Heir Of The Fallen Flame

Chapter 15: New Enemy

Kael sat very still.

The shadow in the far corner of the cage did not move again, but he knew for a fact that he'd seen it earlier.

Even the ten guards outside seemed unaware of it. They seemed occupied with other discussions, their voices drifting through the wooden walls.

But Kael didn’t look away. His eyes stayed locked on the dark shape between the straw and iron, his body tensed as he tried to make as little noise as possible.

Someone in the inn screamed on the ground floor.

The sound of metal breaking wood and a sudden crash of footsteps thundered up through the floorboards.

One of the guards outside the cage frowned. “What is that noise?”

Another shrugged. “Drunk men fighting again.”

But the first guard didn’t sound convinced. “Doesn’t sound like drunken men.”

Kael barely heard them, his eyes fixed on the shadow that has now stopped moving and pulled a stop as a human would to sudden noise.

His eyes narrowed slightly as his heart thundered, could that be a person? An animal?

Three seconds later, the shadow vanished and another second, the back wall behind the guards exploded inward.

Wood shattered outward in splinters, and three of the ten guards were thrown forward before they even understood what had hit them. One struck the wall and slid down without moving again.

Lyra stepped through the broken frame, her cloak was gone.

Her hair was loose, damp with rain and dust, and her eyes sharpened as she scanned the guards. In her hand was a sword that dripped dark blood.

One of the guards barely managed to shout. “Intru…!”

Lyra's blade flicked over his chest before he could finish and the guard’s weapon dropped from his hands before his body dropped to the floor with a thud. understood it was dead.

Another guard raised a spear. She twisted under it, close enough that the wood scraped her shoulder, and drove her elbow into his throat.

He collapsed without a sound.

Kael moved deeper into his cage, having no clue what the commotion was about until his eyes landed on her as she walked deeper into the room.

His eyes went wide as it landed in her, she was alive?! He thought she was dead! That she was….

Her gaze finally met his.

“You..”

Three guards rushed her at once; she stepped forward and her blade rose, turned, and cut through the first man’s arm before he could scream. She pivoted, using his falling body as cover, and kicked the second into the wall hard enough that stone cracked behind him.

The third managed to swing but she caught his wrist mid-strike, held it before twisting it until his bone popped out of his flesh.

The man dropped, screaming.

Lyra didn’t even look at him again.

“Kael,” she called sharply.

His body finally recovered. He pushed himself up from the straw, stumbling forward. The cage door was already open, locks broken, hinges bent inward from force.

Lyra grabbed his arm and pulled him out.

“Can you run?” she asked.

Kael stared at her, breathing uneven. “You…you're alive.” he stammered. “What…what happened?”

“No time,” she said simply. “We must leave.”

Outside the room, more footsteps were coming, the remaining guards were regrouping. But the inn itself had turned into chaos.

*Downstairs*

Lafey stood at the counter with a drink in hand.

Parlo was speaking behind him, tense but trying to hide it. “Your prisoner is secure, as agreed. My men are watching…”

A scream rang from outside the inn then the sound of sword cut against flesh.

Lafey didn’t turn immediately. He only sighed softly, as though he had expected disappointment.

Parlo glanced out the door in concern. “I hope that isn't who i think it is.”

The doors of the inn burst open. A group of armed travelers, mercenaries, hunters, men who had been watching Lafey since he arrived, stepped inside.

One of them pointed. “He has the bounty. He has the boy. We take them, we split the coin.”

Another laughed. “Or we kill him and take everything.”

Parlo’s face drained of color. “No fighting in my inn!”

Lafey finally turned toward the men, his eyes calm.

“You think you can take what I have?” he asked quietly.

The first mercenary spat. “You’re one man.”

Lafey tilted his head slightly. “I am enough.”

The fight broke instantly. Steel rang against steel and tables shattered. Ale spilled across the floor as bodies collided in the tight space.

Lafey moved through them like a storm that had learned to walk. One man swung a blade, Lafey broke his wrist with a single strike and drove him into a table.

Another tried to flank him, Lafey didn’t even look before his elbow caught the man’s jaw and dropped him instantly.

Parlo shouted for order, but no one listened. The inn had become a slaughterhouse like it had a couple months ago. The innkeeper bit down his lip as he watched more and more of his properties ruined.

It'd taken him weeks to get this place in shape and once again, Lafey has brought him trouble.

Above, the floor shook again and Lafey paused for half a second before his eyes narrowed slightly.

“…So someone else has got my prize,” he muttered.

He dropped the man he was holding and turned toward the stairs. Upstairs, Lyra dragged Kael through the corridor.

“Stay behind me,” she ordered.

“I can’t use it,” Kael said quickly. “The flame….it’s gone.”

“I don’t care,” she snapped. “You stay alive.”

They reached the stairwell. Below them, the sounds of battle were fading, replaced by something worse.

Silence.

Lyra stopped and so did Kael.

From the bottom of the stairs, Lafey’s voice rose.

“Interesting,” he said calmly. “You again?”

Lyra didn’t answer, she descended the stairs with Kael behind her still. Her eyes swept over the entire place which was now covered in bodies.

Kael’s breath tightened.

“I should have known the like of you revive rather quickly.” Lafey continued, almost conversational. “I knew I forgot to cut off your tongue like I should have.”

Lyra stepped forward slightly, placing herself between Kael and the stairs.

“Quite the shame is it not?”

Lafey appeared at the base of the stairs, his cloak was torn. Blood marked his sleeve, though none of it seemed to slow him.

Lyra lifted her sword. “I am still here.”

A faint smile touched Lafey’s lips.

He stepped forward and Lyra moved too. She descended the stairs in a blur, blade striking immediately.

Her sword swung down hard against his, the sound echoing through the entire space.

The force of it shook the stairwell but Lafey barely moved back. He absorbed the strike like it was expected, then pushed forward with overwhelming strength. Lyra was forced to pivot sideways, boots sliding on wood as she regained balance.

She struck again, faster, aiming somewhere lower, his waist, thighs or feet. He was a huge man, she might as well use her size against him.

Lafey blocked each one of her strikes; this man knew his weaknesses and knew anyone with a brain cell would take advantage of that.

Kael watched from above, heart pounding, useless again. Hell, he felt helpless.

Lyra was skilled, no question but if he could fight and do a few damages, that wouldn't be entirely bad.

Lafey caught her blade mid-swing, the sound of metal grinding filled the stairwell.

Lyra pushed harder, teeth clenched.

“You are strong,” Lafey admitted. “But not enough.”

He shoved her back violently. Lyra hit the railing, wood cracking under impact.

Kael moved instinctively. “No!”

Lafey’s eyes flicked up at him for a fraction of a second, that was all Lyra needed.

She lunged again, not at his chest, but his arm. Her blade swung down at his arm and cut through.

Lafey froze, eyes wide as his severed hand fell to the wooden steps with a dull thud. Blood followed immediately, coating the entire floor.

“You…” Lafey winced in pain as he went on his knees, covering the bleeding spot with his other hand.

Lyra grabbed Kael's hand, “Now!”

She pulled Kael through the corridor and out through a side exit. The night air hit them instantly as they ran through the woods and into the dark.

Behind them, Lafey’s voice followed through the inn like a promise.

“This is no longer a bounty boy!” he called. “I will end you!”