"Come on, everyone, follow me," Bonnie called out, her voice carrying a deceptive warmth.
She pivoted on her heel, her lips curling into a faint, sly smirk. Her emerald-green eyes glimmered with a predatory glint as she gazed into the shadowy, ink-black forest stretching before them. Her plan was simple: keep these fools calm and unsuspecting, then signal the knights to swoop in and encircle them. These beastkins trailing her were no ordinary prey—they were premium cargo, ripe for the taking, and she wasn't about to let such valuable merchandise slip through her fingers.
The rhythmic crunch of boots on the forest floor echoed behind her—"thud, thud, thud"—as Lucas led his group, consisting of Mina, Freya, and Ayesha, in cautious pursuit. The War Wolves, ever vigilant, had already fanned out into the surrounding underbrush, their movements silent and precise as they scouted the perimeter, alert for any signs of danger. Their disciplined behavior sent a ripple of unease through Bonnie. These weren't your average mercenaries or wanderers. No, their calculated efficiency reminded her of elite scouts on the eve of battle—seasoned, dangerous, and not to be underestimated. A knight skilled enough to serve as a scout was no small threat, and the thought made her pulse quicken.
Bonnie quickened her pace, her mind racing as she led Lucas's group toward the mouth of a secluded cave she'd scouted earlier. The War Wolves's advance team slipped inside first, their eyes scanning every crevice for traps or hidden threats. Only after they signaled the all-clear did Lucas motion for the others to follow.
"Go on, head inside," Lucas said, his tone steady as he took the lead, stepping into the damp, cool darkness of the cave. Mina trailed closely behind, her piercing eyes locking onto Bonnie like a hawk tracking its prey. Her hand rested lightly on the hilt of her dagger, ready to slit Bonnie's throat at the slightest hint of treachery. The air inside the cave was thick with the musty scent of earth and stone, and the faint drip of water echoed somewhere in the distance.
Once inside, the War Wolves sprang into action with practiced efficiency. One member knelt to kindle a fire, the crackle of dry wood filling the silence as flames began to dance. Another set a pot of water to boil, while a third swept the cave floor, checking for venomous snakes or other hibernating dangers that might lurk in the shadows. Their seamless teamwork only deepened Bonnie's growing anxiety. These people were too sharp, too prepared.
"You've all been traveling hard," Bonnie said, forcing a tone of concern into her voice. "Take a moment to rest and catch your breath."
Mina's response was as cold as the cave's stone walls. "This is nothing. No need for a break. Let's cut to the chase—tell us about Elisa." Her words were clipped, her expression unyielding. Bonnie's offer of rest was laughable; this brief trek was barely a warm-up compared to the War Wolves's grueling training regimen.
"Uh…" Bonnie faltered, caught off guard by Mina's blunt dismissal. Who responds like that? She thought, her confidence wavering.
Lucas nodded in agreement, his dark eyes narrowing slightly. "She's right. Elisa's situation is our priority. What's going on with her?"
Bonnie lowered her gaze, her mind scrambling for a safe response. "I… I don't know much," She mumbled, careful not to say too much. One wrong word could unravel her carefully woven deception, and these people were already proving far more perceptive than she'd anticipated.
The atmosphere in the cave grew heavier. Bonnie could feel the weight of their scrutiny, their cautious demeanor making it harder for her to slip away unnoticed. Every subtle gesture she made felt like it was being dissected, and she didn't dare risk any overt moves—not yet.
"Then how was Elisa captured?" Lucas asked, shifting the conversation to a new angle, his tone deceptively casual.
Bonnie seized the opportunity, launching into a rehearsed explanation. "We went to Moth City to rescue someone, but it was a trap. The moment we arrived, knights ambushed us—dozens of them, lying in wait." She spoke quickly, hoping to deflect further probing.
Lucas's black eyes glinted with a knowing intensity, his lips twitching into a smile that wasn't quite a smile. "Is that so?" He said, his voice laced with skepticism.
"Yes," Bonnie insisted, nodding firmly, though her heart pounded in her chest.
Freya, who had been silent until now, suddenly interjected, her voice sharp. "Then how did you escape?"
Bonnie's breath hitched, a flicker of panic flashing in her eyes. "I… I didn't go," She stammered, realizing too late the trap she'd walked into.
Mina toyed with the military knife in her hand, her face an unreadable mask. "You didn't go, yet you know it was a trap?" She said, her voice flat but cutting. "Your story doesn't add up."
"I… I…" Bonnie's words faltered, her mind blanking as the weight of her mistake crashed down on her. She'd blundered, her logic crumbling under their relentless questioning. How had she been so careless?
Lucas leaned forward slightly, his voice calm but unyielding. "So, who are you, really?" In his eyes, Bonnie's attempts at deception were amateurish, almost pitiful. She might have fooled someone naive and trusting, like Ayesha, but she was out of her depth here.
"I'm just an elf," Bonnie said, her lips pressing into a tight line as she fidgeted, her hands betraying her unease. She cursed herself inwardly for the error that had exposed her.
Lucas's gaze lingered on her, his eyes tracing the freckles dotting her face. "An elf, huh?" He said, his tone cool and detached. "People are divided into good and bad, and elves are no different. So, which are you?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Bonnie snapped, her emerald eyes trembling with defiance. She shot to her feet, brushing past them toward the cave's entrance. "I'm going to check the perimeter, see if any other elves are nearby. You all rest here," She called over her shoulder, her voice strained with false confidence.
But before she could escape, Chris stepped into the cave from the outside, his icy glare freezing her in place. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword, a silent warning. "Get back inside," He growled, his voice low and menacing.
Bonnie hesitated, her eyes darting to Chris's sword, then back to the cave. With no other choice, she retreated, slinking to a corner and sitting down, her posture radiating feigned helplessness. She hoped her act might elicit sympathy, but the cold stares around her suggested otherwise.
Chris strode over to Lucas, leaning in to whisper his report. "My lord, we've spotted dozens of knights lying in wait at the forest's edge. Another group is stationed in Moth City. All told, there are roughly a hundred knights."
Lucas's brow arched, his dark eyes flicking to Bonnie, who cowered in the corner. "And the elves' holding location?" He asked, noting that Bonnie's earlier claims had conveniently omitted half the knights' numbers. If they'd rushed in unprepared, it would've been a bloodbath.
"Number Five is still searching. I came back to report," Chris replied promptly.
Lucas nodded. "Good. Cook something to eat, warm everyone up. Once we have the full picture, we move immediately."
"Yes, sir," Chris said, stepping away to unpack compressed rations from his bag. He set to work preparing a simple meal, the scent of boiling broth soon mingling with the cave's earthy aroma.
Lucas turned his attention back to Bonnie, his voice calm but piercing. "Care to explain why Moth City has over a hundred knights?"
Bonnie's emerald eyes widened, a flash of disbelief crossing her face. She glanced at Chris, who was calmly tending the fire. Had he already scouted Moth City while she was distracted? How had they moved so quickly?
"Don't play dumb," Lucas said, his tone cutting through her thoughts. "Your story is full of holes. You might've tricked someone like Elisa, a fellow elf, but you're not fooling us. Did you really think you could outsmart us?"
Mina shifted her weight, her cat-like tail stilling as she loosened her grip on her knife. She was ready to pounce, needing only a single word from Lucas to take Bonnie down in seconds.
Bonnie froze, her facade crumbling. Then, slowly, a cold smile spread across her lips. "Humans," She said, her voice dripping with disdain. "I underestimated you."
Lucas met her gaze, unflinching. "You're the linchpin of this trap, aren't you?" He said, his voice steady. "I can guess why Elisa was taken now."
Bonnie's eyes gleamed with malice. "Hmph! She was too naive," She spat, scanning the cave for any chance to escape.
Lucas's expression hardened. "You used your shared elven heritage to deceive her," He said, his voice icy. "And you're proud of that?"
Bonnie let out a mocking laugh. "How amusing—a human lecturing me?"
"You're a liar!" Ayesha burst out, her brows furrowing as the truth dawned on her. "You tricked Elisa!"
"Tricked?" Bonnie sneered, her eyes glinting with scorn. "You don't even know who Elisa really is. She's the real deceiver, hiding her true identity from all of you."
Lucas's eyes narrowed, his mind flashing to the letter Elisa had given him, warning that her identity could bring trouble. "What are you getting at?" He asked, his voice low.
Bonnie tilted her head back, a cruel smile playing on her lips. "Let me enlighten you," She said, her voice dripping with mockery. "Elisa, also known as the White-Haired Enchantress, has a bounty of a thousand gold coins on her head in the kingdom."
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