Noah shielded his eyes from the bright sky as he looked up, his hands raised to block the sun’s rays. Judging by the angle, he determined it was mid-afternoon, the ti between noon and sunset.
"How are the traces?" Kyren asked Noah with anticipation as he slowed down Maximillian.
"They lead into the woods, Your Highness," the knight replied confidently.
"Let’s press on quickly. It will grow darker the deeper we go," Kyren commanded his team.
The n nodded in agreent, urging their horses to pick up speed, leaving the capital’s outskirts behind. They swiftly reached the forest’s edge after following a desolate road and ventured into it. As expected, the dense canopy of trees cast shadows, making the surroundings darker than before.
Noah scanned the area for any signs left by the spies. However, at a certain point, the traces vanished, leaving no further hints. This unexpected turn of events puzzled the knight.
"Your Highness, there are no more traces to follow," he reported. A deep concern was vivid in his expression.
"Could sothing have happened to the spies?" Drystan asked in concern.
"I’m not sure. Let investigate further. Please wait a mont," Noah responded.
He dismounted his horse and proceeded cautiously along the path of the last trail. With each step, the surroundings grew increasingly gloomier.
A familiar, fishy, tallic scent wafted towards Noah’s nostrils, triggering a deep sense of foreboding within him. He inhaled once more, confirming the unmistakable odour of blood.
Instinctively, he hastened his steps, following the scent until a chilling and horrifying scene materialised before his eyes.
Two lifeless bodies, horrifically dismbered and repeatedly slashed with sharp weapons and crushed with blunt objects, lay sprawled on the ground. The grueso act had left their limbs scattered and drenched in a pool of crimson. The sight was enough to turn even the bravest stomach.
"Your Highness! Co quickly!" Noah shouted, calling for the attention of the grand duke.
Kyren descended his horse and rushed to Noah’s side, followed by his n and Kiev. Their eyes widened in shock as they beheld the grueso scene. The sight of the massacre left them speechless, their expressions filled with horror.
"Oh, God!" Eric exclaid, his voice trembling with disbelief.
His heart sank, a mixture of grief and anger surging through him. He knelt beside the fallen spies, his eyes scanning the scene for any clues that might shed light on the perpetrators.
The second-in-command knight ticulously examined the bodies, his expression grim as he assessed the horrid scene before him. The brutality of the act spoke of the Bargesians’ rciless nature, leaving no doubt that their adversaries were dealing with a ruthless and formidable enemy.
"Are these the spies you sent to trace the Bargesians?" asked Kiev.
The question hung in the air montarily, causing a heavy silence to fall upon the group.
"They are," Eric then confird. "There is no doubt that these were the acts of the Bargesians!"
His frustration was palpable as he clenched his fists in anger. Brone and his n had not only killed the spies but also subjected them to brutal torture, rendering their identities almost unrecognisable.
Eric, however, managed to identify them based on their attire and personal belongings, having known them before the tragic event.
"I swear I’ll make them pay for this!" he seethed through gritted teeth, his determination evident.
Turning his attention to Noah, Kyren asked, "Can you track down Lord Morro and his n, even without any further clear leads?"
The knight turned around and checked the ground.
"They have taken asures to cover their tracks. We won’t be able to trace them using conventional thods," Noah responded.
The knights shared in Noah’s frustration, their expressions reflecting their disappointnt. However, his next suggestion piqued their interest.
"There is another way, though I have never tried it myself," Noah suggested.
"What way?" Eric inquired anxiously.
"It’s a speciality of Da Verns. I witnessed her using it several tis when we escaped the Huntbel Forest in Ardel," Noah explained. "Please give a mont of silence."
Noah moved to an area where the trees thinned out, allowing the sky to be visible. He put his fingers to his mouth and began to whistle. Once, twice, then he shook his head in dissatisfaction.
"Not the right tone," he muttered to himself, determined to get it right.
"What are you doing?" Eric asked, his impatience getting the better of him.
"Just give a mont, will you?" Noah scolded the knight, his tone firm.
"Let him try," Kyren interjected, his voice calm yet supportive. Though uncertain of Noah’s approach, the grand duke had faith in his knight’s abilities.
Noah took a deep breath, blocking out distractions, and focused on finding the right tone. The air grew still as the group watched in anticipation, willing him to succeed in his unconventional pursuit of a lead.
Noah made another attempt, and on the tenth try, a long, unique, high-pitched tone emanated from his whistling. He repeated the sequence three tis before coming to a halt.
A few monts later, the distinct sound of a cackling eagle reverberated through the air.
"Ker... ker... kwit... kwit..." the bird called out.
Noah’s grin widened, a glimr of triumph shining in his eyes.
"What is that? Sounds like a bird," Luke remarked.
"It’s one of the eagles belonging to Da Verns. I’ve been helping her feed them since she fell ill. They followed us from Ardel to Cassian, and this particular eagle has taken a liking to and tends to follow around. I spotted her on the way," Noah explained.
"Did you just call the eagle?" asked Garin with disbelief.
"Yes. The whistling tone you heard is a command to summon an eagle in the vicinity," said Noah.
"For what purpose?" This ti, Alex questioned.
"To ask the eagle to trace the Bargesians."
Noah’s reply brought a surprise look to the group. Only Kiev was calm and composed, as he already knew about Clara’s ability to use her trained eagle.
However, Noah’s capability to learn and mimic the knightess’s thod amazed him and made him recognise the knight’s talent.
"Da Verns possesses a wide range of skills when it cos to working with eagles. She can give them various instructions beyond what I have learned, such as specific tasks or commands," Noah elaborated, emphasising his limited knowledge in comparison.
Kiev’s praise for Noah’s observation skills did not go unnoticed.
"You have a keen eye for detail," the derian Prince comnded, his words carrying genuine admiration.
"Thank you," Noah replied, his gratitude evident in his nod.
The recognition from soone as respected as Kiev validated his knowledge and motivated him to continue honing his skills and pursuing the quest to bring justice to their cause.
"That’s amazing! I had no idea Da Verns could do that," Alex exclaid, impressed by the revelation.
Noah whistled again, this ti in a different tone, and the eagle responded with a reply. It was an order from him to start tracing the enemy.
"She will guide us to them. For now, we need to wait until she returns and gives us the signal for the right direction," Noah explained.
"Really? The eagle can do that?" Garin asked, his astonishnt apparent.
"Yes. As birds of prey, they possess heightened senses and an unparalleled ability to see clearly over vast distances. Da Verns has trained her eagles to specifically identify the Bargesians so they can spot them instantly," Noah clarified.
"What a remarkable skill! This will undoubtedly help us trace them faster," Eric remarked, his optimism growing.
The group now had an unexpected ally in their pursuit. The eagle’s keen senses would aid them in their quest to locate the elusive Bargesians.
"Indeed, a trained eagle can be incredibly useful. They can cover significant distances and relay information," Kiev interjected, offering his insight.
Curiosity piqued, Eric turned to the derian Prince.
"How do you know this, Your Highness? Have you ever trained an eagle before?" he inquired.
Kiev’s lips tightened as he realised he had inadvertently revealed the thod used to exchange the secret letters between him and Nessy. He quickly thought on his feet to co up with a cover story.
"I read about it sowhere," he responded, hoping his excuse would suffice.
"Ah... no wonder. Of course, as a derian, you would have a vast knowledge of various information."
Eric nodded lightly.
Kiev cleared his throat and said, "That’s right."
"Well done, Noah," Kyren interjected, diverting attention away from the derian Prince’s evasive response. "For now, let’s gather the corpses of the victims, cover their bodies and put so scent deterrent powder to prevent animals from scavenging them. Arrange for a group of individuals to collect the spies’ bodies later for a proper burial," he instructed his n.
Understanding the significance of honouring the fallen, the knight nodded in agreent. The group wasted no ti and diligently began collecting the scattered limbs and other body parts, carefully arranging them together.
Once the sombre task was completed, the n stood before the corpses, their expressions reflecting a deep sense of respect and reverence.
A solemn silence settled over them as they paid their respects to the deceased spies, acknowledging their sacrifice in service of their cause.
"The Bargesians have shown themselves to be ruthless and devoid of rcy. We shall not show them any grace in return!" Kyren declared, his voice filled with determination.
"Yes, Your Highness!" the knights exclaid in unison, unwavering commitnt to the cause.
They understood the severity of the situation and were prepared to take decisive action against the relentless Bargesians. Another severe battle should comnce soon.
A sudden cackling sound pierced through the air, capturing their attention again. All eyes turned upward, searching for the eagle. Noah turned his head in the bird’s direction and quickly interpreted its ssage.
"It’s that way!" Noah exclaid, pointing in a specific direction.
Kyren’s eyes glead with determination. He wasted no ti issuing the command, his voice firm and resolute.
"Let’s go!"
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