Memories: My Kingdom

Chapter 43: Search

Fedrich and Melton watched as Leui’s figure disappeared in the darkness as Leui went deeper in the forest. They don’t know whether they can still see him again, or might never.

“He will be alright, right?” Melton asked as he turned to Fedrich.

Fedrich didn’t answer and looked away, facing his subordinates. “Start the preparations!” he ordered. His voice pierces the loud, pouring cold rain that is weighing on their bodies as it hits them, making them shiver and their movements sluggish.

But, they are knights, and they have duties to fulfill. So, they bore the cold and heavy feeling as they moved their limbs and started to prepare to catch the thieves that are plaguing the Rainbow Village.

“We have to finish everything tonight!” Fedrich said as he resumed walking, deeper into the woods.

Melton looked at Fedrich’s back, then the whistle in his hand. He clutched the whistle tight before he followed Fedrich.

Meanwhile, Leui continued to cut down the large leaves and the vines above his head which were blocking his sight. Although he can hear some soft growling around, he knows none of these beasts would bother themselves with a mere human like him because it is heavily raining. Instead, they would wait until he collapses from the cold and exhaustion before they would pounce on him after.

Leui doesn’t care, though. He knows how to fight, and the scythe is his weapon. He has to find Dan, whether he is dead or alive! He will be happy, as well as Marie and the children, though, if Dan is still alive.

“DAN!!!” he shouted amidst the heavily pouring rain and the thunder. “DANNN!!!” he shouted. His voice is hoarse and shaking from the cold. But, he doesn’t care. He would love to shout himself hoarse as long as he finds Dan. “DANNN!!!” he continued as he kicked away the branches on the ground and then resumed searching.

…

“s**t!!! They are hereeee!!!” a thief who was on the lookout yelled when he saw some moving figures in the darkness, with only the lightning flashing from time to time as the source of the light.

“WHAT?! How did they get here?!” another one said as the others who were hanging out with them immediately ran inside to inform their leader.

“I knew it! It must be those two who have escaped!” someone loudly cursed and kicked the wall. “I will definitely kill their wives and kids! Absolutely!” he added as he punched his hand. A vicious glint flashed in his eyes.

“This isn’t the time for revenge! We have to shake these damn pesky knights off of our tails!” someone said while panicking.

“Kill the lights first!” somebody suggested.

“Yes!” the others said and immediately threw the torches down on the puddle.

Darkness engulfed the surroundings completely and no one could see anything. Their hearts pounded loudly against their chests as they slowly crawled, minimizing the noises they made to not alert the knights.

“It’s fine! We know the pathways! We will be able to shake them off!” someone assured their comrade.

“By the way, where's the leader?” somebody asked.

“Huh? Wasn’t he going here…?” their voices trailed off.

“Damn sly bastard! He escaped by himself?!?!” they exclaimed when they realized what’s going on.

They all uttered a string of curses as they moved faster, wanting to escape. They still want to live! But, tonight, it will be their end. They were about to run down the stairs when they suddenly felt something slimy on the steps. Suddenly, they realized that there is no hole in the roof so how can there be water in the steps…?

Then, the next second, their eyes widened when they realized that someone must have poked a hole on the roof! It was too late, though, as the roof suddenly collapsed and fell on them! “AAAARRGHH!!!” they screamed as the roof fell on them. Then, the staircase also collapsed because it can’t bear their weight.

BANG! The thieves were caught in one swoop. “Tie them all up.” Fedrich spoke.

“Yes!” the knights answered as they fished up the knocked-out thieves from the rubble.

“Captain!” someone called. “They are missing one person!” he said.

“It must be their leader.” Fedrich spoke.

“Look for the footprints! The soil is soft so he definitely must have left his footprints!” Melton said.

“YES!” the knights answered and some of them ran outside with torches to search.

Everyone is drenched from head to foot. Although the ground is muddy, the rain continues to pour, washing away the mud from their body.

“We didn’t find the wagon driver…” Melton sighed.

Under the cover of the darkness, they looked around but didn’t find Dan.

“Was he really…?” Melton asked.

“D-Dan…?” someone spoke.

They turned and saw one of the thieves was actually awake. “Where did you hide him?” Melton asked.

But, the thief laughed. Melton and the others suddenly have a bad feeling.

“Leader has punished him with death.” The thief spoke.

Melton and the others froze in shock. They never knew that the thieves are this vicious! They actually also kill!

“Where is his corpse?” Fedrich asked.

“’corpse’? There’s no more left of his corpse after we threw it in the Forbidden Forest to be fed to the beasts – urgh!” he cried when Fedrich suddenly punched him.

“Captain!” the knights exclaimed and looked at the thief, who was finally knocked out after Fedrich punched him.

Fedrich’s face is cold, much colder than the rain. “Find that murderer and bring him to me.” He spoke before he walked away.

“YES!” the knights answered, although Fedrich had already left.

“Vice-captain, captain is…” someone spoke and turned, only to see Melton running after Fedrich. “…” he sighed, then instructed the others to work faster.

When Melton reached outside, he saw Fedrich enter the woods. But, he didn’t call him to stop him. Instead, he silently followed him. He knows that Fedrich will look for Dan’s corpse. A sad smile appeared on his lips and he remembered Leui’s calm face but obviously worried gaze. He then recalled what happened earlier.

“The forest is too big. It’d be hard for you to find their hideout.” Leui spoke as the carriage move.

Fedrich didn’t speak.

“Is the terrain drawn in the map exact?” Leui asked.

“Yes.” Melton nodded.

“Then – “ Leui muttered as he studied the Forbidden Forest area. “ – they will be here.” he said and pointed to the map.

“A clearing?” a knight spoke. “Wouldn’t that be obvious, then?” he asked.

“That’s not it.” Leui spoke. “Look at what’s behind it.” he said.

“A hill!” someone exclaimed.

“Yes.” Leui nodded. “A hill behind them and the trees before them. Their hideout is easy to defend.” He said.

“Why?” someone asked.

“Because they have an aerial view to their advantage.” Leui answered. “They can climb the hill to look down and see the enemies approaching their base. Then, they would tell their friends the coordinates.” He explained.

“So, that’s how they ambush the caravans.” The knights said.

Leui looked at them. “But, they aren’t undefeatable.” He said.

They looked at him.

“Night is the best time to attack them.” Leui said. “’The darkest place is beneath the candle’.” He looked at Fedrich.

“So, you’re saying that when they use the lights, the trees will cast a shadow and we will hide in the shadows which they can’t see?” Fedrich asked.

“Yes.” Leui nodded. “After you take over the forest, they have nowhere to go.” He told him.

Melton has a thoughtful look. “So, the hill which was to their advantage becomes the wall to corner them?” he said.

“Exactly.” Leui smiled.

 If it was Fedrich, he wouldn’t waste time to create a meticulous plan. He believes that no matter how much you plan, things won’t turn out the way you planned. But, Melton believes that it wouldn’t hurt to do that from time to time.

“Captain! Captain! We’ve finally caught the leader!” someone yelled.

Fedrich and Melton immediately returned. Fedrich has the knights spread to cast a large net in the forest in case the thieves would escape. Because of the rain, and because the thieves will be panicking as they escape, they definitely won’t notice the net tied on the trees and will catch them once they step on it.

As expected, they caught a big fish – the leader of the thieves.

…

Leui panted as he held the scythe tight, using it as his crutch as he resumed walking. “Dan… where are you…?” he asked, feeling his chest hurt because of the cold and heavy feeling brought by the rain.

Suddenly, he heard something crunching behind him. He turned and widened his eyes when he saw a Black-Scaled Lion. Its red eyes are glowing ferociously at him. But, Leui can’t back down even though he feels weak because in the beast’s mouth is Dan!

Leui was about to move when suddenly, another Black-Scaled Lion leapt out. “Whose scythe do you think you’re carrying?!” it asked him.