The Demon Lord and his Hero

Hundreds of people were gathered at the beach waiting for Bella to arrive with the Sanguine spy.

Syryn was in a terrible mood because he was surrounded by more people who smelled like week-old unwashed bodies. They were pushing up against each other and taking advantage of the situation to touch the golden man and his beautiful companion.

The mage felt a hand grab his and he nearly threw the hand off when he realised it was Rowan. Taking the lead, Rowan pushed through the crowd and led Syryn out of the crowd of milling folks. A piercing scream sounded out loud and a man fell to his knees clutching his gushing stump of a hand.

Rowan didn't even glance at the man whose hand he had just cut off for daring to grope Syryn. The mage hadn't even realised he had been groped because of all the bodies that were pressing up against him.

The deep sound of drums beating began to be heard over the sounds of the crowd. The drums were slowly getting closer and closer to the beach.

Syryn inhaled deeply when Rowan pulled him out of the hot mess that he had been inside. Fresh air hit his lungs and he took a few grateful breaths before he noticed the procession that was arriving.

A mysterious woman in black was seated on a beautiful throne which was carried by sixteen naked slaves. She had an eye patch on one eye and her lower face was covered by the high collar of her black dress. Syryn couldn't see much of her face but from what little was visible, Bella was an average looking woman. She had an arrogant demeanour that was apparent in the way she sat and looked down upon the gathered crowd.

The slaves carrying Bella came to a halt and the crowd parted before them, leaving a wide berth for the leader of the Queensmen to be carried through. At the same time, the noises quieted down and only whispering could be heard.

"Bring the mage hunter." Bella had a husky voice. She spoke loud enough for Syryn and Rowan to hear. They were standing at the edge of the crowd, close to where the procession began.

As soon as Bella spoke, there was movement from the side and Syryn heard the sound of a whip falling on someone.

Out came stumbling a pale, beautiful man with long dark hair and the darkest eyes that Syryn had ever seen. He was stripped down to a torn pair of pants that hung off his waist as if they had fit him better once upon a time ago. The man had bluish bruises all over his body from being beaten and whipped. Syryn didn't have to see the skin on the man's back to know that there were deep and fresh whip marks on it. They hadn't even spared his face. Artemus had a dark bruise on his cheekbone and black tired circles under his eyes.

"That is Artemus, isn't it?" Syryn softly asked Rowan.

"Yes."

Rowan couldn't fathom what had happened. Where was Robin and how had Artemus been caught?

"Let the slave walk ahead," Bella instructed. "Whip him if he doesn't co-operate."

Artemus' dull eyes didn't show a single ripple when the whip fell on his back. He began walking forward and that was when he saw the duo that had come to pick him up.

Dark bottomless midnight eyes stopped on Syryn and a weight came off Artemus' shoulders. Syryn stared back at the man who was caught because he had come to look for Syryn. But the dark eyes turned away from him and glanced at Rowan for a brief moment before he looked forward like he hadn't recognised either of them.

"What's going on, Rowan?" Syryn whispered. Artemus was slowly and painfully making his way towards the water where the boat awaited him.

"I don't know," Rowan replied. Artemus was acting strange. He wanted to take action immediately but his intuition was telling him that the captured anti mage did not wish to be rescued. Rowan silently debated with himself on what course of action to take when he saw the hand signs that were subtly made by Artemus. His wrists were bound behind him and so Rowan caught sight of the message after the anti mage had passed them.

"He's asking us not to interfere," Rowan told Syryn.

"He's up to something then. Maybe we should leave it be and hope that his plan goes without a hitch."

"He's about to be hanged, Ryn," Rowan solemnly replied. "It's difficult for me to stand here and do nothing."

"Do you trust him?"

"I do."

Artemus was barefoot and bleeding from his back when the whipping guard pushed him into the water. The crowd laughed at the anti mage who struggled to stand without support since his hands were bound behind him.

"Bella, send him to Red Sun after he gets hanged!"

"Stupid! What use would they have of a dead body?" Someone else replied loudly.

Bella was smiling. Syryn could see it in her eyes.

"Eh, dead or not, a pretty man is a pretty man. Some people like that kind of thing."

The executioner rudely yanked Artemus onto the boat. The anti mage was sopping wet and looked miserable but there was still some dignity left in him. He didn't resist the executioner's rough treatment.

"Rowan, I don't like this," Syryn said in a low voice. "The window for rescue has just shrunk. I hope he knows what he's doing."

The blond anti mage suppressed the urge to strike. His friend's message had been clear and concise.

Do not interfere.

He reminded himself that Artemus was terrifyingly intelligent. He just had to put his faith in the man's abilities even though it looked like there was no hope for him.

The duo watched in trepidation as Artemus climbed the stairs to the scaffold. The noose went around his neck.

"Rowan, I don't like this..."

The blond was silent.

Do not interfere. 

"Rowan-" Syryn gasped when the trapdoor beneath Artemus fell open. "He's going to die, Rowan!"

Artemus' feet were hanging in the air. He was held up by just the rope around his neck. He was going to die.

Do not interfere.

Rowan was done. It was time to move.