Back at the inn, Xie finally managed to call all five of them together, as they dined in the lobby .
"I think everyone is rested and refreshed? " Xie asked, breaking the bread.
"Yes, thank you. " Lin answered politely.
"Well in that case, I have called for our carriages in the morning. " Xie announced.
"Carriages? " Boshu asked.
"Yes, carriages. It's improper for Royal guests to enter the palace without a carriage. " Roe said she smiled.
Lin looked at Boshu. Mia however didn't say anything. There were butterflies in her stomach as thought about going to the place where her father could be. She had a very vague image of father from her childhood. Mia always thought that it was the few moments that she had with her real father, but it was only a fragment of imagination. Mer-witches communicate . And Crystal being a mer-witch of the upper ranks had the ability to implant reality images in her daughter's subconscious mind. She did so, so that if ever the two met after demise, which was evident since she was away from the ocean for so long, the duo could . She wanted her daughter not to think that they were abandoned. She wanted Mia to what a fathers affection was like. Hence she would often plant random images of the wolf from her own memory, into Mia's.
The next morning the carriages arrived on time. Roe even had brought in some dresses for all to change into before heading towards the palace.
"Thank you so much Roe. This looks beautiful, " Mia hugged her half sister, without actually it.
"Gees! It's nothing. You are the one making the dress look beautiful. You look so gorgeous. It you well." Roe complimented Mia as they came downstairs.
"You girls take the carriages, we will be accompanying Xie. " Lin told his wife with a hug. He slipped a small dagger in Mia's hand and whispered in her ears, "Use this if needs be. "
Mia looked up at Lin. This meant they were suspecting something big. Mia didn't want things to any worse than it already was. So she pulled Lin back into a kiss and slowly whispered in ears, as he grabbed her with shock, "don't do anything irrational or stupid. I know things 't well between the tribes, but we can work towards changing that. Can't we? "
She looked at him with bows raised.
"We can Mia , but who knows who is trustworthy and who isn't. It's better to be cautious than . " He tapped her hands and went outside.
"Mia come on. Don't keep us waiting all day. " Roe called Mia out from outside.
"Coming, " Mia replied as she hurried towards the waiting carriages.
The road towards the palace was rugged but beautiful. Mia kept peeing outside, trying to get a of her homeland. She looked this way and that, with the excitement of a child.The swayed with a rhythm of its own. Mia was enjoying it thoroughly. They were a few in their journey, when suddenly there was some commotion outside.
The carriages stopped abruptly and there were footsteps scuffling in all directions.
"Mia, run. Mia. It was a trap all along. Mia. " Mia heard Lin's scream from afar.
She immediately hurried out but was surrounded by heavily armed guards. She tried tricking her out, but they were the Royal guards after all. Mia was immediately put on her knees and .
It was a special handcuff that the wolves used. It prevented any other immortal from using their . It basically numbed their immortal veins. Mia immediately felt her energy diminish as as the cuff was put on.
Lin however was still struggling with Boshu beside him. Mia saw two more people handcuffed with Lin and Boshu. Xie stood over them with a mighty sword in hand. All those times they been together, Mia had felt some sort of connection with him. She didn't know what. But at moment, Xie did look scary with blood lust in his eyes.
"Take them all and throw them in the dungeon, " He roared, " Put them in the smallest of pits, even the sunshine fears to tread. "
The soldiers immediately rearranged to carry out the order. Mia could see Lin and his gradually get drained of their peers as they struggled. The cuffs were so designed the more one struggled, the more they were drained of their immortal powers. It however 't have much effect on mortals or humans. Mia herself was feeling quite drained, so she gave up struggling at that point, as it was of no use.
"Take special care of that one. Did I not tell you she didn't look human, nor did she appear to be fox. " Xie pointed at Mia, as soon as Roe appeared from the back, "look at her condition. She is an immortal. Look at her closely. " As Xie pulled Roe towards Mia, to take a close look at , Lin sprang up with whatever little force he was left with.
"If you dare to touch her, I swear I will rip your heart out of your chest. " He thundered.
" Lin, calm down. You are only draining yourself more. Calm down. Please. Mia requested as gave Lin a meaningful look.
"They dared to bring in spies in my territories. They dared. " Xie fumed as he went to face Lin the two other men that were handcuffed, apart from Boshu.
"Brother, let's just take them in and let father decide what to do. Shall we? " Roe said, as it to minimize the violence.
Xie let go of Lin as he fell crashing on the ground. Blood trickled from his mouth. As he closed eyes, he saw the guards take them inside what looked like a caravan for carrying convicts.
At that point, Lin felt as helpless as he could, as his body could not respond to his heart's anger.
********
Captives in cell
Mia blinked as she finally could open her eyes. The blindfold was gone and so were the cuffs.
She felt her way up but the place was too small even to stand up. She lowered her voice and called out, "Lin, are you there? "
At first there was no reply. She tried again raising her voice a bit higher, "Lin are you there? "
"Mia? Mia. Where are you Mia? " came a distant , hurried reply. " Are you alright? Ahhhh! "
"Lin calm down. I'm alright . You will only exhaust yourself. You won't be able to use your here. Let's wait till we get out. " Mia whispered, " Where are the others? Where is
Boshu? "
"I'm here" came with a groaning sound.
"What exactly happened back there? " Mia asked.
"Like I told you, they had a honey trap ready for us. I only had my two men on the lookout. They no match against their soldiers unfortunately. I should have been more careful. " Lin hit the so hard it vibrated all along.
"Lin, calm down. It's my fault that we are in this mess. I became greedy. I wanted to just catch a of my father before... " She immediately stopped herself before revealing anything more her deal with the Tree of knowledge.
Just at that time they heard something in the background. It was like the shaking of metals.
They strained their necks to see what was causing it and found it was Roe.
Lin immediately clenched his fists at her sight.
"Save that for later. I know how things are between the tribes and I know exactly how it's no 's fault but acute misunderstandings that lead to these silky conflicts. " She turned towards
Lin and said, " I had seen you with those two " pointing at the two other foxes in the cells. "I it was your precautionary measure since I had not seen any more back up. My brother too acting out of suspicion. He was looking out for his own territory. What happened after that beyond me. " She looked around at everybody, then stopped at Boshu.
"Hey you. Are you doing well? " She asked.
"Never felt better. It feels like I'm back in my egg-shell, " Boshu jokes.
Roe rolled her eyes and continued, " Though I am dismissing the accusations that my brother levying on you, I still have my doubts about you, " She pointed at Mia. "Hence, in this case,
I am going to by pass my brother's brutal torture routines and take you all directly to my father.
That's the most I could do for you guys at the moment. " She paused for a bit, then continued, "
If you guys agree to that, we will have to sneak out right now. " Then she quickly added, "but 't you dare think about double crossing me. Then even the gods won't be able to save you . "
"How does it benefit us being presented to your father, instead of being handled by your ? Boshu asked reluctantly, looking up from his coaching position.
"We will go, " Lin interrupted before Roe could answer Boshu.
"Ok, then. Let's go. '' Roe opened their cages and handcuffed them one by one. They formed a as she checked for guards. Ducking and dodging, took them to a sidewalk. The bright sun immediately dazzled them. It seemed they had been in the dark for too long.
"Come on. This way. '' Roe pulled them inside the sidewalks of a castle. From there, they went a few steps unnoticed. But as soon as they entered the Royal garden, Xie's soldiers were guard.
"Where do you think you are taking the captives, Miss Roe, " asked one.
"To my father. " She yelled.
The soldiers immediately crossed her path.
"You wouldn't dare, " Roe fumed.
"We have orders. We can't let you take them inside. " The soldier warned Roe.
Immediately commotion ushered and the soldiers started attacking, trying to take the captives . Roe blocked them left and right.
But they were outnumbered. Lin bulged in a few times but his hands were cuffed and his powers .
"I could help if you would let me, " He called Roe out.
She looked this way and that. Thinking it over, she had no other choice, hence she threw the in his direction. Lin quickly grabbed the opportunity and freed himself. He kicked some of wolves' ass. But his main objective was to grab his mates and teleport. However he was drained so he had to do it one by one. But that would immediately endanger the ones behind. He pretended to help Roe for some time, till she could ask to free one more of his . That way, they would be able to divide and vanish.
A few more minutes into the fight. The soldiers got some more reinforcements. Lin grabbed the .
"Quick.Pass the keys to one more of my foxes. " He urged Roe. She didn't even think this time throwing it over to him.
Lin whispered in his subordinate's ear as he unshackled him.
He nodded understandingly and immediately grabbed Boshu and the other fox and escaped in air. Roe looked back in horror. And just when Lin was about to grab Mia too and run away, bolt fell where they were fighting , making everybody scattered.
From the debris and smoke that emitted, everybody coughed and struggled to keep their straight.
"Who cares cause commotion in my palace, " roared a voice so heavy, everyone went looking cover.
Lin desperately searched for Mia in a final attempt to escape. But she was nowhere in his sight.
Roe stood up from the rumble and yelled, "Father catch them before they escape. I will explain rest. "