The two Velox pawed at each other impatiently. Edulis's cart had left the grasslands and entered the Casbah Desert, the largest desert on the continent. 87Please respect copyright.PENANALpnceaJLNv
87Please respect copyright.PENANAlTRdLJaAQj
The sands of the Casbah are beautiful. White as a snowflake, soft as silk, it sparkles like quartz in the sunlight. But that sparkle poses a great threat to the Erabu who cross it. It can blind them.87Please respect copyright.PENANArNPk6NyVjp
87Please respect copyright.PENANAl6se1iPBMg
He should have pulled his hood over his eyes, but right now Kishi couldn't afford to. A silver-haired boy was leaning his elbow on his shoulder. 87Please respect copyright.PENANASKse4BWa41
87Please respect copyright.PENANAiPPEVV1aPH
Kishi turned his head slightly to check the boy's hands. He wasn't holding a sword, so what was this cold on the nape of his neck? 87Please respect copyright.PENANA0YlGjgYvwN
87Please respect copyright.PENANA7XOJpAcTVP
He'd been an erabu for over a decade, but he'd never seen anything like this. Most of the Ygraine clan are depressed and lethargic. It's only natural. It's hard to be cheerful when you're trapped in a place like Kaldura and oppressed by the state.87Please respect copyright.PENANAIfqaqBVqfC
87Please respect copyright.PENANA89LEDSqpdl
But this boy, Edulis, is more than energetic, he is radiating. Kishi's Erabu senses were warning him. This bastard has killed a man or two before.87Please respect copyright.PENANACdPMmwQvBP
87Please respect copyright.PENANArdCCCQnwke
"No. It can't be.” 87Please respect copyright.PENANAgTbQqltoz7
87Please respect copyright.PENANAdnGmNT6i3j
The other guy was twelve years old. He's never been outside of Kaldura, except to visit the Temple Memorial. Kishi ignored the alarm bells ringing in his senses and tried to sound nonchalant. 87Please respect copyright.PENANAwKt0RuXRmJ
87Please respect copyright.PENANAgqlEicnTjA
"Ha! This is ridiculous. You want me to hand over the Velox? Why would I take such a bet?"87Please respect copyright.PENANAmmLv0iF3X9
"Hey, mister. Weren't you confident? Is Erabus Kishi a man who can't even stand by his words?"87Please respect copyright.PENANAU0wPczGEpd
87Please respect copyright.PENANAlz1OZpFBEX
That face. The smirking tone. Even if he belonged to the Igraine faction, he was, by name, a member of the Fei family. Where did he learn such insolence?87Please respect copyright.PENANARxr1XBNh5k
87Please respect copyright.PENANA99ivG3TmQf
"There's no point in making a bet with someone who's going to die anyway!"87Please respect copyright.PENANA4IKKvLtCJn
87Please respect copyright.PENANArqOlim5uic
"You're not making a bet because you're going to die, or are you admitting there's a chance you're wrong?"87Please respect copyright.PENANA5m6EPHnky1
87Please respect copyright.PENANA57zygDNvba
"There's no chance of that!"87Please respect copyright.PENANA1rG0FNWx4a
87Please respect copyright.PENANAgC2KmYaxor
"Then what, are you intimidated by me, mister, are you a coward who's being pecked by a twelve-year-old, haha!"
Edulis turned his head toward the lifeless relative sitting next to him and said in a sarcastic tone.87Please respect copyright.PENANAdwP6niQElK
87Please respect copyright.PENANA39yqccuKuK
"Hey, go back and spread the word. That Erabu Kishi is an asshole who doesn't have the balls to bet with a twelve-year-old."87Please respect copyright.PENANAOQoM1x3v67
"What, what did you say?"87Please respect copyright.PENANAv5bePcRDR9
87Please respect copyright.PENANAZQXdVeZBSY
"How are you doing so far? Aren't you scared to cross the Casbah Desert? Oh... I thought I smelled something fishy, but it must have been Kishi's piss on the saddle. Hey, buddy, spread the word. Kissy's wagon smells like Kishi's pee!"87Please respect copyright.PENANA54eQinfaRe
87Please respect copyright.PENANA3ktxUCwRlc
Kishi's face turned red. Fueled by rising anger, veins popped on his neck. He couldn't articulate his words properly due to excessive excitement. Edulis had touched upon Kishi's pride. In Erabus society, courage was the most valued virtue. Once marked as a coward, it was challenging to find opportunities.87Please respect copyright.PENANAfG9IRE69ov
87Please respect copyright.PENANAnlluymKtcf
If word of what Edulis said was to spread among the Erabu, other Erabu would immediately come forward to take Kishi's job. They'd say things like87Please respect copyright.PENANAmXFHTKwRlr
87Please respect copyright.PENANAVoaI05r50R
"Hey, I don't think a guy who's intimidated by a 12-year-old can get to and from Kaldura, so I'm taking it now.87Please respect copyright.PENANAC3y3BucVW2
87Please respect copyright.PENANApHhdqHqe4b
After that, it doesn't matter what excuses Kishi makes. It is the opinion of most Erabu that a coward's words are not worth listening to.87Please respect copyright.PENANA2pxgdGel5Y
87Please respect copyright.PENANAy7RdIgjfs6
Edulis was well aware of this. As far as he was concerned, Erabu was easy to manipulate. All he had to do was scratch their egos and they would bend to his will.87Please respect copyright.PENANADiNuzEWJif
87Please respect copyright.PENANATetXAQpxX1
"You... you bastard!"87Please respect copyright.PENANAUomFlWcpAU
87Please respect copyright.PENANAiapbpOJ6nn
Blood rose to Kishi's eyes. "You've never set foot outside of Kaldura, you've never seen how brave Lord Bosha's descendants are, and you've never heard of the fear of a dragon!"87Please respect copyright.PENANAlvTp0a1yGy
"Indeed. I'd like to see that." Edulis said with a smirk. That stirred Kishi's anger even more. 87Please respect copyright.PENANAQvJj06j1PM
87Please respect copyright.PENANAVYB5d5YBc2
"When Mr. Lagarde swings his sword, the ground within ten paces around him is set ablaze! When Mr. Yug smashes his hammer, a giant pit appears in the ground as if a star had fallen! When Lord Kurjina raises his staff, spears of lightning fly, and if you stand in front of them, you will die a terrible death!"87Please respect copyright.PENANAF5VW586wHE
"No, sir."87Please respect copyright.PENANAuljWzT1oW1
87Please respect copyright.PENANAVmI2zLJDEK
Edulis scratched the back of his head and threw up his hands in boredom. 87Please respect copyright.PENANAtidunqRwRu
87Please respect copyright.PENANA7TkePtEIXT
"What’s with all this chit-chat? So, are you going to take the bet or not?"87Please respect copyright.PENANAGEtidkvEXW
"...Fine. When you die, I will kick your tombstone and piss on your ashes!"87Please respect copyright.PENANAkn6ZiDLjoC
"Whatever. Then, swear to Assyria."87Please respect copyright.PENANAJSVVbmUFOM
87Please respect copyright.PENANAPtyxY5OT2i
An oath to Assyria. It is the most effective means of guaranteeing the fulfillment of a contract. Assyria is the goddess of truth, and if you fail to honor an oath made in her name, your head will fall off at that moment. 87Please respect copyright.PENANA7T8xx385D8
87Please respect copyright.PENANAdf5F91Tm7F
"You... how do you know about the oath to Assyria?"87Please respect copyright.PENANAfMS3wX4oIa
"It's none of your business, go ahead."87Please respect copyright.PENANAR0BL7AzD6Y
Kishi is quiet. 87Please respect copyright.PENANAHlfiOzKtII
87Please respect copyright.PENANAfrlMKtD38T
The Oath to Assyria is common knowledge on the continent, but the problem is that it's also magic. Ygraine Clan does not have a spellbook. How is it that a child of Ygraine Clane, who has no access to magic until he joins the Festival of Saints, already knows this oath?87Please respect copyright.PENANAyzaXI3Umlc
Kishi questioned, but his pride wouldn't allow him to come this far and say otherwise. 87Please respect copyright.PENANAV35VhzBZhH
87Please respect copyright.PENANAEeDeJDfSxg
He put his right hand to his chest and said Assyria's name. Blood flowed from his pinky finger, drawing a red band across it. It was a sign that Assyria would watch over the fulfillment of this oath. 87Please respect copyright.PENANAg2o7xlBjYQ
87Please respect copyright.PENANA0etw5kbHYQ
"Justice will prevail. As Bosha defeated Ygraine, so will those who carry the blood of heroes slaughter the offspring of the insolent witch. Your soul shall not rest in peace in death!" 87Please respect copyright.PENANAioKvcOOJ7f
87Please respect copyright.PENANAmbLJeHvTCk
"Ah, well. You talk too much. You're usually called a loudmouth, aren't you?"
Kishi snorted as loud as Velox's prancing. He wanted to snap at Edulis, but he couldn't think of the right words, so he just glared at his face.87Please respect copyright.PENANAfI5llOQJdX
87Please respect copyright.PENANAwU5SP38BLy
"Hey, mister, can you drive properly? The Velox on the right is looking elsewhere. If you're not focused, he might too."87Please respect copyright.PENANAMp9a9wQVXh
87Please respect copyright.PENANAPbMGY9QFdl
Edulis said as he patted Kishi on the shoulder. Kishi's face was so red he thought it might explode, but what could he do? It was part of his contract with the Fae family to arrive in Vaidor on time. Kishi grimaced and tugged on Velox's reins. 87Please respect copyright.PENANAS711Iv1fYG
87Please respect copyright.PENANAJBA2ReEoyL
Afterward, Edulis lay down on the wagon with his hood over his head. He lay cross-legged, seemingly at peace with the world. 87Please respect copyright.PENANAMRtqgWm3hP
Then, the boy who had been sitting there as if dead spoke to him. His voice was as small as a mosquito's.87Please respect copyright.PENANAiOPfmrAVme
87Please respect copyright.PENANAhyiQ86zEpJ
"What are you going to do?"
"Oh, you can talk?"
"You’ll survive if you bang your head...Do you know what that means? You’re going to beat all six of them."
"Yeah, I'm thinking about it."87Please respect copyright.PENANAhdgthEi4sK
87Please respect copyright.PENANASo4r3bRA79
"That's... we can't......."87Please respect copyright.PENANA8MKDx8U3qH
87Please respect copyright.PENANAqKb4civwbI
At the boy's words, Edulis chuckled.87Please respect copyright.PENANAtLuuosihap
87Please respect copyright.PENANAN9CeQKocEg
"There's something we need to do in St. Trisis."87Please respect copyright.PENANA3duWzefX4s
87Please respect copyright.PENANAqOZvKUfPuu
The boy looked at Edulis with pity in his eyes. He seemed to think he was a little off his game. Regardless, Edulis shifted his position, trying to find a comfortable one.87Please respect copyright.PENANAwHA8yE4K1l
87Please respect copyright.PENANA7fiC0amCaI
"Ahhh... this head part is uncomfortable. By the way, what's your name?"87Please respect copyright.PENANAaDO06xW2hS
"...Enri."87Please respect copyright.PENANA0GYDW2jw4a
“I see. Enri, please wake me up when we arrive."87Please respect copyright.PENANAYJ2L5JIMBU
87Please respect copyright.PENANAShBzCk5BT5
Saying that, Edulis fell asleep on top of the rattling cart.87Please respect copyright.PENANAWJQwvcRwk6
87Please respect copyright.PENANAnRygcbFXaH
87Please respect copyright.PENANAVKWdFpAjCZ
87Please respect copyright.PENANAWdm5biw4aH
"Walk in from here. I'm not obligated to give you a ride inside."87Please respect copyright.PENANAVFAeRSy8as
87Please respect copyright.PENANAHc3uDbwwy3
Vaidor, the main gate of the Fey family. Kishi halted Velox and urged Edulis and Enri to follow; it seemed a long way from the gate to their destination.87Please respect copyright.PENANAtwaETPOazl
87Please respect copyright.PENANAP9LyFhUHjz
Edulis stood at the gate and scanned the grounds of the Fey manor, which looked much different than it had when Bosha was alive. The grounds alone were ten times the size. 87Please respect copyright.PENANAa4mug600YI
There were dozens of marble mansions. Violet lavender and colorful roses adorned the gardens. The gardens were meticulously tended and the branches were neatly trimmed. 87Please respect copyright.PENANAAV9v0b4TLz
87Please respect copyright.PENANAefjNV0EtQC
Edulis didn't like the sight. When Bosha was alive, the Fey family had a reputation for frugality. 87Please respect copyright.PENANA0HWDtzVwW5
While other nobles built mansions and planted gardens, the Fey found, fed, and clothed the hungry. When there was a good harvest and tax revenues were surplus, they held festivals to laugh and enjoy with the people. They were not the kind of people who would decorate their homes for personal pleasure.87Please respect copyright.PENANAr2b2NVTsYW
87Please respect copyright.PENANAYwf1Xaj7Mu
He remembered himself as Bosha saying "Are you the duke? You're dukes, aren't you, Our house seems better than this.?87Please respect copyright.PENANA1ZVO25qEzl
87Please respect copyright.PENANAvQbk01ehcZ
Ygraine smiled and replied, "Yes. I'm glad to hear that. It would be a shame for a Fey to live in a house that was better than the people.87Please respect copyright.PENANAZFyBDvhDuQ
- The noblemen I know have gardens, and they're beautiful. Why don't you plant a palm tree?87Please respect copyright.PENANAtQKIfbwXNM
- If I had the money, I'd add more stones to our foundation.87Please respect copyright.PENANAiWESzS0jBe
87Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1KONORBLn
That's Ygraine. That's the Fey family. But what is this place now? Dragging irrigation from the farms to water the gardens would surely lead to a shortage of agricultural water during the planting season.87Please respect copyright.PENANATvk2sXjRnY
An insult. An insult to the Fey family and Ygraine! Against the will of the goddess Lutea!87Please respect copyright.PENANApsk04WkIYO
87Please respect copyright.PENANANEcpdzOyGR
"There's the main family’s wagon passing by. Children of the witch, bow your heads more deeply in contrition."87Please respect copyright.PENANAKI4BU4Geva
87Please respect copyright.PENANAwkuCshVqxO
With that, Kishi bowed toward the cart. An elegant and rather luxurious cart was approaching in the distance. Enri did as he was told and bowed deeply. 87Please respect copyright.PENANAXdUk5utqlX
87Please respect copyright.PENANAF5NS4CM6O7
But Edulis did not follow suit. He was staring at something that caught his eye.87Please respect copyright.PENANAzvhwMQc3zi
87Please respect copyright.PENANAbSpLwacSMC
"Rude bastard, come on, pay your respects to the descendants of heroes!"87Please respect copyright.PENANA45us2AxATM
87Please respect copyright.PENANAJxcDFSFKV2
Kishi shouted, but Edulis didn't bow. He held his head high and looked up at the door. The crest of House Fey was emblazoned on the top of the door. A crest as large as a shield worn by a Kingdom infantryman.87Please respect copyright.PENANAIMWY7puHIh
87Please respect copyright.PENANA6fe2vbcWXa
"Haha."87Please respect copyright.PENANABEN0stQhl6
87Please respect copyright.PENANAmTmU6HEW0G
Edulis laughed. His anger was beyond the top, and it made him laugh. 87Please respect copyright.PENANA0VbZkev5Cz
87Please respect copyright.PENANAX4Yeu6m3Uc
The crest had a picture on it. A picture of Bosha defeating Ygrain. It depicted Ygraine as a monster with scattered hair and long fangs. 87Please respect copyright.PENANAKiSzJsUXYy
Ygraine sprawled miserably on the ground, and Bosha stomped on her head, then pointed his straightened sword at her throat. 87Please respect copyright.PENANAHLEZ9b7ZPX
87Please respect copyright.PENANAUnzV9CQylu
"This thing is here too?"
"Hey, come on, look up...."87Please respect copyright.PENANAlK9fKnarA6
87Please respect copyright.PENANAwaV2VXv19e
Kishi was speechless. Because he saw Edulis' eyes. Those eyes. Eyes that burned as if they held all the anger in the world. 87Please respect copyright.PENANAxvE9q5FeFl
They were the eyes of the Kaldura Red Fox. 87Please respect copyright.PENANAouqfW2mtRU
87Please respect copyright.PENANAgme9iIMKiA
A memory flashed through Edulis's mind. It was Bosha who had wrestled Ygraine to the ground. 87Please respect copyright.PENANAZTZ2Unb6Lt
No, he’s ashamed to call it a fight. Ygraine had merely played with Bosha for a while. Ygrainne's sword was like falling petals, like willow leaves on water, like a lullaby to a child.87Please respect copyright.PENANAIpMtXqI0SU
When Ygrainne swung her sword, it was as futile as if he had cut through a flowing river, and Bosha's magick, which was like iron, scattered like sand. 87Please respect copyright.PENANAAysUS2YhxI
87Please respect copyright.PENANA7DrY18iPem
Then, on the ground, Bosha looked up at Ygrain and said, "For a mercenary, defeat is death. 87Please respect copyright.PENANAms2SIGCN3c
87Please respect copyright.PENANAwlHcbrCzo3
- If you don't kill me now, one day I will.87Please respect copyright.PENANAZgQAa3ZQ9c
87Please respect copyright.PENANA2onZN002tV
Ygraine never pointed her sword at Bosha. Not once, not ever. 87Please respect copyright.PENANArjTAFZLKuF
Ygraine merely parried a lunging Bosha attack. 87Please respect copyright.PENANAVq8I4fDHoQ
87Please respect copyright.PENANATOj8DjGvcC
- I don't want you to follow me in victory or defeat. I want you to be driven by faith and love. 87Please respect copyright.PENANAGfra0GNsUS
- Do you not know who I am? Do you think the Fox of Kaldura would listen to that, you hypocrite? After all, you raised your sword to persuade me, didn't you?87Please respect copyright.PENANA8T2JY8GxL6
87Please respect copyright.PENANAPDtmNAf6pG
Then Ygraine nodded. 87Please respect copyright.PENANApoTyhbPWJA
87Please respect copyright.PENANAeeUPH9DMzI
- Very well.87Please respect copyright.PENANAocjOqboaZf
87Please respect copyright.PENANALNFel6bWXS
Then he threw the sword to the ground and kicked it away. 87Please respect copyright.PENANAgTpoqTw1oa
87Please respect copyright.PENANAuqyUf2Pbev
- What is he doing? 87Please respect copyright.PENANAabnC7nFJ4T
87Please respect copyright.PENANAh9kbgXu63V
Ygraine slowly approached Bosha. His chest and stomach were exposed, defenseless.87Please respect copyright.PENANAy6lGP8bxNe
Bosha raised his sword and pointed it at Ygraine. 87Please respect copyright.PENANAF0QW07Cb7Q
87Please respect copyright.PENANAnStLrUbiJv
- Ha! Are you going to walk up to me and cut me with your sword? 87Please respect copyright.PENANAmfLBCjLzIg
87Please respect copyright.PENANACYHicgodYQ
Even after saying that, Ygraine didn't stop walking. 87Please respect copyright.PENANA14PmESmkLF
87Please respect copyright.PENANAPijUzWiqJD
- Be it so. But I believe in the light that wanders in the depths of your heart.87Please respect copyright.PENANAtwebdiUsZf
- Bullshit!87Please respect copyright.PENANALA82C1gA7p
87Please respect copyright.PENANAvJlcxcEd99
Bosha threatened Ygraine with several swipes of his sword in the air, but Ygrainne didn't stop. 87Please respect copyright.PENANAY5cJLYrKhL
87Please respect copyright.PENANAhj1hw6mAU2
- Crazy woman! Don't you dare die for nothing!87Please respect copyright.PENANAc5EGXGB3p7
87Please respect copyright.PENANAF9OMRx8UD5
Bosha shouted, but it was like a cat bluffing with its fur standing up. The same Bosha who had no qualms about holding a spear or knife to his throat or being surrounded by demons in the Varus Swamp was scaring the crap out of Ygraine.87Please respect copyright.PENANANjJWFdLzE9
No one knew what he was afraid of. Not even himself.87Please respect copyright.PENANAKdwN5SdMYP
87Please respect copyright.PENANAwY8Ojvs2dw
The distance between Ygraine and Bosha narrowed to three paces. Then two. Then one step.87Please respect copyright.PENANA9jSovclnHd
87Please respect copyright.PENANANaU4JuICXr
But in the end, Bosha couldn't swing his sword. Why he couldn't swing his sword, Bosha didn't understand himself, and his body stiffened. 87Please respect copyright.PENANAovE1WcLC3p
Ygraine approached and gently cradled his head in his hands. Igrainne didn't give him any pressure, but he couldn't move. 87Please respect copyright.PENANATBjLQNW8TJ
87Please respect copyright.PENANAIU0P2G74rK
28 years of his life. Only once has he admitted defeat. That defeat was very special to him. 87Please respect copyright.PENANA9heuudivJv
87Please respect copyright.PENANAEdaXwvw2Ky
"Well, these guys ruined everything.”87Please respect copyright.PENANAjuvv90LH2q
87Please respect copyright.PENANA9GnPHnCbEq
"What... what are you doing?"87Please respect copyright.PENANAQl9BJXd3vI
Kishi shouted in horror. The Fey family's main carriage had approached, its front clearly visible. 87Please respect copyright.PENANAx4ItOL0dhY
Edulis put his hand on the handle of his sword. 87Please respect copyright.PENANAwstUYZy15o
87Please respect copyright.PENANAG9ge4LvWiT
"No!"87Please respect copyright.PENANATUPuxYaJ0Y
87Please respect copyright.PENANApeb2g1TB8i
Enri shouted at the top of his lungs. Edulis ignored him and chuckled. Then he spoke in a low voice. 87Please respect copyright.PENANArOvVqEl2QO
87Please respect copyright.PENANA3JepUxZmb3
"Do not insult Ygraine."87Please respect copyright.PENANAIBzuylT3ts
87Please respect copyright.PENANA3rNGl3JCyu
And with that, Edulis's sword sliced through the air. With it, the Fey family crest shattered into pieces and crumbled to the ground.
Author’s note:
Sign up for our newsletter and receive 5 advanced chapters within 24 hours! Plus, you’ll get updates on events for more chapters, Amazon publishing, and upcoming popular fiction. Join now for these exclusive perks! Visit www.toodatfiction.com/benefits
ns 172.70.130.153da2