Chapter 60

A few seconds of uncomprehending silence passed as the words landed on Emeric's ears...

The color left his face as he fully registered what Zerret had just said. He staggered back, feeling as if a horse had trampled him. The air refused to filter into his chest which had drawn shut with shock. Perhaps it was betrayal or fear.

'Kedo's a girl?' The thought almost made Emeric pass out. 'But how? '

An evil chuckle drew Emeric's attention back to the prisoner tied up in front of him. His teeth still red with blood. It made him look even more malicious, more devilish...

For a second Emeric considered the fact that Zerret could just be saying this to mess with his head, but he doubted it.

"By your reaction I take it you didn't know she is indeed a she." Zerret mocked. "I have to say, I didn't recognize her at first. The look is quite convincing, but her readiness to betray me, her own brother, was the great reveal."

Emeric still found himself wordless, amusing Zerret even further. Emeric turned away from the deserter. He couldn't take Zerret's amused smile any more. He didn't want to hear his mockery any more. It only made the loaded truth heavier.

Emeric only realized that he had exited the tent when the glow of a camp fire lit up the path ahead. He blinked a few times trying to clear the husk of disbelief from his eyes. He was stumbling through a dream, his body moving on its own accord, yet his mind couldn't make sense of what was happening.

He spotted the council standing by one fire, Rayhan clearly handing out orders. Emeric mindlessly stumbled to them, standing in the outer ring of the circle. "We'll storm them after midnight. Kedo, if your intel is correct, no one will be guarding the prisoners at that time. We get Hunter out, then we worry about capturing the master mind of this injustice."

A few heads nodded.

"I believe that things would have stayed the same, but it has been a few years, so I can't promise that no one will be watching."

That voice...

Emeric looked up as Kedo spoke. For the first time, Emeric noticed that Kedo's voice had a sandy rasp to it, hiding any feminine features. It easily made him sound like a young boy. But then Emeric also came to the realization that Kedo wasn't supposed to sound like a young boy anymore. He was 16 years old, his voice should have deepened by now. 'Her voice' Emeric mentally corrected himself...This was going to take getting used to.

"We need to keep this small yet sufficient," Rayhan continued, "Who'll volunteer?"

Both Radclyf and Malrick stepped forward with determination. Rayhan nodded approval, they were his best warriors after all. Rayhan spoke again, "Kedo, I want you to come with us too. We need someone who knows the layout of their settlement." Kedo nodded, though he...she looked nervous.

Emeric instantly pushed to the center of the circle, "I'm also coming." He declared, not leaving room for argument. Rayhan gazed at his son, "You've had a rough day Emeric, I'd be more at ease of you sat this one out." Emeric shook his head, yet to anyone who knew Emeric, it was evident that he was rattled. "No, I'm fine."

Rayhan seemed skeptical, but didn't have the mental strength to argue with Emeric.  Hunter's life was on the line, they simply didn't have time to bicker.

"Alright, we set out in half an hour, get ready."  Everyone dispersed at the words, but through the crowds Emeric met Kedo's questioning gaze.  Once again Emeric felt the heavy loud of betrayal.  He couldn't keep the frown from his face, however, when Kedo approached to question him about it, Emeric simply turned away and strode off to his tent.  

Kedo was left alone in the faint glare of the fire, confused sadness sagging his posture as he gazed at Emeric's back.

*****

They moved like shadows, weaving in and out of the dark cover of the forest to hide their presence.  A pack of predators stalking an unexpecting prey.  Each member of the party was alert and vigilant to his surroundings.  At the head of the group, a small shadowed figure came to a halt, stopping the progress of the trailing party.  The looked out into a clearing that carpeted a gradual valley.

As Rayhan came to a stop next to Kedo, his eyes landed on the dark, sinister building that seemed so out of place in the center of the clearing.  

"They keep the captives in a basement under the shack."  Kedo explained, pointing to a small lean-to structure next to the main house.  Rayhan gazed out at the building.  Everything seemed quite.  There wasn't any sign of movement or even life.

"Alright, Radclyf, you stay here with Kedo.  If you see anything, sound the signal.  Malrick, you and I will storm the building.  Emeric, you get Hunter out and retreat. You said the only person who might stand up against us is Arium?"  The last part was directed at Kedo who nodded, "It's only his wife and daughter left with him, they won't be able to do much."  

Rayhan nodded his head and sighed to relieve the tension that was coursing through his veins.  He met his son's gaze.  They both nodded their gazes wishing the other luck.  Deep down they both wondered of they'd get out unscathed.  And with that, the group of three stalked down the hill.

Emeric felt prickles crawl over his spine as he reached the lean-to.  The door opened with and ominous creak.  The interior was slightly lit by an oil lamp that was burning low on fumes.  Emeric took hold of it's handle and proceeded into the structure.  The floor boards groaned under his feet and he pictured himself falling through to an unknown dark abyss beneath.

He reached the middle of the minute building, reaching a demoralizing staircase.  The lamp flickered, drawing the last bit of oil up.  It would fail soon, rendering Emeric blind.  He didn't want to try and maneuver his way out in complete darkness.  The dark, foreboding building had a haunted feeling to it.  Every fiber of his being was telling him to run, to get out before it was too late. 

Emeric continued down the stairs, failing to see the shadow cloaked figure that watched him from a darkened corner. 

The sight that met him at the bottom sent chills through him.  Half a dozen Rogues were shackled to a wall at the far side of a small cave-like wall.  Most of them seemed to be asleep, or so Emeric hoped, but a few had woken on his approach.  They looked up at him fearfully.

Emeric moved forward, casting more light over the bedraggled figures, searching for his cousin.  

"It's alright,  I'm here to help."  Emeric reassured as he saw a few of them shrink away from him.

"Emeric?"  The voice came from the corner, sounding more like moan.  Emeric hastily turned and headed to the speaker.  He stopped however, when his eyes landed on his cousin.  The unfortunate Etreshian seemed to have received the same treatment as Zerret, but from a heavier hand.

"Hunter!"  Emeric exclaimed in a hoarse whisper, "What did they do to you?"  Hunter merely groaned, "Just get me out of here."  He said painfully.  Emeric tried focusing through his shock.  He stood up and started searching for a key, but his attempts were futile.

"They keep it in the house."  A voice informed him, as if it knew exactly what he was doing.  Emeric turned to the person who had spoken.  He was in his elderly years, grey lining his temples.  

"Are you sure?"  Emeric questioned

The man nodded, "They wouldn't dare give us a chance of escaping."  

Emeric swore as he gazed up the stairs.  He turned back to Hunter, not sure what to do.  "I'll be back."  He said, but the reassurance never came into his voice.  

Emeric's mind spun as he trailed up the stairs, his eyes cast downwards.  There was threatening slapping noise from up ahead, and Emeric felt a distinct force hitting his thigh.  He swore in pain and gazed down, paling as his eyes landed on the crossbow bolt embedded in his leg.  The murky feeling was already filling his head.  "Not again."  He muttered, placing a hand on the wall to keep himself from falling as a sedative spread into his circulatory system.

"Now now, why not be a gentleman and take yourself downstairs.  I wouldn't want to become nasty."  A feminine voice chided, sounding like an echo in Emeric's ringing ears.  He grunted as he tried taking a step, but his limbs felt like lead.

The figure walked closer, her features becoming clearer despite Emeric's fading vision.

The last thing he saw before he was rendered unconscious was Kedo's face...

Emeric's eyes tilted back and he fell down the stairs, coming to a halt in the dark prison cell where captives watched his still form in misplaced hope.

 *****

After clearing the ground floor, Rayhan headed up the stairs with Malrick on his heals.  So far, they hadn't found anything out of the ordinary.  The house looked like any other family estate, but a dark aura seemed to haunt them as they ascended the stairwell.

Unknowingly, each step drew them closer to their fate. 

Rayhan walked on the balls of his feet as he headed down a hallway.  He gingerly opened the first door to his left, but found it to be seemingly abandoned.  He moved on to the next only to find it in a similar state.  He shared a concerned look with Malrick before hesitantly moving forward.  They cleared the remaining two rooms, only to find that they too were entirely empty of inhabitants.

That was when he heard the warning call echo from the woods...

They both raced down the stairs, their thoughts solely fixated  on Emeric's wellbeing.  Rayhan was the first to burst out of the front door.  A deadly glint sent a prickling warning up his spine.  He ducked just in time as a sword arched over his head, imbedding deep into the doorframe behind him.

Before its wielder could deliver another strike, Rayhan kicked him back.  The sword had caught deep into the wood, forcing the attacker to let go of the hilt as he fell back.  With blinding moves, he attacked Rayhan.  Some strikes were too swift for the experienced Rogue to deflect and they hit him with jarring impact.  

Malrick however, brought his size into the equation and he threw himself at the attacker.  The both went to the ground.  Rayhan recovered and hastily helped Malrick as they pinned the attacker down.  

They were succeeding, however, Malrick grunted and fell back, revealing a blade in his arm.  Rayhan paled when he saw Malrick's eyes tilt back, rendering the warrior unconscious.  Rayhan spun back to the attacker, who was easily identifiable by his dark hair.  Rayhan recognized the face from his days in the war.  He couldn't believe that he had fought shoulder to shoulder with this man, a deserter...

Arium pulled out another dagger, aiming it at Rayhan's shoulder, however, the latter was quick to react and grabbed Arium's wrist, twisting it painfully.  Arium refused to let go of the blade, but it made no difference as Rayhan forced the weapon down into Arium's collarbone.  Rayhan had correctly guessed that the second blade had also been coated with a toxin and Arium fell unconscious a few seconds later.

After checking that Malrick had a steady pulse, Rayhan raced in the direction of the shed.  He saw a shadowed figure approaching and instantly drew his sword.

"Easy. It's me."  Came Radclyf's hoarse whisper.  Rayhan eased his weapon back into his sheaf.  

"Why'd you call the warning?"  He questioned.  

"I saw someone enter the lean-to after Emeric.  And uhm...Kedo's missing."   Rayhan paled glancing towards the shed, everything in him wanting to save his son.  

"What do you mean he's missing?" Rayhan asked hastily as he started heading towards the shed.

"I can't find him.  He vanished.  He isn't within my eye sight any more.  Do I really need to explain what being missing means to you?"  Radclyf seemed rattled.

Rayhan took the question as rhetorical and remained silent as he entered the lean-to.  A haunted glow came from downstairs accompanied by the clinking of chains.  Rayhan swallowed nervously, scared of what he might find.  As he approached the stairs, he saw a shape shift in the darkness.  His sword was out in milliseconds.

The shadowed person evidently raised their hands, surrendering.  However, it only took a few seconds for  Rayhan to identify the small figure as Kedo.  He lowered his weapon, "What the hell are you doing here?"  Rayhan hissed.  

Kedo stepped closer to them, "Emeric's in danger.  He's unconscious."  

Rayhan frowned as he heard more rattling of chains from below.  "Then who's down there?"  He asked softly.  

Kedo gazed towards the stairs, his face seemingly fearful, yet full of regret, "Harpe."  The name was foreign to Rayhan's ears.  Kedo elaborated, "My sister."

Rayhan frowned at the words, but silently started his decent down the stairs.  Radclyf and Kedo followed.  Rayhan still held his sword at hand.  It was a comforting weight in his hand that urged him on, towards his son.

When they reached the last step, Rayhan cleared his throat.  The young woman at the far side of the room spun around, crossbow at the ready.  Rayhan had to do a double take as his eyes landed on her face.  It looked almost exactly like Kedo's, just a bit older.  However, her longer hair and finer curves marked her as a totally different person.

Rayhan stood his ground, even though he expected the bolt to punch into his chest at any moment.  

"Drop you weapon."  Harpe ordered, her voice strong and sure.  Rayhan, however didn't comply when his eyes landed on Emeric, shackled to the wall, unconscious. Rayhan brought his eyes back to Harpe's and took a step forward.  She raised a challenging brow, daring him to take another step as her finger tightened on the trigger, ready to let the bolt fly.

Rayhan tensed when he felt someone walk by him, Kedo.  He wanted to jerk the young Rogue back, his fatherly protection nearly took control of him, but he paused when he saw the determination in Kedo's steps.  

Harpe adjusted her aim to Kedo, the crossbow ready to fire at any moment.  

"Harpe."  Kedo said, his voice soft and pleading, "Don't do this.  You're better than this."  

Harpe stared at Kedo's face, her own turning pale.  The crossbow gradually lowering, her mind not registering anything other than Kedo's presence.  

"Kedo?"  Her voice quivered as she spoke the name.  Kedo nodded, slowly walking forward.  Harpe's shock marked her face clearly as she stood staring, lips parted with shock.

The crossbow dropped from her grip and it looked as if she was about to hug Kedo, but the younger Rogue reacted with lighting moves.  He gripped Harpe's arm and turned away from her, pulling her onto his back before hoisting her up and over his shoulders.  Harpe summersaulted over Kedo's head and fell to the ground with a soft grunt.  However, before she could get up again, Kedo dropped down on top of her, pinning her down.

Rayhan and Radclyf both stood frozen in shock.  The result of Emeric's training was all too clear.

Kedo glared down at Harpe, "That was for hurting my brother."