Chapter 2
2004 Words
Flashback
They all rode side by side as they made their way to the wall. “When we get there establish a mind link Avery. I don’t want those damn barbarians know what we are planning.”
Avery chuckled, “Alright will do and then what? I mean are we going to negotiate or fight.”
“That will be up to our Emperor. You good?” Ace looked to his brother.
“We find out what they want. And if it’s a fight they want it will be a fight they will get.” Derrick clicked his tongue and kicked the side of the horse. They urged their mounts into a gallop.
They dismounted when they reached the wall. Avery used black ink and painted a symbol for mind on each of their hands. The ink glowed for a bit and disappeared.
“Right let’s get this over with.” Ace turned and ascended the stairs.
Avery POV
‘Hmm, that bigger man makes me nervous,’ she thought.
‘It’s not the man I’m worried about. It’s the woman,’ Ace watched the smaller woman closely. He sensed an odd aura around the woman.
She turned her attention to the woman. As usual Ace had a keen sense. She agreed the woman was suspicious and uneasy.
‘Derrick don’t get closer than that,’ Ace kept his hand on the sword.
‘I know but also I’m not too worried. You won’t let them anyway.’ Derrick faced the group.
Derrick POV
“You must be Chief Brutus of the Northern Tribes,” Derrick was well versed in all the tribes and other kingdoms no matter how small.
“Boy Emperor, where is your fighting forces. I come for battle not to talk,” the Chief growled.
“Well we can have a huge battle or a one on one battle between your strongest warrior and mine,” he announced.
‘Smooth move brother.’ Ace got the idea of where he was going with this. His brother was clever. He is going to play into the pride of the Chief and try to make him fight or turn tail and run.
“You have no warrior strong enough,” the Chief chortled.
“Well than it should be an easy win for you, Chief Brutus. Unless you’re scared you won’t win,” he said lightly.
Chief Brutus growled, “I am not scared bring out your strongest warrior. I will fight whoever you send.” The smaller woman placed a hand on the Chief’s arm and spoke to him.
Ace POV
Avery didn’t recognize the language but it seems Brutus did understand it. ‘Damn I don’t recognize the language.’
‘Calm down, whatever they are planning we can counter it.’ He tried to soothe his sister.
‘Easier said than done. The only people you fought were inside the palace. And they look like a handful,’ Avery glanced sideways at Ace.
‘Don’t worry, you guys have my back,’ he continued to watch them interact. Derrick turned and walked back to them.
Derrick POV
“Alright he’s agreed to a one on one battle with our strongest warrior. Which is you by the way,” he pointed to Ace. “Also, if he wins he takes over. So no pressure,” he gave Ace a tap on the shoulder.
“Thanks a lot.” Ace stepped forward as Brutus’s two ambassadors retreated back to the army.
He had confidence in his brother. Ace was the strongest always was. Their father made sure that Ace received the best training in fighting. Avery was left to study history and politics. He was taught strategies. The late Emperor always wanted all three of us to rule together. He saw different kinds of strengths in each of us. Hopefully it works today.
Ace POV
He watched Brutus carefully. The barbarian seemed excited about the challenge. He was brewing with overconfidence. Ace wasn’t too worried about him it was the woman. She was a good distance away but he still felt uneasy. For now he turned his attention to Brutus.
He drew his blade and looked to Brutus. He was huge now that he actually stood closer to him. Taking a breath, Brutus came at him.
Ace met each blow and deflected each one easily. He kept moving around a couple times the blade came close to his face. But he easily held his own until a fog suddenly drifted in. He cursed as Brutus gave a smile and disappeared into the fog.
Avery POV
“What the?” She watched as the fog rolled in. Derrick cursed under his breath.
“Damn Barbarians, that must be what he and the woman were talking about,” the fog enclosed around them. Avery got closer to her brother. She couldn’t even tell which direction was which.
“Avery stay close,” Derrick went back to back with his sister.
Mystery K, P, H POV
They were amused. They watched as the Barbarian army approached. They were interested in seeing how the young royals will do.
“That was an interesting strategy the boy is smart,” Mystery P amused, “Played on the barbarians pride. But looks like it might be a bad idea with the fog now.”
Mystery K watched as the fog enveloped the parties. Mystery H looked aver to them, “Are we not going to do something about it? We are here for them after all?”
“Let’s watch and see,” Mystery P said. Mystery H shrugged and leaned against the trunk of the tree.
Mystery K didn’t say anything. He was interested in what these people had in store. One of them was supposed to be his mate but there was two males and one female, and the younger female didn’t interest him. “It doesn’t matter. It depends if they hold up their promise well their father’s promise.”
Ace POV
He stood still and listened to the area around him. If Brutus was moving, he was extremely quiet about it. His ears strained for the smallest hint of sound. A chill went down his spine.
“RUN TO THE SOUND OF MY VOICE NOW!” He shouted. He heard his siblings answer. He turned to their voices and ran. He could hear their feet hitting the dirt. He gripped the blade with both hands and prepared to swing. ‘Avery wind, and part now!’
Avery POV
She complied with Ace’s command. She drew the marking for wind on her hand and as the mark glowed, she threw her hand into the air and flicked her wrist. At the same time, Ace passed them and all she heard was the sword cutting through flesh and a warm spray against her back.
The wind had picked up and pushed the fog away from them clearing the grassy knoll. Avery turned along with Derrick. They watched as Ace’s hat fell off and another body leaned against his. His red hair fell down his back. Ace pushed the body off of him and turned facing the barbarian army. The man that was standing next to the woman was gone and the chief was standing next to her.
Derrick POV
“Ace your hat,” he grabbed the hat and turned.
“Don’t bother let them know. I want the chief to see who defeated his army. I want him to feel humiliated that he was beat by a woman,” Ace swung the blade to clean off the excess blood. Ace placed the blade in its halberd and took a strap off from around her wrist. She tied her hair up and redrew the blade.
“Let’s show this army that we aren’t to be trifled with,” she looked to her siblings who nodded.
Avery chuckled, “Shall we see if the late Emperor was right? Back up Derrick?”
Derrick nodded, “Yeah keep an eye on the woman.” They watched as Ace took off. They readied themselves.
Mystery K, P, H POV
“Is that one more your speed?” Mystery P said impressed. They watched the battle rage.
“Why would she play as a man though?” Mystery H inquired. They all saw the hat fly off and the red hair fall down. At first they thought it was just the way the male had his hair until he turned. All three of them were at a loss for words. They were also surprised with the two younger ones. The girl and the boy both could use magic.
“They’re strong,” he turned to Mystery K.
“Strong but foolish. They have an army to fight with them and yet they chose to fight by themselves. Either they are really stupid or selfless,” he continued to watch the battle.
They watched as the army charged down the hill. The boy pressed his hands to the ground. Spires of earth shot from the ground and the red haired woman jumped onto one of the spires. She used the momentum and launched into the air. It was quite the spectacle. She landed in the middle of the army and moved fast. The woman already downed almost half the army already.
Derrick POV
‘Take out Brutus that is your only chance,’ Derrick watched Ace fight.
‘I KNOW DAMN IT,’ Ace cut down three more barbarians. She turned her attention to where Brutus and the woman were standing. ‘I’m going after him and the woman.’
Derrick watched as Ace began cutting through. He watched Brutus and the woman. The woman looked like she was begging Brutus to leave.
Ace cut through the last of the barbarians that were in her way. Brutus waved off the rest of the attacking barbarians. He had a smirk on his face.
“If I know you were woman. I would have fought you. But my lady here thought best to just kill all of you quickly. Look like that did not work,” he growled.
Ace POV
“Doesn’t matter cheat or not. Your head would have rolled as it will now,” she watched him. She was worried though. She knew she couldn’t fight power to power but she could out maneuver him. She took a breath as Brutus came at her. She deflected the blade easily but she was in trouble. They were on a slope so the barbarian had the high ground. She slightly cursed under her breath. She slowly made her way down the hill as Brutus kept swinging at her. Took a quick glance around and took a breath. She steeled herself against Brutus and took the full blow. She felt all his weight against her. She let herself fall backwards using his momentum against him. As they fell, she grabbed a knife from her waist and thrust the blade up.
Mystery K, P, H POV
Mystery K was now really interested in what was going on. The woman impressed him. She got herself into a stick situation but managed to break away and turn it too her advantage. He watched as she rolled the barbarian chief off and she stood with her red hair blazing in the sun. She turned her attention to the woman. The red haired got up and he shook his head.
“What is it?” Mystery H looked towards K.
“That girl is going to die,” K stood and unfurled his crimson black wings and he took to the air.
- Writer
