1st person POV.....
I open my eyes.
The first thing I see is an unfamiliar a ceiling.
My minds flashes the memories and I remember the incident.
My mind is in chaos.
I try to stand up but by body too weak to even flinch.
But the nervousness swallow me up. I feel pain in my heart not being able to see the one I want to see the most.
I forcefully move my body. "Stand up!", is what I say in my head.
"You mustn't move."
I hear an anxious voice. A familiar one.
Her face nervous and her voice pretty weak.
Her dark stained eyes indicates her restlessness.
It was Ynnefer.
He held my hand tight m=not allowing me to move my body.
I glance at my state.
I was in a mess, bandages all over the body.
With my all strength I whisper in a low voice,
"How is she?"
She is my top priority right now. this restless can't go away as long as I don't know her state.
"She was in critical condition. If you were even a minute late, she would have died. She will be okay"
"I see."
Not having strength to move I turn my head to the ceiling.
"You should rest.", she says worriedly.
Now that I have come to know her state, my anxiousness reduced and I sleep again pretty satisfied.
_____________
I open my eyes.
God knows how long have I been asleep.
I look through the window, it was already night.
I was able to move a bit now. Seems like my wounds healed to some extent.
Looking around I feel a warm sensation on my hand.
Someone was holding my hand tightly.
It was Ynnefer.
She was sleeping beside me holding my hand. Her beautiful eyes closed giving a hint of sadness and worry.
"I am sorry I worried you too much."
I mutter holding her hand with my other.
Noticing the subtle movement she shakes her eyes.
In next instant, her eyes opens, dark circles indicates her restless nights.
"You-Are you okay?"
That was the first thing she says when she wakes up.
"Yeah, I am sorry for worrying you."
I say with a bit pained expression. It still hurts to speak.
Tears fills her eyes as she jumps to hug me.
"Ran!!!"
She says before breaking down in tears. I reciprocate by patting her back gently.
"Don't worry! I am okay now."
She breaks the hug, feeling slightly embarrassed she averts her eyes clutching her hands.
"I got the record that woman had when changing her clothes. So I know the basic idea of what you went through."
"About that-"
"Now is not the time."
She holds my hand and looks into my eyes.
Serious and authoritative.
"I am truly happy for what you did. But Ran, never do this again. This is an order."
"Whatever you wish Lady Ynnefer."
* * * * * * * * *
The room was dark, lit only by the flicker of candles surrounding the massive round table. Eight chairs formed a circle one of them was empty, permanently.
Osiris Le Skyford sat at the head of the table, his fist clenched so tightly his knuckles were white.
One of the Seven Commanders was dead.
And worse—
His own brother.
Gone.
Murdered.
"This… is a disgrace," he said, with fury.
The six other commanders sat in silence, not daring to speak first. Robert, his advisor, the thin old man in dark robes, stood beside him, reading the report.
"We recovered fragments of clothes, some meat scraps and bones of one of our guards at the dump area. Incinerated, probably murdered"
Osiris raised his head slowly.
"Name?"
"Ralsen. He was assigned to patrol the upper floor. Last seen two days before the auction."
"A coincidence?"
Osiris asked, staring at the others.
"Or… a spy."
Silence..
"You're telling me,"
Osiris continues abruptly
"That someone infiltrated my manor. Killed one of my guards. Took his disguise. Collected information about the auction. AND escaped. THEN stopped the auction. KILLED one of my brother. All under your collective noses?"
No one answered.
He slammed his fist on the table, shaking the glasses.
"You useless bastards!!"
The room jumped.
Osiris stood now, his eyes wild.
"I gave you resources. I gave you men. And still, we lost two important things in one night. Do you know what this means? Do you?"
Robert stepped forward, speaking calmly.
"We believe suspect was planted weeks ago. Possibly received help from the outside."
Osiris glared.
"Like who?"
"The Montello family," Robert said.
"There was an unauthorized guest spotted at the auction. They worked with the suspect. A survivor reported that the gender was female. White hair. Age early 20s. Used dagger."
"That feature seems familiar?"
Osiris paused, then gritted his teeth.
"Dawn Montello."
"Most likely."
"That sums it up. Montello family have large network of spies. Using the authority of 2nd daughter, she probably pinpointed the location."
"Indeed."
"But our slave market is extremely hidden. How did she know the location so quickly?"
"The suspect might have given her the information."
"That's possible."
Osiris paced now.
"That family's been too quiet lately. They might have realized my intentions by now. I am postponing my marriage. I need to deal with Montellos first."
Robert nodded.
"With your permission, we can dispatch a network of spies to identify her whereabouts."
Osiris stopped pacing.
"No, time is running out."
He looked up, fire in his eyes.
"No more hiding. No more creeping in the shadows. If they want war…"
He looked at the table.
"Then we'll give them one."
He turned to the commanders.
"I am going to visit Von Kizer family. In the meantime, I want our next move planned by the time I return. Lock down all internal ranks. Check every file, every face, every uniform. If even one mole is left inside this manor, I'll burn this place to the ground myself. Brothers and sisters, our family is at stake."
And in the silence, Osiris sat back down, his fingers tapping the edge of the table like a ticking clock.
War was coming.
And he planned to crush every last traitor under his heel.