“He will return before sunrise with your pack. That should give you time to compose what you need to say. Come with me.”

Aksel led him out of this room, this time taking him to a door near the stairs that Alois had descended earlier. In here was a desk that held everything Alois would need for his message. Piles of papers were stacked on the edges of the desk, and Alois was able to make out an elegant hand that seemed to be transcribing a journal of sorts. The Icchorian rummaged for a moment, before stepping back from the desk, and Alois saw he had set out an inkwell and parchment for his use. He nodded his thanks, stepping forward and eyeing the massive chair that sat before the desk. He snorted softly, biting back his grunt as he had to jump a bit to sit in it, maintaining his dignity as best he could.

Aksel stepped out from the room thankfully, and Alois was left alone to compose his thoughts and plan out what he needed to do in the situation at hand. He knew Alexander and the others would follow his word to the letter, he just needed a way to keep Yulian from going on the march himself. No matter how he thought of it, Yulian would be outraged, either because he had been defeated, or that he was alive and not making his way back to Yulian’s side.

Alois sighed heavily. If there was ever a moment that he could break the King’s hold on his life, now would be the time. Several long moments passed before Alois slowly came to a realization, sitting up straight as he did so.

What if he didn’t go back? Sure he hadn’t known Aksel long, but the wealth of knowledge here in this castle was too vast and precious to ignore, and the Icchorian hadn’t seemed to mind him asking questions. He would never find this kind of thing living as the King’s Shadow. He had no family, and if Alexander played his cards right, they would be able to escape with a light punishment or none at all. He could feel a smile forming, and the smallest shred of hope light within himself.

Alois Engbrecht had to die.

Alois had been nervous when meeting with Alexander. His old friend had only taken one look at Alois, who huddled under a thick cloak that hid his features when meeting him in an isolated portion of the forest, and knew that this was what Alois needed to do. It had taken only two days for them to lay everything out, then they set the plan in motion, alerting the men of Alois's defeat.

Alexander had made a display of grief and anger, setting out north for his revenge. He had brought his squad, being unable to explain to Muto that Alois was in fact still alive, just hiding. But once the quiet man caught sight of his former captain, Muto pushed out of the carriage and flew into his waiting arms. Alois had chuckled softly, murmuring his reassurances to him as he led his former squad into the castle he was starting to become familiar with.

He was gently scolding Muto for not dressing properly for the snowy weather when they entered the library to find that Aksel was patiently waiting for them. He was seated in his favored chair, a book resting closed on his lap. The three members of Alois's former squad stopped, Muto still by Alois's side as he continued into the room. Alois could feel that they had fallen behind and he paused, glancing back at their tense forms. He had told Alexander about Aksel, but even knowing beforehand about him, the Icchorians presence was overwhelming.

His scarlet gaze passed between them, before he continued further into the room, sitting in a chair opposite of Aksel, Muto quickly taking a seat at his feet and leaning back against his legs.

"Squad, I would like you to meet Lord Storlin, Master of this castle and the Icchorian I had come to defeat."

The three Hunters did not move. It was Nai who finally spoke.

"But you did not kill him. You… were killed." His raised eyebrow showed his disbelief in the entire plan.

Aksel offered no response, his gaze moving from Alois only once to nod at Muto who then nodded back.

Alois sat back. "Yes. That's what we need everyone at the capital to believe. And you four are here to avenge me." He shot them a wry grin. "My heroes."

Engel scowled and Alexander sighed before speaking. "This is hardly a joking matter Captain. The King will react violently.”

Alois seemed to think this over as he leaned back in the chair, careful not to dislodge Muto. “Knowing him… he will strike out at any and all Icchorians. Which means he may begin pursuing the rumors of the ones that have taken up residence in those mountains far east of the Capitol. He spoke of it from time to time, that he wanted to wipe them out once and for all.” His gaze drifted to Aksel’s steady one.

Aksel nodded an answer to Alois’s unasked question. “The Carpathians.”

Alois noticed the blank look on his squads faces and filled in. “The Golden Ones.”

Comprehension dawned on them. “The Golden Ones have a clan? They are still alive?” Alexander looked shocked.

“You know the location of it?” Nai’s gaze turned searchingly at the Icchorian. Aksel did not say anything to answer the Human.

“They are still alive. As it turns out, as long as an Icchorian wins every battle they have, they will live vastly longer lives than any of us can hope to dream.” Alois murmured, fingers absently twirling Muto's hair. “And from what I’ve gathered so far, they have incredible healing capabilities, as long as they are able to access their Thirst for blood. Which isn’t by choice by the way.” He gave his squad members a significant glance.

Alexander shook his head. “Alois your theories are interesting, but we can hardly entertain them now.”

“He speaks the truth.” Aksel finally broke in before Alois could answer, his gaze landing on Alexander. “We do not chose the life that we live- it simply is the way it is.”

Nai looked at Engel who stood with clenched fists, and spoke up before he could analyze that anger. “So you say that the mad bloodlust is out of your control?”

“To an extent yes.” Aksel fell silent after that, noticing that Alois watched him closely. The Hunter smiled.

“You will be explaining that to me later.”

The Icchorian merely shrugged, saying no more. Alois turned back to his squad. “For now, we need to make sure that we convince everyone that you came and killed Aksel. What would work?”

The three men still by the door stared at him with various looks of disbelief and bewilderment. “A body would, Captain.”

Alois snorted. “Normally yes. But even if you did manage to actually kill him, do you think you could move this hulking giant? Not likely.”

The three Hunters looked over at the Icchorian in alarm, afraid that the offense wouldn’t go unnoticed. Aksel however had a ghost of a smile on his face as he merely looked at Alois in amusement.

Alois ignored all this, leaning forward to tap a finger on the top of Muto’s head in thought. “I was thinking gold. Bloodied gold to be precise. Something to send back to the Capitol.”

Aksel nodded at his words. “I can provide a piece suitable.”

“And this will….?” Alexander looked between the two in question.

“It will prove that this was a powerful, intelligent Icchorian that only the scholars in the Capital will recognize the significance of. Of course, Yulian as well. That should be enough to convince Yulian that my defeat is legitimate. Once you have returned to the camp, send a messenger bearing the gold to the King, and the rest will depend on his actions.”

“And if the King decides to come North?”

Alois frowned slightly. “I would hope he does not. But if he does, we will need a plan in place.”

Alexander finally stepped forward, taking the seat next to Alois, ignoring the Icchorian for now. “What do you plan to do once this is over?” He regarded his former Captain seriously, concern evident in his tone.

Alois met his gaze steadily. “I’m going to see the Golden Ones.”

Engel and Nai moved forward then, standing behind Alexander.

“They will kill you Alois. They destroyed entire armies when our kind last encountered them.” Alexander had dropped all pretense of protocol out of concern for his friend. “You would be eaten alive.”

Alois smiled. “Not with this large lug with me, they won’t. He can vouch for me in their domain. Or so he says anyway.” All eyes turned onto the Icchorian, who merely nodded. Alois then shifted a bit uncomfortably, drawing their attention back to him.

“There is...something else I should tell you four. I’m not sure if it's true yet, but I have had some time to study certain things and I’m hoping going to see the Golden ones will confirm it..” He allowed his gaze to fall to the ground with a sigh. “And I will understand if this changes things between us. You are all capable of thinking for yourselves. Aksel has reason to believe that since I...look different, that I fulfill some sort of prophecy the Icchorians have.”

“What prophecy?” Alexander asked slowly.

“It’s a legend about white haired heros that are born and will lead them to salvation or something like it. He’s convinced I’m one of them. And it just so happens that one of the Golden Ones has white hair like mine.”

Muto turned to look up at Alois as Nai questioned him next. “And what are these Heros expected to do?”

Alois shrugged. “Nothing I’ve read so far details that. I’ve been finding pretty much just portions of the prophecy that speak about them being born and that they are of special significance. I’m hoping that-”

It was Engel that interrupted him then for the first time that day, stepping forward into the firelight. “So you are an Icchorian then.” The statement was low, charged with emotion that was never heard in the few words the man had spoken before. All the squad members turned to look at him in varying degrees of shock. Alexander turned around fully in his chair to gape at him. Engel ignored everyone but Alois, his grey gaze fixed on him in a burning emotion that took him a moment to identify.

“Will you hate me if I am Engel?”

The silence was palpable as the two stared at one another, the Hunter’s words hanging between them. Muto began to shift, pushing up against Alois’s legs in what appeared to be comfort. Nai glanced at the former Captain, unsure of what would happen should Engel decide that it would be something that was unforgivable.

Unsurprisingly Engel remained silent, finally breaking his gaze away and glaring down at the floor at his side. Alois sighed, and relaxed back against the chair.

Aksel had certainly tensed as well. He knew that Alois was fond of these Humans, but would intervene should any of them try to harm the white-haired man. It would not do to lose one of the Saviors of his kind. Now however, he knew that though they may not like the thought of their former Captain being one of the enemy, but they were more loyal to Alois than to their hate of Icchorians.

“In any case, I won’t know for sure until I am able to talk to the Icchorian that has hair like mine. So my plan is to lie low long enough to know what Yulian plans to do, then set out to see the Carpathians.”

“And what will you require of us?” Alexander voiced the question of his men.

Alois looked a bit stunned at this. “Require...of you?”

“I will be offended if you think we are more loyal to the King than to you.” Alexander’s voice dropped to a monotone.

Alois could only blink at him, dumbfounded. Alexander rolled his eyes and Nai smiled indulgently. “We will be your eyes and ears in his army as long as we are able to Captain.”

“That is too much of a risk. I can’t ask that of any of you. You should just return and try to distance yourself from me and lay low, so that the King forgets you were close to me.”

Nai and Alexander shared an exasperated look. “He’s being dramatic again.”

“Thinking so little of us. It’s like he never really knew us.” They shook their heads as if in pity. Alois scowled.

“I’m right here you know.” He pouted slightly as he sat back, Muto smiling as he relaxed again. He was quiet for a moment in thought, then he leaned forward, a smile on his lips.

“But since you are all so eager, I do have a plan…”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The hall was deathly silent, even the portly politicians who always muttered about the going on of the city sat quiet and pale. One lone messenger bowed alone in the middle of the receiving hall, and it was apparent to all there that he shook in fear at what his words had brought, the large golden ring stained in red lying on the ground before him. Christofer, now a young man who was one of the King’s head advisors stood at the base of the stairs, mouth open in shock. He slowly turned, not making a sound as his gaze landed on the rigid King.

It seemed that even the birds outside had flown away, and the world itself had stopped its revolution to wait for the King’s response. It was no secret that His Majesty held a soft spot for the hand picked soldier that Alois had become, and that any harm that befell the white-haired man was met with swift retribution- if not imprisonment. But to have this brought before the King, his favored Soldier wiped out- snuffed in a solo mission in the far north…

Defeated at the hands of an Icchorian.

Not even the news that the Captain of the base, Alexander, had set out and slain the Icchorian in merciless justice seemed to soften the blow. The King was still as a statue on his throne, pale and gaze cold as he stared down at the messenger. Soon the tense silence was filled with his palpable rage, his fists clenched until his knuckles were white.

"Gather my men. Bring them here and arm them to the very last one before the moon cycle ends." He stood, moving with a swift motion, picking up a nearby oak table that had served as a rest for important documents. The papers flew out with seemingly little effort he hefted it through the air, and moments later it smashed into the top of the nearest stained glass window. The King did not stop, stalking forward as the shattered glass rained down behind him.

"Every Icchorian will know my loss. They all shall perish." His words echoed among the stunned men, before chaos erupted to obey their King.