AN: Meant to update this yesterday. Sorry
Disclaimer: I do not own Armello
Unsurprisingly, the travel to the Bandit Clan's camp was on a route that required a lot of twists and turns in the forest. It was clear that they knew where they were going, and Thane had no objections to letting them lead the way. He never really got the hang of having a secret path to a hidden campsite in all his travels. In fact, he always got lost, even when it was explained to him. Something his friends always teased about during their journeys. Twiss and Sir Horace were currently talking to each other while his soldiers kept their guard up despite the Bandit Clan being relaxed around them. Thane wasn't surprised that they were weary about all this, but he knew his men and women were disciplined enough to keep themselves from doing anything rash.
Thane was thankful for the walk as it lets him focus on controlling his emotions and gathering his thoughts. He would soon be meeting Scarlett for the first time in twelve years, and while he knew the focus should be on the Rot, he couldn't help but think about his past lover. How much has time changed her? Changed us?
"Coin for your thoughts?" Thane's focus was then on Twiss, beside him with a grin. "Thinking about Scarlett?"
"That obvious?" Thane muttered before sighing. "Tell me, Twiss, how has she been?"
"Pretty good for the most part. Well, the part that she lets people see. She's gotten a lot more serious ever since…well…." Twiss bit her lip and looked ready to say something but sighed. Thane was ready to press on about it until she nervously looked at him and smiled. "Sorry, I can't tell you. She should be the one to tell you since…well… you'll see."
This only made Thane raise an eyebrow, but he didn't say anything. Twiss then continued, "How's everyone been? You know, all our old friends and such?"
"Amber is doing well. We have three-soon-to-be four children, as you know," Thane explained with a smile as he thought about his children. "Mercutio is our spymaster, and he's still unable to find you guys after all these years, so I guess you can say you've never lost your touch. From what I hear, Ghor is still wandering around and enjoying life, but I haven't seen him in years. Barnaby is still traveling worldwide, but he sends letters ever so often. He's planning on coming back home in a year."
"I saw him not that long ago when he left Armello," Twiss commented with a blush. "I just finished a job, and…we had some quality time together."
Still has that crush on him, even if he's oblivious to it, Thane thought with amusement. It was really obvious to anyone that Twiss had a massive crush on the rabbit prodigy, but Barnaby being Barnaby was oblivious to it and just saw Twiss as a good friend.
"Anything special happen?" Sir Horace asked, grinning.
Twiss sighed and lowered her head, shoulder shagging. "I tried, but he didn't get the message. Next time, I need to drag him upstairs into an inn and shag him right there."
This made both Thane and Sir Horace laugh in amusement before there was a sharp bird cry in the air as they made it closer to a vast clearing. Twiss quickly replied with a birdcall of her own for confirmation, and a few seconds later, there was a shimmering of light in the clearing. The illusion that was holding it disappeared, and the Bandit Clan's camp appeared before them. Thane's eyes widened with surprise. "When did you guys start using illusion magic?"
"Since we rescued a few illusionists from some eastern nation fleeing a tyrannical king," Twiss explained with a grin before bowing to his majesty. "Welcome to the Bandit Camp once more, King Thane."
The camp was so big that one could almost call it a miniature town. There were giant tents up the size of houses with smaller ones all around. Forges were at work with weapons being tested on wooden dummies. Soup lines were in place, with cooks making their meals and handing them over to the lines of men, women, and children of all races who were eager to feast on the wooden tables constructed for them. Children were laughing and running around while guards kept vigil in constructed sentry towers.
"You've managed to increase the ranks quite well," Sir Horace said as they walked into the camp. Eyes were focused on them, especially Thane, as many recognized him and soon started bowing to the king of their nation.
"Yeah, we've got families that live with us now," Twiss said with a smile. "Scarlett was thinking of finally retiring from bandit life and having us all settle down somewhere nice and quiet until this whole thing at the temple started. This is one last job before we all turn in our cloaks and hang them up for good."
"Even you?" Thane asked in surprise.
"Eh, I'm not sure," Twiss replied with a wave of her paw. "Maybe I will, or maybe I won't. I love being a thief and all, but after being a hero in saving the world, it kind of sours the mood. I mean, I hear people mention my name next to yours, and I'm hesitant to ruin people's opinions about me. Especially the kids."
"Twiss the Swiftpaw feeling sorry for stealing? What is the world coming to," Sir Horace joked, earning him a swipe from the growling squirrel. "We should find a place to station our men before talking to Scarlett."
"Already prepared. I'll guide them to your quarters," Twiss said.
"Then let me talk to them, so they know how to handle themselves here," Sir Horace said before saluting Thane, who nodded.
"Excuse me? Are you King Thane? The Noble Winter Wolf?" Thane looked down and saw a little dark orange fox cub looking at him with wide eyes.
Smiling, Thane knelt down and looked at the lad with soft eyes. "I am, young one."
"Are you going to help my Daddy defeat the scary Rot men?" The fox kit asked with hope. "Mommy is worried for him, and I'm not old enough to fight so…."
Chuckling, Thane put his paw on the little fox and nodded. "I am. I will work with everyone here, including your father, to end the Rot."
"Wow! You really are as amazing as Lady Scarlett and Rory say!" The fox kit cried out before his mother rushed over and brought him back before bowing.
"S-S-Sorry, my liege! He's young and-"
"It's okay," Thane said, getting up and smiling at her. "I have children of my own. I know what it's like. He did nothing wrong."
Seeing the crowd around him, Thane sighed and decided to make a kingly speech. "Citizens of Armello. Members of the Bandit Clan. I am here not as an enemy but as an ally and friend. Years ago, the Bandit Clan had helped me slay the Rotten King and bring peace to our land. I am here to repay that debt and continue our friendship throughout these years by helping you with the Rot, for it is the enemy of all the free people of Armello. Rest assured that my men and I will do everything in our power to end it and ensure you and your families are safe again!"
A great cheer went up for Thane as many clapped and shouted, "Hail King Thane! Long live the king!"
Thane waved his hand a bit before feeling someone poking him from behind. Turning around, he assumed it was the fox child again, only to have his eyes widen upon seeing who it was, smiling at him face to face. She had never changed, even in all these years, save for a few bags under her eyes. Her bright orange fur was still like looking at a sunset, and her eyes were still the hypnotic gaze that made him freeze up like a statue. Her foxy and sultry grin made him gulp, and her beautiful tail went back and forth like a snake. Just like that, Thane had become prey to the fox before him.
Scarlett.
"Still the same charismatic wolf as always, huh, Thane?" Scarlett asked with a chuckle. "Just five minutes in my territory, and you got everyone eating out of your paw."
"Scarlett…I…." Just like always, she put a finger to his lips and winked at him.
"We can talk in my tent."
Why does she always do this to me? Thane thought to himself as he wanted to kick himself for just following Scarlett around like a lost puppy after his mother. Sir Horace was with him but looking at him with amusement. Seriously, it feels like nothing has changed since she left.
Scarlett started pouring them wine inside her personal tent while Thane turned his attention to the map on the table in the middle of the room. It was a lot more detailed than the one they had, plus there were figurines in different locations, including the camp side where their soldiers were. Handing the men a goblet of red wine, Scarlett sat on the table and stroked her tail while drinking. "It's been a while, boys."
"Good to see you again, Scarlett," Sir Horace said while toasting to her.
"You used to call me 'Queen', Horace," Scarlett pouted with her lips. "What happened?"
Rolling his eyes at his old leader's behavior, he took a sip and answered, "I serve a new Queen, Scarlett. And a King."
"Relax, I know," Scarlett assured him with a chuckle as she drank more wine. "Amber's done a pretty good job. I've never seen so much coin flow into the nation before."
"Yes," Thane whispered before taking a deep breath. "My wife has always been good with trade and matters of the economy."
He saw Scarlett's tail flicker upon hearing how he addressed Amber before continuing after a deep drink. "Alright, Scarlett. What's going on? We already got attacked by ferals on the way here, but Twiss told me that Nazar is alive?"
Scarlett finished her drink in one gulp before getting serious as she got off the table and looked at the map. She pointed to the area where the village they were staying at was. "About three months ago, we got a message from one of our spies. In that letter, he said that he found everyone dead in the village you are in. Just corpses without any sign of a struggle, but they all clearly died in pain. He checked the bodies himself and found that they all apparently had heart attacks simultaneously. As if they all died of fright."
"That's impossible," Sir Horace said in shock. "Scaring someone to death, I can understand, but an entire village?"
"Even the children were dead?" Thane snarled in disgust.
"Yes," Scarlett whispered, looking even angrier than Thane did. "I don't know what happened either. Our spy decided to stay in one of the homes until we arrived to investigate more. That's when he saw him. Nazar. I didn't believe it at first, but how he described him was down to the tee. That fucking geko is alive."
"Amber won't be happy to hear that," Thane muttered before nodding to her to continue.
"He had some kind of staff with him. Not sure what it was based on the spy's description," Scarlett said as she walked around the table, shaking her head. "A large purple miasma was summoned and spread all over the dead bodies. A few minutes later, my spy saw them rising up as if they were alive again, but they were clearly undead. Undead and rotted. After that, Nazar took them to the forest."
"I thought Nazar was an expert in illusion magic," Thane said in surprise. "When did he learn necromancy?"
"It's been twelve years. Perhaps he's learned it in the time since, or maybe that staff Nazar has is causing it?" Sir Horace suggested.
"Either way, he's been doing that to all the villages nearby," Scarlett said with a growl. "Five villages are lifeless, and everyone's dead because of him. He revives them as his minions and brings them to the temple in the middle of the forest. We tried to catch him one time, but he had two Banes with him. Thankfully, he's no Volodar, and we were able to defeat them with minor casualties, but there are more guarding the temple. That's why I summoned you. We need your help to get inside."
"Do we know what he's doing to cause people to suddenly have heart attacks? It has to be magical in nature because something like that doesn't happen out of nowhere," Thane asked, rubbing his chin.
"No clue, but it must be a massive illusion that he's doing to cause people to be so afraid," Scarlett said with concern.
"Well, you were right to call us," Thane said, nodding his head. "This is something that we need to deal with. Nazar is a threat and obviously is scheming something. We must make sure that, whatever it is, he fails. How soon can we launch a strike?"
"I say two days, My King," Sir Horace said, crossing his arms. "We could have our forces and the Bandit Clan's ready by then."
"Good, coordinate with some of our men and send them back to relay to the others our plan," Thane replied. "We'll meet where we got ambushed earlier.
"As you wish," Sir Horace said as he saluted and left.
Scarlett looked ready to leave until Thane stopped her. She paused and looked up at him as he narrowed his eyes. "No, you and I are going to talk. Alone."
"Oh? What would your wife think?" Scarlett asked with a sly smirk but frowned when Thane turned around, shut the folds of the tent, and glared at her. Sighing, she turned around and went for the wine again before folding. "Alright, I guess you are serious. You just need to relax, Thane."
"Are you kidding me?!" Thane shouted, making her nearly jump. Scarling, he looked at her and shouted, "Twelve years! Twelve fucking years and that's all you can say?!"
Scarlett frowned and lowered her eyes. "Thane…"
"Don't! Just… don't!" Thane bit his lip and closed his eyes, training to calm himself. "You left me. You just…left me. After everything we were. Everything we did, you just left." He turned around and leaned on the table to hide his painful expression. "I thought you were dead at first. That your body wasn't found or something. When I learned that you had just got up and left I…I was heartbroken. I thought I had done something wrong, or maybe you were forced to leave, so I looked for you! I had every spy looking for you so I could figure out what went wrong?! What did I do to get you to leave me?!"
Now the tears were coming down, and he stared at Scarlett, the woman he once loved, who looked ashamed, yet Thane didn't care. He needed to do this. "I loved you! I loved you so much! You were the one who encouraged me to become king! You were there for me with every loss! I even killed to protect you from my own clan! I wanted you as my queen, Scarlett! The two of us are together in marriage! That dream gave me the strength to deliver the final blow on King Tau! And you just fucking leave?!"
He didn't know who was listening, and he was sure half the clan might have heard, but he didn't care. He wanted to know why this woman he loved with all his heart broke that same heart, leaving him to suffer for years until he finally moved on. Wiping his tears, Thane whispered, "Did you really ever love me? Or was I just a tool in the end?"
"No," Scarlett whispered immediately as she walked over to him and held his paws. With teary eyes of her own, she looked at him and shook her head. "I did love you. I've always loved you…but…."
"But what?" Thane demanded.
"...It was never going to work out," Scarlett whispered as she lowered her head. "I made too many enemies with the nobility. Even after everything I did to help Armello, they never would have accepted me as queen. You would have at least half of the nobility from every clan against you, and I couldn't do that to you."
She placed a paw on his chest. "I left to protect you."
"When did you ever care about the opinions of nobles?" Thane grumbled, even though he knew there was logic in what Scarlett was saying. "We could have dealt with it."
"And would the kingdom suffer for it?" Scarlett grumbled as she stepped away with a sigh. "Thane, what we had was wonderful, but…it was never anything more than a fairy tale. Besides, you are happy with Amber, and you have wonderful children. It's…just over…"
Thane was going to say something when the tarp of the bed opened, and Scarlett's eyes widened with fear. Confused, Thane turned around only to feel everything in the world freeze at what he was seeing. A young red-furred wolf with white belly fur, dressed in a gray cloak and black tunic, walked forward with concern on his face. He looked to be no older than twelve or thirteen years old. Thane felt his throat try up upon seeing his very familiar-looking face and the eyes he had seen in his reflection.
"Mother?" The red wolf asked in concern. "Are you okay? Everyone said there was yelling in your tent."
"M-M-Mother?" Thane turned to Scarlett, who looked at him with fear before nervously smiling at her "son."
Embracing him, she kissed him on the cheek and smiled. "I'm sorry, Rory. I was just talking to an old friend."
She turned him toward Thane, who just stood there and stared at the boy. "Thane? This is…my son. Rory."
"Thane? King Thane?" Rory asked in surprise before bowing with a smile on his face. "It's an honor to meet you! My mother told me about your adventures together as friends! I hear you're the greatest swordsman in Armello."
"I…I… It's nice to meet you," Thane whispered with a gulp. "I…I didn't know you had a…child."
"Rory is…my pride and joy," Scarlett whispered as she ruffled her son's hair, much to his annoyance.
"... Who's the father?" Thane asked, but deep down, he already knew.
"I don't know him, sir," Rory said, surprising Thane again. Rory shrugged and turned to his mother. "Mother says that he was a brave and kind wolf. One that she loved but couldn't have. So I've never met him."
"Rory? Why don't you see Auntie Twiss and tell her to introduce you to Horace? I'm sure she would be happy to introduce you to one of my best friends," Scarlett quickly said as he nodded.
"It was nice to meet you, Your Majesty," Rory said, bowing before leaving.
There was a long and deep silence in the tent as Thane continued to stare at where Rory was in utter shock.
"Who is the father?" Thane asked.
"Thane…"
Thane grabbed Scarlett and forced her to look into his desperate eyes. "Scarlett, for the love of the Wyld, tell me! Who? Is. The. Father?"
Scarlett bit her lip before sighing. "You already know the answer."
"...M-M-Mine?" Thane whispered.
"Ours," Scarlett whispered as she closed her eyes and sighed. "Our son."
A son.
He had a son.
One before any of his children with Amber.
Oh, Wyld help me…