The splashing sounds of water parting and the thudding of the soldier's boot against the ground echoed in the little girl's ear, her fingers clenched tightly around her baby brother's little frame.
It was like a mountain was pressing against her chest. The soldier's feet were now only inches from discovering her. The ruffling sound of the contents on the cart was like an alarm to her ears.
"There is nothing here," the soldier yelled.
"Did you check underneath the cart?" the other soldier asked.
The girl trembled as she waited for the inevitable, tears pouring profusely down her cheeks. Then the soldier bent down to check the cart. Her eyes met with the soldier's. The soldier looked down at her and the little baby in her arms.
"Please…" she muttered, her throat burning from the suppression of the cry that was about to escape her lips.
The soldier rose up, his throat bobbing up and down. His hand tightened around his sword, and he moved to kill them. Immediately, a silver sword glinted, slashing his throat with a swift move.
The little girl gasped when she saw the soldier lying dead on the ground, with blood gushing out of his throat. His hand pressed down on the wound, but it didn't take long for him to give up the ghost.
Then, a girl with wet black wavy hair clinging to her face appeared in front of her. She tried to scramble away from her. She ran outside from the other side of the cart. However, the lady was faster. She stood in front of the child, her sword dripping with red liquid.
The thunder clapped, its lightning casting a glow on them. The girl slowly backed away from her. "You are safe now," her voice was laced with a hint of mockery.
The little girl turned around to run away. Her mind was already blaring red at her. But before she could run further down the alley, she saw a huge man with a big saber blade blocking her path. His head was bald, and he had a gruesome mark running from his forehead down to his jaw.
She turned around to run, but she saw the lady from earlier. She swallowed nervously before glancing at the baby in her arms. As if the baby was sensing the danger, he began to cry.
"Get them," the girl ordered.
The little girl tried to run, but she found herself flying in the air. When she looked up, she saw the huge man lifting her up with one hand.
"Hel…" her voice died down with a single flick of the lady's hand.
"Phoebe, we should return now, before the royals detect our movement," came the gruff voice of the man, before he threw the girl over his arm, while cradling the crying baby in his other arm.
"I guess we have enough kids now for our next generation," she said with a playful whistle.
"Remember, don't leave any symbol behind. The masters ordered we operate discreetly," the gruff man said as he eyed the small star-shaped weapon in her hand.
"What about I carve our symbol on their body?" her eyes gleamed in anticipation.
"No," came the man's stern voice.
She sighed dejectedly. "Fine," she put the weapon back into her pocket. "I just wanted to make the people scramble in fear as they know the Al'Morthals are back." She waved her hand, and a portal oozing with dark purple and black energy—whirling aggressively, intimidating to any onlookers—appeared. It was like a portal to death itself.
They stepped inside the portal. Then the portal disappeared like it was never there.
The sounds of footsteps echoed as a squad of soldiers came to the scene, but they were too late. All they could see were three bodies of their colleagues who were slaughtered, lying on the ground.
"Who did this?!" the leader of the squad yelled angrily, but no one answered.
"Take their bodies back to the palace," he commanded, his brown eyes scanning the environment, but there was no one suspicious in sight.
.....
(Back in Agnes' Room)
Blue light flashed in the room, bringing features of humans with it. Agnes sighed as they arrived back to her room.
"Agnes, take good care of yourself… and your baby," he said. Then he moved closer to the baby who was in Plum's arms.
"I know my decision today will put both you and your baby in danger. But this is the best option for the sake of the throne and for your sake, Agnes," he said, his gaze softening.
Meanwhile, the villain rolled his eyes inwardly. 'Still haven't changed your righteous talk? I can't wait to rip your guts out.'
"I understand your decision, Patriarch," Agnes weakly said.
The Patriarch took out a black ring with letters engraved on it from his pocket. Then he lifted the baby's finger. 'Let go of me this instant or I will vaporise you to death!' the villain yelled inwardly. He put the large ring—that would even pass through the baby's hand—on his thumb finger. As the ring slid further down the baby's thumb, it began to constrict in size, becoming smaller and smaller until it fit the baby.
A protection ring made from the core scales of a dragon. The famous and rare Drakyn ring. And he is giving it to me?
"This will protect him for the time being, and this is my gift to him," he said, waving his hand over his finger, and the ring became invisible.
"Thank you, Patriarch," a look of gratitude flickered through Agnes' eyes.
"I'll take my leave now. We will see each other in a couple of years," he said, turning to leave.
"Wait!" Agnes stretched her hand towards him.
The Patriarch stood with his back to her. "What is it, Agnes?"
"His name… he hasn't gotten one yet."
"Then he shall be named Kaelith. He was born on a day of bloodshed and chaos. Let him be reverenced by his name."
"But isn't the name…"
Light flashed, disappearing with the Patriarch. Agnes' words hung midway as she stared at the empty place where he was once standing.
"…Ominous?" she finished her word with a sigh.
Seeing the Patriarch was gone, Plum ran to her side, her eyes sparkling with joy. "We managed to fool the Patriarch, getting him on our side. You really are a genius, my lady."
"Shhh, don't you know the walls have ears?" Agnes muttered, before waving her hand and casting a protective barrier over her room.
"Forgive me, my lady." She bowed her head.
"It's okay," Agnes stood up on her feet, stretching her arms and neck. "It's boring putting up and acting. I didn't really believe the Patriarch would go this far for me. He even made the position of the throne vacant for my sake," she chuckled. "And he gifted my son with one of his most prized artifacts."
She turned to Plum, carrying the baby from her.
Everything was an act. I can't believe that I was even fooled by her acting. At least she is worthy to be called my mother.
"Then why did he give him an ominous name?" Plum asked, her brows knitting in confusion. "It couldn't be that he had seen through our disguise," she sounded alarmed.
Agnes shook her head calmly as she swung the baby in her arms slightly. "It can't be. I don't know why he did, but he shall bear the name." Her brown eyes stared lovingly at the little bundle of joy in her arms.
"I bet Artherine would be bawling her eyes out now. Do they really think they could hurt you? If you hadn't taken the poison just now, nothing would have happened to you."
"It's not their fault to underestimate me. Remember, I'm a weak lady who lost half of her powers and all her clan." Agnes' lips stretched into a smile, but her gaze was so cold that it could freeze the air.