A Priceless Bounty

Chapter 4

“You know, you should have told us the kid was the Crown Prince way earlier compared to like this morning,” Francis comments. Rune hums in agreement.

“Look - I only learned it last night – and it took a lot of convincing to do for me to tell you guys,” Arthur responds, tiredly. The trio saunters towards the headquarters, leaving Erwin alone in the cabin. Arthur feels uneasy at the mere thought of it. 

“I think leaving him alone was a bad idea – there were assassins attempting to kill him -”

Rune reassures him. “No one except Master, knows where our house is located,”

Francis shoves one hand inside his pockets, the other clutching his axe, pondering. “He’s only 13 and there are assassins out there to slit his neck, why would they want to take his life so bad?”

“Erwin doesn’t know but he does have a clue who it may be,” Arthur recalls. He then exhales deeply. “The problem is that there are too many suspects he said, “he mutters under his breath. Rune and Francis stare at him. “Too many suspects?” Rune repeats, speechless. “How many people want him dead?” she asks, horror dawning on her. Arthur grumbles, his voice dangerously low as he grips on his sword. "Whoever it is, I’m going to serve their heads as breakfasts to the dragons,” 

Rune and France exchange looks. They’re going to have to prepare the assassins’ funerals, won’t they?

They have arrived at the headquarters, climbing up the stairs towards Master’s office. Rune takes the lead as they stop in front of the doors. “It’s us, Master.” They have been granted permission to enter. Master stands in the middle of the drawing room, his back turned on them. He watches the fireplace crackling with sparks, reflecting in his eyes. "What brings you here?” he inquires. Rune straightens up. “I believe we don’t have to proceed with our mission in the palace, Master,” she says. Master tilted his head to face the trio. “And why is that?” he asks, his voice eerily calm. Arthur feels a shiver crawl up his spine. “We found the Crown Prince,” Master stiffens, his eyes going wide. He spins around to fully face them, Francis gulps nervously. “You did? How?” There is a sinister edge in his voice, his eyes oddly glinting. Athur’s mind is screaming to tell him to stop, to not say anything, that something is dead wrong - “I found him injured in an alleyway, he’s staying in Rune and Francis’s home for the meantime,” he says anyway, his mind cursing at him.

Master’s eyes fall on Arthur, leveling him with an intense stare. Arthur senses he is walking on thin ice that threatens to crack any minute. Master finally speaks, “Well done, then I have a new mission for the three of you,”

A menacing smile creeps on his face. “Kill him.”

Deafening silence fills the room, the trio inhales a sharp breath, the colors on their faces draining. “...what?” Arthur’s voice cracks. Master raises his brows. “Is there any problem?” Francis speaks for Arthur, snapping from his daze. “It’s - it’s just that he’s the Crown Prince – he’s different from the rest of the bounties we had to kill...illegally, won’t we be committing a serious crime?” Master lets out a laugh. “You don’t have to worry about that,” 

“I will take the throne after all.”

Life has always been unpredictable to Arthur, tossing trials and adversities and unwanted surprises at every turn like a wrecking ball. Arthur has always stubbornly faced them head on with headstrong determination, used to shrug it off and goes along with the flow, even if it goes against his morals. This is not one of them. 

“I believe it’s my time to reveal my identity,” Master says, the trio paralyzed with shock. He sits in his armchair, drumming his fingers on his desk. “I’m the Prime Minister, the oldest brother of the King.”

At the abrupt revelation, they couldn't believe it, none of them did. He must be joking, right? But upon seeing their 'Master's face, he looks serious. Rune and Francis immediately kneel. They desperately look at Arthur, signaling him to do the same. Arthur curls his hands into balls of fists. “No,” he grits out, staring fiercely at Master – no – Prime Minister. Arthur is on the verge to combust out of sheer anger - there is no way the Prime Minister is going to let them kill Erwin, his little brother, because of his greedy and corrupted ambitions – he won’t let him - 

“I don’t care if you’re the Prime Minister of this kingdom,” he bites out, his voice laced with venom. “You’re not going to order us around to kill an innocent person for your own pitiful gains -” The Prime Minister abruptly draws his sword from its sheath to Arthur’s neck. Rune and Francis yell, shaking in fear. Are they going to witness the demise of their best friend? -

Arthur doesn’t flinch nor react, instead he glares spitefully at the man. “Were you the one who sent assassins to Erwin?” The Prime Minister looks surprised, an amused smile playing on his lips. “You two are on first name basis now?” He chuckles. “You guessed it correctly, didn’t know you have a sharp mind underneath that stubborn and weak exterior of yours,” 

The Prime Minister clicks his tongue, shaking his head in disappointment. “Too bad you’re rebelling against me, what a waste,” He puts away his sword as Arthur scowls. “Good thing, I had taken extra measures,” The Prime Minister raises his hand, bursting with amethyst power, the pupils in their eyes dilate in pure terror. 

“Oh, and thank you Arthur for informing me of the Crown Prince’s whereabouts,” 

He hurls the ball of amethyst energy towards them – the trio screaming as they crash against the bricks of wall, hitting the ground. They groan as they try to sit, their bones crack with an ugly crunching sound. “Don’t tell me we broke our bones -” Arthur ignores them, pushing himself to stand up, his body flaring in pain. He bites his tongue to avoid screaming in agony, his head aching. But he can’t just sit around here and do nothing while his little brother is in mortal danger -

He breaks into a sprint; Rune and Francis’s shouts are left ignored. Arthur curses himself for his stupidity, he should have trusted his instinct, he should have listened to his mind, he shouldn’t have said a single word -

Because of him, Erwin is going to die.

His body goes limp, his vision swimming as he can feel the familiar sensation of cold blood on his skin. ‘No, no, no – I need to get there – I have to get him out there safe -’ 

Arthur swings the door of the cabin open and storms inside, calling for the boy in distress. “Erwin?! Erwin, where are you?! -” He comes to a halt as he realizes the house is in a chaotic mess, many of the amenities and furniture damaged. He can spot the burns that may likely originate from a power source. As if someone was struggling to fight against a group of people.

Arthur yells, enraged as he sends a strong punch on the wall. Blood drips from his knuckles. He’s a failure, he’s a failure, he’s a failure – he promised the kid he would protect him, and he broke the promise like a reckless fool - 

Someone gives him a pat on the shoulder, squeezing it. Arthur flinches, alarmed at the touch as he swivels around. Francis looks at him with pity, but his face shifts into a confident expression. Since when did they enter? Arthur didn’t even hear them. “Don’t worry,” Francis begins. “He may have the Crown Prince now, but we still have a chance,” Francis nods at Rune. “Remember how Master – I mean – Prime Minister, said how he will take the throne?” Rune says, a grin slowly forms on her face. 

Arthur’s anger and self-loathing ebbs as he tries to make sense of Rune words. Realization finally hit him like a truck. “That means -”

“Yep! They’re in the palace, it’s probably in a commotion now,” Rune gives him a finger gun, shining with blinding optimism. “We just need a plan,” Francis brings his axe behind him. “Would you like to do the honors?”

Arthur gapes at them, his eyes oddly wet. He nods, determination replacing guilt gnawing his chest. An idea pops into his head. “I have an idea...but it’s dangerous...and kind of stupid,”

Rune and Francis simply shrug. “Since when were our plans bright and safe?”