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TEN

TEN

The scene in Goldstown was enough to make bile rise in Vale's throat. Buildings were burning to the ground and the stench of cooked flesh permeated the air. Everything around the group of guards seemed to vibrate in a sickening beat, making Vale's skin crawl. Sevastyan cast a wary look to Vale before walking towards what appeared to be the inn.

The bones of the building were visible, along with those of the people who had been inside. Brittle bones and burnt flesh littered the scene. It was enough for Vale to suck in a harsh breath. She had seen this before in what felt like a past life. The scene was eerily similar to the vision of her burnt hometown in The Void. She could only hope that more people had made it out.

Sevastyan raised a hand and the group of soldiers came to a halt, eyes on their leader. He turned slowly and his eyes fell on Vale, turning a brighter shade of gold. "Does anyone else smell that?"

"I smell a snake, Your Highness." It was a handsome, blonde soldier that spoke. Vale was sure that she had heard someone call him Michael on their way to Goldstown. Some of the other guards laughed and started readying their weapons.

Sevastyan shook his head. "Hold your arms, men. We don't know what we are dealing with. I don't need martyrs." He continued leading the group towards the burning inn. "Look for survivors. The mutt and I are going into the inn. Keep an eye out for trouble."

The men muttered whispers of acknowledgement and began breaking into groups of three or four, scattering across the camp. Vale looked to Sevastyan, continuing to follow him. "Don't you think this is too risky? We don't know what we are walking into."

"We will be fine. I can protect us just fine." The prince pushed a large slab of wood away from the entrance of the inn. "After you, princess."

Vale rolled her eyes at him. "Don't call me that." She stepped into the smoky room, lungs protesting at the almost toxic air. She coughed and covered her mouth with a pale hand. "What is that smell?"

"That, princess, is the smell of rotting flesh." Sevastyan coughed himself and lifted a slab of stone that had broken away from the staircase. He cursed under his breath and jumped back from the decomposing body. "This one has been dead for a while. Based on how much he's rotted, I would say that it's been at least a month."

Nausea began to churn in Vale's stomach as she watched the maggots squirm inside of the body's eye sockets. Her eyes cut to Sevastyan and she swallowed hard. "So he's been just sitting here for that long? I don't think anyone would just leave a dead body in a dining room. It wouldn't be good for business."

Sevastyan gave her a look that could wither the strongest of men. "Look around Vale, everyone has been dead for a minute. The fire may have been a cover up. The question is who could have been powerful enough to control a wyvern..." Vale shrugs, lamely. "Whoever it was knows that the fire would burn hotter than natural flames."

"A warlock is the only option that immediately comes to mind." Sevastyan comes to a halt at Vale's suggestion. Her eyes widen. "What?"

He grunts and sets an overturned table back onto its legs. "All warlocks have been banned from the country unless they have a formal invitation from the king. If a warlock controls the beast that did this, he has signed his own execution warrant."

"So, if it is what we think it is, then how in damnation do we locate a rogue warlock? It's not like we can sniff him out." Sevastyan growled deep in his chest.

He turned on his heel to face her, eyes darkening. "Watch your mouth, mutt, or I will use you as warlock bait." She rolled her eyes at him and took a step back. "Come on, we will figure this out with the other men. I don't see anything we need in here."