Avaunt

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters.

CHAPTER TWO

The door slammed open with a bang, and a Page messenger ran in, breathing heavily from the long run. In the boy's right hand he clutched a scroll, with the spymasters seal embedded onto the front. Seated at a desk was a bearded man, looking over some documents. Women all over the country swooned at the sight of him. His close cropped hair and beard were blue-black, and his sapphire blue eyes sparkled. He was a sight to wring any girl's hearts and occupied a many minds fantasies. King Jonathan the III looked up from his papers, startled and secretly pleased for the distraction. Unknown too many, the job of ruling a country could be very boring!

The page instantly blushed as soon as he realized how he had entered the royal office. Sputtering an instant apology, the red faced boy stood at the door way; suddenly frozen stiff at the sight of the King. Hiding a grin, the King waved off the apology and gestured for the knight-in-training to come in.

"You have a message for me Lad?"

The boy, broken out of his stupor, nodded and jerkily walked over with the message.

The King grabbed the message and with a murmur, and a flash of blue fire, the charmed seal cracked. Jon carefully opened the scroll, reading quickly. His forehead creased and his frown deepened as he continued to read the message from the border. Opening his desk, Jon grabbed two pieces of parchment and quickly scribbled down a message. Sealing them with the royal insignia, he motioned for the nervous page to come closer.

"I need you to deliver two messages for me; they are the up most importance. Take one to Duke Garth and another to Lord Provost." Jon voice was stern but kind. "Can you do that for me young sir?"

The page gulped and nodded feverishly. Jon reached into his side purse and produced a silver coin. Putting the coin into the page's hand, the King patted the boy on the shoulder and nodded. Knowing a dismissal when he saw one, the page walked as quickly as he could towards the doors. As soon the page closed the doors behind him, he took off, only too pleased to put distance between him and the King. His nerves were shot to hell!

Back inside the royal office, Jon's shoulders sagged as he rubbed his temples. He could feel the onslaught of a headache come on as his stress level rose. The news had not been good; it seemed that Maggur had more tricks up his sleeve. With the destruction of the killing machines and death of Blayce, many assumed that the war with Scanran was going to come to a quick and easy close. However the fighting still continued. Maggur's army was relatively new, but they were learning and the war was at a standstill; with neither side giving an inch. The news that Maggur might have something to break the standstill in his favor was down right worrisome.

Walking back to the desk, Jon gathered the documents he had been reading only moments before and put them into a relatively neat pile. He hoped that the new clerk would be able to read his chicken scratch this time. With a tired sigh, he dropped back into his chair and swung his feet upon the desk in a very unkingly matter. Gary should be stomping through any minute now…

As Jon predicted, seconds later Duke Garth the Younger stormed through the door without bothering to knock, a thunderous expression on his face. Jon grinned.

"What do you think your doing?" Gary cried out, waving the message over his head as if it would make the offending document disappear. "Going to the border? Are you out of your mind!?"

Sapphire blue eyes watched patiently as his friend and closest advisor pace back and forth in a circle. Gary was making wild motions with hands as he mumbled about stubborn, no-good, idiotic kings. Finally Jon swung his legs of the desk and leaned forward.

"Are you done yet?"

Gary stopped mid rant and sighed. He slumped down into one of the chairs in front of the King's desk and frowned. Jon hid the full blown smile that threatened to break free as he watched his cousin pout like a ten year old.

"Yes, I suppose I am." Gary mumbled though his expression was still thunderous. Without saying a word Jon handed him the message from the border. Silently Gray read the message, his forehead creasing too with worry. Finally Gray looked up and sighed, defeated.

"Well, what time do you want to leave?"

"I want to be gone by tomorrow morning."

Gray stood up. "Well that doesn't give me much time to prepare. I suppose you'll contact Alanna and Raoul and tell them your coming?"

Jon nodded.

"Well then I'd best be off" Gary's mind was already making a list of what needed to be done, and who to contact. Opening the door, Gary looked back at his cousin. "Jon? Don't get yourself killed, Thayet would have my head." The tone was light and humorous but the message was clear.

Serious sapphire blue eyes met hazel eyes filled with worry; guilt and envy.

"I'll be fine, I promise."

Gary nodded, and after a brief moment of hesitation, bowed deeply to the King of Tortall.

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Briar examined every inch of his cell, not willing to give up on the search for freedom. He had no idea long he had been locked up in the windowless dirt room; all he knew is that it was too long. Maggur, the Scanran king, had done his homework before capturing the plant mage. There was no plant life within 500 feet in either direction, and while Briar magical reach was much longer then that, Maggur had enclosed his prison with strong magical barriers; strong enough to stop even Briar from reaching any plant life. Briar smirked to himself, at least for now.

Suddenly with a loud bang the pure steel door opened. Hissing in pain, Briar quickly covered his eyes from the bright light. In stepped a blurred figure. Briar blinked rapidly, trying to clear the tears from his sore, red eyes. Finally, the figure began to focus, and Briar found himself staring at a large bear like man with broad strong shoulders. He dressed in the finest royal red silk that money could by, trimmed by golden thread. Sparkling sapphires embellished a simple leather belt and upon his belt hung a gleaming sword. Resting on a bed of course blond hair laid a simple gold crown.

King Maggur looked down at Briar, his deep green eyes calculating. Then he raised his hand and snapped. Quickly a henchman rushed into the small cell and unlocked the chains that wrapped around Briar's ankle. Briar rubbed his chafe ankle, but did not let the feeling of relief show on his scowling face. Instead he conjured up as much saliva as he could and spit spitefully at the King's feet.

Take that you over dressed, smug Bag! Briar thought with a small amount of satisfaction.

Briar was quickly rewarded with a back hand to the head, hard enough that for a moment the world spun. Gingerly he wiped off the blood from his now busted lip.

"Please Master Briar." King Maggur spoke, his voice smooth. "No need for unpleasentaries, after all you are a guest in my household."

You could catch bees with that voice. Briar raised one delicate eyebrow (a trick he learned from Tris) and commented dryly. "Oh so this is how you always treat your guests? I've got a few suggestions for your guest room then."

Maggur laughed his voice deep and thundering. "Such spirit! I believe that you and I are going to get along quite well Briar Moss."

Briar shook his head. "That's strange; usually I don't get along with filthy murderers."

Maggur just smiled. "It's funny is it not? That while some curse my name, others proclaim me a visionary, a man with the strength to change the world."

Briar mouth hardened and he said nothing back to the self proclaimed visionary. It was quite obvious to him that King Maggur was off his rocker. And one thing Briar was certain of; he wanted nothing to do with him. After all, nothing was more dangerous then a fanatical man who believed his own lies.

"You see my young friend; you now have a greater destiny to play. With you, I will now be able to spread my message, and punish those unworthy of my rule. Together we will be able to build a greater empire, one unspoiled by those that hurt society as a whole."

Briar could not help it; he laughed. However there was no amusement in his voice. "You actually believe all that crap? You're nothing but a crazy sick man who should be locked up. Can't you see that you're the one hurting society, that you're the one unworthy?" A condescending edge colored his voice.

Maggur frowned, and for the first time, a spark of anger warmed his cold green eyes. With a nod towards Briar, the King swiftly turned on his heels and stalked out. For a moment Briar thought that this 'meeting' was simple over. That thought of hope quickly dissolved when the beefy henchman walked towards him, a deadly cruel gleam in his eye, and a sadistic grin of his lips.

Briar crouched down into a ready position. After all, Briar was never one to take a beating lying down.

Hours later, Briar slumped against the cold stone cell wall, his head throbbing. But despite the fact that he was now covered in multiple bruises and cuts, he couldn't keep a satisfied grin off his bloody face. He had indeed fought back and when the guard had left there was a definite painful limp to his step. However as good as that made him feel, it was not the reason for Briar current good mood.

With a sly grin, he pulled out the key to his freedom, a thin knife of good quality that Briar had kindly lifted from his guard during the scuffle. He almost felt sorry for the guard; for once Briar escaped, he was sure the guard would be severely punished. He had looked over the lock on the door before and not only would it be easily to unlock, it also had no magical protection what so ever. It was obvious that King Maggur was not only crazy, but over confident as well.

Oh well, Briar was sure the fanatical tyrant would learn his lesson soon enough.

He pushed himself off the floor, biting back a groan as his sore muscles protested the sudden movement. He was going to have a nice long soak in his bruise balm when this was all over. Briar forced himself to stretch for a couple minutes before walking over to the door the separated him from his freedom.

After studying the lock for a moment, Briar quickly got to work. At the same time Briar planned out how to take care of the guards that stood on the other side. He needed to dispose of them quickly and quietly before they had a chance to alert the others. He wasn't to keen on staying here much longer, and plus, Briar was sure the he and King Maggur wouldn't get along to well. Briar always had a problem with authority.

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I finally got the second chapter up. Sorry about the super long wait!

Remember keep Reviewing, and any feed back is welcome!

Avaunt