Realm of Ash Series: Soul Bond (Book 1)

CHAPTER 14 - ROLAND

The labyrinth of alleyways grew dense, narrower and evermore endless. Fawkes began to question his own knowledge even on this particular part of Blackwall. It was hard to believe these shadowy crevice's were even capable to house anyone or anything. However, he and his men preserved their stealthy stalking of the King and Crimson Divide acolyte up to what appeared to resemble the crudely painted walls just outside the border of the Crimson Territory. Drenched in shadow, their closest hiding spot remained out of site for both parties, but this part of town was deathly quiet, and so the Blackwall militia trained their ears on the meeting instead.

"Well, it's a dead end. I told you I do not have time for useless idling".

Roland scolded, while fearful he may have just been led into a trap, he preserved a stalwart disposition to avoid showing weakness.

His escort whipped his hand up in the air to rudely silence the King, he paused, then spoke clearly in the direction of the wall they faced.

"Talon's Reach".

Roland observed the some-what immovable wall seemingly begin to shift, disturbing dust around its edges, forming into a covert passage. The Acolyte turned smugly towards his King.

"After you, your Majesty".

Despite being the ruler of his own Kingdom, Roland was but a lone-wolf in an unfamiliar, dangerous part of town, surrounded by those who still disagree with his rule, waging war in favour of Otharok. These cultists aimed to serve the demon rather than what they deemed as its servant, and so Roland hesitantly shifted his body forward towards the passage and onto the other side of the wall.

After hearing what seemed to be the resealing of cold stone locking together, Commander Fawkes peered his head into view of the alley noticing their leads had vanished.

Talon's Reach, he thought, it must be how the General and her forces are skulking around Blackwall, but what would Roland be planning consorting with that cult?

"What are your orders, Sir?" Hamlin whispered.

Certain they were now alone in this part of town, Fawkes spoke plainly.

We continue our original route towards Ammi Gray.

"But what about the cultist?" Dodd chirped.

"Foolish to follow. They dominate their territory well, just the four of us would mean certain death if we ran into trouble. This way".

Fawkes ordered, leading them back out of the depths of the alley and towards their original objective.

* * *

"Welcome to the Crimson Territory your highness".

The King was greeted by a dense pack of half-armoured, well-equipped rebel lieutenants behind their recognizable leader.

The glass-faced acolyte abruptly reached into the Kings robes to retrieve his lost dagger, rendering Roland completely unarmed. Fearful he was now out of his depth, his status meant nothing while he remained in this present company of cultists. The real one in charge stood opposite Roland, currently bowing sarcastically.

"I understand you are the one who is to help me, Talon, right?

"General Talon, and yes, this way".

Each rebel served close watch of their General escorting her back to their centre of operations, dismissive of the Kings supposed reigning authority, they treated Roland like a potential threat to be dispatched at a moment's snap of Talon's fingers.

But Roland was wise enough not to make such a foolish decision, reinforced by what his eyes could not believe while observing the inner parts of this territory. How different it appeared to the rest of Blackwall, it didn't feel like he was even in the village he grew up in. The entire territory wreaked of damp mud and rotting meat, while the air remained dense and significantly hotter than what he felt on the other side of the walls. The general aura of this place even had a reddish hue to it from the colour of its walls, to the blood in the coarse sand, it seemed bloodshed was an everyday occurrence here, yet the territory was packed with followers of the demon, each of them riddled with battle scars.