Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
A small arrow? And at such close range!
Blake sprang up, quickly retrieving a pair of swords from the wall. He threw one to Freya. The two of them exchanged wary glances. They gripped their swords and moved cautiously along the wall. Freya’s heart raced.
Assassins? How could there be assassins? Could they be Westhaven spies?
Sophie’s family had been slaughtered by Westhaven spies.
Blake lifted the curtain and stepped outside the room with Freya. They moved so silently that their footsteps were almost inaudible, and the surroundings were eerily quiet.
After waiting for a moment, he opened the door and quickly hid behind it. Once he was certain there was no immediate danger, he cautiously peered outside.
The sight that met his eyes was chilling.
The lanterns in the corridor cast light on the stairs, where three bodies lay sprawled. These were the maids who had served Freya. They had been killed with a single sword thrust to the throat, unable to even utter a cry. Blood trickled down the stone steps, staining them a deep crimson.
Blake’s mind instantly flashed to the Duke of Northwatch’s family’s massacre.
He gasped. “My parents…!”
He was about to rush out when Freya grabbed his arm.
Freya’s face was ashen, her lips trembling slightly. “I think… I think they’re after me.”
Blake quickly understood. It was possible that spies from Westhaven were seeking revenge.
Just moments ago, Freya had insisted she was in the right. But now, Blake saw how hollow those justifications were. Freya had been so confident in defending herself, but now, she was clearly terrified.
Four shadowy figures silently entered the courtyard. They were dressed in black, and their faces were concealed. Only their cold, piercing eyes were visible.
The four of them held a sword each, and each blade emanated a chilling aura. The strong scent of blood and a murderous intent filled the air.
Freya clutched her sword, and her hand trembled slightly.
Suddenly, four swords came at them at once. Blake and Freya quickly turned and ran into the room, shutting the door behind them. One person secured the door while the other blew out the lamp, plunging the room into darkness. They stood back to back with their swords drawn, the blades’ glint illuminating their sharp, vigilant eyes.
After returning to the capital, Blake had been regulated to the Capital Guard and had been doing his rotation as a regular guard on patrol. That exercise routine he was put through daily was proving to be good training now. Although nothing seemed out of place outside, he felt a sense of danger from the window.
He held his sword ready at the window. Just as he suspected, it was suddenly kicked open and a dark figure leaped in. Blake had anticipated this happening, so he quickly swung his sword at the assassin. The assassin sensed the attack and leaped out of the way, barely avoiding Blake’s Strike to his legs.
The remaining three assassins climbed in through the window. After rolling on the ground for a while, they quickly oriented themselves. The sounds of clashing swords and spears filled the room. But after exchanging a few blows, Freya knew she couldn’t match their skill.
In her panic, she abandoned Blake and jumped out of the window, heading straight for the outer courtyard while shouting, “Help! There are assassins!” Blake was furious.
Had she lost her mind? There were so many people in the estate-how could she lead the assassins out?!
The assassins did not linger with Blake. The four quickly pursued Freya.
Freya’s cries alerted the household, and lanterns began to light up one by one. The guards of the estate sprang into action, some running out to call for the garrison unit and the local authorities.
The assassins pursued Freya, but her familiarity with the estate’s layout allowed her to dodge and weave through the buildings, eventually seeking refuge in Grace Mansion.
Viola had heard the commotion and rushed outside, only to see Freya entering with a sword. Assuming Freya intended to kill her, Viola recoiled in fear and screamed, “What do you want?”
Julia and Yvonne trembled with fright, but they stepped in front of Viola. Freya pushed them aside and rushed into the room, quickly shutting the door behind her.
The doors and windows of Grace Mansion were constructed from the strongest ironwood on Sophie’s orders. It would be difficult for the assassins to break through in the same manner as before. Once the door was secured, Freya immediately took up a position at the table. She gripped her sword and nervously faced the outside.
Though breaking the door wouldn’t be easy, it would eventually be breached if it couldn’t withstand the assassins’ attacks.
At this moment, her heart raced uncontrollably. The brutal massacre of the Duke of Northwatch’s family flashed in her mind. She was certain these were Westhaven spies seeking revenge for the Westhaven’s previous crown prince and those civilians.
They would likely slaughter everyone in Valor Estate, just as they had with the Duke of Nortwatch’s family. Freya hoped to remain hidden until the garrison unit arrived, then she would be safe.
Before Viola could react, she saw the black-clad figures burst in, their swords dripping with blood. It was obvious they had killed people on their way here.
Viola screamed and rushed to the door, banging on it with urgency. “Freya, open the door! Open the door!”
Yvonne and Julia shielded Viola, their bodies trembling uncontrollably. “Stay away…”
The black-clad figures swung their swords, slicing through the air with deadly precision. Yvonne and Julia felt a cold sensation across their throats, and then blood splattered and gushed out. Their throats were cut, and they couldn’t even utter a sound before collapsing.
Viola was paralyzed with fear and sank to the ground. She covered her ears and cried, “Help! Help!”
One of the black-clad figures advanced towards Viola with his sword raised. Just then, Blake delivered a powerful kick, sending the assailant flying. He immediately took up a defensive stance beside Viola.
“Get inside and hide!” Blake was facing imminent danger, and he pushed Viola toward the room.
Viola sobbed and said, “Freya has locked the door!”
Blake kicked the door with all his might, but it wouldn’t budge. He continued to fend off the attackers while shouting, “Freya, open the door!”
Freya stood inside, her face serious as she gripped her sword, her hands slightly trembling. She ignored Blake’s words and showed no sign of opening the door.
In a short span of time, Blake had been struck by a sword. He barely managed to evade further attacks. His skills, honed during his time in the Capital Guard, were his only saving grace. Otherwise, he might have been dead by now.
He attempted to draw the assassins into a deserted courtyard, but it was clear that they were specifically targeting Freya. So, three of them tried to knock down the door, and one was left to deal with Blake.
Despite battling only one of the assassins, Blake found it exceedingly difficult.
As Viola watched the chaos unfold, she nearly fainted from fear. She scrambled into a corner and hid.
The estate’s guards arrived, but the Jaffe family couldn’t afford many, and those present were no match for the assassins. Within a few minutes, they were all gravely injured.
Despite being stabbed twice, Blake continued to resist fiercely. He was once a military general, and he was stubborn and resilient. Even as blood flowed from his wounds, he fought with all his strength.
The attackers might not have intended to kill him. They seemed to be showing restraint, only wounding him to drive him away. It took them more effort than they probably expected.
The commotion was so loud that it reached the second branch’s residential area as well. Gregory worked in the Royal Citadel as a civil servant, but he still came with his two sons. While his sons had only basic martial arts training, they rushed over to help.
Soon, Jonathan also arrived with Benjamin and Bryan. They saw that there were a few people lying on the ground, covered in blood. Terrified, they ran outside and shouted for help. The entire household was in chaos, with servants screaming and running in all directions, desperately seeking a safe place to hide.
Hearing the cries of the servants, Rebecca and Serena understood that there were assassins in the estate. Fearing that the assassins might come their way, Rebecca grabbed her daughter’s hand and urgently said, “We can’t go outside! There are surely assassins out there too. We need to hide in Grace Mansion. Sophie had ordered the doors there to be made from ironwood.”