The Crown's Fire - Chapter 253

Chapter 253: Suspicious
Great Constable Atlas and Minister Greg stood over a large table in the strategy room of the Jade Palace, maps and documents spread out before them. The atmosphere was tense as they finalized their plans to attack Devon’s followers’ hideout and possibly capture the man Tessa had described delivering the note.

According to their intel, the man was Soka, one of Devon’s top warlocks and his right-hand man.

“Everything is in place,” Atlas said, his eyes scanning the map one last time. “Our scouts confirmed the location and the number of enemies. We need to move swiftly and decisively.”

Minister Greg nodded, his face serious. “I’ve coordinated with the mages and archers. They’ll provide cover while our main force infiltrates. We can’t afford to let any of them escape.”

“Agreed,” Atlas replied. “Let’s make sure our forces are prepared for anything. Devon’s followers are known for their dark magic and cunning tactics. We have to be ready for surprises.”

The two leaders left the strategy room and moved to the courtyard, where their troops were assembled and ready for action. With that, the troops mounted their horses and began their journey to the hideout. The ride was silent, each soldier focused on the mission ahead. As they approached the hideout, Atlas signaled for the troops to dismount and take their positions.

Greg whispered to Atlas, “The mages are in place. They’re ready to cast the barrier spell to prevent any escape.”

Atlas nodded. “Good. On my signal, we move in.”

Atlas raised his hand, and with a swift downward motion, the attack began. The mages cast their spells, creating a shimmering barrier around the hideout. Arrows rained down from the archers, taking out the guards at the entrance.

Atlas and Greg led the charge, their swords gleaming in the moonlight. They fought their way through the entrance, their troops following closely behind. The hideout was a labyrinth of tunnels and rooms, each filled with followers of Devon. The clash of steel and the crackle of magic filled the air as the battle raged on.

In the chaos, Atlas spotted Soka trying to escape through a hidden passage. “There he is!” he shouted to Greg. “We can’t let him get away!”

Elijah asked him to capture this man alive no matter what because he was the only person who could prove Greta’s innocence.

Greg and Atlas sprinted after Soka. They cornered him in a dimly lit chamber, his eyes wide with fear and desperation.

“There’s nowhere to run,” Atlas said, his voice cold and authoritative.

Soka sneered, his hand reaching for a dagger at his belt. “I’ll never surrender to the likes of you!”

Before he could strike, Greg disarmed him with a swift motion, the dagger clattering to the ground. Atlas moved in, binding Soka’s hands with a length of magical rope.

“You’re coming with us,” Atlas said firmly. “It’s over.”

As they led Soka out of the hideout, the sounds of battle began to fade. The followers of Devon were defeated, their hideout dismantled. The troops regrouped outside, their faces showing a mix of exhaustion and triumph.

“Well done,” Greg said to the soldiers. “We’ve struck a significant blow against Devon’s forces tonight. And with his followers in our custody, we can finally start to unravel their plans.”

Atlas nodded in agreement but he couldn’t help but feel like things seemed a bit way easy for them.

The journey back to the Jade Palace was filled with a sense of accomplishment. They had won a crucial victory, but they knew the war was far from over.

As they arrived back at the palace, Atlas and Greg escorted Soka to the dungeons. The man glared at them, but there was a hint of fear in his eyes. “You won’t get anything from me,” he spat.

Atlas met his gaze with steely determination. “We’ll see about that.”

With Soka securely imprisoned, Atlas and Greg returned to the strategy room.

“We shouldn’t let our guard down,” Atlas said, his voice low but resolute. “Something doesn’t feel right. Devon’s followers have always been more cunning than this.”

Greg nodded solemnly, understanding Atlas’s concerns. “You’re right, Atlas. It feels too… orchestrated. Almost as if they wanted us to find this man and disrupt their base.”

Atlas paced the strategy room, his mind racing with possibilities. “Could this be a diversion? A distraction from their true plans?”

Greg rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “It’s possible. We need to remain vigilant and continue our investigation. There may be more to this than meets the eye.”

“We’ll double our patrols and keep a close watch on any suspicious activities,” Atlas declared. “And we’ll interrogate this man thoroughly. He might have more information than he’s willing to give.”

Greg nodded in agreement. “I’ll coordinate with the mages to strengthen our defenses. If Devon’s followers are planning something big, we need to be ready.”

*

Atlas remained inside the strategy room, deep in thought long after Greg had left. He knew there was more to uncover, especially concerning Soka.

“Bring me Tessa immediately,” Atlas instructed firmly, his voice betraying none of the turmoil swirling within him.

The soldier nodded briskly and swiftly departed to carry out his orders.

Minutes later, Tessa was ushered into the room by the soldier. She stood before Atlas, her expression a mix of apprehension and curiosity.

“You sent for me, Commander?” Tessa inquired, her voice steady despite the tension in the air. Atlas stood and said, “Come with me.”

Atlas nodded in agreement, understanding the need for verification. He then turned to Tessa and asked, “Is he the man who handed you the letter?”

Tessa approached Soka cautiously, scrutinizing his features closely.

“What are you doing? Don’t touch him!” Atlas interjected sharply as Tessa extended her hand towards Soka’s face.

“I’m sorry, Commander,” Tessa quickly withdrew her hand and explained, “I just wanted to confirm if it’s really him.”

“You’re quite suspicious, aren’t you?” Ezme remarked skeptically. “The lighting here is sufficient for you to verify just by looking at his face.”

“Not quite, Your Highness,” Tessa replied firmly. “I recall the man having a small black mole on his left jaw, which is why I needed to touch and move his face. And this man has it, so it’s definitely him.”

Ezme approached Soka and asked abruptly, “Is Minister Greta colluding with you?”

“That woman is merely a pawn. She was meant to take the fall for the false rumors I spread throughout Ebodia,” Soka responded. Atlas just watched as his wife hypnotized Soka to spill all the beans they needed.

“I see… So who is it that you instructed to spread those false rumors?” Ezme asked calmly.

Soka began to respond, but suddenly blood gushed from his mouth.

“Call a healer mage immediately!” Atlas shouted, pulling his wife away as some of the blood splattered on her. She glanced at Tessa and instructed, “Leave now and return to your post.”

Tessa hurriedly left, and the healer mage arrived promptly to attend to Soka. After examining him, the mage shook his head gravely and informed Atlas, “He’s dead.”

“What?!” Atlas exclaimed. “What was the cause of death?” he demanded to know.

“We’ll need some time, Commander. We must perform a thorough autopsy to determine that,” the mage replied.

Atlas nodded decisively. “Understood. Perform the autopsy and report to me immediately with any findings.” The mage healer agreed, and Atlas swiftly escorted Ezme out of the dungeon.

“Regarding Tessa, I have my suspicions about her. Can you call her back? I need to speak with her,” Ezme suggested. Atlas glanced at her and remarked, “Perhaps you should clean up first. You have blood on you.”

“Atlas this can wait. Call for Tessa again,” Ezme demanded so as they exited the dungeon, Atlas instructed a guard to fetch Tessa immediately. The guard nodded and hurried off, disappearing down the corridor.

A few tense minutes passed before the guard returned, a perplexed expression on his face. “Commander Atlas, Tessa is missing. She’s nowhere to be found in her quarters or anywhere in the palace,” the guard reported urgently.

Atlas frowned deeply, his mind now racing with suspicions. “Find her. Search every corner of the palace grounds. She can’t have gone far,” he ordered firmly.

Ezme glanced at Atlas, concern etching her features. “Do you think she’s involved in something more?” she questioned quietly. “I noticed how Soka stared at her. Her touching him seems suspicious. I have a feeling she has something to do with Soka’s sudden death.”

“I don’t know,” Atlas replied, his voice tinged with worry. “But we need to find her and get to the bottom of this.” His brow furrowed as he contemplated the implications. The situation was becoming more complex, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that Tessa’s disappearance and Soka’s death were somehow connected.

“How about I try talking to the other prisoners you captured alive?” Ezme offered.

“Wife, let’s get you cleaned up first, alright? I already have my men handling this matter. We have potions that can make them talk, even if they don’t want to,” Atlas informed.

“I know, but I heard those potions won’t be ready until tomorrow. What if those prisoners you captured start dying one by one like Soka? It will be too late. Stop worrying about the blood on me. Goodness, did you forget that I’m a vampire? I don’t mind having blood on me, my love.”