~ Chapter 14 ~
As Barry Hatch glanced at Albion's king the memory of steel slashing his balverine form flashed through his brain. Shaking the memory away Barry stood before the
king and said "it's been quite a few years your Majesty".
"How are you alive Hatch? I killed you when you turned into the Ginger Balverine" as he paced outside the cell.
Smiling slightly Barry stared at the ground remembering the angel that saved him. "I lay on that road for a while after you left and then with what strength I had left
I travelled to the woods Mastaw Weavaw once called Brightwood so I could die near my home. Then she saved me". King Alexander stopped pacing and looking at
Barry he asked "who is she Barry?"
Barry smiled and leaning against the wall of the cell he replied "a hero called Rye but she's different from other heroes. She saved me using a light from her hands, I
think she was a monk because she wore monk robes. She didn't stay by my side for long, kept told me she had work to do before her Father returned whoever he is.
When I saw Mastaw Weavaw and the Princess of Albion in Brightwood I protected them from my brother balverines".
"Can you now control the beast within you Barry?" asked King Alexander warily as he drummed his fingers against the wall.
"Yes your Majesty. It took me a while to learn how but Rye showed me" said Barry as he smirked at the memory.
Nodding his head Alexander turned to Captain Smith and commanded "get Mr Hatch cleaned up and into some clean clothes. He may stay here as my guest for
protecting the princess". Captain Smith nodded his head and waited until the king had left before attending to Barry Hatch.
Reaver was irritated as the five men who had ambushed him in the bar, taken his gun and dragged him back into Wraith marsh. These men were different from the
pirates of Bloodstone, they dressed in clothing similar to the monks of Oakfield but their cloaks were black and sleeveless.
"Don't worry Reaver she won't hurt you, she's just doing her job like you were doing yours escorting that fake princess on her little quest to stop them" said the
captor holding his right arm.
"And what dear boy is her job whoever this whacky woman is?" asked Reaver sarcastically as he struggled to get free from their grasp on him.
One of the captors who was leading them through the wraith marsh sniggered and turning around to face the Prirate King he replied "she's your daughter Reaver and
like her Father she is bound to the Shadow Court".
"Impossible" muttered Reaver as he was led to a camp hidden in the back of the marshes. Rolling his eyes Reaver thought 'why didn't I notice that camp when Rose
and I passed through here?' Once inside the camp the men tied Reaver to a post as their leader came out of a tent. "We got him Rye" said one of the captors as he
handed her Reaver's Dragon stomper 47.
Unlike her comrades their leader Rye was dressed in skin tight black pants, a red corset top, black boots and a hooded green cloak. Keeping her face hidden by her
hood she said "I've waited a long time to meet you Reaver the Hero of Skill but I never thought it would be under these circumstances".
Chuckling Reaver looked at the woman and said "well I'm sure this is your dream come true meeting the one and only Reaver but where is this daughter of mine that
your comrade told me about?" Rye removed her hood to reveal her heart shaped face, brown eyes and shoulder length raven black hair.
Reaver felt his heart freeze in his chest as he looked at this woman's face shocked at how much she looked like Sparrow the old Hero Queen. "You may look like
Sparrow but you dear girl are not my daughter" said Reaver sarcastically.
Rye smiled a wicked smile knowing the Hero of Skill would say that. "My Mother was Sparrow and she gave birth to me in the Temple of Light. She left the monks to
raise me as it would not look good for a future Queen of Albion to have a child before marriage so I remained in Oakfield until the Shadow Court learned of my birth
and finally came for me when I was ten years old. It was they who told me who my Father was and it was they who trained me sending me off into the world until
they needed me" said Rye as she pulled a bag out from behind the post Reaver was tied to.
Trying to injest all that he had been told by this woman claiming to be his daughter Reaver watched her take a bronze bowl with strange markings engraved on it out
of the bag along with a dagger with a hilt made of bone. "May I ask what those are for?" asked Reaver sarcastically.
Rye looked at the Pirate King and standing up she replied "these are items used when sacrificing a hero's blood to the shadows. It won't hurt much because of the
deal you once made with the Shadow Court".
Struggling against the ropes that bound him Reaver looked at Rye and said "do it but remember this, if you do it you'll be killing your brothers, your nephew, your
niece and all the innocent people of Albion".
Irritated Rye slapped Reaver hard across the face before saying "I always believed that my parents would come for me but they didn't. The only ones who cared for
me apart from the monks who are long gone from this world are some guy I healed fifteen years ago and the Shadow Court".
Before Reaver could tell Rye he knew not of her birth she slit his arm with the knife and collecting the blood in the bowl. Seeing a shadow from the Shadow Court
appear in the camp Reaver looked at Rye and said "don't do this". Ignoring him Rye walked over to the shadow and handing the bowl over she asked "what do I do
with him?" The shadow looked at her with its glowing red eyes before replying "the Shadow Court has no use for either of you". Shocked Rye watched the shadow
leave suddenly afraid of what they would do.
Bowerstone Castle -
A soft warm breeze blew through the air as Elise and Logan walked through the castle gardens. With Alexander busy in the throne room the two had decided to
retreat outside for some fresh air. Remaing silent the two descend the second set of steps leading into the lower part of the garden where mausoleum stood. Now
hidden by the tall hedges Elise turned to Logan and asked "why couldn't it have been Alexander instead of Rose?"
Taking Elise in his arms Logan rubbed her back and replied "I wish I could answer that question Elise but I can't. All I can tell you is that Rose will be safe with
Reaver".
Nodding her head Elise slipped her arms around Logan's waist and rested her head on his shoulder happy with his answer. Hearing a cough behind them Logan and
Elise broke away from each other and turned around to find Alexander staring at them in anger.
"Alexander it was only a friendly hug" said Elise fearful of Alexander's temper. Alexander shook his head and said "stop lying Elise you were never good at it. I know
how you two feel about each other and before you both start kissing here in the garden think of what Walter will think if he finds out". Having said his piece Alexander
left the garden to return to the throne room.
"I guess that's it then" whispered Elise as she looked at the ground while she tried to stop her hands from shaking. Taking her hands in his Logan pulled her into him
and said "no it's not. Alexander can't stop us from loving each other".
Bloodstone -
Rose grew tired as she waited outside the pub. After she had bought some health potions and looked at what was being sold in the other stalls she had returned to
the pub but that was hours ago and still Reaver had not could have gone looking for him but decided to stay put. Hearing a scream Rose spun around and looked up
to the path to Wraith marsh and gasped in fear.
A thick black smog was engulfing Bloodstone bringing banshees and hollow men with it. Drawing her sword Rose watched in horror as the people of Bloodstone were
attacked by the marshes' horrible and uncaring nightmares. Before Rose could help the people a bright light engulfed her and when it cleared she was standing in the
gardens of Bowerstone castle. Collapsing onto the ground in exhaustion the last thing Rose heard was the sound of running feet.