the master mind

The physician carefully closed his box and rose to his feet.

"She is fine. She was experiencing shock earlier. A little rest is all she needs." Zyran nodded as he absorbed the information.

"I will be on my way now," the physician announced, and Ali accompanied him as he left.

Following the alarming incident, everyone had sought refuge in their respective quarters.

Zyran settled onto the bed next to Amira, who had drifted into a peaceful slumber. He gently rested his palm on her forehead, gauging her temperature before letting out a heavy sigh.

Tenderly, he ensured she was tucked in snugly before quietly stepping out of the room. Before leaving, he positioned Nora in the room along with one of his knights to keep watch over Amira.

Zyran carefully navigated the dimly lit corridors of the dungeon, his footsteps echoing against the cold stone walls. He approached the cell where the notorious assassins, who had caused chaos at the king's birthday celebration, were being held captive.

In the center of the room, a lone figure was bound to a chair, the harsh glow of a single lantern illuminating his barely recognizable face, evidence of the brutal interrogation he had endured.

With a dismissive gesture, Zyran directed his men to leave, leaving only Ali and Aaron to assist him. Zyran circled the room, his eyes scanning the tools carefully arranged on a nearby table.

His hand settled on a gleaming dagger as he approached the restrained figure with purpose. The captive glared defiantly at Zyran, his muffled protests barely audible through the cloth gag that concealed his words.

Zyran, recognizing the futility of the gag, motioned for Ali to remove it.

"I don't intend to force you to speak," Zyran said.

He looked over at Aaron, who nodded, exiting the room.

"You deem yourself high and mighty, right... You tyrant prince" he spat.

Zyran nodded, checking the sharpness of the blade. He turned and threw it so fast it landed on the assassin's shoulder, cutting through his shoulder blade and burying itself in his body.

His cry rang the dungeon walls which echo back like a wounded hyena.

"Argh"

Zyran pulled out a chair and took his seat; Ali brought over a cup of liquor and poured it for Zyran.

Zyran took a sip before bringing it back to his eye level. He placed the cup over a burning lamp his eyes intensely staring at the cup as it boils.

Ali came over with a hand towel, collecting the cup from Zyran as he walked over to the assassin.

The man flinches the closer Ali comes.

"No no no don't you sick

Bastards!!" He screamed, his wound sizzling as Ali poured the cup of hot liquor on his shoulder blade.

Zyran picked up another cup and poured himself a drink. Taking another sip, he tilted his head and looked at the assassin.

Ali stepped away.

"Who sent you guys to raid the celebration last night?" Zyran ask.

"We did it on our own will," the assassin said with a groan.

"I see," came Zyran's reply pouring himself another cup.

The gate to the dungeon opened, and Aaron came in, followed by a woman who was visibly shaken.

She took a sharp intake as soon as she laid eyes on the man tied down.

"Anchor!!" She shrieks falling back on her butt.

" Molly?" Anchor called, his eyes widening, Zyran not minding the union of the couple. Zyran took a sip from his cup.

"Oh my God!!" Molly shrieked, ready to meet Anchor, who was still tied down.

"Another step, and he will lose his eyes," Aaron warned. Molly sat still shaking her head.

Zyran dropped the cup in his hand and raised it to his feet, he went over to the woman and squatted so he could see her face to face.

"Please, please..... Don't do this. Let her go," Anchor yelled.

Zyran let out an unsettling smile she directed to the woman.

"I wasn't aware you were capable of loving; I thought you merely loved your job," Zyran said.

Zyran traced the dagger he had collected from Ali on Molly's face, she was close to passing out.

"Would she die from a slit? I heard a woman ain't strong enough to hold brutal torture," Zyran commented with a tsk.

He points the dagger at her chest ready to stick it in.

"Noo!!" Anchor shrieks out.

"I will confess please spare her," Anchor said.

Zyran signaled for his men to take the woman away which they complied to.

"We were assembly by a man who didn't reveal his face all we know of him was the seal he brought with him"

"What was written on the seal"

"I am not sure I can't remember clearly. It was a complicated name, but the seal was made of gold," the man said.

"Very little information," Zyran said before turning and exiting the dungeon.

Ali draws his sword beheading the assassin in a single move, blood splattering on the walls.

"There's only a selected few who have access to a gold seal," Aaron said.

Things are just getting interesting, ain't they?" Zyran said.