A.N.: *Breathlessly* I am not dead... I am almost dead...Not quite. Suspending in between the two worlds...
Will cracked open his eyes as he heard the sound of tent's opening flapped and watched the general walked in and took a seat in front of Will. He had been chained to a chair after the meal and it was a slightly better treatment than staying on the floor though it gave him less room to maneuver even if he wanted to and the metal chain they used was giving his raw wrist bruises on top of it.
"I have just sent them a message." The General began in a way of small talks.
Will, wisely, remained silent, "To your little ranger friend and their Skandian allies. Oh and, don't forget those Aisen-what's-its-name. I am still waiting for the reply but I just can't wait to read their angry and furious demands of returning you."
Will hissed. Because of both the man sitting in front of him and the chain that was binding him.
"You will learn to be more obedient in the future," The General said then added as an afterthought, "But I don't think I will let you survive long enough to even think of the word future."
"Thirteen black roses," Will stated after a moment of staring contest between the two.
"What?"
"I want thirteen black roses on my funeral from you if I happen to die." Will told the man with a smile, "Just a little show of your gratitude. Thirteen is a good number. You can buy them probably at Araluen's flower shop. Actually, red roses work just fine."
The man looked at him for a moment and Will wondered if what he saw in those eyes was sanity all of a sudden, "Why are you trying to provoke me? Do you not value your life?"
Will considered the question. In truth, he was scared, afraid, hungry, and frustrated, four very bad emotions combined together. But he had to hold it together, for both him and the others. He valued his life just as much as anyone value theirs but he will gladly give it up for his friends when necessary.
"I do value my life." Will said carefully, eyeing the man, "And I am not intentionally trying to provoke you. It is just my way of…dealing with situations when I am not very…calm." He hesitated in between, trying to find the right word to describe it.
Will saw flashes of emotions in the man's eyes and he was surprised that among them were calculations and wisdom. Maybe he had underestimated and miscalculated the man. He looked insane at first sight, but Will had come to the realization that the man was the one who had planned the two battles and nearly winning the first one if the ranger wasn't there. The general wasn't just any normal greedy man, he might just be the smartest greediest general. That thought did not reassure him one bit.
"You weren't this witty, or so I heard when you were captured by the Skandians with that girl."
Will frowned, "What do you mean?"
"Actually, you should be asking as to how I know."
"How did you know?" Will decided to humor the man.
The General waved his hand and one of his soldiers came in carrying a tray. His meal of the day, he supposed. The soldier exited just as fast as he came in and General Haz'Kam answered, "Your name and deed travel across Skandia. It wasn't hard to go around asking for small pieces of harmless information regarding the 'great and honorable battle of Skandian' and their 'most important archer commander'." The man smirked a little at the title.
Will grimaced at that.
"And I discovered where and how you arrived at Skandia and what happened afterward from close friends of that Oberjarl under the cover of a traveler. But of course, now is not the time for my life story. So, back to my question. Why weren't you so witty when you were captured by the Skandians with that girl?" The man emphasized the last three words.
The captive glanced at the man and opened his mouth, "Beca-"
The General held up his hand, "I have a theory. It must be because of how much you value the life of your friends. You did not want to risk their life with your sarcastic remarks that will undoubtedly drive your captor over the edge, causing them to do something horrible to either you or her. Am I right?"
"Partially," Will admitted reluctantly. To his surprise, he was enjoying a little of their conversation. The man served as a counselor except he enjoyed torturing people. He stiffened at that thought. Or maybe not. The mere thought of Axel…He shut his thoughts and hardened himself. He will have more time to think and grief over the man when he escaped. Not if, but when. Never if, or you will lose hope.
"And what part did I get wrong?" The General asked, ignoring the stiffening of his posture.
"Why do you want to know?"
"So I can deliver a very accurate and probably honorable speech at your funeral." The General chuckled slightly at that. Will did not find it funny, even though it was similar to what he had said earlier. It was sickening, the mere thought of what was going to happen to him, "And of course, for my own fame. If I merely said that I took down a ranger, no one will even think more of me. Instead, they will just shrug and walk away. But if I say that I took down the archer at the battle of Skandia, the best ranger of Araluen, it will sound so much more powerful than the previous."
"Now you are just flattering me," Will muttered under his breath.
The General eyed him for a moment and a flash of calculation flickered in his eyes before standing up and headed toward him, reaching out to unlock the chains, "Eat your meal and we will continue our conversation later tonight."
"I presume I am drugged before I woke up?" Will asked as the general pulled his wrist back so hard that his shoulder threatened to dislocate itself.
"Of course." Came the reply.
Then the man exited as soon as the chains fell onto the ground. The tent flapped closed once and then he was alone again.
Axel woke, this time to the sound of loud arguing voices. He grimaced in pain as he shifted and sat up, ignoring the protests of his back. He should probably go see Will, the boy must be worried sick about him. He chuckled. Not that the boy would ever admit that, he was too stubborn sometimes, but he could see it in his posture, actions, and his eyes that he cared very much about his teammates. He was a little touched by that.
"You are awake." Axel nearly jumped as he heard Zykio.
He looked up and spot him at the entrance of the tent. His observation skill was getting sloppy, he noted absently, "Yeah."
"How are you feeling?" Zykio uncrossed his arms and crouched down next to him in concern.
"I am good." Axel shrugged then winced as the movement made his back protest.
Zykio did not miss that sign, "You should go rest a little bit more."
Axel winced as he shifted. His back hurt but not as strongly as the previous day. In fact, he felt almost fine except when he move. Which might be essential in everything, he realized dryly.
"Not until I see Will," Axel said then added in a humorous tone, "He is probably worried sick."
"Yeah, he wa-is." Zykio nodded, looking away and not meeting his eyes.
It was a too obvious sign of lying, "What happened?"
Was Zykio about to say 'was'? Axel swallowed. Why 'was'? He had a guess but he did not want to say it out loud, afraid that it might just be proven right and sealed the fate permanently.
"Why do you think something happened?" Zykio looked at him strangely.
Axel noted that his leader wasn't exactly looking at him. It was more like looking at anywhere but him. He wasn't focusing his gaze on him, he was merely…pretending to look at him as if avoiding him.
"What happened to Will?" Axel ignored his question.
"He…he…um, got hurt." Zykio told him, standing up and backing slowly toward the opening, "Just rest, okay? I will tell him that you say hi. Don't worry, his wound is not that serious, he is worried sick about you, though. So just rest and take it easy, okay?"
"Zykio, what are you not telling me?" Axel gripped the blanket tightly as the man backed away.
"Nothing, Axel. Nothing. Just focus on healing, okay?" In that moment, Axel thought he saw the pain in the man's eyes before he quickly looked away.
"Zykio!" He yelled but the man ducked out of the tent and disappeared.
Axel tried to get out of bed, but his body was too weak to perform the action and he could only sit there, hissing in pain, "Blast it! Just blasted!"
His quiet cursing was interrupted momentarily when another figure slipped through the opening and entered.
Thinking that it was Zykio coming back, he exclaimed as he looked up, "Zykio, what ha-"
He felt silent as he took in the intruder, "My Lord."
Axel had the grace to blush in embarrassment as the lord nodded to acknowledge his greeting, ignoring his outburst.
"How are you feeling?" K asked him, crossing his arms in almost an identical stance to Zykio's momentarily ago.
Managing a smile, he replied unclenched his hand, "Good."
"You want to know what happened." K the lord was straight to the point as always, giving him a measured glance.
"Yes," Axel answered, hesitating slightly at the hardness of the man's tone, afraid of what he would hear from him.
"It's about Will. Are you sure you want to know?" K asked though he already knew the answer.
"Yes." Axel repeated quietly, dread filled his heart, "How badly is he injured?"
"Injured?" K started then gave him an amused smile before chuckling quietly, "Who told you that?"
"Zykio." He admitted, shifting slightly, "Was he wrong?"
"Ah, I see." K nodded before coming closer and closed the flap to avoid the cold air from seeping in, ignoring his last question, "No wonder he looked so trouble."
"What happened to Will?" He pressed, getting the man's attention back to the topic.
K ignored the lack of honorification and responded shortly, "He is not here."
"What do you mean?" Axel was genuinely confused. Where else could Will be if he was not here?
K said something in an even quieter tone, turning slightly toward the tent, his gaze almost distant.
"Pardon?" Axel asked politely, even when he leaned in he couldn't hear what the man had said.
The lord turned to look at him squarely in the eyes and for the first time, his emotions were obvious. It was pain, a gaze full of anguish and guilt and told of a horrible event, "He was captured, Axel. And I couldn't do anything."
A little bit short of 2000 words, but I hope it satisfied you for now. ^ ^.
Thanks for all the supports I received!
Gotta hurry before thomeworkrks are due...
-Kawazoe Kumiko