Chapter 6: Night of the crossed swords.

"Set me free?" Azan questioned Donzo with apprehension in his breath. He stood bare with his body exposed before the shadows. Donzo extended his hand to his face. "Feel free to put on some pants if we're to continue this confrontation." He jokingly remarked.

Azan huffed and feigned doing so. "Pfft!" Instead, he rushed one of Donzo's companions and wrenched a sword off his waist. It was remarkably quick that it even caught Donzo by surprise. Oddly enough, Donzo could've stopped his actions but found it more amusing to let it happen as he snickered at the sight of the floppy prince.

Jumping back from the chair, Donzo drew his sword as Azan did the same. "Well, now." Donzo huffed with a smirk. "I never imagined that I'd be crossing swords with a naked prince today. A statement that could easily be taken out of context, hehe!" Donzo lightly chuckled humorously.

"Enough!" Azan bellowed. "I'll end this quick and silence you all!.."

His malice took even the shadows by surprise. "He.. he has such a terrifying bloodlust. Are you sure about this, boss?"

Donzo grinned. "Sure about this? I'm extactic!" He shouted, swiping the blade through the air. "So you say you'll silence us, huh? You know a thing or two about doing something like that, don't you, Azan! The Vermillion wolf!"

Donzo gripped both his blades and engaged the bare warrior with a grin. With the sound of steel ringing in the air and clashes flickering. Donzo was put on the backfoot, jumping up the chair and balancing it over like a swashbuckling pirate. Kicking the chair at Azan, he responded, cleaving it in two effortlessly like dried bread.

"Hmph!" Grunted Azan as Donzo closed his flank during that action. "Fleet-footed Grimalkin!" Azan thought with hate burning in his eyes. Regardless, Azan quickly readjusted his footwork, countering Donzo's advantageous maneuvers. Donzo noticed this and quickly fled from his position. "I see. So this is the difference in our experience." Donzo thought as he deflected Azan's strike as he hopped backward out of swordplay range.

The two shadows looked on. "Amazing.. This is the first time I've seen Donzo on the defensive."

Donzo sighed with a relaxed posture. "Well, well, well.. I think I'm regretting challenging you, Azan. You really are a pain in the ass!" Azan angled his blade at Donzo. "Seems your foolhardy nature betrayed you.."

Donzo let out a dirty grin. "Yeah.. perhaps. If it wasn't for my Grimalkin reflexes, things would've ended differently.. however." A cold blade rests on Azan's neck from behind him. He turned his head to see Kinell with a scowl as she gripped the knife to his neck. "Am I really nothing to you, Azan?" Her words fell with discontent in her breath.

Azan's eyes were cold and vacant of light. The eyes of like a cold-blooded killer. He didn't see her as a living being, more like an inconvenience that must be dealt with.

Kinell could see this hardened gaze he aimed at her, and her grip on the knife began to tremble. Was she truly nothing?

<Clench >

he gripped her hand that was holding the blade, and her body froze, her eyes widened, her breath became cold. These were moments her mind was going through in a fraction of a second.

He removed the blade from her hand, like an adult taking a toy away from a frightened child. She fell to her knees and started to cry. There was a moment of silence until Azan turned his attention back to Donzo. He calmly questioned him. "Explain your intentions, Grimalkin.."

Donzo returned a relaxed response in kind. "As I said: to set you free." Donzo then elaborated. "Listen, Azan, do you truly wish to be sent to war once again? And are you aware of which you're being sent? Your father is trying to weed you out by sending you to war! Why not go down a different path? Something more simple, something where you can live without standing in the shadow of your father?"

Azan cracked a smile and let out a soft maniacal chuckle. "Hehehehe.. A different path, you say? Do you really expect me to believe those words coming from you? I know you bare a grudge against me after what I did to your people. Lycans, Grimalkins, Harpies.. you beastmen are all the same.."

Donzo clenched his blade as he spoke. "It's up to you, Azan. However.. If you wish to continue our violent clash, then so be it.."

Later.. a messenger arrives at the king's side. "My lord. We've gotten reports that Prince Azan was taken hostage and Ydran's establishment. Supposedly, one of the perpetrators was none other than Donzo the shadow."

King Aldius' eyes flashed. "Come again? Are you saying my son is in the hands of that cutthroat?" His voice struggled to leave his aged lips until he gave an angered order with stern authority. "Do everything within your power to cut down these, kidnappers! Cut off all exits to the city and let no one leave at all costs!"

"Yes, sire!"

Meanwhile, within the brothel. Donzo is holding Azan with a blade to his throat, barking at the soldiers flooding the area. "Stay back! Or the prince dies!"

Donzo stood with his three shadows standing abroad. "What's the plan now, boss?" One of the big shadows asked. "Make an exit, Dormu." The big shadow huffed and pulled out a massive hammer from his back. "Should've said so sooner!" He grinned, slamming a hole into the wall next to them, creating a clear path.

"Let's go!" Donzo said as he gripped Azan. "Start running after we round this corner." He whispered. The soldiers were still reeling from the display of might that Dormu unleashed. Donzo escorted Azan into the opening as the shadow stayed. All but one. The stray one followed Azan and Donzo into the opening.

The big one, known as Dormu and the shorter one, stayed back, warning the soldiers to stay, or the prince dies.

This bought them time to move in concealment amongst the night crowds. They blended with the sea of heads and shoulders until they made it to an alley. Donzo opened a manhole grate and jumped into the cities water channel.

He was aware that the water entered from outside the city. They will use this to make an escape. Azan followed down afterward as the third shadow did as well. "How do you wear such bulky clothes?" The shadows feminine voice asked Donzo.

Pulling off the hood, Kinell revealed herself to be the third shadow, wearing his robes. "You're just too skinny, girl." He remarked with a smirk. "Just bare with it for now. We'll get you appropriate clothes eventually."

Azan walked up asking. "What of your subordinates? Are they gonna be okay?" Donzo maintained his relaxed composure. "Those two will be fine. They know their way around the city as well as the channels."

Donzo then turned his attention back to Azan as they stood in the dim lit pathways. "And what of you, Prince? Have you truly come around to this decision?"

Azan sternly returned a few words. "Don't assume things. I haven't 'come around' to anything. I merely realized my secret was out regardless of my choice. If my father found out I was bedding a beastmen, my life would be over, regardless of me being the prince."

Kinell responded with shock. "He would really kill you? His own son?"

"My father and I have never had a good relationship. He sees me as a hindrance, if anything." Kinell fell silent as she wanted to embrace Azan, but now wasn't the time or place.

Donzo cleared his throat and spoke up. "Sorry to interrupt, but we best get moving."

After traveling the dark and dank underbelly for several hours. Azan questioned Donzo's plan. "Aren't you concerned that they'll think about searching these channels as well?"

"More than likely, they'll have guards stationed at or near the exits of the channel outside the city." Azan became perturbed. "So? What exactly is the plan from there?"

"Sure, they'll be waiting at the exits, but there's one exit they're unaware about."

Eventually, they continued down the channels with the sound of flowing water filling the brick tunnels. "Here we are.." Donzo said as he turned left at a junction. A fissure in the wall from water erosion left a massive dark gap in the brick wall. "What? Where is this located?"

Azan turned his attention to the rest of the channel in this area. It seems poorly maintained, and the water quality seems filthy.

"Under low town." Donzo answered. The city water crews overlook maintenance in this sector. They don't deem it worthwhile to treat."

Donzo cracked a smile. "Ironically, there negligence is gonna be our benefit. This new tunnel leads outside the city from a shift that occurred years ago, opening up to a cave system. Low town uses this to transport black market goods through here."

"To think, this whole time.. Right under our noses.." Azan sighed, admitting he had no idea of such a thing existing within the city.

"Don't get too ahead of yourself. The path is dangerous, hence why no soldier or officials ever braved the path to find the way out." As his words fell, shadows approached with a clapping noise, and he turned his gaze to the hallway. "Ah. They must've caught up to us."

"Soldiers?!" Kinell loudly whispered. "Nope." One of the voices spoke up as they rounded the bend. "We managed to shake them from our trail, boss." The big bulky shadow said to Donzo as he grinned. "Nicely done. You can drop the get-up now. I'm sure we should be good now."

"Okay.." Throwing off the tattered cloak, s massive auburn beast with ripped muscles and horns on his head. He had hooves, hence the clapping noise as they approached.

The other was a short rat-faced creature. With whiskers and yellow buck teeth. The creature looked rough from years of hygiene neglect.

"Finally." The rat said with a high pitch sigh. "I was getting tired of that cumbersome get-up." Donzo interjected. "Don't be so negative, Skaver. You looked far more dashing than your actual guise." Skaver let out a sarcastic laugh. "Har har!"

"Anyways." Donzo continued. "We should get a move on before the city guards get wind of us."

Meanwhile, during all this, Azan and Kinell watched helplessly on the sidelines of a conversation between what sounds like old friends.

"They seem comfortable with each other. Don't they?" Kinell said as Azan stared off into space. "Sure.." Kinell flashed her eyes at Azan, noticing his distracted demeanor.

"Look. I know you're not happy about this, but now that you're free from your father's influence, you can now be yourself."

Azan opened his mouth to speak. "What do you know about me? I was inches from killing you earlier, yet you continue to stick to me. You baffle me."

Donzo and the others interrupted the conversation. "Hey! We don't have time. Finish your discussion later."

"As he said." Azan said with a disgruntled huff. After their discussion ended, they entered the void and trotted through the darkness.

Nothing but the noise of their movements could be heard in the wet and dank cavern. Donzo and Skaver led the way since they had natural vision in these conditions. Keeping both eyes on the route, along with the tourists.

Traveling for what seemed like hours, Azan asked with skepticism. "Are you certain you know where you're going? Feels like you're taking us to the depths of the underworld."

"I could help ya along with that. After all, no one would find your body down here."

Kinell chimed in. "Oh, enough of that! Haven't you two had enough from your fight earlier?" Her voice displayed a certain level of anxiety as it cracked a bit.

Dormu noticed as he mumbled aloud. "Sounds like the birdy is feeling the pressure! It's understandable. Winged folk aren't accustomed to underground travel."

Skaver raised his voice in a hushed whispered. "Enough, you two!"

Donzo began to explain. "I wouldn't be so carefree down here. It's not the darkness that's dangerous. Darklurkers dwell down here."

"!!!" Azan's body shuttered upon hearing him say that. "Hold on. Darklurkers here!? Really!?"

Kinell was clueless about everything that was being said. "What's going on!? What are Darklurkers? Like the ones from fairytales?"

Donzo answered with a playful smirk. "It's understandable that a whore doesn't know the world outside the bedroom! Hehe!" After his brief chuckle, he continued. "Darklurkers aren't anything like in the stories where valiant knights vanquish them with glory. No, actually the opposite. They are monsters that prey on beastmen and humans alike. Hunting in dark places like these caverns. They possess no eyes but instead detect through sounds and vibrations in the earth."

"Not only that, they can live off of one victim for almost a year without another meal." Skaver added. "Dreadful creatures, although to some extent, it is our double-edged sword. If this path is known to our pursuers, they would be reticent to hunt us here, knowing the dangers."

Azan couldn't help but ask. "Why on earth would anyone take this path, knowing that such a beast lurks here!?"

Donzo answered with snide. "I wouldn't expect a prince to understand the desperation that lower class folk go through to escape war. Not only black market transport takes this route, but also refugees who are desperate to seek asylum."

Azan snapped back. "What are you implying?"

"Nothing, sir prince, just stating the facts." After the conversation ended, they continued their way. Skaver looked at Dormu when they reached a junction. And quietly nudged skaver in a direction.

Azan noticed this, asking. "Are you two lost!?"

Skaver answered with reassurance in his breath. "Not exactly. Dormu is a minotaur, ya see. So he had a peculiar sense of direction."

"You're kidding, right?" Azan uttered in disbelief.

Donzo laughed at Azan's uncertainty. "Hehe! I know it sounds bad. But there is truth to what Skaver says. Dormu here hasn't led us astray with his directional sense. It is said a minotaurs' sense of direction was brought about by the creator trapping his kind in mazes for centuries. Eventually, they adapted a sense of direction and escaped the prison built by the creator. So the stories say."

Azan scoffed at the absurdity of Donzo's explanation. "What!? You're basing out directions on the gut instinct of your companion!?"

Donzo smiled in the shadows. "Hey now. Relax, we have a system here. You'll just have to trust us." Azan simply wasn't satisfied with that response. Nonetheless, he doesn't have much of a choice but to cooperate with these tenacious beastmen.

As they shuffled in the darkness, Kinell whispered to Azan. "So.. Azan? Have you ever encountered these Darklurkers before?"

Azan took a moment and gave a response. "Not personally. But I've heard stories from generals who lost whole companies to one of these things. They don't just dwell in caverns. They loom in deep forests where light has long abandoned the foliage within. When I was a child, my sword instructor told me stories and taught me methods on how to fight in the dark. Needless to say, I'm not necessarily adept to fully dark combat. He told me to never engage one, for I'm not able to win against such a beast."

Kinell signed nervously. "Well.. that's reassuring.. has anyone seen what they look like?"

Donzo spoke up. "If you could see them since they hunt in pure darkness.. trust me, ya wouldn't wanna see it.."

Continuing for what felt like hours, Azan spoke up again. "How far are we gonna wander?"

"We're taking a route far away from the city." Donzo answered as Dormu explained. "This cavern system branches out like roots from a tree. There's at least five exits that have been reported. We're taking the one that exits the furthest from the city. It's a well-known smugglers route."

"So you do know where we are?" Azan replied. "Somewhat." Dormu huffed. "I'm only going by what I've been told."

Skaver chimed in. "It's well known in underground trading, but most people don't chance it, depending on the gravity of what they're smuggling, both figuratively and literally. In our case, it's best to take due to the value of our merchandise. Additionally, the kingdom legionares aren't aware of this path."

The smells of the dark cavern grew rancid and foul. The scent touched their noses, and the instinct to vomit threatened Kinell. "The stench of death." Azan muttered as the gloom of the caverns extended.

Donzo grinned. "We're in the creature's hunting ground."

Azan couldn't see Donzo's grin but could hear the enthusiasm in his voice. "Are you thinking of engaging this thing!? You're mad!"

"Afraid, Azan?" He retorted, as if challenging the warrior, but Azan isn't going for it. "I'm not playing! This thing isn't to be trifled with!" His words fell with stern reasoning, but Donzo remained relaxed.

"You forget one thing, Azan. This creature lurks in the darkness. I'm a Grimalkin. My eyes can see everything even in the darkest of night. I don't fear anything as long as I can see it."

Azan huff a breath of discontent. "Fine, get yourself kill for all I care. As it feasts on you, I'll take my leave."

"That's not gonna happen." Remarked Dormu. "Even IF the boss were to die, which is unlikely. I'd not let you go anywhere after what we risked after acquiring you."

Azan glanced at the big shadow that rested its hand on his shoulder. He could sense confidence in his voice. Does he truly believe Donzo can best such a fearsome creature where armies could not?

"Ridiculous," He said with disgust. "You truly are full of yourself, Grimalkin!" As his voice fell, sounds scuttled in the shadows. "Hm?"

A silver light flashed in the darkness for a millisecond. Azan leaped back, eyes locked forward, darting in the shadows.

"It's here.." Donzo bellowed.