35
Chapter Thirty Five
F I E L D T R I P : A BELL AND A WHISTLE
Haldir was holding a sore chin as Osiris walked at the front.
He had forgotten for a second that Osiris hates physical contact. His chin paid the price for his forgetful memory. Haldir let his hand drop.
He felt terrible.
The King hired him to protect his son, even in death, but without hindering Osiris, he could have gotten him killed. They haven't had the chance to fight together. One slip from a piece of his ice and the boy could die.
Haldir looked at the boy's back.
But in the end, it wasn't like he needed the help. Haldir watched him the entire fight looking for an opening to snatch him if things got bad, but the worst was the hit to the tree. Haldir could feel the boy's mana already half full, but his lagging limps told him he needed a nap. And probably a snack.
Further up the pike a group of running soldiers, followed by John, came scurrying up the dirt path. The minute Osiris saw them the air dropped and he stopped and stood, full weight of his aura dropping at the bat of an eye.
Everyone tensed, but the trolls. They stopped a bit behind them since scouts always stay to the front.
"Everyone is alive, praise Lux!"
The mens' smiles strained as they all moved closer to the boy, including the rest of the platoon that slowly poured out the brush. Their bodies were stained in blood, grass, and dirt. Noses red, lips chapped, eyes haunted.
John's worried smile strained.
The entire unit was supposed to be eliminated.
"I tried to come as fast as I could."
The rescue team all cringed, but stopped behind the First Sergeant. Osiris stared with darkened eyes straight into his soul. John looked to Haldir.
"What happened?"
"We were-"
"Do you think I'm stupid?"
Osiris took a step forward, and into Haldir's way, officially forcing the First Sergeant to face him.
"Excuse me?"
Everyone stiffened. John was known to be a violent Leader. He had the Queen backing him up.
"Do not play dumb with me, little boy."
The child took another step. His breath reached the Sergeant's chest.
"Did you think I could not see you unlock the binds?"
John felt a flutter of anxiety, which was ridiculous. There isn't a person here who can see that spell.
"Enough," John looked over the boy to Haldir. "Repo-"
"Check his front pocket."
Hakim watched in surprise as the Sergeant paused.
Hakim has known the man for years. He was prideful, cunning, and cruel. There has never been a moment he's lost his head. That was, until now he guessed.
Hakim watched the boy's eyes go from the man's chest to his shoe. The smile that bloomed on the child's face made him wish he was assigned to another unit.
"Go ahead, check it."
John's teeth were out. He pulled out his jacket pocket and opened his coat to show nothing there.
"Funny, it was there." Osiris's eyes went from his shoe to meet the man's. "But now it's in your shoe."
A layer of cold sweat dropped across the man's body.
"That's enough." John took a step forward, grabbing the boy and lifting him in the air by the collar of his shirt.
Osiris continued to smile.
No one could get between noble and royal argument. It was against their stupid fucking law. Even Haldir could not interfere unless the Prince's life was in danger.
"I will not stand your blatant slandering. You," He motioned for one of his men. "Lock him u-"
"I'll tell you a little secret about the Queen's bells."
Osiris dragged his lightless eyes up.
"When they think you are caught they will deploy a safety precaution."
Osiris watched the ribbon wind up.
"It's to prevent you from talking, ring a bell?"
Everyone was confused, lost, everyone but John. His finger's loosened, but the wind up was done.
"Bye, bye."
A needle thin ribbon shot down and pierced the man from the skull to the bottom of his left foot, destroying everything in its way. Osiris landed on his feet as the man dropped dead before him.
"My, my I think I like this one." Jin took a step forward as he noticed a few of the humans puffing up. "We've been trying to catch that little snake for ages. How'd you know?"
Osiris's grin stretched before looking towards the rescue team. He specifically let his eyes linger on a few remaining bells that decided to tag along.
"That's because I can see mana."
Osiris dropped his ego and let it fall on its face. He was tired now. And hungry. He was really hungry now.
"If anyone has questions please report them to my Father." The boy took a few steps around the men and around the rescue team. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm hungry."
Then he started a trot back to camp.
Hakim pinched his nose.
The kid left them to clean up the mess.
"Follow him, we'll all catch up." His soldiers hesitated. "That's an order."
Their feet began to move.
Hakim turned to Haldir.
"What the fuck what that Haldir?!"
"I don't know."
"What?"
"I said I don't know."
Hakim watched the man's eyebrows pinch.
"The King never mentioned it. And I'm sure if the Queen was aware she wouldn't have been so careless."
Both men reported to the King. They were loyal to the crown, and always tried their best to keep the King in the know. It was hard when he allowed the Queen to dig her claws into the foundation of the entire nation.
They both looked at who the boy's eyes fell upon. They looked as white a sheet.
"Seems the boy outed all the little flies."
The troll loomed over the two men as he leaned and looked between the two of them.
"What do you mean?"
More bodies dropped.
One by one, around five people dropped dead exactly like the Sergeant.
"..."
"How did you know this was going to happen?"
"I didn't." The troll stood at full height to stretch. "But my gut told me to watch the boy, and I did."
Hakim sighed.
Trolls and their damn gut instincts. Even when it leads them wrong they trust it without a sliver of a doubt.
"I do have to say, it's surprising the little one doesn't know what trolls are."
That was the first question the boy asked after he realized they were not the enemy.
"Now that you mention it." Hakim grabbed his chin. "He asked a dwarf a similar question too."
"..."
They looked at Haldir.
"It could be because he hasn't had his introduction yet?"
"I've never met a human child that did not know what a troll was. Nor what a dwarf was."
"..."
"Let's head back to camp."