Peacebringer

Chapter Twenty One - Darkwater and the King

Darkwater paced nervously up and down the corridor. Her plans were not going as they should. It seemed as though the resistance was actually going to be successful for once. They were learning.

While it had always been her plan to keep them in combat for as long as possible, she never thought that there was a chance they would gain the upper hand. She knew that their plan to break into the prison had a good chance of being successful. The question that remained was, what could she do to throw a wrench in their scheme?

If their plan was to attack in teams, her only chance was to take the first team out before they could send a message to the others. That would be tricky if each team had a wind spinner. Those wind spinners irritated her, almost as much as the fire spinners.

The fire spinners, she thought distastefully. I thought I was rid of them. And now? This silly girl comes out of NOWHERE just to ruin my plans.

Oh yes, Darkwater knew about Asha, and knew a great deal about the resistance. It was how she had kept them at bay for so long. Now that they had Asha and the princess, she feared she was losing control. She would have to do something big. Something that would really crush them.

The King came around the corner. "Oh, good evening Darkwater." He said with a robotic politeness. Darkwater smiled. She'd had the king under her control for years now, but now he had really lost the capability to think for himself. He was dependent on her for every decision, just the way she liked it. Pity that Valda had caught on.

"Good evening your highness, I have a proposition for you."

"Oh, a proposition?" He said with meek enthusiasm. "What is this in regards to?"

"The resistance is planning an attack on our secondary prison. We need to stop them. I want your finest crop of rangers sent there tonight to prepare. Tell them they must first attack to the north." Darkwater smiled. That was where the earth spinner Rone would be attacking from. If only his dear sweet daughter would be able to watch him die. Maybe I'll have to move her to a cell with a window, we don't want the prisoners getting any ideas that they'll be saved.

"Of course Darkwater. Is there any news of my daughter?" Darkwater almost pitied him. Even in his pathetic state, he still worried about her. There wasn't a whole lot you could do about those deep paternal instincts.

"No news sir. She has disappeared completely."

"And without a note...I just wish I knew where she went...and why..."

Darkwater had of course stolen the note the second she sensed that the princess had left. Even though it was intentionally vague, it would not be long before the King figured out that she was in league with the resistance. That was a risk she couldn't have. It would mean he would stop the attacks. Even her powers could not override parental instinct. Valda leaving was probably the biggest threat to her plan.

"Send the rangers now. They'll need to travel overnight to make it there in time."

The king nodded and shuffled off in the direction of the ranger's quarters. They would be departing in minutes.

Darkwater gazed out the corridor window. For the first time since she had started her mission, she felt fear. Fear of being unsuccessful.

Without this conflict, there was no way her brethren could rise.