Chapter 12: Trouble Drawing Near, Part 2

Lina filled in fear, found the courage to say

"P-please, just leave us. We're doctors so we'll be fine—"

"Fine?"

The woman in a cloak asked.

The man next to her shrugged and said

"Alright, let's do it like this: Names first.

My name is Kti and her name is Yama.

Now, your names."

But they remained silent.

In spite of their condition as they were covered in injuries, Yama only glared at them in disdain.

"If you're not speaking up" Yama began

"Then the dangers of this forest shall kill you two!"

Lina shook in fear. She looked at her friend who was unconscious from a head injury and felt the weight of hopelessness.

"I'm Lina and she's Yiss."

Silence fell on the land.

"Treatment first, then we'll talk later." Yama said.

As she finished her words, young men and women clad in armour covered by cloaks came from behind the trees.

Lina froze aghast.

"They're with us." Kti said.

He pointed to one of the men to come over.

A husky man walked to them and carried both Lina and Yiss on his arms.

They both fell unconscious.

And in thirty minutes, were brought to a side of the forest with tents.

An hour later they gained their consciousness.

But not naturally. Buckets of water had been poured all over Lina and Yiss. 

Yama said in rage

"How long will you two sleep? Get up!"

They slowly sat up as they saw Kti and Yiss before them.

"Check yourselves. Your injuries are handled."

Kti said while they checked their wounds which had been treated.

"...Thank you." Yiss said.

Lina and Yiss looked at eachother and remembered Roy

"Roy! Our friend the adventurer! He was left behind" Yiss said.

Kti nodded his head in disdain.

"You two are amateurs. Here's why:

If it's not clear, you two were going to die if you remained with those men."

Yiss and Lina were disturbed and confused

"What do you mean by that?!" Lina asked frustrated.

Yama glared at her in disgust and said

"*What we mean?! Which adventurer would go on a dangerous journey with you two, into the unknown?

For only a meager sum of 200 silver?

Clearly making them spies that don't want your success with the epidemic."

They were silent for a moment. Lina asked

"How did you know their fee?"

Kti became grave in expression as he said

"We are The Rogues. We have to know what goes on in Kiltar from the shadows of the forest."

"Wrong!!!" Yiss remarked.

"You people are criminals that's made king Yartar so cruel! Cause of your threats!"

At her words, Yama clenched her fist and gritted her teeth and said

"YOU'RE the wrong one.

And that useless king is nothing compared to his brother! Had he been like his brother, there would be no Rogues!"

Neither Lina nor Yiss could speedily reply.

For Yama's words were true.

Yartar, king of Kiltar sees nothing in his people.

And this angers the Rogues.

Yama continued

"You two are doctors. How's it coming, having a king that only increased taxes and does nothing for infrastructure or medical sector?

Especially when the epidemic is going on?"

"You're right." Lina said in sadness.

"Well, you people can't continue. Seizing power by force will only kill you people!" Yiss said arrogantly.

"You're right!" Kti said in joy, until his expression turned malevolent.

"But we won't be going down without seizing power and giving it to the rightful owner."

Lina and Yiss were confused as Kti spoke, placing his hand on his chest with commitment and said

"Yes, the rightful owner: Prince Timothy. Son of Da."

Yiss replied

"True. But how will you do that?"

Yama's became horrifying with malevolence all over her face as she frowned

"By becoming so powerful, and we shake all of Kiltar."

"More context please!" Yiss said annoyed.

Kti looked at her sternly

"By having more fighters, of course."

"How? Everyone hates you guys for disturbing the kingdom." Yiss replied.

Kti and Yama looked at eachother and replied

"By recruiting the likes of you two."

Lina and Yiss's hearts skipped a beat at those words.

***

In the woods of the North-eastern region of Misk, Tye was squatting listening intently at an assassin on the verge of death.

"That's right! The noble from a land not so distant is to blame for the Duke's daughter absconding!"

Tye was disturbed at those words.

"Are you sure?" Tye inquired.

The assassin inhaled deeply

"Yes! Why else will the Duke's daughter vanish if some pressure wasn't on her?"

Tye thought for a while.

"Where is this noble?"

As the assassin tried to reply, the sound of a carriage could be heard in the distance.

And then it stopped. A man in his thirties got down from it and surveyed the area. To his surprise, there were traces of blood.

And he traced the blood to the terribly beaten up assassin Tye was talking to.

And as he neared him, he screamed in fear.

The assassin's head had been slit open in half.

Left pale, two men from behind met up with him and we're ashened as well.

One puked and the other said

"Master Gish, is this not the assassin that you assigned to rid of anyone looking for your fiancé?"

The man didn't reply. He was just soaked in fear and disgust.

"Y-yes. How were they found?" Gish said at last.

While still observing, another servant came to them with the corpse of another assassin that had an arrow through his head.

"These men were sent to kill! And they got killed?!" Gish said disturbed.

A servant squatted and sniffed the blood.

It was fresh.

"The person that did this isn't far—"

While speaking, they heard the rustling from bushes.

Rushing over, they saw no one.

Their leave gave Tye the chance to vanish into trees on the valley.

For now, it had been made clear who he's up against:

The very family the Duke's daughter was to be married into.

Gish looked at the imploring rain and busted in anger

"Aah!!! We need to make sure that NO ONE finds her."

Tye wasn't far while leaving, so he heard Gish's angry words.

"Let's see who finds her first." 

He said to himself while nearing the town that could have answers.

Or could lead his end for inquiring.