Rise Of Orthros
Chapter Nine
The dragons riders and Abigail had made it back to Rishnag, they were hoping they made it in time. Luckily for them Amelia had awoken on the flight back to Rishnag, although she was still very weak from her encounter with Max.
Each step she took with ease, her eyes wondering at others as they watched. Some tried spitting on her, once a trust is broken from a mage it would be harder to get it back. Amelia knew that was always going to be a risk, she held onto her side before stopping with the others out the front of the castle.
"Sam? Why did you bring them here?" His father Michael asked.
Michael had brown, short hair, that slightly reveals a fine but tense face. His brown eyes glistened from the sun that was coming in from the north side of the town, his brown eyes sat lightly in their sockets. His tan skin was covered by armour and could only be seen on his neck. Not to mention a few scars he aquatinted in battle protecting his lord.
"Because father, we found evidence that indicates, that they are innocent," Sam said, Michael looked into his eyes, he could tell if his son was lying.
Michael stepped aside allowing them to enter, following behind Amelia. He couldn't help but frown at her slow posture, what happened on Gandor? It had to be something.
"My lord, Sam requests to speak with you," Michael said as he stepped forward bowing in front of him.
Lord Ragnar turned around to face Sam, "How did you get them?" He asked pointing towards Hunter, Hanna and Amelia.
"My lord, you need to listen to us. Hunter, Hanna and Amelia had no part in the assignation attempt on your life. Why would they?" Sam asked as he brought out the scroll handing it towards Lord Ragnar.
Lord Ragnar grabbed it with a little bit of hesitation, he opened it where he read the scroll frowning, "How do I know this isn't fake?" He asked.
Abigail stepped forward and bowed her head, "My lord, I was in the tavern all afternoon and never heard any one of them speaking about assassinating you, in honestly, they were going to check in to see if you could bring some guards out their, they don't trust Richard."
Lord Ragnar looked up towards her, "Hmm... well I guess that is the...." before he could finish, the sound of an arrow being released from a bow sounded through the palace.
Abigail watched before turning her hands in a circular motion, "VerndaΓ°u ΓΎinn, verndaΓ°u vin ΓΎinn." She used a force field to protect Lord Ragnar, the arrow bouncing off.
"Get him!" Lord Ragnar shouted towards his guards, who nodded and chased after the man
Hunter, Stephen and Sam also ran after the man, racing through the streets; Hunter picked up his speed heading towards the forest where the man was fleeing toward. The forest was gigantic, radiant, and prospering. Its canopy was marked by chestnut, walnut, and hickory, and occasional openings in their crowns allowed plenty of light through for an overabundance of mushrooms to monopolize the moist and fertile bottom layer below.
Silent branches waved from many a tree, and a range of flowers, which clung to any space they could find, clashed with the otherwise dark green landscape. A clamour of animal sounds, predominantly those of varmint, reverberated through the air, and were accompanied by the sounds of over a thousand birds.
The sun began setting behind the trees, giving it a nice glow, the wind blowing through the winds giving a slight chill in the air. Hunter continued to chase the man further into the forest, he needed answers and he didn't care if he ran after him all night long.
The man looked back as he noticed Hunter was gaining closer towards him, he flung his bow over his shoulder allowing him to quicken the pace he needed hopefully. Be one he couldn't get caught especially after everything he did and Richard didn't like those who failed.
Hunter knew that he couldn't let this man get away, he was working for Richard; he couldn't allow them to get away either, especially for what Richard tried doing to Amelia. Hunter was still haunted a little by her screams and the look he was given by her, when she wanted to give up.
He shook his head and moved more swiftly against the fallen leaves on the ground; the sound of crunching was heard from the leaves and twigs he had ran over: Hunter glanced forward to see the man being so concerned about Hunter chasing him, the man began tripping over his own feet every few seconds, slowing down his pace as he did.
Hunter reached forward grabbing the man in front of him sending them both to the ground, he pulled out a dagger from his pocket and went to attack, when the man kicked him off; Hunter groaned as he landed on his back, but he didn't give the man a chance to attack before swiping his leg, making the man lose his balance and fall to the ground.
Hunter was quick to pin him to the ground, punching him hard in the fact. A crack sounded through the face, the man groaned and blood started pouring from his nose, "Who are you? Why did you try to kill Lord Ragnar?"
The man once again pushed Hunter off him before standing up, holding his nose, "My name is Zachariah and that is a secret to why I did what I did. You'll have to kill me first."
Hunter frowned, standing in a stance in front of Zachariah before throwing another punch, Zachariah dodged the punch this time trying to hit Hunter who dodged as well. Jumping backwards; he landed a few meters away from Zachariah.
Zachariah screamed out as he charged forward only for Hunter to grab him by the waist and knocked him to the ground; he cried out as he hit the ground feeling a few bones break as he did. Zachariah coughed as he tried to get up.
Hunter smirked before taking another few steps back, he moved his hands slowly feeling the ground shake underneath him. He didn't want to use his ability yet but he knew he needed to get Zachariah back to Lord Ragnar and this was the only way.
Hunter moved slowly as he opened up his arms, closing his eyes as he took a deep breath, feeling the water around him begin to move. A gasp left Zachariah's mouth, "A water elf? But I thought they weren't around anymore?"
Zachariah couldn't believe it to what he was witnessing, he was told they were no longer around but here one was standing in front of him. Zachariah tried to move only for ice to grab a hold of his arms and legs making him scream out.
"Don't struggle it'll hurt more... now I will let you go if you allow me to take you to the lord himself," Hunter replied as he stepped forward. "You can't fight on your way back otherwise it won't work and I will make sure you will get taken back by Richard and he can do what he pleases with you."
Zachariah gulped and nodded, "Yes... I will." He knew what would happen if Richard knew he was caught."
Hunter let the ice disappear before he grabbed Zachariah's hand taking him back towards the castle. Slowly walking behind knowing if he made a run for it, he would be able to get him.
Hunter pushed Zachariah into the castle, making him fall to the ground with a grunt, "Here he is my lord." He bowed before stepping to the side.
Lord Ragnar nodded at Hunter, letting him know he will handle this from now on, he stepped forward to Zachariah with a mighty backhanded strike sending Zachariah to the ground, he shouted, "How dare you! attack me in my own castle! Guards take him away, make this worm talk."
The guards nodded before dragging Zachariah away, he tried to fight only for the guards to hold him more tightly, "Please! Please don't hurt me!" Zachariah cried out, "I'll tell you everything you need to know."
A dark chuckle left Lord Ragnar's mouth, "Yes you will... worm, all in due time."
He turned towards the dragon riders and Abigail once again, "My dragon riders, I owe you an apology for what I did to you, not believing in my own protectors... Amelia whatever happened on Gandor, I am truly sorry."
Throughout the night, Zachariah's screams could be heard throughout the town, sending chills through everyone's spines, as the town knew all too well what happens when you cross the king.
Zachariah looked at the guards before whimpering, "Okay.. okay I will tell you everything you need to know, please stop."
The guards chuckled before staring at him, "Well then... start from the beginning."
"Richard wanted Amelia dead, but since she brought Hunter and Hanna with her, he knew he had to think of something bigger, so he asked me to help him, in return he will help my guild grow and become better, so I bumped into Hunter at the tavern, handing him a scroll that stated what was planned" He said.
The guards looked at each other, "That's not the scroll the lord himself received, it was actually the one signing that you and your guild will be doing the attack."
Zachariah's eyes widened as he realised what he had done, he had given away the wrong information, "Anyway so I ran here with the fake note that Richard had made up to look like Amelia, Hunter and Hanna were the ones to do it and while you'll all be concerned about them, no one would notice someone else trying to assassinate, lord Ragnar, it was the perfect plan until Max the priest decided to take matters into his own hands and try to kill Amelia, I raced back here in hopes I could get to Lord Ragnar in time, to set everything up for Richard to help with the assassination."
The guards smirked before heading out of the dungeon and towards the main hall where Lord Ragnar was seated, his hand resting against his chin while the dragon riders and Abigail were seated nearby.
"My lord, he has admitted everything, believe it or not it was Amelia's father Richard that was behind this whole scheme to have you assassinated."
A soft growl left Lord Ragnar's mouth as he banged his fist against his throne chair, "Bastards! Bring me their heads at once."
"Wait... my lord please just face them, maybe not all of them are involved," Amelia replied, she also wanted to see their faces again. She wanted them to know that she now knew they were behind everything, and that they couldn't harm her anymore than they already had.
She also wanted them to know, she had a family, a family who adored her and cared for, in ways she never was given as a child. She could stand tall in front of them for once and watch them die like they tried when she was young.
Lord Ragnar looked at Amelia's face and could see how serious she was about her statement, it was a weird request but he knew that it would bring a sort of justice back to there system, allowing everyone to know that he is not to be crossed, "Alright... guards bring them to me at once... alive."
Translations: VerndaΓ°u ΓΎinn, verndaΓ°u vin ΓΎinn - protect thy, protect thy friend












