"It seems like they've tracked us down."Sloane got up helping the wounded boy. "Tristan Let's head out!"
"Aye!" He smiled and dashed out of the cave.
"The rest of you will guard the radius of the cave. Look out for imposters."
They dispatched as per her plan.
Jack remained in the cave with the assassin.
"Jack you aren't useless," Sloane reassured him before she left with Tristan.
"Tristan finish them off!" Sloane declared from behind. She jumped over the opponent knocking him out.
-" Her skills are as swift as a professional."He was in a daze for a split second.
"There goes the third." She said wiping off a drop of blood from her forehead.
She ripped off the shirt and examined the dead body.
"As I predicted.The same sign over and over again." She said darkly.
"Tristan please look out for this sign. It might be a trap. These people are everywhere."
He nodded and ripped off the shirts of the rest.
" They are having the same marks as the previous one had."He said in a concerned voice. Though he seemed indifferent towards this incident, unlike Sloane.
—"I need to report this matter before something weird comes after us."
"Drag these corpses near the foot of the mountain. I will take care of the rest. Our man should have collected the flag by now."
He picked up two corpses at a time and headed slowly at the foot of the mountain.
Sloane stumbled on a rock which caused her to slip in the mud patch.
"Ugh, The ground is very slippery." she scowled.
In the meantime, two men in black robes appeared again to collect the rest of the soldiers.
Sloane held out the paper and asked them to deliver the rest after the event ended.
————————
Back at the hunting grounds, most people had to leave temporarily due to the thunderstorm. The important figures and their respective families took shelter in the nearby fort that was built after the birth of the kingdom.
Azriel sat with the king and other esteemed figures like Lord Valentino.
The torches representing each group were blown out gradually.
"Two left...one more to go, "the king said smiling as he drank up his wine from a gold goblet.
Both warriors passed sarcastic glances at each other than at the king but didn't say anything. They knew who was the victor of the competition.
In the meantime, the black-cloaked man arrived and delivered a piece of paper that was folded neatly to pocket size.
Azriel took one last look around the conference room and then at his daughter who tagged along with him.
" Yulia let's go out for a walk. This place might be boring for you."
Yulia's face brightened up since she sat there gazing at the cloudy sky listlessly.
Sebastian hinted that there was a problem.
He looked at the marquess who left with the little girl and then back to where his so-called father and half brother sat with overflowing pride.
Charles sat beside the king on high chair grinning.
"What did you plot this time Charles?"