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From her vantage point, Maris observed Isen secure the bow across his chest and lift Valda onto the horse’s back. Despite his own injuries, Isen managed to position Valda carefully on her stomach. With a swift motion, he mounted the animal, urging it forward with kicks to its flanks. Maris and Melvian followed closely behind, galloping away from the danger that pursued them.

Arwin Tuuli

“Ithink it is sharp enough.”

“You think,” Arwin chuckled and lifted the blade for further inspection. “It could go for a couple of more hits to the whet stone.”

Brontes rolled his eyes and shook his head before he leaned back on thick blankets. “Always so dramatic.”

Arwin grunted a laugh before continuing the downstrokes on his sword, his forearm muscles bunching and corded under sleek tanned skin. “I hope you will call me dramatic when it is my sword that slashes through the neck of our enemy in one stroke.” He turned to Brontes as a condescending smile stretched out on his face.

“What enemies, Arwin? Look at us!” Brontes waved his hands, gesturing at their predicament. “We are fucking lost in Umbriel. The one thing we need to think about is food and water which,” Brontes turned to grab his satchel before tossing it at Arwin. “Is almost gone.”

Arwin caught the satchel with ease, uncrewed the top and took two large swigs of it all the while Brontes stared at him, anger blazing through his honey-colored eyes.

“You are such a prick, Arwin.”

“Ah, if I was such a horrible person, why would you keep me around?”

“Because Father wanted it that way,” Brontes snarled before turning his back to him. “I hate being stuck here with you. I hate being your fucking babysitter.”

“Babysitter?” Arwin threw the empty satchel at Brontes, hitting him right on the head. “You are only a couple of months older than me!”

“Still. It is babysitting.”

“I would say it is the other way around. You are clearly not fit to be the heir.”

Rubbing the back of his head, Brontes turned to face his companion, his features tense. “And you are?”

“I am a better fighter than you,” Arwin quipped.

“Listen to me carefully, kid.”

Arwin’s grip on his sword grew tighter.

“For some reason, Father sees something in you that I do not see. He wanted us to go through this phase of training together because I know he plans on making you captain pretty damn soon, and after that, you will continue to climb until you become the general, but I want you to keep something in mind,” Brontes paused as he pointed at his forehead. “I am the heir of the Sky Kingdom, you… you are a bastard piece of shit that my father needs to keep a secret.”

“You know?”

“I saw you doing your little tricks.” Brontes’s upper lip twitched. “I put two and two together quickly. We Aithers like to put our dicks everywhere. Sadly, Father is less skilled in pulling it out.” Brontes snorted and turned his back again. “I need to sleep. Tomorrow we will collect water. I hope there is an oasis nearby. We will replenish our satchels, kill something, and eat. Then we will head back to the castle.

Arwin’s jaw tensed as he stared at the back of Brontes’s head. His fingers twitched for his sword again but decided otherwise. Him and Brontes had been lucky enough to find a cave amidst the unforgiving desert of Umbriel. The cave was large and deep. Its opening was hidden on the side of a tall, rocky outcropping. Anyone else would have thought it was just another insignificant rock, Arwin had told Brontes they should explore it, maybe even turn it into a secret hideout just in case they were once again in Umbriel, but alas, Brontes refused to explore any further. The prince decided he had enough training and hiking for the day and made a fire before throwing his blankets next to it.

Arwin waited until the prince’s soft snores filled the thick air before standing and tying his scarab to his belt. He grabbed one of the logs Brontes used to make the fire. He held it as a torch as he decided to go deeper into the cave. Turning one last time towards Brontes, he made sure he was asleep before venturing off.

The cave went deeper for a couple of miles before the ground went concave. With some proper tools and engineering, the cave could be used as some kind of refuge, maybe even a resting spot for soldiers or travelers. Arwin frowned, kneeled, and moved the torch closer to the edge on the ground. This place could really be made into a secret hideout, and no one would even find it. Tartarus, the heir didn’t even see the promises of this place. Arwin did, as he did with the Sky Kingdom and its army.

With a satisfied grunt, the young man stood up straight and decided not to speak of his findings to Brontes. What good would it be?

“Enough!” Arwin bellowed as he grabbed one of his soldiers by his uniform and shoved him away. He looked down at the man tied up in front of him.

With a disgusted groan, Arwin rubbed his tired eyes before combing his fingers through his silver hair away from his face. “Really, Isen? You thought that a guy like you would just pass through, unseen?” He waited for a response, but Isen seemed to be too busy trying to get some much-needed air. “I asked you a question, tadpole.”

Isen blew the water from his lips and raised his face to Arwin. Bun undone, strands of his blue mane stuck to his wet face and neck. The water mingled with trails of blood and dirt, down his chest and flank. He let out a deep growl, attempting once again to free his arms from the shackles secured over his head.

“You are not going anywhere.” Arwin kneeled, now eye to eye with Isen’s broken face. “Listen. I know Valda sent you. I know because you used one of the castle’s horses to follow me. You see, the lad that seated your horse? He is with me, and so is every single soul in that castle.” He licked his lips and moved closer. “I think you are the only parasite that thinks that Valda is the best to rule.” His grin was dark. “Because you and all you Sealians are parasites, sucking the resources from our kingdom, moving in as if we have a fucking obligation to the likes of you.”

“I serve the crown of the Sky Kingdom. Valda is the queen, she has the crown, I serve her.”