Huff*Huff*
"Proceed! Act according to the plan." Sloane breathed heavily.
Nine and Twelve entered the territory adjusting their places in hidden areas most notably in the trees to guard her.
—"The flag! No, they can't leave it unguarded...I should watch their stance carefully."
She hid behind the shrubs. She recognized the flag from afar. There was another flag tied on the bottom of the flag bearer. It belonged to the groups that were long defeated by the others.
—"The pattern...It's group three's flag! So they resided in group seven's territory?"
She glanced at the rustling trees, then smirked.
-"Right into our trap."
She leaped up from the bushes and headed for the flags.
At that moment an arrow was shot in her direction.
"Now!" She signaled the siblings and the grey-eyed assassin.
Within moments the arrows rained upon their opponents.
Sloane shielded herself in time.
The amber pendant around her neck glowed.
—"I must be dreaming."She thought dazed. Then shook herself by slapping her face hard.
—"It's real."
"Milady! Please come and have a look at this." Nine's voice was quite hoarse as he called out to her.
Sloane headed to where they called her. Nine was quite serious as he kept staring daggers at the dead body.
"What's wrong?" She asked as she was horrified to see the mass of dead bodies.
"The same mark. Or I'd rather say the same pattern. Except for one. He wasn't one of them.
" Nine check their bodies and see if they have the same marks."
She frowned. The same mark was discovered in many other bodies they've come across so far.
Twelve picked up the flags of groups eight, seven, and three.
The assassin appeared and informed her of the rest of the two.
" I'll hurry back. Take a quick survey of the area and join me back at the mountain."She left without any hesitation.
—"What in the world happened to you, Jack? Wait for me."
——————
"Ah!" Yulia cried out with pain.
"Milady! Are you alright?" Jane hurried over to her turning blue with fear.
"Don't worry Jane. I accidentally pricked myself with the needle." Yulia reassured holding her forefinger. Blood slowly seeped out. Jane immediately tended to her wound.
She was more terrified of the thought if Sloane saw Yulia get hurt.
A chill ran down her spine.
-"I'm feeling cold for some reason."
"I hope sister is alright." Yulia stared at the handkerchief she had embroidered for Sloane and Jack.
She looked gloomy as she gently caressed it.
"Milady, why not join other girls of your age and have tea with them?"
Jane tried to brighten her mood.
Jack stripped off a piece of cloth and tied it around the wounded arm.
"This should do for now." He bit his lower lip in pain.
"Are you sure you want to continue kiddo?" Tristan asked him as he stood near him.
Once again his eyes fell upon the weird mark on the arm of the lifeless body.
"Sir, Tristan. These bodies have weird marks on them." Jack looked at the tall man and nodded.
Tristan responded by stripping off the shirts of the dead soldiers.
"What in the world...?!"