Series: The Mountain: Book 1: The Awakening

Captured

Faint crackling sounds of still smoldering houses disrupted the morning's silence as a poorly equipped guard yawned widely before exiting the sparsely furnished jail. Judging from the man's tired appearance, Xavier presumed that he would not return any time soon. Taking advantage of this clear opportunity, he vigorously struggled with his bonds as he recalled how he got into this situation. After learning of the villagers' plight from one of those fortunate enough to escape with their life, he blindly rushed to their aid hoping to resolve the situation. On reaching his destination, Xavier had managed to fell a couple of the merchant's men, even rescuing an injured warrior alongside two children in the process. However, his luck would end there as mercenaries, armed with auras far surpassing his own, appeared before him. Unable to resist their combined assault, he'd ended up locked away with the remaining inhabitants of the village. Still trying to loosen the ropes that bound him, Xavier attempted to draw upon his aura in hopes that it would aid in his escape. Unfortunately for him, his aura refused to appear no matter how much he urged it. 

'What's happening?' he thought, momentarily ceasing his struggle, 'Did I use too much aura in that fight earlier? No! I can still feel the aura within me yet whenever I try to use it an unknown force blocks the energy just before it's released?'

As he sat contemplating a solution, his eyes strayed upon the pitiful villagers bound tightly to the grimy walls. Amongst the poorly dressed captives were many young women, weeping tirelessly for their deceased spouses. Seeing their forlorn expressions reminded him of Helen after she mourned the death of her father. 

As the thought of Helen flashed through his mind, Xavier cursed himself for his hasty actions, 'If I were to fall here, who would escort the princess on her journey. Although Sylvie is still with her, there's no telling what could happen if someone stronger gets in their way. Not to mention, in her current state, she's incapable of carrying out her duties. If only I'd ignored this village and retreated with Lady Helen, we could have avoided this situation entirely.'

Lost in his thoughts, Xavier looked up sharply as some of the weeping widows suddenly began to cough violently. Squinting his eyes, he could just barely make out thin wisps of smoke seeping through cracks in the wooden wall's frame. Unable to ease their suffering, he watched helplessly as the charred scent of the villagers' burnt homes brought fresh tears to their eyes. The mood of their current predicament somewhat reminded him of his earlier encounter with their pursuers. Perhaps they too, silently wished for someone to show up and rescue them from their morbid fate. 

'Could this be the reason I rushed in?' Xavier wondered, looking up as rays of the early morning's light penetrated the room through minute holes in the thatched roof.

After regaining consciousness, Helen's tale of their saviour, Liam had left him frozen in disbelief. He'd immediately wanted to disregard her story as nothing but a wild yarn however, awakening amidst the sea of black sand had convinced him of Liam's power. Although grateful for his life saving grace,  Xavier's pride as a knight had taken quite the hit. Was he, who had trained his entire life, no better than a boy on the verge of adulthood?

Xavier shook his head, sighing as memories of his jealousy pervaded his mind as he muttered, "It would seem my inferiority is to blame for my actions. Perhaps I could've saved these poor villagers silently had I not charged in brimming with overconfidence."

As the realization of his own shortcomings struck, a girl's shrill scream pierced through the air momentarily silencing the tearful villagers. Whilst the captives listened closely as the unknown girl's screams continued to fill the air, a sickening thought arose in Xavier's mind.

'What if that screaming girl was Lady Helen?' face growing pale as the thought sprang forth, 'By now, my disappearance should've been noticed and knowing her, she'd immediately go searching for me. There's no way Sylvie would let her run off on her own, right? It can't be her, but what if it is?'