The One after my Heart

Brianna couldn't help wince inwardly as she heard the young lord's command. She was reluctant to have the captives die. But, looking around them, she'd already guessed that she was no match for him at all.

At the most, all she could do was remember this event today and then perhaps pay back everything once she was stronger. She reluctantly dragged her footsteps towards the exit with hunched shoulders.

Aiden couldn't help but raise his eyebrows at the dusky beauty's back. 'This one's an odd one too like the one in the forest.', he surmised. His lips couldn't help but curl upwards as his thought was pulled back to the previous night's memory. That figure in red….

Just as he was about to indulge in recalling that alluring face, he heard a bunch of footsteps walk towards the hall.

Brianna led sixteen people who walked behind her as they walked into the hall. Few of the prisoners, the young ones especially, couldn't help but give out shrieks, gasps and looks of horrors as they took in everything around them.

But when they saw the charming ice-blue eyes standing ahead on the dais in front of them, they couldn't help but have their attention pulled towards him and stare at him in curiosity. On the contrary, few of the mature older one's couldn't help but shudder in fear as they looked at the handsome dark clothed figure and awaited their judgment of life or death.

The young lord stood there looking at them, with his hands behind his back, taking the demeanour of a King looking at his subjects. He looked at the pitiful eyes staring at him apprehensively as doubt, fear, curiosity and wariness flashed across their faces.

Few young women were entranced by his tall, lean looks as they stared at his striking face and hypnotizing ice-blue eyes. It was to the point one or two of the younger maidens among them even seemed to be swooning over him secretly.

One or two of the bolder one's even sent out secretive, seductive looks his way hoping he'd notice them. But he ignored it all as his eyes brushed past them after briefly glancing at them.

After a while, he nodded and then spoke out as he pointed towards a person amongst them. "Alright. You over there. Stay back, while the rest of you can wait outside".

He pointed and singled out the old man, who stood out like a sore thumb among the rest of the women and children. This short old man with a head full of white hair was just about five feet tall with a slight growing white stubble that'd probably grown during his captivity in neglect.

The old man was dressed fashionably like a merchant in white robes, though his clothes had turned dusty and brown by now.

This old man was short and extremely lean in appearance and looked as though he already had one foot into his grave. But it was his eyes that shone with brimming energy and the look of an intelligent man.

He had a few open bleeding wounds on his pale white face and throughout his body proved he'd recently been tortured. And yet, he had never winced not even once or showed any signs of discomfort as he stood there calmly.

Aiden turned to Brianna and spoke to her, "Vandermire, escort the rest of them outside and ask them to wait."

The older one's sighed in relief. In contrast, the maidens sighed in regret knowing they'd lost the opportunity, even though they tried to give extra glances at him as they were led out.

Aiden raised his eyebrows in confusion as he heard a sigh of relief from Brianna as well.

After a moment of silence, Aiden asked the old man who stood there. "What's your name? You don't seem to fit among them. Why were you captured?"

When Aiden had previously called them in, just as he looked at everyone, this old man was doing the same as well as he stared at Aiden with shifty eyes.

There was a flash of light in understanding behind the old man's eyes as he roughly guessed the identity of the elegant, tall, handsome man in front of him.

'Those clothes of his although look simple, I can swear they're made of the finest and most expensive materials. He definitely looks like royalty and someone who's very powerful and important. This must be his doing, since that girl barely is a rank 2 witch', the intelligent old man judged inwardly as he looked at the corpses and damage to the hall. He was definitely no match for the young man in front of him.

The old man with shifty eyes glanced across the dead bodies intently across the floor.

'And judging from his behaviour and that tone and attitude on his face, I can only think of one place where he could be from! But, what's he doing here!? How can he be here? Unless I'm mistaken?", thought the old man swiftly as he processed his thoughts.

Upon hearing Aiden's question, the short old man carefully spoke out, "Replying to the lord, this one is named as Zohar Klinestone and is sincerely thankful for saving this one's life", the old man replied with a slight bow.

The short, frail old man carefully chose his words before speaking out as he slowly said, "The stragglers wanted something that was in my possession which I wouldn't give up. Hence I was captured and tortured for more than a month. The stragglers were waiting for one of their spirit witch commanders to show up, but luckily the person hasn't arrived yet, hence I'm still alive. May this lowly one have the name of his saviour so I can remember this kindness?"

Brianna had just returned from outside when she heard the last part of the old man's statement and was stunned.

She couldn't help but be stunned as she blurted out, "A spirit witch is working along with the stragglers as well?

The old man gave a slight bow as he replied," That's right, miss. There seems to be some unknown group working behind the scenes whom all these people here were working for."

"I was right then! There's something definitely going on. And now you say there's a spirit witch working with them as well. The council and Alliance-head must be informed as soon as possible, said Brianna gravely at the side.

Aiden nodded at his introduction and ignored the short old man's question to introduce himself.

Instead, he shot another question of his own," I can sense you are one who is specialized in the earth elements. If I'm not wrong you must be a rank 2 warlock as well. And judging by your accent, you're not from this domain are you?"

Brianna's eyes lit up when she heard the mention of a warlock sharing the same element as her. Her gaze became even friendlier as she looked at him.

The old man wasn't surprised by Aiden's deduction. It was what he'd expected anyway. He replied with a slight bow, "Yes, young lord. You're absolutely right. This one's from the neighbouring domain who was out on business to the Spratian capital. My family specializes in ores and gems. They could be spiritual magic one's which are beneficial to witches and warlocks or just ordinary but gorgeous looking pieces of nature that are worn as accessories."

Zohar noticed that Aiden avoided introducing himself and didn't press further questioning the young man's identity. The latter obviously wanted to keep a low profile. This made him even curious about the young man's identity.

Aiden nodded thoughtfully in return as he heard the answer. And then spoke back to the old man, "I could sense you're a powerful warlock who is more than just capable of taking care of yourself. Hence, I've a favour to ask of you, Mr.Klinestone."

"Please, just call me Zohar, young lord. This old man will do whatever he can to repay your favour.", said the old merchant as he gave an elegant bow. But despite his bold statement, his heart started pounding nervously. "Is he going to ask about that and take it from me just like the stragglers intended to? Am I just supposed to hand over something I've protected for years?!" he wondered ruefully, hiding his emotions as he anticipated the question to come at him.

"Alright then, as you wish, Zohar." Aiden nodded amicably and put his hands behind his back as he paused for a moment.

Aiden's cold ice-blue eyes stared into the old man's eyes as he spoke," I'd like you to escort the women and children to the Spratian capital. I noticed something earlier, as I'm sure you too must've noticed and realized by now as well. It appears that you've all been marked by some sort of tracker placed on each of your bodies by elemental magic. I'm guessing it's to trace you if you do manage to escape. The stragglers or the group behind them, that is, if they exist, will definitely track down everyone and just recapture them to silence them or relocate them to another one of their hidden bases. Hence, it's best if everyone's sent back to the capital where you'll all find help."

After a slight pause, Aiden continued," As for the two little pups, I'm sure you can take care of them for a while before taking them back along with you to the neighbouring domain as well."

Upon hearing this, Brianna's eyes were widened in surprise as her heart shook. She'd not seen this coming at all!!

Did he already have such plans and thought beforehand, and was the type who hated being told on what to do? Were the rumours and stories about him all wrong?!

She was desperately worried and even was thinking if should try rebelling and bargaining for their lives by threatening him. However, she doubted he would agree to it for the second time.

Or was it just to get in her good books to retrieve the item he desperately seemed to want? What was so special about it? She didn't know the answers yet, but that did not stop her thoughts and questions from crawling up one after the other as suspicion set in.

Meanwhile, the old merchant, Zohar Klinestone stood there stunned, rooted to the spot as though lightning struck him as Aiden sounded out his request.