King Rupert stood in his chambers pacing back and forth the rhythmic tapping of his dress shoes clicked against the marble floor. The badges and chains of gold hanging from his cloak clanged together the sound echoing through the chambers. Sighing in frustration he gripped his hair staring at a map of Avart which sprawled across his desk. His teeth were grinding in frustration as he stormed back over to the map crossing out yet another place on the map.
"Andrew!" The king bellowed out enraged.
Soon enough a man with a military uniform stepped in, helmet in hand, bowing on one knee he looked at the ground before answering.
"Yes, your highness."
The king grumbled something allowing Andrew to stand, his posture was professional as his hand gripped the helmet tucked beneath his arm.
"Why are those demons still not found?" The king growled, turning to the soldier.
"Sire, the soldiers are tired an-"
"ENOUGH!" The king seethed, throwing everything off the desk in a fit of rage, the objects clattering to the floor.
Andrew stiffened as he watched Rupert storm up to him he cowered in fear but his body stayed still hoping to not anger the king before him.
"I did not ask you about the soldier's well-being, I asked you about the spirits. Must I remind you of what you owe me?" King Rupert gave Andrew a smirk acknowledging the fact he had the upper hand in this argument.
"N-No sir." Andrew stumbled over his words fearfully.
"Good, now I want you to go to the village outside of Utros and get information on those demons. Now go don't disappoint me, Andrew." Rupert started turning to his window, his fur cloak swaying behind him with his swift movements.
"Of course, sire."
Moving quickly out of the room Andrew's footsteps echoed through the halls of the castles. His body moved uneasily as he passed the portraits, their eyes seemingly moving as he rushed down the hall. Opening the large main door of the castle he rushed to the stables where the knights lay resting hoping to finally have a day of rest. Andrew rushed inside the stable's door slamming shut and alerting the soldiers of his presence. Having deep breaths he spun to his soldiers before straightening himself to look more presentable.
"Get ready, we will move to Armes village in an hour." Andrew started rushing to his horse to aid her.
The palomino horse snorted in annoyance when the saddle settled on her back, turning to the mare he gently scratched her neck in a soothing motion.
"I know Hera but we owe the king our life." Andrew soothed.
Strapping the girth underneath the horse's stomach and tightening it, Hera nuzzled her head into his chest making him laugh before reaching into one of his pockets and pulling out a sugar cube. The palomino whined happily, taking the sugar cube between her jaws and began munching on the sugary treat. Leading her out of the stables Andrew walked to the front of the army, the men looked exhausted having their heads slumped down lazily as they wished for just a few hours of rest. Mounting Hera with a sour expression he began walking east towards Armes, as he picked up speed hoping to get back as soon as possible, his men followed close behind. Soon they approached the village and Andrew held up a fist halting his small army.
"Ask the people if the spirits are here, if anything seems suspicious, find out about it nothing more nothing less." His tone was stern and commanding.
The army nodded before separating to do their questioning to find the spirits. Andrew halted in front of an old house that seemed as though one more rainstorm and it would topple over. Dismounting his horse he walked up to the small cottage before his knuckles rapped on the wooden door. He waited a few seconds before a small child opened the door slightly peeking through the small opening. His smile softened as he bent down seeing the child was no older than 5 at the time, he opened his mouth to state something but before he could a loud ruckus came from behind him.
"Fire!" A man's voice rang rushing over to grab a bucket of water.
Andrew rushed over seeing a cottage caught on fire burning to ash, soon enough the fire began spreading around the village. He watched as people rushed around with buckets trying to put the fire out. Andrew grabbed a bucket moving towards the fire in an attempt to stop it only to fail as the fire grew devouring everything in its path. Andrew spun around quickly when a shrill scream broke through the shouts of people. His eyes widened when he saw some children being hauled off in carriages, rushing towards them he stopped when the carriages ran off until they were no longer in sight. Soon enough the villagers glared at them with hatred pointing accusing fingers at him and his men.
"My baby, how could you let them take my baby." A woman cried tears falling from her eyes as she collapsed to the ground.
A man rushed to her aid when she toppled to the ground, her shoulders shaking as sobs racked through her body. She sobbed heavily at the loss of her child making Andrew's chest tighten in sympathy. Walking up to the woman he bent down stretching out a hand only for it to be grabbed.
"Haven't you done enough already? Look at what you caused." The man seethed glaring at Andrew.
Andrew backed away nodding his head to the group of women who were wailing in the arms of anyone nearby. He gritted his teeth as he stared at the village burnt before turning to his men with eyes that seemed to have fires dancing behind them as he spoke.
"Find the one who did this, bring me his head on a platter!" He yelled to the group before they began to run off in different directions.
"Yes sir." The men replied in unison before mounting their horses and riding off to find the culprit.
Andrew sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose thinking about what he should tell the king on why he had no information on where the spirits were hiding. Grumbling incoherent words he thought about how they very well could be extinct, moving towards where the carriages once were where he tried remembering the symbols on the carriage. After a minute or so he remembered a sign of the man criminal gangs that had been taking children and selling them for money after the great war. His teeth bared in hatred as he glared at where they had disappeared, the small frightened face of the 5-year-old he had seen in the doorway of the house fighting with the large man to let her go but failing.
"I will find the culprit of this. However, these people need a place to stay" He mumbled turning to the now homeless people.
Deciding that he would return to King Rupert and ask for help and resources he mounted his horse to prepare his track back to his homeland. He sighed highly doubting his plan would work but decided what was the harm in trying. Turning to the still weeping people he cleared his throat gaining attention from some.
"As an honorable knight of the Utros kingdom, I shall ask King Rupert the almighty for the resources and help to rebuild your home!" Andrew exclaimed as the group chuckled.
"King Rupert eh! What will he do? He's done nothing for us before!" A man laughed.
"Corrupt king more like it!" Another shouted and soon a mob began forming shouting insults and slanders at the king.
"Enough that is your king you speak of! You will be executed for your crimes!" The commander yelled angrily as the knights returned, "Shackle them!"
"Wait no- '' Andrew cried as the knights began shackling the two men who spoke out.
"Do you wish to join them, even if you are the grand officer you can still be executed for treason like these peasants." The commander seethed smirking.
Andrew sighed as he moved along with the two trailing behind his head hanging lowly. We made it to the castle and entered. The people cried begging us to spare them saying haven't we had enough bloodshed for the day? After about a week the trial was held to see what the punishment of the men was.
"We are here today for the trial of these men from Armes village." The judge exclaimed.
Andrew watched as King Rupert stood up walking to stand beside him, the crowd cheered before he raised his hand silencing the crowd.
"Even after the great war we still have those who believe there is good in the spirits! Can the world not see what has become of those who trust the spirits they are brainwashed to speak out against their king!" Rupert yelled as my eyes widened.
He spoke of lies, the spirits were never once the cause of this. Andrew stared at King Rupert in disbelief as he straightened his posture.
"Coming to the conclusion a new law has been made, anyone caught affiliating or having knowledge of the spirits shall be executed on the spot!" He yelled as the crowd roared in applause.
A smirk came to his lips as he nodded to the executor who walked up to the two men raising his ax to the guillotine string. In one swift movement, the string was cut as Andrew averted his eyes hoping not to see the murder of two innocent men.
"Let this be a lesson to those who are harboring or know of where the spirits are!' He yelled as the crowd began shoving each other.
His eyes turned to Andrew, a wicked smile covering his face as he stared at him almost with bloodlust. Andrew gulped nervously as King Rupert began walking away, his cloak flowing behind him. Stopping his head turned to Andrew a look of greed glinted in King Rupert's eyes.
"Let's see if we can find those spirits now." He chuckled before walking away.