Shadow Slave novel Chapter 2370

The mountains had collapsed, creating a vast valley. The green slopes had turned into a brown desert of crushed rock… and now, the desert turned into a red river.

The blood - red cloaks of the imperial soldiers were like a crimson tide as they marched forward, sunlight glistening on the tips of their spears. _{freewёbnoνel.com}

Far above the sea of marching warriors, a hawk was gliding on the gentle winds. It opened its beak and let out a cry, then moved its wings to fly away. It was just in time - a moment later, a golden arrow flashed past it, tearing the sky apart.

The hawk folded its wings and plummeted down, then spread them again to glide and escape the cold gaze of the unseen archer.

It flew away, across the rolling hills of olive trees and beautiful cities. Across the wine - colored sea with islands where vibrant flowers bloomed among white rocks. Across deep forests teeming with wildlife, where holy beasts rested in the shade of emerald canopies, deep quarries where precious marble was being mined, and tranquil shrines.

Across a peaceful realm that was about to be devoured by the jaws of War.

Eventually, the hawk reached a vast city that sprawled around a tall hill and landed in the courtyard of a humble manor, turning into a woman who wore a deer hide around her shoulders. Her olive skin was covered in sweat, and her breathing was labored, her face showing fatigue from having crossed such a great distance in such a short time.

"My lady!"

Handmaidens rushed to offer her water and fresh fruit, their eyes gleaming with awe and veneration.

The woman drank deeply from a beautifully painted amphora, then waved the young girls away. When she looked at them, her own eyes became full of sorrow for a brief moment.

Then, she hid her sorrow away.

"No time for that. Where is the prince? I must see him."

The handmaidens looked at each other, prompting her to frown.

"What is it?"

They looked in the direction of the hill, where an ancient temple stood, its white pillars weathered from the passage of time.

"It is the Oracle… you have been summoned. The prince, as well."

The woman sighed bitterly, then wiped the water off her lips.

"Now they are speaking, huh?"

She closed her eyes for a few seconds, then straightened and looked at the young handmaidens one more time.

The girls giggled in embarrassment under her gaze, which made the woman's face harden. Turning away, she left without looking back.

The atmosphere in the temple was peculiar when she arrived. It stood empty most of the time, but now, there were people.

She recognized most of them.

There was a noble young man with calm and wise eyes. A boy with red hair - an unusual color in this land. A scholarly woman with a long black braid, her graceful beauty both subtle and bewitching.

There was also a tall warrior with broad shoulders, his towering height making the others seem puny. A slender man in elegant clothes who looked like a sculptor. A ship captain whose rough skin had turned bronze in the sun, his eyes the same color as the sea. A blind poet whose songs were renowned across the realm. A woman who was either a priestess or a courtesan, or possibly both…

Each and every one of them, except the boy, was famous for one reason or another. Some of them were immensely powerful, while some were only slightly so, but all were outstanding.

All in all, it was a peculiar crowd of people.

As the woman wearing a deerskin around her shoulders arrived, there were now nine of them.

She looked at the gathering with a frown, but chose to say nothing.

The warrior spoke, instead, his booming voice echoing under the roof of the ancient temple:

"What news?"

The woman responded curtly.

"It is as we expected. The imperials are already on the match."

The warrior clicked his tongue.

"Curses! I should be gathering citizens into an army, not wasting my time here."

The noble young man looked at him calmly.

"We were summoned."

Despite the difference in their height, the tall man seemed taken aback. He lowered his head.

"I am sorry, my prince. I spoke out of turn."

Soon, they were ushered into the inner sanctum of the temple. There, three figures sat behind a veil.

A young girl, a mature woman, and an old hag…

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