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The people came to the Mines in hundreds and thousands whenever it was announced there will be tournaments held by Killers, but this time no one even knew the tournament will take place, not even the Killers themselves who were stunned when Two delivered the news to them.

Since they were slaves, they weren’t supposed to argue with their mistress. As Leoric always put it, “My slaves must be ready to fight anytime I command” and the same agenda applied to Aeryn too ─ the Lady of the Mines. That night as Aeryn and Dante made love as if there was no tomorrow, all forty thousand Killers prepared for a show of strength tomorrow.

Two made it very clear to them, “The Lady of the Mines needs all of you fighting tomorrow in the arena, I expect all of you to be there. Only fifty of you will remain to guard the castle, but I hope not to see any of you roaming in the streets. Have I made myself clear?” he asked his men, he was in control now since One was out traveling with Lady Aryan.

Therefore, at dawn, all the Killers aligned themselves and made their way to the arena. They marched throughout the wide and long streets of the Mines in their armors and helmets and sharp swords, creating impact with their heavy boots and huge thumping to the ground. Some of the locals peeped outside to see what was going on, but it was dark for them to see everything. Most of them couldn’t care less about the Killers or where they were marching to, they had a lot of things to think about.

Back in Blackmount, Artemis woke up and found Aurora sleeping peacefully on his chest ─ a smile escaped his lips. This is what he prayed for, a woman of his dreams to be by his side and he couldn’t have imagined any other way.

Slowly and with care, Artemis placed Aurora’s head on the soft pillow that was right there before her. He kissed her cheeks as a way of saying goodbye, then he went on to put his armor uniform and his red cloak, ready to go to war. He didn’t feel like he would need a sword, hence he didn’t take it and neither did he take his crown or helmet.

Artemis loved letting his silver long hairs fall down effortlessly behind his back, somehow he felt as if he was Alienor Morrow or Euric Morrow in that matter since they also didn’t tie their hairs, they wore them long and proud. But today it wasn’t about showing off how long and soft his hairs were, it was about saving his realm from a maniac who will destroy it, hence he tied it back with a black ribbon and made sure they were tight.

.....

Then he stepped outside of his chambers and walked towards where his children were, Jahery and Haisa who were sleeping on the same bed chamber. Because it was still early in the morning, neither his son nor his daughter was awake, he expected that. He just needed to see them, and when he assured himself they were safe, Artemis proceeded outside towards the Dragons’ cave.

Torgo was still asleep, Artemis woke him up.

“Wake up old man, we have a war to go” said Artemis and smirked, he and Torgo were close enough to allow him to make such jokes. Torgo woke up and smiled at the expression of Artemis calling him “an old man”, he didn’t seem to be insulted by that.

The purple dragon was sleeping peacefully inside the dragons’ cave, but it was time for it to wake up and go to war. After three minutes of unlocking the chains, Torgo brought the dragon outside and still the sun was yet to rise.

It was a cold morning and Torgo struggled to talk, he was covered with layers from head to toe but he was still trembling. He complained about the cold to Artemis, telling him the winter was supposed to be over by then but with each coming day, the cold intensified even more than yesterday.

“I may be king Torgo, but even I cannot stop the winter” replied Artemis while climbing on top of his purple dragon.

“Shouldn’t you wait until noon, Your Grace” said Torgo

“Why is that?”

“I believe most tournaments take place after sunrise”

“By the time I arrive in the Mines, it will be noon, or sooner but it will be the perfect time” said Artemis, then he fixed his cloak and hang on tight to his saddle.

Torgo curtsied slowly, “I wish you luck Your Grace” he said in Low Moor.

Artemis took it as a king gesture, but he didn’t think he needed luck. He was the Dragon King, not to mention he was on top of a dragon. There will come a time when he would need luck but today wasn’t the day, hence he just smiled at Torgo without saying anything and slowly said to his dragon, “Valar” and the purple she-dragon took to a speed of running then she flew high above the sky battling her wings for speed.

In seconds Artemis was floating in the skies of Blackmount at dawn, he felt colder when he was up there and that’s because of the attitude differences. Thank goodness for his armor uniform, the red cloak and black gloves which kept him warm while flying in the cold air.

By sunrise, the tournament had already started. Princess Aeryn had a sit at the front stage while holding her son, Sir Dante Lucan was standing behind her with his sword attached to his waist, a red cloak surrounding his armor uniform and a helmet over his face. Usually Lord Leoric would be sitting up here with Princess Aeryn, with usually ten or twenty Killers behind them.

This tournament was different, Aeryn only allowed Two to stand guard while accompanied with Dante. The rest were put to task, and the arena’s pits were full fit to burst ─ over thirty nine Killers all in one place. Dante’s men were left at the castle, all five hundred of them against fifty Killers. Although it may sound as if the Killers were outnumbered, clearly they were not because one Killer equaled ten knights in terms of training and strength.

This made Dante worried if they will survive the remaining Killers back at the castle, not to mention once everything erupts, Dante would have to fight Two to death. Will he manage to do it?

During this time, Princess Aeryn’s thoughts weren’t in the arena. She barely looked at the Killers fighting, unless when one lost the fight and died. That’s when she would pretend to be remorseful and congratulate the one who won the fight, but she barely paid attention.

Two noticed how distracted Aeryn was, hence he quipped in. “Perhaps we could start with a fewer number, mistress” he said, his head down. The Killers may be fighters but they were still slaves, and slaves weren’t supposed to ask their masters anything or criticize their plans, they were made to obey. That’s why Two lowered his head after proposing to have few numbers of Killers in the arena.

Aeryn turned back to look at him, “Why?” she asked.

“I… forgive me, mistress. But you are distracted and the men are flooded in the arena pits. Not all of them will fight today, maybe the rest can return to the camp”

“Are you questioning my decisions, Two?” Now Aeryn wore her sour and cruel face, she did this intentionally because she didn’t want to be questioned anymore. “I want the best men to guard me, I need the best and everyone will fight. That’s it” she said. Jeremiah seemed to not agreeing to the noises and screams of the Killers, or the sight of men dying hence he started to cry.

Aeryn turned her attention to Jeremiah, Two looked at Dante standing firmly without saying a word. Dante pretended not to see him, he didn’t want him to see his eyes, after all Two was a clever man and he must have suspected that something wasn’t right. He was unrest and constantly looking backwards, as if scared maybe he would be attacked.

The fight for the guards who would made it inside Lady of the Mines close circle continued, the swords clashed and blood was spilled. None of these men knew the doom of the Mines would be that day, and the rich and arrogant Leoric Walsen would be reduced from a master to master of ashes.