Chapter 37 - A View To A Kill

Apex crawled forward slightly, careful not to disturb any of the underbrush. Slowly, so very slowly, he approached the large tree ahead of him.

When he finally arrived he sat up behind the tree and pulled a small mirror from a pocket on his chest. Using it, he held it low to look around the side of the tree at the road ahead.

Seeing the coast was clear he made two quick wave motions with his left hand.

Rose and Ajax ran towards him, crouched low to the ground. Apex continued to scan the road using the mirror in his right hand.

Eventually the pair reached the bowman and stopped. Both of them dropped onto their stomachs to wait hidden in the forest underbrush.

“Looks like we’re early, just liked we planned. No one is here yet.” The bowman informed his comrades.

“Assuming the information I got from that guy and his uppity elf friend can even be trusted.” Rose grumbled.

“It can be.”

Warlocks voice rang out from right next to Rose. She could swear he wasn’t there a moment ago. And she hadn’t heard anything. The looks on Apex and Ajax’s faces made it clear both of them were equally surprised.

“You’re going to have to show me that trick one day Warlock.” Ajax said with grin.

“Seriously. You sure you aren’t a hunter?”

Warlock chuckled, a dry laugh coming from his dark hood that like always prevented even the slightest view of his face.

“Oh, but I am a hunter my good Apex. A hunter of demons.”

Even though they couldn’t see his face they could tell he was smiling.

“You sure this will work Warlock?” Rose asked tentatively. She idolized Warlock and all he had done for their group, but the task he had set for them this time seemed impossible and his plan almost too simple.

“I am confident in all of you. We will succeed.”

“Sure we shouldn’t try something, I don’t know, complicated considering what we’re up against?” Ajax inquired.

“Do not confuse a simple plan with a faulty or weak one. Sometimes the simplest of plans are best for the very reason that makes them simple. Reliability.”

“If you say so Warlock.” The fighter replied. “But how do we know it will help us against that woman if she shows up? Didn’t you say she took out Kaelen with a single word?”

“I did. And I meant it. But remember, that only means one of two things is likely true.”

“Two things?” Rose held up two of her fingers as she continued the whispered conversation, a slight look of confusion making her eyes narrow.

“Yes, two. Either like I fear Kaelen has turned against us in which case the demon’s power may be false, or he stayed true to our cause and her power was only used when she came very close to the mage. In that case I can only believe that I would have succumbed too except I was out of range. She had no reason to let me go free.”

The brothers nodded, understanding.

“I hate to say that I hope her power is real. But if it is, that means Kaelen is still our friend.”

“That it would Rose. And I would very much prefer to have our comrade back too.” Warlock placed a hand on her shoulder in comfort.

Rose grimaced at his touch and he pulled his hand away.

“Sorry Warlock, it’s just my shoulders are killing me after everything you made us do.”

She held up her palms in apology. Splashes of yellow, red and blue paint still dyed her fingers.

He cackled softly, trying not to make too much noise. He looked over and saw the brothers nursing their own shoulders, Apex rotating his left several times like he was trying to get feeling back.

“It will be worth it, you’ll see.”

The crew all nodded eagerly.

“Now, one addition to our plan. Rose, if that demon woman shows up I need you to be the one to lure her to our little surprise.”

“Me? I thought you would Warlock. Aren’t you the one she is after the most?”

“Perhaps. But if anything happens remember that I will be the one that stays and fights while you three escape with Kaelen. If Taia chases you all I have a feeling she’ll be after you Rose, not Kaelen.”

Her eyes widened. “Me? Why?”

“Do you remember how you learned of this little prisoner transfer? The information you paid with? I told you that while I trust the elf girl I do not trust that man Orpheus. Well, except that I trust he will always sell information for the right price. We have to assume the demons may have learned what he knows by now. And if that is true…well…” He let his words hang in the air.

Apex raised his hand slightly like he had a question in class. “What exactly are you two talking about?”

“Nothing you need concern yourself with my good friend. If anything happens, and one of us is captured, the less any one of us knows the better.”

Apex nodded in understanding.

“But I will say that Rose here is someone that our demon huntress might have a particular interest in catching. We’re going to use that to our advantage and Rose here is now the perfect bait.”

Rose’s lips pursed. “I don’t like the title of bait…but I’m happy to get back at that bitch for Kaelen’s sake.”

“That’s the spirit.”

Apex left hand shot up, his fingers curled into a fist. It was the signal to be silent. He must have sensed something.

The entire group crouched lower and readied themselves. Rose quietly drew her falchion and Apex silently unslung the bow from his back.

They were ready.

None of them knew that nearby casually leaning against a tree Ariadne watched as they prepared.

I really hope this crazy plan of yours works dad. But I still hate that you made me babysit this group for now. They took forever getting ready.  But at least being invisible meant I didn’t have to help.

She let out a sigh, imperceptible to anyone around her. As much as she knew she was safe while she was phased, she nonetheless drew her own twin swords so she could be ready at a moment’s notice.

Her dad had been clear. Today marked the culmination of the first phase of their plan to go back home. If they succeeded they’d have a summoner finally on their side, a lead on how to find more if they could track down those books Silea had mentioned, and they will have locked down a key asset within the demon controlled castle.

If this works. She thought to herself. But then she remembered what kind of a person her father was. He never took chances. He planned for every possible route to lead to success. She’d just have to trust that nothing would happen that he hadn’t planned for.

With that comforting thought she crouched lower and peered at the road ahead just as a wagon pulled by a single horse came into view.