AS WE exited the room and entered the main area of the tavern, I sucked in a ragged breath.

When they heard the door open, August, Leland, Arius, and Evander all snapped their heads up. They were all seated at a table in the corner, their posture tense and their expressions blank.

Arley closed the door behind us. He rested his hand on my shoulder and said, "I'll be behind the bar. Good luck." He walked away with a comforting pat.

I moved slowly over to the table. My heart was pounding in my chest, and I was breathing irregularly. I sat on the bench between August and Arius when I finally arrived at the table. Evander sat on the bench across from us and Leland occupied the chair at the head of the table. I crossed my legs and arms. Because I couldn't bring my unfocused gaze to their faces, my dazed gaze remained fixed on the table in front of me.

The boys didn't say anything or ask any questions, but I could tell they wanted to. I could feel their gazes on me and the anxiety radiating from them.

I wasn't sure how I was going to explain it, but I knew I had to, one way or another, and I could guarantee none of them would like my response.

"I have good news and bad news, Which one do you want first?"

"The good news," Arius said, and the boys nodded in agreement.

"Well, I know where the clue is," I nodded, uncrossing my arms and folding my hands together on the table. "It's on the island, and I'll get it later tonight."

They let out a breath of relief but then tensed as Evander asked, "What's the bad news?"

"You are not authorized to come. You're not even supposed to know where it is, but I'll tell you anyway. I have to go out by myself tonight." I stated. Their faces morphed into ones of aggravation.

"Why not?" Leland demanded. "I did not just spend 48 hours hurling my guts over the side of a ship to be left behind."

"You of all people should know that there are some things you just don't get to know about." I retorted, referring to his time as an assassin.

Leland immediately shrunk back in his seat as my words sank in. Arius and Evander looked from him to me and back again, obviously confused by my statement. August let out a heavy sigh as if he had personally felt the blow I delivered to Leland. Evander shook himself from his fog and stood up, making his way around the table until he was standing directly behind me.

"You may be "in charge" of this mission, but I'll have you know, you are still subject to my family's rule. I outrank you. This is my father we're looking for. If I want to come with you, there's nothing you can do to stop me." Evander growled at the back of my head. The way he said "in charge" made my blood boil. He may have been fighting for his father, but I was fighting for my King, my country, my pupil, and the oath I made to protect all three. Evander had no hint of the bear trap he had just stepped in. It was time for him to learn his place.

I slowly rose to my feet, turning to meet Evander's gaze. As I rose to my full height and stepped over the bench and around the prince, Evander was forced to step back. I could see August and Arius' eyes meet. They were the size of dinner plates.

Arley had slowly made his way to our table and was standing behind Leland.

"This isn't going to end well for him, is it?" Leland asked without turning around. He could see the quiet fury on my face from his vantage point. What he couldn't see was the shock in Evander's eyes.

"I'm afraid your Prince is going to have his words served to him on a silver platter," Arley replied, crossing his arms over his chest.

"You think you have the power to come with me?" I scoffed in his face pushing him toward where Arley was standing. "Do you think that there's anything you can do to overpower me?" I said louder.

The room around us grew quiet. I heard one of the grey-whiskered sailors at the bar laugh under his breath. "Say your prayers, boy," he muttered into his drink.

I reached up and gathered the collar of Evander's shirt in my hand and pulled his face toward mine, pulling him to a halt.

"You are fighting for the family you inherited. I am fighting for the family I created, and that is a bond stronger than anyone as arrogant and conceited as you are will NEVER understand." I calmly spoke into his ear.

I released my grip on his shirt and he stumbled away from me. Evander stumbled backward into Arley's strong shoulder. The former jumped in surprise and the latter slowly rolled his shoulders as if they were stiff from hunching over for too long and stepped back out of the way. My dagger made a distinct sound of steel on leather as I withdrew it from the sheath on my hip and circled Evander so my back was facing Leland's. Leland never moved.

Evander tried to get his feet under him as he reached down and drew a knife from his boot. He held it out in front of him, but his hand trembled ever so slightly. He was nervous. Good. I stood calmly, feet planted, arms hanging by my sides. I looked Evander straight in the eye and waited patiently for him to make his move. It would be good to know what he was capable of. He had potential, but only if he accepted an attitude adjustment.

Evander ran forward and lunged at me with his hunting knife. I leaned sideways out of the reach of his lunge and reached across myself to grasp his arm. I turned my back to him and levered his arm over my shoulder, sending his body flying overhead as I brought my torso forward. Evander flew through the air, over Leland's head, and landed flat on his back on the wooden table, sending mugs of beer sliding across the room and splashing the other boys at the table. He stared at the ceiling as he gasped to regain the breath that had been knocked from his lungs.

I stepped around the table and left the tavern. If I didn't walk away now, I may end up hurting someone. August and Arius sat shell-shocked, covered in beer staring at the prince before them. I heard Arley stifle a snicker as he returned to his place behind the bar. I felt Leland's gaze follow me out the door as I walked away. My arm ached.

Arius and August scrambled to their feet. They each took one of Evander's arms and pulled him to a sitting position. Evander shook them off as he scooted his backside off the table and sulked off to his room, a few chuckles following in his wake.

Arius and August returned to the table and sat across from each other. They mirrored each other as they leaned forward on their elbows.

"Did you know she could do that?" Arius asked August.

"You didn't?" August replied aghast. "You've followed her every move for the last two weeks. How did you not know?"

"I've never seen her in action during training though. I guess I just didn't expect it to be over that quickly. I also never expected to see her flirt either."

"You know, I've never seen her smile like she did when she saw that Arley fella. Do you think she was flirting though?"

"If she wasn't flirting, then I don't know what she was doing. I have never seen a woman be so upfront about approaching a man before."

Leland stifled a laugh into a cough as he listened to the boys' conversation. Since when were soldiers such busybodies.

"You know something else I noticed... She was up on deck at the helm all night. Why is she wearing a different shirt today than she was when we all went to bed last night?" Arius questioned.

"She was. My bunk is on the other side of the wall of her cabin. I definitely would have heard it if she went back into her cabin to change her clothes." August concurred.

"Where did the new shirt come from?"

"The real question is, 'Why does it look so familiar?' It's a man's shirt."

The two stopped for a moment and contemplated. Realization dawned on them at the same time and their eyes lit up mischievously. Both slowly turned their head toward the head of the table where Leland sat with a bemused smirk on his face.

The smirk slowly disappeared as he realized the pair was looking at him. He felt his pale skin flush hot. This was not good. He was so pale that any color at all made his face look as red as a tomato. There was no hiding it. Why had she worn his shirt?

"Why are you looking at me?" Leland asked, his voice rising as he spoke. Arius and August exchanged a knowing glance and looked back at Leland, the gleam in their eyes growing.

"Is your throat feeling alright there, Commander?" August asked, poorly concealing a chuckle.

"You're not my favorite person today, Lieutenant," Leland replied, clearing his throat and standing. He walked over to the bar and pulled out one of the stools.

"What'll it be Commander?" Arley asked as Leland sat. "Perhaps something to cool you down a bit?" Arley suggested. Leland's only reply was a glare that could have made Medusa turn to stone. Arley chuckled to himself as he poured Leland a mug of beer.

——-

The silent wind whistled as I charged through it. The sky became light-less by the passing hours. Many people don't like the darkness, as you never know what lies inside it. But I welcome it. Because inside the darkness are thousands of beautiful gems.

Its stone steps shimmering in the moonlight. I approached the Hall of the Hallowed. Creeping moss-lined and revealed its age in the corners and cracks of the building. The click of my boots bounced off the walls with every step I took.

I took a deep breath and soaked in the familiar smell of rainwater and earthy dirt. I let the smell brush against me, and the nostalgia feeling swept me away; I felt able to breathe again.

For once, I was alone to myself.

I couldn't help the mini memories that rose as I walked through the dead hallways of Hall of the Hallowed. Whether it was Arley and I running around playing hide and seek when we were teenagers, or my siblings and I staring in awe as we learned about our history.

An outsider can never understand how to value a history you don't have. The protection of the Hall of the Hallowed is sacred to every weapon, painting, every sculpture.

They mean something to every person born on this island. they are more than just items, they're considered treasures.

That's probably why no outsiders saw them, and no outside or ever will. And that makes me think, the person that kidnapped the king couldn't have an outsider. Only people who were born on this Island, or have a royal bloodline could enter the Hall of the Hollowed.

I pushed those thoughts away as I approached an opening. I appeared over the side of the wall, glancing at the marvelous weapon that scared still in the middle of the room.

Fortune's Blade stood tall and captured all attention. The blade was slick and sharp. The handle was wrapped in the finest leather on the island and the best diamond forged into the center of it. It's looking very tempting, he wanted to reach out and grab it. Hold it in your hands, knowing you have the power within your fingertips.

The weapon itself was welded by a great warrior named Tarik Amulet. Nicknamed Fortune, and his blade after him. The blade itself is placed in the room known as Fortune's Fortress. He was legendary and long ago when he was still alive, he help create this island from the ground up.

He was known for his sword. It sliced through armor like butter. And now it stood before my eyes, its tip sealed in rock. It was tempting, like a seductress in the night, luring you in with her looks.

Stepping inside the cobblestone-lined room, my gaze lifted to the hole in the ceiling above the sword.

The moon was almost in line over the sword. the moonlight grazed the floor elegantly as it slowly reached the diamond on the handle.

I waited patiently for it to reach me. My time was limited, but not for this.

It inched closer and closer to its final designation and my fingers wrapped around my dagger, pulling it out of its sheath.

The moonlight hit the diamond and the light bounced of the jew in a million pieces. The fragments lined the cobblestone walls all around me in shades of white and silver. One particular sunburst caught my attention.

A straight beam of blue light hit a cobblestone brick in the wall; I walked over to it. Placing my dagger in the cement that encased the brick, I dug it out.

I continued to carve around it, taking notice of the new colored cement. As if it was once removed and sealed again.

I removed the cobblestone brick and behind it layers a thin piece of paper. I reached out to grab it. In my hand, the paper was brittle and crispy.

I dropped the brick to the floor and opened the paper carefully.

Its finely printed cursive letters caught my attention. In greek it read, "Read between the lines."

×××××××××××××

Author Note!

Hi everyone, Mickey here!

Chapter 24 babyyy!

Im sorry....we are almost at 6K!?! WHAT?!

Thoughts >

Feelings >

Predictions >

Random >

How is your day today? Was it bad? Good? In between?

QOTD: Whats your dream job?

Honestly i want to be that person who tests out mattresses because i could literally sleep ALLL DAY!