The last rebel fell to the ground lifeless. Magnus rubbed the back of his hand against his face wiping sweat and let himself fall sitting on the body of the bear from which he hunted moments ago. His body was tired, of course, but what really bothered him was the pain of his wounds. Pulling the wrapped scarf on his dagger, Magnus was able to stop the thigh wound that looked worse.
Damn, they were right to aim precisely at the leg that was injured in that duel. Magnus had just come out of recovery and now would have to deal with the slowness in his movements and other problems that the wound would bring. Growling low, the omega tied tightly the scarf to stop the bleeding.
"Magnus!"
Raising his head, the omega noticed Cadec with pale face wielding his sword. Considering the reddish stains on his blade and his heavy breathing, the First Prince also seems to have been in trouble.
"Are you hurt?"
"No, but you..."
"It's not a big deal", cut Magnus, rising from the body of the bear "What about the princess?"
"I managed to give her a chance to run away. But I fear there are more of them, I keep hearing those loud sounds just like we heard in the war. I don't want to think that they still have more of those strange weapons."
"Yes, I thought about it too. We better go back to make sure everyone is okay."
It was not necessary to say for the second time, they went out in shot through the forest following the mark that Raven left on the trees earlier. As they approached, they could hear more clearly the sounds of gunshots. Magnus remembered perfectly the sound that Geledel's knights made when using those strange weapons. During the war, those weapons caught the knights off guard because they had no chance to block attacks. It was as if something invisible and nimble struck the knights before they even brandished their swords.
It was like dealing with a ghost enemy. Although they were victorious when the enemies couldn't shoot anymore, it was a bitter end to the pride of the Roveaven Empire.
This didn't please at all.
Clenching his fist, Magnus wondered if he had missed something. A few days ago he seized a warehouse full of boxes with those weapons, and for some reason could hear their sounds coming from the garden of Count Vauhnir. Did someone from Geledel take advantage of the commotion created by the rebels and now tried an internal attack?
The possibilities were so many that Magnus' head was boiling without being able to reach a proper conclusion.
When both men finally left the forest, they realized that chaos had really set in. It seemed that they had returned to the battlefield in a clumsy war. Fallen people, knights fighting against the rebels who wielded those weapons. The beautiful garden that once had beautiful flowers and a festive atmosphere turned into hell in the blink of an eye.
"It's His Highness!! Protect him!!" Shouted a knight at the sight of Cadec.
As if the group of knights had regained their energy, they managed to overpower their opponents and prevent them from approaching Cadec and Magnus, especially when they noticed that Cadec was helping Magnus stand when his pain increased. A man with a strong and muscular body, with a scar across the side of his face, approached the two and quickly began to escort them through the garden.
"Subcomandant, what is the situation?" Asked Cadec
"They are rebels and mercenaries together! Be careful!"
The situation was so tense that the First Prince raised his voice for all to hear.
"Don't hold on! Kill everyone and protect the nobles!" Looking around, Cadec realized that the imperial knights rescued the nobles from the temple knights "Leave the ransom with the temple, focus on capturing the leaders of these vultures! I want their legs cut off and their limbs tied up!"
"Yes, sir!"
The chorus of soldiers turned the beautiful garden of the Count into a real battlefield. Magnus would not risk to say that his people would be able to fight easily against those weapons, however, the war survivors, who have already hit head on with those weapons, could have great chances of dealing with the enemies. In addition, Magnus trained them after the war not to be surprised. At least the heavy metal shields brought hope for victory.
The order was transmitted throughout the camp. The men in white uniform followed the order of the First Prince and concentrated on rescuing the wounded. In some cases, when nobles were held hostage by rebels and mercenaries, the knights of the temple relied on the help of the imperial army to reverse the situation.
It seemed that the situation was well balanced with the order of Cadec.
The two guys managed to follow the deputy commander to the Count's mansion. Behind the closed and protected gates, they breathed deep though there was no complete relief. Many were wounded, others wept for someone's death spreading a despair that would mark the lives of those people forever.
But not a sign of his brothers or Lucian.
"Soon a doctor will arrive, please those who wish to volunteer to care for the wounded, come with me to prepare!", screamed Cassander.
As soon as the Consort saw Magnus and Cadec, he waved his hand calling them close. By the worried countenance, the omega did not create any hope for good news. Still, he wanted to ask...
"Your Majesty, where are my brothers? What about Lucian?"
"Lucian ran out to the west side of the forest, and those two went after him. I have no idea what's going on and the knights I sent to look for them haven't returned either... Hey! Wait, Magnus!"
Magnus heard no other word. He turned his back and ran to open the gate of the mansion and slipping into the battlefield again with Cadec in his wake.
"Magnus wait!! You're wounded", shouted the prince as he reached out and held his arm.
"Let me go right now, Cadec."
"Allow me to go in your place. I can guarantee that I will bring them all safely."
The Grand Duke knew that Cadec was capable of facing many enemies at once, which is what he did during the war. His strength was monstrous and his unwavering determination, after all it was what made him trustworthy. However, Magnus did not want to depend on him at that time.
If Magnus did not see it with his own eyes, if he could not prove to himself that everyone was safe, he could go mad.
"I will not sit while my brothers and my husband are in danger. Get out of my way, Cadec!"
"Your condition will only be a hindrance to them. How do you intend to save them with these injuries?"
"Do you think a mere wound will be able to stop me from saving them? I wouldn't give up on them even if they tore out my leg."
Cadec seemed frustrated with the stubbornness of Magnus.
"I will go with you, then", Before the friend rejected him, Cadec raised his finger silently "I'm not asking for permission, it's an order from your prince."
"Tsk."
And so the two went back into the forest, this time in the opposite direction from where they had gone before. If he had known that those three were there, surely Magnus would not have wasted his time by going to the Count's mansion.
Only that it was not what bothered him, but to know that Lucian ran out into the forest. What the hell happened in the head of that rat just running into the forest? Especially him, who never left his palace to the point of knowing how to get out of there! Lucian was practically a spoiled person who could barely take care of himself.
This infuriated Magnus.
"Over there, Magnus."
Cadec's low voice took him out of his deep thoughts. They picked up their swords as soon as they saw Victoria fighting against five of those damned and other knights taking care of some more of them a few meters back. Magnus didn't even wait for a break, he ran as soon as he saw his brothers near Victoria. As if the fury was enough to move his body to protect them.
"Argh!!" gasped one of them when attacked by Magnus.
"Mag!" Eugene smiled with relief.
The Grand Duke drew the sword of the slain rebel, and before he was attacked, Cadec delivered him from another two of the five.
"Are you all right?" Cadec asked.
"Yes, but His Highness..."
Growling, Magnus looked around without actually finding any sign of Lucian. Clenching his fingers on his dagger, he felt his fury increase.
What the hell was going on?
"Take them back to the mansion" Ordered Magnus.
"Wait a second, I said that..."
"More of them are coming, so I count on you and Victoria to take these two to the mansion."
The intensity of his gaze made clear the decision not to accept another order. His stubbornness was well known, but also his determination to go to the end would guide him on the path of survival. At least it was what always happened. Cadec sighed and agreed with his head, clenching his arm.
"Come back safely. I'll send someone to escort you, and again that's an order."
It was Magnus' turn to nod before turning his back and running the rest of the way. He had no idea where to go, and the pain in his leg and shoulder did not facilitate the journey. His frustration grew as he could not find any clue of Lucian.
At least until Magnus find a sword dropped in a bush.
Magnus held the sword and smelled the faint scent of Lucian's pheromones soaked in the cold blade. His fingers pressed the dagger, the strange feeling of failing miserably to protect that alpha made his pride burn and frustration blind him. Seemed the right ingredients to make him furious and thirsty for revenge.
Wasn't that precisely why Magnus were warned?
Wasn't it to keep that rat protected that he increased the security of that place?
And yet, they managed to invade the hunting ground, hurt people and now... What the hell happened to Lucian? Why did he run away? Why was he not with his brothers?
The many questions only increased Magnus' despair. His steps became more and more heavy and hasty. Magnus turned his head from side to side looking for any sign of the Eighth Prince. The vision became blurred and the body reached its limit no longer holding.
"Shit... Lucian! Where are you, you rat?!"