An Assassins Crown

Chapter 32- Verian

I had gone into a rampage staring at the map. It had been roughly 1 hour since I found the destruction of the carriages. And by the time I found them it had probably been at least an hour if not several.

So according to that knowledge the attackers couldn't have gone too far. Considering the amount of rain and that the roads would be hard to trek through because of the mud, then getting farther than a couple of kilometres is not a high possibility.

With a ring of red string- clichè I know- I mapped out how far they could've gotten. From the known camps 2 are in the radius.

I turned to Milo who had fallen behind when I did many hours ago.

"Gather a group" I say rigidly "we leave in 15 minutes to retrieve them". He nods and leaves.

My body is rigid as I turn back to the table. Stress is taking its toll on my body.

Earlier I had given Fern to the female healers hoping to give her help and security in them. I'm happy she's safe but that happiness is suffocated for my worry for her.

My Katara.

She could be being tortured right now or worse- dead. At least if she is being tortured there's something salvageable but if she's dead...

I don't even want to think of it.

The horrifying possibility that her red eyes will never meet mine again.

But that only fuels my determination more.

I gather my swords in their sheaths. Strapped across my back with a dagger on my hip. Two more in my boots and one on my thigh. And finally Katara's prized knife on my left thigh.

Special to me just by being special to her.

I walk out to where my soldiers await my presence. The rain has seemed to let up for now. It no longer pelts our skin unforgivingly.

My heart steadies as I clench and unclench my fists. Though my muscles stay rigid with unease and worry.

The setting sun coats a wave of reddish orange over us.

"We will discard the horses 2 kilometres from the first camp and attack at the first opening." My gaze slides over each soldier "if our people are not there we move to the next camp." I raise the assertiveness in my voice for the next part, "retrieval is our highest priority. We get them and get out. Do you understand?!".

"Yes sir" they say in unison.

With their answer the plan will now be set in motion. I get onto my horse's back and lead myself to the front of the group. I raise my head high.

The ride was quiet. Too quiet.

When we made it to the 2 kilometre mark we moved to foot. Walking forward in formation we make it to the outskirts of the camp. I crouch down behind a bush eyeing the shuffling warriors.

I pull out my sword from its sheath preparing myself.

My emotions mustn't get the better of me. I must stay calm. As soon as the anger takes over everything will go to shit. So don't let it. Stay calm and collected.

We start moving out from the shadows and sneak up on the outside guards. They lunge at us with all there mights but we are faster. We take them out in record time.

As soon as we slaughter the guards in one place we move onto another. Pools of blood scour across the campsite.

I start going through the camp opening up the tents.

Theres nothing. Absolutely nothing.

All there is in them are barracks.

I walk into the last tent, my hope withering but my anger rising. In the centre I spot a communication device. It crackles to life and broadcasts a voice.

"Does anyone copy?" the mans voice sounds panicked like he doesn't know what to do. "Does anybody copy?" the man booms again.

"I copy" I say imitating a scared soldier.

"Thank fucking Gods". He takes a deep breath. "Where is everyone? We have reports of invasion in the camp".

"You must be mistaken sir." I bite back my tongue.

"Of course. Take all the men there and bring them to this camp. It will be safer in numbers".

"Yes sir". A smirk forms of my lips. The device turns off as I turn away. My soldiers meet me in front of the tent I was in. I look over them. "Slight change of plans. The next camp over expects this camp to merge with theirs. Once we get there we get close enough to them without suspicion and then we attack." I pause. "Let's go".

We move out of the camp unbothered by the bodies that litter our path.

Settling back onto the horses my heart races. Katara has to be in the next camp. She has to be.

When we made it there we had already discarded our horses a little while back. We walk forward with raised chins as we stride to the camp.

It feels like I'm trapped in a dream as I walk towards them in the rain. It feels like I can't be free of the settings that have ingrained themselves into my soul.

I subtly make the signal to spread out. I don't spot them until I do. Flashes of colourful hair catch my view. There all huddled together in the cold before- the wall.

All my thoughts pause for a moment.

But then the start up again as I pull out my sword and the fighting starts. Anger clouds my vision as I stab soldiers. They go doubling over in pain, splaying out in the mud.

Soldiers usher the magical bein- Linury towards the wall. And I know exactly what there doing. As soon as they get over there and close the Portcullis then I won't be able to get past.

A slaughter soldiers as they come at me. They do everything they can to stop me but there not successful as I start to run towards them as fast as I can. As do others of my soldiers.

Theres a wagon trailing at the back of the mass of people. Unconscious bloody bodies lay there with a few of the opposing soldiers.

Amongst them is a very sickly looking Katara. Blood coats her body in a sickening red that I had only hoped to ever see in her hair.

I push myself faster. Anything to get to her in time.

But no matter how fast I move it doesn't seem to be fast enough because the portcullis is falling down. The world seems to move in slow motion as I reach the closed portcullis. I swear I see Katara's eyes flutter open for a moment to show fear. I don't think I have ever see such fear in my life.

The world seems to shut down around me as he eyes close again. Possibly for the last time.

I had wished to see those eyes again. But not like this. I didn't want to see that fear. That quaking hurt not at me but at the world.

When I saw her I wanted to see relief. Possibly even happiness. Not this. Anything but this. Everything but this.

My heart is being ripped out of my chest. The lump in my throat worse then my pounding fists on the metal in front of me. The rain pelts my skin almost feeling my pain.

This is worse then anything I could have ever imagined. Anything.