The Perfect Kingdom

Chapter 2

Shane and Gwen spent the next morning training in a courtyard within the castle's grounds. Shane's official appointment was the protector and bodyguard of the prince and, to a lesser extent, the royal family. His job was to fight. He occasionally trained the soldiers of Whiterun, but the older commanders didn't like to deal with him because they hated how he was so much more skilful than them at such a young age. Only soldiers who were willing to let go of their pride would individually come to him and ask him for help. Gwen was understood to be his assistant.

A little while past noon, a maid approached them and informed him that the prince wanted to see him. They packed their training weapons and went into the castle to look for him.

"Enter."

They opened the door to his study, where they found him studying a large map of the province that was pasted onto the wall.

"Your Highness," Shane and Gwen respectfully greeted. They waited a few moments after the door closed before speaking freely.

"I read the letter you sent me," Shawn began. "Like what you wrote in your note, it's definitely another contract from this 'G' person. He's directing those men to capture another group of young ladies for the auction tomorrow. Their last place of visit will be at a mining village close to Riverwood tonight, which is two hours from Whiterun. That gives them enough time to arrive here in time for the auction. I have received a report this morning of a farm that was set on fire, and the family that owned it was found dead outside their house. The males were murdered, the women taken advantage of and then disposed. Based on our register, they have a daughter who is a young adult and her body wasn't found. Her details were in the contract as well. They must have already captured her."

"Despicable..." Gwen growled.

"We need to move out as soon as possible," Shawn instructed. "Where is Zack?"

"Out hunting. I don't know where he goes. He just shows up at night with a deer carcass," Shane replied.

Shawn grimly nodded. "We'll just have to wait for him then. In the meantime, we shall prepare to leave in the evening. I'll inform Miles to prepare the carriage and equipment."

"They're pushing really hard for the auction since don't have anyone to sell because of us," Gwen remarked. "This 'G' person is resorting to more savage pawns."

"Are we really doing the right thing? That family died because of us," Shane interjected.

He remembered his argument with Mariah the previous day. She had a point: they responded to the slavers with violence and now the slavers themselves were becoming increasingly bloodthirsty to counter them. No matter what they did, the chaos in the kingdom seemed untameable and they seemed to be only making things worse. He wondered if it might be better if they stopped fighting and tried other methods.

"That's not true," Shawn defended. "Violent kidnapping isn't unheard of. Some of the mercenaries we fought in the earlier days were ruthless as well. We're just doing what we can. At least it's something."

Shawn's words were true, but his tone wavered as if he too was pondering the ramifications of their actions. He had begun this fight against his father to undermine his barbaric rule, but perhaps it was a childish attempt to rebel against an unwavering monolith.

"We'll save the girls and kill those monsters first," Gwen proposed. "We can worry about our efforts later."

The two males nodded their agreement.

Shane and Gwen returned to the Bannered Mare to prepare themselves. When night fell, Zack returned to the tavern with a stag in the cart pulled by his horse. He was about to ask Brett to cook it before Shane interrupted and informed him of the plan. Zack simply gestured to the bow in his hand and replied that he was ready.