The two Velox pawed at each other impatiently. Edulis's cart had left the grasslands and entered the Casbah Desert, the largest desert on the continent. 107Please respect copyright.PENANAuhIbzQqGqK
107Please respect copyright.PENANAJiy2aWydoD
The sands of the Casbah are beautiful. White as a snowflake, soft as silk, it sparkles like quartz in the sunlight. But that sparkle poses a great threat to the Erabu who cross it. It can blind them.107Please respect copyright.PENANAs6YDMjzGeA
107Please respect copyright.PENANATViNfbPtv4
He should have pulled his hood over his eyes, but right now Kishi couldn't afford to. A silver-haired boy was leaning his elbow on his shoulder. 107Please respect copyright.PENANAkTSFwrVyrD
107Please respect copyright.PENANAGP2IbFRhwH
Kishi turned his head slightly to check the boy's hands. He wasn't holding a sword, so what was this cold on the nape of his neck? 107Please respect copyright.PENANAAGCSCpC6Kl
107Please respect copyright.PENANAbPfL6pgPQZ
He'd been an erabu for over a decade, but he'd never seen anything like this. Most of the Ygraine clan are depressed and lethargic. It's only natural. It's hard to be cheerful when you're trapped in a place like Kaldura and oppressed by the state.107Please respect copyright.PENANA06SVY2ykN6
107Please respect copyright.PENANAp6ppJCl5Wt
But this boy, Edulis, is more than energetic, he is radiating. Kishi's Erabu senses were warning him. This bastard has killed a man or two before.107Please respect copyright.PENANAJE8Ak7gI2j
107Please respect copyright.PENANAVpdFCd4ZHB
"No. It can't be.” 107Please respect copyright.PENANAOwki40ImZx
107Please respect copyright.PENANAGqoR5PQ4wW
The other guy was twelve years old. He's never been outside of Kaldura, except to visit the Temple Memorial. Kishi ignored the alarm bells ringing in his senses and tried to sound nonchalant. 107Please respect copyright.PENANAQZjpbFDqn5
107Please respect copyright.PENANAazoV8mk8sI
"Ha! This is ridiculous. You want me to hand over the Velox? Why would I take such a bet?"107Please respect copyright.PENANAVO16riKcbz
"Hey, mister. Weren't you confident? Is Erabus Kishi a man who can't even stand by his words?"107Please respect copyright.PENANAmKrwayY60G
107Please respect copyright.PENANAbWBVmMFg6i
That face. The smirking tone. Even if he belonged to the Igraine faction, he was, by name, a member of the Fei family. Where did he learn such insolence?107Please respect copyright.PENANAWHbMnQNWBW
107Please respect copyright.PENANAazh6kj6nXs
"There's no point in making a bet with someone who's going to die anyway!"107Please respect copyright.PENANAQw2L6QAiSF
107Please respect copyright.PENANARgy4K68epv
"You're not making a bet because you're going to die, or are you admitting there's a chance you're wrong?"107Please respect copyright.PENANAULmJzz1WhC
107Please respect copyright.PENANAEJqibIqrT3
"There's no chance of that!"107Please respect copyright.PENANA5BqT6U2Oqd
107Please respect copyright.PENANAfGU757L90r
"Then what, are you intimidated by me, mister, are you a coward who's being pecked by a twelve-year-old, haha!"
Edulis turned his head toward the lifeless relative sitting next to him and said in a sarcastic tone.107Please respect copyright.PENANAvWM5sbM3IS
107Please respect copyright.PENANAsOYTnF7RZn
"Hey, go back and spread the word. That Erabu Kishi is an asshole who doesn't have the balls to bet with a twelve-year-old."107Please respect copyright.PENANA2RJvN9Pvlr
"What, what did you say?"107Please respect copyright.PENANAKEzN0NpUz0
107Please respect copyright.PENANAVOxITGOm5c
"How are you doing so far? Aren't you scared to cross the Casbah Desert? Oh... I thought I smelled something fishy, but it must have been Kishi's piss on the saddle. Hey, buddy, spread the word. Kissy's wagon smells like Kishi's pee!"107Please respect copyright.PENANA01n8PvPbaW
107Please respect copyright.PENANA1odMzJ9agP
Kishi's face turned red. Fueled by rising anger, veins popped on his neck. He couldn't articulate his words properly due to excessive excitement. Edulis had touched upon Kishi's pride. In Erabus society, courage was the most valued virtue. Once marked as a coward, it was challenging to find opportunities.107Please respect copyright.PENANAL0lVQsyZ9I
107Please respect copyright.PENANAalHfPGxtRW
If word of what Edulis said was to spread among the Erabu, other Erabu would immediately come forward to take Kishi's job. They'd say things like107Please respect copyright.PENANAwG9QtfXeYS
107Please respect copyright.PENANAWZfwHdu3sg
"Hey, I don't think a guy who's intimidated by a 12-year-old can get to and from Kaldura, so I'm taking it now.107Please respect copyright.PENANAQfadTC5w3Z
107Please respect copyright.PENANAgRBHQJnU6a
After that, it doesn't matter what excuses Kishi makes. It is the opinion of most Erabu that a coward's words are not worth listening to.107Please respect copyright.PENANAh2uRvf3thu
107Please respect copyright.PENANAPfz3gPMWtW
Edulis was well aware of this. As far as he was concerned, Erabu was easy to manipulate. All he had to do was scratch their egos and they would bend to his will.107Please respect copyright.PENANA3OWS64R0i4
107Please respect copyright.PENANAG1AxoS4Pf4
"You... you bastard!"107Please respect copyright.PENANAuqWoN1706E
107Please respect copyright.PENANAEZBKwUjNdf
Blood rose to Kishi's eyes. "You've never set foot outside of Kaldura, you've never seen how brave Lord Bosha's descendants are, and you've never heard of the fear of a dragon!"107Please respect copyright.PENANAokfgBmeCpk
"Indeed. I'd like to see that." Edulis said with a smirk. That stirred Kishi's anger even more. 107Please respect copyright.PENANA7ff1aShXfq
107Please respect copyright.PENANA4zziJgjdoU
"When Mr. Lagarde swings his sword, the ground within ten paces around him is set ablaze! When Mr. Yug smashes his hammer, a giant pit appears in the ground as if a star had fallen! When Lord Kurjina raises his staff, spears of lightning fly, and if you stand in front of them, you will die a terrible death!"107Please respect copyright.PENANAkKf2fVjfqK
"No, sir."107Please respect copyright.PENANAh02OcnG4kJ
107Please respect copyright.PENANAT2MCeXgzgh
Edulis scratched the back of his head and threw up his hands in boredom. 107Please respect copyright.PENANAXnF982aeJv
107Please respect copyright.PENANAw3vSxlh6bT
"What’s with all this chit-chat? So, are you going to take the bet or not?"107Please respect copyright.PENANAdhOt6llUP8
"...Fine. When you die, I will kick your tombstone and piss on your ashes!"107Please respect copyright.PENANAMe9xumlvIM
"Whatever. Then, swear to Assyria."107Please respect copyright.PENANAYgNUyoU3fI
107Please respect copyright.PENANA1nQYEgGDgt
An oath to Assyria. It is the most effective means of guaranteeing the fulfillment of a contract. Assyria is the goddess of truth, and if you fail to honor an oath made in her name, your head will fall off at that moment. 107Please respect copyright.PENANAQUp0gfsM1G
107Please respect copyright.PENANAwZqnXdb7PY
"You... how do you know about the oath to Assyria?"107Please respect copyright.PENANAfWUBgyvdfd
"It's none of your business, go ahead."107Please respect copyright.PENANAfIJxoAAohC
Kishi is quiet. 107Please respect copyright.PENANAqZgmoCQhxn
107Please respect copyright.PENANA2xNpqf3w4B
The Oath to Assyria is common knowledge on the continent, but the problem is that it's also magic. Ygraine Clan does not have a spellbook. How is it that a child of Ygraine Clane, who has no access to magic until he joins the Festival of Saints, already knows this oath?107Please respect copyright.PENANAclmW8Hcgu2
Kishi questioned, but his pride wouldn't allow him to come this far and say otherwise. 107Please respect copyright.PENANAICoJaxLUBF
107Please respect copyright.PENANAJAPbEsjShL
He put his right hand to his chest and said Assyria's name. Blood flowed from his pinky finger, drawing a red band across it. It was a sign that Assyria would watch over the fulfillment of this oath. 107Please respect copyright.PENANAkAH0lAw7En
107Please respect copyright.PENANAX3JH7yaD9Q
"Justice will prevail. As Bosha defeated Ygraine, so will those who carry the blood of heroes slaughter the offspring of the insolent witch. Your soul shall not rest in peace in death!" 107Please respect copyright.PENANAoEUoR1TuAD
107Please respect copyright.PENANAaw7lrCzbvr
"Ah, well. You talk too much. You're usually called a loudmouth, aren't you?"
Kishi snorted as loud as Velox's prancing. He wanted to snap at Edulis, but he couldn't think of the right words, so he just glared at his face.107Please respect copyright.PENANAEj21HIWxVr
107Please respect copyright.PENANAscQvDpqgrs
"Hey, mister, can you drive properly? The Velox on the right is looking elsewhere. If you're not focused, he might too."107Please respect copyright.PENANA8J17UJiTRs
107Please respect copyright.PENANAIUyUVczJPe
Edulis said as he patted Kishi on the shoulder. Kishi's face was so red he thought it might explode, but what could he do? It was part of his contract with the Fae family to arrive in Vaidor on time. Kishi grimaced and tugged on Velox's reins. 107Please respect copyright.PENANAwUL7BygkTz
107Please respect copyright.PENANAWrCELiIoJt
Afterward, Edulis lay down on the wagon with his hood over his head. He lay cross-legged, seemingly at peace with the world. 107Please respect copyright.PENANAqDVL7A80sU
Then, the boy who had been sitting there as if dead spoke to him. His voice was as small as a mosquito's.107Please respect copyright.PENANA19zwO0wXpL
107Please respect copyright.PENANABAkDDGOBXi
"What are you going to do?"
"Oh, you can talk?"
"You’ll survive if you bang your head...Do you know what that means? You’re going to beat all six of them."
"Yeah, I'm thinking about it."107Please respect copyright.PENANA5GrKHi4LgE
107Please respect copyright.PENANA0fjGbZQ4QJ
"That's... we can't......."107Please respect copyright.PENANAL7Kwy1RT6r
107Please respect copyright.PENANAcQrO1YqF8t
At the boy's words, Edulis chuckled.107Please respect copyright.PENANALmhSP0tcby
107Please respect copyright.PENANASIa09Yycl3
"There's something we need to do in St. Trisis."107Please respect copyright.PENANA1SuL64RjV3
107Please respect copyright.PENANAcD8WNzZML7
The boy looked at Edulis with pity in his eyes. He seemed to think he was a little off his game. Regardless, Edulis shifted his position, trying to find a comfortable one.107Please respect copyright.PENANAfMvr4spLE8
107Please respect copyright.PENANA6oDpnZ8zXs
"Ahhh... this head part is uncomfortable. By the way, what's your name?"107Please respect copyright.PENANA8h83gU4NqI
"...Enri."107Please respect copyright.PENANALdOu4iWqOb
“I see. Enri, please wake me up when we arrive."107Please respect copyright.PENANA4jLIKukxPy
107Please respect copyright.PENANAiKlU9anSdb
Saying that, Edulis fell asleep on top of the rattling cart.107Please respect copyright.PENANAKVzu4Bj88p
107Please respect copyright.PENANAaMemeindXD
107Please respect copyright.PENANAICG16RBBLc
107Please respect copyright.PENANA3MMAPLjtd4
"Walk in from here. I'm not obligated to give you a ride inside."107Please respect copyright.PENANAQXO4qzjKv1
107Please respect copyright.PENANAYCwpZf0IFU
Vaidor, the main gate of the Fey family. Kishi halted Velox and urged Edulis and Enri to follow; it seemed a long way from the gate to their destination.107Please respect copyright.PENANAq8EcywFEfo
107Please respect copyright.PENANA3adGKBCSIK
Edulis stood at the gate and scanned the grounds of the Fey manor, which looked much different than it had when Bosha was alive. The grounds alone were ten times the size. 107Please respect copyright.PENANARh9Dg7lfJg
There were dozens of marble mansions. Violet lavender and colorful roses adorned the gardens. The gardens were meticulously tended and the branches were neatly trimmed. 107Please respect copyright.PENANA8Bx7z4pL1Z
107Please respect copyright.PENANAX9qz4Z2S8b
Edulis didn't like the sight. When Bosha was alive, the Fey family had a reputation for frugality. 107Please respect copyright.PENANAoRsMKg3VSG
While other nobles built mansions and planted gardens, the Fey found, fed, and clothed the hungry. When there was a good harvest and tax revenues were surplus, they held festivals to laugh and enjoy with the people. They were not the kind of people who would decorate their homes for personal pleasure.107Please respect copyright.PENANAsrRjyNw7rN
107Please respect copyright.PENANA2R7tpcAwgb
He remembered himself as Bosha saying "Are you the duke? You're dukes, aren't you, Our house seems better than this.?107Please respect copyright.PENANAj5I6rq9VmO
107Please respect copyright.PENANA5IBt3b0u1M
Ygraine smiled and replied, "Yes. I'm glad to hear that. It would be a shame for a Fey to live in a house that was better than the people.107Please respect copyright.PENANAfGH29YS1Zg
- The noblemen I know have gardens, and they're beautiful. Why don't you plant a palm tree?107Please respect copyright.PENANAF8xwKPpuAj
- If I had the money, I'd add more stones to our foundation.107Please respect copyright.PENANA33phpDjiCN
107Please respect copyright.PENANAiGheLAiK90
That's Ygraine. That's the Fey family. But what is this place now? Dragging irrigation from the farms to water the gardens would surely lead to a shortage of agricultural water during the planting season.107Please respect copyright.PENANAPbgZEchyyx
An insult. An insult to the Fey family and Ygraine! Against the will of the goddess Lutea!107Please respect copyright.PENANAjBxqU0XWHE
107Please respect copyright.PENANAWxN44fPrT5
"There's the main family’s wagon passing by. Children of the witch, bow your heads more deeply in contrition."107Please respect copyright.PENANAqv9JqnxvrX
107Please respect copyright.PENANAA164ipdnxU
With that, Kishi bowed toward the cart. An elegant and rather luxurious cart was approaching in the distance. Enri did as he was told and bowed deeply. 107Please respect copyright.PENANAImcPPdlYaO
107Please respect copyright.PENANAVM5iKLnnHF
But Edulis did not follow suit. He was staring at something that caught his eye.107Please respect copyright.PENANATb6YfnB3Mm
107Please respect copyright.PENANAM8TNGRGwwf
"Rude bastard, come on, pay your respects to the descendants of heroes!"107Please respect copyright.PENANABfrHkLfc8j
107Please respect copyright.PENANAv2WlS6zOTT
Kishi shouted, but Edulis didn't bow. He held his head high and looked up at the door. The crest of House Fey was emblazoned on the top of the door. A crest as large as a shield worn by a Kingdom infantryman.107Please respect copyright.PENANAML63SGU1LJ
107Please respect copyright.PENANANqDzK6Vquj
"Haha."107Please respect copyright.PENANAYJg3c2IsVf
107Please respect copyright.PENANANs17naiKcT
Edulis laughed. His anger was beyond the top, and it made him laugh. 107Please respect copyright.PENANAdQpEk5qWNN
107Please respect copyright.PENANAnBDvb6ROYW
The crest had a picture on it. A picture of Bosha defeating Ygrain. It depicted Ygraine as a monster with scattered hair and long fangs. 107Please respect copyright.PENANA7i10wZMnBq
Ygraine sprawled miserably on the ground, and Bosha stomped on her head, then pointed his straightened sword at her throat. 107Please respect copyright.PENANAkB1TIET23d
107Please respect copyright.PENANAWBZDLBwpZc
"This thing is here too?"
"Hey, come on, look up...."107Please respect copyright.PENANAZm0BmpPIQ1
107Please respect copyright.PENANAQx4G12d81N
Kishi was speechless. Because he saw Edulis' eyes. Those eyes. Eyes that burned as if they held all the anger in the world. 107Please respect copyright.PENANAAfNynOkrrD
They were the eyes of the Kaldura Red Fox. 107Please respect copyright.PENANASCbiz3SnJ9
107Please respect copyright.PENANAelT8MPsRpr
A memory flashed through Edulis's mind. It was Bosha who had wrestled Ygraine to the ground. 107Please respect copyright.PENANAemxWhegmCk
No, he’s ashamed to call it a fight. Ygraine had merely played with Bosha for a while. Ygrainne's sword was like falling petals, like willow leaves on water, like a lullaby to a child.107Please respect copyright.PENANAtiux8ds0io
When Ygrainne swung her sword, it was as futile as if he had cut through a flowing river, and Bosha's magick, which was like iron, scattered like sand. 107Please respect copyright.PENANAJPnDmymWEN
107Please respect copyright.PENANAajvHeoSNMN
Then, on the ground, Bosha looked up at Ygrain and said, "For a mercenary, defeat is death. 107Please respect copyright.PENANAxubIak5nGz
107Please respect copyright.PENANANIq9Srk7mp
- If you don't kill me now, one day I will.107Please respect copyright.PENANA2Mi6WG47Xy
107Please respect copyright.PENANAoZPc8trYr8
Ygraine never pointed her sword at Bosha. Not once, not ever. 107Please respect copyright.PENANA0W5LllvBjR
Ygraine merely parried a lunging Bosha attack. 107Please respect copyright.PENANAmhjtyX2pjj
107Please respect copyright.PENANAUC39IRhiAi
- I don't want you to follow me in victory or defeat. I want you to be driven by faith and love. 107Please respect copyright.PENANAPaftnnoJzx
- Do you not know who I am? Do you think the Fox of Kaldura would listen to that, you hypocrite? After all, you raised your sword to persuade me, didn't you?107Please respect copyright.PENANAnqB5Ne0XiU
107Please respect copyright.PENANAt1I92sS1JE
Then Ygraine nodded. 107Please respect copyright.PENANABg0z0eIkk8
107Please respect copyright.PENANAgLdmW1toQF
- Very well.107Please respect copyright.PENANAoyeZGeqTW6
107Please respect copyright.PENANAzuItiZjb2P
Then he threw the sword to the ground and kicked it away. 107Please respect copyright.PENANA6Di91ZAfQd
107Please respect copyright.PENANA8VC0SIk9Q1
- What is he doing? 107Please respect copyright.PENANA6xkhgv4lcx
107Please respect copyright.PENANAlXpKKIA8Nw
Ygraine slowly approached Bosha. His chest and stomach were exposed, defenseless.107Please respect copyright.PENANA1zkmKoWt23
Bosha raised his sword and pointed it at Ygraine. 107Please respect copyright.PENANAyqhbOlP2Hq
107Please respect copyright.PENANA96lpXr1RZo
- Ha! Are you going to walk up to me and cut me with your sword? 107Please respect copyright.PENANAC20epYbWaX
107Please respect copyright.PENANAIrIsueQ0hh
Even after saying that, Ygraine didn't stop walking. 107Please respect copyright.PENANAWIvT9NMqZq
107Please respect copyright.PENANAjUEqApl7Dl
- Be it so. But I believe in the light that wanders in the depths of your heart.107Please respect copyright.PENANAFtYzTvsy5f
- Bullshit!107Please respect copyright.PENANA7m58nm3dvu
107Please respect copyright.PENANACTRJ4bSUTu
Bosha threatened Ygraine with several swipes of his sword in the air, but Ygrainne didn't stop. 107Please respect copyright.PENANAHcFqiZWQ1U
107Please respect copyright.PENANA6RRZYaBRTJ
- Crazy woman! Don't you dare die for nothing!107Please respect copyright.PENANAqnAo2jyArC
107Please respect copyright.PENANAYeiCZyF6Pl
Bosha shouted, but it was like a cat bluffing with its fur standing up. The same Bosha who had no qualms about holding a spear or knife to his throat or being surrounded by demons in the Varus Swamp was scaring the crap out of Ygraine.107Please respect copyright.PENANAfQb1RjsSzj
No one knew what he was afraid of. Not even himself.107Please respect copyright.PENANAIFEuc1Tq3w
107Please respect copyright.PENANAHidTiG4TQg
The distance between Ygraine and Bosha narrowed to three paces. Then two. Then one step.107Please respect copyright.PENANAXnmkevUrWP
107Please respect copyright.PENANAZ8HE0P0UCR
But in the end, Bosha couldn't swing his sword. Why he couldn't swing his sword, Bosha didn't understand himself, and his body stiffened. 107Please respect copyright.PENANAh868VaSTle
Ygraine approached and gently cradled his head in his hands. Igrainne didn't give him any pressure, but he couldn't move. 107Please respect copyright.PENANAxoslLDZcR2
107Please respect copyright.PENANAV2xW3SFy7u
28 years of his life. Only once has he admitted defeat. That defeat was very special to him. 107Please respect copyright.PENANAiDqiyAaig3
107Please respect copyright.PENANAticZFNxmql
"Well, these guys ruined everything.”107Please respect copyright.PENANA3tmRy6HlZ5
107Please respect copyright.PENANAnbc7vbEDDL
"What... what are you doing?"107Please respect copyright.PENANAHbOpAFK4ce
Kishi shouted in horror. The Fey family's main carriage had approached, its front clearly visible. 107Please respect copyright.PENANAfLrnxL0sdr
Edulis put his hand on the handle of his sword. 107Please respect copyright.PENANAAUdKzxo8ix
107Please respect copyright.PENANAnHJaweT95H
"No!"107Please respect copyright.PENANAO0vDuRYait
107Please respect copyright.PENANA2PSeN4tNFH
Enri shouted at the top of his lungs. Edulis ignored him and chuckled. Then he spoke in a low voice. 107Please respect copyright.PENANAK1bibtcsJE
107Please respect copyright.PENANAk3Wbs3LPSi
"Do not insult Ygraine."107Please respect copyright.PENANA6TChvxpVAi
107Please respect copyright.PENANAt8wT4ooyhg
And with that, Edulis's sword sliced through the air. With it, the Fey family crest shattered into pieces and crumbled to the ground.
Author’s note:
Sign up for our newsletter and receive 5 advanced chapters within 24 hours! Plus, you’ll get updates on events for more chapters, Amazon publishing, and upcoming popular fiction. Join now for these exclusive perks! Visit www.toodatfiction.com/benefits
ns 172.70.127.105da2