Another month of training had passed - Cassie achieving a lot more progress than Effie. Though by now both the Huntress and Seer were quite well adept in using Shadow Sense well enough for both of them to be able to move around with good speed and gauge enemy movements - though like Kai they were not at the stage where they could effectively use it in combat
"Can we please stop this torture" - Effie asked collapsing on the floor she continued in her best whiny child impression - "It's been a whole month of this bullshit"
"It's not torture or bullshit - its training"
"Yeah, if training was beating me up with a staff for the past month - actually why didn't you beat Cassie as much"
The Cassie in question was walking back holding an ornate Bottle in her hand and a staff of wind in the other drying of her wet hair - "Effie you should wash up next, Sunny said we have to start our plans"
"Wait I thought that we were going to train more"
Sunny turned to Effie with a horrifying smile holding his staff memory a tad bit too tight - "Wel if you want to, I have no objections"
Effie shot up from the ground with a speed that could make awakened jealous - as she rushed over to grab the endless spring from Cassie and leaving to wash up so quickly, she didn't even stop to make a joke about him joining her
"Did you give her a tougher training or something" - Cassie inquired
Sunny walked over to her and rustled her drying hair - "Nope it was the same as yours - it's just that not everyone is as good a pupil as you"
"That and maybe my blindness gave my other senses a boost" - She laughed and then stopped rather abruptly - "Sunny, you didn't even tell us your plan's and now you're saying we have to leave and carry them out..."
"Oh, you don't have to worry Cass, I'll take care of everything"
'I'll save a lot more than last time too'
...
"I'm so glad to be back" - Effie said rushing behind Nephis and continuing in her ear - "Princess please watch out...your man...your man is INSANE"
The man in question walked in besides Cassie and it did not go unnoticed by anyone that - Cassie, the blind girl was walking on her own, no echo, no help - though no one had spoke on it further
Sunny walked towards Nephis causing Effie to feign horror and run behind Caster who just seemed pissed - "I missed you"
As Sunny hugged her, she whispered in his ear so no one could hear - though that plan failed pathetically as everyone heard - "I'm getting a bit sick of constantly being apart"
He noticed Kai, Effie and Cassie sense the people nearing the tent and Sunny decided to push of Nephis and speak loud enough for everyone in the tent to hear - "Well then Nephis how about I get us a Castle where we can be together?"
He smirked with that deviously charming look as if he were a puppeteer who was pulling all the strings - "When everything is done walk towards your thrones"
Nephis looked at him confusion shown clearly in her eyes, unfortunately before she could question him Tessai, leader of the castle guards entered the tent the flaps not closing due to the 10 or so guards that followed after him all wielding armor and weapons
"I thought you said you weren't harbouring Effie, Channing Star" - he looked at her deeply a twisted smile showing on his face
"I said that I didn't have her with me, not that I didn't know where she was" - Nephis retorted her blade appearing him her hand
Kai, probably feeling some responsibility since Effie was now going on trial for the death of people who died on his behalf, spoke trying to diffuse the situation - "Effie isn't part of the castle, so how can you judge her"
"Are you dumb? It's because she killed Castle inhabitants. Not just any inhabitants but Gemmas men and you know very well that he values his men alot"
Sunny was getting a little bit impatient and so he decided to intervene - "Can we just go and get this over with"
Sunny noticed how the men tensed up at the sound of his voice, especially when he was right besides Tessai with a dagger twirling in his hand showing the Head Guard that he could have been killed if Sunny wanted
Tessai turned his head to Sunny, that little bead of sweat on his brow betraying his feelings despite his words - "We had hoped you died out there sir Star of Darkness"
"I did, it wasn't all that fun so I came back" - Sunny smiled knowing he did die 'out there' just not where the morose giant meant
Tessai looked instinctively to the castle lie detector and saw his pale face making him take a step back from Sunny
Sunny smiled at him and walked out of the tent and walked off, the cohort following behind him with Caster last in line behind even the guardsman
The group were noticed by everyone in the outskirts, Nephis - their saviour and provider being led by sword point towards the castle but thanks to her motioning them not to intervene no blood was spilled
Sunny looked at the castle gate and the skulls lining it's spikes.
'Should I put Gunlaug and his men's skulls on this gate for morale?'
...
"I take it you know why you are here Huntress" - Gunlaug looked down at Effie from his marble throne. His little lackeys standing in a row in front of his throne
"No actually I don't your lordship" - She said with a clearly sarcastic tone
"You killed 5 pathfinders of the cast..."
"She did not" - Sunny spoke up from besides her
"You are not to speak when the lord is speaking" - Gemma walked up from the line holding an arrow aimed at Sunny
"So do I just let my friend die because of a false accusation?" - Sunny gave a grin that honestly made everyone surprised that Gemma was able to hold himself back
Gunlaug seemed intrigued by the situation or atleast he was trying to keep the image of a fair and just ruler -" Why do you say she isn't responsible for their deaths?"
"Isn't it obvious?, it's because I killed them" - an exasperated look shone on him
Whispers flooded the hall
"What...?"
"Yeah I just came back for a walk and what do I see? 5 people had locked up an innocent archer in a well and threatened him for his memories so I had to kill them"
Gunlaug turned the gaze of his armor to Kai, everyone already knew who the archer was after all he came out of nowhere after missing and happened to be with Sunny
"Is that true?" - Gunlaug questioned Kai who stood a few steps away from Effie
"It is the truth" - he responded and perhaps it was simply because he was the kind fool or the fact that Gunlaug's echo had that enchatment invoking fear but everyone believed him - including those who didn't want to
"I see... Then there is no need for a trial is there? Rather we should celebrate the death of those thieves hiding among us..." - Gunlaug turned his gaze away from Kai and extended it towards everyone before being interrupted again
"Is that it?" - he raised an eyebrow
"What more do you want" - Gemma walked out from the line.
"Oh so you're trying to say everything is all good now that the truth has been cleared up" - Sunny looked at him with a rather agitated look
A voice everyone feared echoed as everyone fell silent l, Harus was speaking in that horrid raspy tone - "Your lives have been spared. Is there anything more valuable?" - it was a simple question but the underlying threat was picked up by everyone
"How about some retribution?" - Sunny looked at the hunchback whilst everyone looked away from him
"What?"
"If I did not intervene and tell the truth. Effie would. Have been killed - So you're right I suppose. To make up for this situation I'm going to need to take a life. A very specific life"
Sunny looked directly in front of him and raised his head making eye contact with Gunlaug. His attributes making the effect of the echo useless.
"Gunlaug I wish to invoke the right if challenge - oh and if it hasn't been made clear, I'm challenging you"