Alexander and Derek were reclined by the long canter of a Pub with several others - having a drink. It was noisy and crowded - making it damp, even the burning candles on each round table and mount wasn't enough to brighten the pub.
Derek took a gulp of drink from his mug, gleaming at Matt. He was reclined at a round table by the side with five ladies, two of which he embraced - fondling and deep kissing them.
"This is a bad idea." Alexander sips from his mug.
Derek turns to Alexander, "Matt is beyond me right now, he refused to heed my warnings."
"Hope there's an escape plan if things go side ways."
Derek stared at his mug, "They were never true friends Alex, just partners on the long run, the escape plan leaves just us."
In that moment, the pub door bashed open allowing a gush of cool air to rush in, flickering the candles mounted on the stone walls and tables. Everyone kept calm as the soft creaking sounded on.
Derek and Alexander gazed back, it was Lonart - now acting Commander of Amon.
There was something changed about him, his eyes were frightened, his proud steps now timid, something must have happened, Derek knew that well.
"Now listen up you stupid folks." He swallowed hard. "Some filthy, shitty low life scum went ahead to steal from the royal family. Any other family, but it had to be the Leo Family."
Just mentioning the name stirred up everyone, resulting in indistinct murmuring.
Derek's eyes trembled with a cold stare, each heart beat coming back with a loud thud in his chest. He narrowed his eyes at Alexander, he wasn't any better. More than he knew, Alexander had more knowledge of the despicable family.
Alexander had called the Leo Family the worse of the worse, a band of ruthless and emotionless bastards, always ready for war and destruction on the slightest issue or misunderstanding.
"Now, Prince Ramiton is here," Lonart gasped. "Ready to let loose misery. Who ever stole those coins, I'm here to inform you that you have killed us all, everyone is to gather by the town square by noon tomorrow." Lonart concluded, leaving everyone to wonder in anxiety.
"Derek." Alexander chuckled with a glint of weary.
"I know Alex, we've killed ourselves." Derek concluded.
"No Derek, we've killed everyone." Alexander replied.
Derek glared back at Matt, he was now comported in the midst of the ladies who were chatting away, staring at his mug with wide spread eyes.
"Dammit." Derek muttered with a chuckle.
∆∆∆
Under the clear and bright night, Derek and Alexander trended through a path leading to the hunchback bridge, silent and pale. Only the cool, dry breeze whispered through the grasses and shrubs.
"Any plan yet?" Derek asked, expectantly.
"Find a way out of here, Just as you said. Matt and the others?"
"There is nothing we can do Alex, they'll find their way." Derek sighed.
"What if they rat us out before we escape?" Alexander glanced at him.
"Then we have to make our escape now." Derek lifts his head as though an idea dawned on him.
"Halt!!" A commanding clear voice yelled from behind.
Derek and Alexander stopped on their track, it felt like a strange force held them from moving.
A party of Knights trot their horses forward. They now had a clear view, Derek heard Alexander whisper something but that didn't matter, it was him, Prince Ramiton Leo.
He fits the description perfectly, as Alexander had told him. Short, cherry-red hair, the Leo Family pride, his curled backwards. His skin pale and glistering, he was tall, having raging crimson eyes with a dominating and intimidating gaze. He had no facial hair but his looks proved him to be older.
Unlike his Royal Knights who were clad in black leather armor, stripped red trice on the roaring lion crest. He was dressed in a red robe with a yellow stole across his shoulders, bearing the Leo Family emblem, the head of a roaring male lion.
"What's wrong with your legs rat?" Prince Ramiton asked unkindly.
Derek took a quick glance at Alexander, he was already on his knees, his head kissing the dirt. Derek dropped to his knees, forehead pressed to the dirt ground. He had never feared anyone this much - an intimidating aura hung in the air, it felt like a threatening invincible hand stretched out to put a sword through him if he disobeyed.
"Sliver hair rat, lift your gaze." Prince Ramiton commanded.
Alexander hesitated at first then slowly straightened up, sitting back on his heels - he made sure to avoid a direct eye contact, while gazing at the Prince.
"Do you happen to know a certain Thomas Majes?"
Alexander's heart stuttered, still, he he maintained a straight face, back rigid, his eyes betraying neither his fear nor the rising torrent of emotion threatening to overwhelm him.
"He was a fine and splendid Captain your highness." He declared with a bright smile.
Derek tilt his head a little, giving him a clear view of Alexander's face, he could clearly see Alexander was doing great.
"Indeed he was, before he committed treason and was beheaded. I would say it was a waste, but, shit can be replaced." Ramiton's eyes bored into Alexander." Don't you think?"
Derek's heart raced - his eyes closed, begging in his thoughts for Alexander to stay calm.
"I agree." Alexander swallowed hard, still maintaining composure.
"There's a likeness between you and him, I was not chanced to see his wife or child, but the rumor of the silver hair fits you perfectly." Ramiton dismounts his Stallion, approaching Alexander, his eyes fixed on his, as though he could trace a lie. "Explain to me how that is?"
"I'm a lowly commoner, your highness, nothing more than the son of a guard. Paul Rachik is my father, Marta Rachik my mother. If I bear any resemblance to Majes, it is only a coincidence." Alexander's voice, though calm on the surface, trembled with the weight of his deception.
Ramiton stared at him, unblinking, his expression unreadable. The tension coiled around them.
"So be it," Ramiton declared at last, turning his back on Alexander and striding towards his mount.
As Ramiton and his retinue rode away, the oppressive silence that had draped the atmosphere like a shroud lifted with their departure. Alexander, muscles uncoiling, drew a ragged breath, fighting to conceal his shaking hands.
"I thought we were done for," Derek's voice broke the quiet, his relief palpable.
"If fate smiles upon us, we'll live to warn others of the folly of stealing from a royal family," Alexander replied, his gaze lost in the clouds.
"Dammit," Derek whispered, a curse to the night sky above.