Chapter 28

  Drakkel clenched his fists. Malikai escaped?! This meant that Lorian Adore now knew the location of the demon city! It was no wonder the demons were evacuated in a hurry.

  Drakkel had to find out more. “Tell me the status of the Demons, Demon Lords, and the guests.”

  Re’ila nodded. “The demon lords have taken their respective divisions and gone into hiding in certain parts of the Empire, mainly assimilating with our spy network. Sonalita Pir and Caz Lianga have yet to return, but when they do, I will have a nearby spy inform them of the matter. Aurien Wavel and your clanmates came here not long before you and I already told them what happened. Right now, they should be going to take up residence in Prancing Hills. Mori has gone with Shia to hide as well. I suggest you two find a place to stay. We can communicate through the spy network.”

  Drakkel shook his head. This wasn’t good. Just when he needed the demons together, they had been forced to scatter.

  He needed to meet the Demon Lords immediately.

  After thinking about it for a moment, he remembered that Ri’en said his door was always open.

  “Re’ila,” he said. “Have the Demon Lords meet me in Shadowy Ridges. We have something to discuss. Also tell them not to bring the lieutenants so they can protect the others.”

  Re’ila bowed. “Yes, Your Highness.”

  He turned around, but before completely leaving, he said, “Oh and Re’ila.”

  “Yes, Your Highness?”

  “It was good to see you again.”

  A wide smile spread on Re’ila’s face. “You as well, Your Highness.”

  Now in a hurry, Rillian Adore and Drakkel rushed back out of the labyrinth and to Prancing Hills.

  They lowered their heads and treaded carefully, buying veils from the first place they could find them.

  Then, they looked for Drakkel's clanmates’ location.

  After asking around, they found the group in a small inn at the northeast corner of the city.

  Upon meeting with his Senior Brother, Drakkel didn't have the time to be happy. They had to be on alert now, so he quickly explained to his senior brother and the rest of his clanmates what their plans were.

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  After exchanging information, they didn’t even stay overnight. They immediately began traveling to Shadowy Ridges.

  As they did, Drakkel listened for any stories that might involve the location of the demon city being discovered. But in the end, he heard nothing except the typical stories of the evil demon lord as well as some smaller stories.

  Among them was a story that told of Sonalita Pir and Caz Lianga’s journey. It seemed some people saw them traveling together and thought that they might be a new couple in the swordfighting world.

  It took them about four days to arrive traveling nonstop, avoiding patrols of Sword Fighters, and even camping out.

  It was just lucky that when they finally arrived, they didn’t have to think of much. Ri’en quickly had the rooms they had used before, prepared for their stay.

  While his clanmates were getting settled, Drakkel, Aurien Wavel, and Rillian Adore explained their situation to Ri’en. It was no surprise that even after hearing that his town would hold fugitives, and that those fugitives were even demons and those associated with them, that Ri’en still accepted.

  But, just to make sure, Drakkel asked him again.

  Ri’en answered, “I’m certain. To turn away those I know aren’t in the wrong wouldn’t sit right with me.”

  Lady Secily agreed with him and so Drakkel and his group waited for the Demon Lords to arrive.

  But the demons were spread out and the only lieutenant available that could make their travel faster was told to stay behind. But even if he could make their travel faster, with as great a distance as they were spread, his endurance would run out before they all arrived.

  Drakkel foresaw this but could do nothing about it. Illa arrived first and the rest arrived one after the other over the next month.

  During this month, in the confines of their room, Drakkel had finally shown Rillian Adore the letter he found.

  After reading it carefully, Rillian Adore’s expressions switched many times. But in the end, it settled in anger.

  Once he was done, he clenched his fists, unintentionally crumpling up the letter.

  “Rillian…” Drakkel said.

  Rillian Adore guiltily looked down at the letter.

  “I’m sorry,” he said

  He uncrumpled the paper and folded it up before handing it back to Drakkel.

  After doing so, he stared at the ground, his lips curled down and his eyebrows furrowed.

  “Are you ok?” Drakkel tried to ask.

  However, Rillian Adore wasn’t listening at all. Drakkel decided that he might need some time alone and asked his Senior brother if he could stay with him, Font Seig, and Antin Jerio in the meantime.

  After around a week, Rillian Adore said that it was fine for Drakkel to return to their room.

  Drakkel said he wanted to, but asked if he could show the letter to the others.

  Rillian Adore still seemed angry at the mention of the letter, but after a moment, he relaxed.

  He said it was necessary and that whatever he felt about it, he would always agree.

  So Drakkel could only go along, hoping that Rillian Adore wouldn’t be affected much.

  As the remaining demons arrived, the time Drakkel thought he had to see the Emperor before Lorian Adore enacted his plans had dwindled into nothing. Now, as he stood in the meeting room, speaking to the demons as posters of all of them were hung up around the Empire, he had to make a choice.

  Sitting in the room were Drakkel’s clanmates, the seven demon lords, Sonalita Pir, Caz Lianga, Aurien Wavel, Rillian Adore, Lord Ri’en, and Lady Secily.

  After debriefing all of them on what happened with Ebinenda Itor and what he found out from Rillian Adore’s mother, he asked, “What should we do?