Chapter nine:The Ambush in the Woods

**ELENA'S POV**

Chloe was heartbroken when the mercenary was absent during dinner time but can't say am surprised am pretty sure a snake is kinder than him. The next day he didn't show up at all it was sad seeing the girl wait at the roadside, I sat at their doorway, the doctor gave me a crutch so that I would be able to move on my own. Village life is more livelier than castle life, the loud noise of the children playing, the chatter of the residents, the smell was a strange mix of animals and hay.

"do you want to help me, I have a few errands to run?" Chloe's mother asked.

Hmm asking royalty to do chores obviously the answer is.

"yes I'd like that my feet was going numb anyway," I stood up and placed the crutch under my armpit.

She was nicer compared to the mercenary, she would match my pace which was really slow that I was worried we would be late.

"hello Ava, new patient?" the vendor asked.

"well Rayan brought her,"

"hmm Rayan has taste,"

I wanted to throw up so bad even if we were the only people in the entire world I would never go for that mercenary.

I didn't think that Ava noticed my disgust until we were finished with everything. I asked her if she could teach me how to cook since she doesn't know am royalty she wouldn't mind at all.

"can I ask you something?" she said while I was in the middle of my pathetic attempt to peel a potato.

"what is it?"

"Why do the two of you hate each other so much?"

"stay with him for a day trust me you'll hate him too,"

She sighed and stopped saying anything about the mercenary. Now back to my task the first potato was horrible, the second not so good and the third well I cut my finger a little but compared to the nail or Raven's punch I can still feel the pain in my eye, this little scratch didn't hurt.

Mr Aeneas came back home in the evening, his wife had already placed his tea on the table and was now cooking dinner. I wish that I could help but she suggested that I watch as she does it and I did, she made it look so easy. Chloe came in with a huge frown and her eyes downcast.

"mommy you said that Rayan promised that he would be here today, it's getting dark," she said.

"sorry sweety he must be very busy but maybe tomorrow," Ava said

"then am not hungry today," Chloe said and ran to her room.

"see what I mean," I said to Ava.

I wish Chloe would come to eat it was awkward eating with just the three of us I left my meal halfway and went to Chloe's room, well to escape the awkwardness but mostly because I felt sorry for her.

"is Rayan here?" she asked after she opened the door.

"no he's not here,"

"oh then never mind," she said then tried to close the door.

"but am here, we could do something tomorrow just the two of us,"

"um sure then tomorrow,"

**RAYAN'S POV**

I went to Quinn, he wasn't as reliable as Klaus but he was the closest to where I was and he hates me but since am not wearing my mask or scimitars then he would probably not recognize me.

"Is this Quinn Tarek?" I asked when I entered his office, of course I knew this bastard but it would not hurt to fake it.

"yes I am, state your business?" he asked.

"I want to know about the huge bounty that people have been talking about Maybe if I can still earn it,"

"well don't all mercenaries do but one problem the dark order are also after the same bounty so it's good as gone in my opinion,"

Trying to make me lose interest with this saying it's impossible.

"also the grim reaper's assistant is hunting the person,"

Bullshit am sitting right here.

"oh well you seem determined, twenty copper pieces? Trust me the bounty is more than you can imagine," he said when he noticed my face scrunch up.

I took out my money pouch and counted the twenty copper pieces before handing it to him.

"well the client lost some woman of high nobility, he is willing to pay a hundred thousand gold coins to whoever will bring her and the heads of the people harboring her,"

My heart froze in place, just who the hell did those fuckers mess with that kind of money no wonder the dark order got involved, I faked a smile and got out of his office. Shit, the Aeneases would be in trouble because of my poor decision, I can't take a horse now since they will be watching the roads and now I have to fight anyone that causes me any trouble. I ran as fast as I could until I reached halfway and went inside the woods to hide my tracks.

I saw smoke just meters ahead of me, I followed the direction and I saw seven big tents, the inhabitants of the tents were all armed with axes to swords to bows you name it. I should be stealthy with taking them out I don't have my scimitars, I only have my long sword which am not really used to. I waited till the cover of night hid me. The armed men spent their night getting drunk and feasting on the animals they had hunted.

With how they were drinking it looked like I wouldn't need to use stealth. After a bunch of horrible drunken singing the men started dropping like flies. Their was ten men sleeping all over the ground, I didn't know how many were still in the tent but I'd be done before they came out. I took out my sword from it's sheath and went to the sleeping men.

I would shut their mouths first before slicing their necks open. It went on until I reached the sixth person that I heard someone behind me come out of the tent. It took him three seconds of shock as he saw the men bleeding from their necks and saw me busy with the other ones neck.

"intruder!" he shouted.

I couldn't afford to fight them, my face was unmasked and if they saw me this would be bothersome to keep a low profile. I took of running sword in hand with blood dripping out of it. I heard the sound of numerous footsteps and the sound of hooves behind me. It would not be long before they caught up to me but at least I led them away from the village.

I stopped running in order to conserve my stamina for the fight to come. I tore a piece of my shirt one large enough to cover my face and I held my sword tightly in my arms. I saw man dressed in Grey clothing and an axe in his hand as he rode his brown horse approaching. When the horse was close enough I ran at it slid down and slashed off one of the horse's leg. The horse fell down and threw the man off as a large amount of blood came out of the stump, the horse was neighing in pain so I stabbed the horse in it's gut to end it's suffering.

The man got up and grabbed his massive double edged axe. He charged at me as he swung the axe aiming for my neck, I blocked it with my sword but the force was tremendous, I redirected the axe to the group took a step forward and headbutted the man in his crooked nose. The man moved back a step as his nose started to bleed, a hit in the nose makes one's eyes to lose vision for a second, I didn't waste the second and I slice my sword through his gut, his stomach opened up and his intestines fell out, his mouth also dribbled some blood before he fell on his back. The others who were chasing me had arrived two at the front, and seven more in the back.

The first man to approach swung his sword at my chest as he ran I ducked down making the sword fly past me, I slashed my sword at the armpit of the hand that was holding the sword the sword went through clean and chopped his whole arm off the man dropped on his knees as he screamed I wanted to slice off his neck put him out of his misery but my reflexes made me jump back a little late as the other man slashed at me his sword scratched me at my chest blood came out of the gash. He swung his sword again but this time my focus was on him, his focus was preoccupied by his friend's scream, I blocked it and swung my own but he ducked thinking my sword will pass over his head I had not swung my sword with all my strength so I then swung it down the sword connected with his head and spine. The sword didn't go all the way through due to all the bones in the back.

I then resumed running, because more of them were getting closer and closer. You fucking royals who the fuck did you mess with. Wait till am done with all the mercenaries in the area I'll make you tell me princess.