Vol.3 Ch.205 Tayna Gets Captured.
<span ss="userText">Three men in hooded<span ss="aiText">cloaks were<span ss="userText">sneaking through the forest. They were the scouting party for c<span ss="aiText">and the others.
The one leading the group was Remy and the other two were Cyril and Mast. Of the three, Mast was the oldest of the group while Cyril was the youngest. The three of them were making sure that the Prince''s convoy wasn''t taking any detours. And to their luck, tracking them was a lot easier thanks to those me familiars that were flying in front of all the Knights.
"I still can''t believe those me things are real," Cyril said with astonishment.
"They''re not real. At least in the creature sense... They''re probably some kind of magic the Prince''s mage is using," Mast answered.
<span ss="userText">"Well, should I run ride ahead<span ss="aiText">and warn the boss?"<span ss="editText">Cyril<span ss="aiText">asked.
<span ss="userText">Remy thought it over<span ss="aiText">and nodded, "Yes. Hurry back and let him know. We''ll keep an eye on the convoy."
"Right," Cyril said as he dashed offto report to Doug.While Remy and Mast continue to observe theconvoy from a safe distance.
<span ss="aiText">"Do you<span ss="editText">still<span ss="aiText">think<span ss="editText">it is wise to be this close to<span ss="aiText">the convoy<span ss="userText">, with three elves within their<span ss="aiText">midst?<span ss="editText">They could hear us,<span ss="aiText">" Mast<span ss="editText">stated with a bit of concern<span ss="aiText">.
"I wouldn''t worry about them.But if you''re so concerned, then we can use the notebookand quill," Remy answered.
"That works for me... I can''t trust that the rain will coverourpresence," Mast stated as he watched the carriage that had the three elves in it.
Remy went to grab the notebook and quill that was tied to the saddle on the back of the horse before he returned next to Mast.
<span ss="aiText">"Now. Let''s continue and keep a close eye on the Prince," Remy said.
<span ss="aiText">"Yes sir," Mast nodded.
<span ss="aiText">The two of them continued to follow the convoy as it got closer<span ss="userText">towards the ambush<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="aiText">The two of them could see the Prince and hispany stop<span ss="userText"> all of a sudden. They were almost a half mile out from where c<span ss="aiText">''s men were waiting.
<span ss="aiText">"What the hell are they doing?" Mast wondered.
"Maybe they are stopping for a break? It makes no sense to stop otherwise," Remy guessed.
<span ss="aiText">"In the middle of a thunderstorm?<span ss="userText">... Something isn''t right... Should we sneak in closer to<span ss="aiText">see what''s going on?" Mast asked.
<span ss="aiText">Remy shook his head, "No. Let''s just continue to watch them and if we''re lucky,<span ss="userText">they''ll continue down the road<span ss="aiText">."
"I hope you''re right... Thest thing we need is unwanted surprises," Mast said.
The two of them watched as the Prince talked to the general. The General nodded to the prince and then the wolfkin came out of the carriage. She was sniffing the air likecrazy.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">What the hell is she doing?" Mast<span ss="aiText">wondered.
Remy started to panic when he realized it was the wolfkin and noticed the headwind that was hitting the convoy. That''s when everything started to click into ce. "Goddess be damned... The ambush is upwind of them! That fucking mutt can smell them."
<span ss="aiText">"So, that''s why she is sniffing the air like crazy," Mast figured.
<span ss="aiText">"We<span ss="userText">need to make sure... Don''t speak... <span ss="aiText">only nod<span ss="editText">and use the notebook<span ss="aiText">to<span ss="editText">talk<span ss="aiText">," Remy ordered.
<span ss="aiText">Mast nodded<span ss="userText"> as he and Remy started to sneak towards the convoy from the southern side of the road. As they moved closer, Quinus, Rya, and the rest of the party who were in the carriage came out and moved to the front of the caravan. Rya made a canopy out of the earth as they started talking to the wolfkin.
<span ss="userText">
<span ss="userText">***
<span ss="userText">
"What''s wrong, your Highness?" General Dous asked as he dismounted from his horse and walked underneath the earth canopy.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Lady Dalia picked up something<span ss="aiText">odd with her nose," Quinus said.
<span ss="aiText">"Something, like what?" General Dous asked.
<span ss="aiText">"It smelled like blood and human waste. It also had the stench of iron mixed in<span ss="editText">... And there''s a lot of them. There''s more than a hundred humans<span ss="aiText">," Dalia<span ss="userText">answered as she sniffed the air and the wind flowed through her hair<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">You''re saying that there''s<span ss="aiText">a hundred men nearby?" Dous asked.
<span ss="aiText">Dalia shook her head, "No, the number is bigger than that. <span ss="userText">But the rain is making it harder<span ss="aiText">for me to determine how many people there are."
<span ss="userText">Dous looked down the road<span ss="aiText">. "Then, we have a problem. W<span ss="userText">e probably can defeat them with His Highness and Lady Rya''s aid, but we might lose some of our men if they get the jump<span ss="aiText">on us."
<span ss="aiText">"Should we try and go around them?" Percy asked.
<span ss="aiText">"We<span ss="userText">could... But I think I have an idea... Rya, can you create horse golems?" Quinus asked<span ss="aiText">.
"Umm? I should be able to but I don''t think they''ll look really believable or thorough. I don''t know the anatomy of horses well enough to makeit look perfect," Rya answered.
<span ss="aiText">"That''s fine. We just need them to look<span ss="userText">and sound the part. Plus, I was wondering if you can make them explode like a grenade?"<span ss="aiText">Quinus smirked.
Everyone was confusedand curious, and they didn''t know what the Prince was talking about, except for Rya who had a smirk written on her face.
<span ss="userText">"Oh? That''s mean, Quin... But if these idiots are a part of your uncle''s ns<span ss="aiText">, then<span ss="userText">they deserve what''sing to them," Rya said as she turned towards the road and channeled her mana<span ss="aiText">into the ground.
Everyone watched as the ground started to shake and 20 horses formed from the earth, it took only seconds for them to shape. And on top of the golem horses were the forms of fake men. They were crudely made, but the golems looked and sounded like horses. Their ribcages were lined with a bunch of pyramid-like rocks that were meant toact as shrapnel when the golem exploded.
<span ss="userText">The knights and<span ss="aiText">soldiers were amazed by the magic they were seeing. Even the prince was impressed.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">You really outdid yourself<span ss="aiText">, Rya," Quinus said.
<span ss="aiText">"Humph. This is nothing. If you give me a week, I could make a hundred of them with ease," Rya smirked.
<span ss="aiText">"I''ll take your word for it," Quinus chuckled.
<span ss="userText">General Dous wasn''t sure what the Prince and<span ss="aiText">Lady Rya had nned.
"Your Highness? What exactly are we going to do with these... things?" General Dous asked.
"It''s simple, General... We''ll let these decoys take the lead and hopefully, they take the bait... Just keep your distance until they explode," Quinus smiled.
<span ss="userText">The general looked at the golems before looking back<span ss="aiText">at the Prince. "<span ss="editText">So you wish for me and my men to trail behind these—"
<span ss="userText">"You can call them trojan horses," Rya<span ss="aiText">added.
"—Trojan Horses," Dous repeated before he continued, "So, we wait for them to attack the decoys? That''s the n?"
Quinus nodded, "The moment the enemy sees the horses, they''ll most likely charge. At that moment the golems will detonate, like a fireball... So keep a safe distance from them... Be no closer than... 200 yards?" Quinus looked at Ryawho nodded in agreement.
<span ss="userText">"Yeah, that should be good. Plus, I''ll have the me Familiars flying with the golems so they<span ss="aiText"> don''t look too suspicious. So just follow them," Rya said.
The General kinda liked the idea of letting these "Trojan Horses" take the brunt of the attack and soften up the enemy for his men.
"I''ll trust in you two''s n... Your Highness... and Lady Rya," Dous said with a salute.
<span ss="aiText">"Good, now let''s hurry<span ss="editText">and get this over with... Take as many men as you need, General<span ss="aiText">," Quinus said.
<span ss="userText">"Understood. I will have my men follow your orders, your Highness," Dous saluted and bowed.
<span ss="userText">"Stay safe, General," Quinus nodded.
<span ss="userText">Dous mounted his horse and rode to the front of his troops.
<span ss="userText">"Alright men! There''s a possible ambush waiting for us! I need twenty of you to join me<span ss="aiText">. The rest will remain with the Prince and his men!" Dous ordered.
"Yes sir!" The men responded as twenty of them took a position behind the golems. With all of that sorted the General nodded to Rya whomanded the Golems to ride ahead.
Twenty soldiers apanied their General down the roadas they followed the Trojan Horses.
<span ss="aiText">Rya had the "Horses"<span ss="userText">speed up a little<span ss="aiText">as the decoys continued up the road.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Now, let''s see if they will take the bait<span ss="aiText">," Quinus grinned.
<span ss="aiText">Everyone hoped for the best.
<span ss="aiText">
<span ss="aiText">Meanwhile,<span ss="userText">Remy and Mast couldn''t believe their eyes as arge group of earth horses rode ahead of the general and his men.
<span ss="userText">They couldn''t hear what Quinus or Rya were saying to the General thanks to the rain and wind. But they knew it wasn''t good.
<span ss="userText">Remy scribbled away on<span ss="aiText">his notepad and showed it to Mast.
<span ss="userText"><i>Can you get to c to warn him?</i>
Mast read the message and shook his head. He would need to sneak back to his horse and those golem horses, along with two toons of Royal Knights, already had a head start on them. He could try to hurry back to c but he was so far behind them that it would be a miracle if he could catch up to them.
<span ss="aiText">Remy wrote on the notepad and handed it back to Mast.
<i><span ss="aiText">We need to<span ss="userText">try. Go<span ss="aiText">!</i>
Mast didn''t argue. He nodded then he snuck back to his horse and climbed on. He spurred his horse on before he went off the path and tried to move around the convoy''s decoys, even if it was a fool''s hope.
Remy watched as Mast vanished off into the woods before he turned his attention back to the convoy. He just hides there in the bushes looking for an opportunity for something. Maybe he could pull something off while everyone was focused on the "Trojan Horses".
''Think man! There has to be something I can do to turn this thing around... But what?''
It had been ten minutes since the Trojan Horses and the General''s men had moved down the road where c was waiting to ambush them. But it was c who was going to be ambushed and the sounds of fighting could be heard through the rain.
''Fuck! We were toote! We could have made a name for ourselves if that fucking mutt wasn''t in their party! I have no idea what that dumbass kid sees in the bitch... You''re supposed to use wolfkins and fucking throw them away! Not fucking fall in love with those stupid bitches... Gah! I need to calm down... Cursing our crappy luck isn''t going to fix this... Haah... Is there anything I can do to salvage this?'' Remy wondered as he sat there and listened to the sounds of battle in the distance.
After five minutes, Tayna was being escorted back to the carriage with only one guard by her side.
<span ss="userText">Remy saw this and an idea came to him.
''If I take her and leave a letter, telling that Manaless Lord toe into the woods alone, or I''ll kill the girl... Then maybe I can kill that weak bastard and we can save face with the Duke... Yeah, that should work... And if it doesn''t work, then I''ll just sell her to a brothel and make some moneyeven if she''s damaged goods... But I do have to say... she does an excellent job of covering up her scars... It''s like she''s never been attacked by that slime... Whatever, I need to capture her,'' Remy grinnedas he moved closer to the carriage, waiting to strike.
<span ss="aiText">***
<span ss="userText">Tayna was barely able to stay dry with all this rain<span ss="aiText">.
''I can''t believe how much Rya and those three girls don''t mind the rain... But I guess they are not human after all... Dalia makes sense that she doesn''t care, but Lady Rya, Nieren, and Yuliana are not wolfkins, so it makes no sense <span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">to me that they''re not bothered by the rain... They''re elves, not canines... Why am I even thinking about that? Ugh, it''s so boring in here...'' Tayna sighed as tried not to step in a mud puddle with her nice shoes.
But against her best effort, Taynamisjudgeda step and her left footnded right in a deep mud puddle.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">Gah<span ss="aiText">..." Tayna groaned.
<span ss="aiText">"Are you alright, miss?" The guard asked.
<span ss="aiText">"Ugh... Yeah, I''m fine.<span ss="userText"> I am not really meant for the outdoors... I just don''t get how<span ss="aiText">Dalia and Lady Rya are ok with the rain..." Taynained.
"They are both Demi-humans. They''re different from us, Mdy... There''s nothing wrong with it but they are <span ss="editText">morefortable<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> in the wild than the city. So it''s natural that they aren''t bothered by the elements," the guard exined.
<span ss="aiText">"But Lady Rya is a Dark Elf.<span ss="userText">They are a higher ss of species<span ss="aiText"pared to us... But then again, I guess it''s just like the Dwarves. Their race is known for their ability to handle the weather and live in the mountains," Tayna sighed.
<span ss="aiText">"Mdy. We are not very far from the carriage. Let''s hurry and get you back so we can avoid any injuries, Mdy," the guard said.
<span ss="aiText">"Thank you... Say, can I ask you a question?" Tayna asked.
<span ss="aiText">"Of course, Mdy," the guard said.
<span ss="aiText">"What are your thoughts on Lady Rya?" Tayna asked.
<span ss="aiText">"Honestly? I don''t know what to think of her.<span ss="userText">Why do you ask?<span ss="aiText">Are you curious?" The guard asked.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">No... It''s just when I think I have her figured out<span ss="aiText">, she throws me for a loop," Tayna admitted.
<span ss="aiText">"Is that so? Well, I would suggest keeping an open mind.<span ss="userText">She is strangely blunt, but she seems very loyal<span ss="aiText">to her friends. Like herpanions<span ss="userText">,"<span ss="aiText">the guard advised.
<span ss="aiText">"Yeah. She has <span ss="userText">done more for me than I could ever repay her<span ss="aiText">for... If it wasn''t for her, I would have never<span ss="userText">seen how good of a husband<span ss="aiText">my<span ss="editText">Johan<span ss="aiText">was... He truly is a great man...<span ss="userText">" Tanya looked at her left hand which Rya healed.
<span ss="userText">''I just have to ept that she is a different type of woman... To be honest... I like a person who is so forward and direct... She is the most honest female friend I have... Everyone else<span ss="aiText">hides their feelings... But Rya doesn''t seem to hide her thoughts. Even when it gets her in trouble... And her personality is so fun to be around...'' Tayna thought.
She was deep in her thoughts whenall of a sudden. A poisoned dart came flying out from the woods and it struck the guard in the neck before anyone could react.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Gghhh......." The guard tried to speak but his lungs<span ss="aiText">stopped working.
<span ss="userText">The rain hit her head as the guard dropped the strange umbre<span ss="aiText">he was holding.
<span ss="aiText">"Hey<span ss="userText">! What are you doing—" Tayna turned to witness the guard''s face turning purple as he was clutching at his throat<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="userText">"Ah!" Tayna yelped.
<span ss="userText">Before Tayna could scream, a hand mped over her mouth and pulled her off the road and into the thick bushes and trees.
"Ghak..." Tayna choked as she felt a knife against her throat.
<span ss="userText">Once Remy had Tayna under his control he tossed the letter at the Guard who<span ss="aiText">was choking to death on his own vomit.
<span ss="rounded transition-colors ease-in-out duration-100 editor-block-inner bg-amber-200">"Ghk... Kkh... Ghhh... Khhh..." The guard''s face waspletely purple and his eyes bulged out of his headbefore he fell over and hit the ground hard. Remy saw this and moved deeper into the forest with Tayna atknifepoint.
<span ss="userText">*Thud!*
<span ss="userText">Rya''s, Nieren''s, and Yuliana''s ears twitched in unison<span ss="aiText">as they heard a loud thud.
"Did you guys hear that?" Rya askedas she opened her eyes and turned her head to look behind her.
<span ss="aiText">"I heard it too. It sounded like something fell," Nieren said.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Like a person fell over<span ss="aiText">, or a tree falling over?" Yuliana asked.
<span ss="aiText">"That was the sound of a person," Rya said.
<span ss="aiText">Dalia perked her ears and sniffed the air.
"I can smell, Whiny''s fear? Somethings not right."
<span ss="userText">Johan looked panicked as he, Quinus, Percy, Sir George, and three of Johan''s Person Guards ran back to the carriage<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="aiText">"What''s wrong, Dalia?" Rya asked.
"Tayna is scared. Really scared," Dalia said as she looked into the dark woods.
<span ss="userText">Rya turned and started hurrying<span ss="aiText">to the carriage.
<span ss="aiText">"Rya, Wait!" Nieren shouted<span ss="userText">as she ran after her.
<span ss="aiText">"I<span ss="userText">f someone is hurt then I''m going to heal them<span ss="aiText">," Rya said.
<span ss="aiText">Nieren and Yuliana followed after Rya.
<span ss="aiText">Quinus and his men ran up to the dead guard.<span ss="userText">Johan felt a pit<span ss="aiText">in his stomach and his legs grew heavy.
<span ss="aiText">"N-no! Tayna!" Johan screamed.
<span ss="aiText">Quinus kneeled next to the dead guard and he could see a note stuck in the guard''s hand.
"Sir George, read this out loud," Quinus ordered as he handed the letter to his retainer.
<span ss="aiText">"Yes, Your Highness," Sir George took the letter and read it.
<em><span ss="aiText">Dear<span ss="editText">Manaless Dule<span ss="aiText">,</em>
<em><span ss="aiText">If you ever want to see Lady Tayna Agur again,</em>
<em><span ss="aiText">You''ll have toe<span ss="editText">south<span ss="aiText">in<span ss="editText">to<span ss="aiText">the woods<span ss="userText">.</em>
<em><span ss="aiText">Alone!</em>
<em><span ss="aiText">You have<span ss="userText">10 minutes before she dies.</em>
Sir George looks back to the Prince who is deep in thought, like he was trying toe up with a n. But w<span ss="userText">hen Johan hears the message. A rage that he''d never felt before<span ss="aiText">took over his body.
Quinus looked up at his friend just as Rya approached the dead guard. She couldn''t save him, it was toote for that. But she could help Johan.
<span ss="userText">Dalia came running up with Nieren and she sniffed around the dead guard.
"It seems that it''s only one human who is behind this. I can''t smell any other scents nearby. Just his," Dalia reported as she sniffed around the area.
<span ss="userText">Quinus stood up before he spoke, "Johan... Do you want us to join you in the rescue?" Quinus asked.
<span ss="userText">Johan didn''t answer as he clenched his fists.
Rya chimed in when she saw Johan''s bodynguage, "Johan, you''re not the defenseless man you used to be... You''re an Illusion Mage... It''s time to educate this idiotwho thought that kidnapping Tayna was a good idea," the Dark Elf said with a grin.
Nieren, Yuliana, and Dalia smirked as well, while Quinus and Percy nodded their heads in agreement.
<span ss="aiText">Johan took a deep breath and rxed his hands.
"But I haven''t mastered the spell, Shadow Self...What if it doesn''t work? And Tayna dies because of me?" Johan asked.
"It will work... You''ve done it once and you can do it again... And if not then I''ll be waiting in the wings if either of you need my healing magic. Now go and save her," Rya said with a grin.
<span ss="editText">"Johan, remember to trust your feelings... They will guide you. I''ve always believed that. And my intuition has never led me astray," Quinus added. He wished he could just go into the woods and help him but Johan would be in a better position to save Tayna than<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> he would.
Johan <span ss="editText">looked around him and realized that he had friends <span ss="editText">who were willing to risk their lives to help him. It gave him<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> strength and confidence that he never thought he could possess.
<span ss="aiText">"Thank you," Johan smiled as a tear rolled down his cheek<span ss="userText">. It was tough to tell due to the rain.
<span ss="aiText">Rya nodded, "Now go,<span ss="userText">Tayna needs you<span ss="aiText">."
<span ss="aiText">Johan nodded and hurried off into the woods<span ss="userText">.
<span ss="userText">"So, do we join him?" Percy asked<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="aiText">"No. We should wait for him to return.<span ss="userText">We don''t want to be the cause of Tayna''s<span ss="aiText">death.<span ss="editText">I trust in Johan to pull this off<span ss="aiText">. So, we''ll wait," Quinus said.
<span ss="editText">Everyone nodded in agreementas the<span ss="editText">y w<span ss="editText">aited forthe oue of<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> the situation.