On a clear bright day, the peaceful chirping of the birds echoed in the forest of the South, a calming sound of nature that one could say was the gift of nature. Some of the yellow dried leaves fall slowly against the wind and touch the ground that was covered in a moss.
One could say how peaceful and relaxing it would be to behold a sight that was comforting and healing. However in the midst of it, an open area inside the forest had a different kind of silence enveloping it.
The eyes of the knights shook at the sight of the man they once thought of as their comrade as it began to fade and become bruises with blood stained on his skin.
His olive colored eyes begin to lose shine, his energy dried up by the continued beating that happened a few minutes ago.
"Haa… Haa… Haa…"
His body that lies down on the ground and his chest that was going up and down was the indication that his suffering was still not done.
And the only sound that the knights surrounding the training ground that was supposed to be the most rowdy was dead silent.
And the only thing that was making sound was James breathing, the fearless traitor, who thought that he could invade the Black Stallion Knights successfully.
"I applaud you… for the efforts of enduring your four years with us. You're very loyal to your master!"
Hugh said as he bent down and yanked his hair. James grumbled in protest but Hugh's hold was firm.
"I-I just… I just did what I was t-told!" James said in plead.
"Really…? Why don't you tell me what you're "told" to do?" Hugh asked with his dark eyes glistening dangerously.
James holds his breath. The pressure that Hugh was emitting was enough for him to suffocate.
"I-I… Co-commander…" James called as he tried his best to beg for his forgiveness.
Thud!
Hugh smacks his head in the ground as anger rises in his head.
"You think you have the right to call me that? Answer the question!"
James' forehead suffered again as Hugh smacked his head to the ground. Most of the knights crumpled their faces as they saw their commander's brutality but no one would attempt to interfere with what their commander was doing.
As James head was yanked from the ground his forehead that was bleeding heavily became the sight to behold.
James met Hugh's eyes and thought that he will be sucked in the abyss and that he would never get out of the darkness as his life will end in a blink of an eye.
"You should have thought of what would happen to you when you take the job of being a spy, right? You're lucky I'm prolonging your execution by talking to you. Aren't I kind?"
James shivered because the look on the Black Stallion Knights' Commander was telling him that he was genuine with what he said.
"Why don't you just kill me?!" James screamed.
Hugh smirks as he approaches his ear and whispers. "You really thought that I would let you have a painless death? No! For invading and leaking information and spying on the Black Stallion Knights and being loyal to a different master, I'll give you a punishment that you'll beg me to kill you."
James froze. He was with the Black Stallion Knight for years and saw a fair share of how the Grim Reaper of the Battlefield showed his murderous side to the enemies and swing his sword in one fell swoop and kill his enemy but this was the first time that he faced the Notorious Duke of North and his torturous side.
It was like a devil incarnate!
***
Whimpering sound was heard from a tent that was enclosed where two knights guard the entrance.
The traitor was pulled there, where Duke Hugh started his interrogation.
They stayed there for half a day where non-stop torture specially prepared by the Duke was waiting, after some time, James were on the brink of death.
At first, James was holding on from the beatings but once the Duke used his power and the torture started he experienced excruciating pain without a moment to breath to take. His mental state weakened until he spilled all the things that he knew to him.
Austin, Michael, Salis, and Justine who was with their Commander inside the closed tent and witnessed how he conducted the torture personally, shivered and remembered why they feared the Duke of the North.
'We remember why betraying him never crossed our minds…' Salis thought as he looked at James who was breathing slowly.
"Do you have any last words?" Hugh asked as he mocked James who was coughing blood.
"I guess not."
James slightly opened his closed eyes and saw the glint of the sword that was coming close to him.
Swish!
The sound of the air being cut resounded inside the tent. And the person lying there slowly bleed and closed his eyes as his vision darkened.
***
In a busy place, such as the Palace, where all the government officials peacefully worked hard for their Kingdom for it to become a better place for the citizens, where the nobles silently talked about politics and on which side they should put their foot to bet their future on.
The maids that wordlessly cleaned every corner and did their fair share of chores in the palace since the crack of dawn, and while the knights quietly patrolled around the Royal Palace. One place was making noise.
"Incompetent!" She screamed!
Crash! Bang!
"Why?! How many lives does that monster have?!"
Queen Matilda's shouts shrouded the room that was shimmering with gold decorations at the Rose Palace, her residence.
The vase that was once antique and imported from a far away country and had a cultural value and was expensive, shattered just like that with no hesitation.
"I apologize, Your Majesty..." The man calmly said as he lowered his head. "However, Your Majesty, you must know that the Duke is someone who's hard to deal with. That much attack would not bring him down." The man looked at her Majesty with a smile on his face.
Queen Matilda fiercely walked to him and Pak! - Her hand landed on his face which colored it red.
"He's hard to deal with?! Do you think I didn't know that?! How many times do you think I've wished that "that" man would be found dead in some unknown land?!" Queen Matilda asked with a sharp glare fiercely looking at the man's profile.
"I've given you enough opportunity to kill that bastard! How long should I wait for you to get rid of that rogue?!" She screamed!
With her chest rising up and down as she breathed heavily at the sudden rise of her anger with a deadly glare that would make anyone shiver in fright.
Queen Matilda cupped the man's face. "Should I just kill you first? Then, I'll ask someone to do your job since you're so inept with your job." she said in gritted teeth.
However, the man in front of the Queen was still composed even though he witnessed how hot tempered she was.
With his shimmering golden eyes that haven't had a slight change in emotion, the man that was a head taller than the Queen looked down and smiled.
"My Queen, we all know that I'm the most competent of your followers. If you think you have someone who could do what I can then please.... Be my guest."
Queen Matilda knows that the man she's dealing with is someone who is also troublesome. The pale hands that were cupping his face were slowly seized and raised to his lips.
"I apologize again, Your Majesty… I promised I'll do something about it, this time even if I fail I'll definitely make him cripple." He looked at her with a sparkle in his eyes.
Tsk!
Queen Matilda clicked her tongue seeing that the man was not even affected even a bit. and bowed his head again as if he didn't get slapped in the face by the hot tempered Matilda.
"That's right, even if you don't kill him then make sure you will disable him so that I will not see him parading in the Palace again."
"Of course, Your Majesty." He leaned his body and bowed. "Then, I'll excuse myself, Your Majesty." The man was about to leave when he heard the Queen's voice that was full of warnings.
"You better do it right this time, Benjamin!"