Akantha

Beheading

Yvelle had taken off to scout ahead, leaving me with Selias and Curtis who followed behind me.

"Your grace?" Curtis asked.

"Hmm?"

"Is it true that you took out the human rebellion army all by yourself? And that the sky was red that day?" He asked excitedly.

Selias interrupted with a yes. "I mean we still had our soldiers, even if it was 1:4. Us being the 1. The humans had a good defense this time around, trying to catch us off guard using the natural defenses of the land which made it hard for us to fit all our troops in a timely manner. And then! The sky started to darken and the white clouds became pink and then red. Her grace then raised her sword to the heavens and bam! Lightning struck and with a wave of her sword she sent a powerful strike across hundred of yards away and completely cut our way through the humans first line of defense, allowing us to march our way into battle and defeat the opposing soldiers. It was awesome I tell you."

I rolled my eyes. Selias was an exaggerated story teller. Lightning didn't struck me for one. My necklace stores all excess energy my body produces, and restricts it. It's a huge backlash on my body but occasionally I can access that restricted energy and use it. The lightning was red and came from my necklace, hit my sword as I channeled it into a powerful strike. The sky turning red? Well I guess that was all that excess energy I released. It wasn't like I was some god conjuring up nature from the heavens and striking people down. But that's how people viewed me as. And it terrified them.

"Wow!" Curtis gushed. "I wish I could have witnessed it. My father and older brother were sent off to war but never made it back alive." It got all solemn and sad all of a sudden.

"They died with honor if they were with me." I say, hoping that'll somehow mean something. Many solider died in vain with a useless leader. Other died with honor and fought by your side with loyalty. My armies did take losses but it was never in vain. Every life mattered in my army.

Selias nodded. "Our soldiers never die in vain. We are all close like family."

Curtis has tears in his eyes but he quickly wiped them away. Up ahead were the gates to the Yates estate. we stopped and Yvelle dropped down from the shadows scaring Selias and Curtis.

"What the hell! Can you not keep doing that?" Selias said hand over his heart.

"Why? So I could miss out seeing your scared expression? Never." She giggled.

"Reporting, princess!" I scowled and nodded my head.

"Yates is inside entertaining guests. Fancy fancy too he sure didn't spare no expense."

"I'm sure by the end of today he'll have nothing to spare at all." I smirk and smacked the horse reigns and trotted inside the property. Yvelle has already dispatched the guards, who lay on the floor unconscious.

We enter the main hall and head towards the room that was the loudest and most rambunctious. I kick the doors down with such force they fly off the hinges. Debris and smoke filled the room and once settled, their view clear. The room filled with scared gasps and the music stopped.

"Yates! It seems you had forgotten to invite me? How rude." I say walking into the room and glancing at the guests, taking note of who was here. Yvelle took notes as well. Yates sat at the head of the table. He was a tall broad shouldered man, his age starting to wear in his hair and face. He stiffened.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?"he said standing up.

Selias stepped forward grabbed him and threw him on the ground over his leg so he fell hard and then punched him in the face. Yvelle wiped the seat down and I took his place.

"Honestly Yates. Do you really not know why I am here?"

"No... your grace." He ground out, his nose bleeding a little.

"No? I mean how else could you afford this grand party?" His eyes were wide and scared but he quickly hid them.

I snapped at Selias and he nodded. Yvelle grabbed Yates hand and laid it flat in the ground, he couldn't pull away. Selias drew his sword and angled it above his fingers. Yates breathing hitched.

"W-wait! Wait!" He yelled struggling to pull his hand away. Selias plunges his sword into the floor, severing two fingers at different lengths. He howled in pain.

"Do not speak unless spoken to." I say with a frown. Some of the women guests screamed in horror but everyone remained sitting.

"His Majesty gave you a task, an order and you disobeyed. I need some names. Who is backing you? And you better start speaking soon or else?"

" No one is backing me I did this on my own." He said stubbornly.

"Is that so?" I say. I pressed my booted heel into his injured hand and dug it deep. He screamed in pain. "No one is backing you?" I ask again.

"NO! No one is. Please..." he begged.

I removed my foot and stood up. I took selias's sword and grabbed a tight handful of Yates hair. "I really hate liars." I said before be heading him. His blood gushed all over the floor. Screams of horror filled the room and I tossed his head into the table, it rolled down the table leaving a bloody trail.

"If you don't want to end up like him, I suggest you start handing over the money that is owed. Stolen by our dear friend Yates. You all shall pay it back on his behalf." I declared and sat back down and waited. It wasn't long before we got back all the funds and then some.

"Before you leave, everyone will be interrogated. Make it easier on yourself and tell the truth." I said.  Selias and Yvelle took turns interrogating the guests. Curtis was in charge of handling the money. I went in search of Yates study to do some snooping and find out what I can.

Immediately I noticed the doors leading to the balcony were ajar, the curtains flapping in the wind. Someone was here and I was a moment too late. I searched the study and found damning evidence of the traitorous Yates. I emptied his safes and took anything of value and gathered it in the hall for Selias to retrieve. I pull out a very flat yet rounded stone. It had runes etched onto its surface.

"Kragen." I commanded. Magic shined from the stone and an annoyed looking king appear.

"What is it Illara? I'm kind of busy." He said.

"Your majesty. I'm reporting. Harley Yates has stolen the emergency funds granted by you to help the flooded areas. He sent in false reports and was throwing grand parties. He denies having backing but that is a lie. I have evidence. I'm clearing his home and demoting his title to that of a commoner. He has been executed for treason, theft, and disrespect to the crown."

The king's face was one of anger and then of pleasant surprise. "Well done then Illara. I'll reward you when you arrive back. Make sure everything is handled and send back everything Yates owned. I want it all. Seize all his property. I'll be sending some troops and a financial minister to aid you." He said before closing off communication.

"Greedy bastard." I sighed. I stepped outside onto the balcony and gaze over the land.

"Princess." Yvelle said coming up from behind.

"We have finished the interrogations. None of the guests know anything of importance. They all say the same thing. That they were invited to the party to discuss a potential investment. But know one know who or what the investment is. Yates died before he could tell them and sell his pitch. We also discovered a dungeon of some sorts. There was only one prisoner but nowhere in sight. There was evidence of torture but it seems the prisoner has escaped somehow. We are currently searching."

"Okay. The king is sending troops and a financial minister. He wants everything. But before they get here I want a thorough search of this whole place. Find any hiding spots, secrets and the like. I have a gut feeling that this goes deeper than we think." I say.
"Yes princess."