Aramon holds up his hand. “First. What will be the terms of your relinquishment of my son?”
Jaden nods. “When I see you have signed papers, I will return to Felinius and son and you will meet us at a place of our choosing, with the remainder of men you have arrested. We will send a man of your employ to relay the message to you. You will bring the papers and we will bring intact son to trade. You will bring three trusted men to make the exchange. If we see other men there, we will abscond and not make the exchange. You can wait to retrieve son in pieces we will send to you. After six months’ time, you may have enough for proper burial.”
Aramon’s pallor turns three shades redder in that second and he clenches his fists so tightly that he draws a small amount of blood as his fingernail tears into his skin. He has a momentary urge to pull his speed shooter from its holster and shoot him in the head, but he relents. He would never make it anyway. Jaden is a seasoned gunfighter, who had killed over fifteen of his men in a shootout. He would be no match for him and his son would be dead as well, a reckless act to no avail.
Jaden enjoys Aramon’s moment of lividness and his inability to do anything about it. He softens once the moment has passed. “You have my word, your grace. No harm will come to a prince so long as you abide by terms we have set forth. Felinius has assured me you will be reunited with your son. You ken?”
“Ai,” responds Aramon. “Set watch and warrant to ensure intactness of beloved son your conditions most assuredly met.”
Jaden nods and then bows. “Then we are well met.”
Aramon nods. “Ai. You may approach now, young Sai.”
Jaden approaches Aramon, with several soldiers accompanying. Despite the fact that Jaden is considered untouchable, they are still taking no chances and will not deviate from protocol.
Jaden confirms the signing of the document and that it is the original. The press where it had been printed bears a tiny mark at the bottom of each page, which would have escaped the notice of one giving it a cursory glance. It is the original. Jaden nods and then bows once more to Aramon, who nods in a perfunctory manner.
“Your grace, thankee.’’
Aramon watches as Jaden is escorted out of the castle. He motions to Aramis. Aramis approaches. “Have six of your men escort our guest out of castle walls.”
“Ai,” responds Aramis.
Aramon looks at Aramis sternly and says through clenched teeth, “And then return for hard words.”
“Ai, your grace.”
Aramis approaches him later. “Your grace, forgive my oversight. Never have we dealt with someone so slippery.”
“Spare me excuses,” says Aramon indignantly. “It will do nothing for our cause.” He pauses and looks at Aramis with icy discontent. “And they will not further your own.”
“I cry pardon, your grace.’’
“Set watch and warrant, if my son is not returned to me alive, you will meet a similar fate. Do you ken?”
A large lump forms in Aramis’ throat and he is momentarily unable to swallow. He shivers as if someone had walked on his grave. “I ken, your grace.”
“So, let us palaver.”
“You are an astute soldier. Little gets by you. You heard his demands.’’
“Ai.”
“And did you note something in his demands that was noticeably absent?”
Aramis had been so preoccupied with his own demise, he had given it little thought. But it dawns on him. There was something that was not in his demands. Aramis nods. “Ai, your grace. He did not demand anything for himself. His thoughts should have included a clause for his safe relocation for him and Felinius. It was noticeably absent.”
Aramon nods. “You are an astute one, old Sai. Such demands noticeably absent. Why wouldn’t one with such haughty business not demand safe passage for himself once negotiations had been concluded? Unless, he had never intended for negotiations to conclude successfully.”
Aramis nods. “Ai, your Grace. They must know we will hunt them down mercilessly. It’s the only way.”
“He’s hiding facts of pertinent nature from us. How can we trust the man who came into my home as a ploy to abduct my only son? You will set up a detail of most accomplished sniper scouts and take them down. You ken?”
Aramis bows. “Ai, your grace. It will be done as you have stated. Set watch and warrant it so.”
“I have set watch and warranted only to be awakened on my knees with your cock in my ass. So do not set watch and warrant anything. Just see it done!”
Aramis says nothing. He merely bows and leaves.
Chapter 34: More Acts of Sabotage
Jericho and Luke descend upon Dante with reckless abandon, launching a full-blown assault on him in another ‘free bout’.
Luke’s strong point is his roundhouse kick, which he launches with full force at Dante, pivoting on his right foot, twisting his hip to put the majority of his strength into it. The kick is swift and Dante is unable to deflect it in time. He can only absorb it; so he crouches down, brings his elbow down, allowing his arm to absorb the majority of the force.
Luke and Jericho know they must fight as one if they are to defeat Dante. He is simply too strong. So, near simultaneously, Jericho hurls a lightning quick jab at Dante’s midsection. He too pivots his foot, so he can put the power of his hips into it.
Dante is much too fast and though he can’t see, the minute vibrations in the air help to telegraph the devastating blow. He picks up on the movement with a sixth sense he has honed over the last year and a half. He deflects the blow and launches one of his own jabs at Jericho’s groin, making a sickening contact.
Jericho keels over, falling to the ground and holds his throbbing balls in his hands. He squeals in agony. Dottore takes him off the mat. The blow is a match ending one for him.
Luke takes little notice of his fallen partner. He simply takes the brief moment of Dante’s diverted attention to launch another hard kick, kicking out towards Dante’s midsection. Dante crouches down and absorbs it, ignoring the throbbing pain in his arms and ribs.
He squares off against Luke, hands up in a defensive posture. Luke dispenses with the kicks for the time being, knowing that Dante is hyper-focused and will not fall prey to them when directly squared off against him. Luke launches several quick jabs, which Dante deflects. One manages to penetrate him slightly, grazing him in the shoulder.
Dante jabs and moves, forcing Luke to change positions. Continually, he jabs and moves. None of his jabs are very powerful. It is his foot movements that begin to push Luke off balance as Luke is nowhere near as swift as Dante. Dante knows this and uses it to his advantage. Dante jabs and moves, jabs and moves and Luke is forced to adjust and square off against him.
When Luke becomes off balance for a split second, Dante takes advantage of his vulnerability, sweeping his leg and smacking his foot on his ankle, causing his legs to be swept out from under him. He crashes to the floor and Dante takes advantage, sending a blow to his gut, eliciting a cry of agony. Dottore signals that the match is over. Luke gets up and walks off the mat. His injuries are superficial, but the blow to his ego will last longer.
Maximus deflects several blows from Tyrenius, pivots on his right leg, using his momentum to launch a roundhouse kick at him. The move is lightning quick and Tyrenius is unable to defend the kick or even crouch down to absorb it. Maximus’ kick makes a devastating contact with Tyrenius’ oblique. A loud crack is heard and Maximus knows he has broken a rib.
Tyrenius emits a high-pitched squeal and coughs. Dottore nods to Maximus, indicating he is to fight Dante.
Maximus and Dante square off against each other. “We are well met, comp,” says Maximus.
“Ai,” replies Dante. “But immunity awaits for one who can take it.”
Maximus smiles at Dante. He moves forward, seemingly gliding. He sends several quick jabs to Dante’s midsection. Dante deflects them relatively easy. Dante moves and jabs himself, forcing Maximus to mirror him and re-s
tabilize himself. But Maximus is no Jericho. He is more evenly matched in speed with Dante, and so Dante has no clear shot on him.
Dante moves and jabs, moves and jabs, performing foot work quickly, hoping to off-balance Maximus, but to no avail. Maximus launches an uppercut, which Dante deflects. He sends out one of his own jabs towards Maximus midsection with lightning quick ferocity and his fist finds home in his stomach.
Maximus emits a surprised gasp, but it does little to unnerve him. He moves his feet quickly and then launches a vicious uppercut, which Dante deflects at the last second.
Maximus changes gears and does a series of quick jabs towards Dante, who deflects them all relatively easy. In the middle of the volley of jabs, he mixes it up by launching a snapping front kick. It catches Dante on the arm, which had taken some serious blows from Jericho. He winces in pain but continues, the tender nerves in his arm lighting up.
Dante changes gears as well, knowing that he must strategize effectively when dealing with a well-matched opponent. He jabs consistently, moves his feet and then mixes up his punches, hoping to catch Maximus off guard, if only for a split second. It may be the only advantage he will have. After a series of jabs, he pivots his feet, crouches down and uses his hips to push up into a ferocious uppercut. Maximus deflects only part of it. The main force of the punch catches him on the cheek, knocking him back and off balance. Dante senses his vulnerability and pivots his feet, and uses his momentum, transferring his power to his hips and performs a roundhouse kick to Maximus’ oblique.
Maximus is unable to deflect it and only succeeds in absorbing it. Dante’s kick is devastating and he winces as his arms absorb the majority of the blow. His fragile ribs absorb little, allowing him to counter effectively.
Before Dante can re-center himself, Maximus launches a quick uppercut. Though Dante is ill-prepared for it and unable to defend himself, the blow misses its mark, catching him on the chest. The blow is nevertheless sharp and unbalancing. Maximus launches another volley of quick jabs, which Dante manages to deflect, despite being off balance for a split second.
Dante and Maximus continue on and on in such a manner, with one opponent seemingly getting the upper-hand, while the other one seems to falter. And yet, neither opponent is able to launch a decisive blow.
Dottore looks on, clearly approving of the match and the skills with which each opponent presents himself. He considers calling the match but relents, for the time being. He decides to let it continue for a few minutes longer.
Maximus has left nothing to chance. Knowing he cannot possibly inflict a recruit ending injury on Dante without intervention, he has made arrangements to ensure that an ally can. Maximus had been working with Phates extensively. Unbeknownst to all, he has hollowed out a small portion of his back tooth with a tiny filament rod used in blacksmithing. It was an excruciating act to accomplish but a necessary one. When he moves his tongue to the side of his tooth and blows, it emits an inaudible sound that can only be heard by canines. When Phates hears the sound, she will bark from the sound of the unpleasant but harmless noise. Perhaps it will be enough to distract him, if only for a split second. It may be all the time he needs.
If Maximus is to implement it, he does not have much time. Already, his mouth is bleeding. He rubs his tongue across a couple of teeth and feels the jaggedness, indicating a few cracked teeth. He has a couple of lacerations on his cheek and one eye is mashed up pretty bad. He can see clearly out of it at present, but if it becomes swollen shut, it will likely be all the advantage Dante needs. Dante’s own swollen eye is inconsequential.
Dante launches a powerful roundhouse kick which drives home into Maximus oblique. He only partially deflects it. A large portion of the force is absorbed into his ribs. Already, as Maximus breathes, he can feel the tell-tale signs of what feels like a sharp stick digging into his skin. Dante has broken at least one rib.
Maximus feels Dante growing increasingly more aggressive with each kick. He knows he is moving in for the decisive blow. He senses that Dante is about to perform a front kick for the ending blow. He sees Dottore, ostensibly awaiting to call the match, in Dante’s favor. Maximus turns his tongue to the side of his hollowed-out tooth and blows. Phates barks out sharply.
Dante averts his gaze a moment before he launches his front kick, giving Maximus a split second of indecision in which to capitalize on. So, when Dante launches the kick, Maximus launches himself out to grasp it. He grabs Dante’s foot, knocking him off balance. With his leg in his arms, he bounds up, pivots to his right and then throws his weight forward and brings down his elbow on Dante’s femur with all the force he can muster.
He hears the sickening crack of the bone as it breaks. His ploy has worked. Dante drops to the ground in excruciating pain, howling in agony. He rolls around on the floor.
“Match!” bellows Dottore. Dottore tends to Dante.
“Well done, Dante. I will help you up. A devastating blow, but one well within the rules of engagement. You averted gaze for split second. It was all the advantage that Maximus needed.”
Dottore helps Dante up and brings him to Merlin, who begins his ministrations.
As Dottore brings out Dante, Maximus walks around the gymnasium, with hands up in the air, reveling in his victory. No one comes out to congratulate him. And when he looks at his fellow recruits, they avert their gaze in shame.
He approaches two of his most loyal subordinates, hoping to receive their adoration. “Did you not witness victory? Immunity is mine.”
“Ai. You have won your immunity,” replies Jericho, in a nonchalant manner.
“At what price?” asks Luke. “You went too far. It was very unknightly.”
“Well within rules of engagement, young Sai,” replies Maximus with righteous indignation.
Jericho and Luke look at Maximus with rueful glares. “Enjoy your moment of victory. We cry pardon that we cannot share it with you,” says Luke. They both walk away. Maximus watches them go. After several more failed attempts to meet the gaze of other recruits, he walks off with Phates, the only one who will pay him any mind.
Chapter 35: Abductee Intact
Felinius looks over at Felipides, who cowers in a musty corner of the barn, disheveled, his eye swollen and bloodshot and his mood forlorn. He is as unsure as a newborn calf, untrusting of his new and lethal guardians.
Felinius smiles at him sardonically, enjoying his moment of pain and helplessness. “Cheery up some, prince. It will be over soon enough. Pray that your father does not tempt fate.”
“My father would never risk my life. You should be worried beyond measure, Sai. My father will follow you to ends of Earth to make good on recompense.”
“Oh, will he now?”
“Ai. Set watch and warrant it so.”
“Perhaps I should give him better reason still to seek vengeance.” He looks at Felipides, reveling in his discomfort. He laughs.
Felipides averts his gaze and buries his head in his lap, shivering both from the cold draft in the barn and mortal fear. He prays his father is not reckless.
Jaden turns to Felinius and smiles. “Our illustrious guests arrive, sans Aramis.”
Felinius nods. “Ai. I would ken that he would not be among them. He is too valuable.”
Prometheus, now the second in charge of the campaign, arrives with his men. He dismounts his horse. Felinius observes his litheness and the manner in which his eyes dart to and fro. Nothing escapes his notice. He is a man to be reckoned with.
He says nothing, only nods. “By King’s demand, I will have to set eyes on Prince, to ensure he is well. You ken?”
“Ai. We will permit you and another of choosing to enter into the barn to confirm.”
Prometheus nods and looks to one of his men. “Lionel, you will accompany me to the prince.”
“Ai, Duke.” Lionel complies. They proceed to enter in, but Felinius stops them. He holds up his hand.
“First, toss weapons.”
“You would leave us pow
erless?”
“I would ensure that you are powerless to mount assault and rescue.”
“If we refuse?” asks Prometheus.
Felinius moves his coat aside to reveal his speed-shooter. “You wish to test luck and risk life of Prince? If you manage to kill me, my cohort puts bullet in Prince. You wish to break news to King? How would he accept it?”
Prometheus nods. He looks to his subordinate. “Do as he says.” Lionel complies. As they approach, Felinius extracts two silkworm wraps from his back pocket. He grabs Prometheus roughly and puts the wrap around his hands, behind his back. He grabs Lionel and does the same.
He nods at them. “Ai. Now, we go.”
Prometheus and Lionel enter into the barn. Jaden turns to the Prince and smacks him hard. “Wake up, Sai.” Felipides turned around to them.
“How fareth you, young Grace?”
“In pain, but nothing that will not abate. Intact, so I am.”
“Satisfied?” asks Felinius.
Prometheus nods. “Ai.” Felinius takes them both, produces a butterfly knife and cuts off the wraps from their hands.
“Tell your King to bring what we have asked for to Rangoon Forest. Along the Southeast corridor, there is a large group of birch trees, overlooking a meadow to the West and a large Razzleberry patch to the East. You will meet us at the set of Birch trees in the middle. We will permit a party of four men to complete the exchange. Any deviation from this will result in a dead prince. We see any snipers or scouts, the same ensues. Set watch and warrant, we are not to be trifled with. You ken?”
Prometheus nods. “Ai. Ken, I do. I will relay details to King.”
“See that you do,” replies Felinius. Felinius releases them from their constraints and they ride off.
Felinius returns to the barn with Jaden. He sighs. “Prepared to finish this haughty business?”
Jaden nods. “Ai.”
Chapter 36: Unfortunate News
Germanicus sends the recruits out to recess and then makes his way to the infirmary, observing Merlin exiting out of the door. Merlin has a grave look on his face; though it is difficult to know for sure. It is certainly his signature, deadpan look. Germanicus approaches him.
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