Chapter 20

With a thunderous clamor of hoof beats, and clanking armor they approached Johns Tower. James made sure to keep a close eye on Riddick, who was tightly wound.

With swords and flaming arrows they broke through the inner gates, cutting their way through Mercs, when through a maelstrom of fighting men, Riddick caught sight of his prey. Welding his sword, he cut a bloody path toward his enemy, his eyes never leaving Johns.

Horses clomping and stomping around him, Johns, eyes widened to the danger and suddenly desperate for escape, darted up the stairs, stopping in his chamber briefly before continuing on to the tower walk, barring the door behind him.

Letting out a war cry, Riddick followed after Johns, making his way into the keep, leaping over chairs and upturned tables, letting nothing get in the way of his path to man he was determined to kill.

"We've searched everywhere, James." Simon insisted as they stood in the middle of Johns great hall discussing their next move. Riddick had been missing since he charged after Johns and there was no sign of Carolyn or the baby after having searched the tower from top to bottom.

James pivoted slowly, looking at his surroundings, his fingers tapping slowly against the hilt of his sword before turning back to Simon. "Has anyone checked the dungeon?"

Johns panicked as white wisps of air began to wrap around him as Riddick lowered his sword, simply watching.

"What type of witchcraft is this?" Johns screamed as the tendrils began to encircle his neck, meeting Riddick's eyes as the tendrils squeezed, cutting off his air.

Letting go of the child in his arms, Johns grabbed at his throat as the pressure multiplied.

Throwing himself to roof, desperate to save his son from injury, yet another tendril of smoke reached out to cradle his son from harm.

Johns, unable to breath, can do nothing but watch in horror as Riddick thanks the white smoke that appeared to be trying to take shape.

"Thank you. Thank you for them both."

With this, the white smoke began to disentangle itself from around Johns' body, making its way to wrap around the baby, and to seemingly hold it in mid air with no help from Riddick. Riddick watched as his son began to giggle and coo before turning to Johns who was attempting to suck air into his oxygen deprived lungs, holding out a hand in a weak attempt to deflect the larger man.

"When I'm finished with you there won't be a head left to put on a pike," Riddick growled before making contact with the man's jaw sending him reeling backwards over the edge of the turret, arms and legs failing.

Carrying torches, James, Simon and Thomas descended into the dark, dank, dungeon making their way down a long, winding, narrow staircase which resembled more of a passageway to hell than anything else.

Carolyn sunk back into her corner as she heard the sound of footsteps coming her way, covering her eyes from the glare of the torch as the man made his way past her cell.

There was silence before she felt a hand wrap around her forearm causing her to blindly lash out. James sucked in a breath as he restrained her arms. Her hair was disheveled, her face dirty and sweaty, dressed only in her slip, which was ripped and torn.

"Carolyn, it's me, James!" He said desperately trying to control the woman in his arms. Still struggling, Carolyn began to cry as James pulled her to his chest, violent sobs wracking her body, her mouth muffled against his body. Collapsing to the floor, James rocked the woman, all the while assuring her that her ordeal was over.

"Simon, find a cart like we use for Father Nickolas and get it ready. Thomas, gather blankets, a cloak, warm clothing. And somebody get some water!" Without a word, the men left to do his bidding.

Gently, carefully, James picked Carolyn up, slowly making his way out of the lower levels out into the bailey. "Any sign of Riddick?" He asked the men on his way to the cart that Simon had readied in record time.

No one had yet to hear from him so James set about caring for Carolyn, washing her exposed skin before wrapping her in a thick fur cloak that Thomas had produced and making her comfortable in the straw filled cart.

"James?"

"I'm right here, Carolyn," James said softly.

"Riddick? My son?"

"Richard will be here shortly with the babe."

Carolyn nodded as James helped her lie back, having offered her some water.

Suddenly, a man's scream broke through the night and with a sickening thud William John's body landed on the ground in front of them.

"James?" Carolyn asked weakly.

"Thomas and Simon are going to stay here with you. I'll be right back," James said motioning to the two men he had named.

Hearing someone coming up the stairs Riddick held his sword at the ready prepared to protect his son.

James came skidding to a halt in the doorway meeting Riddick who was cradling his son in his arms. "Richard! You found the babe, thank the Gods!"

"Did you find Carolyn?' Riddick asked gruffly not sure if he was prepared if they hadn't.

"Yes," James answered, "Worse for wear and weaker than a newborn kitten, but asking for you and the lad."

The courtyard fell silent as Riddick stopped for a moment to watch Carolyn sleeping in the back of the cart. She looked so incredibly young and fragile laying there.

The spell was broken when James clasped his shoulder. "Let's go home, old friend."

Looking at him, Riddick nodded and watched as the Furyans mounted, prepared to follow a horse drawn cart all the way home. James looked between Riddick and Carolyn with a smile and moved away to mount his own horse.

Climbing onto the cart, Riddick carefully settled in the hay next to Carolyn, placing their son in between them, before reaching out to stroke her cheek.

Reaching up to touch his hand, she opened her eyes, drinking in the sight of him before placing a kiss on their son's brow. "I knew you'd come. I knew you wouldn't leave us."

"I'll never leave you, Carolyn, no matter where, no matter when," Riddick whispered in her hair, pulling his family closer as James gave to order to take them home.

The End