ANGEL OF JUSTICE (2014 revised)

Thirty Eight.1 An Unexpected Hero

An Unexpected Hero

"I don't know what is going on in there, but his condition is worsening. I would almost say that he has disappeared, except for the faint heartbeat." Arc stated pacing back and forth stroking his chin. "We will have to try to meld again to reach him or he will be dead by nightfall."

"Has there been any word from Harne?"

"Not yet, Daniel. I only hope Kait has something a little more convincing to bring Harne in."

Daniel shook his head. "Somehow I think even Kait doesn't have the ability to manage such a feat. Harne is certainly not one to be dragged about by his hormones."

"Well if she can't break his mucho stance, we really are in a bind."

"You could always drag him back here by the scruff of his neck."

"To what avail, Daniel? Forcing anyone to do something they don't want will only have them acting half-heartedly, if at all. Even Bane deserves better than that."

"Let's hope Kait can get Harne to think so as well."

*

Harne and Kait walked into the room to see Daniel and Arc standing around the assassin's bed side.

"Why the glum faces? Don't tell me he's dead?"

Daniel looked over to the doorway. "No Harne, but we suspect he's only got a few hours left, he has taken a turn for the worse. We guess the Destroyer has set off the death ward and the sorcerer Charaz is looking for him."

"Then you better get him out of here before the black robe comes knocking."

"We've tried that, Harne." Arc stated. "Problem is as soon as we attempt to get near him, an undesirable energy field radiates from his body. It's a protective ward preventing anyone from touching him."

"What kind of protective ward are you talking about? I don't see anything."

"Bane has told us of the warding spell the Destroyer has over him. It can be used at any time to either locate the assassin or to eliminate him at will. We can only assume that Bane going unconscious is the way the ward is designed to prevent him from going into hiding before Charaz takes him back to the Destroyer. A fate for us you can be sure won't be pleasant once they learn where Bane is."

Harne walked over and sank into a chair at Bane's bedside. He reached out and waved his hand over Bane's chest.

"Well I don't see any ward. What's the problem?"

"What the...?"

"How did you do that?" Daniel asked with a frown.

"Do what? I didn't do anything."

Kait sat down opposite Harne and reached out her hand across Bane's body causing a strange gold light to flare around Bane. "See what we mean? How come you don't cause the same affect?"

Harne shrugged. "How would I know? You lot are the wizards, I'm just a soldier."

"Do it again, Harne. But this time try and touch Bane." Arc urged as he dragged a chair over next to Harne to observe.

Harne shrugged. "Whatever." He waved his hand over Bane's chest. Again there was no reaction of the gold ward Kait had shown him a moment before. Slowly, Harne lowered his hand to rest it upon the assassin's chest.

Arc held his hand out over Bane's body and instantly the gold ward flared brilliantly around Bane and up around Harne's arms. Arc withdrew his hand as if he had touched a fire while Harne remained unharmed.