CHAPTER 23: HELPLESS

The atmosphere was extremely tense. No one moved. Soldiers began to enter the tavern, and everyone stood up and moved aside, whispering in fear.

Alvaro stepped back. They had to get out immediately, no matter what. But his movement drew the soldiers’ attention to him.

"Sylas, run out the back door. I’ll handle them," Alvaro whispered.

Sylas didn’t like the idea, seeing how many soldiers were now there. "Alvaro—"

"Who are you? Take off your mask!" ordered one of the soldiers, who seemed to be their commander. Seeing Alvaro holding his sword, the commander immediately barked another order. "Capture them!"

Alvaro drew his sword in one swift motion, almost like a flash of light. The sound of clashing metal echoed as his sword parried the strike of one of the soldiers who had charged forward first.

Sylas saw that the situation was not in their favor.

"Guard the back door! Don’t let them escape!" the commander shouted, causing several soldiers to spread out and block the exit.

Alvaro and Sylas were cornered. Alvaro pushed Sylas to stay behind him as he swung his sword at the advancing soldiers.

Sylas grunted in frustration. He grabbed a wooden bench and smashed it into one of the soldiers who approached too quickly. The bench shattered, and the soldier fell to the ground.

Alvaro moved swiftly, calmly, and lethally. He incapacitated two soldiers at once with a single cross-slash. Several times, he checked to make sure Sylas was still safe.

Sylas drew his sword, swinging it at several soldiers who had escaped Alvaro’s attention. They were each caught up in their own battles.

It didn’t take long for Alvaro to gain control of the situation. Most of the soldiers were lying on the ground with slash wounds, some unable to lift their swords. His movements were extremely fast.

The commander looked disappointed, still standing in the doorway, making sure Sylas didn’t escape.

Alvaro subdued the remaining soldiers attacking Sylas.

Alvaro didn’t care about the commander; what mattered now was getting Sylas out of there. But just as he grabbed Sylas’s hand to run toward the back door, a group of men in black robes appeared.

They moved forward silently.

Alvaro was stunned, as was Sylas. They raised their swords, but this force resembled the strongest soldiers in the palace. Alvaro’s eyes widened when he saw the emblem of the general’s soldiers.

"Damn it," he cursed, stepping back. But the troops had already surrounded them from all sides.

Alvaro was growing tired, but he could still face hundreds of soldiers if needed. Only, these soldiers were no joke.

"Surrender!" the commander ordered.

Alvaro stared them down. So the general was hunting them now? But he wouldn’t surrender.

Alvaro tightened his grip on his sword, pointing it in various directions with precision.

"Do you not know who you’re facing? Are you not afraid of death?" Alvaro snapped.

The commander laughed. "We are trying to catch a traitor to the kingdom. Prince Sylas must be captured! So please surrender. You cannot fight all of us."

Alvaro stayed on guard. "Who dares make such a ridiculous claim?! Prince Sylas left the kingdom on His Majesty’s orders for a mission. How dare you spread such immoral lies?!" he shouted angrily.

"We follow the general’s orders. So please cooperate and surrender. We don’t want to harm the prince!" the commander replied again.

"If you intend to take him, dream on! I won’t let you touch him at all!" Alvaro barked. He turned to Sylas, who stood alert behind him.

"Be careful. If you get the chance, run!" Alvaro whispered.

Sylas nodded, his gaze sweeping over the troops.

Alvaro swung his sword, trying to break through the enemy circle. But the black-robed soldiers quickly moved to block him. A second battle was inevitable.

The soldiers attacked in formation. Their attacks were coordinated, and they were far more numerous. Alvaro tried to protect Sylas, but even with their speed and strength, they couldn’t hold off attacks from every direction.

Sylas managed to defeat one enemy with his sword. As he swung at several others, he suddenly felt a sharp blow on his shoulder.

He was startled by the sudden strike. His sword flew from his hand, and he was knocked to the ground.

"Sylas!!" Alvaro shouted, but he was too busy fending off enemies to help. "Damn!"

Sylas turned to see someone holding a wooden beam. He was certain the beam had hit his shoulder. The pain was intense, but he knew he couldn’t give up. He had to get up.

He was about to reach for his sword when a wet cloth was shoved over his head. He panicked. Someone forced his body to the ground. He couldn’t move, and the cloth over his face made it harder to breathe.

"Mnnhh!!" Sylas struggled, feeling water seep into his airways. He couldn’t hold his breath much longer.

His chest tightened. He couldn’t move; someone pulled his hands behind him and tied them with rope. He focused on not choking or passing out. It was excruciating.

Alvaro fought fiercely, watching as they subdued Sylas and rendered him unconscious. His focus wavered, allowing a guard to strike his chest. Another kicked his sword into the air. A third pinned down his legs.

In an instant, Alvaro was helpless. They pinned him and bound his hands and feet.

"Let me go, you bastards!" Alvaro cursed. "Sylas!" he shouted as he saw Sylas being carried out by a guard. The prince was unconscious.

"It’s useless to fight," said one of the guards tying him up. They gagged him with a rope and hoisted him over a shoulder.

Alvaro raged, but he was powerless. Where were they taking him and Sylas? What was their real plan?

Alvaro groaned as they threw his body roughly into a horse-drawn carriage. Then they slammed the door shut.

He tried to sit up. Beside him, Sylas lay helplessly. Alvaro tried to call out to him, but the gag prevented it.

I have to break these bonds! he thought. He tried to shift into a position that would let him stand. But the carriage was narrow and moving, making it difficult.

The ropes on his hands and feet were painfully tight, nearly tearing his skin. No matter how hard he struggled, they wouldn’t loosen. He looked around for another way.

"Take them away quickly before Prince Virouse’s troops find us!"

Alvaro heard someone, likely on horseback, stop and give orders to the carriage driver.

What was really happening?