Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters. They belong to their rightful owners.
Warning: The following chapter contains: violence, coarse language, mature humor, and suggestive themes, YOU have been WARNED.
Chapter 29: The Foolish Children's Revolt Part 1
Crevasse Exit, Hatchet's Camp
"Alright," Bridgette spoke softly. She and Geoff stood with Noah and Courtney at the monastery side of the crevasse. "Here is the plan. You will be posing as Castle Agents with your cloaks. Geoff and I will walk with enough pose and determination, that way no one should think to bother us once we get into the camp. If a High Knight like Geoff walks straight to Chris' tent it is assumed he is on official business and not even the guards will stop him. Just stay directly behind us with your heads down and let Geoff and I do the talking. Okay?"
Courtney looked at Bridgette with slight unease. Bridgette noticed it right away. "What is it? Do you not like our plan?"
Courtney shook her head. "No I think your plan is great. I'm just worried about you two. If this goes poorly you could be branded as traitors. Are you sure you want to help us?"
"But you need us." Bridgette spoke. "There is no other way for you to get to Chris."
"Courtney." Noah said softly. "We do need them."
"I know but, aren't you worried?" Courtney asked.
Geoff placed his hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry about us. We're here to help you all the way. It's been tough for us these past few days, watching the monastery from afar. We're willing to face the consequences, no matter what."
"No. That's too much. We're untouchable, you're not," Courtney argued.
"We're not leaving you." Bridgette made clear. "I will never abandon you again."
Courtney brought Bridgette into a hug.
"While this has been a nice scene, could we go in now?" Noah asked, with his arms crossed. "We don't have much time."
"Right." Courtney took a deep breath. Her hand shook. "Let's do this."
Geoff turned the corner of the crevasse and looked down to the other end. "There's guards watching the crevasse entrance." Geoff informed them. "They'll probably want an explanation. It should not be a problem. Just follow my lead."
Geoff lead the four of them. Behind him, Noah and Courtney stood shoulder to shoulder. They wore the thick brown wool cloaks from their journey to the monastery with the hoods up. Behind them, Bridgette followed closely with her hand on the hilt of her sword.
"You're not going to complain about the use of the cloaks this time, are you?" Courtney whispered snidely to Noah.
Noah shrugged his shoulders. "I'm willing to admit that they are appropriate in certain circumstances, and this happens to be one such time. This does not mean the other times were less stupid."
"My lords!" Bridgette whispered loudly. "Please stop bickering. I know that is hard for you."
Noah and Courtney shared a quick look in acknowledgement. They pulled the hoods further over their heads, staring at the ground, hoping it would cover their whole identity.
The crevasse was narrow. Jagged rocks covered the path down to the clearing. Geoff carefully tried to carve a path that was easy to traverse. He used his outstretched arms to balance him against the cliff faces on either side. At the end of the crevasse, just at the exit, two men-at-arms with pikes stood at attention.
"Hail! Sir Geoff and Sir Bridgette return unscathed. The King's response has been given." Geoff called out as they approached.
"Hail Sir Geoff and Sir Bridgette. Glad to hear it." The guard responded. The four of them walked up to the entrance. Geoff flashed his charming smile at the guard, and stepped into the camp. Noah and Courtney were about to follow right after him, but the two guards crossed their pikes in front of them. Noah gulped. "Who are these two? You approached the monastery alone."
"They are agents," Bridgette said. She stepped before Courtney and Noah, placing her hands on the pikes. "They were on a secret mission from King Chris himself. By Royal Authority, we are not at liberty to say anything more."
"But I have been standing guard for hours. No one else has went through this way. When could they have left?" The guard questioned.
Geoff walked back. He placed his hands on the guard's shoulders. "That is not how Royal Authority works. If you are so skeptical, I can have Sir Hatchet come here personally to relieve you of this position and let them through. Or, better yet, I can have King Chris here himself."
The guard pulled back on his pike, and motioned for his partner to do the say. "Shit Geoff. Don't worry about it. It's just strange is all. Part of my job is suspicion. Damned castle agents always make this more complicated doing their own thing and all, never telling anyone."
"I understand. Now, let us move." Bridgette said forcefully.
"Go right ahead, Sir Bridgette," The guards stepped aside.
The four of them walked into the camp. Courtney let out a sigh of relief. She rubbed her face, trying to calm herself.
"That was the tough part. Chris' tent is nearby. He should be expecting us after delivering his message," Bridgette assured him.
With the sunlight quickly passing, most of the men-at-arms were preparing fires for the night. There were low long tents that were basically a long sheet set up to block out any rain or snow for most of the soldiers. The soldiers passed around bottles of wine. A couple groups sang shanties among each other. In the center of the camp was the noble's tents. They were fuller with high roofs and made of hide. This was the dangerous area for Noah and Courtney, for it was more likely for a knight or someone with high birth to recognize them. In the center of the noble's tent, stood a tent three times the size of the others. It was octagonal with a large pillar in the middle; draped canvas and furs covered the outside. The banners for house McLean were displayed on all sides. Chris' tent.
The four of them moved quickly between the tents. Geoff watched carefully for Hatchet or a castle agent. They would recognize immediately that Noah's and Courtney's cloaks were the wrong color. But, he did not see one anywhere. It was a little strange. Most of the knights were drinking in their tents. The whole area felt a little empty. Geoff could not believe their luck.
Finally, they stood in front of Chris' tent.
"Ready?" Courtney asked Noah.
"Honestly. No. But I'm glad doing this with you. Partner." Noah whispered back.
Courtney nodded, and with that she stepped into Chris' tent.
A group of men watched the four of them from a distance. Their hands were bound and hoods were put over their heads. "Well boys. This is it. Opportunity has presented itself," said one of the men. "Now's the time for us to take what is rightfully ours: revenge."
"How are we supposed to do that Ezekiel?"
"For the last time, I'm no longer Ezekiel. I am Dagger Hands!" Ezekiel used his feet to slip off the restraints around his wrists. Since he had no hands, only daggers, the restraints came of easily. Once free, he started to laugh maniacally, rubbing his daggers for hands together.
His gang stared at him in disbelief. "Wait. You could have done that this whole time?"
Secret Tunnel
Hatchet marched through the secret tunnel carrying the torch with his agents following close behind. The tunnel was tight. Hatchet needed to routinely duck his head at points where the roof slumped down. The agents moved in single file, with Trent walking in the very back. The walls were sharp rock. The air felt damp.
After a few minutes of walking through the darkness Hatchet finally came up to the end of the tunnel. In front of him was a stone brick wall blocking the end of the tunnel. He snickered to himself before elbowing the wall. It easily tumbled down. Hatchet stepped over the fallen stone bricks and into the illuminated dungeon under the monastery. The other agents filed out of the tunnel and filled the room around Hatchet. "Looks like your tunnel was a success there archivist." Hatchet commented.
Cody entered the room, still shivering, being the only one without a cloak. "Great." He muttered.
Hatchet looked over his agents. "Alright men! This is it! I want you to all listen closely. The first order of business is to eliminate the monks from the equation. Don't mistake this to be a monastery. It is a fortress. They will have most of the monks spread out throughout the monastery keeping guard. So once we exit here, you'll all spread out, use the cover of darkness and subdue them. Use lethal methods only if necessary. And whatever you do, do not try to engage them on a one on one fight. No matter how old or decrepit they seem, these are some of the strongest warriors of the land. Stealth and surprise are your only tools. Once they are mostly gone from the picture, then we move on to the lordship heirs. Capture them by whatever means, just as long as they are alive. A couple bruises could do them some good anyway."
DJ and Beth turned and looked at each other but did not say anything.
"Failure is not an option! This is the most important mission any of you maggots have done up to this point. Everything else has been training leading you up to this moment!" Hatchet turned and looked around at their surroundings. "Now, Trent." Everyone turned and looked at Trent who stood at the back of the group. "Please lead us out of this filthy dungeon."
Trent stared out at Hatchet. The strain and pain from his injuries sustained from the heirs still ached on his body. He slowly walked forward through the crowd of the other agents and to the front. He looked over the dungeon and then back at Hatchet who nodded. Trent looked to his left and pointed down a hallway. "This way." He instructed. He took a couple steps in that direction.
Trent stopped. A pain overcame him. It was different from that of his injuries. This was the pain of knowing what he was doing. He thought of Alejandro, the friend he betrayed. The crazy adventures they had shared and all those times they just lounged around enjoying each others company. He thought of the other heirs, how hard they had fought to control their future. How he worked against them the whole time. He thought of Eva, the girl he nearly got killed. What she had said to him. He thought of Gwen, the girl he loves. In that moment he made a decision. He would not be a coward anymore.
"Hurry up Trent. We don't have all night." Hatchet ordered.
Trent turned around and stared back at Hatchet and the group of agents behind him.
"No."
"What?" Hatchet questioned.
"I'm done taking orders." Trent reached down and pulled out the sword at his side. He pointed the tip of the sword towards Hatchet. His heart beat rapidly. "I won't let you step any further."
Hatchet gritted his teeth. "You disappoint me Trent. Do you really think you can stop us?"
"No, but I can't just blindly help you."
Hatchet grunted. "We don't have time for this." He brushed his clock back, his steel armor shone in the torch light. He reached down and pulled out his own sword. The other agents all stood back.
Trent crouched down into a fighting stance, his hands gripped his sword as tightly as possible. Hatchet let out a slight chuckle from the sight. Hatchet then charged forward.
Chris' Tent (Hatchet's Camp)
Chris sat back in his big wooden chair. His feet were perched on the table covered in maps. He drank wine from a bottle. His thick fur coat was wrapped around his shoulders. There was no one else in the tent beside him. Sierra was gone. He turned his head slightly at Geoff and Bridgette's entrance.
"Ah, Geoff and Bridgette. Good to see you. I assume our message was heard without complication," Chris spoke, barely paying much attention to them.
"Well, my liege, there was a slight complication," Geoff said, kneeling onto the ground.
"And what might that be?" Chris asked.
"Us," Courtney said. She and Noah removed their hoods.
Chris shot up in his chair. He leaned forward, staring at them. "Well, well, isn't this a surprise. My heirs return to me. I imagine it's wishful thinking to assume you're here to give me your unconditional surrender?"
Noah cleared his throat. "I'm afraid so. We're here to negotiate. We have a number of demands."
"Figures," Chris said, with a slightly drawl. "I should have never expected anything less from a member of house Fife. Back them into a corner and they'll still demand the shirt off your back." He turned to Courtney. "And you Courtney? I honestly would not have expected it. This is most unlike you." Courtney turned her head away, too ashamed to stare him in the eyes. "And you two," Chris directed towards Geoff and Bridgette. "You two were aware of this?"
"They asked us when we went to give your message. We hoped you would like the opportunity to speak with them," Bridgette said, thinking quickly.
"I see." Chris spoke. His face stoic. "And what's to stop me from capturing you two?"
"We know you to be a right and honorable my king. You would never interrupt an official negotiation. Capturing opposing generals or messengers who visit you in good faith to put a situation to an end is cowardice and breaks all principles of chivalry." Courtney spoke in a calm and serious tone.
"Even when those parties snuck into my camp?" Chris asked. Noah and Courtney stood there in silence and did not respond. "Enough," Chris waved his hand. "I get it. You're serious. I'll hear your demands. Take a seat across from me." He pointed at chairs at the end of the tent. Noah and Courtney grabbed one each, and pulled them over to the table. They sat down across from him. "I'm starting to think sending you all to my castle for tutoring all those years was a mistake. Made you too smart for your own good." Chris sat back in his chair and leaned back, adopting a relaxed posture. "Now, how have you two been? Princess, how was the pilgrimage? I hope being stuck with those three brutes wasn't too much of a hassle, though I suspect they may have been a bad influence on you."
"Yes. My liege. I mean, no, my liege. Pilgrimage was fine." Courtney struggled to find the proper response.
"What about you Noah? Still reading that book of yours?" Chris asked.
Noah shook his head. "No, your highness. Although, after all this, I've been thinking of writing one. I think there's enough here for a bitching fantasy, without any need of those stupid elves and dwarves."
Chris nodded. A smile grew on his lips. "You know, when I was your age, I had negotiations like this with your parents. Only, for me, it was about gaining their loyalty to bring down a despotic empire. It was higher stakes then. The whole nation was at risk. I guess it just shows how far we've come in terms of stability and order when you two are just whining about yourselves."
Noah frowned. "It's a bit more than that," he argued.
"Alright. Let's here these demands of yours," Chris said.
Courtney reached into her cloak. She pulled out the piece of parchment and placed it on the table. "Here," she said.
Monastery
Owen walked down the pathway next to the church. He carried with him a plate with some buns resting on it. He grabbed one and inhaled it in two bites as he walked. There was the sound of movement in the distance. He looked over to his left but didn't see anything. Owen just shrugged it off as he grabbed a second bun and began to inhale it as well.
He kept looking to his left as he started down the stairs. "Hey Harold, I grabbed those buns, I mean, bun that you asked for." When Owen turned back he was shocked to see Harold tied up with a piece of cloth covering his mouth. "What are you doing like that?" Owen asked. Harold began to wrestle around, he tried to speak but his voice was muffled from the cloth covering it. Owen stared at him in confusion. "I can't understand you with that thing on your mouth. Here, let me fix it for you."
He stepped forward, and reached down to remove the cloth. Before his hand reached Harold, a figure came up from behind him and whacked him over the back of the head with a small club.
"Izz.." Owen murmured as he hit the ground and was completely knocked out. The plate shattered next to him and the remaining bun rolled down the steps.
The stout figure holding the club let out a sigh. A hand reached out and rested on their shoulder. "Excellent work Beth." Hatchet spoke, stepping out of the shadows. His other hand held onto the hilt of his sword. He turned back to the large group of agents behind him. "It's time my agents. Scatter! Subdue as many monks as you can find, and then bring them into the courtyard. Let's show them we mean business." The agents all hurried off in every direction except for a small group who remained.
Hatchet pointed towards Harold and Owen. "Beth. Bring these two into the courtyard." Beth, who was still injured, motioned for a couple agents to pick up the monks. The agents grabbed Harold with ease, while they struggled to lift Owen up, instead deciding to roll him on the ground. Hatchet followed close behind them.
Chris' Tent (Hatchet's Camp)
Courtney cleared her throat. "We have six demands. If you agree to meet all of them, we will cease our resistance."
Chris took a large sip from his wine. "Alright, go ahead. I'm ready to hear them."
"First, everyone who has helped us along this journey must be given a complete pardon for their participation. This includes all the monks, Sir Geoff, Sir Bridgette, Gwen, Trent, Eva, Justin, and anyone else we have come in contact with. No justice or harm shall befall any of them." Courtney spoke stoically.
Chris listened quietly and attentively. He waited until it was clear Courtney had finished her demand. He leaned back in his chair in contemplation before immediately sitting back up. "Very well. I would be willing to give your companions and whoever else a pardon. They were only following your stupid plans. I see no difficulty there. Hatchet may not be pleased with letting that Eva girl go, but he can be put into his place. Although who is this Justin fellow?"
"He's, uh, a guy," Courtney tried to explain.
"Right. I got that. Fine. Whatever. He may get a pardon as well."
Bridgette and Geoff lowered their shoulders, happy to hear that they would not be suffering any punishment.
"Our second demand." Courtney spoke softly looking back at the list before sitting up straight and talking with conviction. "Izzy will be welcomed warmly. On her return, she will not face any punishment or judgment by you, the king, or by her own parents. Further, she will not have her freedom of movement taken away from her because of her actions."
Chris sat in contemplation for a considerable more time on this demand. "It is tough to just ignore what she has put the nation through. She ruined what was going to be a bitchin festival. I had fireworks, and dancers, and you can't get your deposit back on dancers. And I'm sure her parents are even less thrilled then I am at her actions." Chris explained.
"This one is non-negotiable," Noah made clear. "Izzy must be welcomed back openly and face no repercussions. It's all of us back equally, or none of us back at all."
Chris thought quietly for a moment. "Alright. No one even knows she ran away. We have kept this as quiet as possible. Only a very small select inner circle knows about it. Even the soldiers were brought here under the guise of a training procedure. They know nothing about any heirs to the lordship in direct conflict with the king. Punishing her would just draw everyone's attention to it. Very well. I shall accept this demand as well."
Noah let out a deep sigh of relief.
"Okay. Now our third demand." Courtney began. "We want to know who arranged Trent to spy on Alejandro and make it clear that no castle agents shall be order to spy on any of us hence forth."
"Do you guys really want to know or just Alejandro?" Chris asked.
"Alejandro." Courtney admitted.
"Yeah fine whatever. I'll find someone to get to the bottom of it." Chris said dismissively. "Wasn't me." Chris took a large sip of wine as he shook his head at the mention of Alejandro.
"Um, okay. Fourth demand, the exile for the Monks of Dundrennan will be lifted. They will be allowed to leave their monastery and practice as they see fit."
"Ah," Chris mused. "With the current situation, I do not feel very inclined to be admitting them back into my kingdom. You know, with the open hostility against me and everything."
"They are acting on our behalf. Once our situation is no longer hostile, they will not be hostile." Courtney tried to explain.
"Still, the fact that they were willing to openly accept the first set of traitors that stumbled onto them doesn't really bode me with a lot of confidence in their willingness to swear allegiance back to the king. I like my subjects to be loyal." Chris spoke very bluntly.
"They were not the ones who cast that loyalty aside." Noah replied. Chris gave Noah a stern look which made Noah sink further into his chair.
Chris pressed his fingers on his temple. "I do wish you two wouldn't talk about things that you know nothing about." He took a deep breath. "However, I may be willing to entertain an audience with Alden and some of the monks after this situation is ended. I do not feel this is something you two to should be negotiating."
Courtney turned to Noah. Noah gave her a half shrug. Courtney nodded and turned back to Chris. "Very well, if you will entertain an audience with them and sincerely listen to what they have to say. We will accept it."
"Fine." Chris spoke waving his hand. "Onto the next one."
"Our fifth demand. The royal list detailing who we shall marry will be made null and void."
Chris perked up at this demand. "What?" Chris asked in confusion. "Why would you want the list made null and void? You haven't even seen it yet." Courtney and Noah both turned to look away in opposite directions. Chris stared at them. "Why aren't you looking at me?"
"Uh, we might, um, know the list," Courtney admitted, making sure to avoid his gaze.
"WHAT!" Chris stood up, hitting his hands on the table.
"It was Noah!" Courtney called out immediately. Noah turned and glared at her, she just gave him an apologetic look.
"Damn it Noah!" Chris cried out. "Do have any idea how long I've been waiting to reveal that thing! I have been waiting years. Years! I've spent the last 18 years looking forward to revealing it to you! I had this awesome speech planned. I knew all of my timings. I knew what I was going to be wearing. I've practiced it in the mirror thousands of times! Fuck! How in god's name did you get your hands on it?"
Noah made himself as small as possible. "I had an agent intercept the messages intended for my father."
"And you want it null and void?" Chris shook his head. "I'm afraid to hear what the last demand is."
"Well." Courtney spoke up. "Our last demand, is the most important one. I guess it is connected. You shall royally decree that we will not be forced to marry. We may choose to marry anyone we want in the entire kingdom."
Chris sat back down in his chair. He looked Courtney straight in the eyes, and then Noah. His eyes were cold and piercing.
"No."
Sierra burst into the tent. "My Liege! My King!" Sierra cried out, her voice was panicked and coarse. She saw the scene before her and bent immediately to a knee. "My King! My lords! My lords?" She looked back up and reassessed the situation, before turning back to the ground. "Excuse my interruption but I have urgent news!"
"Speak Sierra." Chris spoke sitting up once again. "What is it?"
Sierra stood back up. "The other agents! They are gone! So is Sir Hatchet! And most importantly," tears began to swell up in her eyes, "my precious Cody! Gone!"
"What?" Chris called out. "What do you mean gone?"
"I visited Cody's tent and saw he was missing. I became worried and found this note!" Sierra handed Chris a piece of paper.
Chris opened it up and began to read aloud. "Sierra, you know that secret tunnel? I fear Hatchet is planning something. I don't know what, but it involves the castle agents. -Cody." Chris tossed the piece of paper to the ground. "What secret tunnel? What is he talking about?" Chris demanded.
"When I visited Cody last he showed me what appeared to be a secret tunnel on one of the maps that lead into the monastery." Sierra began to explain. "We were interrupted by Sir Hatchet who learned of it and demanded our silence about it with his royal authority. He said he would inform you."
"He did no such thing." Chris said.
"After I found the note I began to search. Your highness, I can't find any of the other agents in the camp. Hatchet is nowhere to be found. I fear Sir Hatchet has taken the agents through the tunnel to attack the monastery." Sierra said.
Noah and Courtney immediately stood up, their hearts began pounding. Bridgette and Geoff walked right up to Sierra. "Is there anyway to stop them?" Bridgette asked.
"I fear it's already begun."
"Duncan!" Courtney called out. She turned to Chris, then Noah, then Bridgette. "We have to go back!"
At that moment everyone in the tent was alerted to one side of the tent where they heard a ripping sound. Two blades punctured through from outside of the tent. The blades thrust down in an X formation ripping open the side of the tent. A man burst through. He had two daggers for hands. Seven figures rushed in after him. Each of them were armed with blades. Bridgette and Geoff immediately pulled out their swords.
"This is it!" The figure cried out. "Time for Dagger Hands to get his revenge! You shall learn that nobody and I mean nobody fucks with the Fire Ants!" He yelled out.
That was when Courtney recognized the figure in front of her. "Ezekiel?"
"What the fuck." Noah muttered next to her.
Monastery
"I hate waiting around like this!" Duncan complained. He laid flat on his back on the ground. Next to him, Izzy sat in a full lotus with her eyes closed. Eva sat on a chair against the wall with her eyes closed. Her arms were crossed over her chest. "I can't believe we're stuck here doing nothing! If anything, it should be the two of us out there saving everyone. We were always the most adventuresome."
Izzy breathed slowly. Her long red hair was bunched around her shoulders. "I trust Courtney and Noah to speak on our behalf. They're better at talking than anyone. Plus, I didn't think you liked doing things with me. Remember last year at the festival? You didn't even want to sneak out of the castle together to compete in the Knight's Games."
Duncan sat up. "That was a year ago. I didn't really feel that way. You surprised me. I had been planning out that night for weeks. I panicked when you pointed out it would not work."
"Well, it was a stupid plan."
Duncan let out a sigh. He laid back down on the ground. "You've got that right. Hatchet recognized me immediately. He made such a big scene out of it too. I felt like such a fool. You were right."
Izzy opened her eyes slightly. "Why did you want to do it anyway?"
"I just wanted to prove myself. All my father ever talks about is the battles he's fought in. That's it. It doesn't matter they were almost twenty years ago. He speaks about each battle, Methven, Glen Trool, Loudon Hill, Inverurie, as the things he is most proud of. I just felt if I could prove myself to be a capable warrior, just once maybe he'd actually talk as if he were proud of me."
"I know the feeling." Izzy whispered.
The mood became solemn. Duncan did not like it. He turned over on the ground, and stared at Izzy. "You know, I took your advice to heart this year. I got a capital armor smith to make a custom full mask piece for myself. I was going to get Geoff to grab it for me the night before, so no one would know I have it. I even had a set made for you too."
Izzy's raised her eyebrows in excitement. "You made a set of armor for me?" She asked shocked.
Duncan nodded. "I thought you'd probably cause a big scene. Everyone would focus their attention on you and away from me enough that I would probably be able to perform in a single event before someone even thought to question my identity."
"Aw, that's so sweet," Izzy said, taking it as a compliment.
Eva's eyes shot open. She stood up with such fervor that both Izzy and Duncan turned to her. She quickly surveyed the room they were in. "Where is lord Alejandro and lady Heather?" She asked desperately.
"What?" Duncan asked, taken by surprise. He sat up. "Heather's smoking her pipe outside, I think." he said.
Eva shook her head. "I knew it was a mistake to let them out of my sight." She examined their surroundings once again. She hurried over and grabbed both of Izzy and Duncan's shoulders. "Run! Run now! Hide!" She frantically yelled.
"Eva?" Izzy said, starting to become scared at her words
"I SAID RUN!" Eva shouted. She pushed both of them violently.
Duncan and Izzy stumbled to stand. Eva pointed at the door leading outside. They nodded, and headed to the doorway.
Eva bent her knees, getting into a fighting stance. "I know you're here," she said. "Reveal yourself!"
The door leading deeper into the wing shot open. A half dozen castle agents, wearing their green cloaks, ran into the room. The first agent charged at Eva. Eva grabbed the front of his cloak, picked him up over her head, and threw him roughly against the wall. A reverberating thud shook the building. She turned around to catch the hand of another agent. That agent with their free hand pulled out a dagger and thrust it towards Eva. Eva caught that hand too, pulling the blade of the dagger away from her and fiercely pushed against the agent's elbow, bending it until the bone broke. The agent screamed in pain.
The next agent that ran into the room wore a red headband: Tyler. He froze in panic, recognizing her from the alleyway in Kirkcaldy. "Oh Fuck!" He swore.
Duncan was about to jump into the fray, but Izzy grabbed him and pulled him out of the building. "Let's get out of here!" she said desperately.
"We can't leave her!" Duncan argued.
"She'll be fine," Izzy assured him. "Follow me." The two of them walked along the edge of the building. At the end, Izzy peered around the corner. Standing in the courtyard was Hatchet with his full armor. A number of monks kneeled down with their hands bound with rope. Izzy froze when she recognized Owen and Harold among the monks. "Oh no!" she said to herself.
Duncan looked around the corner above her. "Shit. Where can we go?"
"The meditation area," Izzy said, thinking quickly. She grabbed Duncan's hand, and they scurried with their heads down towards the stone stairs climbing up the mountain. Her breaths were short, but her eyes stayed focused forward. Duncan watched her closely.
They reached the start of the stone path upwards. It was covered in darkness, far from the reach of the torches in the courtyard. Izzy leaned downwards, brushing her hands along the steps, so that they knew where to go. They crawled on all fours, with Duncan following her lead. When they reached the top, Izzy dived down onto the ground. Duncan did the same. They hid under the branches of a small bush. Their legs rubbed up against the grave to the martyrs. The red gate curved above them. From their spot, they could see down to the courtyard. Hatchet stood with a small group of castle agents next to the captured monks.
"Shit, shit, shit. How did the agents get in here?" Duncan whispered in frustration.
Izzy did not respond. She kept focused on the courtyard with her hawkish eyes. In the distance, the door to the sanctuary opened, and Father Alden stepped out. He dragged his battleaxe on the ground in his right hand.
"Oh God," Izzy said.
Monastery
Heather inhaled from her pipe. Slowly, she let the smoke crawl out her mouth. Her head was turned upwards, watching the stars. Her left shoulder leaned on Gwen, helping Heather not to put much weight on her injured leg. Gwen stared forward towards the wall. She imagined how Trent was being treated with his colleagues. He was no longer one of them. The wall not only separated them physically, but their whole lives was now separated by what the wall represented. The opposite sides of the wall were the other sides of this whole conflict. Gwen held at her stomach, fearful about how things got so complicated around her. '
Heather grimaced. "You don't have to stand there, you know?" Heather said irritated. Beside them stood Alejandro. He wore the bright purple coat he bought from Justin in Caithness. The sleeves were still ripped off from the night he spent with Heather in the cave. "Why are you wearing that?" Heather asked.
Alejandro turned to the right, then to the left, looking over the coat. "I was thinking I could make the whole sleeveless look work. If you think about it, it accentuates my shoulders and shows off my arms. I think this could be the next fashion trend."
"I think it's stupid," Heather commented.
"Very well could be, but as everything's stupid to you, I think I'll need a more diverse set of opinions before making a judgment." Alejandro said.
Heather rubber her right temple. "Why are you here again?"
"I wanted some night air."
"Sure, but why do you need it next to me? This whole monastery is filled with night air. Go stand on the wall if you want a nice breeze," Heather suggested.
Alejandro shook his head. "We are in a dangerous situation. I do not think it wise for us to be separated."
Heather groaned. "Right. So you think you're protecting me?"
"Well, you're not exactly in the best condition to fight if any bad guys show up." Alejandro pointed out. Heather jus ignored him. Alejandro shrugged his shoulders and turned away from Heather and Gwen. They shared a silence. Heather took another hit from her pipe. It burned a light crimson in the dark.
Then, they heard what sounded like Eva shouting.
Alejandro perked up. He turned back around. "You hear that?" he asked. Heather nodded.
The sound of murmurs and footsteps started to become audible. Alejandro crouched down slightly. Heather watched him unenthused. They could hear a loud commotion coming from inside. Alejandro reached forward and pulled Heather down into a crouch.
The action made Heather drop her pipe out of her hands. It shattered as it hit the ground. "My pipe!" Heather exclaimed in anger. "What the hell Alejan...mhmm." Alejandro put his hand over her mouth.
"Be quiet!" he whispered. "Something's happening!"
Heather ripped his hand off of her mouth. "No shit." She whispered back in annoyance. She turned to Gwen. "We need to get into hiding." Gwen nodded.
A figure crashed through a nearby window, hitting the ground right next to them. They looked down and saw it was a castle agent with a red headband. "Let's move!" Alejandro called. Without even thinking, Alejandro lifted Heather right off the ground. He began to run, carrying her, with Gwen right behind them. Heather's eyes were wide and a wave of hatred rushed through her body but she did not struggle.
They hurried through the darkness. Shadowy figures skittered along the far wall before them. Trying to stay innocuous, Alejandro ran to the nearest door of the opposite wing of the monastery. Gwen quickly opened the door and Alejandro entered.
Once the three of them were inside the building. Alejandro put Heather down. Heather immediately began to punch at Alejandro's chest. "I can't believe you just did that! I'm going rip off your balls and shove them right in-" Before Heather could finish Alejandro put his hand over her mouth again. Heather was about to claw at him when he pointed further into the room.
Standing in the middle of the room was Leshawna in her green cloak and standing next to her was Cody, shivering and seemingly very out of place. "Heather! Figures I'd be the one to find you." Leshawna said. She let out a sigh. "Under order of the king, I am here to capture you!"
Alejandro slowly lowered his hand from Heather's mouth. "God damn it Leshawna. You're really going to go through with this?" Heather asked. She began to slowly approach Leshawna. Gwen tried to pull her back, but Heather pulled herself from Gwen's grasp. "I thought you were better than this. We're friends. You could just look the other way."
Heather stopped just out of Leshawna's reach. Leshawna's teeth clenched. "I'm sorry Heather. This is my job. This is something I have to do. We're not friends here."
"Good," Heather said. "That will make this easier." She punched Leshawna squarely in the face. Leshawna stumbled for a second, when she was just about to regain her composure Heather punched her a second time hard enough for Leshawna to hit the floor in a daze. Heather turned and was about to punch Cody too when he threw his hands up in the air.
"Wait! Wait! I'm not one of them! I'm not an agent!" Cody pleaded.
Heather reached forward, grabbing his ear and digging her nail into his skin. He whimpered in pain. "Who the fuck are you then? Heather demanded.
"My name's Cody! I'm the Royal Archivist," Cody said desperately fast.
"The Royal Archivist? I thought that was Master Daedalus," Heather said, blood lust in her eyes.
"No. He's dead! He died two years ago! Why does no one know that?" Cody whimpered.
"How did you get in here?" Heather asked. "How did the agents get here without climbing the walls?"
"There's a tunnel. There's a secret tunnel through the catacombs."
Heather let go of his ear. Blood rushed down the side of Cody's face from where Heather's nails had dug in. "Good. Show it to us. Let's go." She turned back to the others. "Gwen. I need your shoulder." She then turned to Alejandro. "And I don't need any protecting."
Alejandro peered down at Leshawna on the ground before turned back to her. "You don't have to tell me twice."
Monastery
Father Alden slowly walked into the courtyard. The hood of his monks robes was down. His long white hair was tied in a ponytail. His steps were short and slow as he walked without his cane. His right arm gripped a large battle axe that he dragged on the ground behind him as he moved. The ends of the robes flapped in the wind.
It took a moment for Hatchet to notice Father Alden approaching. Hatchet looked surprised. "Alden?" He muttered. Hatchet chuckled to himself. "I wondered when you would show your face. You've gotten old," The monks who were tied up and on their knees next to Hatchet all stared at the elder monk.
"Hatchet." Alden spoke in a calm voice. "It has been a long time."
"Not long enough."
Up in the meditation area,' Duncan and Izzy remained prone watching the scene below them. "What is he doing?" Duncan whispered to Izzy, who did not respond. She stared down at Alden, watching his every move with dread. "There's no way he can stand up to Hatchet." Duncan's hand shook slightly in panic.
Hatchet peered down at the battle axe Alden had resting next to him. "I hope you don't plan on using that. Seems to me you can't even lift the damn thing up anymore." Hatchet commented crossing his arms.
"I will use it if I must." Alden spoke back. He slowly moved closer until he was only a few steps away from Hatchet. "But I ask you to put an end to this. Release my monks and do not bother the heirs again. We warned you once to leave this place and not return."
Hatchet laughed. "Most of your monks have been captured! It is only a matter of time until my agents return with the heirs. Why would I possibly stop this? Don't you see old man? I've already won!"
"You've really gone far beyond this time Hatchet." Alden said. "What will Chris say when he finds out what you've done here."
That line perked up Hatchet's eyebrow. "What do you mean? I'm acting on Chris' orders!"
"Chris would never have organized something as ridiculous as this, that much I know." Alden shook his head. "Chris was never a fool. He only surrounded himself with them."
Hatchet gritted his teeth. "You're the fool old man! To show your face again like this! I always knew you monks were a blight. Chris showed you mercy with exile and yet here you are interrupting the business of the king yet again. That was always the problem with you monks! You never knew where not to stick your nose in. We should have wiped you all out when we had the chance."
Alden lifted his battle axe up off the ground. His arm shook as he struggled to hold up its weight. "Your fear was the only problem. Blinded by your greed for power, you wished to eliminate those who could challenge you."
"Do not belittle me old man!" Hatchet called out in anger. "Everything I've done is for the stability of this nation."
"This has never been about Wawanakwa. You only wish to show these children that you control them. All this, for petty revenge against children." Alden said.
"Enough! Do not pretend you're better than me. You and your monks are nothing better than lawless mercenaries using your God as an excuse. I've heard the stories of your youth, before you were a monk, when you tore down rows of men on the battlefield for whoever paid you the most."
Alden lowered his head. "Time changes many things. I am no longer that man. What I needed was someone to show me the correct path to myself. It is the duty of the old to clear the young's path to who they truly are, not to decide for them."
"You've grown senile in your old age," Hatchet commented.
"I am still as much of a warrior as I have ever been."
"We'll see about that," Hatchet said. He pulled his sword out from its sheath. Hatchet walked closer towards Alden. He slashed with his sword through the air in Alden's direction, but the old man did not flinch. Instead, Alden stayed perfectly still. His ghostly eyes focused squarely on Hatchet. Hatchet swatted again, toying with him, chuckling a little. Then, suddenly, Alden side stepped. With both hands, he pulled up his battleaxe. He made a curved swipe right at Hatchet's chest. Surprised, Hatchet had to leap back so that the axe would not hit him. "You have some fight in you after all!"
"So long as I have my axe."
"Then lets get rid of that." Hatchet lurched forward slashed his sword into the hilt of the battle axe. The force knocked the axe from Alden's frail hands. The battle axe clattered onto the ground. Hatchet stepped forward and placed a hand on Alden's shoulder. "I never thought I'd get this opportunity." Hatchet whispered. Hatchet drove his sword straight into Alden's stomach. Alden's eyes bulged as he reached out and gripped onto Hatchet's arm. "But thank you for providing it, you old hag." Hatchet pulled his sword out and pushed Alden back. Blood splattered onto the ground. Alden stumbled. Hatchet sheathed his sword before turning and walking away.
Father Alden slowly reached down at the large gash in the middle of his stomach. The robes around his wound were quickly becoming soaked with blood. Alden gave one final look at the other monks who watched in horror. "Do not let hatred blind you. Be brave..." Alden turned and looked up at the mediation area, as if he knew the two heirs were hiding there. "Your destiny is yours to make..." before he collapsed lifelessly onto the ground.
"NOOO!" Izzy screamed.
Afterword:
Thanks for reading. We hope you liked it. Part 2 coming soon.
Please leave a review.
Till Next Time - Nyhlus and BJ
