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" You're looking beautiful with the neckleace Gwen, really..."

Aleytys pondered, then she nodded.

" So the gods are with us dear, we have luck... Hear my plan Gwendolin: you should bring me near to his
house. In the moment he is approaching the street with his lictors .. aah you will see dear. But stay near. Anything can go wrong maybe I need
then immediately your support. And before you ask..."

Aleytys making a tiny movement and suddenly two sharp daggers laying in her hands.


" You see ? I am not defenseless "
Aleytys chuckled coldly, let the daggers glide in the innersite of the sleeves from her dress.
" Shall we go ? I am not a friend of waisted time "

Ascius nodded to himself and then spoke to Edward. "Can you please drag that solider inside? He may be seen out there. I will handle those two while you do it." Edward raised a brow and looked unsure. "No cold feet now, brother...", he said and removed the sword from the mans chest, moving towards the door.

While Edward was trying to get the heavy armoured soldier inside, Ascius stepped over to the man. "So you still remember me?", he asked. The man nodded. "I knew it was a mistake to let you stay alive, you'd come back some day." Ascius chuckled and nodded. "Well, I am back here now." The man swallowed and whispered. "I only did what I had to do." The woman began sobbing lowly. "So do we all, for I can't allow you to tell anyone what happened here during the coming week." Ascius said and drew his sword again. "Will you kill us?!", the woman cried.


When Edward closed the door of the house again, having managed to drag the soldier inside finally, Ascius had already finished with the other two. Edward turned towards him and raised a brow. Ascius was standing next to a trap door in the floor of the house which was very well hidden. Ascius grinned. "The place where they kept me once. No one who doesn't know of it will find it. They'll have food and some water for a week. Let's just also put the soldier in. Once we leave Salkamar again, I'll send a letter with their location to some official."

“You.. are.. such.. a.. spineless.. wimp..!”
Edward laughed and shook his head as he dragged the unconscious soldier over to the trapdoor and pushed him –not too gently- down small stairs leading underground. He heard the armoured man clank down the stairs and grinned amusedly again.
“I think we should have just killed them. The man knows your name.. You are not only risking your own life, but also hers.. and ours. Have you thought about that, old bugger?”

"No one will follow us to a place like Gobiath. Furthermore Gwendolin told me after Aecius death there might be some evidence for his guilt.. so things will turn out good for us. We wont be killed too quickly.", Ascius said with a slight grin and closed the trap door, placing some fur that was on the ground of the house and the desk over it.

"Let's head back to the city, get rid of those horses and see how far the ladies have come."

Edward nodded, still grinning and shaking his head.
"Fine.. fine, let us go then you old bugger.."
He opened the door and walked outside, briefly looking around if there would be more soldiers in vicinity.. No. Everything seemed quiet. Edward took the soldier's torch that had already gone out, and tossed it into the bushes surrounding the house. The two men then rose on their horses and headed back toward the town.

Salkamaeria was a beautiful town. Especially in spring. The evening sun shone at the builings and crimsoned them. Gwendolin would have enjoyed the walk if it weren't for their mission.Yet she wasn't able to help herself and explained Aleytys several streets, buildings and some part of history about Salkamaeria. There was a but proud hint in her voice, while she was speaking.

After 25 minutes of walking she looked over the place and seemed to orientate herself, then saying in a lowered voice to Aleytys.
"That's the building they are having the congress in right now. We will go down this street. If he wants to get home he will have to take this one."

Aleytys nodded to her and Gwendolin noticed the mischief smile, then chuckled.
"I have a good feeling about this somehow. I trust you Aleytys.", she said and walked down the street with her. There would only be a short time left.

She hears the horses even before Aecius with his lictors comes riding around the corner.

A dangerous, merciless glitter lies in her eyes now and she puts herself behind of one of the big trees on this street. Before he will see her it would be too late for him to react. A few seconds later, five horses approached the tree where she stood and calm waited. On the forefront, sitting on a black horse is a Man, the Man which Ascius had described to her -- Aecius.
Right before Aecius reaches the tree, she runs out of the street, directly in front of the horse. The horse lifts its front legs up and bristles in anger and fear, rolling his eyes. Aecius curses loudly try to control his stallion.
One hoof strikes Aleytys on her shoulder and she falls to the ground with a loud, painful shout.
Aecius let his horse to make a few steps back, jumping to the ground.



He running then with haste to the woman. One of his lictors tightens the reins of Aecius’ black Stallion. Aleytys lies still on the street, tears of pain streaming down her cheeks, holding her shoulder.
Aecius kneels down, looking in her face, stuttering shocked some words. " Milady, what you doing... you are allright ? I am sorry, let me.. let me help you"

Aleytys moves her hand toward him so he can take it and help her in a sitting position. She speaks with a shaky voice "Please, sir. It was only my fault, my fault ,. I am so confused, noticing nothing " Aleytys sniffles and wipe the tears from her cheek with a graceful gesture.
Aecius speaks with an arrogant, dark voice:"Milady, let me see your shoulder and what makes a noble Lady like you so confused that she runs straight in front of my horse ? "

Aleytys removes her hand from her bruised shoulder, blinking, " This will heal, but I was robbed only few hours ago, I lost all. My servants are dead and all my parchments stolen. I could escape just barely... So it’s not a wonder that I am so confused. But please Sir, can you tell me who you are ? "

Aecius lays his fist above his heart and speaks " Aecius my name, Legate of the Province Nova Norici"
Aleytys gives him a sweet, but painful smile. She lowers her head with a majestic movement. " Princess Aleytys Lamar from Laemaros. I am here to built commercial relationship between Salkamar and my Land"
A greedily glint growing up in Aecius eyes and he looks down at her.

" A Pleasure, Princess Lamar. I am sure that I can help you with everything you need. My house is down the street, so please let me offer it to you if you so wish. We are hospitable people and my Stallion was the one that rode you down, it is the least I can do. You need rest and a healer to look at your shoulder. And then we can talk.. " Aecius offers her a hand to help her stand up.


Aleytys takes his hand with a stunning smile and stood up slowly and careful. She strokes over her dress without haste and nods then.
On Aecius face appears a craving expression, he covering it with a smile, as he looks at her movements. Then he offers her his arm and grunts over his shoulder at the other men: " Dismount! Grumius, you lead the way. I will follow with Princess Lamar on foot "


Aleytys looking over her shoulder as he grunt the name .. directly in the face of the second target ...............

Gwendolin had followed her quietly and with some distance til she was able to see Aecius house. It was a small residence, already used by his father when he was more active in politics. She kept watching how Aecius and Aleytys walked there and then stood still, shaking her head. That was far too easy. She noticed Aleytys looking over her shoulder for a moment and nodding to her, so Gwendolin nodded quietly in return and turned around. She was worried about Aleytys, but she knew she would be doing well.

**

Another half an hour later, Gwendolin reached the tavern where they had separated and ordered herself a goblet of mead. She was the first that returned and and now sat over the parchments of notes about Aecius and all the delinquences he possibly had begun. The way she stared at the notes, studying them, appeared so similar to the way her father did. Yet she wasn't able to concentrate properly. It was already late and with a concerned gaze she looked at the door occasionally, waiting for Ascius und Edward to return.

She sat by a window in this small House. How she detested walls ! But, all in all, the plan wonderfully functioned.

A Healer had looked at her shoulder and after a long talk with Aecius she had left him with an alluring smile.
Oh yes, she had seen his hungry gaze .. Aleytys chuckled quietly. What a game ... she knew he was like wax in her hands.
Before she entered this room she was walking outside, simulating headaches. She found a little boy near the house, giving some coppers to him and the address from the Tavern, handing out a parchment with few words.

" " Aecius and I coming tonight to the great Spring-Ball. You should come, too. I will bring him out to a quiet place... You know what is to be done "

Aecius offered her at the return many clothes for the ball and a serf, to help her with her long hair. She was sure to win this game, but this man was dangerous and Grumius looks mistrustful at her.


" Aleytys my dear... be careful " she was murmuring to herself.

Edward and Ascius rode around some part of the huge town in some distance. They wanted to enter town at a different gate to that one they left it and also get rid of the horses first and do the last meters by foot.
"I think this is a good spot..", Ascius said after a while of riding and stopped his horse, getting down from it. "I say we just let them here. Someone will find them sooner or later. We don't have to care."
Ascius clapped on the butt of the horse slightly so it would begin to walk slowly, away from their position. No one should know they stole the horses, or people could become suspicious. Edward did the same and then smirked. "Well, back to our second home I guess. Tavern." Ascius nodded. "Let's see if the ladies are still there."

They walked into the town normally, as if nothing had happened. The streets were still rather empty to that time, people just didn't notice him, they didn't look too strange after all.

They had to walk for a while because they entered the town at another gate which was more far away from their former meeting point: A Tavern, of course. After about half an hour of walking they finally reached the tavern and entered it. Ascius smiled as he saw Gwendolin sitting there, she was reading some papers. "I'll order some beer.", Edward said and walked to the bar. Ascius nodded and sat at Gwendolins table. She looked up and also smiled, but it was a bitter smile. "Is the first one dead...?", she asked, pondering. Ascius shook his head. "Not quite. I think I should tell you later.."

Gwendolin nodded and she felt some slight relief. She hadn't been decieved in her feelings and thoughts about Ascius.

She peeked over to Edward a moment and waited til he was there with the beer. Nipping at her mead she finally said afterwards:

"Our plan worked well. Aecius was an easy prey for Aleytys. She's now with him at her residence and I'm waiting for to send me informtions. This woman is amazing. She knows how to get on a man on his weak spot.", she grinned a bit and looked to her parchments, as the door opened.

"My father is well too, we spoke and he decided to...", Gwendolin paused as a small boy shyly approached to her.
"Message for you ma'am", he said quietly and held out a piece of parchment. The lady nodded quickly and reached into her pouch, handing the boy some coins.
"Well done, thank you, little one. Do me a favour and wait outside, yes? I will give you a message to bring it back to her."
Quickly the boy put the coins away and headed outside with a smile.

She unfolded the parchment and handed it over to Ascius and Edward then, to read it, not saying it out loud.

• " Aecius and I coming tonight to the great Spring-Ball. You should come, too. I will bring him out to a quiet place... You know what is to be done

"Sounds like a good chance to me. What do you think?"

Edward took a long sip from his beer and nibbled on his lower lip.
He raised a brow and muttered quietly.

"When I asked you to take care of her, this wasn't exactly what I had on my mind.."

He shook his head and then grinned amusedly. His fingers wrapped around the handle of his sword for a moment, before he nodded.

"Sure. Let us play your little game.."

"You'll have to escape back to Gobiath quickly after this deed. People will most likely suspect Aleytys, because she was together with Aecius for the whole evening." Ascius nodded to himself. "Indeed, it might work. This will be the last beer for us tonight, we need our heads clear."

Gwendolin glanced at Edward. "It was her own idea. And she spoke it already before we left the tavern. If you have had any objections to this plan, you should have said them before when you had the chance."

She took a sip from her mead then nodded. "Very well..." , she ripped off a small blank part of parchment and took her feather.

"We will be there." - she wrote upon the notice then stood.
Walking outside of the tavern she looked at the boy who quickly raised as she approached to him. She handed him the note.

"Bring it back to the lady, who gave you the other note before. She will give you some coins."

And with this the boy ran off...

Aecius comes into the room with quiet steps, his eyes widen as he sees her in the Robe.He bows before her
" Princess it will be a pleasure to be with you "Then he moves a bit nearer laying his hand on her waist.
Aleytys rests her eyes in his and smiles, allowing him to be near.
"Aecius you are an attractive Man, the other ladies will be really jealous "

Aecius gives her a cold smile and his voice is unemotional as he speaks " Princess, would you tell me who are *WE* ?? "Aleytys blinks suprised " We ? What you mean Aecius ? "
He takes a parchment out from the pocket of his jacket and holds it in front of her face, at the same time his arm going tight on her waist holding her very strong near to him.


" We will be there "


Aleytys looks at the parchment with a curious glance in her eyes and shrugs. " I have really no Idea Aecius. What you mean..? And please, would you remove your arm from my waist ? "
Aecius smirks coldly and arrogantly, with a despising smile in the corner of his mouth " Grumius had the little boy *Princess* "

Aleytys sighs deeply and with a quick movement a sharp dagger rests on the throat of Aecius. Her voice and face immediately are cold and mocking.
" You should make no move now dear ... not swallow, not speak, only remove very very careful your arm from my waist .. NOW!" Aecius’ eyes are widened in surprised manner and he feels the sharp blade on his throat. He removes his arm from around her slowly.

A voice speaks behind Aleytys. " You should let him go - you have no chance you wench! " Aleytys was sure it was Grumius, the *dog* of Aecius.

" Mmh .. I think a bit differently. Make one movement and he dies... would you risk this ? "

She hears a little sound, like a creak, then the world seems to explode... While all around her begins to swirl fast, with her final strength she thrusts the dagger toward Aecius....

Then, darkness.

Edward moved restlessly inside the tavern. The sun was finally going down and the final rays of light reflected from the wet surface of the street. Night, and the time of the spring ball, was slowly drawing nearer. He turned to Gwendolin, who looked as calm as ever. With a grin he offered his hand to her, while winking to Ascius.

"Lady Cad'ell, may I? We probably should be leaving now.."
His voice became more amused as he continued.
"..You should probably keep your distance to us, Ascius.. So that we can move in undetected. The last thing we would want to do is to scare Aecius away with your hideous looks, my 'brother'."
Edward grinned very broadly and tilted his head slightly staring at the two.

Gwendolin walked down the stairs in her dress for the spring ball. The colour were kept in gold and ochre and her red hair fell freely over her bare shoulders.

Her crystal blue eyes rested on Edwards as she took the last step down and laid her hand upon his. "You may, Sir Cromwell."

She smiled slightly. The concern in her eyes was easy to notice. Gwendolin looked over to Ascius and offered him a loving smile as she said: "Please take my platemail and my sword with you. So I can change.. quickly..."

Ascius nodded. "I will hide them somewhere near the place. Of course I have to attend to see when you begin acting. I will just wear normal clothes and hide from Aecius' and Grumius' eyes." Edward smirked and said teasingly. "If you manage to get inside without a partner, of course." Ascius narrowed his eyes a little. "I will find a way."


Later, the three of them walked towards the location the ball would take place. Ascius only weared normal clothes and had to carry the heavy bag with all the stuff inside, so he most likely looked like a servant. Edward and Gwendolin looked like people going to a ball though, but Ascius thought Edward only did because he had Gwendolin on his side.
When the three had nearly reached the ball house, they stopped shortly. "You two go in first. I will hide this stuff somewhere near and find a way to get inside. I can tell you where I put the weapons later." Gwendolin and Edward nodded. "Well, fair lady, let's get inside and have some dances." Edward grinned and offered his arm to her. Gwendolin chuckled to Ascius, but with an apologetic gaze. Ascius smiled slightly and nodded. The two walked off to the entrance and Ascius submerged in a small lane next to the ball house, hiding the weapons and armour. Now, he had to think of some good excuse to get inside without company and looking like a servant. Inside he would have to be sneaky again, Aecius and Grumius would probably still remember him, so he shouldn't better be seen.

"You do indeed look gorgeous, Gwen", Edward said with a grin as they climbed up the steps leading to the door of the ball house. As soon as he spotted the lackey at the door, he took a more arrogant expression on his face. "What are you standing there for, boy? Open the door now!", he snapped at the poor lad with a commanding voice.

As the lackey rushed to open the door, Edward rolled his eyes and tried to sound very displeased as he remarked to Gwendolin with a voice loud enough for the lackey to hear.
"The servants these days.. I should have him whipped for his lazyness!

The man bowed very deeply as they entered, apparently fearing for a punishment. He asked with fawning and sugary voice, "Sir, and whom shall I announce to have arrived?"

Edward waved his hand dismissively at the man, while keeping his eyes on Gwendolin.
"Do not announce us, servant. We are here simply to dance, hence we are incognito to avoid all the attention. Now begone out of my sight."
The servant bowed deeply again and walked quickly back outside.

The grand hall opened in front of their eyes, filled with noblemen and women, socialites, servants and the creme of the burghers alike. Old, balding men wooing young women one third of their age, arranged to be present just for that purpose. Young men and women with fancy titles and enormous allowances having fun and socializing with eachother. Common parasites, opportunists and pond scum in fancy clothes.. all of them; Edward thought and grinned. In comparison to the other men, the most glaring difference was that the sword on his left side was of the heavy double-edged type, in comparison to the flimsy rapiers favoured by most of the young nobles and other would-be swordsmen present.

He turned his head to Gwendolin with a small grin on his lips.
"Any sight of our friends yet, dear?"

She awakes slowly and in strong pain. Her head seems to explode of pain, in her mouth is the metallic taste of blood. With a moan she tried to open her eyes, but it was so painful. She could hear voices but far away....
After a few deep breathings she tries again to open her eyes. She is still in the same room, Grumius leans on the door frame and in front of him is Aecius, holding his hand on his neck, covered with blood.

" Grumius .. Throwing that bronze Statue at her was a good Idea but this damn whore stabbed me deep in my neck..."
"The healer shall come soon, Legate "

Aleytys closes her eyes again, listening to the conversation. It had been too easy before and it had been a clear mistake to send the little boy back. She only hoped that Gwen would react fast when she noticed Aecius doesn't come...

" We need to know which people are involved... "

Aecius speaks and turns slow to Aleytys. In this moment a Medico arrives hastily into the room and Aecius let him see the wound.

Her thoughts rushing through her martyred head. She knows this man would shown no mercy and no way out .....

" Edward when you really love me you will feel my pain, by all the gods.. Please Gwendolin react fast, very fast "

"Not yet, Edward. We will just have to look around."

Edward nodded to her and they moved on the dance floor, taking a few slow steps together. Neither of them was really concentrating on the dancing but tried to spot either Aecius or Aleytys in the crowd. He was getting more nervous by every minute that passed, a fact that did not go unnoticed by Gwendolin.
"Strange, the walk from Aecius' house shouldn't take this long. It's quite near the ball house", she said with a worried undertone in her voice.

Ascius came in from the door used by servants and walked alongside the wall, trying to look as innoncent as possible. He observed the crowd for a while, before turning his head to the two and shaking his head discreetly. Edward, who was facing Ascius at that moment whispered to Gwen.
"Ascius has not seen them either, dear. Something is wrong.. I have an ominious feeling about this. We should leave now.. Lead us to the house you were speaking of!"

Without any further words, Gwendolin nodded and turned to the door. With quick steps the three marched out, bypassing the baffled lackey on the way. As they reached the street, their fast walking turned into running as Gwendolin led the way in her fancy dress. Soon they stopped and she pointed at the small house in the end of the street.
"That house. Let me put the armor on first.. It'll take just a moment", she said.

After hesitating a short moment, Edward nodded reluctantly. He observed the house with Ascius while Gwendolin was helping herself with the armor.

"Hurry..", Edward said with an impatient voice.

Aecius slapped her with full strength in her face.

" Aleytys you should really speak now.... I have no fun to torture you more. Make it easy for us "



She gives him a cold, unbroken and hatred gaze and then she spat in his face without any word.

Aecius wipes the spittle from his face and slapped her again, this time in wrath a hard fisticuff

Once again darkness .........

Gwendolins thoughts were racing as she strapped on quickly the metal armour. “Not good”, she mumbled and strapped the sword belt around her waist. They needed a plan. It was already growing dark and only the streets were lightened by laterns. There was also light in the house inside… where it was deadly quiet. “There are guards patrolling, we can’t just walk inside in the hope they are al…”, she stopped in the middle of the sentence as her eyes fell on a small stable for the horses. She narrowed her eyes then turned to Edward and Ascius. “I have an idea.. do you see the stable over there?” instead of waiting for a reply she continued. “Wait over there at the bushes. It’s dark enough there. When you see the guards passing you by, then it is your chance to enter. Okay? I will follow afterwards. We will have a small fire here soon.”

She nodded to both of them then quickly made her way to the stable. It wasn’t locked. Sure, why should it? Were there any streets saver than those of Salkamaeria? The armoured woman sneaked inside and took a short look at the oillamp that was hanging at the entrance, then gazed at the small stalls and the horses. She took the lamp from the wall and hurriedly moved to every single of the six stalls and opened the gates for the horses, so they would be able to run out. Moving to the very end of the stable she threw the oil lamp next to some straw. Glass could be heard breaking and the flames of the lamp greedily began to devour the straw. The horses were getting nervous at the growing flames and Gwendolin ran outside.. behind the stable and further to some trees. It didn’t took long and the flames were burning high and the horses were breaking out.
“Fire! Fire”, Gwendolin heared and saw a few people leaving Aecius residence, and some others came around from other directions. They even left the door open in their hurry.

"Our chance", Ascius said to Edward as he saw the burning stable. People were running to the stable, guards were leaving their positions to get water. Ascius and Edward tried to get around the building in shadows as far as possible and then hurried into the house, hoping to not be seen.
Ascius looked around in the neatly arranged room. There were a few doors leading to other, small rooms, but Ascius quickly fixed on the stairs in the middle of the hall. "We might have a look upstairs", he whispered to Edward and moved towards the stairs. They sneaked upstairs as good as possible, which was not really needed because of the noise and chaos outside. The fire grew quickly in the stable and the cracking of the flames was hearable even into the building.

When Edward and Ascius reached the upper floor, their attention was drawn to a bigger door. From the room they could hear someone shouting and also heard a banging noise, as if someone was hitting someone else. They both nodded and drew swords. "We need to be quick..", Ascius whispered. "Ready?", Edward asked.
In the next moment, they hit the door open and rushed into the room a few steps. In front of them they saw Grumius, some medico, Aleytys, who was bonded to a chair and Aecius, who was just raising his hand to hit her again. Now, all of them looked at each other with a most surprised gaze.

"..YOU!", Aecius and Grumius shouted almost simultaneously with their eyes still widened by suprise. Instantly the hand of Aecius begun to reach for his sword. Edward glanced quickly at Aleytys and then to Aecius. His eyes burned with hate as he leaped forward, bypassing baffled Grumius before he could react. He slashed horizontally with the sword in mid air, sweeping the unlucky medico brutally out of the way. His shoulder hit the stomach of Aecius and he tackled the legate on the floor. Edward's sword flew into the corner of the room during the collision, while Aecius had been too slow to pull his shortsword out. It was still sheated in his belt. The two men immediatly began to wrestle on the ground, both desperately trying to get their hands on the sword and prevent the other from getting it.

While the two were wrestling on the ground, Grumius unsheated his shortsword and moved between Ascius and the others in the room.
"I should have finished you myself when I had the chance!", he snarled at Ascius. The badly wounded medico winced on the floor as the two others continued to wrestle, exchanging blows and shouting insults at eachother.

"I should have finished you myself when I had the chance!", Grumiuas shouted. Ascius grinned, nearly insane. "You should have, old friend." Grumius snarled and attacked Ascius with the shortsword. Grumius had truely changed during the years. He had once been a friend of Querius, who had been something like a father for Ascius in the past. "I'm only doing what I have to do. I'm sorry", these had been the words Grumius had told Ascius long years ago, when he had betrayed him and set the trap on him. Such a bad excuse. Everyone is only doing what one has to do, and for now Ascius had to kill Grumius.

The fight was not too long. Ascius, only wearing normal clothes, dodged the first slash of Grumius sword, parrying the second blow. Grumius was quick with his shortsword, but Ascius was well trained from hours and hours of training on Gobiath and full of fury. He cut Grumius on the chest. The blade of the sword cut through the light armor Grumius was wearing, leaving a wound which was a few centimetres deep in the chest of the man. Ascius second blow was a hit with the hilt of the sword into the face of the man. Grumius fell to the ground. Ascius turned for a moment and saw Edward who was still struggling with Aecius. Quickly Ascius grabbed the shortsword of Grumius and stuck it through a loose part of the mans armour, fixing him to the wall. Grumius was hurt badly and would probably not have the power to stand anyway, but it was safer to also fix him to his position now. "Not yet finished with you..", Ascius whispered to Grumius and then turned towards Edward and Aecius.

The two men were struggling on the floor, their hands squeezing the handle of the sword almost desperately. During the struggle, the sword had been pulled out of the sheath and was now between the men. Suddenly Grumius groaned in pain as Ascius slashed him with his sword. Aecius lost his focus for a moment, which was all that Edward needed. He moved his head back, before hitting his forehead hard against Aecius nose. A distinctive sound of bone and gristle breaking could be heard and Aecius groaned as blood gushed from the wound. Edward wrestled the sword to himself, lifted his torso up and struck the sword forcefully through Aecius shoulder into the wooden floorboards, nailing him down on the floor. He screamed in pain, holding his hands over his shattered nose.

"I think you want to finish him, Ascius..", Edward said coldly as he climbed up quickly and rushed to Aleytys, releasing the ropes from around her and giving her a brief, passionate kiss.
"Are you alright, my sunshine?"

Aleytys gives him a weak smile. " I think this damn Bastard has broken my ribs " She begins to cough and a thin bloody fathom runs from the corner of her mouth to her chin. With an annoyed gesture she wipes away the blood and makes an effort to stand up.
She winces short in pain, breathing heavy and closing her eyes.

"Edward, help the others.... Give me time. And when all is finished we should really burn this house down and escape in the following Chaos " And then she speaks with an barely audible voice in his ear " Bring me home......."

Aleytys leans carefully back in the chair still with closed eyes.

So this was the end of it. Ascius stood there, in front of Aecius who was bound to the floor with a sword through his shoulder. Ascius forgot time for a moment and all the years between the betrayal of Aecius and the death of Ascius family rushed through his mind.

He saw the flames. He saw the dead bodies. He saw the small cell which had been his home for such a long time. He saw the shores of Gobiath. He saw the castle ruins of Varshikar and the inner castle itself. He saw Darlok, sitting in the reception hall on his throne. He saw Mairead scream and Maeve grin. And in the end, he saw Gwendolin, but she was parted from the other thoughts. The betrayal, the time in prison, the work for Darlok and his own crimes, they were past. A part of life which was going to end soon, with the death of Aecius. Gwendolin though was a sign for a new part of his life. A sign for a new beginning, hopefully.

It was not yet finished. Ascius kneeled down to Aecius. "Good evening, legate..", he said. "You jerk!", Aecius shouted in return, spitting out some blood. "You will never get away with this!" Ascius chuckled. "I think I already did.", he responded. "You have indeed been very successful, legate.. you have wiped out your enemies very efficient.. but you should have killed me." Ascius looked calmly at him, not awaiting any positive response from Aecius. "Whom do you think you are?! You are nothing!" Aecius coughed up some more blood while saying his words. Ascius smirked slightly and stood, looking around in the room. "We should get lost here soon, 'brother'." said Edward. Ascius just nodded absently and found the oil lamp on the wall. He took it and opened it, empying it over and around the cursing Aecius, who was still fixed to the ground due to the sword through his shoulder. "This is not for me.", Ascius began. "But it is for the ones I loved. You burned their bodies and fires, and now you will burn. Justice will be done." He stood and walked away from the swearing man, walking over to Grumius again.
Grumius was breathing slowly, probably he would pass away soon. Ascius didn't want to burn him alive, for Grumiuas had have at least showed some pity in his gaze when Ascius family was killed. "Good night, old friend.", Ascius said and quickly cut the mans throat. With a tiny gargle life passed away from Grumius and his head dropped.

When Ascius stood again, he realised Gwendolin standing at the door to the room. She looked as if she had just arrived. He looked to Edward and Aleytys. Edward was helping her up. "We should leave, guards may be here soon." Edward said. Ascius nodded and walked over to Gwendolin. "Are they... dead?", she asked with a low voice. Ascius nodded with a slight smile. "Almost.. let's get out of here.. it's done." He sheathed his sword. "Help Edward with Aleytys please, they must leave quickly.. people have seen Aecius and Aleytys together." Gwendolin nodded and turned slowly. Ascius was still smiling. When Aleytys, Edward and Gwendolin walked down the stairs to the main hall and entrance, Ascius turned back to the room. Grumius was dead, but Aecius was still there. He had gone silent, but he was alive. His clothes were wet of oil and also the floor around him. Ascius grabbed a small torch that was hanging on the wall of the room, filling it with light. He threw it on the body of Aecius, which quickly caught fire. Ascius turned to follow the others. Aecius screames went silent when Ascius closed the heavy door to the room with a loud bang.

He walked down the stairs. The whole room would soon be on fire. The deed was finished, and now it was over.

Gwendolins face was blank as she walked down with Aleytys and Edward. Many thoughts were going through her mind and it felt like an enterny til she reached the door, then looking over her shoulder.

"This way", she said quietly and led them into a small street, away from the house and the stable that was extinguished. "I took a bit longer.", she said only but as they entered a small blind alley, they found three horses bound to some posts.
"Aecius horses. Take one or two and hurry."

She looked at the couple and gestured to the horses, then with a small worried look to Aleytys. "I'm sorry Aleytys", Gwendolin said to her.