The black horse ran at its maximum speed. The wind that struck against the face throwing back the coal hairs did not fall with the speed of those who advanced the kilometers. The winding paths between trees and wet grass were filled with eager gallops.
Although his wound still limits and slows his movements, Magnus Grimwood drew his sword and raised it without missing the target when reached. The horse growled angrily as the mercenary fell to the ground. Magnus looked over his shoulder and frowned, his voice bowing authoritatively.
"Get him!"
The other knights pulled the reins of their horses and cornered the hit mercenary. Raising his arm high, the commander of the army ordered the second team to follow him, and so the horses returned to chase the mercenaries.
Nothing would stop Magnus Grimwood from catching that group.
When the distance was overcome, the omega again swung its sword and hit the legs of the mercenaries preventing them from escaping their reach. The howl of pain that the henchmen gave their positions to the other riders, who rushed to tie them and arrest them, while they waited for the carriage that transports the prisoners.
"Sir, we arrested five of them, what should we do?"
The crimson eyes of Magnus shone together with the sunset when he checked the weather. Despite the cloudless sky and the sun that brought a little heat to the citizens of Roveaven, the wind was cold warning the arrival of winter. It would soon get dark.
"Check the perimeter and make sure the area is clear. If you find anyone suspicious, arrest them immediately. Absolutely no one should escape."
"Yes, sir!"
Sparing the knights for the sweep, Magnus marched to the clearing where the captured mercenaries were. He crouched in front of one of them and without any warning or restraint, began to inspect their bodies.
"Hey!"
"Shut up" Growl the omega to the mercenary "Or I'll cut your tongue out."
Intimidating, it was the image that Magnus had when he was working on the searches ordered by the Emperor. Completely ignoring the mercenary's complaints and kicks, Magnus took out every hidden small weapon, drugs and even papers.
Reading what he had written on that piece of paper, Magnus frowned.
"The bird is caged".
Clenching his gloved fist, Magnus tried to keep control of his emotions. Luckily for him, he knew what the codename "bird" meant, and because of the last attack, the Emperor did not allow Lucian to leave without an escort. And as far as he knew, that rat lived in his own palace without opening its door.
Then it could only mean that they intended to invade your palace.
"Humpf, you really don't get tired. How many of you are?"
The mercenary hit back and clenched his teeth refusing to speak. Magnus pulled him by the shirt and repeated.
"You better open that shit mouth or I'll make sure to torture you. How many of you?"
"I'd rather die."
The answer was so simple that Magnus took a deep breath not to go crazy. Taking his own dagger that he had taken from the belt of that mercenary, Magnus plunged the blade into the man's thigh.
"Come on, while you're dying, can you tell me what I want to know" Magnus turned the blade, making the mercenary scream in pain "How many of you are?"
"Ha... do you really think I'm going to open my mouth? It's gonna take a lot more than that, commander."
Magnus already realized that this was one of the most difficult. Well, that would serve as a lesson for the other prisoners.
Magnus did not care to torture that mercenary in front of the other prisoners or even his knights. He continued to use the blade of the dagger to make deep cuts in his skin, and even target specific nerves in his limbs.
The forest, a few kilometers away from the entrance of the capital, was filled with the cries of pain of that mercenary. The other prisoners were gagged so as not to disturb them while they watched the horrendous spectacle that the Grand Duke presented.
"So? are you willing to answer me now?"
The mercenary already had his conscience oscillating. The blood was absorbed by the earth, although it exposed his wounds to possible infections, not that Magnus cared. Panting, the mercenary hung his head as he murmured.
"Three... roast..."
And then he lost consciousness.
It was the best answer Magnus could get. Satisfied, Magnus threw the dagger at his sub-commander.
"Take them first. I will check the information on this note."
"But, sir, what if it's a trap?"
"They are not idiots enough to set a trap inside the Imperial Palace. At least without help from someone on the inside."
Riding his horse again, Magnus felt the wind in his face again when he pulled the reins and ran back. Now he needed to cover all that distance again and get as fast as possible into the Imperial Palace.
Days ago he was in charge of investigating the mercenaries who attacked him and Lucian, and had not yet had an answer about the sword material that the mercenaries used. Apparently, no blacksmith in the capital recognized the style of work. Magnus had to increase the search area outside of the capital, which would take even longer.
His luck was that since then, there has been no other attack on Lucian. Especially after the first prince began hunting for the rebels. If there was anyone wanting the eighth prince to the point of engaging with mercenaries, now was the time to hide before he was caught.
Still, the omega has not lowered its guard.
Squeezing the knots of the fingers in the reins, and the thighs on the horse's trunk, Magnus tried to go as fast as he could.
It was already night when he finally reached the south gates of the Imperial Palace. As expected, there were knights in uniform guarding the entrance. If there really was someone inside the palace trying to approach Lucian, then Magnus could not pass through the gates, this would denounce his presence and the invaders could escape.
Leaving his horse hidden in the forest, Magnus prepared to climb the palace wall and invade.
It wasn't a difficult task. He was used to climbing those walls when he needed to be discreet. The problem was that his wounds still bothered, he had not healed properly. Still, the omega forced itself to climb the wall and reach its top, then jump and sneak behind trees, concealing its presence.
Shit! It hurt like hell. Magnus had barely done anything and was already panting like a wild pig.
Avoiding the rounds of knights near Lucian's palace, Magnus hid in the shadows furtively. He was cautious in every step taken, ensuring not to be heard and not to be felt. To get a better view of the surroundings, Magnus climbed a tall tree and camouflaged himself among the foliage.
"Hm? What was that?" A knight asked, looking around the tree.
"It must be the wind, relax" Answered another rider, a few meters away.
By little he was not caught, despite the lapse of the guards irritate him. Damn... the wound on his thigh really stood in the way. Still, Magnus remained calm and immobile on that tree branch. Lifting his head, he realized the vision from inside the palace. It seemed to be the first floor that was poorly lit.
As always, that place looked haunted the way Magnus liked it.
From what he noticed, there was no one suspicious around. Should he check the other side?
Before Magnus could get off the branch he was on, he noticed a movement. The omega clung to the branch above his head and stood still again while his crimson eyes did not detach from the window.
The shadow that appeared from that small space of his field of vision left him in a state of alert. Magnus remained motionless watching that shadow grow and a suspicious figure emerge immediately. Despite the subject wearing a cape, he was careless in reaching out to open the door, revealing the armband with the mercenary emblem.
That was enough for Magnus to jump from the tree branch and pass through the window quickly. Even though his movements were clumsy, the omega managed to kick the back of the mercenary and trap him against the ground. Removing the knife from the mercenary's belt, Magnus used the blade against the attacker's neck.
"Hah.... you really are too pathetic for a bunch of bums"
To prevent the mercenary from attempting a counterattack, Magnus quickly used the knife handle against the subject's neck to make him unconscious. Now he could frisk him and then...
Click!
Turning his head, Magnus was surprised to see a woman dragging two people across the floor. She wore a cape and did not carry anything that referred to the mercenaries. And just like the omega, she seemed surprised to see him there.
"Oh... shit" She said softly.
Narrowing his eyes, Magnus wielded the dagger preparing to fight when a uniformed beta intruded.
"Wait, wait!"
"Hm?" Magnus restrained himself and recognized Lucian's personal servant "What do you think are doing?"
"Your Grace, don't hurt her. She's not a bad person."
"That's it. I even caught two lizards who were sneaking through the corridor."
"Identify yourself, woman" Growled Magnus, still suspicious.
"Well, you don't need to know who I am, right? Besides, you're also trespassing."
"I can, you don't. Tell me who it is or else I'll get rid of you."
Blood stains were apparent on Magnus's clothes, especially when he wielded the machete showing his hostility and suspicion. The woman raised her eyebrow and sighed low as she lowered her hood.
"Ethera, I am the leader of the Nightshade guild."
Ah, that sounded so suspicious. Magnus stood up still pointing the machete at the woman, and still took the other hand to his own belt where his sword was. He remained cautious and prepared to fight, just as he did not intend to let that woman escape him.
"What the hell are you doing inside the eighth prince's palace?"
"Your Grace, H-His Highness has given her permission to be here!" Said Argus desperate, trying to intervene between the two, although he did not want to be targeted by that machete.
"What did you say?" Magnus turned surprised to the beta.
"That's right, Grand Duke" The woman smiled victorious "I'm here precisely to do business with your dear fiancé."