Supreme Magus

Even if a Royal Constable did believe Mak, no judge would have trusted the word of a criminal caught red-handed over that of a loyal servant of the Kingdom without solid evidence to support his claims.

"What about your friend? The one who set the magical protections of this place? What does he or she look like?" Lith asked.

"He looks like an average guy. Just like you." Mak replied. "But he is strong. Not as strong as you, but too much for someone of his size."

’We’d better leave.’ Solus said. ’There was a silent alarm hidden among the arrays. Whoever conjured the magical formations has been notified of their destruction the moment we took them down.

’If this mysterious mage comes here and is as powerful as Mak says, you won’t be able to exert your full power while protecting the prisoner. In our hidden enemy’s shoes, I’d kill Mak rather than rescue him.

’Without his testimony, Keyla would still be in hot water, and the investigation will fail. We need him to link Baron Carkas to the Blood Axes and both of them to the mysterious friend.

’Also, don’t forget you are considered the best tracker in the Kingdom. Whoever is behind Mak can’t let him live nor risk you identifying him, or you could follow his trail and expose his involvement in the other regions as well.’

"This will do. For now." Lith nodded.

’Anything I should know before we leave, Solus?’ He also thought.

’Nothing magical, if that’s what you mean.’ She replied. ’The gold was in the vault, so there shouldn’t be anything valuable left around.’

"My axes." Mak said, his voice as broken as his spirit. "Please, don’t leave them behind. They are all I have left."

The sounds of battle had died down along with the members of the Blood Axes. Only twelve Demons were storming the fortress, but each had the power of a bright-violet core Awakened and couldn’t be killed.

"Sure." Lith retrieved the partially self-repaired weapons, but not out of the goodness of his heart.

’I went a little overboard from not seeing Ral in days. Without Mak’s signature weapons, no one will believe that this sobbing mess is the infamous Mad Ax who terrified Ghishal for months.’

Lith Spirit Blinked out of the fortress and then Warped towards Ghishal’s capital, Derana, where Keyla currently resided. He flew there at Dragonspeed while carrying Mak like a sack of potatoes and breaking whatever was left of his sanity.

When Lith arrived at the city’s outskirts, the bandit king had long since fainted. His eyes had rolled back into his skull, and he foamed at the mouth.

Lith entered through an open window, landing in the middle of the countess’ study, where she was discussing her latest plans to ensure Ghishal’s survival until spring with her most trusted aides.

"Hi, Keyla." Lith said in front of his flabbergasted noble audience.

Countess Lark was about to call the guards when she remembered about Lith’s disguise and recognized his voice.

"This is Mak the Mad Ax, the leader of the gang who tormented you, the Blood Axes. He was in cahoots with Baron Carkas, and they both received help from a mage I’ve not yet identified."

Lith dropped the contents of the fortress’ vault into an empty corner of the room and had Baron Carkas’ paper rolls form a pile on Keyla’s desk.

"Call you-know-who to collect and examine the evidence. I’m going to arrest Carkas before the mastermind who helped him stage the coup makes him disappear. Bye!"

Keyla was still staring at the treasure, the papers, and the unconscious burly man on her carpet when Lith bolted out the same way he had come in.

"Who was that man, Your Ladyship?" Chamberlain Feritha asked, pointing out the window. "What’s the meaning of this?"

Keyla quickly regained her composure, studying her aides’ reactions and checking whether anyone among them was more scared than surprised by the sudden turn of events.

"Why don’t we ask Captain Rolthias?" Keyla asked. "You have been staring at our prisoner from the moment he was dropped on our doorstep. You should be relieved that the crisis is over and we can finally feed our citizens, yet you seem awfully worried.

"It doesn’t make sense. Unless you are an accomplice of Baron Carkas and the one who leaked the caravans’ secret routes that Carkas passed on to the Mad Ax, of course."

"I am relieved, Your Ladyship. I’m just surprised and confused like the rest of my esteemed colleagues." Rolthias said, but he became even paler, and his voice trembled so much that not even a blind man would believe him.

"Guards!" Keyla pressed the alarm on her desk, summoning the elite soldiers of her personal guard. "Arrest Rolthias and detain him in the dungeon for treason. Do not let anyone approach him for any reason and place two guards inside his cell at all times."

"Yes, my liege." The soldiers moved in lockstep, surrounding and neutralizing their former captain before he could unsheathe his blade. "What about him?"

They pointed at Mak and his axes.

"Arrest and detain him too, but handle him with care." Keyla said. "I’m afraid his sanity hangs by a thread, and I need him. For now."

***

Lith had contacted Kamila and Jirni on his way to Derana, just like he had Solus chart the quickest route to Baron Carkas’ estate.

’His fief is not too far from Ghishal’s capital.’ Solus pointed out. ’If Jirni is right and this was all part of a coup, it makes sense. Only a noble near Derana and who controls several major trading hubs of Ghishal can hope to replace Keyla.

’The Royals would never consider entrusting a county to someone who lives in the middle of nowhere and is not already deeply involved with the political scene of the Distar Marquisate.’

’Good point, but let’s save your in-depth analysis until after the mission.’ Lith replied. ’I had almost forgotten you’re a chatterbox when your life is not on the line.’

’Meanie!’ Solus telepathically pouted. ’I was just trying to warn you that this Carkas might be old money and nobility. Maybe even older than the Larks. His magical formations might be a tough nut to crack, especially after getting his share of the profits and receiving a hand from our hidden enemy.’

’It’s a good thing I haven’t dismissed my Demons, then.’ Lith said. ’Also, you could have cut to the chase and spared me the lecture.’

’And now you’re being rude!’ Solus grunted. ’These telepathic conversations last less than a second. Am I so boring that you feel the need to tell me to shut up?’

’I’m sorry, Lith. I swear she wasn’t like this back in the day, or I would have added a mute button to the tower.’ Ripha chimed in from her feather.

’What side are you on, Mom?’ Solus snorted.

’Mine!’ Ripha replied. ’You haven’t stopped talking for one second ever since we got the loot. I just want to hear my own thoughts instead of having yours filling my mind.’

’I’m sorry to interrupt your brilliant conversation, but it’s time to get to work.’ Valia cleared her throat in embarrassment. ’Lith has just brought us to our destination.’

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