Chapter 89 Eighty-nine.

Chapter 89 Eighty-nine.
At Maya's words, Kael looked down at the center before surveying the surroundings. I followed suit, eyeing the various Chigaru soldiers around the area. The place was guarded and they, in a sense, had hostages. We'd have to be careful.

"We'll take advantage of the element of surprise we have," Kael spoke, and we nodded, focusing in as he spoke, eager to know what to do to help these villagers.

"The plan?" Ayla squeaked out from beside me, her tepid gaze on the brawny soldiers, and Kael followed suit before turning back to us with his steely gaze.

"Ayla, you stay here on upper ground and shoot down any immediate danger. Remember, we need to be discreet." He began, and Ayla nodded firmly before he turned his gaze to Abrax and pointed toward the left side of our view.

"Abrax, take the left side and Maya the right. Close in from there to the center and keep watch over the women and children. Remove any threats." He gestured to Maya at the end, and they both nodded simultaneously before he turned his gaze to us.

I smiled slightly as his sun-lit eyes landed on me. He looked at me for a moment or two before his gaze flitted to Rhydian.

"Rhydian, take the north side and take Aeryn with you. Those male villagers will need healing. Remember, try to be as quiet as you can." He instructed, and Rhydian looked to the north, a blank expression on his face.

"And you?" he simply asked, to which Kael eyed the far side where a lot of the Chigaru were congregated.

"I'll handle the far side." He answered just as simply, and that was that. Rhydian looked as though he would protest, but he just stood up and walked back to the stairwell, stopping slightly at the end, and I realized he was waiting for me. I moved to get up as did the rest, but the feel of a warm grip against my arm made me halt, and I looked to the familiar hazel eyes in question.

"He won't let you get hurt." Kael reassured himself more so than me, and I smiled at his caring nature before raising an eyebrow.

"Well, that all depends on if I annoy him or not, so don't hold too much hope yet." I joked in an attempt to diffuse the solemn atmosphere. Kael smiled at my words, something I found that I had truly missed for the last few days, before he gestured to the stairwell.

"Then, I won't keep you for too long. Rhydian isn't a man of patience." He joked back much to my relief, making me giggle, and Kael's smile widened. I placed my free hand over his that was gripping my wrist, the smile still on my face.

"We can get through this." I reassured quietly so only he could hear, and I knew that he could tell I wasn't just talking about this battle. He nodded, his hand squeezing slightly at my wrist before he let go, and I took the action as a small farewell, making my way to the stairwell.

Rhydian had already moved down the stairwell by then, leaning against the bottom wall as I made my way down. At this point, he would have usually taunted or mocked me for my lateness, but such words never came, and I watched as he walked silently toward our destination, expecting me to follow him. I did so somberly, seemingly missing his mocking nature. Often, it had gotten on my nerves and I would always bite back, yet now our source of laughter had gone and only silence remained.

We waded through the housing, Rhydian surveying the area before gesturing for me to follow, and I complied, gazing around at the narrow alley we entered. It was slightly narrow, so much so that it was grazing against Rhydian's broad shoulders, but not touching me. I kept my double sword in front of me as we walked, watching as Rhydian eyed the random shops we passed, an indistinct turmoil in his eyes. It's a look I quickly likened to when we had transported to Earth and I had eyed the familiar streets, a hint of nostalgia from a dark time. Although I knew, for Rhydian, it was probably worse. He had held the memories back behind a dam, and now, coming back here, he was trying his hardest to keep it in place when it would have been best to let the water roam free. I knew then he couldn't do it alone so, despite my fear, I spoke.

"So, this is the infamous Withania province?" I randomly whispered the question, making Rhydian tense, his eyes cold as he looked to me. I had anticipated his reaction, but cowered anyway, clearing my throat as I continued.

"Is this where she raised you?" I tepidly asked, meeting his cold gaze, and I saw a muscle twitch in his jaw, which was the only show of emotion.

"Whatever you're trying to do, Aeryn, stop. I'm not in the mood." He muttered tiredly, his dull gaze scanning the surroundings as he continued walking, and I tutted at his words.

"I'm not trying to do anything. I'm just asking a question." I grumbled back, but was met with silence as Rhydian chose not to respond. At this, I tutted again, kicking at a small pebble.

"I just wanted to know what she was like." I mumbled out, to which Rhydian stopped suddenly, and I hit against his back. He turned slowly to look at me, and I hesitantly looked up to meet his steady gaze, his hair in front of his eyes as he looked down at me.

"Why can't you ever leave it alone?" He muttered, his eyes scanning my face for an answer I couldn't even provide. Instead, I gave a small shrug, my eyes looking into his own.

"Because leaving you alone won't help you. And, I want to help." I admitted, my voice gentle as though I was testing the waters. Rhydian looked at me still, his eyes scanning me again before he sighed, shaking his head.

"She was the only reason I stayed in this shithole." He muttered before turning to walk, but I held tight to his arm, making him tense as he looked to me again with his silver gaze.

"If this place is just a shithole then why does it affect you so much?" I countered, to which he sighed loudly, pulling his arm out of my hold.

"A lot happened here, Aeryn. I can't just wish it away." He bit out, his hand notably tightening on his glaive, and I nodded in understanding, moving closer. He looked up at this, his gaze fixing me in place as he continued.

"She was the only one who didn't treat me like I was nothing. This place reminds me that she's gone; it reminds me of how alone I am." He said coldly, his gaze fixed on me, and I instinctively placed a hand against his as it rested on the glaive. He looked down at my bid to comfort him.

"If you think so much of her then why let this place mar the memories you have of her? You should remember this place as the place where she cared for you; don't let anything else interfere with that." I absconded, and he looked to me at my words, his eyes glinting much like the moon. It was a long moment that passed as he looked to me, and I gulped nervously as he shook his head.

"I don't know what to make of you, Aeryn." He muttered, his cold eyes scanning my face, and I smiled widely in response to his words, raising an eyebrow.

"That I'm amazing and the bestest friend to ever exist?" I questioned jokingly, and he raised an eyebrow at my words, opening his mouth to speak, but the sound of muffled screaming made us snap our gazes toward the end of the alley we were standing in. He spared a last look to me before turning and walking through. I followed him as he did so, making sure to keep my double sword away from the walls so as to not alert anyone of our presence.

It seemed a good minute or two before we reached the exit and Rhydian halted, peering out. I came to his side, peering out at the around forty Chigaru soldiers who were too enthralled and engrossed in shouting foreign words at the male villagers, whips in hand, and I found that my fists clenched in frustration. The men were hoisted up on a long branch, the color draining from their arms that were held with ropes. Rhydian picked his glaive up slightly, his cold gaze still on the scene in front of him.

"Watch my back; I'll watch yours." He instructed vaguely, and I turned to him in shock as I processed his words. The very thought that a formidable fighter like Rhydian was asking for my support had me gaping; I couldn't help him even though I wished to. I was weak. I shook my head, my eyes anxious at what he expected from me.

"Rhydian, I can't h…" I began, but Rhydian cut me off with a sigh, nudging his weapon against my own.

"If I trust you, why can't you trust yourself?" He said coldly, his words so simple but doing so much. I felt myself smile unwillingly, but Rhydian didn't pay heed to this, looking back at the soldiers. It was something about how certain he was with what he said that made me nod.

"Let's do it." I whispered back, an edge to my voice, and Rhydian wasted no time, moving forward at such an agile speed that I didn't even have time to blink. Before the soldiers could even process, he had jumped up before landing flat on a soldier, his weapon wedged deep into the man's chest.

"Aeryn." He called out, signaling me over as he lifted his lethal weapon up.

I wasted no more time then, moving in as the soldiers converged in toward Rhydian. A soldier caught sight of me, running toward me, and I tightened my hold on my sword as he approached. He swung his longsword, and I responded by lifting mine to defend. He was much weaker than Kael, and I pushed him off with a little force before slashing upward, hitting against his chin in a vicious stroke, and he stumbled backward, reaching up to grab at the blood oozing from his jaw. I took the distraction to dig the sword into his chest, making him still and choke. He stilled finally, and I took the sword out roughly, squinting as the blood sprayed out, hitting my face.

The ground rocked slightly, and I wavered slightly where I stood, watching as Rhydian's eyes glowed in the distance, causing boulders of sand to lift out of the ground and throw soldiers' bodies through the air. The ones that fell next to me, I ended quickly with a quick jab of my sword. Others avoided the boulders with hurried movements, running in with their weapons, and I followed after, weapon raised. Dodging the attacks, I ducked under their arms until I was beside Rhydian in the center of the bustle. A soldier raised a leg and kicked against my form, causing me to stumble to the ground. He smiled at this, and I scowled before using my own leg to slide his legs out from under him. He landed with a loud thud, and I moved hurriedly up, crawling across his form before grabbing the small dagger at my belt and plunging it into his side.

He spluttered at this and I twisted it, grimacing as I heard the squelch. Suddenly, I was lifted by my waist, and I struggled as they tightened an arm around my neck, making my breathing labored. I gritted my teeth as I felt his stench overwhelm me before bringing the hilt of the dagger up and hitting it against his kneecap, where Kael had said there was a sensitive spot. I heard a crack before he released me, gripping his knee, and I turned just as Rhydian moved behind him, snapping his neck with a swift turn of his head.

He looked to me then, the blood spattered against his face, and I looked to the seven remaining soldiers that I knew he could handle with ease. I gazed to the large branch that held the villagers up. It was too high, and I looked to Rhydian, who seemed to understand without words. We both moved forward together toward the soldiers and villagers. They ran in at this, but their legs sinking into the sand stopped them, and I looked to Rhydian's hair blowing in the non-existent wind before turning and twirling my double sword, letting it slash against the enemies that stood helpless. Even then, I felt no remorse. The villagers were helpless and they didn't care. Their screams echoed across, and I knew there was no need to be silent anymore.

"Come here." Rhydian instructed as we neared the tree, and I complied, inhaling sharply as Rhydian grabbed me by my waist and threw me up until I landed against the tall branch where the men were hoisted up. I wasted no time, lifting my sword up. The villagers' eyes widened slightly at this as I brought my weapon down on the first rope, causing the frail man to hurtle through the air. Rhydian caught him instinctively before placing him on the ground, and I continued bringing my weapon down as Rhydian caught them just as quick. I moved to the branch on the other side and continued until all twenty were down.

When the last man had been dropped, I looked down to Rhydian, who merely extended his arms, and I only nodded before falling, the wind hurtling through my hair. It seemed like a decade passed, and then I felt the warmth of arms around me, turning instinctively to Rhydian, who held me bridal style. My cheeks tinted slightly, but I smiled in thanks, to which his eyes traced my face before he moved to put me down. I turned my attention to the men then, who were looking at us in a mixture of awe and fear. I soon realized that the fear was directed to Rhydian, and I recalled that they knew who he was. Rhydian, on the other hand, ignored this, his voice firm as he spoke.

"Where are the other men?" he asked, his voice impassive, and I looked around curiously. The women and children were all in the center, and only twenty men were here. They stayed quiet for a moment, but one man cleared his throat with a cough, his face bloodied and bruised.

"T-they had kept us all in a prison they made where there was no light or sound. They'd pull out a few of us a day and t-teach us a lesson." He uttered out meekly, and I stilled at what the Chigaru had done. Rhydian only nodded in response, not sparing any emotion.

"And where is this prison?" he merely asked, to which the man lifted a frail finger to the desolate gray cement building a little bit behind us. Rhydian only nodded at this yet again before turning his eyes to me, and I understood what he was asking me to do. Crouching down, I looked to the men before raising a hand to the one closest to me. He stumbled back at this, and I let out a sigh.

"I only want to heal you." I explained, to which he scowled, making my eyebrows furrow.

"Any who accompany the spawn of Apophis bear only ill intentions for us. We wish not for what you give us." He merely said, ushering me away with a wave of his hand, and I gaped, seething to myself when the villagers nodded in agreement, eyeing Rhydian. It was only for a moment that I seethed before I recomposed myself, shrugging casually.

"Let's hang them up in the tree again then, Rhydian." I said simply, watching as the man looked to me with wide eyes and the villagers broke out into worried exclaims. Even Rhydian looked to me with an inquisitive gaze, and I merely nodded before turning back to the man, my eyes narrowed.

"If you wish not for our help then why must we save you? We could leave you in the hands of the Chigaru to rot." I merely said before standing up, making them cower back. I hadn't even noticed that my presence would cause that. Perhaps it was the weapon in my hand or the threat of my words. I directed my gaze to all of them, meeting their panicked gazes head-on.

"So, I ask you again, do you wish for our help?" I asked, my voice carrying over, and the villagers nodded, some even moving closer, extending their hands to be healed, and I ducked down at this, shaking my head.

"Better yet, do you wish for help from the son of Apophis?" I drawled, and they seemed more uncertain at this, but the threat hung over them and they nodded anxiously, extending their hands out to even Rhydian now, seemingly not cowering back from his presence. I looked to Rhydian then, who was already looking at me with his intense gaze.

"Go free the other men. I'll heal them." I instructed, and Rhydian was silent for a second before nodding and making his way over to where the building was situated.

__________________________________________________________________________
A/N: Let me know all your thoughts in the comments! Like, subscribe and add to your library so you never miss an update!

See you in the next one!