Chapter 159

Chapter 159: Chapter 159

At sunset, the skies turned blue and the clouds purple, the moon shimmering like a large pearl. Caedos finally returned in the light of the full moon, his steps slow but steady.

The last of the survivors had been found and brought to the castle for treatment and recuperation, warm light spilling from the castle windows. There was a campfire just outside the castle, a handful of individuals seated around it, waiting gloomily.

"I can find my way to the castle just fine," He said dryly, stepping out of the darkness. Behind him were the shadowy structures of houses yet to be reclaimed, now sitting in ruins.

"Your Highness!" Dilya shot to her feet.

"You didn’t all have to keep watch," Caedos said quietly, "Rest is needed."

Dilya didn’t seem to hear his words, taking a step forward. "I’ll attend to your injuries, Your Highness."

"No need." Caedos waved her away, walking past them.

It wasn’t just Lady Dilya that kept wait for him, his captains did as well... three of four, the campfire reflected in their weary eyes.

"I’ll be fine after a night’s sleep." He said without changing his inflection, walking right into the castle.

Ardan watched the Prince’s back disappear into the warmth of the castle, admiration shining in the black fire of his eyes. "You heard His Highness." He said shortly, but he made no move to leave either, turning to Dilya. "Is there anything you need help with in the infirmary?"

Dilya let out a laugh, it was a sound of relief instead of humor, her gaze still wretched. It didn’t matter how many Hellhounds died, as long as the last Royal Hellhound persisted, they would be free.

"Do you think people would stand aside and let a captain do menial chores?" She asked lightly, starting for the castle first. "You would be all better off taking His Highness’s advice."

Caedos had already gotten to his chambers by the time they dispersed. He slowed to a stop after he closed the door behind him, leaning heavily against it... Tonight he was really tempted to pay a short visit to Earth.

He would sleep better in Dulce’s bed, while the Vampire read quietly next to him.

Despite his thoughts, he pushed off the door which was now smeared with blood, going right to the bath so that he didn’t make too much of a mess. Returning was a reward, this was a pivotal moment, he couldn’t let his resolve weaken.

The bath water was like little knives in his endless injuries, he had dug out the head of the arrow in his shoulder himself, a deep flesh wound uncovered underneath the gore and blood.

Their victory was hard-worn but with the odds they had been incredibly lucky to only lose so few. It might have been a different story if the Fiend city of Ashford hadn’t released the few Hellhounds they held in captivity.

The Grand Duke had sent no messages and made no attempts for an alliance. Hellhounds had simply been quietly returned, despite being in captivity, they weren’t in dire straits like the Demons rescued from Ibaeron, the limiters around their necks taken off before they were set free.

There had been little time to address it as a war was still looming at the time of their release. And even now, there was no need to address it. He wasn’t grateful that Ashford deigned to release his kind from being beasts of burden but their presence had turned the tides, it was a bit of solace from their bleak reality.

After cleaning up, it was easier to see Caedos’ injuries. Barely any surface on his body was spared, some still even bleeding. Completely exhausted, his body could no longer spare energy to heal itself.

He simply went right to bed, collapsing right on it. Even if he gave in to the selfish urge to see Dulce, all that would achieve was worrying the Vampire sick. He didn’t want Dulce to see him in this state.

Sleep came instantaneously, but it wasn’t a peaceful sleep, his brows furrowed and beaded with sweat.

-+-

The next morning, a gentle knock roused him. Caedos sat up reluctantly. He would have to sleep for a day straight or more to feel even a bit rested but unfortunately, there were matters that he needed to attend to.

A stock of those lost needed to be taken and a few other technicalities that he hoped to finish up as soon as possible so he could go right back to sleep.

Lady Dilya standing on the other side of his double doors didn’t surprise him. She nervously moved her weight from foot to foot, her tense expression only easing when she saw him.

"I wouldn’t retire to bed if I knew I was going to die in my sleep." He said to her, it didn’t ease the matronly Demon however, her tense expression returning.

"Captain Elaith has been confirmed dead," She informed him, as the head of the makeshift infirmary, it was within her jurisdiction. "Members of his squadron returned to the spore fields to retrieve his body." She tagged on, keeping out the part where she had frowned against it.

The spore fields were far from settled, it would take even longer than the last battle. And as she feared, the men returned with even more mushrooms growing from their skin.

Caedos didn’t bother getting dressed, he would return to his bed soon. He needed to take a look at the recovered body of his captain, full reports of each regiment would take a few days to be prepared, and there was time.

They had defeated the first of ten cities, they deserved the rest they had earned.

Elaith was completely covered in mycelium, his mask still on his face, the only part of his body protected from the densely packed mushroom caps. He couldn’t be brought into the castle because of how dire his case was, there was no reason to spread the spores in the castle already filled with invalids.

The other three captains were already waiting by him, their expressions inscrutable. Caedos quickly learned that Elaith had sacrificed himself to take down as many soldiers as possible, releasing so many spores that he was more mushroom than Demon.

He was buried in the trunk of a broken tree, the mycelium couldn’t survive in the woods so they would soon die off and leave his body behind, cradled in the healing tree.