BXBX NOVEL Chapter 350 Now is the time
As they crossed the threshold, a group of soldiers approached them, their expressions shifting from wariness to surprise as they noticed Lyerin. The man leading them, a broad-shouldered soldier with a scar running down his cheek, stopped and saluted crisply. His voice boomed as he greeted them.
"Lyerin!" the soldier exclaimed, his tone filled with a mix of respect and relief. "You\'ve returned. We feared something had gone wrong."
Lyerin offered a charming smile, one that barely masked the sinister amusement lurking beneath. "Wrong? Of course not. I\'m not so easy to get rid of."
The soldier\'s gaze shifted to the group trailing behind him, his eyes narrowing as he took in their disheveled appearances. Blood stained their clothes, dirt clung to their skin, and their movements were sluggish, pained. He frowned. "What happened to them? They look half-dead."
Lyerin waved a hand dismissively, his expression one of feigned concern. "Ah, these poor souls. I found them wandering in the woods, lost and injured. They must\'ve run into some trouble—bandits, perhaps. Or maybe a beast. Who knows? But I couldn\'t just leave them there to die."
Donovan\'s hands clenched into fists at his sides. His jaw tightened as he swallowed back the surge of anger rising within him. Lying bastard, he thought bitterly. His body ached with every movement, his wounds still raw and stinging, but it was nothing compared to the fury that burned in his chest. He wanted to scream, to tell these soldiers the truth—that Lyerin was the one who had dragged them to the brink of death. But he didn\'t dare. None of them did.
Theran glanced at Donovan, his expression mirroring the same helpless rage. Beside him, Miriam and Mikhail exchanged tense looks, their lips pressed into thin lines. Even the Younger Woman, usually quick to speak her mind, kept her head down, her shoulders hunched as if trying to make herself invisible. The fear was palpable among them. They all knew what Lyerin was capable of, and they couldn\'t risk provoking him further.
Lyerin, for his part, seemed to revel in their silence. He turned back to the soldiers, his tone growing lighter, almost casual. "It\'s a miracle they made it this far, really. They must have some fight in them after all."
The soldiers exchanged uncertain glances, clearly unsure of how to respond. They didn\'t question Lyerin\'s words, but the sight of the battered group left them uneasy. The tension was thick, and every second felt like an eternity.
As if sensing their discomfort, Lyerin\'s smile widened. He stepped closer to the soldier with the scar and placed a hand on his shoulder, his grip firm. "No need to worry about them. They\'re under my protection now. Just make sure they get some food and water. Oh, and maybe a healer, if one\'s available. They\'ll need it."
The soldier nodded stiffly, though his gaze lingered on the group. "Of course, sir. We\'ll see to it."
Donovan\'s teeth ground together as he forced himself to remain silent. Every word out of Lyerin\'s mouth felt like a slap in the face. Protection? The very idea was laughable. But the weight of the situation kept him in check. Lyerin\'s earlier threats rang loud in his mind. If they spoke up now, he\'d have no qualms about exposing their ties to the Borgias family. That alone would seal their fate.
And then there was the question none of them dared to ask aloud: What is he playing at? Lyerin was never one to act without a purpose. His lies, his twisted games—they always served some greater plan, one that was impossible to predict. The uncertainty gnawed at them, more painful than their injuries.
The silence was broken by the sound of boots against the ground. A man emerged from the crowd, his presence commanding attention. He was tall and lean, with sharp features and a neatly trimmed beard. His uniform was more refined than the others, marking him as someone of authority. This was Commander Lucas.
Lucas approached with a measured stride, his piercing gaze sweeping over the scene before settling on Lyerin. He saluted, his movements precise and respectful. "Lyerin," he said, his voice steady but tinged with curiosity. "It\'s good to see you again. We were beginning to wonder if you\'d return."
Lyerin inclined his head slightly, his expression unreadable. "Oh, you know me, Commander. I like to keep things interesting." Find adventures on empire
Lucas\'s eyes flicked briefly to the injured group before returning to Lyerin. "And these… guests? Are they with you?"
The appearance of Donovan and others were different from their soldiers look do they looked different and not looked like among them like in the past, so naturally, they couldn\'t recognized them.
"They are now," Lyerin replied smoothly, his tone carrying a hint of amusement. "Strays I picked up along the way. They\'ll be staying for a while."
Lucas didn\'t press further, though his brow furrowed slightly. Instead, he shifted gears, his focus returning to the matter at hand. "As per your request, we\'ve established the tribe here. The settlement is fully functional, and the defenses are strong. We\'ve done everything you asked of us." He hesitated, as if weighing his next words carefully. "Now that you\'ve returned… may we finally have what we need?"
The question hung in the air, heavy with implication. Donovan and the others watched the exchange with bated breath, their bodies tense. What did Lucas mean? What had Lyerin promised these people? And more importantly, what price would they pay for it?
Lyerin\'s lips curved into a slow, enigmatic smile. His golden eyes gleamed as he looked past Lucas, toward the gates of the tribe. "Patience, Commander," he said softly, his voice like silk. "All in due time."
The answer offered no clarity, only deepening the sense of unease that had settled over the group. As Lucas bowed his head in acknowledgment, Lyerin turned back to his captives, his grin widening. "Well then," he said cheerfully, clapping his hands together. "Shall we?"
They had reached the entrance, but for Donovan and the others, it felt like they were standing on the edge of an abyss. Whatever awaited them beyond those gates, they knew one thing for certain: Lyerin wasn\'t done with his games. Not yet.