Midnights: The Valley of Ogressia

Chapter 14

Seeing that tribesman holding Cameron's necklace sent a rush of fear all through my body. I was frozen in the chair I was sitting in. There were still voices around me, but my thoughts were racing. I kept thinking to myself that she was dead, and that I would never see her again. I could feel the warm tears I cried falling down my cheeks, but I made no effort to wipe them away. I just sat there, staring at the necklace on the table.

I could feel all the eyes in the room upon me, and I decided I needed to snap out of this trance like state I had put myself into. I noticed that there were several people in the room now, one of which was Simon, and there were other familiar faces. Thadeus was staring at me waiting for me to speak, but I had no words. I could form no words, I found myself reaching forward to pick up the necklace.

Upon bringing the necklace closer to my eyes, I noticed that the leather that was it's chain was broken. It was frayed at both ends, and I knew that it had been ripped from Cameron's neck. I became enraged, and instantly threw the pendant across the room. It bounced of of one of the men, and he caught it before it fell to the ground. I looked at the man standing closest to me, the one who had come bearing the necklace.

" Tell me everything you know, now!" I snarled through gritted teeth. He stepped back in fear, and swallowed hard. Her was visibly frightened, and as well he should be. My mate, may be dead, and he may know something. I slammed my fist on the desk, trying to get him to speak, or maybe just to strike fear to all in the room, I was not entirely sure. He straighten, fear in his eyes, he tried to speak.

" My Lord, uh, I was not there myself. I was only handed the pendant, Simon was the one who found it." He motioned to Simon, with a trembling hand, who had been standing near the door. Simon moved forward, and walked towards me. I sat back down in the chair, crossing my arms over my chest.

" Simon, do you know anything that happened? I need to know all that you know, no matter how unimportant you may deem the information." I sat forward a little, knowing that he once fought against my mother, even though he had helped my people, I still felt uneasy. I could tell by his eyes he knew something.

" My Lord, it is true that I came upon the fallen Diamtri, but Lady Cameron was no longer in the area. I searched the clearing, and found her necklace, as well as several pairs of hoof prints. Sir, I feel that Lady Cameron was taken by at least three Diamtri warriors. I followed the prints a little ways, but something in me told me to come back to the village to inform you of what I had found." He was looking at me, but I could not tell if he was telling the truth or not. Cameron seemed to trust him, but I was not sure that I could.

" Thank you Simon, I am very pleased with the information you have given me. Are you sure you have nothing else to tell me?" I was trying a human tactic I had learned from observing those around me. Guilt, was a powerful tool that humans used to get information. My people were not used to a technique such as this, and Simon grew afraid. He shifted his weight, telling me he knew something more.

" There is one thing more, my Lord. When I came across the dead beast I noticed something odd across it's breast. It appeared to be black smudges, and upon closer examination I saw that they were scorch marks. Who ever took on the beast was quite powerful, and I came back to the village because I was frightened." He was no longer looking at me, it seemed as though he was ashamed of running away. I decided that Simon could be trusted, as he did not lie to me, but only was disappointed in his weakness.

I motioned for everyone to take their leave of Thadeus and I , as we had much to discuss. I was much more calm now, and I had finally collected myself enough to think clearer. Cameron had been taken by some Diamtri warriors, she was probably scared, and who knew how she would handle herself. I needed to find her, and soon was not good enough.