The jungle is dark and filled with wildlife. For four days they've been away from Xenthos. Elizabeth, Keenio, and Veronica, all three left together four days ago. The mission was simple enough, escort Veronica to Athens and to report back, little did they know all was not as it seemed.
"What was that..?!"
Veronica was afraid. For she heard noises in the bushes. Yet there was nothing to be seen, so she moves closer to the fire.
The rattle of foot steps surrounded them. A sleeping Keenio jolted up and was alert. He scanned all around them. For even in the darkest of nights, Xentidos are trained to master every sense they have.
"What is it Keenio!?"
The ruffling grew.
"Elizabeth... Get up.." Keenio whispered.
"What's wrong?" She rubbed her eyes, then she too heard it.
The three of them backed up to a tree. The rattling growing loader and loader. Then the sound of a needle soared through the sky, pinning Keenio's shoulder to a tree.
"Erg damn it.." he grunted.
He was fighting back the burning pain from the needle. Then he ripped it out forcebly.
"Damn it.. poison needles..."
The pain instantly erupted within his flesh. He knew that this poison could only belong to a member of the Xentidos. He began to sweat, a fever quickly gripped him. Yet this wouldn't slow him down, he refused to let it handicap him.
"I will circle around.." Elizabeth whispered.
She wanted to check on her brother, but she knew that their attacker must be stopped first.
"Keenio you charge straight forward.."
Keenio nodded in agreement, and Elizabeth vanished from sight.
"Veronica stay low." Keenio ordered.
He drew his sword, then charged forward like an enraged bull.
As Keenio swung he locked blades with his attacker, the two sat at a stalemate, Elizabeth then came from behind and choked their attacker out. She dragged the body by the fire so they could see their attacker. He was paralyzed with shock.
The man was from Xenthos, he wore the crest, the phoenix feather was upon his left shoulder. Keenio took his needles and pinned the man to the ground with them, and he woke up.
"What are you doing here?" Elizabeth demanded.
But the man said nothing.
"Why did you attack us? I am your prince" Keenio barked.
"I should kill you here and now.."
"I am just doing my job.." The man broke his silence.
"nothing more" he huffed.
Keenio growled and unsheathed his dagger from his waist and held it to the man's ear.
"Tell me why you attacked me!.." the prince howled.
"No.."
"Fine then.." he sighed.
Keenio then dug his dagger underneath the earlobe and slowly sawed upward, the man screamed in pain, as his blood began to gush violently.
"Tell me why you attacked me or I will cut your hearing in half!...." He threatened, pulling violently on the half seporated ear.
The man began to shed his tears in agony.
YOU ARE READING
The Red Moon Chronicles Book 1: The Crown Of Xenthos
FantasíaA tale of magic and war. A prince and the heir to the world's most famous order of assassins the Xentidos, and his friends face challenge after challenge. Join Keenio and his companions as he faces a bracket of monsters, pirates, demons, and more, i...
