The Hooded Figure

The Leader

This hall was much larger than the first. As she stepped inside, Tula was blinded by the intense light that fell from the many chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling. As the heavy door creaked shut behind her, her eyes finally adjusted. A red carpet stretched from the door down to the other side of the hall, where it climbed up three stairs and was obscured beneath a golden throne. Tula’s eyes followed the carpet down until they froze at the throne, or at least, at who was sitting on it. She unconsciously let out a little gasp even though she knew what to expect.

All the planning in the world could not have prepare her for this. As her blue eyes met Vendigard's green ones, the hall around them seemed to disappear and a burning fire leapt up in Tula’s heart. A wide grin broke out on Vendigard’s face as he stood from his throne and slowly walked down the steps.

“Tula, how nice of you to join us, how long has it been now? Three years?” His voice seemed to pierce through her heart, each word more painful than the one before it. She felt the anger rise inside her, as if adding wood to the fire. Her insides burned with uncontainable rage that threatened to go berserk at any second.     

 “Yes three years,” continued Vendigard, his brown hair bouncing lightly on his head, “three years since you betrayed me!” His smile vanished and the atmosphere around him suddenly grew threatening. If it was anybody else, it would have sent them cowering into the corner, but Tula stood her ground, hardly allowing for a chill to run down her back.

 “Me? Betray you? If I recall correctly, it was the other way round.” Tula was surprised at the coldness in her own voice. It seemed to cling onto the air and ring around the hall, carrying the immense anger she felt with it. Vendigard smiled once more, but this time his smile only seemed to add to the menacing atmosphere.

“Oh? Still holding grudges I see, but that’s not the only thing you’re here for, is it?” he asked, his voice echoing down the hall. He clapped his hands together and a small door in the corner of the hall, which Tula hadn’t noticed before, flew open. Two men walked out, dragging James between them. His hands and legs were bound and a rag stuffed in his mouth. He was bruised and a little dizzy, but conscious. His eyes lit up when he saw Tula, but only for a second, before guilt and worry clouded his face.

“After the little incident with your brother, I never expected you to make any friends, but I see you’ve exceeded my expectations once again.” He chuckled, sparing a glance at James, who glared back.

“Why?” Tula asked through gritted teeth, “you know that I was looking for you, a hostage was not necessary, I would have come anyway.”

Vendigard grinned, showing a straight line of perfectly white teeth, “I needed to speed things up a little, make them more... interesting!”

Tula drew her sword and swung it at him so quickly it was only a flash of silver to the onlookers. With his long years of experience, Vendigard managed to dodge it in time, only receiving a shallow cut in his chainmail. He tutted quietly then turned to look at the hostage.

“I wouldn’t have done that, Tula.” His face twisted into a wicked grin as he nodded at his two subordinates. They nodded back, and one of them lifted his shortsword high above his head, but before he could bring it down, a knife pierced through his throat. Blood gushed out of his mouth and neck as he dropped his weapon and tumbled onto the floor. The other man was still in shock as a throwing knife pierced his heart. All eyes turned to Tula as the man breathed his last breath. She straightened from her throwing stance and drew her sword again.

“Now there’re no more interruptions” she said darkly, glaring at Vendigard. James noted that her eyes were different than their usual cold selves; they burned with anger and seemed to know nothing but the enemy that stood before them.