CHAPTER 109: THE ORDER

With the sun shedding its shyness from the cloud, the entire estate of Rhane glowed in full brightness of day. Some of the servants stepped in with stacks of dried fronds, using them to wrap dead bodies and dragging them away.

By their actions and blank expressions, it wasn’t the first time they witnessed death in the estate, but maybe it was the first time seeing a pile of them all at once.

"Excuse me, Milady," one of the servants said, bending to pick up a sword that lay next to Jenna’s feet.

"Oh—" Jenna shifted her leg, returning her gaze to Rhane, who now spoke to two of his men in a hushed voice. It was time for her to leave with the council, and she couldn’t imagine being separated from Rhane.

It was ironic, Jenna thought to herself. A few nights ago, she wanted to return to her normal life. But now she didn’t want to know what her life would look like without Rhane in it.

When Rhane returned to her side, Jenna grabbed his hand.

"Will you really come for me?" Jenna asked for the second time.

Rhane nodded, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. "If you’ll wait for me," he rubbed her hair.

"Lady Jenna, we should leave now," a councilwoman reminded.

Jenna closed her eyes for a brief moment and sighed. She still had a lot of things to say to Rhane, like how she was also now sure she wanted to be with him. And mostly, if they had ever met in the past as her father had accused.

"Rhane, did you—" Jenna paused, her eyes glued to that one Rhane’s. Asking Rhane meant she doubted him, and if nobody else didn’t. She knew what doubt could do to a person’s soul. It starts as a little speck of corruption, then swallows a perosn whole.

"I trust you, Rhane, and I’ll be waiting for you..." her voice trailed. Turning her feet, Jenna made sure to squeeze Rhane’s arm before she followed the carriage set for her.

Rhane found his feet moving towards the carriage, but he was stopped by a councilman.

"You shouldn’t be seen with her anymore."

Glaring down at the hand that tried to stop him, Rhane was about to say something, but his attention diverted. Jenna now waved from inside the moving carriage, sticking out her head from the window in the process.

"Bloody hell," Rhane cursed loudly. "Don’t make me regret letting you out of my sight. Back inside! Before I turn the whole damned carriage around."

The councilman that stood in front of Rhane flinched at the growl, low timbre voice. He wasn’t the one being scolded, but he stopped moving.

Enjoying the look on Rhane’s face, Jenna waved again before finally slipping into the carriage with a sly smile.

Once the carriage left the estate, Rhane let out a tired exhale. He turned his head to the left and nodded. Two of his own men mounted their horses, following Jenna.

Rhane was about to leave when he noticed someone stood still beside him.

"She’s left, what are you doing here?" Rhane asked dryly. He no longer saw reason to speak with any member of the council with respect.

The man sputtered, pointing at the gate, then at the ground where Rhane stood. Every one of them had seen how Rhane fought. He was a beast uncontained when handed a sword, and that alone sent enough message. "I— um... the council asked you move into Brown’s Manor."

"Will the dead bodies clean themselves?" Rhane asked with a bored stare.

The councilman shook his head, afraid that silence would annoy him.

"Very well then," Rhane patted the man’s shoulder and squeezed hard enough to cause him to recoil. "I will be in the manor three days from now...Do you find fault with it?"

"N-no... I will let them know," the man stammered, feeling the pressure of Rhane’s hand get even more intense with each squeeze.

"Mm," Rhane hummed before letting go of the man. He watched the man scurry without looking back out of the estate.

Rhane casually sauntered into the estate, undoing the buttons of his shirt. Feeling someone’s presence behind, he turned his head to the side but didn’t stop.

"Will you speak your mind?"

Kali jumped forward, now standing in front of Rhane, but she didn’t stop walking. She eyed her brother suspiciously.

"I know I lose my damned mind sometimes, but you’re worse," Kali snapped. "One breath it’s peace, the next we’re drowning in blood. You love her that much, do you?"

Rhane’s lips curled at the mention of Jenna.

"Well, would you look at that?" Kali scoffed, shaking her head. "Best keep your answer to yourself." She slipped aside from Rhane’s path but kept pace at his side.

"Felt good, seeing fear in Nikolai’s eyes. If not for you, he’d be rotting already. Believe it." Kali shrugged, smearing the blood from her face.

Rhane smiled at his sister, ruffling her hair. Lately, he was not seeing her as the tough wild girl she wanted to be; she was getting softer.

Kali scowled, shoving Rhane’s hand off. "Do I look a hound to you?" She straightened her collar, eyes narrowing. "And you truly mean to throw yourself in that tournament? Fool’s idea, if you ask me." She hadn’t expected Rhane to agree to something she thought of on a whim.

"Which is why I didn’t," Rhane drawled.

Kali snarled. "Aye, they’ll be rattled to the bone after last night. I’ll set more men to—"

"You’ll stay put, Kali," Rhane cut in.

She froze, her eyes narrowed. "Brother! You’d march into the viper’s den and lay yourself out like meat on the spit?"

"I would not also leave my home open for the enemy to walk in and sit on my throne," Rhane replied. He wasn’t sure what would happen during the tournament, but he just didn’t trust his father either.

Kali opened her mouth to argue but stopped.

"If I’ll bring Jenna back, we’ll need a home and also a place to be welcomed," Rhane continued. "Will you do that for me, Kali?"

Kali hesitated but still nodded. "Love should be replaced with madness," was all she said with a weary sigh.

Rhane smiled, ruffling her hair again, only for her to curse. He also didn’t want to take Kali down with him if things should go haywire. She deserved her own life.

"I need to rest before dusk," Rhane muttered, stretching his body to the side. He felt a slight pain in his stomach but didn’t make a sound.

Kali grinned. "I’ll drown in warm water," she bragged.

"First get your wound treated," Rhane warned. Getting to his own room, he entered and closed the door.

Kali scrunched her face. "Acting like he didn’t get a stab himself." She scoffed. "And where is Percy?" Kali asked herself before going her own way.