Chapter: 21 Riding for War

Tomas and Zi rode back to Arendelle Castle to find the others waiting in the courtyard. "Zi!" rejoiced Benjamin. The explorer hugged her tight, "Thank heavens you're alright!"

She grunted in pain, "Good to see you too, Ben."

Ben gasped, realizing he'd squeezed the wound on her arm. "Oh my...Gerda! We need fresh rags!"

Zi noticed Alek staring her down. She clenched her fist and stood in front of everyone. Tomas said, "Zi? What are you-"

She held up a gold necklace displaying a dragon engraving. "When I turned seven, my parents inducted me into the Scarlet Sword, a clan of assassins created to defend China. For many years, I accepted contracts to take down military targets and others who threatened our lands. Later, we began to assassinate those responsible for other injustices. Thieves, slavers, abusers, crimelords. I have taken many lives. So many that I cannot recall the quantity. Call it service...call it slaughter...You too would to defend your homeland. You do it now." Elsa and Anna looked at each other. "When the Raven emerged to wreak havoc on the kingdoms, he reached opposition. The Last of the Maelstrom, Tomas, struck fear in him. So much so, that he contracted the Scarlet Sword to eliminate him. Normally, our grandmaster would dismiss a contract from outside of our country. Surprisingly, he accepted the Raven's, and we were dispatched to Corona. It was as if everyone was blinded by the grandmaster, for only I could see that what we were doing was wrong." She choked up. "Even my own husband has so blindly accepted the Raven's contract. Now, I've lost him to it. So I did what had to be done. I defended Tomas, as I do now. By doing so, I have seen a life outside of the Scarlet Sword. He...Benjamin...Lucky...Elsa...Anna...Kristoff...Olaf...even you, Alek. You are my new family. And if the Scarlet Sword has taught me anything, it is that you NEVER give up on family. You defend each other, and if necessary...give your life." She walked in front of Alek.

"Zi?" worried Ben.

She spread her arms open and fell to her knees. "I am not your enemy, but if you truly believe I am...Do what must be done, and take my life."

Alek locked eyes with Zi. His nostrils flared before he let his pride go. With a mighty huff, he reached out his hand and helped her up. To everyone's shock, Alek then dropped to one knee. "You are a noble...and admirable warrior, Zi. You do what you must to defend who, and what you love. You must understand that I do the same for my kingdom. After the treachery of Prince Hans, I had lost faith in outsiders. With the Raven threatening Arendelle, I put my walls up higher than ever. I now see I was wrong to do so. If I believe that every outsider is evil, I will lose the opportunity to meet good people like you. And that is why...I ask that you forgive me, my lady."

Zi faintly smiled, "I already have." She now helped him up and they each placed a hand on the other's shoulder.

"I am honored to fight evil alongside you," smirked the captain. "Honored."

They exchanged nods of respect before the servant Gerda came to tend to her arm.

Captain Alek then approached Tomas while the others headed back inside. "I was wrong to say what I did back in the foyer...About you being a disgrace to the Maelstrom. I was frustrated, and ignorant. Both of those traits have only strengthened with my age."

"No," replied Tomas. "You were right. I did give up the stern ways of the Maelstrom. I forgive, I trust...I cry. Therefore, I am a disgrace to them all. Even my Carina."

Alek shook his head with a smile, "You're no disgrace, Tomas. Look at all you've done. You've saved more people from the Raven's tyranny then the Raven ever did. If you had to break tradition to do so, so be it. You're in charge of your destiny and show it by moving on. You let nothing define you and just keep surging onward. You let your actions from this moment forward say who you are. You're an inspiration, dammit. To your friends, to me, and the queen herself."

Tomas tilted his head with curiosity, "What did she say?"

"She only speaks highly of you, and believes you are the key to saving Arendelle." Alek shook his head, "Just like her parents believed."

"You knew the king and queen?"

Alek chuckled, "Boy, I've served Arendelle for over thirty years. I'll never forget a conversation I had with the king and queen. I had just brought them news of the Maelstrom's victories against the Raven. They just wanted to hear about 'That Tomas boy'." Tomas began to smile as he continued, "Queen Idun would say...'He's going to be the best.' Agdar would laugh and reply...'He is the best. He always will be.'"

Tomas nodded, "Thanks for that, captain. I wish I could have seen them again before they passed."

"I miss them too," said Alek. "But now is no time for mourning. Tis time to take action! And I know where to start." Alek beckoned Tomas to follow him. He called the others over on his way to the dungeon.

All observed the shackled arsonist, his face entirely bruised. "What happened to him?" asked Benjamin.

"I was...angry." intoned Alek. "BUT, I did get answers. He says that Prince Hans sent him."

"Hans?" wondered Anna. "But I thought he was imprisoned in the Southern Isles?"

"He should be," added Elsa. "Unless the Raven got to him."

Alek shrugged. "Further...persuasion...got him too confess where he came from. Weselton."

WESELTON

The name made Tomas' heart sink. "Oh no. Nora..."

"We haven't seen her for a while," replied Anna.

Tomas shook his head, "That's because she's headed for Weselton to warn her friends about the Raven!"

"If Hans is in Weselton, and indeed working for the Raven, the poor girl is walking into a trap," distressed Ben.

"We have to warn her and stop Hans," affirmed Tomas. "How far is Weselton from here?"

"If you ride fast, you can make it there by tomorrow night. Travel along the fjord," answered Alek.

"We'll need two more horses," said Tomas as two servants ran for the stables. Soon, they had two cream-colored steeds waiting by Tomas'.

As Tomas, Zi, and Benjamin mounted their horses, Anna asked, "What about us?"

"Alek and his men will look after you. Fear not. The Trailblazers will put a stop to Hans." Tomas waved and spurred Thor.

"Let's ride!" cheered Zi. Lucky squeaked and swung on her braid.

"ONWARD TRAILBLAZERS!" cheered Benjamin before his voice cracked. He chuckled, "Puberty...there you are."

As they rode into the night, Alek glanced over at the royal sisters, "What the hell is a Trailblazer?"

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" screeched the Raven, causing his surrounding crows to caw and scatter. "You idiot! Curse you! Curse your entire clan!"

Tsao stood firm against the fiend's outburst. "We answered your call and-"

"FAILED!" jeered the Raven. He frustratedly scraped at the ground, his taloned boots sending forth sparks. "I hired you because you I thought you were the best assassins the world had ever seen. Clearly, I was wrong. The Scarlet Sword is worthless! Not only have you and your clan failed me, but one of yours has defected to Tomas' side!"

Tsao grit his teeth at the mention of Zi. "I had no idea she would do such a-"

He ignored Tsao and pointed a wing at him. "GO...go to your grandmaster and tell him of your failure. I'm sure he will give a far worse punishment than I could ever bestow upon you!"

Tsao exited the spire, leaving the Raven to his tantrum. He called a flyer to his side, "Fly to Weselton and report back to me. I want to know the status on Hans' army. Tell him we need to move faster than planned. I need them ready to move by the end of the week!" The flyer nodded and glided out the window.

The Raven removed his artificial wings and slammed his fists against the wall. "DAMN YOU, TOMAS!" He descended into insanity. "I will not be defeated by the Maelstrom's golden boy. I will not...I WILL NOT!" He furiously paced around his lair. "I've got to stop him. I've go to. The master's plan will be ruined if I fail him! The master will crush me and spare Hades. No...No that's not good. Get yourself together, you can stop Tomas. You will...stop Tomas."

The sun rose over the kingdom of Weselton. Hans awakened and put his pants on. "Another fantastic night," he sighed. He flashed a malicious smirk and looked over his shoulder, "Coming, dear?" Nora remained in bed, her gaze fixed on the wall. "Dear? I'm talking to you." he said in a much more demanding tone. She would not budge.

"Leave me alone," she whispered timidly.

He slipped back into bed and kissed her neck, giving her terrifying chills. "Get up darling..."

"Don't touch me,"

"Oh don't play hard to get." He kissed her again and attempted to grope her.

"I said don't touch me anymore!" she yelled and pushed him away. The force caused her to topple out of bed, and she quickly used the blanket to clothe herself.

"What did you say to me?" whispered Hans before turning insidiously violent, "WHAT DID YOU SAY TO ME?!" He backhanded Nora across the face so hard, she fell over. He then grabbed her by the arm and squeezed, "I'll touch you as much as I want! You're mine. I OWN you, Nora. You understand me?" He shoved her to the floor. "DO YOU?"

Nora trembled, rubbing the reddened side of her face with a grimace. "I understand..."

"Understand what?"

"That I am yours." she whimpered.

Hans smiled again, his ego filled with ecstasy of hearing her say it. "That's a good girl. Because if you say something like that again I'll..." He made a fist and shook it. "Then I'll tell the Raven about what you did. I'm sure he'll do much worse to you. Is that what you want?"

"No," she slowly stood up.

"No what?" stomped Hans, enjoying his position of power to an excessive amount.

She gulped, "No...your majesty."

Hans smirked and then forced a powerful kiss on her lips. "Now get dressed. I want to show you something." He led Nora cross the manor house balcony just as a flyer landed on it. "What now?"

The flyer hissed, "What is the status of the army?"

Hans chuckled and pointed downwards. Battalions of soldiers marched in formation. "They'll be ready to move on Aredendelle by next week."

The flyer replied, "The Raven needs them ready by the end of this week."

Hans sneered, "I suppose I could pick up the pace." He smacked Nora's bottom, making her gasp. "Do you think I can do it, honey?"

Nora sighed, "Of course you can, your majesty. You can accomplish anything. No one can stop you." Nora closed her eyes, filling her mind with thoughts of Tomas.