Chapter 23 (the brotherly fuss)

"

Nothing lasts forever brother, neither you nor your power will be eternal." Manucho brought to Masimilano's mind, it never removed the Stern looks he kept at him, showing Masimilano sees it only as some stupid words.

"You are still studying those stupid books of epistemology and ontology, just look at you.

Old, useless, and dirty." Massimiliano said, he sled a dagger out of his belt, it had thick stains of blood around its tip, it tells that it hasn't been long he used it to cut through someones flesh.

"I will rather be this way than be a beast like you," Manucho added a Stern look on his face, to show he meant what he had said.

Massimiliano Cackled at his words maniacally, he took a sword from a soldier behind him at the door and tossed it to Manucho, he was startled as the sword hit the ground, producing sharp piercing sounds.

"Whoever kills with the sword, shall die by the sword" He declined a pending fight, while Massimiliano was yet to offer him one.

"It's fight or die, brother." masimiliano approached Manucho tardily, with the dagger in his hands pointed towards him.

Upon seeing the approaching danger, Manucho wasn't moved to pick up the sword before him, he promised his life would never know violence, and he knew not the first about the use of swords.

"Pick up the sword brother." Massimiliano came to the sword he tossed to Manucho, and struck the sword with his feet, it sled along the floor to Manucho's feet, he didn't bend to pick it up, causing Massimiliano to be angered the more.

Massimiliano took longs steps to him, the edge of his dagger drew Manucho's flesh apart as he drove it into his right torso.

Manucho fell before his knees, his whole self aching, he wept within. Massimiliano heard him sniffing, he smirked while casting a stare down at him, the sniffing prove he is going through some pain.

"Where are my slaves, you silly physician." Massimiliano stomped him on the heard, Manucho came to lay prostrate with his hands and feet wide apart.

"I'd rather die than tell you that."

Manucho whispered, he barely had the strength to speak out loud, he fades each second, using his energy was just making it quicker.

"I don't have the time to torture the truth out of you, I just want you out of this life.

You have been a pain in my neck."

Manucho breathed heavily, his veins become thick and vivid, it was looking as though he was mustering some strength , "You killed father, tussled the throne off my clutches, made me poor, and now you want my life.

Take my life, but my soul shall cry for vengeance and it shall be brought upon you.

curse you brother."

He said with the last strength it could be said he had, his eyes shut anemically, and he faded.

Massimiliano spat on him, "What a meaningless life you lived brother." He kicked his right leg, it went from staying apart to being close to the right one.

"Search the areas, look for manholes," Massimiliano ordered.

The soldiers rushed in, searching and trashing the whole house, pans scattered on the floor, the tables and chairs were turned up side down, books left littered on the floor.

It didn't take long, a few soldiers heaved the laying cupboard up to its feet, uncovering the hole Manucho made on the floor.

"My Lord, we found a manhole!" A soldier said.

Massimiliano approached the scene hastily. "they aren't too far." He assumed immediately.

"My Lord, what do we do?"

"You will go after them, with a few of the soldiers, never return without them," Massimiliano warned him, he was one of his most loyal soldiers who has served him well enough, he was Alberto Ferrari of Assisi.

The soldiers were divided into two, one half followed Massimiliano, the other half stayed with Alberto Ferrari, each half containing twenty soldiers.

"And Alberto!"

He answered "Yes my Lord."

"I believe you won't let me down."

"Never will I, my Lord." He promised.

Massimiliano gave his usual smile, a smile that can barely be differentiated from an angry face. and he left afterward with his half of soldiers to the castle.

Alberto Ferrari became in charge of the hunt,

"Look people, they aren't too far, the earliest we are about this journey, the faster we catch up with them.

Now Go!, Go!" He commanded, the twenty soldiers trooped into the manhole.

Meanwhile...

Severus and the rest were almost close to the ends of the tunnel which would lead them into the city's docks near the Aquatic market.

They were then walking as though they were on a jaunt, they have barely come across danger except for scorpions and poisonous ants, all their instincts now knows is that they are safe, unknown to them that Alberto Ferrari and a group of motivated soldiers were coming fast behind them.