"What do you think you're doing Harold?" Edmund questioned immediately they reached his residence. "You know more than anyone that going against the mission is punishable by death and worse"
"Against the mission? Mind you, i didn't spare them to live their lives, I merely gave them another chance to fight. It's rather cruel them going against us in their current power levels." Harold replied, finally alighting from his unending flight. He walked to the seat in front of him and settled down.
"What of the girl?" Caleb asked as he properly attended to his wounds. "Do we take her to him now?"
"No, we rest for now and allow her to heal properly. She has been drained of strength from lack of control of her abilities. Besides our order was to retrieve her in good conditions" Edmund replied. He carried Sian from where Caleb had rested her and walked out.
"What do you think you're doing Caleb?" Harold questioned. A condescending stare fixed on the man beside him. He shifted the outstretched blade away from his neck and flashed Caleb a wicked eye.
"You don't scare me Harold. For all I know, we three are considered as the Triumvirate. And I don't like it how you act all high and mighty amongst us" Caleb relayed "Besides, we haven't even fought before, you can't tell if you're better than me" Caleb finished before retracting the blade.
A wicked grin spread throughout his face, "Is this supposed to be a threat?" Harold inquired "You know I never liked you Caleb, I only respect you because I respect Edmund. You shouldn't overstep your boundaries."
Silence followed after Harold's response until Edmund returned. He had already read the room and knew what was up, but he wasn't going to interfere. He had known Harold since they were little but Caleb was also a good friend. The two never seemed to get along and he had always been the string holding them together but he was already tired of it. He had come to realize that they would never grow unless they solve their conflicts themselves.
He sighed at the situation before settling down beside Harold.
"I think we should get her a healer, she's not looking very good"
"That's your responsibility now Edmund. I only said I would help you capture the girl not babysit her" Harold replied. He wasn't used to these type of missions. He was always reserved for the hardest missions, and had reluctantly agreed to this one just because he didn't want to disappoint his friend.
"What do you think he wants with her though?" Edmund asked without reference. He had always carried out his missions without questions since his father was his role model. He always believed his father to be perfect but something about this didn't feel right.
"You know we're not supposed to question our superiors motives" Caleb reminded. He couldn't care any less about the girl, all that raced through his mind were devious schemes to drive his blade through Harold's chest and walk over his body. "They know best, besides she's the last water Elemental, who wouldn't want her?"
"I know.....but he seems rather desperate don't you think? He's never desperate, not to this extent" Edmund noted
"Why don't you just ask your father" Harold suggested. "Thinking about it will only give you a headache. I'm going to bed. Wake me when dinner's ready" He finished and left.
***
Everything was in ruins, part of her house was frozen while another was burning endlessly. She had only left for the market an hour ago only to return and find her entire house burning down to the ground. She rushed inside and found two men unconscious on the floor, they were still breathing but Lucas was loosing blood fast.
On the far side, laid another body amidst the burning wood. She raced to bring him out but his body was already cold despite the heat. She checked his pulse. "Dead" She confirmed before covering his eyelids. She blinked back her tears before leaving him to help the living. She carried the two outside on time just before the remaining part of the building gave in and collapsed. Flagging down a wagon, she had rushed them to the closest healer around.
Her mind raced with thoughts as she sat outside the room where the two received treatment. She couldn't help but wonder what kind of monster could best the three most powerful people she had ever encountered. And Sian..... She wasn't there, she just realized now, Sian was missing. She already knew about her past ordeals and her current situation and couldn't help but pity her. The last family she had was dead and now she was going to meet her untimely end just because a power monger allegedly wants balance on earth.
She held her breath for a while before releasing her congesting steam with an exhale. She should look after the ones that are still alive now and ensure their safety for now. Clinging onto untamed emotions for someone who might be dead was not going to help their situation in anyway. The only thing to do now was to move on.