A Kaskian Story: Leaon, the Kings General

Chapter Nine

Kerd walked the streets of Prison City, breaking crates and barrels as he passed them, anger fueling him. He absentmindedly caressed the scar across his bare chest, the deep cut from his fight with the Lightning Arrow leaving her mark. The General's trip to find her children ended in failure, their trail getting cold in the woods south of Toogal. Days were spent searching for them, only to return empty handed. So lost in thought, Kerd did not notice any of the guards as he walked past them when he entered the prison where the person he did not want to see again waited for him.

As he turned the corner where her cell rested, Kerd focused for the first time since entering the city. Brittany stood up from her cot and ran towards the bars, examining the General's expression, trying to figure out if he had obtained her children or not. Seeing the look of defeat briefly in his eyes, the captive let a weary grin cross her face. "They're safe."

"For now." Kerd replied as he neared the cage. "Who do you know near Toogal? Where would they have gone?"

"I don't know anyone there!" Brittany laughed as she walked back to her bed. "No one!"

"You must know someone! Someone who would be protecting your children!" Kerd said, slamming his fist against the bars. "They couldn't have just disappeared!"

"And why would I help you?" Brittany mocked as she laid down. "You have no way of forcing me to tell you anything, especially something that I do not know!"

"Blast!" Kerd cursed as he turned and walked away from the prisoner. Her disrespect and mocking attitude infuriated him, never has he met someone so defiant, strong, and smart. "Get me the Warden!" He yelled to any guard within range. "Now!"

"I apologize for the delay, General." The Warden greeted as he approached the Felein. "How can I help you?"

"Get every soldier not in the Guard, ready and prepared to leave for the Capital. We leave in two days." Kerd replied while leaning back in the Warden's chair, resting his feet on the desk. "The King demands it!"

"Yes sir."

"It's been days and we haven't seen him..." Shizrin complained as she held her growling stomach. "How far could he have possibly gone?"

"He's heading east, heading towards the capital." Leaon replied, tossing a piece of rabbit meat to Shizrin. "We're not far behind him. His tracks are getting deeper in the snow, maybe an hour or two ahead of us."

"I hope we're closer than that." Sali commented as she pulled her cloak tight over her face. "It may have stopped snowing, but it's still freezing up here."

"Stop complaining." Leaon replied as he knelt next to a tree where the tracks turned in a different direction. "Why would he head back down the mountain?"

"What..." Shizrin started to ask as Erik jumped down from a tree near her and quickly grabbed her from behind, his arm wrapped around her neck as his sword pressed into her back.

"Leave me alone or she dies!" Erik told the Felein General.

"You know I cannot do that." Leaon replied as he pulled his sword and shield from their resting place. "Come back peacefully and we will forget this all happened."

"And I cannot do that!" Erik replied, tightening his grip on Shizrin. "I will kill her!"

"I'm sure you will." Leaon replied while Sali slowly walked around to flank Erik. "We don't want to hurt you."

"Get back!" Erik yelled at Sali as Shizrin swung her head backwards, hitting him in the face and releasing his grip on her.

Sali charged him, her shield raised in an attempt to bash him into the ground. Erik quickly recovered from the headbutt and sidestepped the shield attack, grabbing it with his free hand, twisting it so Sali lost her footing and tumbled into a tree. Shizrin regained her composure and attacked, swinging the flat side of her blade at Erik's face, hoping to knock him out before he could cause any more problems. The Anvil Warrior easily ducked the attack and thrust his sword into her arm holding the sword, piercing deep in her shoulder.