A Royal Obligation
Chapter 55: The Battle in the Forest

Chapter 55: The Battle in the Forest

The forest was alive with the sound of clashing steel and grunts of exertion as Kaelix and Eirik fought side by side against the wave of assassins.

Kaelix had barely a moment to process the fact that Eirik was not the delicate prince he had imagined. Instead, Eirik was a whirlwind of lethal precision, his sword moving with a grace that belied the violence it unleashed.

Kaelix parried an attack from one of the assassins, his eyes darting to where Eirik fought just a few feet away.

He watched in awe as Eirik dispatched an opponent with a swift, decisive strike, his movements fluid and controlled. How had he misjudged this man so badly? Eirik had been a mystery, but now that mystery was unraveling before his eyes, revealing layers Kaelix hadn’t expected.

Suddenly, Kaelix’s attention was drawn back to his own fight as two assassins lunged at him from different sides. He twisted to avoid one blade while blocking the other with his sword.

The clash of metal reverberated through the forest, but Kaelix’s focus was unshakable. With a powerful swing, he knocked one attacker off balance and quickly followed up with a lethal strike, his blade slicing cleanly through his opponent’s defenses.

As the battle raged on, the sound of galloping hooves echoed through the trees. Kaelix spared a quick glance toward the noise and saw Sadiki and Drystan charging toward them, their expressions a mixture of worry and determination. Relief flooded him; reinforcements had arrived.

Drystan, ever the seasoned warrior, quickly assessed the situation as he dismounted. But what he saw made him freeze for a moment, his eyes widening in disbelief.

Eirik - Prince Eirik, whom he had always thought of as delicate, almost frail, was fighting like a man possessed, his swordsmanship a dance of death.

The prince’s usually gentle eyes were cold, focused, and there was a deadly precision to his movements that Drystan hadn’t anticipated.

A smirk tugged at the corner of Drystan’s lips as he joined the fray, dispatching an assassin with a swift thrust of his blade.

He had always known there was something intriguing about the beautiful prince, something that set him apart from others. But this? This was beyond his expectations.

Sadiki, on the other hand, had no time for shock. He knew what his prince was capable of and had seen Eirik in action before. But that didn’t lessen the intensity with which he fought.

If anything, the sight of Eirik battling fiercely only heightened Sadiki’s determination to protect him. He charged into the fight, his sword cutting through the air as he took down two assassins in quick succession. His loyalty to Eirik was unwavering, and anyone who threatened his prince would pay the ultimate price.

The four of them, Kaelix, Eirik, Sadiki, and Drystan, fought in sync, their movements almost instinctual as they worked together to fend off the attackers. The forest echoed with the sound of their battle, a symphony of violence and survival.

Kaelix found himself stealing glances at Eirik whenever he could, still grappling with the realization that he had been so wrong about him.

The prince wasn’t weak; far from it. There was a fire within Eirik, a strength that Kaelix had never imagined. And that realization sent a jolt of something through Kaelix, something he wasn’t ready to examine too closely just yet.

After what felt like an eternity, the last of the assassins fell, his body hitting the forest floor with a dull thud. The sudden silence was almost deafening, broken only by the labored breathing of the four warriors.

Kaelix stood there, his chest heaving as he wiped blood from his sword. He scanned the area, ensuring that there were no more threats, before turning his gaze to Eirik.

The prince was calm, almost eerily so, until he dropped the sword he just fought with, like it was the most disgusting thing he has ever touched.

Drystan, his eyes still wide with lingering shock, walked over to Kaelix. "Your Highness," he said, his voice laced with both respect and a hint of amusement, "it seems We’ve been wrong about Prince Eirik. That was...unexpected."

Kaelix didn’t respond immediately. He was still trying to reconcile the image of the fragile prince he had in his mind with the warrior who had just fought alongside him. Finally, he nodded, his expression grim. "Indeed," he muttered, his voice low. "Very unexpected."

Sadiki, who had been silently observing, approached Eirik with a concerned look. "My prince," he began, his voice soft but firm, "are you unharmed?"

Eirik gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. "I’m fine, Sadiki," he replied, his tone devoid of the warmth it usually held. He was still processing the attack, still trying to piece together who was behind it. This was the second time his life had been threatened in such a short span, and it was becoming increasingly clear that someone didn’t want him to marry Kaelix. But who? And why?

As if reading his thoughts, Kaelix stepped forward, his eyes blazing with anger. "How did they know we were here?" he demanded, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. "Not many people are aware of our presence at the summer palace. This was no random attack."

Eirik met his gaze, his expression unreadable. He had his own suspicions, but voicing them now wouldn’t help. "Someone is trying to disrupt the alliance," he said quietly, more to himself than to Kaelix. "But who...?"

"Why did you say so? " Kaelix asked, he curiosity pique.

"On my way to Zephyros, I was also attacked. So it definitely has something to do with the alliance... " Eirik answered, his voice calm and thoughtful.

Kaelix clenched his fists, the frustration evident on his face. He hated not having answers, hated the feeling of being one step behind his enemies, and hated that someone is trying to kill Eirik.

But one thing was certain, whoever was behind this, they wouldn’t stop until they were dead. And Kaelix was not about to let that happen. Not to himself, and not to Eirik.

---

As soon as they return to the summer palace, Kaelix issued a terse order to the caretaker, who was shocked to the core when he was told about the assassination attempt on prince Eirik.

"Send a message to my parents," he commanded, his voice brooking no argument. "Tell them we’re returning to Tyrrus immediately and explain why. This bonding mission is over."

The caretaker nodded quickly and hurried off to carry out the order. Kaelix watched him go before turning back to Eirik, his expression softening slightly. "Go and prepare for our departure," he said, his voice suddenly tender and warm, catching Eirik off guard.

Eirik blinked, momentarily taken aback by the shift in Kaelix’s tone. He had been expecting more anger, more frustration, but instead, there was something almost...caring in Kaelix’s voice. It was disarming, but Eirik didn’t let it show. He simply nodded and turned to leave, his mind racing with unanswered questions.

As Eirik walked away, Sadiki fell in step beside him, his eyes flicking back to Kaelix, who was watching them with an unreadable expression. "Your Highness," Sadiki said softly, "we will find out who’s behind this. I swear it."

Eirik gave him a brief, appreciative glance. "I know," he replied, his voice quiet.

Drystan approached Kaelix, who was still staring after Eirik. "Your Highness," Drystan said cautiously, "what’s our next move?"

Kaelix didn’t answer immediately. His mind was still replaying the events of the dda.

"Prepare the horses," Kaelix said finally, his voice firm. "We’re leaving as soon as possible. And Drystan..."

Drystan looked at him expectantly.

"Keep an eye on Eirik," Kaelix continued, his tone unreadable. "I want to know everything he does, everything he says. We can’t afford any more surprises."

Drystan nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "As you wish, Your Highness."

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