Love Of War

Chapter 2

I stared at the swordsman, wide eyed. He looked at me, his mouth hanging open as if trying to find something to say.
Suddenly, he collapsed at my feet. Landge was standing behind the crumpled heap, holding up my shield. He must've hit him over the head after finding my shield.
"Nice dodge there Marshal," Landge said, handing my shield back to me. "We thought we had lost you there."
"Yes," I said slowly. "Well, thank you for saving me from him."
"What should we do with him?" Landge asked. "He doesn't appear to be dead. Only unconscious."
"Look," I pointed at the emblems on his armor. "He might be nobility. People would pay quite handsomely to get him back. We'll take him back to the fort and hold him for ransom."
"And his men?" My second in command asked. "We captured the few survivors."
"Take them too." I looked around. "Let's go before the sun catches up to us. We should male it back before nightfall if we hurry now."

-

"Marshal," Landge walked into my office. "He woke up."
I nodded at Landge and stood up from my chair. My office was sparsely decorated with only the necessities. I was planning our next siege, since there were more men coming in a few days. And they would bring horses with them, which would be helpful.
"Let's go see who he is, then," I said and strode out of the room with Landge close behind me.
We walked down to the lowest level of the fort. We had a few cells built for occasions like these.
The sound of shouting came from the cells.
I wallked into the dungeon. There were four Anderlian enemies banging on the walls or against the bars, makimg as much noise as possible. One of my Creyan soldiers was trying to silence them in vain.
I pulled out my sword at slid it through the bars before anyone had time to move. I stopped it just next to an Anderlian's hand.
Everyone froze, watching me.
"If you want to keep that," I said calmly. "I suggest you settle down."
The frightened soldier slowly pulled his hand back, looking at me with wide eyes.
"Now back of and let's see who is in charge here, shall we?"
The soldiers parted to reveal the swordsman I fought against, who was nursing his blow to the head.
He stood up and walked over to me.
The swordsman had shortish black hair. When he neared the bars of the cell, I had to lift my head to be able to look at his face. His serious gaze was matched with blue eyes.
"I am Prince Merek of Anderles," he said. "And you have captured the wrong person."
"On the comtrary," I glared at him with a mocking grin. "It seems that we have captured exactly the right person. Marshal Athelis. A prince, you say? Someone will be willing to pay handsomely."
"Is that all you are?" he asked. "Mercenaries? Or an army to be feared?"
"Can't we be a bit of both? Why waste the opportunity when you will be wanted back in one piece?"
"Oh, and who will make more than one piece of me?" Prince Merek sneered. "You?"
My grin dropped and I glared at him.
"Take the men and make a round around the fort," I instructed Landge. "We wouldn't want anyone sneaking in to retrieve him."
Landge looked like he was about to argue, but I spoke before he had the chance.
"I'll be fine. They are locked up, aren't they?"
Landge nodded and started filing out the soldiers. I kept my eyes on Merek, watching his unfaltering grin. When everyone was out, I spoke again.
"That information might not be necessary for any more people than necessary to know."
"And why would that be?" Merek was enjoying his place of power over me. "We are soulmates, aren't we?"
His team was watching us in silence. There was no way to keep them from knowing.
"Sure we are," I said leaning closer to him. "I don't know you, but as far as I'm concerned, you are nothing more than an enemy of Creye. This "soulmate" nonsense is not going to get in the way of me performing my duty. Got it?"
"I believe so."
"Good. We can just forget about this whole business and work on getting that money for us," I turned around to leave.
"Isn't this meant to be?" Prince Merek asked suddenly. "We met by complete chance and now we can run away together. Just free us and we can be together forever. It's like destiny that we happened to be here now. Let's cease the opportunity."
I looked back at him. His royal armor shone even with the very little light going into the cell. He stood tall and proud. Just like a prince.
"After you're done babbling for your freedom," I said. "I think I have something better that needs doing."
I walked out, gritting my teeth. I felt like cutting his tongue out, but with the way things went, it seemed that I couldn't.