Princess Helena led the elders through masses of refugees that were keeping the roadsides warm. She made sure to point out their horrendous living conditions that were worse than beasts these clans reared in private.

Most of them had nothing to their names other than whatever they could carry on their backs, which after the journey to Argham was not a lot.

Many were suffering from various illnesses or injuries that could be dealt with relative ease if the city had more resources and manpower to spare.

Elder Achak's cold expressions saw no change throughout the ten-minute or so walk it took for them to enter the wilderness of the old forest.

Princess Helena kept checking her surroundings as if looking for something, which did not go unnoticed by Elder Achak. He finally could not take it any longer and stopped dead in his tracks making the entire party come to an abrupt halt.

"Princess, how much further did you say was this 'esteemed guest' was again? If there was one at all..."

His last comment hit her where it hurt. She turned to face him, nostrils flaring and all.

"Elder, what are you insinuating!?"

Elder Achak snorted arrogantly as if he had seen through her plan.

"Did you think I would not get the wind of your insidious plans to take care of us once and for all? My spies already informed me of the meeting you had with that outsider and I sent several of my best men to take care of him. No one will be coming to be your executed today, princess."

For the first time since meeting her Elder Achok's expressions softened as he shook his head in disappointment.

"How far has the noble bloodline fallen that you would even resort to such petty tricks. I see even you are not above letting greed get the better of you."

He turned around to leave without waiting for a response, gesturing for the others to join him who had much the same reactions.

Princess Helena was at such a loss for words that it took her a good few moments to come back to her senses and they were already almost out of her line of sight by then.

"That's not even remotely tru- Who did you send to their deaths?! Do you still not realize how much of a disadvantage we are in? If even one of them-"

Princess Helena ran after them while trying to explain and get answers but just before she could overtake them something caught her eye. She stopped midstride to quickly cast a spell that blocked their path with a strong gust of wind.

Elder Achak sighed and turned to face her, as did everyone else. Several of the guards unsheathed their weapons and came to the front, standing between them both.

"Do not be foolish, princess. I will forget this matter and give you another chance to redeem yourself, for your grandmother's sake and for all the ones before her. It will only-"

Halfway through he realized the peculiarity of the situation and finally noticed what Princess Helena was trying to say without making any additional noise because, at some point, the forest had gone completely silent.

And when Elder Achak stopped speaking the others realized it too. It had become deathly silent. Let alone any animals, not even an insect could be heard anywhere.

It was already night out but the lights from the city went on for miles not to mention all the sounds from the thousands of people moving about. Yet right now, none of that could be heard.

An empty darkness surrounded them, so loud in its silence that their own breathing became a hindrance.

But that silence did not last for very long as another sound broke through at that instant.

"Uuuuuu~"

It sounded like a woman weeping somewhere nearby, in the direction they had come from.

Elder Achak glanced at the nearest guards and gestured for them to check out the source of the noise. Surefooted and confident in their own strength, two of them stepped forward.

Each one was over two meters in height holding curved great hammers which along with their bull-like horns and reddish skin made them look more like monsters at this very moment.

Their bulging muscles were brimming with power ready to strike at a moment's notice. Princess Helena reached out and tried to stop them but they were already several meters away. Slowly and silently they inched closer, pulling aside the thicket to reveal a person sitting on the ground.

It was quite obviously a human female from her small stature and out worldly appearance. Her long hair draped over most of her back covering even her face. But it was clear she was holding something in her embrace, hunched over it almost protectively.

The guards exchanged glances, both agreeing that the situation was odd and not to let their guard down. The one who was in front of her closed the gap slowly speaking in the human's common language.

"Which clan are you from? Do you need any help?"

While he was acting as the distraction the other guard went in from the back. He stopped a couple of meters behind her and raised the great hammer overhead. When it was in position he signaled the other one who suddenly lunged forward and pushed her back to expose whatever it was in her embrace.

His face suddenly distorted and both his eyes popped like overripe eggs.

"AHHHHHH!" he screamed in a mix of pain and fear while the guard standing behind her brought the hammer down with full force.

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