Author's Note:

Greetings from Arizona once again. This chapter is all about our favorite thief, and his task while the others are finishing up side quests. It's OC, so be sure to skip if you aren't a fan. Enjoy!

-Tangent

As it did every day, the morning sun pierced the windows of Thais Castle, casting beams down onto the pillows of dreamers. One such lump of sheets stirred uncomfortable as the rays struck him, and Jack's eyes opened blearily in the dim light. Somebody had released his curtains, a fact he was not altogether pleased about. He tried to ignore it, but after a minute or two, threw off his sheets and rose from his bed, hair matted and tangled.

Grumbling and blinking slowly in an attempt to wake up, the boy stumbled into the washroom. When he emerged, he was wearing a plain, if admittedly nice, set of clothes Ean had purchased for him in Happily Ever After. The shirt was patterned with multiple colors, while the trousers were a soothing tone of gray. He left his pack in his room, but kept his knives and lockpicks in his pockets as usual.

The hallways of the castle were mostly empty, as many of the inhabitants were either still in bed or already going about their business. He and Ava had arrived the previous day, with the ship moored on the coast.

"Master Jack?" The voice was unfamiliar, and the young warrior turned to see an elderly servant hurrying towards him.

"Yes?" He said curiously.

"Mistress Iya wished me to deliver this message for her." The servant continued, proffering a folded piece of paper. He took it, and sent the man on his way with a brief thanks. The note was brief:

Jack,

Ean and I are flying to Candar with Rye and Emma to deliver some items for Ella, as well as finish some obligations. Do keep out of trouble while we're away, won't you? Uthar might have something for you to do.

-Iya

The ex-thief smiled slowly as he placed the note in one of his waist pouches. The elf clearly meant well with her letter, and he appreciated the gesture.

"Only question is, what do I do?" The teenager murmured as he walked down the halls. Ava would likely be going back to her ship to oversee any repairs, and Nicholas would probably be in the medical wing. Gavin, he didn't know.

Glancing up from his reverie, Jack found himself facing an innocuous set of double doors, and he grinned. His feet had carried him to the kitchen without thinking.

I am hungry. Couldn't hurt to stop in. The boy pushed the door open, and entered the vast space. It smelled of baking bread, spices, and a thousand other smells he could not place. Immediately opposite him, an elderly woman was evidently struggling to reach something that had been placed on a high shelf.

"Here." He said immediately, and retrieved the box of spices for her.

"Oh, thank you dearie." The old servant said with a smile, turning to face him as he placed the box on a nearby counter. "Do you need something?"

"Well, I was looking for the really good smell coming from in here. Do you think you could spare anything?"

"Of course, child. Come." The servant moved with surprising speed to the other side of the kitchen and opened a large metal box. Inside were a dozen loaves of bread, kept warm by the ingenious technology. "Here, here. Take a loaf or two. A growing boy like you needs to eat. Are you a soldier?"

"Not quite." Jack said after a moment, accepting the bread gratefully. "But thank you very much, ma'am."

"No problem, sweetie. Take care, now!" She waved him out of the kitchen, smiling fondly as the door closed behind him.

I should probably find Uthar now, see what I can do. The loaves, tucked into a bag over a shoulder, teased him with their smell as he walked through the corridors.

Thankfully, a passing knight recognized him for who he was, and told him that Uthar was out overseeing military matters in the camp. As Jack passed through the gates of the castle and into the town, he unwrapped the first loaf and bit off a large chunk. It was quite delicious.

There was a certain peace in walking through the city without being recognized. Ean and Iya were the famous ones, but the teenager could blend right in with all the other youths in the streets. With his knives and tools concealed, nobody would be the wiser.

Guess my instincts as a thief haven't left me. I suppose I should be grateful that I know how to blend with the crowd. Indeed, the streets of Thais were packed, as today was the sixth day of the week, and thus, the market day. The young man opted to not pass through the busiest streets, but took a longer path that circled around to the gates.

He found Uthar within the command tent, and was admitted by the sharp-eyed sentries outside. The ruler of Thais was in conference with several other individuals, all of whom were leaning over a large map of the world. Pins represented a path, and Jack guessed that they were establishing supply routes for the coming war.

"Gentleman, I propose a break." The prince said, seeing Jack enter the room. "Shall we return to this in fifteen minutes?" The generals nodded assent and exited the tent, each looking both harried and relieved at the same time. Uthar sank into a chair, rubbing his temples. "This blasted war will be the death of me."

"Busy?" The teenager asked with a small smile, and the man chuckled. His sword, leaning against a nearby post, fell over from the vibrations.

"You could say so. Iya told you to come find me, then?" Jack nodded.

"If you need anything done, I'll help." Uthar's eyes flicked towards the sentries outside, and his voice fell to a near-whisper.

"As a matter of fact, there is something you can do. But it needs to be kept quiet. I know you excelled at that in your past... profession, shall we say." The teenager raised an eyebrow.

"What's so important that nobody can know?" Uthar moved over the table, and Jack joined him. A map of Thais was unraveled, with several red circles scattered across the city.

"Our storehouses are being sabotaged by something unknown. Poison, fires..." He gestured to the circles, which appeared to be large buildings in and around the city. "As you've seen, construction is skyrocketing her, and we've have to build more and more outside Thais."

"And that's when it started." Jack guessed, and the prince nodded grimly.

"None of my men have been able to catch the damn person, but I can't start an all-out manhunt for them. All they'd do is slip away, and we'd lose them."

"Someone from Shaenlir?"

"Presumably, although there's no proof." Uthar marked several points on the map in blue, and handed it to Jack. "Those are the new storehouses that haven't been hit yet. Our saboteur would probably go there. In fact, I've made it a point to have extra supplies transferred to them."

"A trap." Jack murmured, inspecting the map. "I can look into it, but..." He gestured to his waist, and the prince seemed to understand.

"I'm not asking you to fight. Only to find who it is, and get some hard evidence. As a matter of fact, I forbid you from doing anything reckless like that. Ean and Iya would murder me!"

"I'll do it." The young boy said, placing the folded map in his pouch. "I assume this is to be kept secret from everyone?" Uthar nodded.

"Report to either me or Ella, okay? And be safe."

"I'll try." Jack grinned. "I'll go now, scout out the locations." The prince nodded, and Jack exited the tent, a small smile on his face.

This should be interesting. I haven't done anything like this in months. He nodded nonchalantly to the sentries and set off through the rows of tents, mind racing.

Let's see, a few of those warehouses were on the far side of the camp, tucked up against the walls. Some were inside the walls, on the edge of town, and there was a few near the castle. But where to go?

He nearly bumped into a soldier, and apologized quickly as he stepped around the young man. Amusingly, his feet carried him of their own accord, and he found himself heading for the warehouses closest to the walls, outside of camp.

Makes sense. Don't draw too much attention early in the day. It leaves time to cover the evidence and erase your trail. I did the same thing many times. The ex-thief grinned as he remembered the job. It had been one of his best, after all .The guard had been so busy covering his theft earlier that they had left a much more valuable store unguarded.

But what is this person after? It can't be food, unless they're taking some before destroying the rest. No, it's likely some Shaenlir loyalist. A spy, maybe, planted way before this war started.

He rounded the corner but ducked back behind it immediately with a hiss.

Damn. I should have remembered the guards. There were several, all arrayed in a loose formation around the blocky buildings. Although they didn't seem particularly alert, Jack knew better than to let his guard down.

Still, if I can see it... so can the saboteur. Moving quietly, as was second nature for him, the teenager slipped behind the first of the warehouses. It was plain, made of wood posts and metal walls to keep out dust. The roof was more wood, and he could see several windows at the top that provided both light and ventilation. The building was roughly fifty feet long, and nearly as wide.

Curiously, there were doors on both sides of the storage units. After a moment, Jack figured it was to allow for faster loading and unloading.

Fools. There's no guards on this side! The walls were a few feet away, but the thief knew that it was a rudimentary defense at best for someone who had evaded detection for so long. It might even help them get away if they have climbing tools. His heart began to beat quicker as he moved down the row of identical structures.

At the third, Jack stopped in his tracks. The lock had been broken, and was lying in the grass a few feet away.

I knew it. Instinctively, he palmed a knife as he crept closer, ears straining for any noise. It was quiet.

Then, he thought he heard a faint scraping noise, like the lid of a box being removed.

No time to waste. I'm going in. Carefully, Jack pressed him palm against the door and pushed it open.

The inside of the warehouse was significantly darker, even at midday. Shadows cast by piled of crates loomed over the floor. Shelves of metal held smaller, longer packages that no doubt contained dried foods. The noise had ceased, and the silence pressed down upon him like a weight.

Slowly, he crept forward, knowing that the other door had to be locked still, which meant that the only way out was behind him.

Where'd he go? As he rounded a shelf, he saw an open box with a lid lying on the floor. The wheat within had been scattered all over the ground, but there was no sign of the perpetrator. As he stepped closer, Jack felt a growing sense of foreboding. Something about the situation didn't add up.

If he had been even a fraction slower, he would have died. Sensing the movement, the boy spun desperately, bringing his knife up to block a blade that would have pierced his back. He deflected it as Ava had taught him, and rolled away as a black shape hit the floor with a thud.

He got the jump on me. As the ex-thief came back to his feet, still holding a knife, he beheld his attacker for the first time. A man, dressed in dark clothes that covered his whole body and face, hissed at him and hefted his shot sword again. It gleamed in the dull light, and Jack gulped.

"What do you want?" He said, putting as much authority into his shaky voice as he could. The figure said nothing, but merely lunged at him again, sword thrusting outwards. Jack parried and tried to disarm the man, but he was too slow. A foot crashed into his chest and sent him flying into a metal shelf. His head collided with a bar, and stars flashed in his vision.

Too slow... too slow...

He expected the man to kill him, but no blade flew at him.

"A child." The voice was unrecognizable, and Jack staggered to his feet, holding his knife out in front of him. "Playing games."

"I didn't know." He lied, a plan forming in his head. If I get closer... "Please, let me go." The man said nothing for a moment.

"This time, you live. But to get you out of my way..." With a violent movement, The man produced a bottle and smashed it on the scattered wheat. There was a boom, and a flash of red as fire sprang into existence, consuming the straw hungrily.

"Stop!" Jack shouted, but the figure was already leaping away, bounding up the wall and through one of the windows. A split second later, he was gone.

"What was that? Check the warehouses!" The cry came from outside, and the teenager leapt to his feet.

I have to get out of here! If they see me in here, I'm done! He ran for the back door, but heard footsteps coming towards that entrance as well. With no choice, he ripped open a box and dove inside, squishing himself inside the powdery substance as the guards ripped open the doors.

"Fire!"

"Get water! Hurry!" Orders were barked, and the men streamed into the warehouse. Jack crouched lower in his container, nursing a headache and thoroughly miserable.

When he managed to slip out an hour later, he was covered head-to-toe in flour, and his head still throbbed.

Damn it! I had him! What do I do now? He knew that he would merely wait for the man to strike again, but with no clues on his next location, it would be nigh impossible. Plus, the man already knew about him, so he would be even more on guard.

What to do... I promised Uthar I would help! Still, the boy felt as though anything he did now would make the matters worse.

Okay, okay... focus on what I know. His thoughts raced as Jack rounded another tent and headed back towards the main thoroughfare. The soldiers would have no reason to suspect him in the short term, and he could claim he'd been nearby and got caught up in the fire.

Uthar was right... he was targeting the warehouses that had extra supplies moved in. So he must be somebody with the ability to hear about orders from the higher-ups. Specifically, he knew Uthar had ordered the food to be moved. He just didn't suspect a trap. Maybe I can use that against him.

A plan had begun to form, and Jack smiled.

Maybe there is a way after all. I'll need to send a letter, though. People pointed at him as he passed through the gates, still coated in powder. And I need to get out of these clothes.

The afternoon came and went, but Jack did not move from his spot where he skulked in the back alleys of Thais. He'd managed to get cleaned up at a local inn, as well as purchase some of the things he needed for the next stage of his plan.

Thank goodness for all the slaying we did. We're loaded. The shopkeeper had been reluctant to sell such items to an obviously young teenager, but showing him the purse full of gold had been a sufficient distraction. I couldn't get any of this in the castle. Too risky. For that same reason, Jack had also not bathed there, for fear that his plan would reach the ears of his target.

For what felt like the millionth time, he reviewed what little info he had.

He said he needed me as a scapegoat, so he must be planning on striking again. I bet I know where, too. With any luck, he'll be feeling extra confident right now. His finger nimbly braided the rope dangling between his palms, an action he had performed hundreds of times. So I'll strike again, when he least expects it.

As the sun set, the teenager inspected his equipment. A metal chain, oiled for discretion, and his rope were the most important tools. His knives were concealed on his hip, while the other items went into the pack. Last was a bundle of crystals, carefully wrapped so as to avoid premature detonations. He checked that his blades were sharp, before checking on his final weapon: the knife from the volcano. It had the ability to return to his hand after thrown, and he knew it would be useful against the man, who obviously had some skill with weapons.

I forgot it earlier, but I won't this time. He checked everything one las time, then set off silently through the side streets of Thais.

It took him fifteen minutes to reach his destination, a roof that overlooked the large storage building on the other side of the street. It was the warehouse closest to the castle, and thus, the one that did not have guards actively guarding it. Whether this was an indication that his plan was in effect, he did not know. Hunkering down, the boy waited, his eyes barely protruding over the tiles. It was uncomfortable, but he was no stranger to the feeling.

An hour passed, and the moon began to glide across the sky, accompanied by its many stars. The occasional patrol walked by, and he could hear the noise coming from a nearby bar, but it was otherwise quiet.

Then, he saw a lone torch approaching from the direction of the castle gates. It was a soldier, spear gleaming in the darkness as he moved closer to the warehouse.

"A patrol?" He muttered. The man moved closer, but then, in a sudden move, turned towards the warehouse.

That sneaky bastard! The intruder was disguised as one of the patrolmen! As the man bent to undo the lock on the door, another voice called out.

"Hey! What are you doing?" The fake soldier stiffened, but turned amiably to face the oncoming patrol. Two men, both armed with torch and sword, were approaching from another street.

"Hey, fellows." His voice was friendly, giving them nothing to suspect. "Quartermaster David decided I wasn't appropriately grateful for his time, so he ordered me to take inventory of this entire warehouse. Said it was 'vital work'. You know how he is." Jack didn't know the person in question, but from the constable's reactions, they did.

"Oh, that old windbag?" One of them said, chuckling. "He really did a number on you!"

"I know!" The man groaned, laughing. "So now I've got to do this before morning, or he'll probably do even worse."

"Man, that sucks." The other said. "Well, don't let us keep you." The saboteur saluted in a sardonic fashion as the two continued on down the street. The lock slipped to the ground, and the unknown man slipped into the depths of the warehouse.

I didn't expect that, but too late for me to turn back now. Jack waited another five minutes to be sure, then slipped down from the roof quietly, and dashed across the square. Hopefully the patrol had been the last, or he was in trouble.

As he reached the sturdy doors of the building, he paused to pull the chains silently from his pack and looped them through and around the door handles. The lock followed, along with a hinge that would prevent the thief inside from opening them, hopefully.

Still, can't leave him in there till morning. He'll get out. Only one thing to do now. He knew from Uthar's notes that there were ventilation openings, but they were a lot smaller due to being inside the city. He can't fit through, but I can. Moving around to the side of the warehouse, Jack used his rope to climb onto the roof, trying to make a minimum of noise.

Then it was across the metal slats and through the small vent in the roof. His clothes, which he had swapped for darker ones, made him virtually invisible under the night sky.

Here goes nothing.

The inside of the warehouse was much darker than the previous one, and filled with metal shelves that stretched all the way to the doors. Boxes of all sizes were piled everywhere, and there were no windows at all. A torch cast shadows across the room from where it was mounted near the door.

And there was breathing, and a mutter.

"This is the last of it." The man had shed his armor, and was leaning over a shelf, pouring something onto the ground. A bitter, acrid smell reached Jack's nose, and he twitched.

Nitro! It's a flammable liquid that will burn this whole building down! Why's he using so much of it? Slowly, the teenager moved across the shelf tops, making no noise as he bore down upon the man. He couldn't knock him out with his gear, and he didn't want to kill him. So he needed a distraction, in order for his plan to go into effect. As he stood above the man, who was apparently lost in thought, he calculated all the ways his plan could go wrong. Then, before he could back, he leapt down to land behind the man with a thud.

He whirled immediately, eyes spinning to find his attacker. Instead, the man saw nothing but a slim teenager, dressed in dark clothes, and holding a blade in each hand.

"I would put that down if I were you."

The intruder was a handsome man, if his features had not been so contorted with rage. Blond hair and green eyes framed a strong jawline, and accompanied a muscular torso and legs.

"Wait, I know you!" He did know the man. He was one of Uthar's captains!

"You!" The captain spat, drawing his sword immediately. "How did you escape?"

"Escape?" Jack asked deliberately, grinning at the man. "Whatever do you mean?"

"You were arrested!" The soldier cried, pointing his blade at Jack as they paced around each other. "I heard it! The men were talking about it in the taverns. They said the saboteur had been caught!" Jack laughed mercilessly.

"Like I thought, you had to be somebody who could get intelligence directly form the source. What better way than the military?" Fear had begun to show in the man's eyes, but his hand did not waver. "I set a trap and you fell for it. The knights are on their way now."

His enemy lunged, but Jack had already stepped out of range. They were in front of the doors now, and the captain pushed against them subtly. They did not move. His snarl became a rictus of anger, and he looked quite possessed.

"Don't you see? You're trapped. Give up, and they'll let you live."

"Never! I will die before I let them take me!" The man roared, and his hand flew towards the wall. A split second later, he had seized the torch and flung it into the puddle of liquid. Time seemed to slow, and Jack thought he heard Ean's voice in his head.

Come with us, and we'll take care of you. I promise. His hand blurred, and a knife sank into the shaft of the torch, pinning it to the wall, firmly out of reach of the explosive liquid.

"I wasn't asking, Captain. Put the sword down. You don't need to die here!"

"I live..." His attacker growled, his words guttural. "Only to serve my queen. If I die, I'm taking you with me!" He raised his sword and charged and Jack with a howl.

I won't let you! Jack deflected the thrust down into the floor and sprang back, flicking another knife from his waist. It drew a red line across the man's cheeks, and insanity burned in his eyes as he leapt at the teenager again.

It was a delicate dance, one Jack knew could not last forever. He ducked behind shelves and leapt over boxes, even as the man cleaved them in two with his sword. The air was filled with crashes and squealing metal as more and more items fell to the ground. Each thrown knife inflicted cuts on the man, but he shook them off like an angry bull.

What do I do? I need to stop him! Spinning, the boy hurled his rope around the nearest shelf and ran backwards. I hope this works.

"Got you." The spy snarled as Jack's back hit the far wall. "Nowhere to run, little sneak."

"Do you?" He retorted, and flung his last knife. The man dodged, and it struck the shelf behind him.

"I'll kill you for this." His enemy said quietly, sadistic glee shining in his eyes. "And the Snow Queen shall have her revenge!" At that moment, Jack felt only pity.

He's been consumed by his hatred. There's nothing else I can do.

"No." He told him, and as the man's eyes narrowed, he held out his hand. There was an awful ripping sound, and his knife, pulling the rope he had wrapped around the metal pole, returned to his hand. The captain had time for one desperate look before the shelf crashed down upon him, crates and pallets driving him to the floor. He screamed, and Jack fell back against the wall, closing his eyes as the man howled in agony.

It was then that the door to the warehouse flew open, and armored knights stormed into the warehouse. Uthar was among the horde.

"Jack!" He shouted. "Jack!" As they rounded the last shelf, the knights stopped. The man was lying still under the metal shelf, blood leaking from his head. And beyond him, a small form was huddled against the wall, his knife abandoned at his side.

A rush of movement, and Jack opened his eyes to see the person he wanted there more than any other.

"Jack." Ean murmured as he wrapped his arms around the boy. "You're okay." Then the others were there, and the world faded into oblivion.

When he regained consciousness, it was not in a cold and dark warehouse, but the gentle light of Nicholas's clinic. The teenager was lying on what felt like a couch, and he opened his eyes to see several familiar faces.

"Jack?"

"Give him space." Nicholas cut in. "Go on." Ean stepped back immediately, and Jack slowly sat upright. Had he passed out?

"How long-" His voice was shaky, and he stopped, cheeks flaming with embarrassment.

"Just an hour." Nicholas said. "You were suffering from shock." The rest of the party was there as well, relieved looks on their faces.

"Why didn't you wait for us?" Ean said gently. "When Uthar told me..."

"I couldn't." Jack murmured. "He would have escaped." The door opened, and Uthar entered, accompanied by Ella.

"He's awake. How do you feel?"

"Tired, but fine." The boy responded. "Did I... Is he..."

"He's alive." Uthar said. "You didn't kill him, but that shelf broke several of his ribs and gave him a bad concussion. All told, he got off lightly." An invisible weight seemed to be lifted from Jack's chest, and he shuddered with relief.

"I didn't want to hurt him." He blurted, eyes flicking from person to person. "I only wanted to stop him, I didn't mean to-"

"We're not blaming you, Jack." Ella said gently. "That fire, if it had been set, could have killed innocent citizens."

"But I-"

"You did as I asked." Uthar told him. "And you did it far better than I ever thought you could. You have my thanks, Jack."

I didn't kill him. The thought sank in, and the teenager let out a sigh.

"Thanks, Uthar."

"I just need you to tell us what happened, Jack, and then you can rest." The prince continued, taking a seat along with Ella.

"Okay... okay. I found him in the warehouses, but he got away after setting the fire." He shuddered slightly, remembering how close he had come to death. "He... got the drop on me, but let me go because I was a kid. His plan was to frame me, and let the people think the spy had been caught."

"And that's when you sent the letter to me." Uthar said, and Jack nodded.

"Letter?" Rye asked from his position nearby. "What letter?"

"I figured the spy had to be somebody higher up in the chain of command, since they were always able to figure out where to strike next, and where the guard was relaxed. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the captain sent those guards to the first warehouse, knowing they'd lower their guard."

"That...fits with the story." Uthar said. "Go on."

"So my plan was to have Uthar spread the word that the real spy had been caught in the act, to lure the man to the warehouses near the castle tonight. He fell for it, too." Jack felt a glow of satisfaction at the slightly awed look on several of the surrounding faces. "So I chained up the doors and went after him. I told Uthar to disguise his men in the nearby bar, and come if he heard no signal from me."

"The explosives." Ean commented, and the boy smiled.

"If the man didn't show up, I'd have lit them off to tell Uthar he escaped."

"I just don't understand why you went in after him." Iya commented, a frown on her face. "Did you want to fight him, Jack?"

"I guess I did, a little bit..." He admitted. "But I knew he could've escaped if we left him in there, so... what choice did I have?"

"You've done us a great service, son." Uthar said, moving forward to place a hand on his shoulder. "Ravus is being kept under armed guard, even while he is unconscious. We will interrogate him tomorrow."

"And then?" Jack asked quietly. "Will you kill him?"

"I... I don't know." The prince nodded. "He has done much... but if it was all a lie..."

"I want to be there." The teenager declared, making everyone look at him. "When you talk to him. Maybe I can help."

"If that is what you wish." Uthar said, bowing deeply to the boy. "I won't forget this, Jack. Now, go and rest."

"Doctor's orders." Nicholas added, and they laughed. Ean helped Jack to his feet, and accompanied by Iya, they set off through the now deserted halls of the castle.

"I do recall asking you to stay out of trouble." Iya said with a small smile. "Was that too much to ask?"

"I'm always in trouble. And if I'm not, I go find some." The teenager responded. He was exhausted from the events of the day, and all he wanted to do was sleep for a good ten hours. And yet, there was something he needed to ask.

When they arrived at his room, Ean opened the door, but Jack paused halfway through it.

"Ean... When I was in the warehouse..." The elves said nothing, but merely waited for him to speak. "I could have killed him. I had the chance. Do you think I should have?"

"Nobody knows how things could have turned out, only how they did." The elf responded. "Taking a life is a terrible thing, Jack. Do you want that on your heart?"

"No." The teenager said. "But if we're going to war... I might have to."

"I know." Ean said in a near whisper. "But I wish I could spare you." Jack looked up, and was surprised at the vestige of emotions glimmering in the elves eyes. "I know I can't though. So we'll start your training soon."

"Training?"

"Ava taught you basic moves, but you've fought only monsters until now. You need to learn to fight people." The teenager gazed into the eyes of his mentor and nodded.

"Okay." Ean nodded once, and Iya put her arm around his shoulder as Jack disappeared into his room. He did not hear it, but as the elves walked away, Iya murmured:

"He thinks of you like a brother, you know." Ean merely nodded.

"Then I hope I can protect him like one."

The sun had not fully risen when the man stirred, blinking slowly. What had happened? He'd been fighting the boy when something had hit hm from behind, and then... nothing He moved his hands to rub his eyes, but they stopped halfway with a metallic clank. As consciousness returned, the situation began to return.

"Rrgh!" He growled, trying to wrest his hands from their binds, but the metal did not budge. "Release me!" But nobody answered. He was alone, cuffed to a cold stone wall in the dungeons of Thais Castle.

"Awake, are you?" A guard had appeared, hand on his sword. "Good. That'll make this easier, sir." The knight spat the last word at him, but the man did not respond. He knew what his situation was, now. His captor vanished, leaving him to contemplate his confinement in silence.

The solitude lasted an hour or two, he thought. It was hard to tell with only the light of a lantern, several feet underground. Eventually, he heard the clanking of armor and weapons, and a full squad of knights, heavily armored, came into view at the front of his cell.

"On your feet." One of them barked, and he complied mutely. They hauled him out of the cell, cuffing his hands once more, and escorted him up the stone stairs. But instead of going to the throne room, like he had expected, his escort dragged him out the castle and towards the gates. As they passed through into the square, his blood ran cold. There was a platform erected on one side of the square, and a crowd had gathered near it.

"Make way!" One of the knights bellowed as they dragged him up onto the platform. The sky was overcast, with dark clouds swirling overhead. As they chained him to the metal square in the center of the stage, facing the ground, drums sounded behind him. Uthar arrived a moment later, accompanied by two grim-faced warriors. Their hair was purple and green, respectively, and both gazed at him with a stony face. Swords dangled from their hips.

"Captain Geralt, of the Thais Military, is here to be held accountable for his crimes against the people of this city." Uthar began, his tone somber. "He is accused of sabotaging our supplies and attacking our citizens. He was arrested last night at the scene of his crime, attempting to burn a portion of the city to the ground." As Geralt gazed out upon the gathered citizens, he saw nothing but anger and hatred. But still, he would not give in.

"How do you respond to these accusations?" Uthar asked him, and the crowd fell silent. No, he wouldn't give the bastard what he wanted. He merely smiled and said nothing at all.

"Speak, or I will have to pass judgement!" Uthar warned him again, but Geralt did not stir. And now the people were crying out, hurling remarks against the scorned captain. They merely bounced off, for he felt his righteousness in his heart. He had served his queen well. Perhaps with his death, more would be inspired.

"Quiet!" The prince called, and the uproar died down. "Then I shall call a witness." Another figure stepped up next to Uthar, and Geralt felt his blood boil. It was the damned boy! He stood there, calmly looking at the man, arms crossed against his chest. That a mere child had overcome him... it was too much.

"I'll kill you!" He roared, and tried to lunge at the teenager. A split second later, he crashed back into the wood of the platform, yanked by his metal chains. "She'll kill all of you. All of you!" His voice was frenzied, growing in pitch and fervor. "The Snow Queen is going to-" The green-haired knight had stepped forward and jammed a cloth into his mouth. She was smiling grimly.

"Looks like he fell for it." She murmured, and Uthar nodded, a sad expression on his face. As his rage subsided, Geralt began to feel fear for the first time. They had baited him, tricked him into getting angry and revealing his own guilt. And now the townsfolk were shouting again, directing more obscenities against him, hurling items towards the stage.

"Enough!" Uthar shouted. "Captain Geralt has admitted his own guilt, and has committed treason against our city. This deserves death, but..." He paused, and now the crowd was completely still. Nobody moved or spoke. "I will give our witness a say." He turned to the boy, and spoke quietly, so that the citizens could not hear.

"What do you say, Jack?" The teenager stepped forward slowly, eyes upon the maddened traitor.

"I could have killed you." He murmured to the man, who merely snarled at him. "I want you to know that. Whatever your queen has done to you, it won't be enough. We'll beat her, and we'll do it while you sit in the dungeons. I pity you, Geralt. You've been turned into nothing but a weapon." He turned to look at Uthar. "I want him to live. Maybe with time, he can realize his mistakes." The prince nodded slowly.

"Then it shall be so." As he announced Geralt's sentence, the man felt nothing but a cold, emptiness. His country had forsaken him, and so had his queen. He had nothing left to live for...

"Nasty business." Uthar muttered as Ean followed him into the castle. He had been watching from the side, along with the others, but there had been no need to intervene. Geralt had broken, and he had seen the hollowness in the man's eyes as he had been led away.

"You think he'll change?" Ella asked solemnly.

"Magic is powerful." Iya responded slowly. "It can warp the mind, but... I hope he does."

"Just another reason to take Ishtar down." Emma muttered. "You did good out there, Jack."

"Agreed." Gavin said, clapping the teenager on the back. "Once again, you've proven that you don't need magic or swords to overcome an enemy."

"It would have been easier if I did." He muttered.

"But we could not have followed him like you did." Ean told the boy gently. "Or predicted his actions, or devise a plan to publicly expose him. That was all your doing."

"I suppose so." Jack said slowly, looking at the other members of the group. "Maybe I was feeling a little out of place compared to the rest of you. That's why I wanted to do this myself."

"Well, don't." Iya smiled kindly at him. "You're a part of this party, after all."

"Yeah." Jack breathed. "Thank you. All of you." Ean laid a hand on his shoulder, and together, they entered the keep. After all, Uthar had planned a little event to congratulate him on his success. It would be rude not to attend...

It's been a long time since I was a part of a family. Forgot how good it feels. As the thought came and went, Jack felt a surge of determination flow through him.

I don't want to kill other people. But if that it what it takes to protect them...

I will.