Chapter 45 – Royal Blood at Odds

Shawn whispered, his voice tight, a bead of sweat forming at his brow. “He knows why we’re here… and he can sense it.”

Makara and Selena froze, their gazes slowly shifting toward Prince Aerion, who stood tall and unshaken. The prince’s lips curled into a knowing smirk, his suspicions confirmed. Slowly, with a deliberate elegance, he raised his hand, signalling with a flick of his wrist.

Suddenly, the rustle of wings shattered the stillness. The forest canopy seemed to waver like a mirage before snapping back, and from that vision a flock of massive eagles plunged toward them at startling speed. Their talons gleamed in the broken shafts of light as they descended, wings slicing the air with a storm-like whoosh that filled the clearing.

“Move!” Shawn shouted, leaping backwards in a swift dive, narrowly dodging the razor-sharp talons of the first eagle as it swooped past him. He hit the ground rolling, his instincts sharp, already preparing for the next attack.

Makara wasn’t as lucky. One of the enormous birds swooped down on him with blinding speed, its claws latching onto his shoulders, lifting him off the ground. He struggled against its grip, but the bird’s strength was overwhelming, hauling him skyward before vanishing into the forest’s mirage. His furious cry echoed behind—“Damn it, not like this!”

Selena deftly sidestepped the first eagle that lunged at her, its talons grazing her cloak as she spun out of reach. Before she could regain her footing, a second eagle swooped in from the side. Its claws missed by a hair, but with swift, predatory precision, it snatched the weapon from her back, flinging it far from her grasp. Her eyes widened in shock as she watched it disappear into the forest mirage. Before she could react, a third eagle—faster and more relentless—dove at her. Its powerful talons sank over her shoulders, lifting her into the air and pulling her in the same direction as the bird that had stolen her weapon.

As the chaos unfolded, Shawn was the only one left standing, watching helplessly as the eagles manoeuvred swiftly, pulling Makara and Selena apart. Prince Aerion descended gracefully from his eagle, his footsteps deliberate as the massive bird took off, its wings creating a gust of wind that whipped around Shawn. Left standing alone, Shawn’s heart raced, his mind struggling to catch up with what had just happened in mere seconds. Selena and Makara were gone, and now he was face-to-face with the second son of King Azure.

Prince Aerion, completely at ease, strolled toward Shawn with an almost unnerving casualness. His tone was calm, yet each word carried a subtle weight. “Now that those two are out of the way,” Prince Aerion said, his voice smooth but laced with authority, “let’s talk.” His piercing white eyes focused on Shawn. “I can sense it—you’re holding a fragment of my father’s sword. I can feel its resonance.”

Shawn instinctively shifted into a defensive stance, his mind racing. Prince Aerion stopped a few steps before him, his regal demeanour unbroken, but his voice now held an edge of suspicion. “Your fellow companion mentioned something about my step-brother, Prince Zhao. That leaves us with two possibilities.” Prince Aerion’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Either he willingly gave you the fragment he was holding, or…” Now Prince Aerion began circling Shawn, keeping his distance, his presence simultaneously predatory and commanding. “…you guys killed him and took it by force.”

Shawn’s muscles tensed, feeling like prey as Prince Aerion continued to circle him, “So, what is it, then?” Prince Aerion demanded.  Each step is measured and calculated. “You see,” Prince Aerion continued, “the fragments of my father’s sword are the only thing capable of mortally wounding him, but they’re useless to anyone else unless it is complete, and no one can forge it into one. Furthermore, no one can wield it, even if someone forges it into one.”

Prince Aerion paused for effect, now directly behind Shawn, his words sinking in like a slow-acting poison. “So,” he mused, “How come you are holding one of my father’s sword fragments, and what are your intentions behi…?”

Shawn’s mind raced for a solution. He needed to buy time, to come up with something clever. And in a moment of desperate inspiration, he decided to try one of Makara’s more reckless strategies. Cutting off Prince Aerion’s speech, Shawn abruptly interrupted, his voice steady but tinged with just the right amount of urgency.

“Exactly, Prince Aerion, you’re right,” Shawn blurted out, turning to face him. “No one can use the sword fragments. That’s why your brother entrusted it to us.”

Prince Aerion paused mid-step, intrigued by the sudden shift in Shawn’s demeanour. Shawn pressed on, his words coming faster now. “Prince Zhao knew the fragments were no use to anyone but he also understood the danger these fragments posed if they fell into the wrong hands, so he entrusted us for safekeeping. Also, we’ve been tasked with gathering the remaining pieces from all his siblings and hiding them away in a secure location until the war is over.”

Prince Aerion’s eyes narrowed as he stopped circling, his gaze locked onto Shawn. There was a moment of tense silence, Prince Aerion processing Shawn’s story, weighing every word.

Prince Aerion paused, momentarily taken aback by Shawn’s audacity. A brief look of surprise flickered across his face, as if Shawn’s words had struck a chord. Prince Aerion’s lips parted slightly, his eyes gleaming with something akin to curiosity. For a fleeting moment, it seemed like Shawn might have found a way in.

“First of all,” Prince Aerion began, resuming his slow, deliberate pace, “Never interrupt me again.” His tone was calm, yet there was an unmistakable undertone of warning. “And secondly, did my brother actually come up with this idea?” He chuckled softly, shaking his head. “If Prince Zhao truly said this, then I suppose I should just hand it over to you. After all, he’s the firstborn, isn’t he? My elder step-brother. The Crown Prince of the Azurian kingdom,” Prince Aerion’s voice dripped with sarcasm as he continued, “He’ll be the future king, and obviously, I’m supposed to obey him as his fellow subject.”

Shawn felt a moment of cautious optimism. Maybe, just maybe, this conversation was steering in his favour, but just as he dared to believe that, Prince Aerion suddenly halted, his posture tensing, and in one swift movement, he spun to face Shawn, his voice erupting into a thunderous shout that echoed throughout the chamber.

“EXCEPT I DON’T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THAT BASTARD SON OF A BITCH!!!”
Prince Aerion’s roar reverberated through the air, sharp and venomous.
“I HATE HIM!”
He spat, his eyes blazing with a hatred that seemed to burn brighter with every word.
“I HATE HIM, so much so that I don’t give a damn about anything he says!“