The Lost Heir: Battle Of Royalties - Chapter 145

As far as Shadrach remembers, he instructed the pirates and his men to head towards Mambre forest. The plan will be executed once they have reached that place. Both the old man and prince Veziron took the fastest route to Mambre Forest in order to positioned themselves, but hours later, neither one of the pirates were seen.

“What’s taking them so long?!” Shadrach cursed aloud.

Prince Veziron was worried about the princess too. But knowing that Xu was watching her from a far, he has the confidence that she will be delivered safe and untouched.

While he was immersing in his hard-wearing confidence on Xu, a familiar figure was seen rushing towards them. When he saw him approaching, he smiled a bit expecting to see the princess but his smile vanished when he didn’t see neither the princess nor the other pirates. He felt something was off. He couldn’t help but to be suspicious and anxious.

Could it be that something bad happened to Princess Laura? Oh please, tell me no! He stood up as he waited for the man to reach him. He cannot just rely to his own doubts.

Shadrach saw him too so he rushed to where Veziron was and stood beside him.

“Xu…” The prince was about to say something but he was surprised when his personal bodyguard fell on his knees instantly.

“My prince! I deserve to die!” Guilt and uneasiness filled his tone as he lowered his head touching the ground.

“Xu, what happened? How’s the princess?!” Veziron bawled, worry was evident on his face.

“My prince, please kill me. I failed to protect the princess.” He didn’t dare to look at the prince’s eyes and was only waiting for the prince to shove his sword against him.

“Tell me exactly what happened!” Veziron yelled.

“Xu, stand up and tell us what happened.” Shadrach commanded.

“The princess managed to escape the pirates, Sir.”

��How did the princess managed to escape those thugs? You were there too, are you telling me a mere woman defeated hundreds of your army, especially a well-trained fighter like you? Do you think I’m stupid to believe that shady alibi of yours?”

“Of course not Sir. The thing is, they almost got her but she jumped off the 120 feet waterfalls. We followed the flow of the water, but suddenly, a certain group of fighters blocked the pirates and fought them.” He paused when he remembered something.

“What about the princess?” Shadrach raised his brow. Anger was evident in his eyes.

“No one was able to go near her but someone already got her before we could. She was unconscious and probably lost a lot of blood which makes her situation critical and dangerous. I don’t think she would be able to make it.” He explained.

“W-what?” Prince Veziron widened his eyes in disbelief.

“I’m sorry, my prince. But judging at the height of the waterfalls and the ridge she fell onto after that, I think she’s gone by now.”

“I told you to protect her!” The prince roared in anger. “The group who took her, who are they? Where can I find them?” He was determined to find the princess, dead or alive.

“My prince, the thing is…” He paused for a few seconds. “I could have killed those armed men if it weren’t because of the other group who suddenly appeared before them. It was Cole and his companions.

“Did you mean the commander of the shadow knights group?” Prince Veziron creased his brow confused.

“Yes, my prince. It was them who took the princess.”

“You already met with the shadow knights?” Shadrach asked the prince.

“Yes, grandfather.” He replied, still in deep thought. “But how did they know the princess?”

“If they have the princess, stay low for now. Don’t ever do something stupid that could tarnish your name. We should go back to the palace for now.” Shadrach ordered.

“But grandfather, we can’t just leave the princess like that!” He bawled.

“Then what do you suggest? Go and talk to the shadow knights to hand the princess to us?” His tone was obviously mocking the man. “Well, if you think that’s the best solution you can do for her then go, go and show yourself to them. And if they asked why are you interested with the princess tell them you were at the forest looking for the princess too.” He answered back full of sarcasm.

Prince Veziron went silent.

“You must act wisely, my prince. If she lives, then you can still see her one day. I’m sure she’ll come to the palace once she’s treated. But if she dies, then no one should know that you were involved with her death. You should not compromise your future just because of her. Let the king deal with the mess for now.”

“Y-yes, grandfather.” He could only lower his head as he follows his grandfather’s plan.

“We must leave now. But Xu, make sure to clean the forest before you follow us. You know what I mean, right?” Shadrach looked at the man meaningfully.

“Yes, sir.” He nodded in response.

“Let’s go, my prince.”

“Yes, grandfather.” The prince replied. But before he followed the old man, he instructed his personal bodyguard.

“Find her and don’t you even dare to show your face without knowing her whereabouts, is that clear?”

“Yes, my prince.” Xu replied before he went back to where the battle was. He needs to eliminate all the possible threats for the prince and if it means killing all the pirates, he will do it at all cost.

No one must know that Shadrach and the first prince instigated the plan which turns out to be a failure and have caused an unexpected death of their armed forces.

THE COURSE OF DESTINY WAS SHIFTING!

Sarah suddenly looked at the ominous sky. Something is happening in the invisible realm. It’s something good but it would bring great disaster on the land.

“Sarah, are you alright?” Prince Leo saw the daze lady looking at the vast sky.

“A storm is coming!” The lady unconsciously yelped. “It’s a storm that would tear the kingdom. The heavens have already decided and it won’t relent until everything comes to pass.”

A storm? Prince Leo furrowed his brow. He couldn’t understand what she meant. Is she prophesying? He thought.

“Sarah, what do you mean by the storm?” He tried to asked the lady who was obviously terrified at the moment.

“Judgement! The heavens already passed the judgements! It will surely come. Though it would tarry but it will definitely come!”

Still, Leo doesn’t understand a thing about what she was talking. A few minutes later, Sarah fainted. She couldn’t stand the force within her at the moment.

*******************

Liam has been pacing back and forth while waiting outside the physician’s house.

Good thing Cole went ahead of them to find a physician near the area.

“Liam, why don’t you calm down a little?” Asher and Cole went near the perplexed man.

“How can I? You saw how awful her situation is, right? What if… what if she…” He sat at the porch with his head hanging low. “What if she didn’t make it?”

He broke down. The strong façade he’s been wearing for years crumbled this very moment as he recalls the woman’s situation when he found her at the riverside.

“Liam, get a hold of yourself. What’s left for us now is to pray and hope for her recovery.” Cole voiced as he sat beside the anxious man.

Looking at the man before him, Asher couldn’t say anything that could encourage the man. He never saw him crumbled like this before. He has seen him mourned many times but not like this. He looked so weak and the strong big brother he used to looked up to was nowhere to be found. Instead, he was staring at a very fragile man.

He once grieved over a woman before too. They all thought that they have seen his weakest moment when his ex-fiancé left him but they were wrong. Totally wrong! How can his status quo compare to that of the past?

Now he’s crying silently. Tears could be seen dripping on the ground while lowering his head to hide his sorrow.

Asher turned around and went a little far from them. He can’t bear to see how desolate Liam is at the very moment.

Few minutes later, he saw the others coming to where they are.

Liam must have heard the horses’ and rushing footsteps therefore he wiped his eyes and wet cheeks and tried to straightened himself up. As the commander in chief of the shadow knights, he couldn’t bear to show his weakness in front of the shadow knights army.

Cole also heard the army nearing the area so he went and stood up beside Asher.

“How’s everyone?” Cole asked the three captain who descended their horses and greeted the two from a distance. “Where are the pirates?”

“Commander…” One of the captain lowered his head in guilt. “I’m sorry, no one lived.”

“What do you mean? I clearly told you to spare their lives.”

“We did, sir.” The second captain buŧŧed in. “We captured some of them while the others run away. But while we were preparing to leave the area, someone shot them dead. We didn’t find the culprit too. He might be shooting from a blind spot.”

“An archer killed them all? hmm… Something is off.” He was in deep thought. “Does that mean someone was behind the abduction of the princess and Diana besides the pirates?”

Asher and Cole suddenly looked at each other. Shocked was painted all over their faces.

“Someone was trying to hide the real culprit!” They unconsciously yelped in unison and it caught Liam’s attention. He then walked near them and looked at the two.

“What’s wrong?” He asked them.

“Liam, the pirates are all dead. No one lived. The others managed to run away but those who were captured alive were all killed by an unseen archer.” Cole reported.

“Killed by an unknown person?” Liam furrowed his brows.

“Yes. And I think it could possibly be to hide the matters about the abduction. They clearly eliminated everyone who knew about them. What a brutal smartass!”

“Poor pirates.” Asher muttered.

“What will we do now?” Cole asked the man who seemed to be thinking.

Liam sighed. “Tell Gideon and Leon to head back to the guesthouse. Let’s wait for the result for the meantime. Her safety is our main priority right now.” Liam’s eyes landed at the house with hopeful eyes.

Diana… please, live. I’ll be waiting for you.