Back again! Hope you enjoy this chapter. I have almost finished writing the story up, so regular updated will be happening. Thank you for your support :)
Chapter inspiration - Sunlight -Years and Years
Dead Man Walking
"You need to be more respectful when being in the presence of Seda." Firnen sighed as he walked beside Ebony. "I thought she was going to make you run a lap around the grounds."
Ebony's nose crinkled. "Its muddy out there, I hate mud."
"Exactly." Petra turned to address the duo.
"Do you know where is Seda taking Rune Petra?" Firnen asked, it was out of the ordinary for Thesda to leave him with anyone else.
"Sha, She is taking him to see the skaikru mechanic. The one who creates Tek. I saw the metal beast she arrived in. Everything they say about it is true." Petra said as she opened the door for the rest of the team so they could pass through the maze of corridors.
"Why didn't you tell us sooner!" Ebony whined as she quickened her pace to keep up.
"I didn't feel it was that important."
"How is a metal beast not important. Its. .Beast." Ebony emphasised each word.
"Your point is?"
"I give up." ebony sighed. "Your no fun."
Asher raised her eyebrows at her sister.
"Don't you even go there." Petra said without even looking at her sister. " I feel your eyes drilling into my soul." Asher rolled her eyes.
"Well is lucky, I hope to meet her one day. I have many questions to ask skaikru." Firnen said as he rung the bell to call the lift.
"Well you will see a lot of them today." Petra shrugged, before changing to topic. "Anyway my sister and I are going to the throne room and do a sweep of the area. Firnen, Ebony, I want you two to go to the lobby on the first floor, where the council members will be taking beverages. Turn your cloaks inside our, keep the blue on the inside. Seda wants you to blend in as much as possible."
"Party time!"
"Ebony.." They said in union.
"Sorry.."
"Consider it done." Firnin said as he took of his cloak and flipped it. Ebony followed suit.
The lift stopped on the floor of the throne room and ebony opened the door for the twins. "Stay safe sisters."
"You two be safe and please for spirits sake, stay out of trouble." Petra said as she followed Asher out the lift and into the hallway.
"I felt that that was aimed at me." Ebony grumbled to Firnen.
"Its because it was." He sighed .
Firnen pulled the lever and the duo sank into the levels below.
...
"Its always so quiet here." Petra said as she walked beside her sister. They only had to walk a few paces down the hall until they where welcome by the old wooden doors.
"It never loses its effect does it? " Petra motioned as she swung open the doors to the throne room, holding her spear in her right hand. The doors echoing in the vast space. The room its self just screamed power. With its stone floors and red carpet. But it was the throne that made it. Standing on its own pedestal, high above the other chairs. Like a god looking down on there people.
Asher raised her eyebrow at her sister.
"What can I say? Its a masterpiece." Petra said as she filled in the silence for her twin. Asher rolled her eyes and tilted her head towards the room as if to say "come on."
"You take the right, I will take the left. Sooner we get this done, the faster the council can be seated and sooner the celebrations cant start. Remember, look for anything out of the ordinary. Any signs of disturbance.." Petra said as she moved towards the red drapes that covered the stone walls.
Asher proceeded to follow her sisters lead , walking to the right side of the room towards the fire pit where the clan branding irons rested. she lifted one to her eye sight and inspected the metal disks. Soon a new one would be introduced to the set, skaikru. She wondered what that would look like as there banner had not been revealed yet.
It was quiet when it was empty, the lack of people blocking out the echo sounds the room made. But with just them, she could here Petra's spear hitting the ground, echoing in the room.
Tap Tap Tap.
It had become a comforting sound to Asher. She knew all the paces her sister walked, not always by her footsteps as she was silent when she wanted to be. But by the tapping of her spear that hit the ground in rhythm.
Then the tapping came to an abrupt stop. Asher's eyes darted up to her sister who was now in a defensive stance, her spear held across her body ready for an attack.
"Something is not right here." Petra said lowly, scanning the area like a hawk "I heard something move, to big for a rat."
Asher readied her short sword and dagger as she swept the room quickly looking for signs of intruders. But just as she thought her sister maybe mistaken, she saw a hint of movement from above. Not just anywhere, but right above Petra in beams that held the old ceiling together.
Realising their cover was blown, the enemy dropped, their cloak fluttering around them like wings, sword drawn, headed directly for Petra who stood below.
Asher sprinted forward and drew her arm back and launched her dagger at the enemy with full force. It flew threw the air with great precision, just like Thesda had taught her in training, it met her target. Hitting them in the shoulder.
Petra leapt to the side as the person who was now clearly a man, landed a few paces beside her. His weapon clattering to the ground.
"Death for Heda." he snarled and pulled a tomahawk from his belt, throwing it at Petra with his uninjured arm. Petra spun her spear, parrying the throwing axe, and charged at the man. He was unprepared for the parry and too slow to react. Her spear met the flesh of his thigh. He cried out and dropped to the floor. If she wanted him dead, He would have been. But the twins both knew that he would me far more useful breathing.
Asher was on his back in a instant. Pinning his arm behind his back as she twisted the dagger in his shoulder making him scream. Her way of payback for trying to kill her sister. She couldn't kill him, but it did not mean she couldn't hurt him. She scowled at the hissing man below.
Right on time four elite guards stormed into the hall, clutching weapons at the ready. Dressed in similar clothing to the Blue bonds, yet these wore a green sash around there belts to show rank. The older warrior was a much higher rank than the others. Instead of the green being around his belt, it covered his shoulder. This means he served directly under the general. He wasted no time, He pointed to the door and the man that seemed to be you youngest sprinted off. The other two guards ran past the intruder and started to search the room for more enemies.
"I sent Joris to find Indra." The guard said quickly as he put his sword back in its scabbard. "I have bindings on my belt, hold him and I will tie his hands." He pulled out leather strips from his belt , and bound the shrieking enemies hands behind his back as Asher pinned them in place.
"Thank you Rodrik." Petra said as she examined the sword that had been dropped by her attacker. "This weapon is Azgeda made."
Asher kicked the man in the side, making him curl in a ball like a dying insect.
"Let us be sure." Rodrik took the opportunity to pour his canteen of water over the dirty blonds face. The water washed away enough of the dirt and sweat to show the scarring of Azgeda. "He is a Azgeda mutt alright." He said as he hald the squirming man in place by pinning him with his boot.
"How many of you are there?" Petra demanded , as she crouched down beside him. "How did you get in here?"
"Fuck you!" He spat at Petra, a thick string of spit dripped down her face.
"Bad move mutt." Rodric handed her his sash to clean her face.
.Right on time Asher made the man scream by twisting the metal deeper in his shoulder.
Asher pointed at the door. She could hear a small group of men running down the hall.
"Indra is here." Petra said as she could now clearly hear footsteps crashing across the hall. She cleaned her face and handed the sash back to Rodrik.
"I wouldn't want to be in your boots right now." Rodrik said as he moved aside.
Indra came crashing through the doors with Joris close behind, she was clearly enraged. Her face was scrunched in rage as she laid eyes on the enemy. "Fucking Azgeda!" She growled as she stormed up to the man, kicking him swiftly in the head , knocking the man unconscious.
The others stood silent as Indra wiped her brow. "Elite, cover his face, I do not want a Azgeda to be seen here. Not today." She said as Rodrik used his sash once gain to cover the mans head. The twins stood side by side, waiting for orders. " No one is to speak of this, Not until after the ceremony. We can not cause a panic. If we do so, Heda will lose face and we cannot allow that to happen, People are dangerous when they are in fear."
"Sha Indra." They said in union.
"Rodrik, Joris. Carry the fool, we are to take him to the cages. you two," She pointed at the guards who stood at the door." get six more men and stay inside this room. Guests will be arriving shortly. I want no incidents."
"Sha general."
"And you," She motioned to the girls. "Inform Thesda, and the other blue bonds. They need to be alert. This may not be the last attack."
...
"Where did you find him Indra?" Anya asked as she observed the warrior encased in chains. The dim candle light illuminated the room clearly enough to see he was Azgeda. His lank blond hair clung to his scarred and bloodied face as his cold eyes burned into the two women. He snarled through the gag as Indra circled the man like a predator.
"The Blue bond twins found him and he attacked. Thesda had the foresight to send them to patrol the throne was an attempt on Heda ." Indra said as a matter of fact.
"Petra and Asher?" Anya raised her eyebrow.
"The very same. Who better to capture an Azgeda Assassin then those trained under one themselves."
"My daughter is no Assassin." Anya snapped as she stepped closer to Indra. She despised it when her daughters where described as some sort of weapon. A tool just to help others in there own battles. It infuriated her. "Have you kept this attack hidden? I do not want word to spread and cause a panic. You know people can be fools when afraid."
"She may not be an Assassin old friend, but she fights like one and moves like one. She did not get the name Shadow blade for nothing." Indra crossed her arms as she stood her ground causing Anya to scoff. "But yes, no one apart from my guards and the blue bonds are aware, I have told them to send word to Thesda. But other than that , Not even Heda is aware. She will have our heads for this."
"You maybe general of Trikru, but I am general of polis. You did as I asked, I will deal with Lexa. I want to speak to her myself. You know how she is. " Anya cut the gag away from the Azgeda's mouth.
"Let us see what we can learn." Anya dragged the blade across his skin making the mans jaw clench. " I bet your Queen would hang her head in shame,To be beaten by children? Here you are, an assassin with years of supposed experience...Yet Not experienced enough to defeat two girls who have not yet seen their eighteenth winter..." Anya stopped for a moment, as her mind processed. She did not doubt the girls skills in fighting yet it did not make sense. She had seen many Assassin's before, why would the Queen send someone so careless. The situation made no sense, there had to be more to it.
"Anya?" Indra frowned as her friend became quiet.
The man said nothing, only giving Anya a bone chilling smile causing her to glare at him. He didn't seem to care he was captured by the way he held his head high.. It was like he intended to be there. Anya looked at Indra who was watching curiously.
It clicked.
"You are no Assassin." Anya spat causing the man to burst out into a wheezing laughter.
"We have mistaken a pawn for a knight..." Indra said lowly.
"I am no Assassin. But the others are ." He smirked at Anya as his words punched her in the gut. Others.
"WHERE ARE THEY!?." Anya pressed the blade to his throat cutting him just enough to leave a trail of blood. She had no time for games, not now.
"Oh I wish I could see the end result.."
"Tell. Her. Now." Indra snarled digging her fingers into the open wound that Asher had inflicted on his shoulder.
The Azgeda cried in agony as she pushed further twisting inside the open wound. Tearing more of his flesh with ease before removing her hand to let the man speak.
"Even... if it was not too late," He gasped for breath. " You would never find them. All I am is a distraction, a grain of sand among the many." He locked eyes with Anya, giving her a sly smirk. " Right about now," he looked up to the ceiling before moving his gaze back to Anya. "The target will be dead. Our mission complete.. I can die with honour knowing I served my Queen well."
"Who is the target?." Anya growled. "Are you targeting Heda?"
"Oh General. You know who it is, think about it." The Azgeda grinned as he toyed with the women. He knew he would die, but it didn't mean he couldn't enjoy the last moments.
"Lets play a game, I will make it simple for you. What would enrage your Heda the most? What would push her over the edge? What would destroy the coalition?"
Indra applied pressure to his shoulder again, making him hiss. "Your words are untrue. Heda does not break. She lost her lover and her sister to the Ice Queen. There is nothing that can break her. That is why she is heda." Indra spat as she backed away to stand beside Anya.
"What would happen if Heda found the body of her.. new lover? Would she survive another blow? What if Skaikru found the body of Wanheda, slain by Heda herself? Do you think they will follow her? Or would they Follow my Queen?"
"Heda would never kill Clarke." Anya spat.
"She doesn't have to, Skaikru only have to think that to be true." The man smiled with blood stained teeth. "Anything is possible. We could even go after your youngest child. We know she is back. I'm sure Heda would like that. Or the night bloods, even better."
"Your words are poison. Desperate pleas of a dead man walking." Indra booted him in the stomach.
"What .. do I have to lose now?" He grunted.
Rodrik burst into the chamber with panic in his voice. "Generals its Azgeda, they are coming. They are closing in on the gate!"
"Sound the horn. We need to move , now!" Anya growled as she slit the smiling mans throat in a swift movement before leaving the room. She had to pray she was not too late.