Page 95 of The Shadow Fae Rhapsody
Waited for it.
I let him plunge the massive blade through my chest. Blood splatters across his face as he buries his sword deeper. The orc’s mouth gapes the moment his gaze locks with mine in horror.
“Have you learned nothing? That will not work on me.” I smile at him, baring my teeth. I grapple his neck and chuck out the blade. “The girl. Tell me where she is before I plant your head to the wall.”
Horror flashes on the orkan assassin’s face.
“Will you spare me if I do?” His question is laden with fear and dread.
“You’ll either die slow or quick. Pick one,” I order him, growing impatient by the second.
He almost resists from giving me an answer. His bravado falters when he recognizes the absence of light and mercy in my eyes.
“Only the prisoner from Darvan remains here in the west wing,” he says, his voice breaking. “Akaloth has moved most of the fae and the elves to Celestria. The Maiden of Arawynn is with them.”
I listen to each of his stuttered word carefully.
“Now point me on the map where that is.” I shove the parchment right under his nose. His hand trembles, knowing that death is imminent whether he submits to the demand or not.
One moment, I am holding a cowering orc assassin in my hand. The next, he is halfway across the courtyard next to the prisoner I saved in the dungeon.
“What is the meaning of this?” I glance at them, the air around us bristling with tension.
The prisoner weathers through my vicious stare.
“I am Vayne Aeldrath Malgorth, the third Prince of Myrkheim,” he says, planting his right fist on his chest respectfully. It’s a gesture of greeting from his homeland. “I’m here to grant these rebels my brother’s amnesty.”
Great.
I ended up saving some orc Prince Charming.
Well, he won’t be so charming anymore when I crack open his skull and bash him into a pulp.
“Show me where Celestria is. I won’t ask twice,” I demand.
“Why? So you can do the same thing you did here?” the prince counters sharply. “These people may be misled, but they are still my tribesmates.”
Crazy fucking fool.
Didn’t these other drug-crazed orcs torture him in the dungeon below? It’s adorable when Rhianelle is being naive,but it’s completely annoying when it comes down to this noble bastard.
“We want the same thing. If you would just let me explain—”
I strike before he can finish, slashing my sword right over his head. He should be sent to the afterlife with a proper weapon instead of claws. It’s the least I can do for someone I saved. But the orc blocks my offense with two mismatched falchions he’d chanced upon the ground.
Not bad. I smile despite myself.
He may be a great warrior among his clan, but I have had centuries to perfect my skills. I continue my assault over and over, swiftly moving my sword to decapitate him. The orc surprisingly manages to evade and deter each attack. Every inhale he partakes in looks painful and I’m certain his right wrist is broken. Still, the male raises the double falchion against me.
“I promise you, no harm will come to the Maiden of Arawynn,” he says, coughing up blood all over the cobblestone.
This guy is able to parry seven of my blows. He’s more than just good. His swordsmanship is comparable to Vlad.I rush towards him again and glimpse the regrettable look on the orc’s face. I pause when I realize he only has one falchion left in his hand.
Where did the other one go?
I don’t have time to mull over the disappearance when a sharp pain suddenly shoots down my spine. I slowly lower my gaze to my abdomen.
Bewilderment seizes me when I see the other falchion embedded deep in my liver. Blood gushes from the highly vascularize wound. I am too stunned to even move for a moment. I blink several times to confirm what I feel and what I see.
