Elder Kane
965 Words
“Have you found him yet?”
Reluctance partnered the silence of the young man standing before the one making the demanding inquiries.
“N-no, sir.” The young man finally answered, reluctantly. “But I di-”
Kane’s sudden swift rise in hand shut the young man up immediately. “I don’t need excuses.” He said.
The fear on the young guy's face was evident, as if he’d come to terms with the fact that he would not last much longer, past this moment. He’d not come through on his requirements far too many times in the last few weeks. This man was useless-or at least that was what his progress, or lack thereof, was displaying as far as Kane was concerned.
All of this and more was what Kane saw while he watched the underling stand there in anticipation of his punishment. This brought a smile to his face.
“I assume you realize where cliche would take the next steps of this conversation,” The elder calmly said.
“Wh-what do you mean sir?” the young man asked.
Kane, in all of his arrogance and superiority, stood from his seat and started to walk, slowly and calmly, past the young lad, admiring the paintings and drawings of ancient ancestry; a sight that he’d seen regularly since taking the head seat.
“You have failed me at the very least...six times.”
“Sir, I-”
“At the very least.” the older man interceded once again, passing a glance at the young man.
Kane, still calm and collected, stood barely three feet away from the underling, still causing unspeakable fear. He then turned to face him.
“So you do know where this situation leads,” he said. Without a word, the young man nodded a yes. Kane smirked. “Tell me where this situation leads, Kilven.”
The young man gulped hard. “B-but sir-”
Before the completion of his stuttering could be heard, Kane was standing in front of him. “Tell me where...it leads, son,” he said in a subtle and threatening demand now.
“Death.” Kilven solemnly responded.
“Whose death?” Kane continued to ask.
Only a mere agonizing moment of silence followed his question before Kilven answered. “Mine. Sir.”
Kane stood there a moment as a small smirk appeared across his face before he just simply nodded.
“That would be correct,” Kane replied, watching the young sorcerer. “You seem utterly useless to me now.” he shrugged. “At this point, death becomes you,” he crudely added, placing his hands to the jaw of the young man’s face, his thumb next to his mouth as he started to thrust in a motion to break his neck. Tears fell as Kilven attempted to brave his last moment. He felt the starting thrust of Kane’s hand when there was a sudden release. “However, as I said before that is only how cliché would have it.” a menacing gleam fell upon his lips.
“There is far more usefulness in life than there is death,” Kane said, walking back to his seat, with a bottle of alcohol in his hand. “And, well I do like you Kilven. I am sure there could be some sort of use for you.”
“There is, Elder Kane!” Kilven quickly returned before the Elder could even add on to his sentence.
Kane paused, amused with young Kilven’s outburst. He wasn’t interested in what the boy had to say but he allowed it anyway; if for nothing else but his own amusement.
“Oh?” Kane responded. “Enlighten me.” He smirked.
“I-well, I-I wasn’t able to find the Sorcerer. But I did find one of the ferals serving under him!” He said. “I am sure he knows what happened at the Fortress that night! He has to!”
This bit of information was surprising to hear. In fact, pleasantly surprising, Kane thought. He stood from his seat. “Where is it?” He demanded.
“He’s imprisoned in the cells below.”
Kane nodded, a smile gradually showing up on his face as he spoke. “Maybe you are more useful than I thought, Kilven.” He complimented dryly. “Bring it here. We need some questions answered.
“Yes, Elder!” Kilven shakily replied with a little more confidence than he had before. He rushed out of Kane’s quarters to retrieve what was demanded of him.
“Elder Kane!”
Kane turned around to see another one of his trusted, entering his office as Kilven rushingly took his leave. The young man, too, seemed afraid, almost as if he wished he’d have thought better of barging in before he did. This brought a smirk to Kane’s face; the fear of others held so much gratification for him.
“What is it, Gil?” he demanded in feigned annoyance, just to see the anxiety on the guy’s face grow.
“It’s your granddaughter, Elder. She’s here to see you.”
Where Kane had turned away from Gil in boredom, he quickly returned his attention to him. “Is she?”
“Yes sir. And it seems, she has a bit of news for you. Good news.” Gil quickly added in clarification.
A grin appeared upon Kane’s face as he thought about the fact that if he could never depend on another soul. He could always depend on her.
“Of course she does.”
- Writer
