Dance of the Damned

Ninety

Octavia dedicated three incredibly long days to crafting the sword. It had to be an exact replica of the Immortalitas Gladius for the plan to succeed. Kalyani needed to experience the power of the sword firsthand and feel a deep sense of fear when it approached her.

Blinne deployed a group of spies to gather information, but none of them had returned yet. The absence of Zeddicus, who was likely being tortured, weighed heavily on my mind. It was disheartening to know that no rescue mission had been initiated. However, the fact that the bond between us remained unbroken provided a glimmer of hope that he was still alive.

Rorie entered the tent and interrupted my anxious pacing, asking if we could talk. I gratefully paused and nodded, appreciative of the distraction. "I am sorry for how I treated you after my vision. My emotions were running high and I didn't mean any of it."

"It's not a big deal," I reassured her. Honestly, I had completely forgotten about it. My sole focus was on rescuing Zeddicus and bringing him back home.

"I know neither of you would stand idly by. You must have been under some kind of spell," Rorie comforted me. "I still can't determine when or where the vision occurred, but I have seen that Zeddicus will be alright."

Before I could respond, Finn and Mozzie entered the tent as Rorie left. I told them about the rescue plan and revealed my secret backup plan, which would ensure our survival. They stared at me in silence, their expressions reflecting disbelief.

"If you truly believe that three Grims can overpower everyone in Benevol Castle, then you greatly overestimate our capabilities," Moz finally spoke up.

I started to suggest that they didn't need to do this, but Finn interrupted me. "Whether we want to or not, we will do it. You are our queen, and Zeddicus is our king and friend. We cannot win this war without him," Finn declared, with Moz echoing his agreement.

Blinne burst into the tent, accompanied by a formidable creature with gray, leathery skin illuminated with black swirls. The half-human, half-monster figure was bald, and the swirls continued onto its head. He wore the uniform of a Benevolian soldier.

"Tell her what you told me, Roland," Blinne commanded, her arms crossed and eyes filled with panic.

Roland approached me, locking eyes with me directly. "General Blinne sent me to Benevol Castle to locate the king," he began.

"And did you find him?" I pressed, eager for answers.

"I did. He is inside the throne room, chained to the walls. He's being displayed for anyone in the castle to see, and some are even paying to torture him," Roland revealed, each word striking me with a sickening feeling. The anger inside me intensified, but I struggled to process the overwhelming situation.

"This is what happens when you rush into things without a plan," Blinne scolded me, her tone filled with frustration. Despite my initial resistance, I knew she was right. We should have brought reinforcements.

Quietly, I asked, "Do you know how Octavia is doing with the sword?" The image of Zeddicus chained in the throne room haunted my thoughts.

"She won't let anyone into the tent, so I don't know. Verlee is inconsolable and dealing with the weight of her pregnancy. This is an enormous fucking mess," Blinne bitterly replied.

"Fuck! I already know that! I know we messed up, okay? You can reprimand us later. Right now, our priority is bringing Zeddicus back home," I snapped, unable to contain my frustration. I didn't mean to raise my voice, but I couldn't bear any more reminders of our failures. I already blamed myself enough.

"Trust me, I plan on it," Blinne retorted smugly before she and Roland exited the tent.

"Are you alright?" Finn asked, concern etched on his face. I nodded in response. "Blinne will come around once we safely bring Zed home. She's just protective of her siblings. Don't take it personally."

"I'll try not to," I replied wearily. "But I can't sit around doing nothing any longer."

"You won't have to," Octavia announced from the tent's doorway, her presence surprising me. "I've finished the sword."

Excitement surged through me. "That means we can leave tonight!" I exclaimed, wishing there was a way to let Zeddicus know to hold on a little longer.

"I have to come with you to conceal your magic, ensuring that Kalyani's wards won't be triggered. However, the creation of the sword has drained much of my energy. It would be best if we depart tomorrow night to ensure my magic doesn't falter," Octavia explained, her voice filled with fatigue.

With a renewed sense of purpose, I nodded in agreement. Tomorrow night, we would embark on our mission to rescue Zeddicus and bring him back home. Lets just hope that nothing would go wrong.