Chapter2

"I'm sorry I'm late, milord..." Krynn sank to one knee, head bowed low and cradling his helm in his arm, hoping not to incur the wrath of his king.

"Get up. No time for formalities... especially when we are alone." Lord British stood with his back to Krynn, gazing out the window upon his kingdom. "Sit," he commanded. Krynn strode to the small wooden throne-like chair that sat before his king's fine granite desk and sat, albeit uncomfortably so in his armor.

Lord British turned slowly, his golden crown catching and reflecting the sunlight brilliantly throughout the room. His steady gaze rested on Krynn for but a slight moment before he took his place across from him. "Soulbane. Kendrik...Soulbane." At the mention of the name, Krynn noticeably flinched. "Hmm... do we not like the sound of that name, Krynn? Do we not like the fact that that name is responsible for both yours and my anguish? That name is responsible for losses for the kingdom totaling in the millions of gold. Or do you flinch because he is your little brother?"

Krynn sucked in air hard... how he hated to be associated with that name. How he despised the fact that he shared a last name and blood with one of the most successful and dangerous thieves alive. British smirked at Krynn's obvious pain. "Krynn... the irony must be killing you. Here you sit... Captain of my guards, and Captain of my army. A paragon of Order and Justice. A true Avatar of the Virtues... yet brother to one of the greatest criminals ever known to walk the face of Sosaria. A man who at this very moment, is still at large."

Krynn's eyes snapped from the floor to his king's eyes. The truth was obvious... written in fury across British's face. "Still at large, milord? He was prisoner of Gehenna just last night! My men caught him outside the castle yesterday trying to make off with a merchant's sword! We caught him!" Gehenna was the nickname for the Britannia Prison many of its inhabitants and crew had given it, a second hell of sorts.

Lord British merely chuckled and rose from his seat. He slowly walked to an alcove in the wall nearby, and from the silver tray set there, he poured himself a drink. He swallowed a gulp... then another, before finally answering his Captain. "Kendrik escaped early this morning... assisted by an unknown party." At this British turned and faced Krynn, staring in seething anger.

"Kendra..." Krynn whispered as his head sank into his gauntleted hands.

"Yes... maybe she. Wrenched from the side of the law... from the side of virtue! Now, I fear she's little more than a pawn in Kendrik's game. A game I am not prepared to lose... understood?!" British's face had turned a bright red to match the rich satin color of his cloak.

"Of course, milord." Krynn had assumed a stony, faraway look... tears ready at the corners of his eyes, threatening to fall at the slightest jarring.

"Now... neither you nor your men have been capable of capturing this man and keeping him for any length of time. You are to no longer fail me, Krynn... thy station and thy life depend on it. You will assemble your guards... and inform them rightly of the reward their king and country are prepared to offer for the head of Kendrik Soulbane. One million gold pieces to the man who brings me his head. No questions asked... dead or alive. I trust that you have no problems with an issuance of this sort against your brother... right, Krynn?"

"Not at all, milord... I shall strive to meet your request as well as any man on my guard will. We shall bring you Kendrik..." Krynn stood as he spoke this, staring intently into British's eyes. "... else I will have failed you for the last time." At this, Krynn turned and strode from his king's chambers.

"Yes, Krynn," British whispered after his Captain had left, taking another sip of his drink... "You will fail me no longer..."

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