Filed to story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
“If you want to rescue Freya,” Sophie said to Blake, “take your trusted aldes up the mountain.”
By saying this, Sophie was actually preserving some dignity for both Blake and Freya. If the shame endured by the Westhaven crown prince were to be repeated on them, the things Blake would see upon going up the mountain would surely be appalling.
However, Blake was concerned there might still be Westhaven troops stationed on the mountain. Thus, he requested that Sophie lend him the Mystic Army to accompany him.
Sophie regarded him for a moment. “Are you certain?”
Feeling an inexplicable tremor at her gaze, he asked, “Can you tell me if Freya truly committed the massacres?”
“You should have asked Liam earlier,” Sophie replied calmly. “Or, you can ask Freya yourself when you meet her. Liam is unlikely to have killed her.”
Blake found it hard to believe that Freya could have committed such acts. He recalled Liam’s words, which were extremely vague. The massacre was mentioned only briefly, while the apology to Sophie was emphasized.
If Freya had indeed committed the massacre, then the destruction of the Devin family would indirectly be attributed to her. She had caused the death of Sophie’s family, and Blake had sought to marry her, abandoning Sophie.
As Blake contemplated this, a flood of conflicting emotions overwhelmed him. A heavy weight was pressing down on his chest, making breathing hard.
He was unwilling to believe that Freya could do such things. He would personally ask her once he saw her again.
Blake suddenly lifted his head. “Liam’s words cannot be fully trusted. You should accompany me up the mountain so we can get to the bottom of this, General Devin. If Freya admits to it in your presence, then…”
His face turned pale and grim.
If Freya confessed, what could he possibly do? What could ever make up for those irreparable mistakes and lost lives?
After a moment of silence, Sophie agreed to go up the mountain with him.
Blake didn’t trust Liam, and feared that there might be Westhaven troops lying in wait on the mountain. He also requested the Mystic Army to join them.
He was unsure of the exact nature of the abuses inflicted on the prisoners of war, believing that such abuse would, at most, involve torture. Therefore, he had no idea what he would encounter on the mountain.
Sophie understood all too well, but this was also part of Liam’s plan.
Freya hadn’t killed Arthur. He had taken his own life after being released due to the crushing of his dignity, honor, and physical torment.
Because of that, Liam wouldn’t kill Freya, Intending to destroy her dignity and reputation. He would leave it to Freya to decide whether she would end her own life, or endure.
Liam knew many would come to rescue her. With a hundred thousand soldiers descending from the mountain, who could say if another hundred thousand might be waiting above?
At the very least, he was sure Blake believed so, for Blake had never truly understood Westhaven.
Michael ordered the torches to be raised, and over ten thousand men marched up the mountain in a grand procession. Violent and the others followed without any objection, because they knew exactly what they would see.
After traveling for about half an hour, the winding path finally led them to a flat area. This area had been cleared as a temporary camp, large enough to accommodate a hundred thousand soldiers. In the middle stood a wooden cabin, from which the sounds of agonized screams were coming.
Hearing these cries, Blake sprinted forward and kicked the hut door open. It was pitch dark inside, so he quickly instructed someone to bring a torch.
When the torchbearer stepped inside, Blake’s gaze fell upon nineteen figures within the cabin.
His face went ashen instantly.
All of them were completely naked, their bodies covered in numerous scars and cuts. One horrifying injury was particularly disturbing-it was as if… They had all been castrated!
The hut was filled with the stench of feces and urine. It was evident they had been drenched in it.. Excrement smeared their faces, bodies, and mouths. Freya was no exception.
She was the only one wearing something. However, she lacked pants, and the blood pooled beneath her. Her private parts were clearly visible.
Coming to his senses, Blake roared, “Get out! All of you, get out!”
He grabbed a torch and rushed inside, but there were no clothes or armor left in the hut. They had all been burned.
Desperate, he stripped off his own armor and outer garments, wrapping them around Freya’s legs. He then put on bis armor again, and lifted her carefully in his arms.
Freya had lost consciousness.
Liam kept choking her, dragging her back and forth between life and death. At the same time, he slashed her with a knife on her body and face. Also, he had cut off one of her ears.
As Blake carried her out, she remained unaware of her rescue, still in a state of unconsciousness.
However, it was clear to everyone that Freya wasn’t wearing any pants. Many had also seen the pool of blood beneath her, revealing the horrors she had endured.
Blake’s expression was livid. He finally understood why Sophie had insisted that he only bring his trusted aides up the mountain.
He shot a fierce, resentful glance at Sophie. Until Freya told him the truth herself, he refused to believe Liam’s accusations. He was unwilling to accept that Freya had indirectly caused the death of Sophie’s family.
Seeing his eyes, Sophie saw only a coward. She ignored him, and proceeded with the rescue efforts. Soldiers entered the cabin to carry out the remaining prisoners. The hut had originally been warmed by charcoal, but the Westhaven troops had extinguished it before leaving. The fact that the prisoners were still alive, though still screaming in agony, was a testament to the residual warmth keeping them from freezing to death.
Some people spontaneously removed the cotton-padded lining from their own uniforms to dress the prisoners before descending the mountain.
Upon returning to Simonton City, military doctors were summoned. Blake personally tended to Freya, scrubbing away the stench from her body and painstakingly removing the excrement from her mouth. Several times, he nearly vomited from the nauseating task.
He dared not inspect the wound between her legs closely, and simply applied some oint…ent indiscriminately. The rest of her injuries were carefully treated.
The word “slut” had been carved into her face. Blake steeled himself, and used a heated iron brand to burn it away. He would rather disfigure half her face than leave that mark.
Freya had awakened during the treatment, her mouth continuously cursing and denouncing the cruelty of the Westhaven troops. Her bitter tirade ceased only when Blake pressed the hot iron against her face, causing her to scream and tremble uncontrollably.
“Blake!” Freya called hoarsely. Her eyes were filled with pain, and the foul odor of her mouth still made one want to gag. “Why are you destroying my face?”
“There’s a foul word branded on your face. Do you want to live with that mark for the rest of your life?”
Blake’s eyes were cold and terrifying.
“Those beasts! Those vile dogs! Freya cursed vehemently. “Liam Tudor, I will not rest until you’re dead!”
Blake grasped her chin, leaned in, and stared into her eyes. “Tell me, did you destroy villages in Fawnrun? Did you kill innocent civilians?”
At that moment, Freya was consumed with rage and anguish. In response to Blake’s interrogation, she screamed, “I regret it! I should have razed all the villages there, not just the three I destroyed!” Blake swayed slightly, his eyes filled with horror.
“Did you really do that? And what about the abuse of the prisoner? Did you do the same-castration and endless beatings?”
“Not just that!” Freya’s eyes were filled with malevolent fury, almost bordering on madness. “I had his face carved up slowly, forced him to endure being urinated on, and fed him excrement. I used every method to torture him to make him reveal his identity! Now, I regret that I was too lenient!”