He's Gone...

Craig came to consciousness in the dark musty prison cell after he had blacked out in the last few hours.

He spat blood, feeling the metallic taste in his mouth. He sat up on the hard, dirty cold floor. His head throbbed and he creased his brows feeling the pain as he raised his hand to touch his head.

Each breath he took carried the sour nauseating smell that hung in the prison cell. It didn't take long for the consciousness of him being in a prison cell and the metallic collar around his neck to dawn on him.

He squinted his eyes because of the scanty light in the cell. In the dimly lit room, he saw two guards standing outside the prison cell.

Although Craig's body felt limp and weakened, the chances of escaping with the less number of guards who stood outside gave him some kind of renewed strength. He slowly but steadily raised himself from the ground and tiptoed quietly to the bars.

"Hey" he whispered to one of the guards who turned. Craig saw that his eyes were slightly reddened.

"I need some water," He said with a face that could easily fool anyone, his voice husky.

Craig was part of the Leighton clan, he had the ability of compulsion, but because of the magical collar around his neck, he was unable to use his powers but with many years of skilled use of his ability, he had learned to compel people even without his powers, his words and facial impression did as much, only without the magical touch of forcefulness. It wasn't for any reason that the king put him in charge after his departure. He was a powerful and competent knight.

The guard made a face and scanned Craig's face for any trace of deceit, but when he found none, he nodded and went away from the cell.

In a matter of minutes, he was back with a jug of water. He passed the jug through the small opening beneath the prison bars and handed it to Craig who took it and emptied it within seconds.

When the guard came closer ready to bend and take the empty jug, Craig passed his hand through one of the bars and grabbed the guard's collar, and pulled the dagger from his side. The guard who was too surprised by the sudden attack could hardly think of anything before he knew it, Craig slashed him with his own dagger and he fell to the ground with a shriek.

The second guard realizing the situation, came forward to attack, he drew his sword and lunched forward with all intensity and vigor, knowing the fate he would face if the Queen were to find out they had had a fill of their own before they had changed posts with the other guards, a reason for their slowed agility and the reason for which the captive they had to guard now had a slim chance to escape.

He raised his steel through the bars to strike Craig, but Craig, trained in combat since he was twelve, applied his skills and moved to the side, dodging the attack, he held the guard's hand that was holding the hilt of the sword.

With swift movements, he snatched the sword from his hand and stabbed him with the dagger he had used on the first soldier.

He bent and detached the bunch of keys around the dead guard's belt. He tried the keys until he got the correct one. He unlocked the bars slowly and stepped out. He pushed the bodies of the dead guards into the prison cell that once held him captive. With steady and calculated steps, he made his getaway, the darkness engulfing his retreating figure, the sound of his receding steps fainting as he walked away. Away from captivity.

----

The words of Craig echoed in Queen Xenia's head as she sat quietly on the large sofa in her magnificent bedroom. When Craig had spoken those words, It had struck her hard. She had managed to curb her brewing emotions of rage and kept a nonchalant facade after the outburst. She had in time stopped herself from going berserk. That was a close call. Had she allowed her rage to take over her senses, things would have been dire.

Although she had pretended nonchalance, Craig's words ached her heart. She knew being royalty -a power-thirsty one at that, came with its demerits.

Over the years, the thirst and greed for power and sovereignty had influenced her sense of affection and appreciation for the right ways of doing things. She was hellbent on gaining ultimate power and what better way to do it than in the absence of the King.

Xenia had two children with the king. Her eldest son, Prince Damian, had gone on the quest together with his father to find his lost offspring and Lady Valeria, her young daughter who had recently turned seventeen.

Xenia grimaced, remembering the time Prince Damian had refused outright to stay behind when his father had made that decision to leave for the outer world. He decided to go with him like the filial and dutiful son that he was.

Damian was nothing like what his mother wanted him to be. She had wanted him to take over his father's position after he was gone, but the young man was not hungry for power and authority like his mom.

Xenia realizing this had decided to claim all the power for herself, thus, she knew she would need to silence those who would undoubtedly stand in her way and ensure no interference in her endeavor.

A noise grew louder, a noise that interrupted her thoughts. She stood from her sitting position and walked out, her steps hasty. When she was out, she saw a guard who stood outside her doors, panting hard as tiny rivulets of sweat snaked down his face and neck. Fear was imprinted all over his face.

After a few seconds of trying to find his voice under the irritated and skeptic stare of the impatient queen, the guard parted his lips,

"Si...Sir Cra...Craig, the knight,he's gone."