A Message For The Beta

Jamil

I glared at the group of men that had surrounded us. I could see and count about six men standing before us looking like they had very hostile intentions. I did a quick scan of the environs trying to see if there were any others lurking around but there seemed to be none. Either that, or they were hiding well out of view.

"Well, well, look who we have here." A man moved forward. He wasn't very tall but he had the muscular build of one who could take on ten men of my own size. He completed the look with a full beard which extended to his chest area.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" I snarled, my hand flying to my side only to be reminded that I had no sword. It wasn't exactly one of the most important accessories you thought to pack when you were preparing to go for a run. I groaned inaudibly silently cursing myself for being so careless. With what had been going on in the past couple of days, I should have known better than to leave the palace without my sword. Now, I was practically defenseless before six extremely muscular men. I looked over to Ulo and smiled. Ever the careful one, he had drew his sword from its scabbard. I wondered about how he had carried it while running but decided to not think about that. Not especially when we had a group two times our number (make that three times since Blaire could not fight) on our territory and with obviously hostile intentions.

The man chuckled as he took another step toward us reducing the distance between us to about ten feet.

"Don't come any closer." I warned, raising my arms in preparation for a fight. Beside me, Ulo brandished his sword. "Get behind us." I whispered to Blaire to which she promptly complied. If I had known that it only took six men to make Blaire calm, I would have arranged that a long time ago. Too bad we could not really dwell on that. Not with the man continuing toward us despite my warning.

"Come on, boys. Is this how you welcome strangers?" He boomed as he moved another step.

"Come any closer," I snarled, "and you will see just how well we treat strangers." His eyes flashed in anger and for a moment, I feared that he would dash toward us. Instead, he blinked and he was back to smiling which didn't look any more reassuring. Not with his beards that was thick enough to house a whole herd of deer.

"Watch your tongue, boy. You are lucky I am not here to fight. Not yet." He added the last part like he was hoping he would be able to fight very soon. "I'm only here to talk so be a good boy and listen."

"How about you be a good boy, yourself," I growled, not being especially pleased to be referred to as a boy, "and get the hell out of our pack."

"How about you shut your trap, boy." The man snapped. "I see that you don't have my target here." A phantom rattlesnake made its way down my back as I got a really good idea about who his target was. I didn't know whether to be relieved he was not here or be worried about him running into these men, alone. I pushed the thought away. We had more pressing issues to deal with at the moment. "Since he is not here, I would speak to the most important person here." The man continued. "You, come forward." He pointed a huge arm toward Ulo.

I snarled as I moved closer to Ulo. "He is not coming anywhere. I would advise that you leave while you still can." I wished I had a sword to brandish as emphasis but I had to make to with what I had.

The man chuckled, this time, he sounded much more colder. "Are you coming, or do I have to come over there?" He asked, disregarding my words.

"You..." I started through clenched teeth but was stopped by a warm arm on my shoulder.

"Let me go see what he wants." Ulo whispered, his voice extremely calm. I always admired the way he was able to keep his cool under all conditions.

"Are you sure?" I asked, glaring at the man and his other five companions. I would hate for anything to happen to my friend on my watch.

He patted me again on the shoulder as if to say, what is the worst that could happen? before stepping forward. "What do you want with us?" Ulo asked as he took three steps forward, his left arm still wrapped around his sword.

"You?" The man chuckled like that was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard. "Nothing much. I only need you to carry a message to your father, Green, is it?"

"Watch your tongue!" I snarled the same time as Indrik did.

"Do you know who they are?" A timid voice asked behind me.

"No!" I replied bitterly. "But stay behind me. I will make sure no harm comes to you." My entire body was tensed, ready to launch it the men so much as made a wrong move but instead, the man chuckled again. He seemed to like chuckling, I noticed. Probably because it sounded like a thunderclap which worked well to make his enemies uncomfortable. It definitely set me on edge.

"Whatever. Tell him I said to prepare for payback. He has proven himself incapable of being a leader so he is going to face the consequences."

"What do you mean?" I rasped but he simply ignored me.

"Make sure you deliver my message." He said to Ulo and then, he was gone. I blinked as I stepped forward, Blaire now clinging to my robe for safety.

"Where did he go?" I asked Ulo who replied with a shrug.

"He just disappeared."