AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Surprise! Another chapter is up in less than 48 hours! That hasn't happened in forever!

I wish to send a special shoutout to Skales Jnr, who recently faved me as an author. Thank you so much!

And a big heartful of thanks goes to MasterofCupcakes, Loki God of Evil, Willow Falk, MMM, and StoryMaker7 for commenting on the previous chapter!

In the chapter below, a meeting between two particular people, which many of you have been waiting for, will finally happen!...


Chapter 39 - Christmas Day in Kryptarium Prison

Kai felt very alone on this gray Christmas Day.

For most of the past seven months, while he and Jay were away from their home and from the women who loved them, the friends had kept up each other's spirits when the atrocities of war were taking their toll. The cowboys reminded each other of what they were fighting for and encouraged each other to keep going.

When the cowboys were captured and sent here to Kryptarium Prison, they kept each other company and calmed each other down when fears of never seeing home again would surface.

But now several days had passed since Jay had left on a wagon, being carried away from Kryptarium with other lucky prisoners who were now savoring freedom in a Christmas Day exchange of prisoners of war.

In the late afternoon hours on this winter day, Kai sat by himself in a corner of the prison yard on the cold ground, staring at a clump of dirt as he contemplated his circumstances. It seemed that the Purples had the upper hand in the war, for new prisoners were being brought into the camp every day.

He rubbed his arms in an effort to keep warm while he recalled how eager and proud he had been to join Company C of the 5th Ninjago Volunteer Cavalry Regiment. It was a chance to defend the freedom of his homeland from those who wanted to bring back tyranny to Ninjago.

And what had his efforts gained him? Confinement in squalid conditions with questionable smells, tasteless food, inadequate warmth, and harsh treatment from the guards, with Sergeant Brossette being the lone exception.

And now he no longer had his horse, his gun, his wedding ring, his hat, or the scarf Sam had knitted for him. Even his friend Jay was gone now.

Merry Christmas, indeed.

Kai was so focused on staring at the clump of dirt that he failed to notice that Brossette, the Purple sergeant, had approached him.

"Get up, Smith," Brossette ordered, startling the cowboy. "You're wanted at the registration building for interrogation." Though the Purple soldier spoke gruffly, he winked at the prisoner to acknowledge the secret friendship the two had begun to form, a friendship which had to be concealed from other soldiers and prisoners, for if it were revealed, they both would be punished.

Though the presence of the sergeant did not alarm Kai, the message did. "What?!" he exclaimed. "What could I possibly need to be interrogated for?" At least Colonel Doolverr had reportedly left the prison camp for a weeklong holiday furlough, he reminded himself. Kai's foot was healing, but the effects of the burn from the Purple officer last month still lingered.

"I don't question the orders," the sergeant growled, relishing his opportunity to play the role of a mean soldier as he nudged Kai with the barrel of his rifle. "Get moving!"

Kai slowly stood up and pulled his winter slicker tighter around him against the cold as Brossette, using the gun barrel, guided him through the prison yard, past the prisoner shanties, and out of the stockade gate. Kai took a few deep breaths as they walked toward the registration building. The air seemed fresher, now that they were outside the stockade.

"So who wants to interrogate me?" Kai asked, continuing to walk in front of the Purple guard.

"Major Amber," Sergeant Brossette replied.

"Mmph," Kai said as he mulled over the name. "Haven't heard of his name yet."

The Purple guard laughed. "I think you'll find that an interrogation by Major Amber will be to your liking."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kai demanded to know.

Brossette chuckled. "You'll see," he said as they approached the building.

The door to the registration building was guarded by another Purple soldier. "Bringing prisoner Smith to see Major Amber," Brossette told the guard.

"Major Amber is not here yet, but you are expected," the guard replied, looking at Kai. "Proceed."

Sergeant Brossette guided Kai inside the door of the building and closed it behind them. Kai had expected to see a large room bare of furniture, except for two plain wooden chairs, which was how he remembered it from a few weeks ago.

There still was a fire in the fireplace, as before, and there were two wooden chairs. But now, the chairs were placed at a dining table topped with two lit candelabra, two place settings of china and silverware accompanied by festive red linen napkins, and a bottle of wine with two wine glasses.

"Wha-what's going on here?" the confused prisoner stammered.

"Just take off your coat and sit down, and laissez les bons temps rouler," the Purple guard shrugged. "Let the good times roll! I'm going to leave now, but..."

"...I'll be standing guard right outside, so don't try any funny business!" Brossette suddenly shouted in order to show off his fake ruthlessness to soldiers outside who were within earshot. And with a grin and a tip of his cap, Brossette opened the door and exited the building, leaving Kai alone in the room.

As directed, Kai slowly removed his winter slicker and draped it over the coat rack by the fireplace as he looked over his surroundings and tried to make sense of what was going on.

The door opened again. Two soldiers brought in trays of food with wonderful aromas, the likes of which Kai hadn't inhaled in months. His mouth watered.

The two soldiers quickly set the food neatly on the table. When their trays were empty, they turned to a woman who had followed them in but had remained at the door. Kai had been so focused on the food that he hadn't noticed her at first. She was dressed in Purple army attire appropriate for a female. She wore the hood of her purple cloak over her head, obscuring her face.

"We'll be standing by in the kitchen building if you need anything, Major Amber," one soldier said as they both saluted her.

That's Major Amber? Kai thought to himself.

The woman wordlessly saluted them back, and after they departed, she closed the door behind them.

Turning to the prisoner, she said, "Merry Christmas, Kai."

That voice! Kai thought. It's...it's…

The major removed the hood of her cloak, revealing herself to be the woman who turned down Kai's proposal of marriage nearly a year and a half ago.

...Skylor!