"You're a telepath? Leo said in his head.
"Yes I am, and don't worry for I haven't delved deep into most of your inner thoughts" Emelda telepathically replied.
"Most? Leo asked wondering how much of his thoughts the Princess had actually seen.
"Will you answer my original question or keep up this mind paranoia?
With a mind sigh, Leo told the princess most of the details regarding the Brotherhood's plot to assassinate her tonight".
*Creak*
Leo and Emelda quickly put a hold on their 'mind' chat as they held each other close.
"Lookout!
Leo hollered seconds before leaping to the left with Emelda in his arms. The dancers all scattered like ants with many people bumping into each other and some others collapsing to the floor.
"So, this is how I'm going to end" sighed the young man with the monocle as he and four others on the floor saw the approaching shadow.
"Get a grip over yourself" Silver moon said, long vines extending from her sleeves and pushing the noble out of harm's way.
*Crash*
The massive golden chandelier shattered on the wooden dance floor; its candles put out by the sudden burst of air while the golden body dented in some places and painted red in others as a crimson puddle oozed out from beneath it.
Leo dropped Emelda and joined the rest of the unscathed guests and soldiers to help remove the chandelier and also rescue the victims that had been trapped under the wreckage.
"I don't think they survived it" Hawthorn said, fighting the urge to cry.
Leo pulled out the crushed body of a young noble man and after one last look shook his head thereby confirming the fairies suspicion.
Some meters from the commotion was a kneeling noble man and a not so pleased dryad.
"My heartfelt grievances go to the family of the four nobles that couldn't escape the catastrophic accident" King Ronald said out loud, drawing the attention of everybody in the hall.
"And though it pains me to say so, I do believe it is time for this ball to come to a close, for it will be cruel of me to continue this event knowing fully well about the trauma we all must be going through.
Emelda stood at Leo's side wondering why his face had taken on a frown. (All telepathic communications in this book shall be now represented by {)
{What is it Fanghyr?
"I am afraid to say it but I believe that the whole chandelier 'accident' was a diversion".} Leo sniffed the air and with a jerk of his head signaled the crimson royal guards at the king's side that something was up.
The lead guard; a man wearing a red plumed helmet nodded, acknowledging the message and with a loud voice ordered his guards to surround the royals.
*Whizz*
"Everybody take cover! Hawthorn shouted flying high into the air. Many of the guests hid under the banquet tables not a moment too soon as red arrows rained down , skewering many of the guests that had not been able to heed the fairy's warning on time
"Sh*t! Leo exclaimed pushing off the oak table above him and Emelda. The archers behind the shootings slowly descended from the overhead roof beams, all of them dressed in long flowing black robes that made them look like alighting crows a few holding beautiful bows as black as obsidian.
"I count thirty of them" Leo shouted to the hearing of a nearby royal guard.
"Men with me! He shouted drawing his sword.
"I will suggest you join the evacuation your highness" the guard added.
Emelda taking a look at the fleeing guests smiled "I'm pretty sure I can handle myself just fine and plus it has been quite some time since I last saw some action.
The rest of the royals and the head of the 'Twilight' and 'Moon' orders were quickly escorted out of the hall, the lead guard and some twenty soldiers following them through the stone passages that led to another exit.
More royal guards from the castle gates quickly rushed in, armed to the teeth as they joined the guards with the guests.
The unknown archers smiled evilly, a pale one breaking their silence in an ominous voice.
"It's time for you all to die, in the name of Draghyr the great".
More evil cackles followed, ending as the pale archer muttered a string of inaudible spells which resulted in total darkness as all the lights in the castle went off.
"That's a forbidden spell" muttered a mage to Patricia who nodded in agreement before she gave some orders to the royal guards by her side.
"Go join your comrades, the Sun and its mages will help with the evacuation of the guests".
The guards bowed towards the superintendent before they ran off leaving her and the mages at the castle's entrance.
The mages on seeing that the unknown archers had no interest in the guests, quickly whisked them away in numerous portals that led to the kingdom's capital.
A few mages however left their brethren at the gates and ventured into the castle once more in order to help in whatever way they can.
"Things just got complicated" Leo said to the princess when a slight breeze revealed to him the scent of many more hooded brotherhood members.
Emelda simply sighed and began to mutter a string of spells which on completion left her armed with a magnificent birch bow and a mystical armor that shone with a green light.
{Leo: Can the mages undo this spell.
No, it requires the death or knocking out of the spell caster.
Leo: Do you by any chance know how to track the spell caster.
Yes, I'm pretty sure that I can track the mana,}.
Emelda closed her eyes for some seconds and soon ran off in a straight trail with the assassin following.
A cloaked figure wielding a saber lunged at the princess, only for him to die when a silver dagger slit his throat in a perfect arc.
Leo's dark blue eyes shone in the night and narrowed on observing the movement of six more members that approached them with swift steps.
Emelda drew her bow stepping behind the assassin slowly .
Leo growled, cursing how the whole assassination had taken on a more sinister turn.
"DIE!
Roared the elves in unison, three of them aiming with their bows while the other three ran to meet the assassin head on.
"Finally, I can test this out" Leo smiled.
*Snap*
"Time to die indeed" said the armored dark blue knight before them; his blue eyes shining with fury behind the faceless panther helmet that now served as some sort of mask. {Nice armor. Leo: Same goes for you.}.
"Is that all you can say about it" Emerald laughed drawing back a green tipped arrow.
"I believe you are very aware that I can read the thoughts of most people".
Leo flustered a little under the mask, and after regaining his composure, slashed with both of his daggers before with another swift movement, the daggers rested in their sheaths.
The six elves all halted in their motion collapsing to the ground; their bodies split into four halves. Emelda seeing this casted a spell that made her eyes to shine like lanterns before she continued to run with Leo behind her.
They finally made it through the hall's entrance where to their horror thirty elves, all of which bore great swords with silver hilts that gave off their own light.
"It is so good to see you Fanghyr" smiled the pale faced brotherhood elf "You two aren't leaving here alive" another added.
"Princess behind me! Leo roared bringing his daggers to his front. Emelda ignored the assassin and stood by his side with a beautiful rapier that appeared in her left hand.
"Very well, have it your way" smiled Leo.
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And so, I want you all to get ready for the next chapters are going to be filled with action and a whole lot of fight scenes.
Don't forget to vote and comment.