The distance from the woods through the forest to the Lycan castle was far. Stopping at several points to catch some breaks, they rested and took some water before they continued their journey.
"Are you really sure you want to do this? Look at Seth, he can barely lift a sword. I am sure his wolf is still weak."
"You will be surprised at what my brother can do. He is stronger than he looks."
"If you insist then."
"Come on Alpha Bruce. It's almost might fall." Elora said and continued walking through the paths in the woods. Milo and his men continued to chant their tune amidst whistles and ceremonious dance steps.
"They seem really happy, nothing bothers them." Bruce said in a low voice watching Milo and his men with keen admiration and wonder.
"Milo may be greedy and a criminal but he has a good heart. These men here would gladly lay down their lives for him. He took them in and formed this family. Marcelo, Titus and Castro here are orphans. Lucas was an abandoned cub while Jerome ran away from home after a fight with his father."
"Oh! Said isn't it."
"Yeah. He has been taking care of them for years and they love him. I guess you may never understand it. You are Royalty after all."
Bruce was taken aback by Elora's words. He wasn't sure if he was to be offended or ponder upon them but with his eyes still glued at the six men who danced through the paths, he saw life from a different angle.
Soon, they could sight the magnificent Lycan Castle as it stood gigantic away from the woods. It was a great marble to behold. Standing for centuries u shake N, the Lycan castle had been a significant stronghold of the Lycan dynasty.
"What a beauty! Behold the Lycan Castle!" Milo exclaimed excitedly as soon as he saw the castle.
"How do we get in?"
"This way, there is a tunnel below." Bruce replied Elora pointing to the tunnel which appeared hidden from the far distance.
"Are you sure you won't get caught?"
"I won't. Only the servants in the Royal Chambers stay there. I hope to meet her again."
"Her? Who is that?" Elora asked with her eyelids twitching in curiosity but Bruce smiled slowly and continued moving.
"Just a servant. She helped me escape through the tunnel."
"Oh who would have thought? A servant helped the mighty Alpha Bruce escape from his ferocious uncle. What a twist!"
Bruce ignored Elora and continued walking to the Castle.
The sun soon began to set, hiding in the clouds and their shadows soon began to cast on the surfaces they came across. They could hear crickets chirping and beds retiring to their nests.
"We must hurry! The guards should be on guard soon."
"Wait!" Milo said and signaled them to a halt. There were some figures approaching from a distance, from a distance they could sight the men approaching from a distance.
"Quickly! Hide!" Bruce exclaimed and they all turned back and hid behind trees and bushes.
There were about fifty figures approaching, they seemed to be matching in unison and approached the paths through which they wanted to pass through. Woods stood on a high ground and the path was lowered below stepping up to the area where the castle was mounted. It seemed as though it stood on a cliff.
"That's Darius!" Bruce said aloud and moved to get up from his hiding position but Elora dragged him back forcefully holding on to his hands.
"Do you want to get us killed? That's too risky!"
"He should pay for his actions! I have the chance to get back at him!"
"You have to choose a better way! We are outnumbered and don't you think it would be better you prove your innocence to the Council before you get your revenge."
Bruce thought about what Elora said for a while breathing with fury and eagerness to kill his uncle who walked in the middle of the soldiers who were matching with weapons and full amour.
"Hey! You might want to lower your voices. We can't risk getting caught. I still want my gold you know." Milo said with a loud whisper.
"Where do you think they are going?"
"This is strange, they match as though they are going for war. They number of soldiers are small compared to the normal troops for a battle." Bruce replied Elora raising his head a bit to view the soldiers who were matching across. They were directly below them by then.
"This seems to be a troop going for an invasion. The Gamma is absent and the front soldiers are missing. They bear only shields, swords and spears, no archeries." Bruce said again lifting his head a bit higher from his lying position.
"What Castle could be on the verge of facing an invasion? What must have been their offense?"
"Darius needs no reason to invade a castle or village. He has always loved the idea to dominate." Bruce responded and bent his head lower.
"Ready boys! The coast is almost clear!" Milo crawled to the edge of the forest looking down to be sure that the last soldier crossing through the path has gone.
Certain that there was no one else approaching from the gate, Milo stood up and signaled to others who stood up immediately and walked down to the path that led to the Castle.
"This way!" Bruce pointed to the way to the tunnel and they turned to follow his direction. The tunnel stood below at the back of the castle. It was almost invisible and had water streaming across the front in a little space. There were stones standing beside the tunnel almost shattered.
"We have company!" Milo said and pointed to the six guards approaching from behind them. They were holding on to their swords and spears and ran towards them with great force.
"Hey! Stop there!"
"You must go on alone now Bruce! We will hold them off."
"Are you sure about this?" Bruce said to Elora with a look of concern seeing how fierce the soldiers looked and knowing fully that Lycan soldiers were the most formidable amongst all the packs.
"Well if you continue staying here, you might lose your chances at redemption."
"Can you talk about whatever it is you are discussing later? We have some soldiers to kill!" Milo barked pulling out two arrows from his quiver. His men joined him and got ready to fight. The soldiers were running forward screaming at them, their pace increasing with each step they took.
"Hurry up!"
"Thank you! I hope you are here by the time I return!"
"Little help here!" Milo screamed again and Elora replied Bruce with a smirk and growled at the soldiers who were running towards them. Her claws out, her canines sprouted and eager to attack she dragged one of the soldiers who raised his sword to strike at her.
Bruce turned after taking few steps into the tunnel. Seth seemed to be taking care of himself. Dragging the spear of one of the soldiers, he sank his canines into his neck.
Bruce smiled with a nod and continued to crawl into the tunnel gradually. There was water dropping from above amidst the darkness and rusty smell. Bruce couldn't remember meeting the tunnel that way.
Alas he must have been in so much of a hurry the last time that he couldn't take notice of how dark and smelly the tunnel was.
Milo and his men shot four of the soldiers with their arrows while the other two met their fall at the hands of Elora and Seth. Being sure that they were dead, they dragged their bodies to the point where the stream flowed heavily and dumped them allowing them to cascade along with the water to the river.
Bruce continued to crawl amidst the darkness of the tunnel. The distance seemed all longer than before but with so much eagerness to get into the castle, he continued to crawl with so much persistence avoiding some of the thorny edges of the stones used to build the tunnel.
Soon he was able to sight a dimly light reflecting from the end of the tunnel and this made him go faster.
Getting to the end, he bent over and placed his ear on the secret door listening carefully to be certain no one was coming on close.
Bring certain that he could hear no sound, he pushed the door gently and quickly walked into the Castle shutting the door quietly, then he hid behind a huge pillar and watched but no one was coming. The Royal Chambers seemed unusually quiet and empty.
"That scent! I know that familiar scent!" Bruce said softly and looked around to know exactly where the scent was coming from. He moved gradually from one pillar to another almost crawling to be sure that no one saw him.
"Hey there! Come here!" Said the loud deep imperative voice from a corner.