Kiera’s idea was quickly approved by the Lavans, namely the Priestess herself and also the Grand Marshal. Henry hadn’t even finished expining the entire details but the Grand Marshal had already given his approval. Henry surmised it must have been due to the fact that this was a risky move that put only the ones implementing it at risk. Therefore, he had no qualms in allowing this pn to pass.
It was quickly decided that Rayne and Ani would tag along on this small quest. Or rather, it was the individuals themselves that made the decision. Much like with the Lavans, Henry hadn’t even finished expining everything and the two were already offering themselves up. Since they had no way of knowing when the kingdom would resume their advances, Henry set off at the next midnight as soon as everyone was ready.
“This is so exciting,” Ani giggled while trekking through the forest.
“Can you see where you’re going? Are you sure you don’t need a torch?” Henry asked. The forest was pitch bck and tonight was a new moon. There wasn’t even a star in sight.
“I’m fine, Henry, surprisingly. I can see the paths. I can see everything. This is… strange.”
“It isn’t strange,” said Rayne. “We are all augmented due to our intimate and amorous link with Henry. It won’t be strange or surprising if we are capable of even more things.”
While the two conversed, Kiera was inadvertently eavesdropping as she was only walking just slightly ahead of them. “You have such an ability?”
“What ability?” Henry, who was walking just beside Kiera, returned the question.
“The ability to bestow your women with strength and powers like what they were saying.”
“It would seem that I do have such an ability.”
“Tempting,” Kiera muttered.
“Tempting? You intend to sell your body to me in exchange for power?”
“Do you oppose?”
“It’s your body but I don't y with just anyone for bare reasons.”
“Saving yourself for marriage?”
“I only lie with those I love.”
“Well, do you love me?”
“I’m fond of you but I wouldn’t say it’s love. However, I’m willing to give us a chance.”
“You are very demure for a beast.”
Henry chuckled. “My women will disagree with you about that. I am not demure. I simply have standards.”
Kiera clicked her tongue and picked up her pace, walking ahead of the three.
“I heard everything,” Rayne said as she caught up to match Henry’s pace.
“Me too,” Ani followed. “Are you going to seduce her too?”
“If circumstances would allow.”
“Are we not enough for you?” Ani’s questioned with a sorrowful yet pyful look.
“You are more than enough but I can’t help but want more amazing women by my side.”
“And I can’t help but want to sock you in the face,” Rayne responded. “Mark my words, Henry. One day, you’ll be waking up with knives in your back.”
“Only if those knives were made from the sickle cws of those disgusting centipedes,” Henry retorted frivolously.
Rayne rolled her eyes and picked up her pace.
“She has really mellowed up, hasn’t she?” Henry sighed as he watched Rayne storming ahead.
“She really has. Are you aware that she befriended quite a few Lavans?”
“She has?”
Ani nodded. “Well, I say friends but they are more of her… underlings.”
“Thralls, I can understand, but underlings? Has she truly grown so much?”
“It wasn’t her choice. She didn’t exactly take them under her wing either. They imposed themselves on her.”
“I imagined it should have been the other way around. How did it even come to be?”
“They heard about her… strength and prowess. They challenged her to a fight and she knocked all of them down with ease. From then on, they professed themselves as her underlings. From my perspective, they seemed more like friends. Of course, Rayne won’t acknowledge any of it.”
“Now that sounds more like her.”
“Quiet, we’re getting close,” Kiera’s command came suddenly from ahead.
Henry and Ani stopped their chit-chat and directed their focus to their front.
The light of campfires was apparent in the distance. They were definitely close. In turn, they would most likely be encountering patrols from now on. They began to approach the camp with small steps and their stance lowered. They were crouching as they stopped behind a rge boulder.
“This is as close as we can go,” Kiera said. “Any closer and we will be in the sentry barriers.”
“Can’t we just ambush them and be done with it?” Rayne proposed. “Seems more prudent and efficient that way.”
“You are underestimating them too much, Zeva. They have lost more than half of their original forces. They won’t be as negligent and inattentive as before. Henry here might survive the retaliation but I can’t say the same for us. If you want to try something that idiotic and risky, you can be my guest but only after we have slipped away.”
Rayne stared at the Magus. “I don’t like you.”
“The feelings are mutual.”
“Alright, that’s enough, you two. So, Kiera, how do we proceed?”
“We will backtrack three miles where we came from and we will set the traps there.”
“What about the patrols?”
“We don't need to worry about them. They will only patrol a mile radius. No further than that.”
“Why?”
“Because they’re cowards and incompetent. The patrols don’t dare to stray too far from the camp. If something happens, they fear that they won’t be able to run back to safety before the danger catches up to them. Moreover, they are confident that the sentry barriers would be enough as security.”
“And you said they weren’t negligent or inattentive,” Rayne scoffed.
“I said they weren’t as negligent and inattentive as before. There’s a difference. As long as we don’t trod too close to them, they are not bothered to give a single damn.”
“Very well,” Henry said and began leading the backtracking. “What kind of traps do you have in mind?”
“The usual kind but better. No fire, though.”
“What are you looking at me for?” Henry asked.
“You breathe fire, do you not?”
“I do. What of it?”
“How have you not burned this entire forest down yet?”
“My fire burns only what I intend to burn. It goes out whenever I will it to. Besides, I can put out fire with a fp of my wings.”
“Convenient,” Kiera muttered softly. “Anyway, the traps have to be… robust and precise. They don’t need to be lethal. They simply needed to wound our enemies. A wounded enemy is more trouble for them than a dead enemy.”
“Would they even bother to treat their wounded?” Ani asked.
“The high officers certainly couldn’t care less but they would at least try to sustain the illusion of their generosity and empathy to keep the troops’ morale. Although, after this, there wouldn’t be any morale or soldiers left.”
****
The four of them quickly got to work as soon as they reached the spot. They dug holes and pnted spikes in them, spikes that were made from the trees nearby. With Henry’s strength, the spikes were not a hassle to make. No part of the traps were. If there were no spikes in the hole, there would be depth, one that reached more than fifteen feet. The holes themselves were big enough to plunge a carriage through.
They even ruined the paths the soldiers would take to the advance, leaving them no other paths but the ones with bumps and small pits.
As they were nearing completion of setting up all the traps, they heard footsteps approaching their position. They immediately stopped whatever they were doing and stared in the direction of the footsteps noises. There was also a faint light accompanying the approach of the sound.
“That’s the direction of the soldiers’ camp,” Henry said. “Kiera, why is a soldier doing so far away from the camp?”
The Magus shrugged. “I haven’t the faintest clue. Whoever this soldier is, they must have a death wish.”
Henry frowned. “Or a purpose.” Henry stood up and walked towards the direction of the footsteps.
“What are you doing?” Kiera asked. “Don’t engage. We can’t risk—”
“Let him,” Rayne said, stopping the Magus from chasing after Henry. “He knows what he’s doing.”
Henry left his group and rapidly approached the soldier. The surroundings were dark. One wouldn’t be able to navigate around the forest without a light source or some special ability. The former option was not feasible if one intended to be furtive. Whoever the soldier was, they were practically announcing their presence to the forest. Fortunately, Henry’s presence had long scared off the nearby predators.
Henry didn’t need to creep up to the soldier as the tter could barely see a few in front of him. The soldier’s own footsteps drowned out Henry’s approaching steps. By the time the soldier realised Henry’s presence, it was already too te. Henry sprang out from the dark and got the soldier in a chokehold. He lifted the soldier against a tree with his thumb pressed against his throat.
Despite his situation, the soldier did not struggle much. He did not make a fuss such as filing his limbs around. Henry observed the soldier curiously. His gaze followed the peculiar scent oozing from the soldier. It was coming from the soldier’s coat pocket. Henry reached into the pocket and fished out a pink handkerchief. The scent struck his nose. It was the Princess’ scent.
Henry chuckled and released the soldier from his grasp.
The soldier dropped to the ground, but he quickly climbed to his feet using the tree as his support. “You must be Lord Henry. I brought news from Her Highness, Princess Lucianna.”
“Must be something urgent if she would take such a risk.”
“It is urgent, my lord. The tides have shifted drastically in the kingdom. The court has a new advisor.”
“I have heard of him and his… origin.”
“Then, this would be easier to convey. The Royal Family and the nobles are in dire straits. The new advisor proves to be more sympathetic to the common folks than the court. He surrounds himself with peasants.”
“How does he do that?”
“He hired them as his assistants rather than the nobles who offered themselves. He was also very heedful of their plights. He was making changes.”
“And the court just let him?”
“They need him to build the kingdom’s army. They can’t ensve him. They tried.”
Henry snorted. “Once again, they are blinded by their greed. So, how’s the princess?”
“The silver lining here is that most nobles have abandoned the king and they are now garnering favour with Her Highness. No one said it out loud but it’s clear that they realised how cowardly and spineless the king is.”
Henry narrowed his eyes. “Then why does this expedition continue?”
“The king may have lost a lot of trust and favour but his support still consists of the major nobles. And he is still the king by w.”
“And what does the princess want with me?”
“Crush the army thoroughly. Emphasise the king’s blunder and incompetence. She hopes to convince the major nobles this way.”
“What if it doesn't happen the way she expected it to happen? What then? Won’t I be the only one being vilified?”
“It will not come to that, Lord Henry. Her Highness would make sure of it. She does not wish to incur your wrath. If you so wish, this world would be drowning in fmes and there will be nothing that we can do to stop it. It is our greatest fortune that you have a heart and empathy.”
“I will admit that I’m quite lenient but I must emphasise that you don’t mistake those two as weakness. She has one week to convince all of the nobles, or else I will be resorting to a much more radical method.”
“But what about the—”
“One thing at a time. If the princess can’t even control her noble subjects, she won’t be able to control the common folks. Then, I would have no reason to continue with this… partnership. Are we clear on this?”
“Yes, Lord Henry. Your command is clear.”
“Good. Now, if you don’t wish to die, I suggest that you slip away from the army before dawn. I will not discriminate when the sughtering begins.”
The soldier nodded and ran off into the darkness, all the while struggling to keep himself from crumbling due to Henry’s immense presence.
