Adonis and the crew pulled up to the harbour. The area was empty. Not a single soul alive or dead could be found within a mile’s radius. They all gave each other a look.
They walked down the pier and headed straight into the city. As they went deeper, they could see a few people positioned in particular areas in the city.
In the galleries, they sat with a weapon. In front of their houses, they covered their heads with straw hats and reclined back into a chair, but beside them, a weapon.
"Sothing doesn’t feel right," Astrid whispered.
"I think they know we were supposed to co," Doris replied.
"But how?" Andrea asked. "How is that even possible? Unless there was a spy who..." Her voice trailed off.
At that mont, they all understood.
"Just like last ti," Adonis said, "soone tipped off Silithra that we were going to attack, and then we had difficulty breaking into the kingdom when it shouldn’t have been so. Now, the people here are on guard."
"This ans that every other kingdom we’re going to try, and attack already know that we’re coming," Astrid said, "A surprise attack will no longer be possible, which I presu is what you were hoping for."
Adonis clenched his sword tightly beside him.
"We will just have to adapt." His jaw was tight as he talked. "Not every battle is won through the art of surprise."
"Well," Astrid said, "we should thank the gods that I asked you to do sothing different. It would have been a bloody battle on our end."
"Don’t joke about useless things, princess," Adonis said. "Even without your help, my n could manage. I trust them with my life, and they are one of the best soldiers in the world."
"If you say so."
They snaked through the road on the hill, the path to the castle of Thalassia, until they reached its doors.
No guards were guarding the gates.
"Now, I really think they know we’re coming," Doris chuckled.
"How do we get in?" Andrea asked.
"How else?" Astrid asked. "We’ll knock."
Andrea shrugged.
Adonis used a large bronze ring in the middle of the door to knock. There was no answer even after the two loud thuds on the door.
"Should I try?" Doris asked.
Adonis glared at her over his shoulder.
"I just wanted to help," she laughed a little.
"You know, Doris," Andrea said, "this isn’t the ti or place for your stupid little jokes, so why don’t you hold off from talking for a while?"
Doris rolled her eyes. "It’s only because...."
The large door creaked open. "How may I help you?" ca a voice behind it.
"My na is Adonis. Prince of the Aurelian Empire, with my small company of less than ten n. I have co to seek an audience with your king."
Whoever it was that was at the opposite side of the door shut it abruptly as soon as Adonis finished speaking.
"This is going to be good," Andrea said.
After a mont, the door opens up to a line of soldiers who had co to receive them.
"You’ve got to be joking," Astrid chuckled.
"We are willingly entering into this sche of theirs," Andrea chid in. "We can kiss our freedom goodbye for the next two days."
"Don’t fret, my love," Astrid said in a mocking tone, "we’ll be out of here before you know it."
One of the soldiers stepped forward; he was much more adorned than the others, which ant he was a general or a soldier high in position.
"Please, your majesty," the man said. He had a strong build but talked like he spoke through his nose. "May I escort you to your chambers?"
"Our chambers, my foot," Doris whispered. "Why would we need all this just to take us to a few bedrooms?"
"Hush, Doris," Astrid chided. "This is not the ti and place."
"And your majesty, I must ask that you surrender your weapons," the soldier said. "All of you."
"This is getting a lot more fun than I expected," Astrid muttered.
One by one, their weapons were taken, and they were led deeper into the castle.
Then the soldier who had introduced himself to the group signaled to another guard. And they split up into a group of two.
"Where are we going?" Adonis asked.
"Unfortunately, your majesty, not all of you can stay in the royal court," the man explained. "A few others have to stay in a separate wing of the castle."
Adonis could not argue about that. "But could I choose the people who stay with then?"
The soldier glanced at another by his side. The air was tense. "Alright, your majesty. Who would you like to bring with you?"
"The girls," Adonis said. "I would like them to be with ." He laughed Sleazily at the soldier. "You know what I an, don’t you?"
The soldier stared at him, long and hard, for a while. "As you wish, your majesty, the girls may follow you."
They parted ways there. Soon enough, they would co to find out that they would never see the n again.
The soldiers led Adonis and the girls into the main court, up a few stairs, and into a large room, and left. It had a large centre table with chairs around it.
"So," Astrid said. "What do you think they plan to do to us?"
"Exactly as I suspected," Adonis said quietly.
"If you knew this would happen, why did you agree to my plan?" Astrid asked.
"My n cannot die fruitless deaths, princess. With inside here, they will certainly lower their guards." He said.
Andrea cleared her throat, brought a finger to her lips, and twirled it around the room.
Adonis sat down on the chair and sighed with his head in his hands.
Astrid patted him lightly on the shoulder. They would face more issues soon enough.
The door burst open. "Your majesty," the king said. "I’m pleased to have you here."
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