Chapter 33 - Shadow assassins and the spring

"Whose plan was it to send the reaper?!" congregating deep into the forest in a hollow opening, a group of hooded men frowned, growled, and screamed at each other.

"Shut up! I didn't know there were other people in that carriage!" With their head covered completely, only the gathered men could know who was speaking from their voices.

"Now that damned duke is alerted, what if Madam Margarette's plan fails?" Panting with angst gripped heart, one of them was on the very edge of having a panic attack. "She'll kill us all!"

To the last of the man's words, none had any rebuttal, for they all knew, failing to realize the duchess's request was bound to get them under an executioner's axe. Exchanging nervous glances at each other, they knew their fate and what needs to be done to avoid it.

"We just need a monster to kill him, right? That'll keep her free of all suspicion, right?" Still visibly shaking, the same angst-ridden man asked the others.

"Easier said than done, he has silver storm, and Nue's eye protecting him, and the reaper, our trump card refuses to assault him again, " To the man's comment, shrieks of horror resonated from each of their lips.

For these four necromancers, monsters were their preferred tools for offense, and in their long life as shadow assassins never had a summoned monster refuse to do their bidding. Thus their shock was not only reasonable but warranted.

"The hell do you mean he refused?!"

"Are you out of your mind?!"

"Do not crack jokes, I'll die!"

"The duke is a man of greater value than you summoner," Looking into the eyes of the three men, heavy annoyance rested on the necromancer's face. "That's what he said, those exact fucking words!"

Silent took over as the men couldn't comprehend the twisted reality. For a summoned monster to refuse an order from a summoner was against the very nature of the world, and yet as they stood around a massive summoning circle, they turned witness to the butchery of their creed's law.

"What of the offering? A monster can't just take an offering and do nothing in return," beginning to accept the preposterous claims, the men began to cast their magic on the summoning circle.

"He…" The man with the contract to the reaper began to sweat so profusely to the question, that the others watching him braced in horror for what he was about to reveal.

"What did he do you moron!" growled their leader, not fazed by the unusual sight.

"I gave a favor to the duke, so that he may burn the earth and free me of this endless journey in the tundra." Once again, as the man repeated the words of the reaper, the other men were chilled to their cores.

Trying to comprehend the reaper's words a lone thought ran through their heads.

'What kind of monster is the duke of Laria?' The rest of the summoning ritual was canceled until they could all get their heads cleared.

***

After a whole day of restless travelling, the convoy had safely managed to get Haruki out of the tundra. Out in the open spring with forever stretching plains and meadows of flowers, the carriages finally came to a restful halt.

"Duke, keeping Jenna around is a hazard," Kane whispered in the ears as Haruki took his hand to get off the carriage. "She's an excellent spy, and if she tries an assault on you or anyone else, we might not have a chance to save that person's life."

Getting his feet on some solid ground, Haruki let out a heavy sigh. However, as his mind processed what Kane had mentioned, his eyes instantly spied for Jenna. Seeing her standing lonesomely at the side trying to start a fire before dark, Haruki wondered if he should heed Kane's advice or let Jenna still accompany them to Daria.

"You saw what happened back in the tundra, it won't be safe to send her back alone," even if his empathy was only fleeing because of sadism, he hadn't gone so far as to simply push someone to their death for no reason.

"Duke, I understand that but-"

"Keep her busy, I'll talk to Nue's eyes to watch over her at all times," Interrupting him with a somewhat decent plan, Kane seemed a bit more willing to set his worries aside.

"As you say, Lord," Bowing his head, he made his way toward Jenna.

Turning back to the carriage, Haruki offered his hand to Asuka. Given her keen senses as a demi-fox, it was clear in her eyes that she had heard everything the two men had just discussed.

"Are you sure about this master?" Taking his hand, Asuka asked while getting down.

"I would've preferred to turn her into a servant, but I doubt she'd be inclined to that," As Asuka got down from the carriage, Haruki noticed the convoy carriage of Nue's eyes finally pulling up to them from behind.

'Right one cue, but where are the clovers?' He wondered, scanning the surroundings for any of the three members.

"Setting up camp, are we?" Setting his foot off the carriage, Mortar the ogre-like adventurer grumbled.

"Wa-wait, Mortar!" Right behind him was the dainty healer of Nue's eye, Pon.

The contrast between the two men was appalling to everyone. While one stood like a giant with his scared muscular body and rustic leather tunic, the other was as thin as a twig and wore button-up shirts and shorts that made him look even less fierce.

"Move aside, you idiots!" Sending the two flying off with a kick, the last of the Nue's eye party exited the carriage. "So annoying all the time."

'I never thought I would see someone as tall as Rose, but here we are…'

Watching over as Helma the brutish lady began to walk closer to him, Haruki felt a sense of dread crawling up his skin. Ruffling her unkempt ginger hair, and grinding her razor-sharp teeth, she stood towering over the young duke.

"Ahh…Lord, do you mind staying safe while we hunt for something to eat?" Lacking any sense of formality, Helma asked while scratching the back of her head.

Gulping the uncertain feeling in his body, Haruki puffed up his chest and acted as a proper ruler.

"Go ahead, but I need one of you to look over Jenna," Upon hearing his reply, Helma glanced over to Jenna being ordered around by Kane. Quickly turning her attention back to Haruki, she nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, that girl could be trouble," She answered, turning around to the men picking themselves up after falling victim to Helma's kick.

"She's scary," Asuka whispered.

Catching her voice, Helma quickly turned her head and gave Asuka a menacing glare.

"Sorry!" Instilled with fear, Asuka squealed out loud.