Of The Sea : John Murphy

WHERE ARE MY DRAG- I mean...

I rushed out the hall to watch the back of Anya exit my settlements as the gate was shoved close.

I let out a gentle breath and rubbed my arms as I strolled to the house to give Murphy the all clear.

The nerve of that woman, thinking that I would run about the forest just so that I could rescue one of hers. If he was so important, I don't see why she couldn't retrieve him herself. They significantly out number the band of 'children' as she so snarkily pointed out.

"The nerve." I grumbled under my breath as I reached for the door.

I gave it a good shove and it swung open, blasting the cold air into the tiny house.

"Murphy?" I called out, strolling in towards the bedroom.

I peeked in and saw him face down on the ground, blood spattered across the thatch floor. I gasped and ran to his side, rolling him over and wiping the blood from under his freshly bruised nose. "Murphy!" I shook him frantically, trying to snap him out of his daze.

I looked around the room as he slowly found consciousness and found it to be empty.

"Where's Bo?" My voice trembled as panic began to boil.

I looked back down at him with wide eyes that begged for answers. "What in the seven seas happened?"

He groaned quietly and his face contorted in pain. "Two big men..." He mustered. "They threatened the both of us, I-I think they took him... Your son..."

I let go of his face and grabbed my hair in horror, smearing his blood through it.

"Oh no... no, no, no!" I felt a heat rise from the bottom of my gut. "How long ago?!"

He winced as he pushed himself up, one hand clutching his stomach and another covering his throat. "I don't know, they knocked me out when I fought back."

I let out a defeated whimper and stood up, stumbling back and biting my lip so hard I nearly drew blood.

"Fucking bitch!" I growled, turning away and storming out into the clearing, waving over Áki and some others while yelling to our healer. "Sanna! Tend to John Murphy's wounds!"

They approached but merely followed as they caught the expression on my face when I strode on, barely making eye contact.

I went over to the horses and mounted one.

"Áki, I leave you in charge while I am gone, the rest of you will come with me to Ton D.C. Now!"

Without a second word, everyone moved according to my orders and we set out at a full gallop, hoping to catch up with the wretched whore.

How dare she come in to my territory and take my flesh and blood. She will pay.

For the whole journey, not once did we catch up or see a sign of them anywhere. They must have taken a different route.

Riding up to their gates, past the stone statue, I didn't bother to stop.

The Warriors at the wall were reluctant to open the gates but I made my position very clear, that I would not leave until they let me through.

I dismounted and tossed my reins to my people and charged furiously into their command room, throwing their battered door open.

"WHERE IS MY SON!" I demanded, gritting my teeth into a snarl at the end.

Anya's eyes lifted gently from the drawings on the table and fixed on me.

"Where is my healer?" She asked calm and collectedly, unlike me, who was steaming from each ear.

"You bitch! You did take him! Where is he?!" I shouted across the table to her.

"He'll be safe for the moment, let's call it insurance shall we? My healer, for your son." She wagered.

My fists balled hard, turning them white. "Do you not get it?" I growled, so loud that the people outside could probably hear. "You have scarred my child, you took him by force, do you not know how that could damage him? He will remember this for the rest of his life!"

"Let it be a lesson to him." She retorted.

I let out a breath of disbelief. "Let it- Let it be a lesson?" I hollered. "He is an innocent boy, my boy!"

"Get me my healer, and no harm will come to your precious, precious Bo." She looked me up and down as if in disgust. "You should be thankful I left you little sky pet alive."

I growled and a hand shot to the dagger at my hip, my every nerve threatening to snap and just kill her.

I exhaled with difficulty and clenched my teeth together. "Fine. You will have your prized healer." I seethed.

'Then I will torch your petty village to the ground.' I thought to myself. 'and make sure that all is left is your blackened bones.'