The River King

Chapter 7: Confessions

"See... it's the boy. He matches the description."

Finneas had managed to get back on his feet. Despite having no weapons, Finneas was ready to fight. It was obvious he was going to lose. Nonetheless, he had no choice. Crouching down, Finneas picked up a tree branch lying nearby.

"No point fighting, kid," the guard continued. "Give yourself in and we won't hurt you."

Although he had no experience with a weapon, Finneas knew perhaps a simple whack over the head would give him enough chance to make a run for it. Neither guard had brought out their weapons yet. Finneas wondered if they took his threat seriously. There was only one way to tell.

Finneas charged forward, holding the stick above his head. He yelled a war cry as he attempt to slam the branch on top of one of the guard's heads. The man was swift, moving out of the Finneas's path with ease. With his staff, the guard thumped it at the boy's back, knocking him to the ground.

"Looks like we've got a fighter," the guard laughed. "Boss didn't say he was the one to bite."

"Probably wrong intel," the other remarked. "They say his brother can have violent outbursts. Maybe he's the same."

Finneas found his face covered with mud. Luckily the ground wasn't that hard – the rain had at least softened the soil. He rolled over, facing the guards. The two men towered above him, ready to strike.

"I won't fight," Finneas begged. "I won't..."

The guards didn't respond.

"Did the boss say anything about bringing him alive?"

"No... no, he didn't."

"Thinking what I'm thinking?" the guard said coarsely. "Killing him might give others the message: you don't cross the Republic. Plus, killing him now probably saves whatever torturous death the boss plans up. What you think?"

"Sounds fine... s'pose you do the first strike, then?"

The guard, who proposed the plan, lifted his staff. He readied it, aiming to crush the Finneas's skull. Before the man could thrush the staff into his face, Finneas quickly rolled over again, making the guard miss.

"You lil' chaff," the guard snarled.

He prepared for another forward slam. This time, Finneas knew the man wasn't going to miss. He closed his eye tight, anticipating the eventual hit. But the strike didn't come.

Finneas opened his eyes. The guard was still towering above him. However, the man had paused. Finneas quickly noticed a spearhead had sliced into the guard's neck plunging through his throat. The man began to chock as blood dribbled down his chest. The weapon quickly retracted, causing the guard to fall to the ground. The man grabbed hold of his neck in a futile attempt to stop the bleeding. As the guard lay there, he stared intensely at Finneas. Finneas was unsure if the man was still conscious. The eyes were still open, yet the face seem vacant.

Looking upwards to see who his sudden rescuer was, Finneas quickly realised it was Cymon who had killed the guard. The Water Taper stood defiantly; his spear ready to strike again.

"Not you!" the other guard remarked, slowly taking steps back. "You're Joses's younger brother, Prince Neco?"

Cymon didn't respond.

"Royalty or not," the guard stated. "You attacked an imperial guard. I... have... to arrest you..."

"That's not happening," Cymon said coolly.

Realising the man wasn't going to budge, the guard also ready his weapon. Aware of what had happened to his fellow guard, the man's hand shook violently. Although nervous, he stood his ground. Eying his opponent, Cymon waited for an opening. He didn't have the element of surprise this time.