Chapter Two should be completed by tonight.

Chapter Two: Part Seven

"The beast has returned."

Bhayankar's return to Blutkrieger was not a grand entrance. The Sarcosuchus merely slinked his way back into the Crypt from the same underground passage he had transverse out of. Despite his monstrous size, his body had its limits. When Albert and King Franz descended into the Crypt to see Bhayankar, they found the beast slumped against the southern wall near the passage it had returned from. His breathing was shallow and his eyes were closed, but Albert knew that he was still awake. "There's blood," he announced, pointing to the left side of Bhayankar's mouth. There was a noticeable smear of blood there.

"Is it Astraea?!" King Franz said, rushing forward. "Did he snag her like I commanded him?!"

That's too little blood for a body, Albert thought. "We shall see, Your Majesty."

King Franz boldly stood close to Bhayankar's jaw and stood to his full height. "Bhayankar," he commanded. "Open your mouth."

Bhayankar may have been a wild beast, but there was a reason he had remained under the possession of the Reiser Royal Family for so long; despite his ferocity, Bhayankar knew to yield to the highest commanding Reiser royal. Albert did not know how the Royal Family had such command of a Sarcosuchus—especially given his current condition—but it was a feat that amazed him.

And true to his nature, Bhayankar opened his eyes and looked at the King. And as commanded, he slowly opened his jaw wide.

Albert joined King Franz to look inside Bhayankar's mouth. He did not expect to see a mangled corpse resting on the Sarcosuchus's massive tongue, but they nonetheless saw an object inside the mouth. "An arm!" King Franz shouted. "He got Astraea's arm!" He excitedly reached into the mouth, not caring of the danger, and hauled the mangled limb out with both hands.

That's a man's arm. The thought barely finished in Albert's mind before King Franz shouted in rage and dropped the arm onto the damp floor. "You damned, stupid animal!" he shouted at Bhayankar. "You were ordered to bring back Astraea! Not some poor bastard's arm! Useless beast!" He punched Bhayankar in the underside of his jaw.

Rage flickered in Bhayankar's eyes, but Albert knew the Sarcosuchus would not have the strength in the moment to retaliate. Not that he would against the King, but he knew that Bhayankar would be very angry when he recovered. "I blame myself for this, Your Majesty," Albert said. "I had thought Bhayankar's tie to Princess Astraea—"

"Do not give her that title," King Franz snapped at him. "She is undeserving of it!"

"Of course, I apologize," Albert said. "I incorrectly assumed that Bhayankar would be able to find and claim Astraea anywhere."

"It's fine," King Franz scoffed. "Bhayankar is a stupid beast, after all! Being locked down here, hand-fed traitors…he has grown soft! He needs to face more combat!"

Albert looked down at the arm lying on the floor. The hand was clenched tight around a still-intact sword. "We should prepare for any backlash related to…this."

"We'll blame Astraea for that," King Franz said dismissively. "Damn it all! I should have never given Genevieve a seventh child! Things would have been much better if we had stopped at six!"

Albert said nothing to this, but knelt down and pried the fingers off the sword. He held the hilt in his right hand, and blade rested in his left palm as he stood up. "Good craftsmanship," he observed. "Some wear on the blade and the hilt. This is an old sword, possibly over thirty years old."

"Whoever wielded it knew how to use it," King Franz said, shaking his head. "It's in good condition. It looks like it was sharpened to maximum level—level 16. A true loss then."

Albert continued looking the weapon over, but then he saw an engraving on the blade near the hilt. He peered closer to see what it said; the name of the sword.

Kouten.

Albert's brow rose in shock. "This sword belongs to a living legend, Your Majesty," Albert said, looking up. "Vagabond Viktor. You have heard of him, yes Your Majesty?"

"Vagabond Viktor?!" King Franz's eyes widened. "A war hero thrice over was here in the country and I did not hear of it? And Bhayankar maimed him?!" He glared at the Sarcosuchus once more.

"If Viktor was attacked byBhayankar, then that means that he was most likely in the company of Astraea," Albert said.

"That's a good point," King Franz said. "Then he deserved the maiming. The arm is unsalvageable, yes?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. The only thing I could think of that could restore the body to Viktor's body is the Rune of Restoration. But we would know if that rune was here."

"Then destroy the arm," King Franz said. "I hate to see a legendary warrior fall in such a manner, but if he allied himself with Astraea then it's what he deserves. He will not be able to help her now."

"Indeed." But Albert continued to frown as he stared down at the sword.

"Before I forget," King Franz said, boldly turning his back on Bhayankar. "Did you send the message to Brendan?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. He will have received it by now, and will act accordingly."

"And we need to deal with the reports of Harmonians that fled Niebieska Brama and are currently running amok in the country."

But Albert could not help but be distracted. The King did not realize it, but the presence of Kouten meant more than Viktor simply being in Zelant.

If Viktor is still here…then that means David is still here, too.

Yasmine raised her hand to knock on the door, but Brendan motioned for her to wait. She met her charge's gaze. "Is everything all right, Your Highness?"

"What I'm about to do," Brendan said, his tone low. "I don't like it. But it's for the good of Zelant that I do it."

"I understand," Yasmine responded. Her response was prompt and unwavering.

"If you think less of me for it, I would understand."

"Nothing could make me think less of you, Your Highness."

Still prompt and unwavering. Her strength was admirable, but Brendan didn't feel at ease by it. It made him feel…like less of a man.

Because you are less of a man, his thoughts whispered to him.

Brendan quickly looked away and snapped his teeth. "Are you all right, Your Highness?" Yasmine asked him.

He could not meet her gaze this time. "Why do you still stand by my side?"

He hadn't meant to ask the question, but the words spilled out of his mouth before he could stop himself. A painful silence followed his words, but he took that moment to collect himself and looked at her again.

Yasmine, as expected, looked unmoved by the question. But when she spoke again, her tone was low. "You know why, Your Highness."

Yes…he knew. Brendan knew, but it didn't make things better.

No matter what I do, I inflict conflict upon the women in my wife. Yasmine, Sigrun, Astraea…and now I must do THIS.

"I'm ready now," he said aloud. "Go ahead."

Yasmine knocked on the door. A maid opened the door and immediately curtsied when she saw Brendan. "Y-Your Highness, please come in! Lady Dawa is expecting you!"

"I know," Brendan said, and they went inside. The maid led through the downstairs to the northwest part of Dawa's mansion. Brendan heard loud conversations coming from a room that Brendan knew Dawa had converted into a "war room". The maid knocked once and opened the door. "Presenting His Highness Prince Brendan!"

"And my assist," Brendan reminded her. The maid flushed with embarrassment.

"We are honored by your presence, Your Highness," Dawa called out. She stood in front of a long black table that was horizontal to the length of the room, covered with papers. She was surrounded by Zelantan soldiers, but the only person of note amongst the nondescript faces was Primrose, who stood at the end of the table on the left side. Brendan's gaze lingered on Primrose for a moment before he entered the room fully and focused on Dawa. "What is the situation with the Alliance?" he asked.

Dawa's frown deepened. "There have been reports that five ships were seen leaving the Alliance's port city of Rosa Selvatica. The reports say that these ships were not trade ships."

"Are they sailing in this direction?" Brendan asked.

"They're spreading out," Dawa said. "I think they might be taking strategic positions at five corners just outside of Zelantan waters. I recommend we send a report to the capital for travel advisory. They surely won't attack foreign ships, but our ships…" she let her voice trail off.

"Actually I just received a message from the capital," Brendan announced. He waved his arm. "Everyone, leave us now."

Dawa blinked in confusion, and the soldiers murmured in confusion. No one however was going to disobey the order of the Prince and quickly departed the room. "You stay," Brendan said, pointing to Primrose. The mage had moved to leave, but stopped dead in her tracks. "You and you, stand outside on standby," he said to two soldiers.

Dawa's nostrils flared and her expression darkened at the implications of his words. She waited until the room was clear and only the four of them remained before she spoke again. "What is the meaning of this, Your Highness?"

"Has Astraea tried to contact you?" Brendan demanded.

"No," Dawa immediately retorted, straightening her posture. "I haven't seen or spoken to Her Highness since I left Blutkrieger."

"His Majesty King Franz doesn't believe that," Brendan responded.

"I speak the truth," Dawa said sharply. "I was told to return to Potsfurt to resume my Ladyship here, and then to handle the crisis with the Bianca Alliance. I have had no communication with the Princess since we parted ways."

"You will stop referring to her as Her Highness and Princess," Brendan said. "Astraea has been labeled an enemy of the state—"

Dawa scoffed loudly and shook her head. "This is a degree by the King," Brendan snapped. "Our father, Dawa. As you are well aware, the King's word is law."

"The King's word is law," Dawa murmured. Her tone was full of venom. She shook her head again. "Do you honestly feel that she is capable of what she's been accused of? Conspiracy and murder? Of her own half-siblings?!"

"It doesn't matter what I—"

"I don't believe it!" Dawa snapped, punching the table. "I know my sister, Your Highness! I know her to be a wonderful young woman with integrity! For you to believe these charges against her—someone who fully shares your blood—doesn't speak highly of YOUR character!"

Yasmine surged forward, but Brendan raised his arm to block her. "You will not insult me, Dawa," he snarled. "We may share the same father, but I am an heir and you are a bastard. I am your better Dawa, and you will show respect to my position!"

"Do you know the last I heard of Her Highness?!" Dawa snapped. She turned and stormed over to a small cabinet behind her. She opened the top drawer, pulled something out, and slammed the drawer shut. She returned to the table and threw the object on top of the papers on the table. "There! That is when I last heard of her!"

Brendan looked down and saw Astraea's blood soaked satchel on top of the pages. He looked up and met her glare. "Am I expected to believe that that's not her blood?!" Dawa snarled, pointing to the satchel. "That she let someone else bleed on her bag and cut it up?! She didn't even know about the trip to Crystal Valley, Your Highness! How in the hell could the Princess—"

"Astraea," Brendan interjected.

"The Princess," Dawa shot back. "How could she have arranged this Massacre when she didn't even know that she was leaving?! Why would she have killed Milo, Barrett, and Ritta when she loved them?!"

"You know what Astraea alleged happened," Brendan said heatedly. "She alleged that His Majesty and Sir Albert arranged the Massacre themselves! By your logic, would the King then not be inclined to kill four of his children?!"

Dawa choked out a dark laugh. "Assuming His Majesty even loves the Princess!"

A sharp sensation filled Brendan's chest and throat. It took every ounce of energy to maintain his calm. "You speak sedition," he warned her.

"How?!" Dawa demanded, waving her arm furiously. "I was her assist, Brendan! I know the Princess better than anyone! And I KNOW that she's not capable of treason! She loves her family, and she loves her country too damn much to even think of doing anything like that!"

The two stared each other down intently, the air thick with tension. Yasmine remained unmoved, while Primrose looked between Brendan and Dawa with her hands clenched at her side. No one spoke for a long time.

It was Brendan who broke the silence. "You believe Astraea over His Majesty."

Dawa lifted her chin defiantly. "I believe she's innocent."

"So if given the opportunity, you would give her haven here?" Brendan asked.

Dawa did not respond. Brendan clenched his jaw and his fists at his sides. Now…I have no choice. "Guards!" he shouted over his shoulder.

The two soldiers immediately entered the room and saluted. "Y-Yes, Your Highness!"

Brendan raised his arm—and pointed to Primrose. "Arrest her."

"What?!" Dawa screamed.

"I—Prince Brendan Reiser—hereby place you—Primrose of the Magic Guild—under arrest," Brendan said authoritatively.

"I am an elite mage of the Guild!" Primrose protested as the soldiers seized her arms. "To place me under arrest will damage the reputation of the Guild, Your Highness!"

"Lady Norma can take it up with me," Brendan retorted. "Get her out of here."

"Your Highness, you cannot be serious!" Dawa shouted as Primrose was dragged from the room. They all knew that with her skills Primrose could handle the soldiers easily. But doing so when the soldiers were following a direct order from the Prince would look even worse for both the Magic Guild and herself, and so she did not even struggle. When the door closed behind them Dawa snarled in rage and whipped out her bullwhip. "You bastard!" she hissed.

Yasmine swiftly unsheathed her kilij in response but Brendan motioned for her to stand down. "This is the order of His Majesty," he told Dawa. "You are to focus your efforts on defending Zelant from the Alliance. And you are to find a way to reach out to Astraea to lure her here. Offer her haven here in Potsfurt so that she may be more easily arrested. If you fail to comply, then Primrose will be sent to Blutkrieger on charges of conspiracy."

Dawa's eyes widened in horror and rage. "You hold the Ladyship seat here in Potsfurt as your mother did," Brendan reminded her. "You are important, Dawa. We need you for the security of this country. Primrose, however, is expendable."

Dawa snarled in rage at his words but Brendan pressed on. "She can be replaced. If you do not want her to be replaced, then you will comply. You will do what is right for the country, Dawa. This will be your only warning." Brendan looked down at the table. "I want a full report of the ships that are circling our country sent to me by tonight. And you have by tomorrow night to propose a plan of how you will bring Astraea here. If I do not hear from you by sundown, then Primrose will be extradited to the capital. Do you understand, Dawa?"

Dawa casted her eyes down. He could see tears brimming in her blue eyes. "Do you understand, Dawa?" he repeated himself. "I need you to say it out loud."

"…Yes, Your Highness," she said quietly. She did not meet his gaze again. "I…understand."

"Good," Brendan said. "I will see you later." As he turned to leave, he saw a tear slide down her left cheek. He pretended not to see it as he left the room, Yasmine trailing behind him.

"Send a message to the Magic Guild," Brendan told Yasmine as they left Dawa's residence. "We need another mage sent here to act in Primrose's place."

"Yes, Your Highness," Yasmine said. She was silent for a long moment before she spoke again. "How long will Primrose be held in custody?"

"Until Astraea is taken into custody."

"Lady Dawa was close to…her," Yasmine said after a moment. "Do you believe that Lady Dawa will betray her?"

The pain continued to spread inside of Brendan but he continued to maintain the outward appearance of calm. "If she doesn't want anything to happen to Primrose, then she will."

It was necessary…but he hated it. He had wished there had been another way, but he had been given an order and Dawa had made clear where her loyalties lie.

Now it's just a matter of if Dawa will betray Astraea…or let Primrose be executed.

And he wasn't sure which option Dawa would choose.

The forest was called Zwielichtshain. Located northwest of Honigmilch, the forest was known for being dense and for the branches to stretch out and touch each other, shielding the forest bed from the Sun like a natural canopy. In doing so however, the ground level of the forest always seemed dark, no matter the time of day.

"Where's his arm?!" David exclaimed, frantically brushing aside bushes that were near the tree Viktor had struck. "I can't find it!"

"Even if we found his arm, it was crushed in the mouth of a Sarcosuchus," Ferdinand said grimly. "It would be useless to him."

David panted harshly and loudly, his mouth gaping and tears stinging his eyes. He wrung both of his gloves hands into his hair. "This is my fault," he whispered. "This—This would have happened to him if it weren't for me…!"

Musashi quickly slapped him in the face. "Cry later," the ninja told David sharply. "Regret later. This man needs proper medical care or he will die. We need to focus on that."

"Musashi," Denzel said softly. His tone conveyed disapproval, and his assist quickly stepped away from David.

Astraea looked between David, Viktor, and Musashi from where she was knelt beside Sigrun, who was tying a strap around Viktor's elbow. She knew that it was to slow the blood gushing from the stump where the rest of his right arm had been. Viktor remained sprawled on the ground before them unconscious, and his face had turned white. He was breathing, but it was shallow and wheezy.

In the moment Astraea knew that she could remain silent, agree with Musashi and admonish David for his panic, or comfort the young man. It only took Astraea a moment to decide and she stood up. She walked over to David and reached for him. She grabbed his wrists and held them fast. "I'm sorry," she said.

David went still and looked at her. "This is my fault, not yours," she said. "Bhayankar was after me, not you. Direct your blame towards me and I will accept it. Since this is my fault, I will do everything I can to save and protect you both. It's what I owe you both."

David looked at her for a long moment. Finally his hands relaxed and he released his hair. "I do not blame you, Your Highness," he said quietly. "But I will accept your offer of protection. Please…" he pulled free and bowed. "Please save him!"

Astraea nodded and returned to Sigrun. She patted herself down and sighed in relief when she found a Medicine in her pocket. She gave it to Sigrun. "This is my last one."

"We've given him six already," Sigrun said softly, emptying the entire bottle onto the stump. "If we had Mega Medicines…or a healing rune…"

"I'm sorry," Astraea said quietly. "I haven't unlocked the True Wind Rune's healing spell yet."

"Don't apologize for that, Astraea," Denzel told her. He folded his arms over his chest and shook his head. "I just—I can't believe they sent Bhayankar after us! How many people did he kill before he found us?!"

"Hopefully none," Sigrun said. She pressed a hand over Viktor's heart and waited a moment. "His heartbeat is slowing," Sigrun said, looking up. "We need to move quickly."

"Honigmilch is the closest city to this forest," Astraea said.

"That's the city where all the mercenaries brigades and the Magic Guild are located," Ferdinand said. "Going there would be suicide for us."

"But we need to get this man help," Denzel pointed out. "We may not have any other choice—"

"Get back!" Musashi shouted suddenly, grabbing Denzel's arm and dragging the prince close. He pulled out a kunai. "Someone's coming!"

Astraea heard footsteps coming from the southeast of their position. Everyone quickly drew their weapons. "Stay close," Astraea said to David.

"Who's there?!" Ferdinand shouted, raising his glaive.

There was the sound of a twig snapping after being stepped on, and a lone figure entered the clearing. It was a man in his early fifties in full fur-lined armor with short blonde hair. Short hair for a man his age was highly unusual for a citizen of Zelant, but most of them knew of only one man who proudly wore his hair short. And they all stiffened with dread as the man himself finished his approach and stood ten meters away from them.

"Well, well," Richard said, wearing his usually calm smile. "I wasn't expecting to run into Your Highness's here."