Book 3 Chapter

Tirr and Torvus dashed through the halls, leaving Knuckle’s frozen remains behind them. The mansion was quiet, with the only signs that remained of the invasion the few bodies they passed in the halls. Tirr couldn’t help but frown at the sight…

Raife’s servants, most just normal people, didn’t stand a chance against the assassins that had broken in. Most died in one blow, a simple clean cut to the throat. They had bled out almost immediately, and even the power of the Blessing of Life wouldn’t bring them back now…

They reached Tirr’s room only moments later, finding the door open as they approached. Tirr felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end as an unpleasant feeling entered his heart. He bashed into the door, causing it to almost come off its hinges as it crashed open.

On the bed, the pulled back covers revealed where Maria had been resting, yet beyond that, there was no sign of either her or Garm. Tirr felt himself panic for a moment until a calming hand rested on his shoulder.

“There are no signs of a struggle,” Torvus pointed out, easing the young god’s fears, “There's no way that girl goes down without a fight, even against those assholes.”

Tirr nodded, his brain thinking as he spoke, “Your right, and I can still feel my connection to our Blessing, so she’s alive at least. Plus, Garm was guarding her. But where are they?”

“The most likely answer is with whoever took the children right?” Torvus answered, “Maybe they found her and forced her to come along by holding the children hostage, or maybe she found them and went chasing after them.”

“That sounds possible,” Tirr thought aloud, “But even if they didn’t find her at first, if it's Maria and Garm trying to follow them…”

They both thought of the innocent yet forceful young woman, followed by the clueless pup. The thought of them both trying to stay hidden…

“They’ll definitely get found….” Tirr muttered as Torvus just nodded.

“Let's go,” The former assassins started as he led the way out of the mansion, Tirr followed quickly, both pushing themselves to move faster. They got out into the cavern and found multiple tracks some that seemed to be the children's, setting out to follow them immediately.

As they pushed forward, the tracks led out and away from the estate and into the cavern that housed it. They followed along, moving along the Cavern's outer wall until the tracks stopped just as they reached the maze of tunnels that had served as the cavern's natural defense.

“This…” Tirr growled, he looked around, hoping to find some continuation of the tracks. Finding nothing he finally started towards the tunnels themselves. A hand grabbed and pulled him back but he shook it off turning back angrily towards Torvus who stood there calmly, “ What are you doing? We need to go after them!”

“It's too late, they know enough to clear their tracks from here. Within the tunnels there's basically no chance of finding them.”

“Then what are we supposed to do?” Tirr asked angrily.

“Let's go back and get Raife, they'll have to take them somewhere and he might be able to tell us where…”

Tirr took one last look back at the tunnel system before following Torvus back through the cavern.

As they arrived back at Raife’s estate, more of Raife’s guards had arrived and were busy going through the mansion, doing their best to clean up. Raife stood in the yard looking over the work with a disgusted expression.

He turned towards them with a sigh, “Well?”

“Knuckle,” Torvus explained, “With enough back up that the few shards users you had around didn’t stand a chance.

Raife grunted, “Damnit I would have kept more people here if I knew this would happen… How the hell did they finally find us?”

“There was a tall, delicate-looking guy who used bow,” Tirr started, “I think he had the wind follow us after that ambush earlier…”

“One of those from the Southernwood by the description. But controlling the wind… Damnit!” Raife let out a breath, “Where are the children?”

“Taken…” Torvus answered.

“Along with my apostle…” Tirr added on,

“Do you know where they might have taken them Raife?” The former assassin asked.

“I don…” Raife started when a familiar voice cut in from behind.

“I do…” Tess said, her cutting, well-dressed figure out of place in the chaos that had been wrought on Raife’s estate. Behind her, a younger woman stood. Her figure not as ample as Raife’s colleague but just as well dressed, if not better.

Tirr couldn’t help but think they looked a bit similar when Torvus flashed from beside him. He reappeared just past Tess his dagger sinking towards the other newcomer when another figure in a white mask appeared, blocking the blow before sending one of her own…

“Stop!” Tess commanded forcing both killers to a halt. “Get back Torvus…”

“ I shouldn’t have believed Raife when he vouched for you…” Torvus started, leaving Tirr confused…

“Enough Torvus…” Raife spoke up as well, pulling the former assassin back.

“Nice to see you too Torvus,” Silk finally spoke, smiling as she signaled for her guard to step back. “I’d calm down if you want to save those children of yours…”