by Tiya Rayne
Lilly IV
Lilly IV
By Tiya Rayne
Copyright © 2016 Tiya Rayne
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
WARNING: This book contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language. It may be considered offensive to some readers.
Acknowledgements
To the readers that make my job fun.
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Note from Author
Other books by Tiya Rayne
Connect with Tiya Rayne
Chapter One
I run into the metal bars of our cell once again. Again they do not give. I throw my head back and roar at the ceiling. She is out there alone in that gods-forsaken castle with no one to protect her. My anger is damn near tangible as I shake the bars clutched in my tight fist.
The entire dungeon of the Southern Kingdom is made out of the same metal that’s used in witch chains. The power in the metal keeps me from tracing, materializing my sword and using any of my other strengths. It has us all feeling useless. Kema, the little fairy, is even unable to fly. It’s as if Bartus had planned this ahead of time. He knew that if he got me in this dungeon I would be defenseless. Even my ability to contact Avalia is blocked.
“Mogo scared. Mogo wants Lilly.” The giant whines.
I have to give it to the creature, it took ten men to get him down here and it wasn’t an easy feat. He took six of them out before the ten could even tie him down.
“I know, Mogo. We all want Lilly, but you have me.” Miriam strokes the creature’s hand. Her actions seems to soothe the boy.
“The guards have considered me a trader,” Bilal says behind me.
While I’ve been trying to force my way out of this prison, he’s been busy trying the political approach.
“They will not even speak to me. I thought to persuade them to let us out.” He looks shocked and disappointed at this revelation.
“You are officially one of us now.” Augustus says, unfolding his long form from the wall he was leaning on.
“I would rather be an outlaw to my people than to stand by and allow them to mistreat her. They won’t even tell me how she is.”
That seems to bring about a quiet unsettlement in the cell.
While we all made it in here alive and unharmed, she is alone in that castle. I wonder if she’s afraid. Have they told her where we are? Are they lying to her or hurting her? These thoughts are plaguing me as I stand useless in this damn prison.
“I’ve never seen her look so devastated.” Hyland says.
The elf is sporting a huge black eye, but I’m sure he doesn’t care. Miriam has been caring for him from the moment they tossed her in this prison with us.
“Even when the Goblin King told her he would give her away to the Dark King, she did not look as saddened as she did tonight. What could Rykan have shown her?”
I can only imagine in Diagon Alley.
In my past I often frequented the brothels there. It was never difficult for me to get laid. Women were eager to be in my bed. I had no use for false pretenses. I did not tell them I loved them, or that there was a future for us. Whatever woman I chose to lay with knew that all she would have was the sex. If I felt in any way she was getting too attached I would quickly end the arrangement. Which is why I never went back for seconds. Brothels were great for me. The women never expected anything more than my coins after sex. I can’t imagine any of them telling her anything that would put that look on her face. The look that will haunt me for the rest of my life.
********
We’ve been locked in this prison for hours. I have paced the floor of this cell so much that there is an obvious path carved into the dirt floor. I am not the only one that has become more restless as the time has passed. We were growing more agitated by the minute. We’ve yet to hear any news about Lilly. Someone did notify us that Rykan had miraculously survived my attack.
As if I gave a fuck.
I was about to attempt to break the bars again, when a sudden noise at the entrance of the prison alerts me. Everyone’s head turns towards the sound.
“Mogo? You in here?” a small voice calls out.
“Friend!” Mogo answers excitedly.
The little boy that Lilly saved that day at the market appears in front of the cell. His dirty face and tattered clothes a welcomed sight.
“Hey, big guy!”
“Matthias, what are you doing here?” Miriam asks.
Without answering, Matthias supplies a set of keys attached to a large circular ring. I have never been so happy to see the lad. He slips the key into the lock and gives it a try, after that key doesn’t open the lock he tries another.
“My mam sent me.” He answers Miriam as he tries another key in the lock. “She sent me to rescue you.”
“Where are the guards, lad?” Augustus queries.
“Mam sent three girls from the village to distract them. She should have sent better help. The girls aren’t doing much but smiling and giggling. Not sure how that’s supposed to distract big tough men?”
Finally he finds the key that opens the lock and I am the first to push out of the prison.
“I’m sure they have their ways, lad. Thank you for your help.” I place a hand on the boy’s shoulder and squeeze briefly.
I don’t explain to the kid how his mother sent the greatest distraction known to man. Instead, I start moving towards the entrance of the prison. Just as I near the door, a young non-magical sticks her head around the corner bringing me to an abrupt stop.
“The coast is clear. You have only ten minutes to get everyone to the meeting point.”
“What meeting point?”
The young girl blushes at my direct question to her.
“King Bartus has gone mad, sir. The entire Southern Kingdom is in a state of emergency. He’s even put into place the magic shield to protect the Southern Kingdom.”
I can hear the gasp from behind me.
“Are you sure, girl?” Augustus questions.
It is young Matthias that answers.
“Tis true. I saw them place the first one myself.”
The magic shield is a dark form of magic. It was given to the non-magicals in case of dire circumstances. Its use is so archaic and barbaric that it has never been used. By placing four silver disk into the ground at the edge of a property it temporarily prohibits all use of magic. To the magical beings in the world it is like saying ‘fuck you’. So at this moment, I am as human as Lilly.
Lilly!!!
“Augustus, you take the others to this meeting place.” I say, as I continue to lead the captives out of the prison. “I, the young lad, and Hyland will go after Lilly. I will not leave her here in this place without me.”
“I will go with you,” Bilal steps forward. “I know this kingdom like the back of my hand. I can get you in and out unnoticed.”
“If you do this, and we get caught, they will not accept you back into the fold. They wil
l kill you for treason.”
Bilal’s dark skin glows under the dim candlelight.
“Then I will die with pride. My loyalty is to Lilly.”
I did not have time to acknowledge how proud I was. How it moved me to know that he was willing to die to protect the one I loved. As I look around at the bunch of misfits surrounding me, I realize that they had all risked their lives for Lilly. We were all willing to do what it took for her to survive. It had nothing to do with a prophecy or future kings, but because of the person that she is.
I nod my head to Bilal.
“Follow me.”
“She’s not in the castle.”
Matthias steps in front of me bringing me to a stop.
“Is she with you then?”
Before the question is fully out of my mouth his head is shaking from left to right.
“She’s gone.” The little brunette answers and everyone turns to her.
She seems to shrink under our penetrating gaze.
“Explain yourself.” Bilal demands in a harsh tone that causes the girl to shrink away even more.
“After your capture and prince Rykan was on the mend, King Bartus ordered for Lilly to be hidden away. He wanted to keep his future grandsons away from the Elven Queen. But, when his guards arrived in her room to take her, Lilly was already gone. He has the entire Southern army searching for her. He thinks one of the villagers is hiding her.”
“How do you know all this?” I ask.
“My eldest sister works as a maid in the castle. She is prone to ease dropping.”
“She’s telling the truth.” Matthias clarifies. “My home was the first one to be searched. They nearly destroyed it in the process. They were so distracted by their search that my mam was able to sneak me out and send me here. But we must hurry. The wagons will be ready to take you away from the Southern Kingdom.”
Matthias grabs my arm and starts to tug me. I allow him to pull me as my mind slowly starts to wrap itself around my predicament.
Lilly is somewhere out there without proper protection. I will not be able to track her until I get past this damn magic block. Immediately my brain begins to function again and I push my legs faster. I have to get out of the Southern Kingdom if I want to save Lilly.
Just as Matthias had said, two wagons was indeed waiting for us. One is a covered wagon used for travel, and the other one is a flat-bed wagon made for hauling. A large tarp was laid over the back of the flat bed wagon as a form of shelter.
A rail-thin elderly man hops down from the front of the covered wagon. I instantly remember him as the man we rescued from the goblins.
“Hugan? Where is Laya?” Hyland asks as he approaches the elderly man and gives him a quick handshake and hug.
“I made her stay behind for this. It was not easy. When she found out that Lilly needed her help she was more than ready to assist.”
“We thank you for your kindness.” I say approaching the old man.
“Tis my pleasure, Assassin. You have more than earned my loyalty.” He nods then steps back. “This is Randalf. My great nephew.”
Hugan points at a tall young lad with wide shoulders and bulging biceps. His body was that of a typical farm hand. Long and lean muscles from days upon days of hard work. Though his body’s toned his face belayed his youth. The young man couldn’t be older than 16.
“Randalf will be taking a few of you in the other wagon.”
By other he means the flat bed wagon.
“It is sparse by way of protection, but it is my sturdiest and pulled by my strongest stallion. Which we will need to transport that….” Hugan points to Mogo who is busy catching fire bugs with Matthias.
I nod in agreement with him. There is no way I was leaving the giant behind. I owed it to Lilly.
“I need you to get me to the edge of the Southern Kingdom. From there you will drop me off and take the others just far enough so that they may go to the Elven kingdom. They will find sanctuary there with the Queen.”
Hugan agrees and we start to load the first wagon. Hyland, Bilal, Himrol and the females will ride in the covered wagon pulled by Hugan.
I take Miriam’s hand to assist her into the wagon when I notice Matthias still lingering.
“Matthias, thank you for your help, but it is time for you to head back to your mother.”
The young boy stands up straighter, his rumpled hair sticking up on top of his head.
“My apologies, Assassin, but I aim to stay along. I promised my mam that I would be sure that Lilly will be safely returned.”
I admire the kid’s loyalty, but this will not be an easy journey. We are all wanted by the Southern King and he will make it difficult for us. I cannot be responsible for Matthias.
“It is too dangerous and I will not be able to look after you.”
“Do not fret, Assassin.” Miriam says. “I will look after the boy. Lilly would be honored to have him here.”
Her words bring a red tint to the boy’s face. “No offense, lady Miriam, but I don’t need looking after. I can take care of myself.”
Miriam only smiles at the boy before saying, “Even better.”
We load up the first wagon. Then Augustus, Mogo, and I climb into the other wagon using nothing but the heavy cloth to cover us. Matthias and Randalf place Bambrige leaves over the tarp to help cover us in the wagon. Then we are off.
We race through the night at top speeds trying to break away from the Southern Kingdom. All I can think about is Lilly. Is she alone? Is she afraid? Maybe she is hurt? Even though I know she was angry with me after our last parting, it is still in her my heart lies. I will undoubtable have to do damage control after whatever Rykan has shown her. I will gladly live the rest of my life making it up to Lilly. All I ever want is for her to be happy and safe. But she isn’t happy or safe. I have no magical tie to Lilly now that my powers are blocked. However, I can still feel deep inside me, like a whisper in a darkened cave, that something is wrong.
The wagons come to an abrupt halt. I know that we have not traveled far enough to be away from the Southern Kingdom, yet despite my knowing, I try my magic. Just as I thought, I can feel the block still in place.
I am about to lift my head to see what would cause us to stop, when I hear voices.
“What are you doing about at this time of night?” a voice calls out.
“Pardon me, sir, but my great-grandson’s and I have business in Hedgefield on the morrow.”
“And you travel this late?” ask the other voice that I now suspect belongs to one of the guards in the Southern Kingdom’s army.
Hugan pauses in his reply, not sure how to answer without alerting the guards something was wrong.
I look to Augustus, whose head is near my hip. His eyes meet mine and without words, I tell him to prepare his self for battle. There is a huge possibility we may have to fight our way out of here. Although not the worst possible scenario, it would be a burden. For one, we are without weapons, which isn’t too much of an issue. However, it will delay me from getting to Lilly, and that was a huge problem.
Suddenly, we hear Matthias’s voice.
“Would have left earlier, sir, but my mam was reluctant to let me go. Grandpa had to take a while to convince her that it’s a boy’s right to travel. You know how women are.”
The soldiers laugh and from the different pitches I can tell it’s at least six different men.
“You’re right about that lad. How old are you?”
“Eight years, sir. Almost a man. Four more years and I’ll be old enough to be just like you, a loyal soldier to King Bartus.”
The kid is laying it on thick. He could be a fucking politician. He is braver and smarter than most nobles that I know. He wasn’t kidding when he said he could take care of himself.
“Well, that is very noble of you, Lad. We stopped you tonight because some prisoners have escaped.”
“Prisoners?” Hugan asks as if this is news to him.
“Would you know anythi
ng about that?” I can hear the suspicion in the soldier’s voice.
The news of our escape would have been all through the kingdom by now. There is no way Hugan or anyone else would not have known.
I notice through a small hole in the wagon’s wood, that one of the soldiers is circling to the back of Hugan’s wagon. I tense as he nears the flap. In just a few seconds he will come face to face with the prisoners he’s searching for.
“Of course we have.” Matthias draws the soldier’s attention. “I heard you soldiers almost killed the Assassin. Is that true?”
The boy’s enthusiasm causes the soldier about to open the flap to the wagon to stop what he was doing.
“Absolutely.”
The flap closes as the voice backs away from the wagon.
“My blade was just inches from that bastard’s throat.” The guard gloats.
I almost blow our cover by laughing in that prick’s face, but I control my urge. I’ll let him preen in front of this kid. Little does he know the lad is playing him for a fool.
“Wow! Might I see the blade you used?”
“Now, now, son,” Hugan interrupts. “We must be on our way if we are going to make it to Hedgefield by sun rise.”
“Nonsense.” The guard says, followed by the sound of a blade being pulled from its scabbard.
I can no longer see the guard as he is too far away from the little hole, but I’m sure he is showing off his sword to Matthias.
“No one’s ever going to believe that I was able to touch the blade of the great soldier that almost killed the assassin.”
“It was I that pushed him into the cell.” Another soldier calls out lamely.
“This is the best night of my life.” Matthias continues to distract the soldiers.
“I have a gift for you, boy.” The first soldier calls out.
There is a delay as I hear him climb off his horse and near our wagon.
“My very own dagger?” Matthias cries.
