A Shocking Betrayal!

The next Chapter of Haymar's story. Prepare to be shocked!

Built for the Land of Roawia role-playing game on Merlin's Beard.com Come on over and join Lenfald the fun!

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A Shocking Betrayal!

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“Come on, move it ya larks!”

Haymar turned and glared at the Dragon soldier, who was prodding him in the back with his pike. The Dragon smiled evilly, and moved to prod Haymar again. He hastily picked up the pace to avoid it.

Mirranda trod despondently alongside Haymar, eyes on the ground, arms bound in front of her, just like Haymar. All their focus was on putting one foot in front of the other, over and over again. On all sides armed Dragons escorted them, while an Cabrak headed up the little party.

They had been walking all day long, with only two stops the whole time, and both of them were exhausted. Pressed from behind by the Dragons, Haymar and Mirranda stumbled on, trudging through the small canyon.

Minutes later, they reached they mouth of the canyon. Beyond was a vast forest of tall trees and hilly terrain. Directly across from the canyon was a large pool of muddy water.

Standing on a rock at the edge of the pool, with his back to the canyon, was a figure dressed in the uniform of a Queens Scout. Only the back of his well-groomed blonde hair was visible. The Scout leading them stopped underneath a large tree, turning to face them, as the party reached the pool.

Cabrak motioned for the party to come to a halt, then approached the Scout on the rock, stopping a few feet away.

“Rotheric found em’ just were you said they’d be. We caught them completely off-guard.”

“Excellent.”

The figure said, and turned around.

Mirranda and Haymar gasped in horror.

The figure…………

………………………………Was Laven!!!!!!!!

 

They were stunned speechless. How could this be? Laven had always been a good friend and valuable ally. This had to be an elaborate, (and very dangerous), rescue plan, didn’t it?

Laven grinned evilly.

“Didn’t expect me here, did you?”

Seeing the looks on their faces, he continued. “You’re probably wondering how I could be here, wearing the uniform of the ‘enemy’. You’re probably even thinking this might be some rescue plan I cooked up. The truth of it is however, the Queen was never my enemy. She and her forces have been my allies, and friends, for a very long time.” He paused, to gauge their reactions.

Haymar couldn’t believe the words coming his friend’s mouth. He wasn’t even sure he wasn’t still asleep, and that this was all a very bad dream. In fact, he hoped it was a dream. In his heart, he knew it wasn’t though.

“How?” Mirranda said weakly.

“Because,” Laven answered, “I was born an Outlaw. My father, an elf, was a close adviser to King Wensanclus, though he was secretly loyal to Galinar.

Incidentally, he hailed from Carenval province.

My mother was an Outlaw whom my father was supposed to kill, but he fell in love with her instead. He had her safely returned to the Outlaw lands, by a few friends who were also loyal to the Queen. We moved to the Magic Isles, where I was born, and raised for much of my life, by my mother, who was both my parent and my teacher. We lived on a little farm, and grew almost everything we needed. Interaction with the outside world was very limited, though my father would visit every so often. It was a simple life, and we enjoyed it. Sadly, it didn’t last.

When it was discovered that my father had not killed my mother, but had instead fallen in love with her, and, worse, helped her escape back to the Outlaw lands, he was imprisoned, tried, and eventually executed, for aiding and consorting with a convicted criminal, despite the fact that my mother hadn’t really done anything bad in her life. She was just practicing healing magic to help her community. But that didn’t matter to them. She was an Outlaw, and that was all that they focused on.

When we heard the news, my mother became very depressed, and fell ill. She passed away, and I was suddenly without parents, for they had been taken from me by the actions of those in power. Fortunately, one of my father’s friends took me under his wing, and introduced me to Galinar a few years later. She listened to my sad tale, and then encouraged me to join her following, and take revenge on those who had caused the hardships I had endured. I did so, and, with my inherent elven skills, quickly became a valued member of Galinar’s circle. It was years later, then, during the War of Roawian Succession, that she sent me out into Roawia, with instructions to find out the political and military standings within Lenfald, for I would blend in best there, and , when I could, report back to her. I entered through Loreos, meeting that fool Grintan along the way, and then crossed the border to Lenfald. The logical place for me to then start, was, of course, Carenval Province. It was soon after that we met, and I decided it would help my mission a great deal to become friends with the son of the lord of Carenval. And I’ve been spying on you for her ever since. I reported to her in the chaos of her takeover, and she told me I was doing excellently, and that I would be rewarded greatly when this was over, but she also asked me to stay with your group. This confrontation would have happened a lot sooner, except every time I left those stinking mines we were hiding in, you sent those accursed Snipers with me. There was never an opportunity to report to my superiors, Oslet and Cabrak, until the day of the Battle of Durrough. I was still unable to reach either of them, but I did get off a message to the Queen herself, before returning to you bunch. It was only later that I learned she had been poisoned by Maldrake, and that he had fled to his stronghold. I also learned that Oslet was killed, and Cabrak demoted, and in their collective place The General appointed.

I made contact with him, and learned that he, along with a detachment of soldiers, were going to escape back to the Outlaw lands. First however, he wanted to make Lenfald pay in some small measure, and, remembering what the Queen had promised me, Cabrak suggested to him we kidnap and kill you, and anyone else you were close to, including your father, if we could, thus destabilizing the province.

And we can all see clearly the intermediate results of that, eh?” He finished, spreading his hands to indicate the little party before him. Several of the Dragons nodded and laughed.

Haymar sighed heavily.

“What did she promise you? Control of Carenval province perhaps?”

Laven nodded.

“Yes, which is why I would want to kill you and your father. There was something else, too.”

A horrible suspicion formed at the back of Haymar’s mind. “What?”

A vicious smile creased the other’s face.

“Your sister, of course.”

“No!!” Haymar said, even though he’d suspected as much.

“Oh yes. You know I’ve desired her for a long time. And now, with you and your girlfriend in my possession, what was promised me is finally in my grasp. All that’s practically left for me to do is collect it.”

Haymar looked straight at the other, his gaze deadly cold.

“You will never get Ana. Even if it’s the last thing I do, I will stop you from getting her. She’ll stop you herself too, if necessary.”

Laven laughed. “There’s a problem with that. She still thinks I’m a loyal friend. She won’t realize until it’s too late. And you won’t be there to warn her, either.”

“Because you’ll be dead.” Cabrak said, the hateful glee evident in his voice.

“That’s true.” Laven admitted. “But enough talk. Time is wasting, and The General awaits our return.” He said, hopping off the rock, and starting off into the forest. The party followed him, Rotheric falling in at the rear.

As they were led off into the forest, Haymar and Mirranda were both thinking the same thing: If Laven was a traitor, had always been in fact, there was the very real possibility he had claimed to everyone he was just going out on a hike, and if that was the case, then no-one probably knew they had been captured, and wouldn’t for a while. If no-one knew, then nobody was going to come after them.

They were going to have to get out of this on their own.

 

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So, hope that was a shocker for you all. If not, then I've failed. :(

In the next installment, you'll get to meet The General. But for now, you'll have to wonder, who is he? I know the angle of the photo isn't for everyone, but I took it from this angle so you'd be able to see Laven's face.

 

Hope you all like it!

 

 

Done