Chapter 658: Crumbled

Ever since Murtagh was captured by the king and put under house arrest, he had been conniving plans on how he would create complete mayhem in the kingdom. He had rebelled against the kingdom and had great influence amongst the border tribes. However, Cora came up with the idea of giving her granddaughter to him in marriage, and that was what stopped his activities. 

However, the girl was lost. Murtagh wanted to go back to being a rebel, but he didn't because as Iona's would-be betrothed, he still had excellent benefits. He was respected and feared by many in the kingdom. Moreover, his business flourished. He would make deals with traders to give them extra benefits in the kingdom and accept bribes. Also, without Iona, it wasn't like he had a shortage of women. He had more than enough women for his needs.

Things started to crumble when Iona found her mate. He had implored the king for not marrying Iona to Rolfe and that they should have fulfilled their words. He had told them that Iona should reject her mate. They didn't listen to him. Instead, they put him under house arrest. 

Extremely frustrated and angered at their attitude towards them, Murtagh swore that he would paste them like ants and raze this kingdom to dust. For all the years in captivity, like a wounded wolf, he schemed. He had perfected his plan one after the other. He had thought of at least twenty steps ahead. Since he knew that Ileus and Adrianna had the ability to read cells, he had practiced the art of locking his memories, blocking everyone from his mind, pretty well. 

Not a single soldier could be lured by him. But luck favored him when Tasha was recruited to be one of the guards. The girl proved to be a blessing in disguise. She was hungry for affection, for sex and he gave it to her. Slowly, he started using her. His plans were to use her fullest to his advantage. Along with Luke, she was going to be a formidable force to deal with. 

Right now, Murtagh was sipping a hot cup of tea in the quiet of the forest. Soon his plans would materialize and it would be the beginning of his revenge. The only problem was not a single spy had reported till now. Through his impatience, he still regaled himself with another sip of hot tea. He was thinking of the next plan when he heard a sound of twig snapping on the right. He whipped his head in that direction. "Who's there?" he growled. More twigs snapped and he heard soft pads of a horse treading on the wet ground.

He placed the cup on the side and brought his hand to the pummel of his sword. He flared his nostrils to smell. Scent of blood and grass and rain washed leaves wafted. Tense as hell, he drew his sword out and waited. He mind-linked his group of men who were still left behind in the cave with him. All of them came out rushing for his aid. He pointed towards the forest with his chin to one of them and said, "Go check."

The servant pursed his lips out of fear but he had to go and check. But as soon as he was on the periphery of the thicket, a horse came out with its rider. The rider was terribly injured. He was bent over the saddle and had somehow clutched the neck of the horse. Two men rushed to bring him down the horse. He was groaning with pain when they eased his out of the saddle. They lay him on the ground and saw that his body had been pierced with too many arrows. 

"Murtagh…" he whispered. 

Murtagh walked up to him and recognized that he was one of his spies. He bent down beside him, eyes wide open. He cupped the man's face and shook it. "Tell me the news!" he urged. He sensed that the spy was going to die soon. "Someone, get water for him!" he barked an order. 

After water was poured down his throat, with great difficulty, the spy opened his mouth. "Two rebel units were ambushed and massacred by the Mozias."

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"What the fuck!" Murtagh rasped as goosebumps lined his skin. "This can't be!" 

The man coughed a little and wheezed. "We don't— don't know how they came to know about us, but just before the attacks, each and every rebel was pulled out of their hiding and killed. Not a single rebel could run."

Murtagh's stomach knotted. "How did you escape?" The spy closed his eyes, not able to speak. Murtagh slapped his cheeks. "Come on, tell me!" 

The spy opened his eyes half-mast. "I— I was scouting for news when I came across the killings." He remembered how he sat there with the inn owner as he saw the rebels being dragged out and beheaded. He couldn't do anything as he watched it helplessly. When he tried to escape, one of the king's soldiers saw him. He shot arrows at him but he managed to escape. "It seems none of the rebels could make it…" Saying that his hand went limp on the ground. His eyes became glossy as he stared at Murtagh. "We lost…" were his last words. And then his eyes stilled, looking into the blank space. 

Dread and panic surged through him. Murtagh got up from his place. "Everyone, pack your things and leave!" He barked the orders. He ran towards his room, his mind full about Luke and Tasha. If the king's soldiers found the rebels in faraway villages, it was highly probable that the attack on the Whiteclaw pack failed. What about Luke and Tasha? He rubbed his hand over his chest as a feeling of unease blasted through him. "Fuck, fuck, fuck!" He picked up his saddle bag that he had prepared for contingency and then rushed back to his horse. All his men were ready and coming to him. Without delay they mounted their horses. They had to abandon this cave for good. There were no more than five of them. 

"Where do we go?" his servant asked. 

"To the north!" Murtagh said in a jittery voice. Only the Northern Mountains had way too many caves to hide. He had an urge to go and find out about Luke and Tasha but he shoved that thought out of his mind. It was too dangerous. He kicked the side of his horse and it took off. Others followed. 

They galloped away through the winding trail that led to north when all at once they heard a loud explosion. The animals neighed out of fear. One of them reared throwing the rider down. Birds flew out of their dwellings and animals screeched. 

Murtagh stopped to look behind. Through the thick trees, they saw black smoke billowing out to the sky. 

"What was that?" asked one of them. 

The man who had fallen, grumbled and caught the reins of his horse. "The ground is rumbling!" he said after a moment. He looked down at the forest floor. It seemed to be shaking beneath his feet. The horses became restless.

"Someone has blasted our cave!" said another. 

Murtagh's stomach fell to the floor.. They were coming for him. 

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