Chapter 160

Malachi's POV

Next day, I rode into the castle courtyard, my weary eyes fixed on the imposing structure before me. The journey back from Darkmoon pack had been long and arduous, but finally, I had returned with the prized prisoners, Vill and the others.

As I dismounted my horse, my gaze swept over the captives, their faces etched with defiance and fear. Vill, in particular, caught my attention. Her eyes burned with a fierce intensity, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of admiration for her spirit.

"Take them to the dungeons," I ordered my guards, my voice firm but tired. "See that they are securely locked away. I will deal with them later."

With a nod, the guards dragged the prisoners away, leaving me to my thoughts. I knew that Vill and the others were mere pawns in a larger game, but they held secrets that could change the course of my plans.

As I entered the castle, I couldn't shake off the feeling that I was being watched. I glanced around, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Still, the sensation lingered, like a whisper in the shadows.

I pushed the feeling aside and made my way to my chambers, my mind already turning to the next move in my game of power and deceit. Little did I know, the shadows held secrets of their own, and soon, they would reveal themselves to me.

Suddenly, I saw the appearance of a woman hidden by  the courtyard. The women appear, Her maid uniform was crisp and clean, but it was her piercing gaze that caught my attention. I instinctively reached for my sword, my hand tightening around the hilt.

“Who are you, I don't summon a maid" I said, my voice sounding heavily in anger with my sword holding tightly in my hand. 

"How did you get in here?" I demanded, my voice low and menacing.

The woman didn't flinch, her eyes locked onto mine. "I've been waiting for your return, Malachi. I've been here for a while."

My mind raced with suspicion, but before I could question her further, she handed me a letter. I recognized the seal - it was from Mitchell.

I broke the seal and read the contents, my eyes scanning the page with growing concern. Mitchell was worried, she hadn't received any news from me and she suspected that Smith, the alpha's guard, was plotting something with the alpha. My grip on the sword tightened, my mind racing with the implications.

"How did you get this?" I asked the woman, my voice still wary.

"I have my ways," she replied, her eyes never leaving mine. "But I think we have more pressing matters to discuss, don't you, Malachi?"

I narrowed my eyes, my mind working overtime. Who was this woman, and what did she want from me? But one thing was certain - I couldn't trust her. Not yet.

I glared at the maid, her eyes looking trustworthy but that couldn't justify.

“Mitchell would have trusted her for some reasons." I thought to myself and let out my worriedness. 

I immediately moved to my desk, quill in hand, writing to Mitchell.

"My dear Mitchell,

Do not worry about me. I am still training the soldiers, and our plan is progressing smoothly. But I must warn you, Adara may attack sooner than we anticipated. Her impatience grows by the day.I must stay a bit longer, training the soldiers and gathering some information I need to gather more crucial information for our success. I will not leave until I have uncovered all the secrets I can.Keep faith in me, Mitchell. Our plan will come to fruition, and we will triumph over our enemies.Yours,Malachi"

I sealed the letter, my mind already turning to the next phase of our plan. Adara's impatience was a wildcard we couldn't afford to ignore. I needed to stay focused, to ensure our victory.

With a deep breath, I stood, my eyes scanning the room. The shadows seemed to whisper secrets, and I knew I had to listen. The game of power was afoot, and I would not be caught off guard.

I gave the latter to the maid and walked out just as she left.  the sound of clashing steel and grunts of exertion filled the air. I made my way to the training grounds, my eyes scanning the soldiers as they spared and trained.

That's when I saw him - a towering figure, his muscles bulging as he took down soldier after soldier. He fought with a ferocity that was almost animalistic, his movements swift and deadly.

I watched in awe as he took down a group of ten soldiers, his sword slicing through the air with precision and power. He was a force to be reckoned with, a warrior unlike any I had ever seen.

"Who is that?" I asked one of my guards, my voice low with interest.

"That's Gorthok, my lord," the guard replied, his eyes fixed on the warrior. "He's a recent recruit, but he's proven himself to be...exceptional."

I nodded, my mind racing with possibilities. A warrior like Gorthok could be a valuable asset in our upcoming battle against Adara. I made a mental note to speak with him, to see if he was loyal and willing to fight for our cause.

As I watched, Gorthok took down another group of soldiers, his strength and skill leaving me breathless. I knew that I had to have him by my side, no matter the cost.

“Hey you there” I called out to Gorthok, my voice commanding his attention. He approached me, his eyes fixed on mine, and I could sense a fierce loyalty emanating from him.

"Gorthok, where do you come from?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

He hesitated for a moment before speaking, "I grew up in the jungle, my lord. I was alone, but I survived. I eventually joined a bandit group, and that's where I honed my skills."

I nodded, intrigued by his backstory. "And your master? Who was it that trained you so well?"

Gorthok's eyes seemed to cloud over, and he replied, "I had no master, my lord. I learned by fighting, by surviving. But I came here, to support you, with my five friends."

My eyes widened in surprise. "Five friends? Where are they?"

Gorthok gestured to a group of soldiers nearby, and I saw five men, each with a unique look, but all sharing a similar intensity in their eyes.

I was impressed. "Appoint Gorthok as my personal guard," I ordered my guards. "And his five friends will be captains in various soldier units, due to their exceptional skills."

Gorthok's face lit up with a fierce grin, and he bowed his head in gratitude. I knew that I had made a wise decision, for Gorthok and his friends would be invaluable assets in the battles to come.