What Lurks Behind The Trees

Outlaw

"Hello!"

All the men six men yelled in surprise.

"Seefe, what- when did you get here?" Julian asked the small Malif who was grinning at them.

"I was with you the whole time," she replied, feigning innocence.

"Don't tell me you were transparent all this time?" Raymond looked at her strangely.

Seefe giggled "I think Gregor might need some help," she said, ignoring Raymond's question completely.

"Well, yes, as you can see," Aden said.

"I can get you some turquoise water!" she grinned.

"We can also get some, but it'll take us weeks to get there,"

"It'll take me hours." Seefe said and everyone turned their heads in her direction where she was walking beside their horses.

"What do you mean?"

"I can travel very fast in water, if I swim down the river, I can get to the forest quickly,"

"Really?" Alan asked, unable to believe her.

"Yes, but you have to do something for me,"

"What is it?"

She took out a letter from her bag "Navari is very close to Pondhorn, give this letter to the people whose names are on it, that's all I want from you,"

Julian took the letter from her and stared at the two names "Your parents?" he asked, but when he looked up, she was already gone.

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"I'm sorry about your mother," Evindal said.

"It's not your fault, we went on this journey knowing that we're going to lose some lives," Laina said.

"There's no time to mourn," Celia said, "Especially when there are men watching us,"

Eroan frowned "What do you mean?"

"They've been there for a while, behind those trees," she said calmly "Don't look back,"

"We can't run this time, we'll have to fight, but we have to hide behind something or else they'll shoot us down like birds," Sam said.

"We can do something about that," Evindal said and looked at Eroan.

They both stood up, they muttered some words under their breath, and two snakes came out from under their cloaks. The snakes slithered across the grass until they were in front of the men, the snakes were concealed under the thick grass, so when two beams of fire shot out of them, the men were taken by surprise. A chorus of screams and yells came from behind the trees, and suddenly a bunch of men rushed out with their weapons raised in the air ready to fight.

Celia pulled out her dagger, Sam came and stood in front of her to protect her but she slipped from behind him. Laina did the same.

"Celia don't!"

One of the men stopped in front of Celia, he looked at her and smirked "Hello there little girl-"

Celia cut him off by running towards him and digging her dagger into his belly swiftly. The man spluttered and coughed blood. Celia saw ran towards another man and jumped on his back, she ran the dagger across his throat. She jumped off his back and watched him fall. She then took out her bow and an arrow and aimed at a man who was further away from her, the arrow landed on his heart. Three men. Celia felt proud, but she wasn't done. The light from the snakes illuminated her face, she could hear the screams of men as they were killed, and gradually all the noise died down.

She looked around and all she saw were dead bodies, scattered everywhere, staining the green with red.

"I think we're done here," Eroan said.

"Celia, Laina, are you alright?" Sam called out. Celia and Laina both nodded, and when they looked at each other, they saw that their clothes were covered in blood, and they both gave each other a look that said 'this is just the beginning'.

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King Edmund strolled into the city of Cruin with his nose in the air and his men surrounding him. The people of the city stopped what they were doing and the whispers suddenly started, they wondered why the king himself would come to their city.

His army marched behind him, and when the people saw that, they started to subtly walk away, to hide behind closed doors.

"Start searching, I'll go to the quarters and speak to Cedric," Edmund said.

The king's guards marched through the city, pushing people away as they walked, children, elderly, no one was spared. They kicked down doors and pulled people outside when they refused to cooperate.

Edmund walked into the quarters like it was his home.

"Where's Cedric?" he asked one of the guards.

"Uh- he- I'll let him know you're here."

"He doesn't need an introduction, just take me to him," Edmund said.

The guard felt panic rush through him, Cedric had not arrived yet, he couldn't lie to the king.

Cedric's horse stopped galloping, he jumped off the horse and ran to the quarters through the back, when a guard approached him "Master, the king is here! He's already in the quarters, go through the back!".

Cedric nodded and entered the quarters, he ran up several flights of stairs, he went to his chambers and sat on the chair behind his desk. He tried to catch his breath and wipe his sweat but Edmund barged in.

He walked around the room with his arms behind him, he looked at Cedric and narrowed his eyes.

"What are you doing in Cruin?-"

"Why are you out of breath?" Edmund cut him off. He leaned on the desk.

"I-I was trying to put my jacket on-"

"Quit with the lying Cedric," he cut him off again. "I know you have Dyron, my men are searching your city inside out, if you don't tell me where he is, I'll have to use force."

"There's no point in trying to hide that I despise you Edmund, you are no king," Cedric spat.

"I'll have you know that I can get you hanged with the words you said just now,"

"I'll have you know that my soldiers are ready to protect their leader, you want to start a rebellion? Do what's in your head right now and you'll have my entire chasing after you, and more,"

"More? I should've known that you created alliances like a sly fox," Edmund scoffed, "But what are you? Huh? Against my kingdom?"

"You seem to have underestimated the number of people of hate you, Edmund, your methods of putting on a show for the people will not work anymore," Cedric smirked "You're hopeless, and you will be exposed soon enough,"

Edmund's eyes widened, "This won't end here Cedric! I'll be the one to kill you!" he banged his hands on the table.

They stared at each other's eyes, hatred and fury lurked in both, and in Edmund's eyes, Cedric saw a flicker of something green, that confirmed Edmunds identity, a magician.

Edmund made for the door.

"You're making more enemies by the second Edmund, it's best you just surrender,"

"I'll pronounce you an outlaw tonight." Edmund muttered and slammed the door behind him.

Cedric stood up quickly and looked out of the window where the king's guards where roaming the streets. He clenched his fists in anger, there was no way he could lose to this man, not after what he had done to his people.

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I smell war... Guys what do you think? 

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