Chapter 222: The Journey: Chasing the Shadows
A/N: I republished the previous Chapter. I realized there are few inconsistencies and poorly written paragraphs. I became muddle-headed when sleepy. Apologies to my early readers.
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Prince Alaric and six of his soldiers, including Agilus, Aramis, and Redon, were travelling east—the direction the bandits were heading. Even in the darkness of the night, Alaric’s guard could see the anger radiating from the prince’s posture as he led them to chase after the escaping prisoners.
His eyes grew dark as he realized that he had been played with. They were delayed because even his strongest guards were helpless against the relentless effects of diarrhea. He had to give them his precious medicine, the one that protected him from the onslaught of the bacteria that caused their stomach sickness. Otherwise, they could not stop emptying their bowels.
Alaric’s frustration simmered beneath the surface, a tight knot in his chest. He squinted into the veil of the night, willing his eyes to pierce through the heavy darkness. Yet, all he could discern were vague silhouettes, monstrous shadows stretching and shifting like wraiths in the distance, their forms distorted and elusive.
The group still pressed on until they reached the riverbank, where they found the abandoned carriage, its door closed.
"Don’t open it!" Alaric snapped, his voice sharp as a blade, when Aramis drew near the carriage, hand outstretched toward the creaking door.
A surge of instinct raced through him, a shiver of apprehension gnawing at his gut. Shadows played tricks in the dim light, deepening his unease. The horses tossed their heads, snorting and stamping, their dark eyes wide and wild, mirroring the tension crackling in the air. Alaric could feel something ominous was lurking inside.
Redon lit a torch to inspect the carriage.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!