Ryden couldn't stand the fact that that soldier had treated him like a mere commoner. He was the prince! And princes are not commoners.

Hunter ran up next to him. "Ry-"

"It's prince to you." Ryden stated.

"Fine prince," Hunter stopped Ryden. "There's something you should know."

"It can wait. We need to get back, and finish our plans." said Ryden.

"No, it ca-"

Ryden rolled his eyes in a 'no-duh I'm totally going to listen to you' kind of way. "What do you think I am?"

"What?" asked Hunter.

"What. Do. You. Think. I. Am." Ryden tapped his pointer finger on Hunter's chest with every word.

Hunter shook his head. "A annoying person who also just so happens to be a little prince."

"Then please refrain from speaking to me unless you're spoken to." Ryden started walking towards the café again.

Hunter shook his head. "What's his problem?"

"He's just stressed out. This style of life is new to him." said Maya.

The odd looking trio was silent for the remainder of their hurried walk.

Sighing while he walked behind Ryden, Hunter, began wondering why felt that he had to help this brat. He kept trying to chalk it up to the fact that this might be his only chance at revenge. Yet the real reason he finally decided on was that The One was directing him.

He supposed babysitting a brat like Ryden wouldn't be to bad compared to a lot of other things he could be doing. Like sitting alone wondering why he was spared. Or planning his final mission.

There was a time in his life that he would've scoffed at what he had become. He was a lowly soldier in the beginning. Yet he learned that he was unique, and a valuable asset to a hidden war. Both sides fought for the sole right to have his powers, but no one won - including him. He wondered if it would be the same here.

--

Draden sat atop his throne watching the female servant before him. She was unlike any other slave he had. He wasn't sure how long it had been since he had last seen such bravery.

She disgusted him, yet he could do little to harm her until she held no more value to him. She was the key to his success. She alone held the knowledge of the many secrets that the ancient's held in these lands. After all she was the last of them.

"Tell me what I want to know, and I'll make sure you don't suffer to much." Draden allowed his voice to become as sweet as honey.

The woman spat at his feet. "I'd rather die to a Shoul'k than tell you anythin'."

"That could be arranged." Smiling viciously as the woman stared at him with shock he explained himself. "You see I'm rather fond of these creatures. You could say they see me somewhat as a god, and will do anything to appease me. Including giving me information in some unpleasant ways." He snapped his fingers. "Guards take this beast back to its cage until our unsavory servants arrive."

Two guards walked up, and drug the woman off. Neither of them made a single sound as the woman lay limp in their arms. The air around then was tense with an array of emotions.

--

Ryden was the first to see his mentor siting limply in a booth. His head and forearms resting against the table's top. The stillness portrayed by him resting nearly matching death.

"This is what I wanted to tell you about before we got here Ryden-" Hunter's said softly.

Ryden turned to glare at Hunter. "It's Prince Ryden to you simpleton! If you wish for me to respond then always address me as such."

Hunter shook his head while allowing a small amount of laughter to escape from him. No one really understood why though. It could have been from some unknown stress, or frustration with Ryden, or even just pure bemusement.

He wiped tears out of his eyes as he replied to Ryden. "Then why did you just respond?" Hunter held up his hand as Ryden was about to respond. "Before you rashly reply remember that I saved you from a fate worse than death. I only did it because your friend asked me after I tried healing him. I have no allegiance to you whatsoever, so I suggest that watch how you treat me."

By the time Hunter was done talking Ryden had begun imagining ways to teach him a lesson in respect. One glance at Maya, however, stopped him. It was as if she knew exactly what he was thinking, and commanding him not to say a single heated word.

"I'll... consider it." Ryden managed to keep himself in check.

Hunter nodded accepting his response for now. "Good, now where is the shop owner." Turning his back to the others, Hunter, went to look for the café owner who seemed to have disappeared.

As soon as he was out of earshot Maya turned to Ryden. "Why are you acting so harshly towards Hunter?!"

"I don't trust him. He's probably the reason my mentor is injured. I mean he just so happens to slink in here minutes before a entire squad of elite knights burst in? I think he's an agent for my father. Him, along with that Snake guy."

Maya smiled lightly, brushing away a stray strand of hair from her face. "Ryden, there's plenty of explanations that could prove that you correct - or even wrong. Give him the benefit of the doubt until we know for sure though. Okay?"

"I think you can do that. I'm not going to take it too easy on him." said Ryden.

"Ryden!" Maya shoved him hard.

Ryden stumbled back into a wall. As his shoulder connected with the wall one of the bricks slid in slightly. Ryden however didn't take any notice to it, and instead pushed himself back up.

"Okay, fine I'll try to be nice to him. Happy?" Ryden shook his head in disbelief at her outburst.

Ryden could see the faint hint of a smile forming on her face. "Very."

"Guys, I can't find Snake!" Hunter wasn't visible, but it sounded as if he was near the kitchen. A loud thump resounded before him reappearing a few seconds later covered in flour. "Can I just say I hate booby-trapped kitchens."

Both Maya and Ryden tried hard to not laugh. Ryden failed horribly; laughing within seconds of taking in the spectacle. Hunter's tan face was now stark white with flour, and his normally black suit looked more like a Dalmatian's coat.

Ryden managed to say, "Y- you got a little s- something on your face!" before laughter erupted from him again.

Hunter leveled a glare cold enough to freeze the sun. "Har-de-har-har. I bet you wouldn't be laughing if you were in my shoes."

"Well of course not!" Ryden pointed to Hunter's black boots. "They're obviously way to big for me!"

Hunter stood there completely dumbfounded. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he sighed deeply not sure what to do. He wanted to teach this punk a lesson, however the kid reminded him of one friend who was long dead.

Plus he was captured by the king's goons, so naturally his enemies were Hunter's allies in a way. He almost laughed at how simple he had just made it seem. Things were never so black and white as he wanted. There was always so much grey filling in the gap.

"Never mind. I don't feel like explaining what I meant." Hunter took in a deep breath. "So, your little group is against the king. Why?"

"Because he's evil." Ryden said.

"No, but WHY? You're the prince so why fight your own father? Could it be that you just don't like him or something more devious."

"No, no nothing like that. He killed my mother when I was only a little child. Since then I've sworn to make sure he pays for his crimes." Ryden now had a bloodthirsty edge to his words.

"I... see." Hunter's heart ached for this kid. Knowing full well what extents he would go too to revenge a loved one. He nodded towards Maya. "What about you Paladin?"

"I'm here because I owe my friend Ryden a Debt." Maya's eyes widened. "Wait how did you know that I was a Paladin?" Maya asked.

Ryden seemed more concerned than Maya about him knowing that she was a Paladin. Unconsciously Ryden had put himself between Hunter and Maya. His eyes were full of distrustful fire.

"You're fighting style matches it, but I wasn't sure until seeing your boyfriend's reaction." said Hunter.

This only seemed to worsen Ryden's attitude concerning Hunter. "How do you even know their fighting style? It's a heavily guarded secret."

"Well let's see, it could be the fact that I've gone up against quite a few Paladins under YOUR father's command. Once you fight a few you won't ever mistake the way they fight. Plus they only kill if they had no other option."

Maya seemed conflicted as she spoke. "How did you survive the Paladins-"

"That is if you're telling the truth." Ryden finished for her.

"It has something to do with my molecular structure. See I don't need blood to live, nor am I a unholy ghoul inhabiting a human like body. Come to think of it my body really doesn't need much air in the first place."

The expressions on the duos face's was priceless. Ryden was squinting hard at nothing repeating what Hunter had just said to himself. However after a few minutes he stopped trying. He had begun to develop a slight migraine from exerting to much brain power on the matter. Maya just stood there with 'what the heck' screaming from her eyes.

Hunter sighed. "Let's just say I'm like a cockroach. Hard to hurt, and harder still to kill."

"You couldn't have possibly started with that?" Ryden asked.

Hunter didn't get the chance to reply for Drake began to cough - hard. His body jumped with every convulsion. Large drops of clear saliva mixed with blood sprayed across the table.

The trio stood in place for the first few coughs until it was apparent that he wasn't going to stop anytime soon. Ryden had to force himself to breath as he watched blood to begin to speckle his mentor's arms. The world around started to tilt and spin as a ringing started in his ears. He didn't even feel his body impact with the ground.

The next thing he knew was Hunter was lightly slapping him in the face. " -time to be a pansie. Get up now!"

"W- what?" His voice sounded foreign to him.

Hunter pulled Ryden to his feet. "We need you to go get a medical kit. I might be able to stop his coughing." Hunter knew it wouldn't help Drake, but it would help the prince sleep peacefully.

He nodded, not quite understanding what was going on. Ryden took off looking for a medical kit of some kind. Hunter helped Maya prop up the old man's body.

"So what are you going to do to stop him?" Maya's voice was steeled.

Hunter laughed. "What do you mean?"

"Come on we're both soldiers. We've both obviously seen a lot of death to know when you can't save someone. So why give Ryden any hope?"

Hunter stared into her eyes. "Because that's what he needs right now."

Maya nodded thoughtfully. She thought she understood what Hunter meant. There was no use crushing someone that way.

"Besides, I can stop the coughing for now." Hunter said with a grin.

Hunter slid his hand down to the man's chest. Within seconds his hand and chest began to glow a brilliantly warm gold. Hunter could feel himself tiring from the constant use of his power without recharging enough. The coughing slowly subsided leaving only Hunter's panting audible in the silence.

Hunter was relying solely on his willpower to stand. Beads of sweat had made their way across his forehead. He felt completely drained.

"That was... amazing." Maya shook her head. "You're a worker of miracles!"

Hunter shook his head. "No I'm not. I was just barely able to fully heal him, by giving him some of my own energy."

Hunter sat down across the table. Lifting his behind his head he leaned back, and closed his eyes. He had to rest his body before he fell from exhaustion.

Ryden came back a little bit later empty handed. "I couldn't find–" he stopped as he saw his mentor no longer coughing. His face drained of all color, leaving his complexion ashen. "Is- is he dead?"

"No, I'm not dead." Drake sounded groggy and unsurprisingly gruff. "Thanks to this young man."

Hunter nodded slightly. Wondering why he felt drool on his cheek. He had been dozing off he realized with a start.

Drake stood, and bowed to Hunter. "Young man, it seems I owe you debt. I intend on repaying that debit. Name your price - and if it's within my power - I'll grant it to you."

"That isn't necessary." Hunter also knew no one could grant his wish. "I would however be honored to assist you."

"I see. What exactly do you believe you'd be assisting us with?" Drake asked.

"Taking down your corrupted King." Hunter stated.

Drake was silent as he studied Hunter like he had just truly seen him. He caressed his graying beard, obviously deep in thought.

"Don't tell me you're actually considering it?!" exclaimed Ryden.

Drake looked at Ryden. "Yes I am."

"We can't just trust him with what we're doing!" Ryden slammed his fist down on the table.

"Nor will we." Drake turned to face Hunter again. "Very well, if you wish to accompany us you may. As our hired hand."

"Fine by me." Hunter said.

Drake offered his hand to him to shake. Hunter smiled and shook it, sealing the deal. Leaving Ryden fuming.

"Good, then I believe it's time to leave. We've spent to much time here."

Hunter, walked over to the booth he had been sitting at, and grabbed a worn out desert grey backpack. The straps were barely being held together with black ducktape. Small burnt holes peppered the pack as proud battle scars.

Hunter slung the pack on his back. "I'm ready."

Maya and Drake walked out of the building. Leaving only Ryden and Hunter together. Ryden walked straight over to Hunter.

"We aren't in need of your services. Leave now while you still can. Otherwise I'll make sure every second of the day is Hell for you." Ryden whispered.

Hunter glared at the young prince. "You have no idea of what Hell is boy."

"Can't say I didn't warn you then." He shoved Hunter to the ground.

Ryden walked out to his friends. Hunter shook his head amazed by the Prince's suspicion. He has saved them, yet the prince still didn't trust him - or possibly just didn't like him.

A warm feeling shot through Hunter's hand as he stood. He looked where his hand had just been. He noticed a brick pushed back just slightly into the wall. Curious he reached out to touch it. When the tips of his fingers touched it a feeling of warmth washed over him.

"Hunter, are you coming?" Maya asked.

Hunter looked away from the brick. "Not just yet. You guys go ahead, I'll meet you outside the gates."

"We can only wait until dark." Maya paused, "If you aren't there-"

"I understand. This isn't my first mission like this. Go I'll only be a few minutes." Hunter went back to inspecting the brick.

"Just be careful soldier." Drake said.

Hunter didn't reply as he was no longer in the room. He had fallen flat on his back. Surrounded by cold darkness. Then there was a blinding flash of light stinging his startled eyes. A resounding bang followed, reminding him of a flash-bang grenadine going off.

———

A/N

Another chapter done yay! I hope you enjoyed it, I'm trying to write this entire book on a outline this time; obviously it's not helping me to much though. I'm not used to having my book laid out as much as it is.

What do you think is going to happen?