Chapter 708
Three days earlier, the Nevill family departed Hasen City and hastened toward Fotidia without pause.
By nightfall on the first day, Caleb’s condition had become so critical that they were forced to stop at an inn.
Dale had brought ample manpower for the journey this time.
Over the years, the Nevill family trained numerous devoted warriors. To ensure their safe return to Fotidia, Dale took every last one of them with him.
After ensuring the night watch was properly arranged, Dale finally returned to his room at the inn.
“Adeline, how’s Caleb?“Dale asked.
Dale pushed open the door to find Adeline keeping vigil ‘s bedside.
After tucking the blanket around Caleb, Adeline shook her head, her face drawn with exhaustion. “I’ve given him the medicine, but he still hasn’t awakened,” she said softly.
Dale walked over and gently patted her on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, Adeline,” he reassured her. “Didn’t the Holy Lady say he should awaken in no time as long as we administer the medicinal brew to Caleb on schedule?”
“Even so,” Adeline said anxiously, “Caleb still hasn’t woken up. I just can’t rest easy, especially with those damned parasites still inside him.”
At the thought of those parasites, Adeline couldn’t help but feel afraid and indignant.
Adeline thought bitterly, ‘Those damned parasites! And that bitch Sophie deserves to rot in hell!
‘Sophie has ruined the Marquis’s estate and left my son Caleb lying unconscious to this day!‘
Even though Sophie was dead, Adeline still felt genuinely afraid.
She was terrified that if she took her eyes off her son for even a moment, those parasites inside his body might suddenly go berserk and kill him in a frenzy. What would she do then?
All Adeline could do was pray in her heart now.
Adeline prayed fervently, ‘May my son wake up soon, and may Eliza find a way to rid him of those dreadful parasites without delay!‘
Dale said gently, “Alright, Adeline. It’s getting late. We should retire early as we have a long journey ahead tomorrow.”
Dale and Adeline’s room was next to Caleb’s.
Adeline was reluctant to leave Caleb’s side, but she knew they had a long journey ahead tomorrow. If she didn’t get proper rest, she’d only make Dale worry more.
With a final, reluctant glance at Caleb, Adeline ultimately followed Dale back to their adjacent room, her heart heavy with reluctance.
When they were preparing to sleep for the night, a sudden knock sounded at the door, breaking the silence.
Dale turned toward the door, his voice cold and alert as he asked, “Who is it?”
“Sir, it’s awfully dry tonight. Please be careful with open flames. I have brought you some cool water to prevent any fire during the night. Just in case,” said an inn attendant.
It sounded perfectly normal.
However, Dale’s brow furrowed instantly, his gaze turning razor–sharp.
Chapter 708
That’s not right, Why is the Inn attendant responding? Where are the men who posted outside? Dale thought sharply cuspicion rido.
Dale rose slowly, signaling for Adeline to take cover. As he drew the sword concealed beneath his pillow, he replied coolly. “Ha neva Vie It won’t catch fire.”
Normally, any sensible inn attendant would just walk away without a fuss if a guest turned him down.
However, the inn attendant outside wasn’t behaving normally.
“How could that be, sir?” the fake inn attendant sneered from outside. “Just take a look. The place is already on fire, isn’t it?”
Almost as soon as the inn attendant finished his words, a sudden blaze erupted in the corridor outside.
“Boom!” Just a heartbeat later, an explosion ripped through the inn, engulfing both floors instantly.
Under the night sky, the site of the former inn was now nothing but ruins, swallowed by a raging inferno.
Inside the inn, other unsuspecting guests were all affected by the explosion. Even if they were not killed by the blast, they were all burned alive by the raging fire.
Fortunately, Dale and his men were on high alert. The moment they sensed trouble, they all leaped from the inn.
However, the explosion was devastating. A full third of the warriors of the Nevill family were killed or wounded in that single blast.
Dale said urgently, “Adeline, wake up! Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?”
The instant Dale saw the flames, he knew danger was imminent. In one swift motion, he spun around, gathered Adeline into his arms, and directly lunged toward the window.
Thankfully, his quick reflexes saved both their lives.
But as Dale shielded Adeline and leapt out the window, the explosion behind him left him with internal injuries. Blood now trickled from the corner of his
mouth.
Adeline jolted awake as Dale shook her. The moment she regained consciousness, her face went pale with terror. She shrieked, “Caleb! Dale, please hurry. Go and save Caleb! He’s still in the inn!”
Dale was aware well Caleb was still trapped inside the inn, but it was already too late.
He turned back sorrowfully to look at the inn. Tears welled up in his eyes.
Adeline froze at Dale’s look.
Then, Adeline slowly turned to face the blazing ruins. In that instant, her composure completely shattered.
She screamed, her voice raw with anguish, “No…”
“I have to save my son! I have to get him out!” she cried, struggling desperately.
“Let me go! Let me go!” she shrieked, fighting against Dale’s grip.
“My son isn’t dead! He can’t be!” Adeline wailed in denial.
“Adeline, don’t…”
As Dale grabbed Adeline’s arm and was about to say something, a volley of arrows erupted from the darkness, aimed straight at them.
Dale shouted, “Protect Adeline!”
Chapter 708
May
Dale’s expression darkened. Swiftly deflecting the incoming arrows with his sword, he immediataty pulled Adaline bahiral in to shield hes
The remaining warriors of the Nevill family emerged instantly, forming a protective circle around Dale and Arteline Wine Ove desperately blocked wave after wave of arrows.
When the arrow storm finally ceased, nearly another third of the warriors of the Nevill family perishort.
Even Dale was hit by three arrows. If it had been just him alone, he could dodge them.
However, if he dodged them just now, the arrows would strike Adeline behind him. So Dale took all three arrows head on without flinching, shielding her with his body.
As soon as the arrow storm ceased, he turned, as if he had anticipated it, toward a certain direction. His voice was icy cold as he said, “Since you’re here, Duke of Mowbay, why bother lurking in the shadows? Why not show yourself and have a word? What do you think?”
Upon hearing Dale’s words, Adeline’s pupils contracted sharply. Her eyes went wide with utter disbelief as she stared at the familiar figure, Gabriel Stonor, slowly emerging.
Adeline gasped, “Gabriel… Is that you?”
