The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 237: Pursuing The Bargesians

Chapter 237: Pursuing The Bargesians

Noah shielded his eyes from the bright sky as he looked up, his hands raised to block the sun’s rays. Judging by the angle, he determined it was mid-afternoon, the time between noon and sunset.

"How are the traces?" Kyren asked Noah with anticipation as he slowed down Maximillian.

"They lead into the woods, Your Highness," the knight replied confidently.

"Let’s press on quickly. It will grow darker the deeper we go," Kyren commanded his team.

The men nodded in agreement, urging their horses to pick up speed, leaving the capital’s outskirts behind. They swiftly reached the forest’s edge after following a desolate road and ventured into it. As expected, the dense canopy of trees cast shadows, making the surroundings darker than before.

Noah scanned the area for any signs left by the spies. However, at a certain point, the traces vanished, leaving no further hints. This unexpected turn of events puzzled the knight.

"Your Highness, there are no more traces to follow," he reported. A deep concern was vivid in his expression.

"Could something have happened to the spies?" Drystan asked in concern.

"I’m not sure. Let me investigate further. Please wait a moment," Noah responded.

He dismounted his horse and proceeded cautiously along the path of the last trail. With each step, the surroundings grew increasingly gloomier.

A familiar, fishy, metallic scent wafted towards Noah’s nostrils, triggering a deep sense of foreboding within him. He inhaled once more, confirming the unmistakable odour of blood.

Instinctively, he hastened his steps, following the scent until a chilling and horrifying scene materialised before his eyes.

Two lifeless bodies, horrifically dismembered and repeatedly slashed with sharp weapons and crushed with blunt objects, lay sprawled on the ground. The gruesome act had left their limbs scattered and drenched in a pool of crimson. The sight was enough to turn even the bravest stomach.

"Your Highness! Come quickly!" Noah shouted, calling for the attention of the grand duke.

Kyren descended his horse and rushed to Noah’s side, followed by his men and Kiev. Their eyes widened in shock as they beheld the gruesome scene. The sight of the massacre left them speechless, their expressions filled with horror.

"Oh, God!" Eric exclaimed, his voice trembling with disbelief.

His heart sank, a mixture of grief and anger surging through him. He knelt beside the fallen spies, his eyes scanning the scene for any clues that might shed light on the perpetrators.

The second-in-command knight meticulously examined the bodies, his expression grim as he assessed the horrid scene before him. The brutality of the act spoke of the Bargesians’ merciless nature, leaving no doubt that their adversaries were dealing with a ruthless and formidable enemy.

"Are these the spies you sent to trace the Bargesians?" asked Kiev.

The question hung in the air momentarily, causing a heavy silence to fall upon the group.

"They are," Eric then confirmed. "There is no doubt that these were the acts of the Bargesians!"

His frustration was palpable as he clenched his fists in anger. Brone and his men had not only killed the spies but also subjected them to brutal torture, rendering their identities almost unrecognisable.

Eric, however, managed to identify them based on their attire and personal belongings, having known them before the tragic event.

"I swear I’ll make them pay for this!" he seethed through gritted teeth, his determination evident.

Turning his attention to Noah, Kyren asked, "Can you track down Lord Morro and his men, even without any further clear leads?"

The knight turned around and checked the ground.

"They have taken measures to cover their tracks. We won’t be able to trace them using conventional methods," Noah responded.

The knights shared in Noah’s frustration, their expressions reflecting their disappointment. However, his next suggestion piqued their interest.

"There is another way, though I have never tried it myself," Noah suggested.

"What way?" Eric inquired anxiously.

"It’s a speciality of Dame Verns. I witnessed her using it several times when we escaped the Huntbel Forest in Ardel," Noah explained. "Please give me a moment of silence."

Noah moved to an area where the trees thinned out, allowing the sky to be visible. He put his fingers to his mouth and began to whistle. Once, twice, then he shook his head in dissatisfaction.

"Not the right tone," he muttered to himself, determined to get it right.

"What are you doing?" Eric asked, his impatience getting the better of him.

"Just give me a moment, will you?" Noah scolded the knight, his tone firm.

"Let him try," Kyren interjected, his voice calm yet supportive. Though uncertain of Noah’s approach, the grand duke had faith in his knight’s abilities.

Noah took a deep breath, blocking out distractions, and focused on finding the right tone. The air grew still as the group watched in anticipation, willing him to succeed in his unconventional pursuit of a lead.

Noah made another attempt, and on the tenth try, a long, unique, high-pitched tone emanated from his whistling. He repeated the sequence three times before coming to a halt.

A few moments later, the distinct sound of a cackling eagle reverberated through the air.

"Ker... ker... kwit... kwit..." the bird called out.

Noah’s grin widened, a glimmer of triumph shining in his eyes.

"What is that? Sounds like a bird," Luke remarked.

"It’s one of the eagles belonging to Dame Verns. I’ve been helping her feed them since she fell ill. They followed us from Ardel to Cassian, and this particular eagle has taken a liking to me and tends to follow me around. I spotted her on the way," Noah explained.

"Did you just call the eagle?" asked Garin with disbelief.

"Yes. The whistling tone you heard is a command to summon an eagle in the vicinity," said Noah.

"For what purpose?" This time, Alex questioned.

"To ask the eagle to trace the Bargesians."

Noah’s reply brought a surprise look to the group. Only Kiev was calm and composed, as he already knew about Clara’s ability to use her trained eagle.

However, Noah’s capability to learn and mimic the knightess’s method amazed him and made him recognise the knight’s talent.

"Dame Verns possesses a wide range of skills when it comes to working with eagles. She can give them various instructions beyond what I have learned, such as specific tasks or commands," Noah elaborated, emphasising his limited knowledge in comparison.

Kiev’s praise for Noah’s observation skills did not go unnoticed.

"You have a keen eye for detail," the Mederian Prince commended, his words carrying genuine admiration.

"Thank you," Noah replied, his gratitude evident in his nod.

The recognition from someone as respected as Kiev validated his knowledge and motivated him to continue honing his skills and pursuing the quest to bring justice to their cause.

"That’s amazing! I had no idea Dame Verns could do that," Alex exclaimed, impressed by the revelation.

Noah whistled again, this time in a different tone, and the eagle responded with a reply. It was an order from him to start tracing the enemy.

"She will guide us to them. For now, we need to wait until she returns and gives us the signal for the right direction," Noah explained.

"Really? The eagle can do that?" Garin asked, his astonishment apparent.

"Yes. As birds of prey, they possess heightened senses and an unparalleled ability to see clearly over vast distances. Dame Verns has trained her eagles to specifically identify the Bargesians so they can spot them instantly," Noah clarified.

"What a remarkable skill! This will undoubtedly help us trace them faster," Eric remarked, his optimism growing.

The group now had an unexpected ally in their pursuit. The eagle’s keen senses would aid them in their quest to locate the elusive Bargesians.

"Indeed, a trained eagle can be incredibly useful. They can cover significant distances and relay information," Kiev interjected, offering his insight.

Curiosity piqued, Eric turned to the Mederian Prince.

"How do you know this, Your Highness? Have you ever trained an eagle before?" he inquired.

Kiev’s lips tightened as he realised he had inadvertently revealed the method used to exchange the secret letters between him and Nessy. He quickly thought on his feet to come up with a cover story.

"I read about it somewhere," he responded, hoping his excuse would suffice.

"Ah... no wonder. Of course, as a Mederian, you would have a vast knowledge of various information."

Eric nodded lightly.

Kiev cleared his throat and said, "That’s right."

"Well done, Noah," Kyren interjected, diverting attention away from the Mederian Prince’s evasive response. "For now, let’s gather the corpses of the victims, cover their bodies and put some scent deterrent powder to prevent animals from scavenging them. Arrange for a group of individuals to collect the spies’ bodies later for a proper burial," he instructed his men.

Understanding the significance of honouring the fallen, the knight nodded in agreement. The group wasted no time and diligently began collecting the scattered limbs and other body parts, carefully arranging them together.

Once the sombre task was completed, the men stood before the corpses, their expressions reflecting a deep sense of respect and reverence.

A solemn silence settled over them as they paid their respects to the deceased spies, acknowledging their sacrifice in service of their cause.

"The Bargesians have shown themselves to be ruthless and devoid of mercy. We shall not show them any grace in return!" Kyren declared, his voice filled with determination.

"Yes, Your Highness!" the knights exclaimed in unison, unwavering commitment to the cause.

They understood the severity of the situation and were prepared to take decisive action against the relentless Bargesians. Another severe battle should commence soon.

A sudden cackling sound pierced through the air, capturing their attention again. All eyes turned upward, searching for the eagle. Noah turned his head in the bird’s direction and quickly interpreted its message.

"It’s that way!" Noah exclaimed, pointing in a specific direction.

Kyren’s eyes gleamed with determination. He wasted no time issuing the command, his voice firm and resolute.

"Let’s go!"

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