~*Year 2 after Penthesilea's arrival*~ “So this is the place where the traitor lives.” The dark figure stepped forward curiously and cursed their long garment that restrained each movement. “Not worthy of a king. But what else should one expect from a woman?” Though nobody seemed to be awake any more, they pressed their body to the wall and moved carefully. Took step by step. A crow passed in swift flight. A smile stole on the figure’s lips. “A good sign. The God is with me. Her Goddess’s birds have abandoned the traitor.” Satisfaction entered their heart as they peeked around the corner. Nobody there, as expected. But a huge fire was still glowing red. At this time at night? While putting out the fire in order to take advantage of the darkness, the figure sensed someone coming and turned to hide themselves again. Just in time. A man left the bigger one of the two houses and stopped halfway between the entrance and the dead fire. He seemed to be strong but not well-trained. No feat for them. The man would be brought down and dead faster than he'd be able to realize what befell him. The more so as he was unsuspecting. Slowly, they sneaked closer and straightened up in his back. Raised the hand. But all of a sudden, the red hair gave way to a pair of blue eyes instead. Unfrightened, they met the figure's ones. “Who are you? And why are you here at so late an hour?” Realizing this man had to be a slave the dark dressed wondered about his insolence. Without a doubt he had to know that he wasn’t a match for the intruder. “Am I right to assume you aren’t up to any good?” “You are.” Still, the figure was ready to strike each moment. “And as you were unlucky enough to get in my way, you’re the first to die.” “Oh, please.” It wasn’t fear that he showed but even more self-assurance. “I don’t mind if you hurt the queen or kill her or whatever.” Those words finally succeeded to startle the dark dressed one completely. “Why would you?” Now, it was the man’s turn to be astonished. “Can’t you see I’m a slave? She holds me captive here for her merriment but I long for my freedom. As long as she lives, I’ll never be able to leave this place.” An undefinable sadness laid in his demeanor, deeper than any slave could have felt thinking of something that was but a word for him. Freedom. A sudden realization crossed the covered one’s mind and made them come to their decision. “Go.” A gesture of their hand underlined the order. “Hurry and never return, otherwise it will cost your life.” The slave remained strangely unimpressed. “I’ll do that. But what if I helped you first?” He raised an eyebrow. “I could make sure the other woman doesn’t disturb your… undertaking.” “No! Don’t touch her. My only concern is that wicked queen and I’ll take care of her myself. You go or you die. Your choice.” “Well, I believe I’ll prefer the going part.” So without further delay, he turned and walked away. And headed behind the house where the dark figure had come from. Good luck. You won’t survive a single day. They’re going to capture you for sure. But then, they shrugged underneath their garment and entered the larger building. What was that slave’s life to them? Inside, there wasn’t much furniture except of a bed and a cradle. What a waste. No one will ever need it. Finally, there was the queen, so close. Sleeping. That shameless woman. She was beautiful indeed or at least had been before her pregnancy had begun to show. A shudder ran through the figure’s body. The swollen belly of a woman always disgusted them. It deformed the former beauty of the mother-to-be. But not for much longer. No one would miss her. Probably not even the young king she had ensnared. And the other woman would soon get used to be back in her actual tribe where she belonged. Determined, they raised their hand for the very last time. Bright iron flashed in the moonlight. ← Chapter 21 Chapter 23 → Pose by aoihana2510
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