Arcadia's Ignoble Knight: Dark Elf Arc

Chapter 44

Caspian and Elincia were allowed inside of Dale's cottage, where they discovered Derek was also present. The man had been holding his claymore at the ready. However, when he saw who it was that had come, he set the claymore against the wall and greeted them.

"Caspian. Lady Elincia. It's been awhile since we last saw each other. I'm glad to see you two are looking well."

"I'm also glad to see you two," Elincia said with a smile.

"Do you mind if I ask what you two are doing here?" asked Caspian. "You're a long way from Ashtown."

"That is quite the story," Erica began with a look that was both pensive and sexy. She pursed her lush red lips before gesturing to them. "I believe we should be sitting down for a discussion like that. It's going to take awhile."

There were only two couches in the cottage, which mean there wasn't enough space for everyone, but Derek didn't seem to mind sitting on the floor by Erica's feet. Caspian and Elincia sat on one couch, while Erica and Dale sat on the other. Once everyone was comfortable, the succubus sorceress began her tale.

"I believe you remember when I was tasked with traveling to the Avrondale Mines because of the report we received about the dwarves rebelling. It turns out that was a trap. Duke Callisto De'Falco Genitore supplied the dwarves with weapons, had them break free from the Heathecliffs, and then planted just enough evidence to suggest that he was somehow involved. I traveled to Ellesmere and discovered the dwarves hiding there. However, it was all a trap. After disposing of the dwarves, the duke tried to have me and Derek killed. We just barely escaped with our lives."

Caspian and Elincia listened to Erica as she told them about what happened. While she seemed very calm on the outside, Caspian noticed the way Erica's lips trembled as she spoke. He couldn't tell if what she felt was rage or sorrow.

"That man toyed with me!" Erica gritted her teeth as she finished telling them about what happened. "I cannot believe I allowed that man to play me so thoroughly!"

"Don't worry. You aren't the only one he played," Caspian said before launching into an explanation about what happened to them. He told Erica about how the duke had launched an invasion of murakumos on Cassadinia, and then blamed it all on Sylvia in an effort to have her executed. The way Erica's eyes widened as she listened to him would have been amusing had the situation not been so grave. He'd never seen this dastardly female look so shocked before.

"So I wasn't the only one he played." Erica pressed a hand to her grim face. "But really, it's hard to believe he was able to get the better of even Sylvia. That man is truly ambitious."

"We were actually on our way to see you," Elincia said after a moment of silence. Erica looked up. "With the situation being what it is, Lady Sylvia was hoping to use the meeting mirror you have to contact the other sorceresses and convene a meeting of the Sorceress Council."

"That would be the most logical step," Erica admitted. "Unfortunately, me and Derek have not been able to leave this little town. The Peacekeepers are crawling all over it." She bit her lip in frustration. "If they weren't humans, I would have already destroyed them, but I cannot do that here unless I want to become an enemy to all mankind. Really, this is the worst possible situation I could be in."

"You can leave with us," Elincia said. "I can ask Loki to place an illusion over you and Derek to change your appearance, and then we'll have head back to Ashtown together!"

Erica blinked at her several times like she couldn't understand what Elincia was saying. After a while, she opened her mouth, but the door leading into the bedroom opened just as the words were forming.