BONE

"Children," Henndar said to himself as he watched the children go off till they were almost out of sight. "always full of energy, aren't they?"

" You never change do you?" Gebreth stated more than asked.

"Change? Of course, I change, everyone changes. We change as we grow, learning new things every day. our lives would be cut short if we resisted change ."

"Don't try to play smart here Henndar. We all know what he means by that," Kethra cut in. Henndar looked at her, offended.

"Honey...that was harsh. You'll have to make up for that" He looked at her sadly

"You're to talk. you have a whole lot to make up for Henndar."

"I do? How do I...make up for that? Anything to please you my dear" He smiled

"Don't even think of taking any chances" she said calmly.

Henndar didn't reply to that and just watched the children till they were out of sight. Once they were out of sight, his smile evaporated, and was replaced by a stern look. "Deadlock," he said, and a figure materialized before him

"I await your orders, my lord," a male voice came from the cloaked figure, a voice clearly filled with reverence for Henndar. A dozen or so others also in cloaks appeared behind the first, all on their knees. They wore the same black cloaks with a vermilion bird having its wings outstretched, floating over a white tree imprinted on their backs. The only different one was the one in the lead, the one who'd addressed Henndar. The hems of his garment were a bright red color and his back had tongues of red flames designed on his back.

"Seven, nine, twelve," Henndar spoke. Three of them moved to stand before him but were as silent as could be. If one didn't see them move it would have been hard to believe they weren't standing there already.

" You know the tasks I assigned to you today." He paused, then continued after looking at their half-masked faces one after the other. " That's canceled. Five, the task is yours. You are to only watch and report to me whatever you see. No action is required no matter what."

Right after he said that one of the others kneeling rose to his feet, gave a deep bow, then left silently and quickly, blending into the surroundings.

"One, I have a task for you as well," Henndar said and waved lightly. A rolled-up parchment shimmered into view before the leader of the group. He grabbed it, glanced at its contents once, then slipped it silently into his cloak. Henndar turned his back to them. "The task is simple, based on your abilities, but...I get a feeling they might be expecting such actions. Test their might and abilities first, then you can act. Stay hidden at all cost and silence anyone who might be a threat in a nice way for me." Soon after he said that the whole group disappeared, leaving no trace of their existence. Henndar grinned.

A king sat on a throne, looking indifferently at the man before him. His grey eyes looked dead, but the slight crease of his brow said otherwise about his emotions. He wore a white mask that covered his mouth and nose. It looked like half the skull of a beast, having many sharp, even teeth. His black hair draped over his back, a contrasting color to the white parts of his outfit. White spikes traced down his back, their lengths close to a finger. His arms were rested on the armrests of his throne, and no motion could be picked. The room was dimly lit, and his arms looked like bone, they seemed to have no skin and his fingers were only phalanges. T

hat was all one could see with the dim lighting. He looked unperturbed as he looked on at the one reading before him. The room was large but empty. It stretched far from his throne to a door that went high into the shadows above. At regular intervals, double rows of thick rounded pillars were lined from the door towards the throne. The throne was three steps above the ground, and behind it rose two identical heads of serpents from the wall on both sides over his head. In their eye sockets burned blue flames, and those flames were that which lighted the room.

"...the Vermilion Kingdom, as expected has invited us. I believe all the others will send their ambassadors as well. It would make us lose face if we fail to do the same. People might start suspecting, and rumors might go out of control. May I make a suggestion, my lord?" He paused and looked at the impassive face of the king. He still looked unruffled but a closer look at his hand, and one would see that wasn't so. His grip on the armrests had tightened, but his phalanges seemed to not touch it.

Seeing that the king said nothing, he took it as a chance to continue but sounded unsure of himself as he gulped and continued.

" My lord doesn't have to grace them with his presence. You are far too superior to go so low. I only suggest that the crown prince be sent as ou-aah!!" A dull snap sounded in the place, and he clutched his abdomen, falling to the ground on his knees. He looked at the king with difficulty and saw his raised hand being lowered back to its position.

"Aah!" More screaming echoed within as more snaps were heard. He fell on his back.

"First, the sternum, then six ribs," an old voice was heard as another person came beside the miserable person on the ground. He was hunched and looked short, his face looked squashed and sinister no matter the expression he took. He looked at the king with his mouth stretched wide across his face in what was supposed to be a smile.

"My lord doesn't have to play with these little creatures, so don't be offended that I dealt with him first before you could grant him mercy. This one is too weak to have a taste of your power. Look how he struggles for life," he said as he turned his attention back to the squirming one on the ground that continued to fill the room with his screams of agony. He screamed some more as more ribs snapped within. some had even pierced through his chest and were stained red with his blood.

"Please!..." He gasped and screamed at the old man, still thinking of hope. The old man only took a step away from him as two more snaps sounded- his elbow joints.

"Aaah!! Help me!" He continued to scream in pain. The old man looked down at him and shook his head slowly " too noisy" unintelligible sounds were now heard as his jaw broke from its joint and hung low. "You had potential, but too weak,"

"Enough!" The king said that and immediately, the man's neck broke and he died. The old man looked at the king

"My lord has soiled his hands. Well, he may have been weak and immature, but I do think his suggestion is appropriate. You cannot go yourself, and no other seems more appropriate other than the little one. He is the crown prince after all, and this will be a good training ground for him to learn. Of course, this is merely a suggestion. The decision is your's to make in the-"

"Go on," he was cut off. "Summon him"

The old man nodded," as you wish." He turned to leave but paused to look at the dead body. He bent lower and pulled out a chain from within his infinity bracelet which he clasped to the neck of the corpse. The chain clanked as he dragged the body effortlessly out of the place. The door slammed shut once he was out and silence once again returned. The king frowned as he looked at the door.