Chapter Two.
Five miles away from Akkad…
"Should I kill him, brother?" A feminine voice asked impatiently. She was thirsty for blood and her blue eyes spoke of that. She tightened her grip on the sword which was close to the man's neck. Finally, they got hold of an Earl.
"Why are you in a hurry, Heather?" a deep voice asked. He was standing with his back facing them. His armour clearly showed that he was a special Viking Lord.
"You know how much I hate these men" Heather hit the back of the Earl's head with the handle of her sword. She knew her brother, Azriel was not going to give her the privilege to kill this man. The sight of him disgusts her. "So, now what? The old man has refused to utter a word. Are we going to play with him?"
"No, he will talk" Azriel turned and faced her. With his cold eyes, he glared at the man kneeling beside his sister. He knew exactly how to make him talk. His men have gone to clear the area off any soldiers. Once they return, they will make the old man talk.
"Will you kill him?" she asked with a broad smile. But it disappeared as soon as she heard her brother's response.
"Don't be a fool, Heather" Azriel picked up his sword and put it back. "He can't talk when he is dead. We shall wait for Stryga and Sigurd to come back."
"They will" Another female voice spoke. She was lying under the tree. Beside her were three dead bodies. She looked at the men and spitted. They should be ashamed where ever they might be. A woman spills their blood and sent them to the cold world.
"At least, move away from the dead bodies, Kielee" Heather shouted. She was happy seeing them die. It gave her strength and courage to face the tough battle ahead. To recapture the city that was stolen from them, nineteen years ago. She was just a child when they invaded and kill her father. Her stepbrother, Azriel was born that night.
"Undress the dead men. We shall use their clothes to enter the city" Azriel commanded. He walked to where the Earl was. His hand balled into a fist and he gave him a blow on his cheek. The man landed on the frozen grasses with blood gushing out of his mouth. "Tell me a secret that would be useful. A secret that can make me change my mind about killing you."
"I can't guarantee your freedom. I will rip each one of your balls and hang them on these trees for the birds to feed on" Heather chimed in. "I'm sure they would like to test your…"
"Enough, " Her brother stopped her. He looked at the old man and asked again "Do you have a secret? Something useful? My sister is hungry for your flesh, let's not keep her waiting then."
The Earl managed to get up from the ground. He nodded wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. He was ready to talk "I can help you."
"Nobody wants your help, old man" Heather clenched her fists. She hated the way her brother treated his prisoners "It's either your head or the secret."
"You should interrogate the man, instead," Kielee told her. "You know too much."
"If you two do not keep quiet, I will plunk out all your tongues, do you understand?" Azriel commanded all of a sudden. He spoke in a serious tone and the ladies knew that he meant every word that he said. They kept silent this time around. "Old man, speak. There is no time."
"There is a festival going on in Akkad. More than twenty princes are invited including me."
"Wait…" Heather paused. She pressed her lips together. It was funny because the man was not dressed like a prince. She did not expect her brother to know the difference "please, do not tell me you are a prince?"
The skin in between Azriel's forehead pinched. He ignored his sister and turned to the old man "Go ahead."
The old man hesitated. He looked at Heather with fear. Beads of sweat covered his face as he studdered "You can go as the prince and your men as guards. As for the ladies, they could be your maids."
"Is that all? Azriel asked. He did not want to leave any details or make a mistake behind those walls of Akkad. There was no way they would survive if the king found out that they were spies sent by the Genasi.
He turned to the direction where his men went to. They spent the entire day looking for someone who would let them into the city. At last, they found the prince and his men.
Heather walked to where the old man was. She made him kneel in front of her "Are we done with him?"
"Sort of," Azriel replied with his eyes on the path that led to the forest. He was worried. His men were supposed to be back by now. Before he knew what was happening, Heather placed her hand under the old man's chin. She raised his head and brought her knife. It went so fast on his skin, separating the neck and his head. Blood rushed out as her hands and trouser got stained.
Her brother was shocked. He could not move or say a word to her. The man was supposed to stay alive.
"Heather, do not tell me you went against your brother" Kielee sat up. She was surprised even though she wanted the man dead.
"I have to do. I'm sorry" She dropped his head and walked to where Kielee sat. Heather knew what her brother's anger was like. He could kill her within a minute. "Forgive me. I got carried away."
Azriel sighed as he looked at the lifeless body. He gave the man his word. They were going to spare him because of the information, he gave to them. "Your punishment should start now. Only you get to bury the bodies, Heather. And I will check for the boys. They should be back by now."
Heather was in shock as she watched her brother and friend leave. She was stuck with dead bodies. Now, she was going to cause more disasters with them. They won't have peace even on the other side.
It was all for vengeance!