Blade(Part 3): Dusk

Chapter 9: Akanotahkon

Akanotahkon could only feel guilt and despair from Dameon as he sat in a dark cell in the dungeons of Thebas for the rest of the day. No visitors had been allowed to see him. Even the Blades of Midnight weren't allowed to see him. Akanotahkon could tell that Dameon was alive, and alright, at least. That's all he knew, though. What he also knew was that some kind of dark being tricked Dameon into thinking that his best friend from his childhood, Sergeant Jake Connor, was an enemy soldier so he would kill him. That's not how the soldiers of the Colonial League saw it, though. With the Guardians in Spark by now, the only ones who knew what really happened for sure were Maisa and Akanotahkon.

"You will let us see him," Shao hissed, to the Colonial Hoplite positioned outside of Dameon's cell.

"Commander Zeno has ordered us not to permit the prisoner any visitors," said the guard.

"He's our leader!" Shao screamed.

"You need to leave, ma'am," the Hoplite warned. "Or else you will be in a cell yourself." Akanotahkon began to sense a feeling of anger from Shao that bordered on recklessness. He gently grabbed her wrist to calm her down before pulling her away from the guard.

"Let's just get out of here," he suggested. Shao reluctantly agreed with him, and they both left the dungeons. Akanotahkon couldn't believe what was happening. The only ones who knew what really happened were he and Maisa, and as far as the Colonial League was concerned, only the Guardians were capable of sensing auras and magic. They had no idea about the power of the Auna or the Silver Hawks. That would be Dameon's undoing, since the dozen soldiers in Sergeant Connor's team saw him kill their leader with a throwing knife that was only used by the Blades of Midnight. Once Akanotahkon and Shao reached the lobby of Thebas' palace, Diego, Andrei, and Maisa met them.

"I'm sorry this is happening," Maisa sighed.

"You were out there with them," Shao reminded. "Why haven't you told Zeno that you sensed something?"

"Because as far as he's concerned, Dameon killed Jake in cold blood, and wants to try him as a soldier of the Colonial League," Maisa enlightened. "Akanotahkon, you and I could testify in his defense and say that we both felt something just before it happened. Maybe Dameon will have a chance at an innocent verdict with a jury."

"'Maybe', Maisa?" Diego growled.

"It's the only chance he has," said Maisa. "Besides, it's better than the alternative plan that Zeno had for him. Or the alternative Dameon had for himself."

"What would that be?" Andrei wondered.

"He's been sitting in that dungeon cell since midday," Maisa reminded. "And as far as even he is concerned, he killed his best friend since he was five years old. At this moment, the only thing I sense from him is guilt. He's thinking of confessing to the crime."

"What!?" Akanotahkon shouted. "But we haven't even told him what happened! He doesn't know the truth!"

"No one does," Maisa hissed. "And if he's found guilty, he'll be executed for murder and treason, and we cannot let that happen."

"So, we break him out of the dungeons and run," Shao suggested. "And we kill anyone who gets in our way."

"Then we'll all be traitors to the League," Akanotahkon denied.

"To hell with the League!" Shao screamed. "We aren't soldiers of the Colonial League, we're Blades of Midnight, and right now, our leader is rotting in a dungeon alone, scared, and confused!"

"Shao, listen," Maisa asserted, and Shao turned towards her. "I will free him. I'll explain to him what we sensed at the moment that Sergeant Connor died. Which is why you should go with me, Akanotahkon."