Chapter 7

Lydia and Justin Clifton were two red-head twins from Joalarkin that did only two things: prank and protect.

They roamed around the city, stealing and surviving, going from one target to another. They were popular among the kids and the adults, as most of the items that were gone would be stolen by them.

They hated the King the most. Who didn't?

Their mother, Cassandra, was never treated well in the castle, and was always underestimated by Titus himself.

And in conclusion, whatever the North did behind those walls, they definitely guessed that it was much better than the world they lived in at that point.

Their mother spent her days at the dungeons more than the days she did at home. And it was all because of Titus.

Cassandra went home with tears in her eyes sometimes, and left with tears in her eyes as well. On the other hand, to survive, the two kids stole from the people, to eat and live.

Their father left them, for another woman of some sort, and they've lived alone since then. They didn't go to school; there were barely any schools for the poor.

Sometimes, they were jealous of House Harrivandik, and some of their acquaintances of the rich merchants and sellers.

The two were now in front of their hut, eating apples, as they stared at the sun.

"What's for dinner?" Justin asked.

They both had ginger hair, green eyes and freckles, and the fact they were twins, made their behaviors quite similar, except Justin had a sense of heart, and Lydia didn't.

"I was thinking of taking some meat from Diego in the market, or perhaps steal a chicken from the Harrivandik farm," Lydia calmly said, "Unless you want to steal from the fishermen,"

"I think the meat would do," he replied, biting into his apple.

"My dear kids!" a woman exclaimed from their side.

A woman in a maid uniform, with her ginger hair laid on her back was seen, and Lydia dropped her apple to run to her mother.

"Mom! What are you doing here?" Justin asked, standing up to hug her as well.

Cassandra hugged both of them back, "I was worried of you both,"

"Worried? Or are you avoiding Prince Titus?" Lydia frowned.

"Both," she chuckled lightly, "And I'm worried for the North attacking Joalarkin,"

"I feel it's better than you having to be mistreated by that brat." she scowled.

Before Cassandra could speak, the ground rumbled as if it was going to crack apart. Justin held his sister so she wouldn't fall, but from the corner of their eye, a girl, with brown hair in a dress, was running towards Everwood Forest, near their hut.

"Isn't that the marchioness?" Lydia raised a brow.

"Why is she running to the forest?"

"Screw that," she muttered, "If anything happens to her, we're going to be blamed by the nobles,"

Lydia bolted towards the forest.

"Lydia!" Justin sighed, and followed up behind her.

"Lydia! Justin!" Cassandra yelled, but she knew her kids wouldn't listen to her at all. And so she had no choice but to run along with them.

The path that Summer was taking was the path to Santelle, and the rumbling ground that shocked her and made her instinctively run to Santelle, as Ed was there. And she was more worried than ever.

"Marchioness!" Lydia yelled, groaning, "Please stop!"

Summer didn't hear, as she was more concerned of reaching Santelle, and hoping Ed was okay.

But Lydia was a thief and was more slick, and definitely faster. She caught up to her, and as Summer was about to see what was going on in Santelle, she grabbed her hand and made both of them halt suddenly, and tripped on the leafy ground.

"Let go! What's this?" Summer picked herself up, with leaves in her hand.

"Look, Marchioness Harrivandik," Lydia groaned, "I suggest you to go back to your house before we get in trouble as you're about to walk into where the rumble came from,"

Justin and Cassandra caught up behind them, panting as they reached the two.

"I'm sorry," the girl said, "But please stay out of this,"

"And then when you get in trouble, your dad will blame us and we'll have ourselves hung and bla bla bla," she rolled her eyes, "Aren't you not thinking that far?"

"I have to check if my friend's okay,"

"What the hell is your friend doing in a place where an explosion is at?"

"Maybe it isn't an explosion," Justin commented as he walked over to the trees, and saw Santelle in a dome. "Looks more like sorcery to me, Lyd,"

"What?" Summer and Lydia both stood up, along with Cassandra as they paced to where Justin was.

And the dome surrounding the city was filled with blue-purple mist. In front of it was a whole crowd of people, and some armed people which they didn't know.

"I need to check if Ed is alive," the marchioness remarked, as she was about to tread forward when Lydia grabbed her again.

"I expected nobles to be smarter," she commented.

"Excuse me?" Summer asked.

"Can't you see that's the North? Taking over Santelle?" Lydia furrowed her brows. "If your friend is from Santelle, then they're definitely with the North, or dead right now,"

"He's not from Santelle, he's from Joalarkin."

"Then what the hell is he doing in Santelle?" she groaned.

Summer pursed her lips. She nearly spilled the fact he was a spy, "He was born there, he just lives in Joalarkin. I need to find him,"

"What's his name? Maybe we can try and find them,"

"His name is Ed. Ed Wrighton." then she furrowed in confusion, "How are you going to find them?"

"After the North invades Joalarkin, duh," Justin interrupted.

"Are you supporting the North?"

"Are you supporting the King?"

Cassandra, who was leaning on a tree, had some sort of deja vu in her head, "I feel like I've heard the name 'Wrighton'. But where?"

~~~

"Summer, I have to talk to you," Adelaide said as she entered the house.

"Santelle blew up," she sighed.

Adelaide shoved the letter in her face, "I received this from Ed, and I need you to listen to me carefully, so you won't panic,"

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Ed's okay, don't worry," she said, "But there's something else,"

"Someone said it's sorcery,"

"Who?"

"A girl I met just a while ago," she said.

"Alright, yes, the Assassin is a witch, and surprisingly the daughter of King Garland and his former wife, Faye Allensilf. Her name is Kayla Allensilf, based on Ed's letter,"

"What? I thought House Allensilf was burned down 20 years ago for treason."

"This girl," she took out the sketch Ed had drawn, "She wants to take over the kingdom and we can't let her do that."

"Why? Garland is crappy, and so what if she wants revenge?"

"Do you want a witch from a family who committed treason to rule over the kingdom?" Adelaide asked, "Her mother wanted to take the throne for her own,"

"I'm pretty sure if she took the throne, everything would be better," Summer replied.

"She was greedy, and she didn't have empathy,"

"Duchess Adelaide," she sighed, "What are you trying to say?"

"The North are going to come to Joalarkin to find out about the money stash. And we're going to let them. We're going to let them take over Joalarkin,"

"What?"

"So we can attack from the inside."

"What if they kill us?"

"They won't."

"How do you know?"

"I don't know for sure," Adelaide said, "But I have a strong feeling they won't, because I think they remember me." she grabbed her hat and placed it on her head, folding back the letter.

"Where are you going?" Summer asked, worriedly. She didn't believe all of this was happening.

"The King." she stated, "You just have to go on with your life normally: think about your birthday party, and study hard to become the next Duchess of Harrivandik,"

~~~

"I found the felon witch that dad hunted 20 years ago and made him die 10 years ago." Jayden remarked as he went inside his house.

His mother was cooking in the kitchen, and she dropped a bundle of celery as he said, "What do you mean?"

"The felon witch," he said, "That dad had been hunting for 10 years. She's alive, and the Assassin of the North,"

"And you told Garland about this?"

"Yes," Jayden replied, "All I have to do is kill her and I'll get the throne,"

"Son, you have no idea what game you're playing," Penelope gritted her teeth.

"You seem to know something, mother? Mind telling me?"

She gulped, "What would I know?"

"Who are you cooking for?" he asked.

"I'm going to eat with my friends in the castle," she replied, "Are there any other questions you would like to wave on your mother's face?"

"No, not really,"

"Well then, all I have to say is one thing: the witch's death will not benefit you because even if you will betray the King, you and I both know that Prince Titus will not listen to anyone except himself. But the witch; she will benefit you, as far as I know, her vengeance is for the greater good."

~~~

The next day, Adrian and Alex were on their way to the tailor's shop to make their suits for the Harrivandik birthday party they would attend.

"Any suit would suit on me anyways, Fuzz Freak," Adrian stuck a tongue, "I would be far more dashing than you in that party,"

"Try me," Alex scowled back, as they both fought their way into the tailor's shop.

"Hi," Reagan stood in the tailor's shop, as he was tidying up rolls of thread.

"Reagan, hi," Adrian flustered.

Alex scoffed a little at Adrian, and then stepped back, "I'll just take the clothes of Kay's grandfather. Although, I don't think you'd like to wear them. Well then, see you," he walked out of the door.

"Alex!" Adrian yelled softly, but he was gone out the door.

"What brings you here?" Reagan asked, leaning on a table.

"Oh, right," he blushed, "So, I need a suit, as me, Kay and Alex are going to go to Joalarkin in five days or so, to find the money stash. And we'll go there on the marchioness's birthday party, therefore I need a suit,"

"Oh, I see," he nodded, taking a measuring tape from his side.

"You work here?" Adrian asked, relieving the tension.

"My dad owns the place," he commented, "He's in the market at the moment, so I'll just measure you and give him the measurements for him to make the suit,"

"Ah, okay," he gulped. "So where do I stand?"

"Just here,"

Adrian walked over to where he pointed, right in front of him.

Reagan stretched the measuring tape in his hand, and began to measure his chest, from shoulder to shoulder.

"So," Adrian cleared his throat, "Your dad opened this tailor shop? In Glandithe?"

"It was my mother actually," he replied, "They met when he wanted to work here. Then they had me," he smiled, moving over to his waist, and measuring it there.

"So where's your mom now?"

"Underground, along with the nobles that killed her," Reagan bitterly said.

"I'm sorry," he frowned.

"It's fine. That's why I'm thankful to Lady Allensilf for killing all of them." he said, "How about your parents?"

"Oh, they're both dead, killed by the Guard,"

"I'm sorry," he rolled the measure tape as he finished measuring his entire body, "By the way,"

"Yeah?" he smiled.

"Can I join you three? I've never went to a party before,"

"I mean why not?" Adrian grinned, "We'll adjust everything. The more, the safer," he smiled, "Thank you, Reagan,"

"Thank you too, Teacher,"

"Just call me Adrian,"

Reagan cleared his throat, "Alright. Thank you, Adrian,"

~~~

Outside, Ed had been following Adrian and Alex both, the spies who stalked Eros, as they seemed to be the closest people to Kayla Allensilf.

So far, as he had stayed there for the night, none of it was slavery or pain, it was all happiness or freedom. And now, he was starting to doubt it all.

He thought it would be better if Kayla took the throne, and it would all be great and peaceful. But all his thoughts came back to Summer.

"Hi there!" he approached the blonde boy who was blushing as he exited the tailor's shop.

"Hey," Adrian replied, "Do I know you?"

"Oh, I'm Ed Wrighton, from Santelle. I just got here yesterday,"

"Oh, I'm Adrian Nellister," he replied.

"Yeah, I heard from everyone," he said, "I also heard you're close with the Lady?"

"Well, she's like my adoptive sister and stuff," he said.

"So what do you do when you conquer cities? Saving them?" Ed asked.

"We kill the nobles," Adrian responded, "And save the people."

His heart beated. If they went to Joalarkin, Summer and Duchess Adelaide would die. He didn't think of Clark Harrivandik, as if he died, it would be reasonable. But Summer and Adelaide didn't have the right to die.

"About that, I want to join the army that'll conquer Joalarkin." Ed said, hoping so that he could save the two girls.

"Sure, just join the training sessions,"

"I see you've just came from the tailor's shop,"

"Yeah," Adrian said, "Just want to buy a suit,"

"Ah I see. Alright, thank you then, Adrian," Ed bowed and went away.

Immediately after that, he went back to where he was staying, which was a small house at the end of Pendagline.

He began to write the letter, alarming the Harrivandiks that they had to hide or flee as the North was planning to kill them.

~~~

"We received another letter from Ed," Summer exclaimed as she went to Adelaide's room.

"Let me see," Adelaide lent her hand and opened the letter. She read it and sighed, "He wants us to leave Joalarkin, 'cause the North is going to kill us,"

She gasped, "Isn't it better if we leave?"

"No, Summer." Adelaide increased her tone, "The King has ordered us to stay in Joalarkin and join the North, then attack from the inside. I know it's for the best, and I know what to do, so you have to stay strong."

"Why are we listening to the King in the first place?" Summer scowled.

"Summer, just please, listen to me, okay? Please?"

She sighed, "Fine, I will. But please, don't let anything bad happen."

"I promise. And don't tell this to anyone. None of the people and citizens must know,"

"Yes, Duchess,"

Adelaide knew that those two kids she met 10 years ago were part of the North. And the fact that she had saved them from the First Guard would've made them spare her life, and do as she asked.

~~~

Jayden arrived at Joalarkin on the morning of Summer's birthday, saying that he was assigned by the King to protect her and the family.

The entire day, the residence was busy, putting on banners and candles and practicing the orchestra for the night.

The theme of Summer's birthdays was always a masquerade ball, and everyone would be given a mask when they entered. Everyone and anyone could come to the party, and no one would be charged.

Guards and soldiers guarded the entryway of the house, and Jayden was sharpening his new sword downstairs.

Summer approached him, in a floral bouffant dress, along with a peach headband on top. She seemed beautiful, with her hair straightened on her back. But her face, she was worried.

"Happy birthday, Summer," he said.

"Thanks," she replied, sitting next to him, "I'm worried about Ed,"

"Ed's going to be fine," he replied, "He's helped us a lot in this entire situation. You don't have to worry about anything and just enjoy your birthday party,"

"Are people going to keep on treating me like a damsel in distress?" she asked, "I know that I've just spent my days studying to become a Duchess, in all those law books, but I seriously do not understand why people keep treating me like I'm fragile and that I can break at any minute and like I need a distraction so I don't fall stressed."

"Well then, what can you do?" Jayden asked back. "Can you do anything to stop what's about to come?"

Summer clenched her jaw.

"Look, there are just some things that you can't handle and only some can. And the fact you are the only child of House Harrivandik makes you very valuable for Joalarkin and the kingdom."

She sighed, "Fine. I wish I could talk to Ed," she stood up and went up to the ground floor.

There was a change in plans. On the day of Santelle's attack, Duchess Adelaide came to Coranius in the evening, and suggested to not kill the witch and her companions when they come to Joalarkin to find the money stash.

They had guessed that she would come to the birthday party, and therefore Jayden was assigned there.

They would let the witch and companions go, so they would perform the attack on Joalarkin, take the citizens and them, then attack the North from the inside of the walls.

Just a little game of betrayal and vengeance.

He was quite mad that he couldn't kill her then, but he rethought his mother's words. He was blind, and so he had only one thing in his mind at the moment: keep the witch alive and use her as his puppet on the throne.

And so, with the suit he had brought his father's old suit of black and gold, with a high collar and a sheath for his sword.

All that would happen that night, it would be the beginning of war and revenge.

~~~

Kayla had herself ready, with two daggers in her thigh and a few knives in her boots. She had her grandmother's high-neck, navy, halter dress that covered her neck and necklace, and went down her ankles.

She placed her hair in a small bun, along with a small, golden, flowered-hair pin she inserted in it.

She walked out and went downstairs, finding Alex in her grandfather's beige suit, styling his hair.

"You seem nice," she said.

"You too," he replied.

The door opened, revealing both Reagan and Adrian.

"Kayla, you and I both know I look the best," Adrian commented, showing off his beige and red suit, which was sewn beautifully.

And it looked very much similar to Alex's.

"You and Alex look like twins," she snorted.

"But I still look far more dashing," Adrian proudly said.

"Nobody agreed, Potion Idiot," Alex stuck his tongue out.

"I'm Reagan," he said, in his maroon and gold suit.

"Hi, Reagan," Kayla smiled, stepping down the stairs, going to her drawers and taking out little knives.

She handed them to Reagan and Adrian.

"You aren't exactly going to bring your bows and arrows to a party," she said, "Just bring those in case things go wrong,"

"If these knives rip my suit, you'll pay for it," Adrian scowled.

"My grandfather and former grandfathers' closets are always open for you," she smiled cheekily and walked outside. "I'll get the horses ready, so be prepared,"

"You both seem joyous," Alex smirked at the two boys. "Best of luck, Poisoner," he patted Adrian's back that made him scowl, "I support you either way," he winked and joined Kayla to take the horses.

~~~

Ed saw that four of them were walking out, in the evening, on horses and formal wear. He then realized. Summer's party.

He went inside his dwelling, and began to write a letter to warn both Summer and Adelaide. He felt stupid, for not realizing sooner.

As soon as he finished his letter, he tied it on the foot of the eagle who was sitting on the porch.

The eagle flew away, and as Kayla and the rest were about to leave Pendagline, the eagle flew from a house from the right alley, to up above the sky.

"Hold on," she stepped down the horse and flicked her hand to the eagle above, catching it and bringing it down.

Ed, in the meantime, noticed the eagle was no longer in the sky. He went out of his house and ran over to the main street where Kayla was.

She was already reading the letter, with the eagle on her arm. She turned around to see the curly-haired boy there.

"You tried to give the Harrivandiks a warning I believe," she said, clenching her fists and dragging Ed to her, with her sorcery.

Adrian stepped down A1 and furrowed, "You're Ed Wrighton. You asked me a few days ago, asking about how close I was with you, and what we did when we conquered cities. Were you trying to warn the Harrivandiks?"

Ed kept his mouth shut. He didn't know that back at Joalarkin, all of them had guessed Kayla would come that night. He also didn't know Jayden was still alive, but all he hoped was Summer and Duchess Adelaide would still be alive after that night.

"We don't have time for this right now," Kayla said, crumpling the paper and letting the eagle go, "Take him to the dungeons,"

"Lady Allensilf, please," Ed said, "Just spare Duchess Adelaide and Summer's life. Please."

Adrian and Alex took him by the arms, and locked them in place.

"I decide who to save and who to not." Kayla said, "Take him away,"

~~~

"Wouldn't that mean the South probably knows what you look like?" Alex asked.

They were going across Everwood Forest now. It would take much more time to get to Joalarkin than it did to get to Santelle.

"The party's a masquerade ball if I'm not wrong. And there will be a lot of people, so they won't recognize me, at all." Kayla replied, "We just have to find the money stash, and also who to kill and not to kill."

"The point is to be normal, and dance, and drink," Adrian exclaimed.

"Erase the drinking; we're not dragging you back to Pendagline," Kayla said, then turned to Reagan. "Don't allow him to go near the drinks, he'll shoot out barf,"

Adrian scowled, "Haha, thank you for your generous information, Kay,"

Reagan gave a low chuckle as the four continued to go through the forest to reach Joalarkin.

~~~

Jayden, who had his black and gold mask matching his suit, was on guard at the entrance, looking at all who took the masks being held by the maids. He counted them, around 32 on each tray placed on the tables.

He searched through everyone, but it seemed that Kayla Allensilf hadn't arrived. And he wasn't going to get fooled twice, so he went inside the house, and began to search for her there, possibly thinking she used the backdoor.

The four arrived at the entrance, and placed their horses far from there. Joalarkin was filled with people and lights and laughter, which made it way easier to execute their mission.

They stepped in, going to the residence of House Harrivandik, and stopping as everyone took their masquerade masks.

The four decided to circle the house, using the left side of the doorway, and she just saw two maids with trays in their hands, and a few other trays on the tables.

She flicked her hand, taking four masks, and giving them to her friends. Everyone put on their masks that covered the top part of their face, leaving their mouth, nose and eyes visible.

Kayla's mask was a black one, lined with silver, that fell perfectly on her face. Reagan had a gold and white one that matched him perfectly while Adrian and Alex had twin masks, and like their suits' secondary color, their masks were of red and black.

The four went to the backdoor of the house, where most of the guests also were. They entered past the guards, and it was a whole extravagant party.

The sounds of the orchestra filled the halls and corridors, and candle chandeliers hung from every space possible. Women and men, boys and girls, were all in fancy suits and dresses, talking and dancing, enjoying and drinking.

"Have you ever considered turning your residence into this, Kayla?" Adrian asked, whispering in her ear.

"If I did, all the walls would be stinking with your vomit by now," she replied calmly.

She narrowed her eyes to the other end of where they were, which passed through the center of the ground floor that was used for waltzing. No one was dancing yet, as the orchestra hadn't started the specific music for it.

"The office would be on the other end, or upstairs," Kayla said, "Or upstairs. And all those are all there," she pointed to the other end.

"So you want to go there?" Alex asked.

"Yes."

~~~

Jayden couldn't find anyone inside, and he quickly went back to the entrance, and looked around.

To his right, he saw one tray which only had 28 masks left, and considering the fact that the maid had not picked up that tray yet, it would mean she was here.

He sighed an exasperated breath and went back in, and at a glimpse, on his right, he saw a blonde girl in a black mask. He remembered Kayla Allensilf clearly, too clear for his own good, and that was her.

Kayla didn't see him, and so she started walking towards where the center was, to get to the other end: Clark's office or the stairs.

Jayden turned to his left and walked to the stage, whispering at one of the players, "Play the waltz music now,"

He stepped down soon after and walked into the crowd, where Kayla was walking past, blending in when in a sudden, someone grabbed her waist and the waltz music started.

She flinched, looking back at who had grabbed her. It was those dark brown eyes that haunted her, they were there again. He was now in a black and golden mask, in such a dazzling suit, with his sword sheathed on one side.

He took her hand and put it up, intertwining it with his hand, as his other hand gripped hard on her waist.

She stood there frozen, as he let go of her waist to put her other hand on his shoulder, and then placed his hand back on where it belonged.

"How is it possible?" she asked, her breath hitching from shock and denial, "You're dead."

He scoffed, and then looked back at her, "Did you really think you could get rid of me that easily, princess?"