A Curious Mask

XX- Rey

Is she safe? Did she run into her father? Where is she? Am I going the right direction?

Finch paced around the makeshift camp, occasionally stopping to stare south, the direction he had sent Ri running off into. He traced a hand over his brow, feeling the couple inches of horns sticking out of his forehead. He had thought to check his eyes in a reflection in a stream, but then he got distracted by the thoughts on Rianna.

He stepped over the unconscious prince and then one of the former-wisters. He stepped over the last man sleeping around the fire and then stopped, staring south again.

He wasn't sure how long he stood there, debating running off and leaving them behind or staying and doing his job. He was sworn to protect and serve the king's people, and he had a accused rapist in his custody. But he had to keep Ri safe, and she was out who knew where where she could be hurt or stolen from or raped again or killed or beaten and left for dead or maimed.

Where is Rianna? Will she come back? Has she gotten help? Does she think I'm dead? Where is she? Can she be worried about me? Why would she be worried about me? Am I worried about her? Where is she?

A small groan made itself known over the crackling of the fire. He didn't want to know which of the three was awake.

Are Sugar and Spice holding up? How fast is she moving? How far away is she? Is she scared? Does she miss me?

"Damn, that man hit hard. Malt! What happened?"

Finch tried to reconstruct his mask, but he wasn't sure what emotion he was supposed to have in this situation. What emotion would Ri want him to have? No, that was the wrong question. What emotion would Sir Untany want him to pretend to have? But whose opinion mattered more? The man who raised him or the girl he was obsessed with? It was difficult for him to decide.

He settled with anger. After all, he was a knight who had been all but told that this man had raped his princess. He reset his mask and whirled around, glaring at the prince. His hand went to the symbol around his neck, and only then did he remember the seven eyes also hanging on the cord around his neck. He had killed all of the wisters and taken their eyes because taking them to get justice would have slowed him down considerably. He still held up the symbol.

"I am Sir Finch Vigo of the Wandering Order. You, Prince Rey Wes of Humber have been accused of rape. I am taking you to the king to be judged accordingly."

The prince looked him over and then broke out laughing. Finch briefly wondered what was so funny before he went back to wondering where Rianna was.

"You honestly expect me to believe that you're a knight, wister?"

Finch scowled, trying to fake annoyance. "And why wouldn't I be?"

"The only wister the king, my grandfather, has ever allowed to live was Malt, and that's because I was his obsession."

"Did he let the other eight wisters live too?"

Rey glared at him and stood, the other two waking up and sitting up, staring at their hands in wonder.

"No, but you-" Prince Rey went pale and stopped when he looked directly into Finch's right eye.

Finch assumed that his eyes were no longer covered.

"But I, what? I'm not obsessed with a prince? Maybe the king wanted me as a secret weapon."

"You- you killed them all."

Finch gestured to the other two, who were staring at him in wonder. "Then how are those two still alive?"

Rey looked at the other two and seemed to go paler. Finch wasn't curious about what they all thought of those two no longer having wists. Since it was obvious that he was a wister, he decided that he didn't have to pretend. He dropped the pretend irritation/anger that he was failing at faking anyway and kicked dirt over the fire.

"Now that you are all awake, how fast can we run south?"

"Wait, wait, wait!" Rey demanded. "South? Why are we going south?"

"I'm taking you to the king. Didn't I say that already?"

"But you're not a real knight."

Finch stared at him. "Why do you say that?"

"You killed a Wanderer and took his symbol, didn't you? It's the only answer that makes sense."

Finch shrugged and turned. "I don't care if it makes sense. You two, if you don't stay near me I'm going to kill you and add your eyes to my chain, do you understand?"

The two former wisters looked at each other and then him. "But, how are we not wisters?"

"I took your wists. Can I put them back before you die so I can add wister eyes instead of regular?"

One of them scrambled to his feet. "You took my wist. He," he pointed at Rey, "forced me to wist a year or so ago and then forced me to obsess with him."

Finch turned south. "Then that's another charge to add to his account. You should still have your speed. Keep up with me."

He walked to Prince Rey, who backed up quickly, waving his hands in front of himself.

"Just what do you think you are doing?" the prince demanded.

Finch noted that he was very demanding but didn't bother paring that answer with a question.

He had to get to Ri.

He had to get Rey to justice.

What would happen if I abandoned my symbol and just went to find Rianna? Would that be breaking my vows? Where is she? What would she want me to do?

He grabbed the struggling prince and swung him over his shoulder. The prince cursed and hit him repeatedly, but Finch didn't bother noting either being hit or registering what he was saying. He just had to get to Ri.

If she is the king's daughter with a power, is she his heir?

 A/N: I  am not happy with this chapter, so any and all comments would be extremely appreciated. Thank you!