Chapter List
Chapter Seventeen
There was much talk throughout the main hall the next morning. Everybody stood in the room talking loudly with each other. The officers yelled out to silence the crowd.
Once they were silenced Terrance stood up and spoke.
�By now all of you have heard that Renard is missing. Unfortunately that is true in one sense. But we know that an even sadder fate than being kidnapped has occurred with him.� Terrance held up Renard�s sword, the canine head of the handle covered in dirt and what appeared to be blood.
�This was found outside of the castle walls. It appears, that our leader was murdered by the human enemy.� A loud uproar of discussion erupted from the crowd. In the front of the crowd Jewell, Fea, Charlie, and Damien stood, shocked by what had been said.
�Renard�s dead? When did it happen? How? Who did it?� Fea immediately began asking. Jewell stood there, not muttering a word. Damien shook his head.
�No! Renard would fight off any enemy that attacked him!� He yelled. Charlie stood next to Jewell, his face flushed of all emotion except that of shock that his hero, Renard, was gone.
�Please be quiet!� Yelled Terrance. �Now, I understand that he will be mourned. But we cannot let this effect our actions against the humans. I, taking place of Renard as leader of the AFAS, say that we should deal with the surrounding kingdoms before a frontal attack on Emperor Diable.� One officer stood up.
�No! It was Renard�s and even Ziara�s plan to gather numbers then attack The Emperor! I say we continue as planned!� He yelled to Terrance. Terrance snarled quietly at him.
�Then I move to vote. Officers in favor of dropping the old plan for the new plan of attacking the kings one by one?� Nine hands raised into the air.
�All opposed?� The one officer, Fea, and Damien raised their hands.
�It�s settled then. We move to defeat the kings.� Terrance announced, while strapping the sword around his belt and dropping the old one to the ground.
It was another hour before the main hall was cleared. Except for Jewell and Charlie, who remained there, still stunned by the news.
��Renard can�t be dead�� Charlie finally said. Jewell looked at him and sighed.
�I�m sure he�s not� maybe they just captured him.� She said hopefully. Charlie turned and headed out of the main hall at a slow walk, his tail dragging behind him.
Jewell sighed to herself and finally turned and headed out of the hall. She passed by Terrance and two officers on the way out. She looked the three of them over quickly then frowned slightly, turned tail, then walked off. Terrance and the officers watched her walk off then grinned at each other. Terrance took the sword out then held it by the blade as he took out a cloth and cleaned it off.
�Chickens blood was a perfect decoy wasn�t it, sir?� asked one of the officers. Terrance nodded then put the sword away.
�It was well used. Did you do as I asked?� Terrance asked them,
�Aye sir. But why didn�t we jus� kill �im?� he asked. Terrance frowned slightly.
�He�s no threat anymore. Besides, if it weren�t for him I wouldn�t be here. I simply returned the favor by not killing him...� he shook his head then started down the hall.
Just around the corner Jewell stood leaned against the wall, her jaw dropped in disbelief. She looked around the corner to make sure the three were gone then ran up the stairs. She couldn�t confront them about it; she knew she�d be killed to keep their secret safe. She ran as fast as her feet could take her, her tail swaying quickly behind her as she ran. She stopped at the end of a hall then quickly opened the door, went in, then slammed it shut, locking it. Damien turned in his seat and looked up from his papers at her. She was out of breath and was leaning against the wall.
�Jewell? What�s wrong?� He asked. She looked up at the floor at him with a pained and angered expression.
* * * * * *
The sun hung high in the air strait above a large castle. The tops of the walls were lined with many sentries, all with longbows, arrows, and spears. Behind the walls two men walked side by side, talking as they crossed the courtyard.
�So, Richard, why is it you�ve come here?� said one of the men.
�Another King has fallen t� that group of animals that call themselves the AFAS, Emperor.� Richard replied. Emperor Diable nodded slowly. He thought for a moment.
�Which King?� the Emperor asked.
�King James, sir. From the southern lands.� He told him. The Emperor nodded again. He thought for a few minutes longer, his hand resting on the bone-skull hilt of his sword.
�Is that all, Richard?�
�No sir. A local merchant said he saw two animals dragging a third from the castle the same night.�
�So?�
�We believe it might have been their leader, sir. If we could find him, perhaps we could find out where the AFAS are going.� Richard suggested. A grin played across the Emperors face.
�You�re a demon, Richard. Send out a few soldiers to search for and round up the creature. Tell them not to harm him unless he resists. After all�� he turned to face Richard. �We don�t want to be rude to who may be a useful resource.�