For Her

17. Blazing Fury

It took over a day.

But with every second, the blazing simmering cold in his veins grew stronger and far more violent. He was a beast and he was to be unleashed.

And the time had arrived.

"COMMANDER!" Hebaron hissed loudly but Riftan didn't bother for quiet, drawing his sword as Talon burst through the trees and towards a heavy group of at least thirty men camped around a fire. They must've heard them but were still unprepared.

"CHARGE!" Talon swept through two men, barreling them over and ignoring their grunts of agony and pain. Riftan didn't bother with sitting atop of Talon. He dropped off his horse before he slowed down, landing hard on his feet but he didn't feel it. Horse shrieked and whined in fright and the battlecries of men could be heard all around as the sky grew darker with every second.

"WHY YOU-" A man charged at Riftan, axe crossing towards Riftan but he casually stepped aside, grabbing the axe mid swing, yanking the weapon from his hand and slamming his elbow into the man's face with no hold backs despite the armour over his arm. He heard the crunch of a nose breaking from impact as blood pattered his armour but he slammed him aside. Sword curling across as two men charged him from his right. Riftan drew his dagger, catching the man closest to him and cutting across his chest. The other faltered and Riftan twisted his sword arm around, forcing him to grow lax and Riftan slammed his massive shoulder against him. The mercenary gasped for breath as Riftan swiftly passed him, searching the crowd of men fighting for his target.

But as many men came at him, none were the one he was after and his fury grew far more with every man he beat into the earth. A mercenary caught Riftan's sword with his, stumbling back as Riftan shoved hard against him. He continued to rise to his feet and Riftan slammed his feet against the man's face, and gripping his collar as he twisted the man's wrist, feeling the bone break.

The man screamed in agony but Riftan bared down at the snivelling coward as he snarled.

"Where is Rob Midahas?"

"I-I...don't know! Pl-please-"

"You took my wife!" Riftan hissed, slamming him against a tree trunk, hearing him grunt in pain and trying to breathe. "There is no mercy for you now!"

"I-I didn't-It wasn't m-my idea-"

"I don't care." Riftan smirked darkly. "I will destroy every single one of you and that includes your boss! So, where. Is. He. NOW?"

"I don't know!" He sobbed pathetically. "He...He was on watch d-duty when you appeared!"

SHIT! That slimy bastard could've left already! But- WATCH DUTY-

"COVER!" Riftan roared, turning back to his men, throwing the coward harshly to the ground and Riftan just heard the twinge of an arrow and the flicker of silver and he swiped his sword across with furious speed. The arrow split in two with a snap.

"ON IT!" Uslin drew his chain and bola and swung it precisely at the top of some branches, snapping a branch and a body dropped. Gabel climbed up one tree, leaping across and swinging from a branch, slamming a foot against a mercenaries face as he fell off the tree with a yell. Riftan saw final movement as he lurched forwards, cutting his sword across as another arrow was shot and just cutting it down before it hit Sir Nirta.

"THANKS!" Hebaron shouted before yanking out his dagger and flinging sharply through the bracken. There was yelp and another body dropped heavily to the ground. Riftan eyed the bodies of groaning or unmoving men on the ground with a casual, cold sweep but none were Rob.

"Is that all of them?" Hebaron muttered, crossing through them all with his sword out ready to fight back in case one acted out.

"No," Gabel muttered. "The ringleader ain't here."

The son of a bitch isn't here! Didn't want to face me...Knew he couldn't but still...

With a snarl, Riftan slammed his fist on the tree trunk, shouting in anger and fury, ignoring the ache in his hand because he was fucking furious. "THAT FUCKING BASTARD!"

"Commander, he won't have gotten far-" Riftan didn't bother acknowledging Gabel's word as he stormed towards Talon and leapt onto his back. "Commander we can't track him now when it's too dark-"

"We're heading back to Xeno because he will be as well." Riftan snapped. "There is nothing in this direction they are heading and to throw us off he'll head back in that direction. He want's to play chicken shit, I will make him live in fear if I have to!"

"What do we do about them-"

"Leave them." Riftan's voice was passively ruthless as he eyed the immobile forms on the ground. "Gather the rest of our men and let's go!"

"YES SIR!"

---

They had another day to get back to Xeno at least and Riftan couldn't be bothered to rush anymore. Exhaustion was getting to him and the anger didn't serve well if he had nothing to focus it on. He will not rest though until he cut that bastard's head off his neck the way he planned to a few years ago.

This time, there will be no excuse or pardon you can make.

The world was becoming bleaker and eventually, the anger would fade to nothing. He stared at the sunset with heavy eyes, the red making his heart ache horribly and he clutched his chest as if preparing for further pain but he had to will it away. I can't...I can't mourn you...Not properly while out here. Home, I need to go...

No, she was home and she was gone. Where am I supposed to call home? Our room, the castle, the city? It was more home with you there and now...

"Commander-"

"Pack up! Let's move." They didn't hesitate and jumped back on their horses and started down through the woods, if they needed to travel through the night, so be it. It was better to get out of here rather than sleep through the night and Riftan couldn't bring himself to sleep.

They rested at dawn for an hour to eat quickly and gather their bearings but it would only take them until lunch or evening when they would reach Xeno and hopefully find Rob's tracks around there. He'd pass through at least.

"Who's there?" Riftan frowned and glanced back to see in the distance two horses riding towards, Remdragon knights. Elliot Karon at the lead as he slowed to a halt before them.

"Commander." Karon nodded in greeting, his eyes glimmering sharply as he eyed the rest of his friends.

"We found the Livadon men," Gabel answered. "They're gone but Midahas escaped." Elliot cursed but turned back to Riftan, and Riftan carefully assessed the knight who appeared far too-

"Commander, you need to get to Xeno. Now!" 

Riftan frowned darkly at the knights command, ready to snap at him for suggesting such a thing but the Knight pushed on, a fierce tremor in his voice. Words that could either ruin or bring a world back to colour were on the verge on someone's tongue and Riftan felt the world hold its breath for fear of what could lie ahead.

"Lady Maximilian is alive!"

...See, you never failed me, Riftan.