|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Shards of Broken Heart | ||||||||||||||||||
| By Richard LeBlanc | ||||||||||||||||||
| Chapter Four: the hunter | ||||||||||||||||||
| The ruins of the northern province - all of the cities that could not be taken quickly - had been razed. At the capital - prisoners were being marched towards the northern shores towards the coast. The place fell as quickly as expected - the other provinces would not. They would be ready. | ||||||||||||||||||
| At the castle that was at the heart of the provincial capital the man behind the siege - the leader of the invading forces was consulting with his top men. He was Damien heir to the thrown in a land across the sea a very cunning malicious general. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Have the other provinces taken any actions against us yet?" Damien asked seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Nothing that would concern us. Our spies say that - some believe that our attack here was just a rumor. When the rumors pass - reprisal may occur," one of his men replied. The general smirked and shook his head. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "I suppose that was to be expected. How many did we lose taking this place?" he asked. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "The castle or the province?" another asked. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Let me rephrase - if they chose to unite against me - would our losses have made a difference?" he asked again. They thought for a few moments - then one of his strategic advisors stepped forward. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Our reports of their military capacity - is not equal to ours. These people have lived in seclusion and piece for quite some time - their numbers could complicate matters - but I doubt that they could match our skill and training," he replied. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Excellent," the general stated as he walked over to the map. "If we were to march - to the southern province - how much reprisal could we expect from the west and east?" he asked - tracing his finger down the map. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Hard to say at this point. If they believe that we have taken the northern province - they might attack - attacking us on two fronts. If they think it to be some fictitious rumor - the element of surprise would of course be ours," another replied. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "I see. Have any of the scouting parties returned yet?" he asked. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "All except one," the advisor replied. Damien looked over at him. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Really? Which party?" he asked - motioning for the advisor to point to the sector the party was searching. The advisor pointed to the trail that the party had gone down. "That leads to the lake area - where those skating ladies fell into the water," he stated. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "You - think she's alive?" the advisor asked. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "I hope so - otherwise all of this would have been for nothing," he stated as he looked at the lake. He remembered the trackers he had sent out. One of his spies reported that the daughter of a Duchess had gone out with some friends to go to the lake. | ||||||||||||||||||
| He had no guarantees that she was in fact the girl he was after - but it was a gamble worth investigating. He had sent his trackers into that area to find the group of ladies and by some act of fate - the trackers found them! Then, fate being the cruel woman she was - turned on them! They had lost control of the tracking wolves - and those beasts chased the ladies further out onto the ice - where it collapsed. | ||||||||||||||||||
| The trackers had of course been executed for their incompetence. All of the wolves involved in the incident were now exotic looking rugs. Then when he sent scouts to that area - to see if there were any survivors - news came back that there were tracks leading from the ice into the forest. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "What if - she didn't survive - and it was one of the others?" the advisor asked. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Then I will have to hope - that she was not out that day - that she is still in the castle listening to the latest gossip with her friends. I won't hear any more of this," he interrupted. The advisor nodded and backed away. "If they haven't reported in yet - that must mean that they have found something - or have been detained - in either event - it is worth investigating further. Have about four more small parties sent out. Have them dress as the locals to avoid attracting attention," he stated. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "It shall be done," the advisor stated as he left the room. As he left a soldier hurried in. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Sir - one of your spies has returned - he claims to have news," the soldier stated. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "He does? Interesting. You all are dismissed - you have your orders - no deviation," Damien ordered. The room began to filter out as the spy from the village entered. "I'm told you have news?" he remarked. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "She lives - I saw her," he stated calmly. A smile crept across the general's face. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "You saw her? Lady Bethany?" he clarified. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "None other. From what I overheard - and what I saw - they must have encountered one of your scouting parties," he began. It was then that Damien noticed one odd word in the answer. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "They?" he asked curiously. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Some - man was with her. Most likely the one that fished her from the lake - and killed two from that scouting party I ran into on the way back," he answered calmly. Damien walked over to the window and looked out at the winter wastelands around them. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "He could be a complication. Did you hear anything else? Plans - places - anything?" he asked not turning around. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "When I left - they were going shopping - most likely her clothes were ruined when she fell into the lake. After that - he will most likely try to get her back to her home. Oh - that reminds me - the scouting party said to inform you - that her family has search parties out looking for her," he added. Damien turned around and walked back over to the map. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "It has been a couple of days or so - if they have been webbing outward," he began as he traced his fingers around the area they would have most likely reached. "They would be about here," he added. "That won't leave us much time. Take what you need to get back to that place you found them. Record everything you find about her - and her - new friend. I will have agents accompany you. Give what you find to them - they will bring it to me - now go," he ordered. The man bowed and hurried away. Damien sighed and walked over to the broken thrown. | ||||||||||||||||||
| His mind wandered as he thought about Bethany - he remembered every detail about when he first met her. It was almost five years ago. The nobility of the northern province were throwing a party. A party he and several overseas delegates had been invited to - one of which was him. | ||||||||||||||||||
| He could remember every detail so clearly - the way her dress hung so perfectly on her body as she danced - the way the light made her eyes almost sparkle - the sound of her laugh as she gossiped with her girlfriends. | ||||||||||||||||||
| He had finally mustered enough courage to go over and talk to her when her mother whisked in and escorted her away to meet a local noble. He watched as Bethany humored the arrogant clod - but as soon as it was convenient she broke away. | ||||||||||||||||||
| That was when they met... | ||||||||||||||||||
| He remembered telling her stories about his homeland - and some of his more exotic adventures. Some seemed to interest her - others - he could tell waned on her interest. They danced - went for a walk - and kissed. Nothing overly passionate - but enough to haunt his dreams ever since. | ||||||||||||||||||
| He had invited her to go back to his homeland - but her mother - she was firmly against it and escorted Bethany away. Ever since that day - she was the only thing on his mind. His parents had tried to fix him up with the daughters of local nobles. Some amused him - but all he could see - was her. And now - after all that time - he was back. | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Bethany - we will be together. And this time," he began as he picked up a dented chalice. "This time - no one will keep us apart," he added with a smile. | ||||||||||||||||||
| To Be Continued... | ||||||||||||||||||