Series: The Mountain: Book 1: The Awakening

Traitor

Darkness spewed from the wooden floor as Liam suddenly arrived, standing in the exact spot he'd left, inside the now empty prison. Exiting the scorched building through the open doorway, Liam spotted the grizzly bearded man tightly embracing the young woman he'd saved earlier. Almost immediately after noticing his return, the man released the young woman, walking briskly towards his saviour. 

"Thank you!" the man shouted, bowing as he openly shared his thanks, "If it weren't for you, I, alongside my fellow villagers as well as my poor daughter, would've suffered at the hands of that pig."

"It's fine, I'm sure anyone in my position would've done the same," Liam lied, uncomfortable with the sudden praise as he remembered his earlier apprehension, "I'm just glad it all worked out in the end."

"Yes I am truly indebted to you, Ms. Alice and Sir Xavier for rising your lives to save us common folk," he went on as his daughter creeped up behind him. 

"My saviour," the woman said, bowing as her father had done mere moments before, "Firstly, I'd like to share my thanks not just for me but for all of us that survived due to your grace."

"It's ok!" Liam said quickly, discomfort growing even further at the sight of another adult bowing before him, "you don't have to do this!"

"S-sir," she continued, her face taking on a worried expression, "M-my children, a-are they-?"

"That matter has already been handled," Liam replied, staring at the map in his hands.

"I-I thank you with all my heart," she said, sobbing as she sank to her knees, staining her ruffled clothing with fresh tears.

"Speaking of Xavier," Liam said turning to the grizzly bearded man in an attempt to escape the situation, "Where is he?"

"Over there," the man said, pointing to the other end of the square. 

Following his finger, Liam picked out the huge form of Xavier standing beside an equally large man, having what appeared to be a serious conversation. Surveying the aftermath of what felt like a one-sided battle, he spotted the small, yet familiar frame of a girl staring at a corpse. Although finding her behaviour to be odd, he decided it best to regroup with Xavier whilst keeping an eye on her.

"Excuse me," he said, walking away as the man knelt down to console his daughter as tears of relief flowed continuously.

Nearing his destination, Liam paused as the small figure's identity soon became very apparent. Strolling shadily off to one side, Alice moved from body to body, sometimes squatting as she examined the dead mercenaries. Ignoring her actions, Liam resumed his course, reaching Xavier just as he'd finished his prior conversation. 

"What was that about?" Liam questioned as the muscular villager walked off.

"They've been sharing some concerns with me about the group that escaped," Xavier began, "apparently there's a traitor in their midst and the others are worried a similar event will happen in the future if he's not caught. There will always be another like that merchant as long as the vein of magic crystals remain buried beneath the village."

"I think I can help with that," Liam said unfurling the map, "I got this off the mercenaries, that were sent ahead."

"So that's where you disappeared off too," Xavier said, accepting the crudely drawn map.

"Speaking of the merchant," Liam said, as Xavier studied the parchment carefully, "What did they do with him?"

"Look up," Xavier said, jerking a thumb at a moderately sized tree, standing proudly amidst the burnt remnants.