AN: Sorry for the delay, but things were crazy! Regular work and college work are never ending. I hope you enjoy the chapter!

Gaius walked into the room that seemed almost completely undisturbed. The only mess he noticed directly was that her sheets were thrown back. The window to her balcony was open, but the wind was already making the foot prints harder to see. It couldn't have been long since they took her, no more than about twenty minutes. However, that alone would give them enough of a head start to be in a few different directions considering the wind was not on his search team's side today.

Looking towards the balcony, he noticed something that he was worried about. If she was awake, there would be no doubt that she could very well leave them clues. Esther was a clever woman, she could figure that much out. However, the drops of blood on the side of the pillow and one drop or so every few feet meant that she was probably knocked out cold. Depending on the severity on the wound, perhaps even worse, but if they wanted her as a bargaining chip they would keep her breathing. At least for now.

Time was of the essence. Rowen standing behind him already sent men towards the Lava Tube Caverns, Kahkur Ice Caverns, and Xian Du. But there was already one other place he could think of. Some place that he used to play in and was hidden from the rest of the world who others didn't bother with. Silent Caverns.

"Rowen, I will need you to see to the other's success. I will check on Silent Caverns. There is a chance she is there, and they could not have gotten too far in this storm. Make sure that the others return safely," Gaius said as he walked to Rowen before passing him to make haste to his own room.

"Of course," Rowen said simply before Gaius walked out. There was a good chance that the group decided to split up to buy time, but chances were that Gaius had a point. When it came to sniffing out plots, Gaius was better than most. Almost more so than Rowen.

It was Rowen more than anyone who felt responsible. He had escorted Esther to her room, seeing her distress he should have offered her more words of encouragement. However, what was done was done and she was the one to pay the price thus far. Looking over to the bed, he too now saw the crimson on the sheets and he began to worry even more. Even a simple headwound could turn deadly if not taken care of properly. Considering Exodus was made of Elympians, he could safely conclude that they probably did not have someone with healing artes with them. Hurrying out, he made sure to make it a point to find out who harmed the young miss and make them pay for it.

XXXXX

Gaius was well aware of the dangers of going alone. However, fighting was second nature to him. Being part of the Auj Oule tribe system taught him that much very early on in life. It was why he felt comfortable around the Chimeriad. They were all fit and ready for battle for one reason or another. He never had to question that. However, as much as Esther was driven and determined, she did not have combat experience nor did she have artes to be taught. He could trust her with helping him with the government workings and helping him with paperwork, but not as a body guard.

Something told him that there was more than one in that room. One on one she could have a chance with, but more than that would take more training. However, if she was able to fight back then he would have to say that she did all she could and there was little more that could be changed. It was up to him now to make sure that she was safe. As he would do for anyone under his direct supervision.

That thought sent a shiver of guilt through his system. One that he could not explain. He would protect his people, and since he didn't see a threat by a small group of Exodus members, as all evidence pointed to, he would fight them alone. But something felt different, a drive to protect her simply because it was her. Strange, but he couldn't really put a thought to it.

"A life as a king has made me soft, perhaps," he said sternly to himself as he continued through the snow storm in the Xailen Woods. The wind was bitter and bit through his normal armor. However, it didn't reach him as much as others. Growing up here certainly did help that. In the dark, it was difficult to maneuver, but it was necessary. He almost had to give them credit for pulling this off as far as they did at this time in these conditions.

Walking towards the entrance of the Silent Caverns, he heard voices in the distance. They were definitely here, and he was glad for it. To see her safe immediately was important to him instead of having her in the hands of someone else. Something about that lit the fire of annoyance that was already burning from this incident. What he wouldn't do for a large glass of sake instead of dealing with Exodus, but he had to do what he needed first as king. The sake could wait until he knew that Esther was safe.

XXXXX

She could remember the sharp pain of the butt of the handgun hitting her forehead as she tried to struggle and scream for help. She could remember how cold it was when they dragged her out of her bed and threw her on the rocky floor. At least it was out of the storm though, she could still feel the cold chills. Unlucky for her though, she was in her night clothes which were not too thick and covered her merely for modesty. A light blue, mid-thigh night shirt with fitting shorts on underneath. However, the cold was the last thing she feared as they tied her hands behind her back and bound her ankles together with rope.

"With a member of the Svent family under our feet, we will get anything we want," one of them said rather confidently. A remark she couldn't help but be curious about. Saying nothing though, that was probably the one reason she was still alive. Someone would come for her, but if they didn't… she wouldn't know where to go considering she just fully woke up moments ago. Even then, she was still groggy from the hit they gave her.

"Hey, she's waking up!"

"Morning, Princess…" The tone a taller man used was more than enough to make her blood run cold. So, they intended to keep her around. But the way that he came closer made her back up an inch. His hand brushed up against her calf and up to her knee. "Now, why don't you tell us a few things against that barbarian King of theirs? You're loyal to Elympios, right? Just tell us if that king has a harem, kills for joy, or simply has a loved one. Anything will do, and we won't hurt you. Well, at least anymore than we have to."

Looking at him, she understood. Use her for information, but keep her around to be safe. Clever in a way, but they apparently hadn't done their homework. The heir was Alfred, a long time missing member of the family. However, she had only met him once long ago. A memory she had all but barely forgotten. She was forgotten by the family long ago, so she was confused as to why they would use her.

"Hey, uh… we have a problem," called out one of the members as a painful last cry echoed through the walls of the Cave. Someone had come for her, and she felt the tears well up in her eyes for it.

"Shit," the guy in front of her said as he roughly picked her up and slung her over his shoulder. As she struggled against him, he pointed a gun at her hip. "Don't even try it, bitch. I have enough fire power in here to make you regret doing anything stupid." Grimacing as he had a point, she stopped struggling and looked for a way that she could do something besides be helplessly over his shoulder. However, that didn't last long as she heard another cry out in pain. It was much closer now.

"Let the woman go," she heard Gaius say and she whipped her head around so fast it made her head spin. Of all people, the king himself. She looked at him with her mouth gaping open before she was flung in front of the man that held onto her and he pointed the gun to the temple of her head. Seeing Gaius stop and look at her, she decided that she must have looked rather pathetic. The temple she felt the gun on hurt so bad she could scream, and her legs and fingers were becoming numb from the cold.

"I think I'm the one calling the shots, Gaius," he said as he pushed the gun further onto her head, making her cry out in pain. "I want you to stop negotiations with Elympios and the end of Marksburg. Otherwise, the girl dies. A member of the elite family Svent dying on Rieze Maxian land is certainly cause for an international crisis. The family certainly won't take kindly to it."

Gaius straightened up and brought his sword into its sheath as he sighed. Watching him intently, she wondered what he would do. However, he was her only hope right now. The other person who was with them was standing near them, but looking more than nervous. "A man should never hurt unnecessarily. Nor should he hurt someone for his own gain when he has nothing else to bargain with. You have done little homework on this matter, so I will give you one chance to surrender quietly."

"Ha, you hear this fool!" The guy behind her was nervous now, but he was trying for a show. But with that gun to her head, she didn't dare try anything too stupid. But there was something in Gaius's eyes that made her wonder just how much was a civil man and how much was a beast in human's clothing. "I'm the one with the gun! I'm the one with the woman! Ah, is she your lover or something? Can't get one of your own so you hire one of ours to make your slave for your sick pleasure?!"

The claim alone was one that made her face warm up slightly despite the cold making her shiver and feel more numb by the minute. Gaius could see this and he had to do something quick. "What she is to me is no concern of yours. I gave you a chance, so let us end this now." Three steps was all it took for him to get in front of her, one arm wrapped around her shoulders to bring her close as the other collided with the man's gut. She could feel his body move again as he hit the other man, and then it was silent again.

His hand on her head brushed away the blood dyed hair on her forehead and by her ear as he grimaced seeing her wounded yet again. She looked up at him and tried to step away, but found her strength sapped. There was nothing left for her to use, so she stayed there under his gaze. "I'm sorry," he said simply as he used a simple healing arte to help start the healing process. Shivering from the cold, she was afraid to say anything for fear of biting her tongue off.

As he untied her, he noticed that her toes were turning a grey shade already and so were her finger tips. It was moving up too and he couldn't help but silently curse. If he acted now, he could save her from losing any of them. The trip home could make it too late. "Esther," he started as he held her shoulders. The look on his face was full of conflict, what she would say and do to his demand. "I need to warm you up. Your body is not used to the cold and being in the state of dress that you are in…

I need you to undress."