The Warrior of Elyon

The battle had ended. Ulysses stood like a bleeding statue. His arms at his sides with the dual swords pointed at the floor. Numerous bruises and cuts covered his body. Blood dripped from the coppery horse end of his body from the many streaks that covered the fine hair. Kenneth wondered how much of it was his friend’s and how much was from those unfortunate enough to be caught in front of his blades. His massive chest heaved as he caught his breath. More than a dozen elves and men lay at his feet. Kenneth wobbled to the centaur. He placed one of his arms on the centaur’s muscled shoulder to keep from falling over. He felt his friend flinch at his touch. “They took Krysta. They jumped off the balcony with no trace but we have to go after them,” Kenneth said. “If the elves do not want to be found, we won’t find them,” Ulysses replied. He immediately began to order the palace guard to secure the grounds. Atherton led the search for any remaining enemy hiding out on the grounds. The servants that did not flee began tending to the wounded under the watchful eye of several armed soldiers. They found several men of the palace guard alive but wounded. Any of the enemy bodies that remained in the hall, out in the courtyard or anywhere else on the grounds were found dead. Kiat Fambre approached Ulysses and Kenneth flanked by two of his own bodyguards. His costly robes were torn and tattered. Anger welled up inside of Kenneth. His strength suddenly returned. He met Kiat, grabbed him by the side of his robes and slammed him back against the wall. “Where have they taken her?” he demanded. He saw Kiat make a motion with his hands and he stammered in Tulchin. Kenneth did not want to play games. Ethan was his friend and he would do anything he could for him but now his wife was missing. He was going to do whatever it took to find her. Starting with the traitor. “I don’t speak Tulchin!” “Where has who been taken?” Kiat asked. “Don’t mess around with me right now. Answer my question,” Kenneth said. “Where is Krysta? Where have your people taken her?” “These are not my people,” Kiat replied. Kenneth slid a knife from his belt. “Do you not see all of the Tulchin bodies? These are your people. Now where is Krysta?” Kenneth pressed the razor sharp edge of the knife to the ambassador’s throat. “My men have died protecting Krysta and everyone else here. They died at the side of your men. My last two guards stand behind you there. It’s only because I waved them off you are still breathing. These are not my people. I don’t know where Krysta is but I will help you find her. You have my word,” Kiat said. Kenneth stared into the gray eyes looking back at him. He pondered the words. It made no sense to sacrifice so many lives to prove his loyalty. “I don’t want your word. I want my wife!” “I have no idea where she is.” Ulysses placed a firm hand on Kenneth’s arm. “I believe him, Kenneth. I don’t think he is lying when he says he doesn’t know where she is.” Kenneth never took his eyes off of the elf. “I know that Ethan likes him but I don’t think he’d be too happy with them stealing my wife.” “You’re not the only one who was betrayed. Some of my men opened the gates to allow the attack to happen. Those men were killed in the battle otherwise I would be interrogating them now. Kenneth, I know you don’t trust me but I swear by the name of Elyon that I will use every resource at my disposal to aid you in your search for both King Lyons and your wife,” Kiat said calmly. “Kenneth, let him go. Like it or not he is our ally and possibly our only lead to find Krysta,” Ulysses said. The centaur looked at Kiat. “After all you may recognize some of these elves.” “Many of these are soldiers from my mother’s village.” Kenneth released his grip but pointed the knife in the elf’s face. “If something happens to her or the baby and I find out you were involved there will be a whole new world of hurt in store for you that Elyon will not be able to save you from.”