Chapter VI

Just as the hooded figure was about to deal a certain death to Adelaide, Flo dived past and grabbed her away from the swinging blade as both of them tumbled across the stage floor. Somehow he had managed to get pass the chaotic crowd to get up onto the stage in time, in spite of Ron’s insistence on running away.

“Wake up Princess! Snap out of it!” Flo yelled at Adelaide as he tried to shake her out of her state of shock. He could not understand how he had the courage to do what he was doing right now, but he knew for certain that he could not let a helpless person get killed.

But it was not the time for digression. What he had done earlier was instinctive. Now he had to think of something to save them from the figure, which with each approaching step was casting its menacing shadow over the two.

Suddenly the assassin was struck with a hail of grains. It was then followed by the appearance of dozens of chickens as they started to fly all over the stage towards the being. The cloaked figure cursed in annoyance as the hungry-stricken chickens were all over him trying to feed on the grains that were on his cloak. Some of them were flapping their wings in his face, disorienting him and obstructing his vision of it’s assassination target.

Despite the gravity of the situation that he was in, Flo was slightly amused looking at such a juxtapose scene.

“Flo!”

Flo turned around. It was Ron, who was standing on the other end of the stage, releasing baskets and baskets of chickens towards the figure. He had managed to get the grains and chickens from a nearby poultry stall in an attempt to distract the figure to buy time for Flo to escape.

“Hurry over here!” Ron shouted as Flo got up onto his feet. Lifting Adelaide onto his back he lumbered hastily towards his friend.

Realizing that they were escaping, the figure cursed as he rushed towards the trio, swiping his sword to clear the chickens that were in his path.

“Come on! He’s catching up!” Ron yelled in panic.

Looking over his shoulders, Flo could see that the figure was just a few feet away. He knew he could not make it in time.

“Get down on the floor Flo!”

Flo recognized the voice immediately – it was the voice of Sosimo. Heeding the Master of the Home Guard, he immediately sprawled himself onto the stage floor, dragging Adelaide down with him as Ron leaped off the stage.

By this moment rows of archers had positioned themselves on the castle fortifications, awaiting the order to fire. With both Flo and the princess down on the floor, the figure was the only one standing on the stage, totally exposed in the open. It was the perfect opportunity stop the figure.

“Fire!” Sosimo shouted as the archers let loose their arrows which whistled away as they flew towards their intended target. The figure gave a loud groan as a dozen arrows struck his body with deadly accuracy. He staggered for a few steps before dropping into a half kneeling position, using his bloodied blade for support.

“Halt!” King Hammond ordered the archers to stop as Sosimo and Marius quickly lead a unit of Home Guards up the stage, unobstructed with the evacuation of the citizen crowd. Quickly surrounding the kneeled figure, the guards unsheathe their swords and await the order of the Master.

“Adelaide! Are you alright?” Marius shouted as he ran over to his sister, who was getting up onto her feet with the help of Flo.

“I…I’m alright brother,” Adelaide replied as she hugged her brother in relief. She was visibly shaken, holding her body close to Marius.

“How about you, Flo?” Sosimo asked, raising his right hand, signaling his guards not to attack without his orders while fixating his eyes on the kneeled figure.

“I’m fine.” Flo replied, his tone uncertain as he managed a weak bow to greet the prince. The whole event had sapped up his strength and adrenaline.

Knowing that both of them are alright, the master of the Home Guard and Prince swiftly turned their attention towards the failed assailant, who remained motionless after being struck by the hail of arrows.

Sosimo approached the kneeled figure slowly with his sword unsheathed – his defensive stance highlighted his cautiousness. With each cautious step he finally stopped in front of him, and preceded to unshod the cloak that has been hiding his identity.

“Heaven’s grace…” Sosimo muttered as the rest of the group looked upon the assailant in astonishment.

The man was ghastly thin which belie his showing of great strength during the assassination attempt. A sickly white his skin was sparsely covered with scabs and scars. He was completely bald, except for a few strands of dark hair at the back of his head. It was a hideous sight, as if God made a mistake during the creation of this man that He rejected and disposed it away like an unwanted child.

Yet despite suffering from wounds that would have killed a mortal man, he was still breathing.

“Speak up, foul creature,” Sosimo spoke as he broke the eerie silence that had enveloped the city square. “Who are you and what is the motive behind your attempted assassination of the princess of Durante?”

The breathing of the man became faster and increased in volume, like an active volcano that was about to erupt. Slowly the man raised his head up, and opened his mouth.

“Norsedraste Demional Paribusete.”

“Speak the language of man!” Marius demanded.

“Norsedraste Demional Paribusete.” The man continued to repeat the same phrase over and over again, as if it was some cure that would relieve the pain from his wounds.

“Be quiet you foul being or I will cut your head off!” Marius shouted at the figure. He was losing patience with him and it seemed that he would execute the man on the stop any moment.

Suddenly the man opened his eyes and stared straight at Sosimo. The intensity of the stare struck Sosimo with some much venom that he took a step back, shakened with fear.

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