Caius could make out figures as he rode deeper into the woods. Just how far did she go? He had lost count of how many tis Rose had scread. This wasn’t completely true—Caius knew exactly how many he’d heard, and with every scream, the fear he felt worsened.
He pushed the horse, not caring if it couldn’t go any faster. As Caius got close, his eyes moved around, trying to find her. His gaze zoned in on a figure folded on the cold ground, her red hair scattered over her body.
His eyes darkened as he got closer, and Caius was already reaching for his sword. He turned his eyes to the bandits, and then everything slowed. Caius could count five n standing, ready to attack him—but that wasn’t what made him pause.
No.
It was the figure standing only a few feet away from Rose with a sneer on his face. Caius would recognize that scar anywhere. After all, he was the one who gave it to him.
"Well, well, well," Ryder yelled. "What do we have here? If it isn’t our little prince. Hehehe. You’ve grown."
Caius stopped the horse abruptly, pulling on its reins. The horse skidded over the uneven floor, and Caius jumped off the horse even before it completely stopped.
"Ryder," Caius spat out bitterly.
Ryder took a deep breath and tilted his head from side to side. "I’ve told you to call my na with respect. I am your senior, after all."
The n were confused as they looked from Ryder to Caius, unsure if they should attack, but their leader looked relaxed and wasn’t giving any orders.
"What are you doing here?" Caius snarled and glanced past at Rose. She moved a little, and he sighed in relief. She was alive.
"I’m sure you can take a guess," Ryder said as he opened his arms wide.
Caius scanned the crew—there was no doubt about it. These were the bandits he was looking for. But not once would he have guessed that a mber of the band of rcenaries he had joined would be part of the bandits.
Caius frowned. Ryder was clearly not a rcenary anymore. rcenaries weren’t bandits. They took up the odd jobs no one wanted—as long as the pay was good. They didn’t attack carriages and take their goods unless it was a job. This thought made Caius pause.
"A bandit," Caius said, the grip on his sword tightening. He scoffed.
"What can I say? I have to go where the business is," Ryder replied with an unapologetic smile.
Caius narrowed his eyes. "Give her to and you all can leave," Caius said. Rose was the important one here. He never thought he would ever run into Ryder here but he refused to be distracted.
He didn’t plan to let them leave, but he needed to ensure that Rose was safe first, and right now, Ryder was standing between her and him. He could tell she was injured. Her clothes were intact, which gave him so semblance of relief.
He couldn’t see her face with the way she was curled up on the ground, but he knew she was in pain. He knew exactly what Ryder was capable of. The man wouldn’t go easy on her simply because she was a woman.
Caius’ vision blurred. Forget about capturing, he would kill them all here, right now.
"This?" Ryder asked and threw out his leg, striking Rose’s leg. She yelled and pulled her legs closer to herself.
Caius’s grip on his sword tightened. The urge to run forward and pierce his sword through Ryder’s chest was so strong, Caius had to bite the inside of his cheek to regain so control.
"Why do you want her?" Ryder asked, enjoying the look on Caius’s face. "She’s not so noble, is she? Besides, don’t you think you’re being a little rude? We haven’t seen each other in what, six years? And this is how you speak to your senior, especially when you left such a gift."
Ryder traced the scar across his face and licked his lips. "You know, I did think of returning the favor—but Papa already did that, didn’t he?" Ryder moved his hand to his chin, mocking Caius.
Caius didn’t even flinch. "Fifty thousand gold coins," he yelled.
Ryder narrowed his eyes. "Do you have it with you?" he asked.
Caius shook his head. "But you will get it—and be on your way out of Futherfield."
"Do you still think I’m stupid? I know the exact reason you’re here is to hunt us. Why would you let us go and even give us such a ridiculous amount? Or wait—is she..." He paused and glanced at Rose. "That important?" Ryder’s sneer widened. "I thought I heard sothing about this matter. On second thought, I think I’ll keep her."
"Ryder!" his subordinate called again.
"Shut up!" He glared at him, then turned to the crown prince. "If you leave now, I might consider sparing your life. You’re still the crown prince of Velmount. It would be a sha if you died here."
Caius took a step forward, then rushed toward the nearest man, striking him across the chest. The man didn’t see it coming and was too slow to protect himself. Caius’s sword sank deep, slashing across him. Unlike him, none of them wore armor.
Ryder pulled out his sword with excitent. "You always liked to take on fights you couldn’t win."
The man Caius struck fell to the ground, and the rest of the n rushed at him—including Ryder.
It didn’t take long for Caius to realize it would be useless to try to have a conversation with Ryder. Besides, he already knew he wasn’t getting out of this without a fight.
Taking out the n with Ryder wouldn’t be a problem. It was Ryder he had to worry about. He was a veteran rcenary, and Caius had only won one fight with him—and that was by playing dirty. However, this was a long ti ago. Things were different now.
Caius decided to take care of the extras first so he could fight Ryder alone. He flipped his sword, wiping the blood off, as he got into position, ready to fight.
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