-Maddox-

“Do you really think it’s him?”

Maddox lifted his gaze from where it was focused on the trail before his horse and cast a sidelong look to the friend who rode beside him. Word came days ago that the Demon was spotted in southern Er Rai, and was taken into captivity. He could not have been so lucky. If it was Varia, he would have surely arrived with an army at his back, and there would be little question if he were there.

Yet, word came, and he and Sabre rode out towards Cecin. Once a bustling mining town, nestled beside an imposing mountain range, now a place for troops who were making the long trek to the southern port, to set sail for Nihal and war. If Varia ever landed in Er Rai, it would be south. But he did not believe that the little Demon would truly be there, nor would he allow himself to be captured by such simple men.

He said no, when Sabre asked him.

When they rode upon the town, they found it under attack by a small band of Arcturians. Sabre shot him a scolding look and allowed his horse to fall back, away from the fighting. His friend was no fighter. He was a prince from Nihal, who had wormed his way into Maddox’s service under the guise of offering secrets. He had stayed, and Maddox allowed him to. They got on quite well, and Maddox didn’t have many, if any, true friends, Sabre being the exception. He was full of secrets, that one, and was quite proficient in extracting whispers from prisoners as well. He had his uses, besides being a constant thorn in his side, and a constant reminder to be the good guy.

But Maddox was not a good guy, he was a warrior. He did what he needed to do to assure his own survival, and his survival happened to align with Er Rai, and Nihal’s survival. They were lucky for it, for no other could stand to the little Demon like he could.

The Arcturians were no match for the soldiers in Cecin, and they fell quickly. They were little more than children, some perhaps still were. But Maddox was not interested in the ages of those who Arcturus threw at them, not in that moment. He was there for Varia. He passed between the fighting swiftly, sword pulsing against his back where it lay.

When he entered the prison, stepping over splintered wood, he saw his enemy standing before one of his own. But that soldier who addressed his commander had a crossbow, drawn, and aimed at Varia’s chest.

He didn’t think twice, and cut the armed man down, and the mage beside him with one fell swing of his sword. It hissed when it left the scabbard, and a rush of energy left it, slamming into both men. It split the mage in two, as he was nearest. The blast did not sever the other boy in two, though it nearly did. Only when the two lay dead and bloodied did he really take stock of the situation.

Arcturus came for Varia, just as he knew they would. They came to kill him, and they failed. The way Varia stared down at the man who thought to kill him was… odd. He did not look sad or even angry. He did not know what he expected from the little brat. Varia was the least expressive person he’d ever met, and he’d killed plenty of Legion before.

His eyes turned briefly to the other, across from Varia. Brom, the left hand of the Demon. Brom was staring at him, and though it was dark in the cell, he could feel the heat radiating from the look. That was about what he expected from Varia, a heated gaze of hate.

When Varia finally thought to snap out of whatever thought had seized him, he did look to him. He did not appear surprised. His scowl only deepened, distorting the shadows that had framed his face so nicely before. Before he appeared almost fragile, almost human, but when he looked upon Maddox, he appeared very much like the enemy he knew him to be.

Varia wouldn’t be grateful for him saving his life. Having him alive proved more trouble than if he had died. Had it been pride that had spurred him? He had always been hot-headed and short-sighted compared to others. More than likely, he had just reacted to seeing the enemy invading, regardless of who their target was. But while Maddox was a lug head in many ways, he knew himself well. He reacted on instinct and charged after the enemy. He had a powerful need to protect others. These things had contributed to him killing the soldier that had come to claim Varia’s life. But that hadn’t been the reason he had saved him.

“You know, it becomes a lot harder for me to take credit for claiming your head if your own country is out for it as well. Not that I expect you to tell me the truth of why that is. Maybe they just realized it was ridiculous to have someone as small as you as their best…” Maddox said, sliding his blade back into its sheath on his back and taking stock of the prison.

The sound that left Varia was less human than he looked then, a feral snarl. It caused Maddox’s lip to curl in a sneer, and urged his feet forward. He stopped before the cell, lifting a hand to flick a finger against a talisman. Good work, whoever had done all of these. Clearly Varia was going nowhere, and though he stood there in the dark, the shadows did not move.

He stared down at Varia, and Varia stared back. They could continue this for a while, Maddox assumed, so he slumped down, placing hands on his knees as he exaggerated his crouch, now face to face with the commander. "Now tell me. Why would Arcturus want their own, precious commander dead?"

Varia’s hand twitched, his jaw tightened. A vein in his neck pulsed slightly. The look in his eyes shifted darker for a moment, and Maddox knew that if looks could kill, his head would have been tumbling from his body at that point.

Still, what an odd reaction. Varia was an angry little bastard, and prone to reacting with violence to taunts slung at him. This was not a reaction that Maddox was used to. Granted, if Varia were able, he would have certainly sent a screaming, writhing wave of unholy darkness at him, but there was something else in his gaze.

Varia knew Arcturus, the Council had sent a man to kill him. He knew, and that must hurt him.

Maddox rose to his proper height, sliding his hands together as he considered the man before him. This was good. This was perfect, really. Varia was burned by the attempt on his life. Perhaps, if they were truly lucky and blessed, Varia would tell them things. Anything that could further his goal. Anything that could get Maddox to the ice.

Secrets were needed. This could be Sabre’s greatest challenge yet.

Maddox whirled on his feet, marching from the prison without another word, nor a look back to where his enemy sat, trapped and at his total mercy. He found Sabre where he expected him to be, in the center of the camp, still atop his maple colored mare, watching the Er Rian soldiers move through the bodies of Arcturians and their own men alike.

“He’s alive?” Sabre asked without even a glance in his direction.

Maddox stepped alongside him, patting the flank of his mare. A sweet thing who traveled many long years with the two of them. The only woman in Sabre’s life that he did not cast aside once finished riding her. She was his one and only, and he spoiled her rotten.

“Aye, he is. Mad as a snake, but alive. And more importantly, completely and totally contained.” Maddox replied, gazing up to his friend, shoving the ivory muzzle of Sabre’s lady aside as she lipped at his tunic.

“And what does the thoughtful Golden Hero intend to do with his new, exciting prisoner?” Sabre asked, voice absolutely dripping with sarcasm. Maddox didn’t fault him for it. That was just the way he spoke when his guard was down and he did not need to impress anyone. Sabre was a brat, but he was also far too intelligent for his own good.

Maddox hummed at the question, and thought to step back, to put distance between himself and Sabre’s boot, but he remained rooted near him, close enough that his lightly armored torso brushed against his friends’ leg.

“Well he can’t stay here, as we are both aware. He needs to be somewhere else, somewhere with more soldiers to protect him and the information he has. Somewhere with weapons… walls. Somewhere he will be safe.” Maddox was speaking jovially. He was already attempting to soothe the anger that was sure to come.

“You wish to take him to Emeriss?” The anger was not loud, but it was there. They were both speaking in tones that seemed too casual for the situation, but it was needed, so that others would not think to listen to them.

“Aye, that is a place with soldiers and walls and weapons.” Maddox said, scratching the mare behind her ear, a smile on his face when she shook her head and snorted, pawing at the ground.

“Soldiers, walls, weapons… and the royal family. You would bring the fucking Demon of Arcturus into a place where they would be unable to escape him.” The anger was rising now, lacing through the tone of his friends’ voice and making Maddox feel small, dumb. Sabre was very good at making people feel lesser than him simply by his tone of voice.

“He will be unable to escape me. You forget, friend, what I am capable of. The demon would not escape from me, and if he did, I would strike him down before the royal family was even aware something was amiss.” Maddox did not really need permission from Sabre. It was a courtesy, really. To allow Nihal, or at least someone who still sent regular reports to Nihal, to know of his plans. He would do what he wished regardless, and Sabre, as always, would follow along with it.

“If you think for a second that Varia came to Er Rai for any reason other than entering Emeriss and rooting out the royal family, you are a fool. You are giving him what he wants. What they want.” Sabre said, golden eyes following a soldier who walked too closely to them for a moment.

“They tried to kill him, Sabre. They did not send him here to kill the royal family, they sent him here to die.” Maddox finally looked up to his friend.

His friend looked like the royal Nihalian he was. Deep chocolate colored hair, golden eyes, bronzed skin and an attractive aquiline nose were all traits of the royal family. Though he was significantly less curvaceous than his aunt, the Queen, he was attractive, and he was aware of it. Beyond his exotic features, he was charming when he wished to be. He would attempt to charm Maddox, as he always did, to see his reason.

But he was also petty, and would not be satisfied with anything Maddox did with Varia, until the demon was slaughtered before him. Arcturus’ campaign was rooted in Nihal, and had been in Nihal for two decades. Varia himself had been there waging war on the Nihalian military and the small folk alike for most of that time. Varia turned the sands of Nihal red with blood. He left widows and orphans in his wake. Anyone who stood before him, no matter their status or age or gender, was cut down, and their blood nourished the earth. It was not until half of the country had been swept up in his darkness that he was stopped by Maddox. Even still, the council held nearly half of Nihal because of Varia.

Sabre would not forget. Nihal would not forget. Maddox would not forget either, for like Varia, he spent much of his life in the desert across the sea. He knew and loved the people there, the way they lived, the way they loved. Varia brought terror to them, and Sabre would not be satisfied until Varia was brought to justice.

Maddox would bring Varia to justice. But he would not do it now.

“And you think he will care? He, like all of them, is corrupted by their masters. He will seek to kill the royal family, and he is capable of it.” Sabre was deflating. It was subtle, but Maddox knew when Sabre was realizing he would not win. It was not even difficult to convince him, likely because Sabre understood what Maddox sought from the little demon.

“He is capable of killing the royal family. Imagine what he would be capable of if he turned on his masters.” Maddox insisted, voice lower than it had been. He leant up closer to Sabre, to urge his friend to look at him, to see what he wished for.

Sabre did as he was bid, looking down to Maddox with an annoyed frown on his face. “You will not loose him on his masters. Though… I concede. He was set up, clearly, and he is probably aware of it.”

Maddox grinned widely, reaching up and grabbing Sabre by his cheeks, squeezing them between his hands, before he leapt away from a fist he predicted with a laugh. “Imagine the things he knows! Imagine what he could tell us! This is what we need, Sabre!”

Sabre rolled his eyes, though Maddox could see the twitch of a smile on his friends’ lips. Sabre snapped his fingers to a soldier who was moving past, bringing him closer and instructing him to gather a rolling cage for the prisoners, with talismans and horses to pull the cart. The soldier, like most in the Er Rian military, knew Sabre and rushed to do as he was bid.

Sabre finally dismounted his horse, cooing softly to her and tangling fingers in her multi-colored mane. Maddox knew the look he wore, and knew he had something to say. He was settling himself, no doubt anxious for what was becoming a small adventure to the capital, with Varia and Brom in tow. It was dangerous, certainly, and though Sabre traveled with him and saw his fair share of trouble, he was not a fighter and did his best to avoid it.

“The demon has not been in Nihal for weeks. I noticed a trend when Legion began moving south, forfeiting lands and amassing in Morven instead. I thought it so strange they would give up all of that territory they’ve held for so long, but then I noticed how they were moving. It was sloppy, too quick. Varia is many things, but he is not sloppy.” There was a heaviness in Sabre’s tone. He was tired, wary. Afraid. Why was he afraid? He spoke in high Nihalian, a habit both shared when they were in Er Rai, to ward off unwanted listeners.

“Varia is pulled back to Arcturus all the time.” Maddox reasoned, though he knew that it was odd. Varia was pulled back, he was high commander, he was needed at home just as often as he was needed on the field. But to be called back, and then move Legion without him? That was strange indeed.

“Aye, I know that. But they do not generally move Legion without Varia, or without Brom or Kia.” Sabre continued. Brom, being Varia’s left hand, was often with the little demon, even when he returned home. But Kia, his right hand, would often assume command in the absence of Varia.

“Kia has been seen in Visx. He was not involved with the march south.” Maddox’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. That made things even stranger, but…

“Perhaps Kia has other business to attend. Varia and Brom are here, if he is also tending to something, then it would make sense for them to move with another leading the host.” Maddox was still attempting to reason, but something was off.

“There were injured soldiers left behind. Of course, they were none too pleased with being left for dead by their command, who was neither Varia nor was it Kia. Those injured soldiers were quite forthcoming with information, though they did not know much. Idoa is the name of the man that led the push south. I’ve not heard of him yet, but that is not as concerning as… the light and fire they spoke of.” Sabre continued, and Maddox frowned.

“Light and fire?” He asked.

“I’ve been hearing whispers, Maddox. Dark whispers. Of skies erupting in fire, in forests and mountains gone in flashes of light. Something is coming.” Sabre’s voice was soft once more, cautious.

“What is it?” Maddox whispered, unsure when he began to sweat. It was not cold in Er Rai, though it was not hot either. It was pleasant, as it often was. A breeze cooled any warmth that may have become too overbearing, but the sun warmed even the shadows under thick, green trees.

“The soldiers say it is a weapon, though… I am not sure myself. I know of no such weapon, nor do I know of any one person with power such as that.” Sabre said, his eyes turning towards the prison, watching as several soldiers emerged with several men, including Brom in tow, leading them towards the cage that sat atop wheels.

That was concerning. Quite concerning. But, it made a bit of sense. Varia was a weapon. He was Arcturus’ greatest weapon. If the council sought to remove him from this life, they surely knew that they would not be able to stop Maddox. The council was a great many things, but above all else, they were cautious. They had only recently ripped the rule of Arcturus from the former kings, recently enough that there were still old men of the world who could recall the names of those former kings, and the way they ruled. The cruelty of their reign. But the council believed wholly in self-preservation. They would not murder their strongest guard and leave themselves open for attack and unseating. Not without a plan.

Maddox sighed, frowning and reaching up to scratch at the stubble growing on his chin. “Damn…” He muttered, then glanced over his shoulder. Varia was being led from the prison now, bound in chains and talismans.

Unlike Sabre, Maddox was not concerned with Varia potentially escaping and slaughtering the royal family. Varia, in Maddox’s experience, was a sword to be pointed at the enemy before you. Like Maddox, Varia was power, not subtlety. This was too elaborate a plot if it was one intended to deceive them, to trick them into allowing Varia into Emeriss. No, Varia’s surprised was real, which meant the betrayal was real. Varia wasn't likely to try and do Arcturus any favors.

Perhaps he knew of this… light and fire. This weapon. The journey would take them nearly the rest of the day to travel to Emeriss and to hide within its walls. If they were lucky, they would arrive before nightfall. He did not wish to be camped out with Varia in the deep dark of Er Rai’s forests.

“We’ll ask him. I’m sure he has plenty to say, given the recent betrayal.” Maddox said to Sabre, who whipped his head around to scowl at the Captain.

“Ask him? Anything that comes from his mouth is venom. You will surely not get any information from him.” Sabre said, and Maddox laughed.

“He would know, wouldn’t he?” Maddox asked, waving a hand to the boy who stood on the other side of the camp, holding the reins to his own dappled grey gelding. The boy scurried forward, the large horse following, though he did pull his head back, yanking the boy back every so often.

“He may not. If they are replacing him, why would they tell him of the replacement?” Sabre asked, voicing what Maddox also thought. That was always a good sign Maddox was on the right track, if Sabre had the same thought as him.

Maddox took the reins from the boy and mounted his horse in a single, graceful swing. “I suppose we will find out shortly, won’t we, my dear friend?”

Sabre rolled his eyes at Maddox, mounting his own mare. “Do not attempt to flatter me. You are marching me to my death. Some friend you are.”

Maddox laughed and gave his gelding a tap of his heel, trotting up alongside the cart. They were going to be joined by four soldiers. Two would steer the cart, and two others would ride behind it. Additional protection, and additional eyes on Varia were needed. Varia was a wanted man, and though Maddox was a hero here, he would not put it past some over ambitious man with a bow to attempt to kill his prisoner.

Maddox smacked the bars of the cage as it began to roll. The sound echoed loudly and caused the two other prisoners in the cage to jump. Brom scowled at him, but Varia did not look to him.

Varia looked downright defeated. That was good. That’s what Maddox needed.

“I hope you’re comfortable, sunshine. You have a long ride ahead of you.” Varia did not react to the words, and Maddox grinned, a feral, cruel grin.

With that, they were off down the well-worn path leading north, to Emeriss.