Kurt sat in the corner of their cell, thinking quietly to himself as
he bit his lower lip. Looking at the ceiling, he narrowed his eyes and
slowly stood up, trying to find some kind of crack or fault somewhere. When
he found none, he went to the door and ran his fingers down it, trying to
find something. Finding nothing, he snarled and kicked the door hard,
crying out and hopping around, holding his throbbing foot.
"Verdammtr mist! Das schmerzt!" he howled, sitting down with a thud. Raven shook her head slightly, rolling her eyes a bit at her headstrong son. Sitting down beside him, she looked from his foot to the door with a sigh and another shake of her head.
"Of course it hurts. Your foot was no match for a metal door, Kurt." She said. "Why don't you calm down and wait? There is nothing we can do until Graydon or someone comes in here and gets us." She advised him calmly. Sighing, Kurt let go of his foot.
"Vell vhat do ve do vhen someone does come here to take us to zhe king?" he asked. "Are ve going to attack or simply give up und let zhem lead us around vith zhese verdammt collars. Maybe ve could help zhem pick out leashes too, ja?"
"Attack with what, Kurt?" Raven asked, getting irritated. " We don't have our weapons and we can't use our powers because of these collars." Raven said. "I think we need to cooperate with them for as long as we have to before we start planning on fighting them." Sighing softly, Kurt finally nodded.
"All right, zhen. Ve vill go along vith your plan of letting zhem lead us along, but vhen I see an opening to attack und get us avay, I am taking it und zhat is a promise!" he said.
"Oh please, do start a fight with me. I would just love to see if your skin smells like burnt fur when I ignite it." Stepping inside, St. John smiled at Kurt, a small flame the size of a coin rolling between his fingers back and forth. Growling, Kurt got up and was about to charge when Raven grabbed him by the arms and pulled him back swiftly.
"Smart move, Raven. You don't want your son getting killed before he gets to the king now do you?" St. John laughed, the flame turning into a skull and crossbones over his hand.
"Vhat are you talking about?" Kurt asked, his eyes narrowed and his teeth bared. St. John shrugged, closing his hand around the flame, extinguishing it calmly. He looked over at Raven and he winked.
"I'm not here to start a fight with either one of you. I'm only supposed to get Kurt and bring him to the throne room to meet with the king." He explained, smiling nastily. "He told me that if I met resistance, to kill you as slowly as possible to make Kurt cooperate." He added with a shrug. He turned to Kurt and shrugged. "Are you ready to go now?" he asked.
Looking at Raven for a moment, Kurt slowly stood up and turned to St. John, his eyes still narrowed dangerously. He nodded faintly and walked out of the room, keeping his eyes on St. John the whole time as he closed and relocked the door.
"All right then, Kurt. Get yourself up those stairs nice and easy, and I won't have to hurt you." St. John instructed, using a little flame from a torch to make a spear. He pointed the blade at Kurt's chest and waited for him to get moving. Growling softly in his throat, Kurt turned around and headed up the steps.
When they reached the top, Kurt found the halls almost packed with armed guards, all of them alert and ready with their blades and spears. Cocking an eyebrow, he looked over at St. John.
"Vorried I met try to attack you und zhat your fire vill not be enough?" he taunted, scoffing softly. St. John shrugged, pointing the way to the throne room.
"It pays to be cautious with rebels like you." He answered. "Now please, we must not keep the king waiting for too long." He added, prodding his back lightly. Wincing faintly, Kurt started to walk.
"I have one question though, mein freund." He said, tilting his head to one side. "Vhat is a Gifted person like you doing vorking for Graydon? You know he is planning on killing us all." He said. St. John snorted, curling his lip scornfully as he pricked Kurt's back deeper this time.
"Don't ever try to put me in the same category as yourself." He snapped. "Unlike you and the other fools, I know how Graydon works. All you have to do is offer your services to him, and you'll be on the safe side when the line is drawn in the sand." He answered.
Opening the doors, he stepped back and motioned for Kurt to go inside. Kurt laughed softly, not moving anywhere near the door.
"Vhat's zhe matter? You don't vant to go inside vith me?" he asked.
"You're the only one allowed in there, smart ass." St. John snapped. "Now just get in there before I set your feet on fire!" he warned, his eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. Shrugging, Kurt sauntered into the room and watched as St. John closed the door. Turning around, he saw Graydon standing in front of his throne, watching him with amused eyes.
"Vhat is zhis about, Graydon?" he asked, walking up to him slowly, his arms spread out slightly. "Do you vant to try und threaten me? Try all you vant, you don't scare me." He said.
"Actually, I called you here to give you a proposition I think you'll like." Graydon answered, shrugging slightly. Kurt cocked an eyebrow, before he laughed slightly.
"Oh ja, of course. Ve all know how understanding you are, Graydon. Vhy don't you stop lying und tell me vhat you vant instead of beating around zhe bush so much?" he demanded. He swiftly got into a fighting position as Graydon turned around to get something.
"Don't worry." Graydon said, showing him that all he had reached for was a bottle of elderberry wine and two glasses. He handed Kurt and glass and filled them both. Kurt watched him drink from his glass and he snorted.
"What's the matter?" Graydon asked, his face a picture of innocence. Kurt held out his glass, raising his eyebrows.
"Do I look foolish to you?" Kurt asked, tilting his head to one side. "You capture me und my friends in cells, you are known for murdering Gifted people for fun, und now you offer me vine? Hmm, I could never possibly zhink zhe glass vas poisoned." He explained, placing the glass in Graydon's hand. "I need you to drink all around zhe rim first, bitte." Graydon chuckled, sipping around half the rim before he spoke.
"You're a smart man, Kurt. I think it will be a pleasure doing business with you." He said, finishing off the rest of the rim. Refilling the glass, he handed it back to Kurt. Shrugging, Kurt took a light sip, barely even tasting the wine in his mouth.
"I am cautious around predators." He said simply. "Now you vere talking about a deal?" he prodded, cocking an eyebrow slightly.
"Yes, I hear you are skilled with the sword." Graydon said, his eyes sparkling with unknown intent. Kurt shrugged, sipping his minimal amount once more.
"Ja, I am pretty good vith rapiers." He said, shrugging. He narrowed his eyes faintly. "Vhy?" he asked.
"I have been known to be able to use the bastard sword with a skill myself. Five former masters trained me in fact. My deal is this; you and I will have a sword fight. . ." Kurt burst into laughter before he even got to finish the sentence.
"You und I? A sword fight? Do you take me for a fool?" he asked. "You vill cheat somehow und kill me zhe first chance you get!" he said, curling his lip slightly.
"Of course I won't! When it comes to sword fights, I am very serious. Now, if you win the fight, you and your friends go free, and I stop killing your people. If you lose, you must make your mother's friend cooperate with my wishes." Graydon said seriously.
"How do I know you vill keep your vord on zhis?" Kurt asked, looking into his glass and swirling the crimson liquid around. He looked up when he heard metal clattering together, and he saw Graydon holding the keys to his collar.
"When we fight, your collar will be off and you will be able to use your powers." Graydon assured him, smiling slowly. Looking at the keys to his collar, Kurt thought quietly to himself the odds of him being able to teleport and get as many of them out of the castle as he could before Graydon's army got to him. The odds weren't so good. Narrowing his eyes, he calculated the odds of him beating Graydon in a dual, and the odds were much higher with that one.
Slowly, Kurt returned Graydon's smile, downing the wine this time.
"You have a deal." He agreed.
"Verdammtr mist! Das schmerzt!" he howled, sitting down with a thud. Raven shook her head slightly, rolling her eyes a bit at her headstrong son. Sitting down beside him, she looked from his foot to the door with a sigh and another shake of her head.
"Of course it hurts. Your foot was no match for a metal door, Kurt." She said. "Why don't you calm down and wait? There is nothing we can do until Graydon or someone comes in here and gets us." She advised him calmly. Sighing, Kurt let go of his foot.
"Vell vhat do ve do vhen someone does come here to take us to zhe king?" he asked. "Are ve going to attack or simply give up und let zhem lead us around vith zhese verdammt collars. Maybe ve could help zhem pick out leashes too, ja?"
"Attack with what, Kurt?" Raven asked, getting irritated. " We don't have our weapons and we can't use our powers because of these collars." Raven said. "I think we need to cooperate with them for as long as we have to before we start planning on fighting them." Sighing softly, Kurt finally nodded.
"All right, zhen. Ve vill go along vith your plan of letting zhem lead us along, but vhen I see an opening to attack und get us avay, I am taking it und zhat is a promise!" he said.
"Oh please, do start a fight with me. I would just love to see if your skin smells like burnt fur when I ignite it." Stepping inside, St. John smiled at Kurt, a small flame the size of a coin rolling between his fingers back and forth. Growling, Kurt got up and was about to charge when Raven grabbed him by the arms and pulled him back swiftly.
"Smart move, Raven. You don't want your son getting killed before he gets to the king now do you?" St. John laughed, the flame turning into a skull and crossbones over his hand.
"Vhat are you talking about?" Kurt asked, his eyes narrowed and his teeth bared. St. John shrugged, closing his hand around the flame, extinguishing it calmly. He looked over at Raven and he winked.
"I'm not here to start a fight with either one of you. I'm only supposed to get Kurt and bring him to the throne room to meet with the king." He explained, smiling nastily. "He told me that if I met resistance, to kill you as slowly as possible to make Kurt cooperate." He added with a shrug. He turned to Kurt and shrugged. "Are you ready to go now?" he asked.
Looking at Raven for a moment, Kurt slowly stood up and turned to St. John, his eyes still narrowed dangerously. He nodded faintly and walked out of the room, keeping his eyes on St. John the whole time as he closed and relocked the door.
"All right then, Kurt. Get yourself up those stairs nice and easy, and I won't have to hurt you." St. John instructed, using a little flame from a torch to make a spear. He pointed the blade at Kurt's chest and waited for him to get moving. Growling softly in his throat, Kurt turned around and headed up the steps.
When they reached the top, Kurt found the halls almost packed with armed guards, all of them alert and ready with their blades and spears. Cocking an eyebrow, he looked over at St. John.
"Vorried I met try to attack you und zhat your fire vill not be enough?" he taunted, scoffing softly. St. John shrugged, pointing the way to the throne room.
"It pays to be cautious with rebels like you." He answered. "Now please, we must not keep the king waiting for too long." He added, prodding his back lightly. Wincing faintly, Kurt started to walk.
"I have one question though, mein freund." He said, tilting his head to one side. "Vhat is a Gifted person like you doing vorking for Graydon? You know he is planning on killing us all." He said. St. John snorted, curling his lip scornfully as he pricked Kurt's back deeper this time.
"Don't ever try to put me in the same category as yourself." He snapped. "Unlike you and the other fools, I know how Graydon works. All you have to do is offer your services to him, and you'll be on the safe side when the line is drawn in the sand." He answered.
Opening the doors, he stepped back and motioned for Kurt to go inside. Kurt laughed softly, not moving anywhere near the door.
"Vhat's zhe matter? You don't vant to go inside vith me?" he asked.
"You're the only one allowed in there, smart ass." St. John snapped. "Now just get in there before I set your feet on fire!" he warned, his eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. Shrugging, Kurt sauntered into the room and watched as St. John closed the door. Turning around, he saw Graydon standing in front of his throne, watching him with amused eyes.
"Vhat is zhis about, Graydon?" he asked, walking up to him slowly, his arms spread out slightly. "Do you vant to try und threaten me? Try all you vant, you don't scare me." He said.
"Actually, I called you here to give you a proposition I think you'll like." Graydon answered, shrugging slightly. Kurt cocked an eyebrow, before he laughed slightly.
"Oh ja, of course. Ve all know how understanding you are, Graydon. Vhy don't you stop lying und tell me vhat you vant instead of beating around zhe bush so much?" he demanded. He swiftly got into a fighting position as Graydon turned around to get something.
"Don't worry." Graydon said, showing him that all he had reached for was a bottle of elderberry wine and two glasses. He handed Kurt and glass and filled them both. Kurt watched him drink from his glass and he snorted.
"What's the matter?" Graydon asked, his face a picture of innocence. Kurt held out his glass, raising his eyebrows.
"Do I look foolish to you?" Kurt asked, tilting his head to one side. "You capture me und my friends in cells, you are known for murdering Gifted people for fun, und now you offer me vine? Hmm, I could never possibly zhink zhe glass vas poisoned." He explained, placing the glass in Graydon's hand. "I need you to drink all around zhe rim first, bitte." Graydon chuckled, sipping around half the rim before he spoke.
"You're a smart man, Kurt. I think it will be a pleasure doing business with you." He said, finishing off the rest of the rim. Refilling the glass, he handed it back to Kurt. Shrugging, Kurt took a light sip, barely even tasting the wine in his mouth.
"I am cautious around predators." He said simply. "Now you vere talking about a deal?" he prodded, cocking an eyebrow slightly.
"Yes, I hear you are skilled with the sword." Graydon said, his eyes sparkling with unknown intent. Kurt shrugged, sipping his minimal amount once more.
"Ja, I am pretty good vith rapiers." He said, shrugging. He narrowed his eyes faintly. "Vhy?" he asked.
"I have been known to be able to use the bastard sword with a skill myself. Five former masters trained me in fact. My deal is this; you and I will have a sword fight. . ." Kurt burst into laughter before he even got to finish the sentence.
"You und I? A sword fight? Do you take me for a fool?" he asked. "You vill cheat somehow und kill me zhe first chance you get!" he said, curling his lip slightly.
"Of course I won't! When it comes to sword fights, I am very serious. Now, if you win the fight, you and your friends go free, and I stop killing your people. If you lose, you must make your mother's friend cooperate with my wishes." Graydon said seriously.
"How do I know you vill keep your vord on zhis?" Kurt asked, looking into his glass and swirling the crimson liquid around. He looked up when he heard metal clattering together, and he saw Graydon holding the keys to his collar.
"When we fight, your collar will be off and you will be able to use your powers." Graydon assured him, smiling slowly. Looking at the keys to his collar, Kurt thought quietly to himself the odds of him being able to teleport and get as many of them out of the castle as he could before Graydon's army got to him. The odds weren't so good. Narrowing his eyes, he calculated the odds of him beating Graydon in a dual, and the odds were much higher with that one.
Slowly, Kurt returned Graydon's smile, downing the wine this time.
"You have a deal." He agreed.