Of Blood and Duty

Chapter Nineteen • His Queen

"Where is she?" He repeated his question. Hate took over his body as he stared down the man who had kidnapped his queen.

Ulf did not answer. Only reciprocated the darkness that radiated from Loren himself as he stared back at him

"Answer him." Evor demanded with his gravel-rough voice.

"You sure you want to aid him?" Ulf suddenly asked the others and instead of answering Loren's question. "Do you know what he is? What he could do to your guild if you let him leave?"

The sound of a sharp hiss came from Hagan when his worst fear was worded in front of them. Someone who knew more about Loren than they did. Loren remained still. Refrained from changing his demeanor despite risking having his identity revealed before it might be the right time. 

"He didn't tell you who he serves." He chuckled without amusement. Not because he was surprised or shocked by the fact. Ulf could tell that Loren had not told them anything of importance, or something that would mean harm to his own people.

"He has not told us anything because when he found him he could not even tell us his own name." Evor informed Ulf, his voice darkening with every word. "If you have something to say, then speak-" 

"What does it matter?" Mae asked, not acting the fool but trying to take whatever advantage he had over Loren away from him. Aimed to frustrate him or make him speak without thinking.  "What does it matter who he serves?" She questioned Ulf, barely noticing the rest of them. However, pointing with her right hand at Loren. Her eyes resting steadily on the deserter. "Why should we believe you?" The hand moved towards him. 

The other two gave her questionable looks but said nothing. Obviously, it was of importance to them to find out who of the two strangers was telling the truth, or not. Especially now that Loren had stayed with them long enough to know the grounds and where they dwelled. Had spent quite some time with the Guild and the chief's daughter. He understood how he could seem like the bigger threat at this moment.

Evor and Hagan's gazes turned a bit more relaxed, although they did not leave her. "I vowed to end him. That still stands." Mae assured her family, not caring that Loren stood right there, hearing her perfectly clear.

Ulf's face was suddenly wrapped in a grimace of confusion. He does not know which one of us Mae vowed to kill. Loren thought to himself, feeling a bit better about that - but not about the notion that she had not forgotten what she had promised her father. Had it not been he who was the one to be killed, he would have smirked arrogantly at Ulf. He would have relished in his discomfort and concern. 

"Remember that." Hagan growled at his sister and took a step back. "Who does he serve then?" He asked his prisoner and the hesitant side of him Loren had witnessed many times was nowhere to be seen. He leaned against a table with his arms crossed. "Tell us." 

"Who do you serve?" Mae chipped in, forcing Ulf eyes to move from one twin to the other as the questions was fired at him.

"Has to be a rival of some sort." Hagan muttered at his sister without looking at her. Mae mumbled something inaudibly, shrugging her shoulders. "He took someone from Loren." She went on, her voice cold and stale. 

"Oh." Hagan spoke calmly. "A lover? Sister? Mother?" He asked, now focused on the second outsider. 

Loren instantly noticed what they were doing. Their strategy. To distract the deserter and force his focus to shift between them as they spewed questions at him. 

"A friend." Loren answered.

"His queen." Ulf chuckled coldly. "I took his queen." 

All of them stared at Ulf for a couple of seconds, then three pairs of eyes redirected themselves towards Loren. Hagan looked pleased with this information but full of contempt as his brown eyes landed on him. His eyes practically screamed the words I know you were bad news the moment I saw you. Evor's eyes were hard to read. His face expressed nothing outside of the usual; a composed and observant leader. Mae however... her gaze dripped with disbelief. Her brows knotted and the beautiful eyes narrowed.