did I know, this simple letter would serve as the catalyst for a chain of events that would forever alter the course of my destiny.

Dear Nora Cyra Freysson,

It is with great honor that I address you. Your father was a man of integrity, and I believe you possess the same admirable qualities. You must be cognizant of the shifting tides and the looming specter of dissent from neighboring kingdoms. Thus, I write to propose a solution born of necessity but one I believe you would like to be a part of.

A grand ball is to be convened, a gathering where the elites of all kingdoms shall convene beneath the same celestial canopy. This event heralds an opportunity for you to forge alliances with your fellow rulers, fostering unity and understanding. While the cautionary whispers that may have reached your ears, the apprehensions voiced by my son, Luke—brave yet stubborn, his counsel tinged with the hues of skepticism. But let me assuage your doubts, dispel the shadows of mistrust that threaten to eclipse the brilliance of our aspirations. For in this endeavor, our aspirations are aligned, our visions intertwined in a tapestry of collective destiny.

Let us, then, cast aside the shackles of discord that bind us, transcending the artificial boundaries that delineate our kingdoms. Let us embrace the spirit of unity, standing as one against the tide of adversity, for in unity lies our strength, our resilience, our hope for a brighter tomorrow.

Warm regards,

Gerard Rugfurd Ruler and Founder of the Second Party Army of Bhaltair