Chapter 43

Nile looked down at them in delight, enjoying the moment of surprise he had carefully set up. His men stepped from the shadows of the garden. Over 2 dozen crossbows aimed at the little group in front of him with just as many swordsmen at the ready. He kept the two shard users beside him for safety as he let out a laugh towards his siblings.

“You idiots actually fell for it! Walked right in with no idea that you were walking directly to your own deaths. All your smarts and games Claus, for what? To die asking one of the men who want you dead for help. If there's any good to come out of how hard you’ve been to squash, it’ll be the memory of this giving me a chuckle once I’m King.”

“You’re insane…” Claus said looking up at his older brother. He glanced around at the men surrounding them counting silently before frowning. Next to him Tirr, Maria Claire and Jill took defensive positions as they readied for the attack.

“Ordering those men to attack that village, trying to kill off your own family... How far have you fallen Nile?” Claus asked angrily.

“You Lutellian spawn are no family of mine!” Nile replied, smile gone from his face as hatred clouded over him. “And the only one who’s insane is that old man, for not killing both of you the moment you were born! Let alone actually considering you to replace me!”

The words and hatred in them caused the twins to shrink back. Before Claus could respond Nile spoke again.

“Enough chatter, though you’ve both been more annoying than cockroaches for staying alive so long, I’m glad I get to watch when you finally die… Kill them!” He cried raising his hand to signal to his men. Heavy twangs sounded out followed by the whispered thuds and cries as the attacks found their targets.

Nile looked in confusion as his siblings stood in front of him unhurt. He turned towards his men unable to understand and found his crossbowmen in shambles. Over half of them were down, arrows riddling their corpses. Realization dawned on him as he screamed “ Kill them! We win as long as they die!”

Before Nile’s men could charge, more shadows moved out of the garden slipping in behind Nile’s men. They attacked ferociously having caught their enemies by surprise and battle broke out throughout the garden as both groups fought for the upperhand.

Tirr and Maria took positions in front of Claire and Claus, guarding them carefully as enemies rushed towards them. They devastated the oncoming charge, with Claire doing just as much damage herself.

Nile noticed the deadlock and furiously yelled to the two shard users at his side. They jumped down from the pavilion, Fire collecting in their hands as they stepped towards the Prince and Princess.

Tirr was mid punch as he noticed the two come down. He finished his blow, knocking one of Nile’s men flying before calling out to Maria to stay beside Claire and Claus.

He ran forward towards the two newcomers who were surprised a his sudden charge. Raising their hands towards him, fire roared as it launched out.

Tirr didn’t even slow, he crossed his arms in front of himself, focusing on manipulating his Blessing as the two blasts reached him.

The fires swallowed him leaving the two shard users relieved at having taken out the so-called godchild. Until he reappeared, a white glow covering him from head to toe as he ran through the flames, crossing the distance between them in an instant.

Before they could react, Tirr’s fist found their jaws. He attacked softly, having been asked by Claus to keep as many alive as possible. Still he felt each jaw shatter from the impact as they were sent spinning, alive, but in critical condition.

As he stood he noticed the rest of the fighting had finished up as well. An overwhelming victory for their side as the last of Nile’s forces surrendered despite his furious screams.

Panting from anger, Nile watched his brother and sister approach the pavilion where he still stood. All around his men had fallen, the Shard Users the Marquess had given him taken out in one blow.

“It's over Nile, you’re finished…” Claus said as they walked up the steps of the pavilion towards their half brother.

Nile gave one last frustrated look around the garden before settling his eyes on Tirr.

“You!” Nile screamed. Running towards the child god and grabbing him by the coat. “Its all your fault. Everything! Why couldn’t you have just given me the shard? Why didn’t you just disappear? Why did you have to work for them? That was supposed to be my Power! My strength! What is it you want Gold? Gems? Position? I’ll give you…”

There was a loud thud as Nile collapsed. Tirr stood with his fist clenched as he looked disgusted down at the unconscious man. “I’m a god, I don’t work for anyone…” He looked over at Claus, “ Are we done then?”

Claus frowned, “ We should be, but the numbers were wrong, the Marquess should have had more men. It’s like he was holding back for somethi…”

The sound of marching armor stopped him as a large group of armed guards came into the garden. At the front was the marquess himself in his own armor.

Claus immediately started to call for his men to take positions but stopped when he heard the Marquess call out.

“Your Highnesses! Thank goodness you’re alright.” Marquess Monter said, a smile on his face as he ran ahead of his men towards the pavilion where they stood. The others tensed ready to fight but he came up to them as if oblivious to their precaution.

As he reached them and looked down at the unconscious Nile he smiled up at them again. “ It looks like you managed to handle everything yourselves. I’m glad you’re alright. Your brother showed up this morning and took me hostage, forced some of my men to help him set up this ambush. I just managed to escape and gather my remaining guards before I got here. I can’t thank you enough for protecting your own lives and capturing him, I would never be able to live down the shame and regret if you were hurt in my own home…”

The words stunned all that were present and Tirr rose in anger starting to shout before Claus’s hand gripped his shoulder painfully.

“I’m sorry to hear that something so terrible had happened Marquess. My Father will have plenty of questions soon enough so its best that you stay here to ready for them.” Claus spoke through gritted teeth before relaxing into a smile. “I’m sure you won’t mind some of my men staying with you to keep an eye out for any more of Nile’s followers.”

“Of course not, I’d be glad for the extra protection, You don’t expect to go through something like this at home. The front lines are one thing but to be held captive in my own house is quite shocking.”

“I would think so, I do hate to leave so suddenly but I must get Nile to my Father immediately.” Claus said giving some quick orders to his men to grab Nile. Tirr looked up at him in shock at the words and started to speak again before seeing Claus shake his head.

Claire silently came over and grabbed Tirr’s hand and brought him and Maria away as Claus stayed to exchange a few more words with the Marquess.

“Why are we letting him get away with this, he’s obviously lying right?”

“Obviously” replied Claire. “ But that doesn’t mean we can openly attack him. He’s still the second most powerful person in the Kingdom. Father gave us permission to arrest Nile and the Marquess, as far as anyone's concerned, just let us do that.”

“That’s stupid! He’s the enemy we should take him out now.” Tirr grumbled as they waited for Claus.

“I agree, that’s why I leave the politics to my brother. But it’s the right move for now.”

“So we just let him pretend that he never helped Nile and he gets away?” Asked Tirr angrily.

“No” Claus cut in having just caught up with them. “He’s not getting away with it, that story might hold up for now but there’s too much evidence and too many witnesses for this to last. I don’t understand what he’s thinking…Once Father steps in this charade is over.”

“Whatever, I’m done with this nonsense…” Tirr said sulking, calling for the nearby Garm and ignoring Claus as Maria tried to pacify him.

Claus turned towards his sister, a deep frown on his face. “ It really doesn’t make any sense, it's like he wanted us to catch Nile. He should have wanted that ambush to succeed yet he held back… Even if he knew we knew there still should have been better ways than to just give up.”

“Does he want to try and escape?” Claire asked.

“Maybe but my men will watch him until Father’s arrive, after that there won’t be any escaping the rope for betraying the Kingdom.”

They left behind the Marquess Estate with some of Claus’s men standing guard around it. The Marquess watched them leave, his gaze lifting to the castle towers before turning back inside.