The Good King

'The Shortcut'

The first prince was mercilessly cutting through their defenses. One by one until six men were aching on the cold ground while he walked forwards, leaving them behind.

Elmer's hand reached back to get the bow and an arrow. The second he looked away the archers arrows were shot all at once aiming at him.

He felt one of them going straight into his right shoulder. Another one on his left leg.

His right hand carried both his bow and arrow while the left one took the two arrows stuck into his armor ad left them on the ground before he switched his gaze into the archers.

"Now it's my turn"

The prince said while aiming back at them.

"So all I have to do is prevent anyone from asking for help or backup? too easy don't you think? I want to fight with Elmer"

Aylin said.

Louis found himself smiling at how excited she sounded, knowing very well just how chaotic things were about to get.

"I will get changed"

The red haired said, running upstairs towards her room.

"Are you not surprised?"

Louis asked, turning back towards the black haired lady.

"Not really, Aylin is so strong!"

Elione smiled saying.

Not too long after, Aylin was back in her black suit, her mask was not on yet.

"I have to go now, I will try to come back before Asher"

Aylin said while rushing outside.

"Stay safe and-"

Louis was saying.

"She is really fast"

Elione said.

"She is"

The second prince smiled replying.

'It's still early, right? everything will be alright, just like he planned'

Louis thought to himself, praying nothing unexpected would happen.

Inside that small room where a smoke and all kind of smells came from, Clair was still working on the biggest yet amount of sleeping potion she had ever made.

Someone opened the door and stepped in.

"I borrowed these from prince Edmund"

Violet said while handing her friend some different flowers, lavenders, chamomiles and skullcaps.

"Did you thank him properly?"

Clair asked while grabbing the flowers and putting them aside, still mixing the deep purple colored liquid inside the pot which was on the fire.

"I did tell him he is as cute as ever!"

Violet smiled replying.

Clair sighed and could not say a thing in order to not lose her focus.

The two has been working on it since last night, nonstop.

The second prince rarely asks for anything from them, so when he does they try to do their best in order to pay him back on everything he has given them so far.

And so, Clair put her whole heart into making the perfect sleeping potion with the help of her friend.

Not too far from the closed gate where the prince stood still, and within the forest behind him, two familiar figures wander around, about to start looking for him. 

Not knowing that he was so close.

Only someone with sharp senses would hear the clashing sounds of the swords their side of the gate.

"Did you hear that?"

Mirai asked.

Evan who was a few feet away from him, replied while looking around.

"What is it?"

She knew very well, that Mirai would not say that for jokes, especially that he looked very serious.

"Let's go back"

Mirai then said.

The two hunters took two steps forwards before stopping.

They could clearly hear someone coming from the between of those trees.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Hawk asked while walking in, followed by Venator.

He had his sword in hand, while Venator's hand had two daggers in each.

Mirai's chain was as ready as Evan's daggers.

"Are you still holding a grudge Hawk?"

Evan asked while smiling.

"I do not hold grudges, Evan"

Hawk smiled back replying.

"But I will make you regret it"

He then added , suddenly rushing towards her, with a strong swift of his sword.

His speed caught her off guard but she was able to step back and dodge it.

Hawk allowed her no time to think as he kept swinging his sword and she kept dodging it.

A dagger sent towards Mirai was caught into his chain before falling on the ground, another one by Venator to him, followed by two daggers.

Both Hawk and Venator counted on not giving their opponents any chance to attack, they had the lead.

No matter what was going to happen, those two were determined on defeating the other hunters or at least keep them on the Orodia side until Elmer crosses the gate into Kardia.

Aylin arrived to the meeting point as fast as she could.

Three man standing there, ready to fight looked back at her while fully cautious.

"Oh my, you are the one who stabbed the king?"

Willow said while looking at the masked red haired female standing in front of him.

"And you must be the ones sent by the Lords, this is the shortcut which leads into the palace. we are to stand here and not allow a single guard to pass by"

She then said.

Stopping one single messenger would not require all of them. But since spreading the news of the first prince fighting his way through the guards into Kardia was a huge part of the plan, they knew that the news were to reach Leo at some point.

And if he sends the Lydian army, they must be stopped by four chosen people.

Willow and Amed were sent by Lord Henry, meanwhile Arthur was sent by Lord Morris.

The four spread around that path, waiting for a sign of guards passing by them to attack.

Elmer finally lowered his bow after using half of his arrows, without missing a single target.

The knight was too stunned, did not know what orders to give, all of the guards who were on the other side including archers were down by one human being. 

The weak, spoiled prince, the good for nothing one they heard about was nothing like the person who was coming for them.

The younger, so called naive prince who has been chased out of the palace for betraying the king.  The way Leo spoke so down of him, made them take a fall. 

"Ask for backup from the palace, and no matter what happens, do not open that gate"

The knight ordered. Knowing very well that he could not call for the hunters because they were on the other side of the gate chasing after the same prince who was about to take them down.

"Yes, sir!"

The guard replied while hopping on his horse and running back towards the royal palace, who was taking the shortcut while his horse sprinted at full speed as they were racing time, and they were...