The Ascendants

Prologue

Author's Note

It's me my people! tstar421 😜😎🙌

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---Jonathan ---

I looked over at my beloved and my breath caught in my throat. Her once flawless face was bruised and swollen. The guards in front of me dragged her unconscious body along the rough road not caring about the damage they caused her.

The sky was a mixture of warm colors due to the rising sun. The air was still and chilly but I didn't mind it. This time in the morning has always been my favorite.

One of the guards behind me shoved my shoulder and I staggered forward before tripping over the chains on my feet and falling face first in the dust.

The sound of their laughter erupts behind me and then...

"So General, are you going to get up or what?"

"Quit playing around Gerard before he rips your spine out. Blimey... he can't do that can he."

Their laughter sounded again.

"How does having wolfsbane - and whatever other herb that might be a threat to your wellbeing- feel when you're receiving the torture? Huh General?... What's that? You have nothing to say? No more million worded speech?"

They began laughing again.

They were too busy laughing to even notice when I'd sat up looking at them.

"Are you done?" I asked breaking the chains on my hands and feet. The broken links fell to the ground already forgotten.

Both of the guards stood frozen in shock and watched as I stood up and stretched.

"Where did the other guards go?" I asked worrying for Jayla.

"They were told not to stop even if we did because the King knows that you won't leave her." Gerard said his face pale.

I looked around and for the first time take in my surroundings. The trees that towered above us, the strong smell of pine and the blackbirds constantly swooping down confirmed my suspicion. We were going through the woods behind the castle.

The main road would've been through the village which would have been crowded with people trying to get a peek of the person being arrested.
This route, however, was a route favored by the King and myself to bring the most dangerous criminals through. It's an honor to be carried down this path to be honest. To think that they are this much wary of me. But then...

"Why did the King give you two, the most idiotic of all his guards, the duty of escorting me. A trained guard of the King. The chief of the royal army for five centuries and counting. The man who has been to and survived countless battles. The most feared man to walk this land." I was shouting now with feign fury but the effect it was having on these poor puppets of the King was amusing. "How could the King trust you... with me."

I cracked my knuckles and made a threatening step forward and both Gerard and Jefferson stepped back intimidated.

I smiled at their uneasiness as I thought up a way to end my speech . "You do know that I'm going to kill you... right?" Now that was a fitting ending.
"I won't be sending anyone to their graves spineless..." Jefferson turned to run.

I grabbed him by his neck and hissed, "Unless they co-operate... You are going to want to turn around for this, it's a very slow and delicate procedure." I advised Gerard as I began to pull on the bones of Jefferson's cervical vertebrae.

Gerard stared at Jefferson's lifeless body as it fell to the ground. His flaming red eyes then slowly travelled back to me unblinking. His posture was tense and I knew that he was waiting for me to attack him.

"Shall we continue? Or do you want me to take out my over flowing wrath on you too? I should warn you that I know my way to the castle."

When I walked through the castle gates I was immediately surrounded by most of the King's soldiers. They sat astride their horses with their swords drawn.
I recognize most of them. These were men that I went to taverns with. Men that once led their lives off my opinions. Men that I trained. Men who's sword would never be drawn in my presence without my consent.

"I see you have arrived safely." King Qasim said.

"Only two of us made it." I said jamming an elbow in Gerard's side not too playfully. He gave a small yelp and jumped back.

I returned my focus to King Qasim a scowl on my face as I recalled what his orders did to my Jayla.

"Where is my wife?" I said my face and voice lacking any emotions.

"I had her escorted to the infirmary." he brushed away the invisible dust on his coat while he awaited my response.

"You'll both need to be at your strongest for where you are going." he continued when I didn't reply.

"Where will we be going?"

"The court has decided to have you exiled."

"But I haven't been to a trail."

"We couldn't have you killing the members of the court because of the decisions they make. You'll be leaving at dust."

The finality in his voice was strong and in the state I'm in - the state where even one word could result in mine and Jayla's last breath - even I knew not to push it.

"Where to?"

"Abbadon."