It was almost night. Darkness starts to envelop the town. Lights slowly appear one by one from the post lamps inside its bulbs by white colored flame, illuminating many corners of the streets. Even so, people start to steadily dwindle as they went home to lay rest or to prepare for another day. Beneath the moonlight, just outside the Balai, Bear and his captive, Alister, were just a few paces away from the main gate. Bear stops and his eyes wander through every nook and cranny, searching for his companions, but there's no sign of them coming…or so he thinks.
When he was about to go ahead, he heard footsteps coming towards him. He turns his head towards the pitter patter, and saw Reonne running towards him,
"Bear!" Reonne called out happily, whew, made it in time!"
"…Where you've been?"
"Over some kind of dark alleyway, eh unimportant anyway."
"…What you're doing there?"
"Playing around with Ishnaia…Not by what you think!"
"And? had enough playing around?"
"Well, uh, you could say that! And oh, she's over there." Reonne turned behind and pointed at Ishnaia, who is strolling lazily towards them.
"You know Reonne, sometimes, I don't know if I should worry about you or not. But I guess you could handle your own mischievousness."
"…Bear, I don't know what's up with you being sentimental all of a sudden. But," Reonne then eyed him with suspicion, "you're not dying, are you?"
Bear grinned and grabbed his shoulder and rocks him, "Don't jinx me fool!"
"So, what now?" Ishnaia finally caught up with them and asks, "Is this the place?"
"Yes," Bear gazes at the Balai, illuminated by the early moonlight, "This is the place. Utama Balai."
"What now?"
"It's what it's called."
"Huh..." Ishnaia nods with a question mark on her thoughts, not revealing she really didn't catch it. She found her gaze directed above the Balai and commented, "Is this a castle?"
"It was," Bear answered, then shifted his gaze to Alister, "before the Gesneria claimed this as their own."
Ishnaia directed her eyes towards Alister, taking a gander for a while at his pitiful appearance, especially his muffled mouth.
Bear continued, "I reckon this prince had told you about that, I presume?"
"I think? I really do not care about that anyway. Besides," Ishnaia grinned wryly, "Is he still fine? His mouth's been like that for hours already, I guess you could..." she nudged her head by side, "you know."
Bear nonchalantly glared at her, "I thought you didn't care."
Ishnaia glared at him irefully, "What!? you're joking right!? of course I don't really care! But, having him being shut like that is reaaaally fucking cruel for us, don't you think?"
This time, Reonne commented, "So you do reaaaally care! As expected from my girl! Kindness like no other!"
"Arrrgh! Fucking shut up! Fine, bind him for all I care! I am not some fuck up nuisance who kink-shame some fuck up motherfucker!"
"…"
"…"
Bear and Reonne went speechless and just stared at her for while silently. Ishnaia starts to feel uncomfortable with their stare and bawls,
"…What!? Speak up if you want to say something!"
Bear and Reonne glances at each other, then the former said to Ishnaia, "Let's go."
"Right on!" said the latter to Bear.
Then they walk towards the Balai and left Ishnaia in her place, standing in disbelief, her eyes furrowed wide, and her jaw hangs open. (Damn this pervert and this chunk of muscle, I'll get them someday!) she thought while she follows them stomping with heavy footsteps.
***
Without any further ado, the trio and their hostage entered inside the Balai freely and without any question from the knightly guards at the entrance, only just so giving them a weary look. Contrary from the earlier hustle and bustle in the morning, the building inside was mostly empty and dead silent as people who work went back to their respective abode. The place also was dim as not all lamps at the wall were lit up like the brightness of streets. It doesn't help that there are almost nay any windows to be seen in the vicinity, giving the place a vibe of some dungeon than a castle, in which Ishnaia thought it to be.
"This place is shit." Ishnaia commented.
"I agree." Reonne replied.
"Aaaaaaaah," she wailed, "I want to get out of here as soon as possible!"
"Be quiet." Bear call them out with authority.
There are two stairs that is wide enough for two persons to go up and down from side to side, both in parallels, its steps almost facing where the entrance is in a few meters. However, neither of the stairs are their path as Reonne thought to be, for Bear had passed a different route: towards the counter.
"Hey Bear," Reonne chimed, "where we going? The Erons are on the upper floors, right?"
"…No," Bear replied, "We're not meeting any of the Erons."
"Huh?"
"Just follow, you'll see soon enough." then Bear went over the counter thru a counter shutter with Alister in tow. Beyond the counter, there was a single door with a knob. Bear opened it and entered. The rest followed him inside.
What lies beyond the door is a narrow hallway with many doors. It evokes an image of a maze, but Bear stroll his way off and waded through halls and doors like the back of his hand. In just a short time, they've finally reached their destination and the final door is just at the front of them. It was a double wooden door, the only different to those single doors at the hallways. Bear opened the door and turn towards Alister and said,
"Prince, go in front of me."
Alister obeyed without objections as he did before. It might be too early to say for Alister, but he probably already trusts these two mercenaries to hold by their word, even if he was treated like a muzzled dog for hours. As he caught himself near Bear, Bear stopped him and grabbed him on his back, murmuring to his ear as they went way. Ishnaia and Reonne didn't noticed what Bear did as they are preoccupied with each other and what lies at the place ahead.
What lies beyond the doors is the sight of an open area - a courtyard, which extends by a few meters. Yet smaller than the average courtyard that was seen at the castle. Arched Pillars surrounds the vicinity before the gardens. And in the middle, there was a fountain with a statue of some kind of bird. It is unused, and without any flowing waters. Its appearance was just for decoration. Surrounding it were plants, carved in a circular shape at a L-shaped concrete planter box that acted as borders in four corners of the area. It was a pretty normal courtyard that was being shone by the moonlight, but there was something eerie before this place as Ravens were casually spread out as if there was a pile of corpses basking under the sky that was left for days, croaking and cawing, like an image from after the battle of killing each other. And at the center of it all, was a black long haired robed woman with black wings that's seemingly connected with her hair and a curled horns that was akin to that of a goat over her head
"Hrefna, here's your 'killer arsonist'." said Bear as he pushes Alister forward behind, who almost lose balance with the abrupt shove. The woman Hrefna only as so much moved her eyes towards Alister.
"Who's that?" Ishnaia asks, tilting her head towards Reonne while eying Hrefna.
"No idea." He replied.
Hrefna then turned her eyes towards Bear, tilts her head and says, "You didn't kill him?"
Bear replied, "You never mentioned that he's a prince!"
"Oh? How should I know?"
Bear's voice stays calm, but is growing more irritated, "Enough japing! you had eyes and ears everywhere in this region!"
"So?"
"…What do you hope to accomplish, making us slay a prince?"
"Why would you want to know?"
"We had the right to know! we almost did something unthinkable!"
"But you did not, right? Because of that girl?" Hrefna pointed at Ishnaia
"…Huh?" Ishnaia was taken aback.
"No," Bear replied, "because he's a prince! Are you insinuating that you just sent me to kill the King's son just because you don't want to get your hands dirty!?"
Hrefna chuckles amusedly, "A nice theory, but is that why you brought this prince in front of me?"
"A job is a job. If I killed the prince, I had a hunch that I will never get a good night sleep afterwards, for one word from you and I will become the public enemy with a money on my head!"
"Fufu! If that's the case, I will just do the deed and blame this on you!"
"!"
Everyone was suddenly alerted with the words she had spoken. The silence brought its loudness from their ears, as they hear the pulse of their heartbeat in seconds. Nevertheless, Hrefna breaks silence and tilted her head once again to Bear,
"Tell me, Fridu Ursul, why did you brought him here still? Did cowardice stayed your hand for the blow and hoped me to do the final work? Or is it because you got a soft spot for the youth, am I right?"
"Don't ask me, you're all-knowing as far as I know."
"Oh my! What a compliment! I thank you!"
"Hmph! I do not care what you are thinking to do, but I know the Erons won't stand for this Hrefna. And you know what I believe? You are betraying the House of Erons."
Hrefna raised her eyebrow, "Now that's just plain slander, isn't it? And here I thought you are a cold-blooded killer." then she slowly walks towards Bear, ignoring Alister on the side, "Let me tell you something Ursul, I had never wished to harm the prince, but I'm just a girl who is just doing her job that was ordered to me."
"And who that might be?" Bear asks with suspicion.
"…Vandaldor Erons."
Bear closes his eyes, "Hrefna, Is this one of your narratives to make me think otherwise?"
"Pardon?"
"Knowing Vandaldor, that fool can't bring his thoughts into killing a prince, unless he was dictated to. I bet you took that idea to him and let him think that it is his own."
Hrefna grinned and snorts with amusement, "You had a wild imagination Ursul. As I said, I am not-"
"I get it, no need to speak another word Hrefna, Let's get back to business." Bear cuts her words off aas Hrefna reacted with a frown and a glare towards him, "I brought your person, But I will not kill him, and I advise you not to."
"How impudent! You still want your reward even if you did not do your job right? And you had the gall to advise me what I do?"
"Of course. Because I got nothing to lose now. I had already let go of everything."
"I think your insolence has been taken too far now. I do not know if you're just brave, or stupid. Spouting word after word with sole purpose of throwing your dirty linen in front of me."
"Damn you Hrefna," Bear pointed at her, "This is your problem too!"
"Oh now! If I were you, I sincerely should just do my job and get over with it, never asking unnecessary questions like you always did. So why Ursul, why now should you question? Need I remind you that you forged a blood pact with me?"
"Blood Pact?" Ishnaia murmured and glances at Reonne. However, instead of an answer to her question, she found him murmuring the same term and something more as his face went dark and clearly in shock as to what he had just heard,
"Blood Pact? No… Shit Bear, so that's why… What in the name of… BEAR! What are you doing!?"
Being called out with a question out of confusion, Bear didn't turn or move an inch. Hrefna smirked slyly and glances at Reonne as she speaks,
"Ursul, your puppy had a question. Won't you answer? I want to know too what is on your mind."
"No. I don't want to spare you amusement. Besides, maybe you had forgotten I'm a rational man. I'm not like your birds you fool."
Hrefna sighs, "What a shame." And smiles, "Alright." Then moves her sight towards Alister. "This talk is useless," then she extends her right arm, and claws as sharp as a newly sharpened razor with a length of half of an arm instantly stretched out from her nails and she raised it over her head, ready to strike, "Guess I shall do it after all."
Without further ado, she strikes down towards the neck of Alister
*clang*
It was quick and instantaneous. Bear parried the claws of Hrefna, and Alister seemingly managed to have his arms free from bindings of the ropes and was already behind the assailant, using the said rope as a garrote on her neck.
"…Impressive."
"It's over Hrefna!" cried Bear
"Is it now? Did you forgot that I got two hands?"
Bear's eyes widened and shouted,
"PRINCE! GET B-guaah!"
Blood gushed from his mouth as his sword fell at his side from his hands. Hrefna's claws from her free hand went through Bear's abdomen. Alister was aghast with the scene unfolding before him, as well as every rational person present is. But Alister regained his focus and attempts to tighten the rope from his hand at Hrefna's neck. However, black mist envelops her body as she transforms into a raven and flew quickly towards the broken statue, and reappeared in a hume form, sitting atop of it with a crossed feet.
"I told you Ursul," She said, "You've paid the price."
"Ghh…D-damn…"
Then Bear fell silent and falls to the ground. Distraught, Reonne could only stand in shock as to what had occurred in front of him.