Heir of the Sword

40 | Matutinus (I)

Matutinus   {Dawn} 

Arya collapsed on the ground beside the archer. She gingerly lifted her fingers to remove the beautiful mask and to confirm that was indeed Silvia. Brown eyes stared back at her and Arya lifted a mouth the cover her hand in revulsion.

She was almost speechless but croaked out the words that were haunting her, "why?"

Silvia sighed. Her fingers were covering the wound that Arya had given her and they both knew she had lost a lot of blood. It was useless to bring her to the healers. The only thing Arya could do was find out the truth for her sake as well as the Kalvarian Army.

"Lord Jagmior is my uncle."

Arya shook her head. She couldn't believe that she hadn't pieced it before. They both had red hair, were phenomenal archers and now that Arya though about it, they did look alike.

"Why did he even declare this war?" Arya asked her voice a bit harsh.

Silvia looked taken back but she didn't say anything. She coughed slightly, spewing some blood before continuing, "The story goes back to a time where my father was alive. He was delivering a message for the king but one of the Kalvarian knights had a misunderstanding and though that he was an enemy."

Arya starred at the sky. She had a feeling about where this was going.

"The knight killed my father and then he learned that my father had only been a messenger. However, it was too late. My father was dead." Silvia said with bitterness. Arya had never heard her speak in such a tone.

"Uncle Jagmior was furious and from that moment he vowed revenge. He snuck into the palace that night and killed the knight that had been responsible for my father's death. Nobody knew since he didn't leave a trace and nobody suspected anything."

Arya had a sickening feeling she knew the name of the knight that Lord Jagmior killed. It was Sir Letholdus, Aaron's father. It was true that nobody figured out how he died but it made sense if Lord Jagmior had snuck into his room and dispose of him before any of the guards had arrived.

"That was not the end of Uncle Jagmior's plans." Silvia said with a chilling voice. "He began to train me and under his tutelage I became one of the finest archers. My power rivaled Lord Jagmior and almost a year ago, he sent me on a mission. I was to pose as a student in the Narvian Academy and gather as much intel as I could."

Arya couldn't believe it. Silvia had been a spy from the very beginning. Had their friendship been real? Or did Silvia pretend to be Arya's friend so she could simply get information?

"Meanwhile, Lord Jagmior was working behind the scenes. He had already convinced the Haxovolian King of the benefits to attacking Kathoria but the king had said that he needed more support in order to declare war. Lord Jagmior accomplished this by visiting Mavera and Guevara and he gathered their support. Soon they had all agreed to a pact."

Arya shivered. Lord Jagmior had gone to such lengths for revenge? Was this man even sane? He had put the lives of so many people at risk.

"So you were the spy," Arya said in a cold voice.

Silvia flinched at her tone. It was the voice she reserved for enemies. Although Arya had gotten closer to Silvia, the bond was now broken by what she had done.

"Yes," she gasped out. Her breathing was slowing down and Arya watched as Silvia's life left before her eyes.

"I didn't want to do it after I grew close to everyone and the academy became my home but it was too late. My uncle wanted information and he would do anything to get it. I was a central part in this war of his and if I turned on him, he probably would have tortured the information out of me."