September 3, 535
"Don't shoot!"
As several Guardian Force members peered over the wall at the fleeing Eldric, a booming voice came from behind them. Asante's face was red with fury as he marched to the wall's edge, eyeing the members of the Guardian Force like a hawk.
"He shall be left alive, understand? If fate is to have him killed, let it be by the Land of Solitude and not by our hands. Each of you are to go to your emergency stations."
With no hesitation, all of the soldiers who sat atop the wall frantically rushed to where their assigned emergency stations were. Most returned to the inside of the wall, while several stayed atop the large stone structure. Asante pulled aside one of them, who had been a sergeant of the wall.
"I order you to find me Kastor Gregor, Leonard Rietveld, Henry Kistler, Erick Newborn, and Hagen Miura. They are all from the 611th corps. Do not question them, I will do that myself. Go."
A salute later, the sergeant sprinted off to find the 5 soldiers. Asante turned to face the Land of Solitude, noticing a dark cloud approaching. He picked a gun from the ground and returned to the wall.
The 8th floor held Asante's office, where moments prior he had come face to face with Freeman moments before. He pulled a ring of keys from his pocket and unlocked the door with a large silver key. Inside, the room was spacious, with enough room to fit several large pieces of furniture. In the center of the room stood a wooden desk with a large stack of neatly put paperwork next to a less neat stack of more paperwork. The walls of the room held several large buttons and switches, some lighting up as if begging to be pressed. Only the back wall was free of buttons or levers, instead having large filing cabinets in their place. Asante skipped past his desk and approached the large cabinets, searching for a specific box. Grabbing the desk chair, he stood up on it and opened the 'F' cabinet searching each name, he finally came upon what he'd been looking for. He grabbed the file and closed the cabinet, quickly rushing out of his office and locking the door behind him.
The sergeant had called each of the five soldiers to a small brick building in the military town off to the side where none might eavesdrop. Asante had used this building before, as it had been used for similar purposes in the past. Interrogations, executions, and more had all happened within the confines of a small, shed type building. There were two rooms inside: a waiting room and an interrogation room. The waiting room was a small room housing several chairs and was dimly lit by a few candles hung on the wall. The walls were charred, and the floor was cracked and wobbly. In five of the chairs, the soldiers whom Eldric knew were sitting as they eyed Asante. In each corner of the room was a guard with a rifle in hand in case anything happened.
"You," Asante picked one of the corner guards and spoke to him. "Are they searched and removed of their weapons?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Good." Asante turned to the five soldiers, who had looks of confusion about them. "Gregor, come with me."
Kastor stood and followed Asante as he walked through the door into the interrogation room, ducking his head under the door frame.
The interrogation room was much larger than the waiting room, having enough room for a large table where chairs were on either side. The room was much brighter as well, being illuminated by a natural window toward the high ceiling. Asante sat on the opposite side of the table from Kastor, who continued to look confused. He slammed the file onto the table and stared at the young man.
"Tell me what you know about Eldric Freeman."
Kastor jumped. Out of all the questions Asante could've asked, that was the least he expected. "Eldric? Well, uh.." He thought for a very long time before coming up with a response. "I mean, he was a regular guy. I can't say anything threw me off about him. He was normal to talk to, did normal things, I don't know what else. Wait, is this about Erick modifying his weapons? Because I had nothing to do with that."
"It is not about that, rest assured. You often sparred with him, did he ever say anything about his experience with combat or something of the like?"
"I mean, nothing that really stood out. He started off rough, sure, but I chalked that up to him just learning off the streets of the RLD. Why? Did he do something?"
"We'll get to that." Asante opened the file and began to rummage through the papers. Kastor tried to get a glance but was shooed away. "Do you know anything else about him? Specifically, about his past. Did he ever tell you about his family or anything like that?"
"Well, I know he's from the Red-Light District, but other than that, not much. I know he said it was just him and his dad back home, but he never really talked about himself much. Never seemed the type." Kastor fell silent.
Asante closed the file and looked back up at Kastor, who appeared in a daze. "Did he ever show self-destructive tendencies?"
"Self-Destructive? So he did do something."
"Answer the question."
Kastor readjusted himself in his chair. "Alright, fine. I wouldn't call any of his actions 'self-destructive'. If anything, I would say he's more protective of himself. Not really allowing himself to find misfortune. I don't really know how else to explain it than that. He wanted freedom. He wanted peace. He acted as if he already had it. I don't know, that's the best I can do."
"I see. Last question, Mr. Gregor."
Kastor sat up straight.
"If I were to call you to action, in this case, to go into the Land of Solitude. Would you accept the call?"
Kastor sat back in his chair as he thought about the question. He looked around the room as he pondered the words. "Did Eldric-"
"Yes. We- I am creating a force to retrieve him, and seeing as you, along with your comrades, know him best, I thought it'd be best to bring you all in hopes that you will persuade him."
Kastor ran his hands through his hair. "Alright, that's fine, but on one condition."
"A condition? You're hardly in a place to ask for conditions."
"I ask that double my regular pay is sent to my family while we are in the Land of Solitude. In one payment. Done before we leave."
Asante looked at Kastor, who's eyes narrowed and his body language opened. "I can double a week's pay, no more."
"A week and a half."
"No can do."
"Nine days."
"Seven."
"Nine or I don't do it."
Asante didn't respond immediately. He thought about the proposal and its worth. "Fine. Nine days, no more. Regular pay after that, if we're in the Land of Solitude for less than nine days, however, it's back to regular pay."
"Fine by me."
With the completion of the contract, Asante asked Kastor to leave the room and to bring Leonard Rietveld in. As Rietveld entered, he quickly glanced around the small room as Asante glared at him, waiting for him to sit.
"Let's make this quick Rietveld, I don't have all the time in the world for you."
Leonard nodded nervously.
"Right, then. Tell me what you know about Eldric Freeman."
"Eldric?" Leonard questioned in a similar manner to Kastor. "I-I don't really know anything about him."
"Naturally. I wouldn't expect a Rietveld to care about others. Did anyone ever say anything about him to you?"
Leonard looked at the ground in thought. "I couldn't say. Someone might have, but if they did, I wouldn't remember." All of a sudden he jolted his head up. "I do remember something about him, though. He never knew his history. He barely even heard about any of the wars beforehand, didn't even know who the Rietvelds were, nor the Kistlers. Tha-That stuck out to me."
"Right then. And Freeman never spoke to you about his past."
"His past? No, I can't seem to recall any time where he would. He was much closer to Kastor in that regard." He stuttered as he quickly nodded his head.
"Right then, that's all the questions I had. Oh, and just so you're aware, you're being called to serve in the eleventh expedition into the Land of Solitude. I won't provide you with details now, but begin preparing for it, or ask Gregor if you're so interested in knowing the specifics. Dismissed."
Leonard stood and as he was exiting the room was told to bring in Erick Newborn.
"I must say, he's a tactical genius," Erick said calmly when asked about Eldric. "Somehow, he's able to know the entire outcome of the battle before it even starts. Other than that, he's a good guy, quiet."
"I was told you modified his gun," Asante said assertively.
Erick shrugged. "Sure I did. I didn't know it'd be used to kill fellow soldiers in an act of treason, though."
"What makes you say he did?"
"I heard about it. I was on the roof when he escaped, though fairly far away from any of the actual excitement."
"I see, well it should be known it wasn't your gun that killed him."
"That's ridiculous, Eldric's gun had enough firepower to go through steel, why didn't he use it?"
"The details aren't important. What is important is under what circumstances did you modify his pistol? When did he ask you to make it stronger."
"He didn't." Erick did not hesitate at all.
"He didn't?"
"That's right. I volunteered to modify it. I come from a mechanics family, you see, so-"
"Unimportant. Did you modify his rifle as well?"
"I didn't."
"Why not?"
"It takes several days to modify a weapon for me, even by a little bit. We'd just gotten our rifles so I didn't have nearly enough time to do anything to it."
"I see." Asante opened the file once more and flipped through some of the papers inside. "Did Eldric ever bring up his past with you?"
"Sure, in passing. I'd talk about how it was just me and my dad, and he'd say the same. We had that much in common, so there wasn't much else to talk about."
"Did he speak highly of his father?"
"He didn't really speak of his father. He'd mention his existence, and then change the subject either to me, or to something completely unrelated. Like I said, he didn't really talk much. Is a question like this really necessary?"
"It is. I have one more question for you, Newborn. What say you to the call to an expedition into the Land of Solitude?"
Erick stood quickly. "You want to go after him?! You're crazy! We'd no sooner die than find him out there."
"Newborn, at this point, your place in the expedition is pretty much confirmed. Whether you agree with it or not is none of my concern, I was asking purely out of good will."
"Well, I don't agree with it. If you're taking me by force, fine. But if I have a say in the manner, I don't want any part." Erick stood defiantly still. "Am I dismissed?"
Asante nodded and told him to bring Henry Kistler into the room next.
"This is about Freeman, isn't it?!" Henry shouted as he entered the room and sat in the lone chair. "That bitch deserves whatever comes to him! Couldn't care a lick about what's going on with him. Why, if I ever get my hands on him I'll strangle him to death! It's what he deserves for killing one of us!"
"This is about Eldric Freeman, and I'm aware the two of you didn't have the best relationship. Did he ever threaten you?"
Henry laughed so loud one could hear it from outside. "What's it to you?!" He laughed for several more minutes before calming down. "To answer, I don't know if he threatened me ever. If he did, it was so insignificant that I'd forgotten about it. I think the only time he ever would have been when he'd protect Rietveld for whatever reason. Kid was fucking delusional if you ask me, protecting a traitor to the country."
Asante nodded. "I believe those were all my questions, thank you Mr. Kistler."
Henry laughed as he got up from his seat. Asante told him to bring in the last man to interrogate, Hagen Miura.
"It's about Eldric, isn't it?" he asked as he shut the door.
"What makes you say that?"
"The guy went into the Land of Solitude, killed a guy, and you called the five people he'd've been closest with in the force. It's pretty easy to deduce why you want us here."
"I see. In that case, can you tell me anything about him?"
Hagen got quiet and leaned forward. His smile faded from his face. "Simply put? He's scary."
Asante was surprised. "Scary?"
"Yes. Whatever you have in this file about him isn't enough." Hagen put his hands on the table. "Normally, with people like him, I can tell what they're thinking. 'What's their next move?' I ask myself. Usually, if not always, I'm right. But Eldric," Hagen chuckled. "There's nothing behind Eldric's eyes. I can't even begin to understand what he's thinking. If given the chance, and in the right circumstances, I wouldn't think it strange for him to go and send himself on a suicide mission, nor would I put it past him to kill a soldier in the way he did. If you're considering going after him, I'd recommend against it."
Asante said nothing. Instead, he flipped open the file began swiping through the pages once more.
"That file isn't about Eldric, is it?" Hagen asked. "The pages are too old."
Asante glared at Miura. "What about it?"
Miura stood up and shrugged. "Oh, nothing of note. Just know he's not going to come easily. A broken man isn't so easily mended." Hagen stepped to the door and put his hand on the handle. "Oh, and before you ask, I'm in on whatever expedition you're planning to take into the Land of Solitude. I'll start training with Kistler as soon as you let us go."
With a smile, Hagen left the interrogation room on his own accord, leaving Asante in silence. He looked back down at the file and closed it, leaving the interrogation room and then the large brick building. Outside the building, several soldiers waited at the ready for him to give them orders, which he responded by ordering the retrieval of a carriage.
After the carriage had been retrieved, he turned to one of the soldiers. "I'm off to the capital. There are things I need to have done. I will be back in 3 days' time and in that time, I need to have the five who I called today to be prepared to enter the Land of Solitude. Teach them to ride a horse. There will be no further questions."
The soldier saluted and ran off.
* * *
The carriage Asante had ordered was for special uses only and had been able to travel to Heldenstadt in just over a day. It was a smaller carriage than the mass-produced, horse-drawn carriages, but it could comfortably fit him and another person if need be. After a day of travel, the farms of the Empire's plains turned into large buildings as he approached the capital's gates. Once through, he made headway for the noble district, where he stopped at the chancellor's estate.
The estate was a large area surrounded by tall brick walls. A large, paved road leading from the gate to an extravagant building. On either side of the road were gardens and fountains sprinkled across a few more buildings. After being let in by the guards who stood at the chancellor's gate, Asante followed the paved road straight to the extravagant building: the chancellor's home.
The chancellor of Heldenstadt was the true acting power of the country, leaving the Emperor as the figurehead of the country. While the Emperor worked from the comforts of the Imperial Castle, the chancellor was offered an equal share in the riches of his estate. Asante, being in the military, worked under the chancellor directly for many years. Despite this, he was nervous for their meeting as he had not announced himself before his arrival.
Stopping in the roundabout outside the chancellor's home, Asante stepped out with his file and walked to the door. Before knocking on the door, it was opened by none other than a man in a gray suit. He was an older man with a full head of gray hair.
"The chancellor instructed me to take you to his office," the man said.
Asante had only been in the chancellor's home a handful of times, each time more impressive than the last. High ceilings, tile floors that could reflect the moonlight in the night sky, and chandeliers that seemed to have been crafted with the highest precision were what greeted him in the hall. A staircase leading to the second floor was off to the left, but the chancellor took him straight. He was led through a maze of a home, each room more impressive than the last. Extravagant furniture, expensive portraits of past emperors, wide, open rooms, each one having a distinct feel that was completely different from the last. Eventually, he was brought to a small room that appeared to be an office. Piles of paper were stacked on chairs, bookshelves filled with books, some on the floor sprawled open. A large window allowed for gazing out in need of thought. Inside the room was Chancellor Joseph Solveig gazing out the window. The suited man bowed before taking his leave.
The chancellor wore elegant purple and blue clothing with gold shoulder pads and a white cape. His chiseled chin was decorated with a brown beard, though he had no mustache. He was around Kastor's height, thus making him much taller than Asante. His brown hair reached his shoulders and had a slight curl to them.
"Malik Asante, First Captain of the Guardian Force, your arrival is most unexpected," Solveig spoke in a deep and steady voice, sending goosebumps down Asante's spine. "Of all people, I would have expected Antonov to be reporting to me before you."
"Yes, Your Excellency." Asante bowed. "I hope my arrival isn't making too much trouble."
Solveig ushered Asante to raise his head. "It is, but considering the times we're in, and considering you came in person to see me, comfort is the least of my worries. Please, sit."
Solveig pushed aside several stacks of paper as Asante took his seat, slapping the file he'd taken from Erdenjist onto the desk. Asante flipped the file open. Inside wasn't a picture of Eldric, but was a picture of his father, George Freeman. Each page had information regarding his life and where he ended up. "I'm sure you remember this man, Your Excellency?"
"I do, how could I forget? Though I don't understand. Is he not living in the capital? In the R.L.D? I don't see how he is anything of your concern out in Erdenjist."
"The concern doesn't lie with him, but his son."
The chancellor grew a look of confusion. "Mr. Freeman had a son?"
Asante began flipping through the "Yes, and he was selected by myself to join the Guardian Force. I never thought of the possibility that Freeman meant his son, but after looking into it further, the data matches up."
"So how does his son call for concern? I thought I gave you complete control over the Guardian Force during this war?"
"You did, but things got a little out of hand. He seems to have taken a note from his father and makes everything difficult for us."
"You're beating around the bush, Asante. Making everything difficult?"
Asante jumped. He wiped his brow before speaking further. "His son escaped Erdenjist into the Land of Solitude."
Solveig sat back in his chair. "So?" He chuckled "Men have deserted the empire before. I hardly see why this requires reporting."
"It's not a matter of him escaping, sir, but rather what he brings with him."
The chancellor stopped chuckling. He sat forward and put his hands on the desk. "You mean, you have reason to suspect-"
"More than suspect, and he'll reach the Republic in no time so-"
"If he survives at all."
"He will." Asante retorted. The two stared at each other for a minute or two before Asante looked away. "Excuse my irreverence, Your Excellency, but it should also be known that he has also slain a soldier of the Guardian Force, and is an enemy to the state regardless of suspicion."
Solveig put his face in his hands. "So what do you plan to do from here? We're in the middle of a war and I don't have the time to be searching for one single man who may or may not be who we're looking for, and who committed a measly crime such as murder? We're finally taking some ground in Rivercrest, and should I take my eyes off it, we'd fall behind once again. It's roughly 400 miles from east to west of the Land of Solitude, meaning it would take this boy at least ten days to reach the Republic, and he already has a day on you, assuming he's headed to the Republic at all! If he is to survive, how do you plan to retrieve him and bring him back?"
"I plan to use him," Asante said, pointing at the file.
"Freeman?"
"Yes. If no one can convince him, then he can. He is his father after all. I also plan to bring the other men from his recruitment class. We will take horses into the Land of Solitude, catch up to him."
"Recruits? You mean to tell me you're taking recruits into the Land of Solitude? Captain, you're beginning to sound like Antonov."
"He is imperative to the war. If he is too overwhelmed by men he doesn't know then it could lead to grave disaster. I plan to bring everyone he knows from the Guardian Force, as well as his father. I only seek your approval."
Solveig thought for a moment, chin in hand. "You're sure you have the right guy?"
Asante nodded.
"I see. Believe me, I am aware of the significance which your suspicion brings. If you are sure you are correct in your assumption, you may have my approval on the condition you bring one of my men with you."
"On what grounds?"
"Should your recruits prove to be insufficient. Those are my grounds. I can't exactly come with you to observe your effort myself, thus prompting me to send one of my men." Solveig pushed aside a pile of folders to reveal a communication system. After pressing a few buttons, a soldier entered the room. He was a younger boy, around twenty, with a short head of hair and a gray uniform. He looked to be shorter than Asante, around average. The boy presented a small stone, which the Chancellor retrieved from him. "This is the Lawrence Stone, a tracking device which is able to intercept anything and everything said by you and your party during the duration of your expedition. You are to hold it on your body at all times, and it will be sewn into your coat.
Solveig stood and took a paper from one of the stacks of paper on his desk. After he wrote on it and stamped it with a seal, he walked over to the soldier and handed him the paper, now folded in half.
"Are we in agreement?"
Asante agreed reluctantly. "Very well."
After the stone was sewn into Asante's clothing, the chancellor tested the capabilities, working perfectly. Asante was soon escorted out of the building, believing it went very well.
Climbing into his carriage with a sense of triumph, Asante knew he had one more place to go. He told his driver the directions and promptly left the Chancellor's building in the dust.
* * *
The buildings quickly turned from tall to stout, and the bright sky became clouded by the smoke emanating from the houses and shops. Eventually, he reached his destination: the Red Light District. The short, two-story apartment buildings were in as poor condition as ever, and Asante scoffed at the smell. The streets were dark despite it being the middle of the day, and the road was poorly managed. Eventually, Asante reached the address on the file. He climbed out and looked up at the apartment building he'd parked by, looking the exact same as all the other buildings around it. Beggars and homeless people tried to climb onto the carriage, but the driver fended them off.
Climbing to the second floor, Asante knocked on door 201 of the building. After a moment of silence, the door was opened by a man clearly hungover.
"Hello Freeman," Asante stated.
George fell back as he realized who was at his door. He wore drabby pants and a stained shirt. His hair was rough and his face scratched. "Malik? What the hell are you doing here? I thought you never wanted to see me again."
Asante stepped inside the small apartment, closing the door behind him. "I didn't, and I don't. Though, things haven't been going my way as of late, so I have to bite the bullet. Nice place, by the way. Much more gunky than your previous residence, is it perhaps taste?"
"If you came here to mock me, you know where the door is." George stood up and walked over to the mattress in the middle of the room, sitting upon it. "I'm not going to listen to you argue with me."
"That's awfully kind of you, completely different from what I'd expect from a R.L.D citizen." Asante stated, walking over to the window. "You've gone stale, Freeman. If this was 5 years ago, I'd see no kindness, much less willingness to allow me in your, must I say, 'humble' abode."
"Not everyone can stay the same person, Malik, you're the odd one in that regard."
Asante laughed. "I am, aren't I? So perfect I don't need change. Though sometimes, change can be for the worse, as it has been in your case. Back to the matter at hand, I'm here to discuss your son."
"Eldric? What in the hell does Malik Asante have anything to do with my son? He was to join the military, not your backwards piece of shit division that harbors nobles too scared to fight for themselves."
"Unfortunately, he did just that. As for your comment about how 'backwards' my division is, I'll let that slide. Believe me if I'd have known you were his father, I would have sent him back to this shithole of a district where he belongs."
George paced to the window and swung his fist at Asante, though it was blocked by his forearm. George quickly swung hit foot to knock Asante down but instead was knocked down himself by Asante's quick fists.
"Stale, as I've said." Asante squatted down to George's level. "Now as I was saying, your son, 'Eldric', is not here in the Empire. Do you know why?"
George did not answer.
"You know why, Freeman. Your son is a spitting image of you, you know that? I don't mean, of course, in the physical way. Frankly, he could've laid low for his entire career and I would have never made the connection myself. However, like his father before him, he went and made a mess of everything. Stuck his nose in the wrong place, said the wrong thing, you know how it is. He took control of that which is not his, you know what I mean."
George's eyes widened, then narrowed. "Why should I trust you? You're an inbred bastard who's done nothing but tarnish names below you to gain privilege."
"You're certainly right in that regard, I have to climb the ranks somehow, after all." Asante rose to his feet. "I am, however, willing to strike a deal with the devil, so to speak."
"What-"
"Your son has fled to the Land of Solitude. If we leave him be, he will reach Reinbose in a matter of days. Thus, with the chancellor's permission, I will be spearheading a retrieval of this boy. I am enlisting the members of the Guardian Force with whom your son was acquainted with, and with your assistance we can retrieve him alive and bring him back to Einrich."
"Why should I help you? This gives you the perfect excuse to leave me to die out in the Land of Solitude. What tells me you won't do that?"
"Freeman, in order for you to be useful, I need you to speak with 'Eldric'. It would be of no use for me to kill you without you serving your purpose. Do you understand?"
George did not respond.
"You understand. I will be leaving at 7 in the morning for Erdenjist. Should you decide to assist me, you will be standing outside the Red-Light District at this time. Should I not see you I will not hesitate to leave without you."
"I thought I was vital to this mission?"
"Oh you are, but not more vital than the time it would take to wait for you." Asante began walking to the door, swinging it open with great strength. "Oh! I guess I should also mention this: If you assist in the retrieval of Eldric, the chancellor will personally absolve every crime you are accused and found guilty of. You'll be back in the noble district as it once was. Though, if gunk is your personal choice," without finishing his sentence, Asante shrugged and closed the door. He walked down the stairs and entered the carriage once again, taking him out of the groggy Red-Light District and into the market district. The sun was once again visible, though everything had a red hue as the sun dipped below the houses and shops. Asante rode the carriage to the noble district, where he returned to his humble home to rest for the night.
Malik Asante's home was not nearly as impressive as some of the other noble homes, but his two-story home saw a great deal of important people throughout the years, as his tenure within the Guardian Force was quite long. A gated front yard and large wood doors greeted him to his abode, where the inside was dim from lack of use. Waving goodnight to the carriage driver, he closed the door behind him and took off his shoes. He trudged up the stairs to his bedroom where a closet and a desk stood. Stepping over to the bed, Asante took his uniform off and climbed into bed, falling asleep as soon as his eyes shut.
* * *
Asante woke early that morning. Looking out his bedroom window, he saw the merchants beginning to open their shops as the sun began to peer over the horizon. Children left their homes to go to school, while husbands kissed their wives goodbye on their way to work. He put his uniform on and packed his suitcase, heading downstairs to see the carriage driver waiting for him in his dining room.
With a nod of good morning, the two left Asante's home, entering the carriage and began to make way for the Red Light District. On the way, he had his arm rested against the window and his head rested on his hand. The noble streets were comparatively empty than the market streets, aside from the occasional practicing swordsman. Eventually, the carriage made its way to the Red Light District and much to Asante's dismay, outside stood a half-asleep George Freeman wearing the same tattered clothes he'd worn the day before. He didn't have any luggage with him, and when he heard the carriage coming he jolted awake.
The carriage stopped next to him, allowing him to reach for the door. Asante held it shut and pointed to the front of the carriage. Because the carriage had room for only two, there was no room for George inside. Asante pointed to the front of the carriage, instructing George to climb next to the driver for the duration of the trip. With a look of frustration, George climbed to the seat and the carriage was off.
* * *
It took a day to reach Erdenjist, which had looked the same as it did when Asante left. The sun was setting over the large gray wall and in its place the lights of the small military town went on. The carriage drove up to the wall where Asante and George all stepped out. They entered the wall and climbed the eight flights of stairs to the roof, where the last bit of sunlight could be seen over the Land of Solitude's horizon. Waiting for them were the five members of Eldric's group, as well as several military personnel. Asante and George walked to the group, who promptly saluted.
"Every man is accounted for," one of the soldiers told Malik. "We've also retrieved horses for your expedition, and they are waiting on the ground of the other side."
"Thank you." Asante ushered to his driver, who pulled out the folded piece of paper and handed it to the soldier. "This is our written consent. Reach out to Antonov, who will be taking over in my place while I am absent."
The soldier saluted and ran off, entering the depths of the wall.
"You mind telling us what the fuck is going on?" Henry Kistler yelled in Asante's direction as the others tried to calm him down. "We haven't been told a damn thing about this 'expedition' you're taking us on, you mind filling us in?"
"Of course, I will fill you in along with the rest of the battalion." Asante turned his back to the five and faced the large crowd of soldiers waiting to hear what he had to say. "Soldiers of the Guardian Force! Today we embark on an expedition to retrieve a treasonous soldier and bring him to justice! These five brave soldiers, along with this brave volunteer, will head across the dangerous Land of Solitude in search for this treasonous soldier, hoping to bring him back alive!"
The soldiers erupted in screams and chants. George looked at Asante with a face of worry. Not everyone was content, however, as Henry stepped up and turned Asante around.
"You're taking us out there?! To our deaths?! Is this some kind of punishment for not stopping Eldric?!"
"If it was, Henry Kistler, I wouldn't be going with you."
"Think about it with your head, Henry," Hagen said from a distance. "Obviously there's something Eldric has that the Captain wants. We're simply a means to an end."
"That's right," George said. "Our priority is getting Eldric back. Malik will use anyone and anything to achieve that."
"Who the hell is this guy?!" Henry blurted.
"This is Eldric's father, George Freeman. He'll be of great use to us in the negotiation phase of the retrieval."
Kastor now joined the conversation, sticking his hand out to George. "Pleased to meet you Mr. Freeman, Kastor's the name."
Asante seized all conversations between the group and brought them over to the lowering mechanism. After everyone had stepped onto the platform, he instructed the soldier to lower them to the ground.
"I can't believe this." Henry turned to Asante. "Why didn't you mention this at all during our interrogation?!"
Asante laughed. "Don't blame me, all of your comrades knew about this expedition as well."
Henry quickly jolted his head around to the group, who were all engaged in conversation. He took a deep breath and wiped his nose with his finger. "Fine, then. If I die, I'll have your head for a trophy." With those few words, Henry left Asante and joined Kastor and Leonard's conversation, punching Leonard's shoulder as he joined. "Ready Rietveld? We're about to see the land your blasphemous family created."
Hagen turned towards Erick. "Now we'll really see if the Men of Gordon are still around, that's what I'm most curious about."
The platform began lowering and the faces of the soldiers slowly began to disappear. All that was left to see was the large gray bricks and the Land of Solitude in front of them.
When they reached the bottom, a couple soldiers were waiting for them with leads tied to horses. There were six horses, and when straws were pulled among the group of five, Hagen got a horse all to himself. Asante got his own horse, as did George. Leonard shared a horse with Kastor and Erick and Hagen shared the last horse.
Asante rode his horse in front of the group. "On the night of September the 6th of the year 535, we are the eleventh expedition into the Land of Solitude by the Guardian Force, and one that some of us will never return from. I appreciate all of you for joining me, regardless of circumstance. Guardian Force, move out!"