Page 5 of King of Forest and Fur

“Well, let’s go get him, then.” The king stepped toe-to-toe with his trusted man. “Ready a team. Keep the tracking men on him and inform them we will be there soon, but do nothing unless absolutely necessary. I’ll be leading the team and I want to make the capture. We need Drystan alive to end this once and for all. He needs to be made an example of and quickly.”

“I agree, Sire.”

“Gather the team and we will rally by the gates. I’m going to call the Academy and make them aware of our arrival.”

“Are you sure that’s wise?”

Rehn raised an intimidating brow at being questioned.

“It just may take our edge away should Drystan be aware we are on our way.”

The king scoffed.

“Idris, please. Have more faith in me. We need to keep relations clean and we can’t do that by crashing into another territory’s school of education, can we? Especially when some of the most esteemed sages are there, as well.”

Idris remained silent as Rehn continued to tell him how wrong he was to question him.

“Besides, I am only telling the administration about our arrival. There should be no need to tell staff or students as long as this is handled swiftly. If they found out, that would be what created a panic.” He smiled at the dutiful stern face of Idris before clapping him on the back.

The sudden jerk broke the stiffness of playing their roles and both relaxed. At least, Rehn tried to.

“Now, go get the team assembled so I can call.”

“Yes, sir.”

Idris dismissed himself swiftly, leaving purposeful footsteps echoing down the hall.

Rehn walked over to his desk and grabbed his phone that lay there ever since Idris had called him with the news.

He quickly dialed the Director of the Academy.

“King Tahyrst To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Tressa. I’d love for this to be anything but what it’s about, but it’s urgent. Listen, one of my prisoners has escaped?—”

“What?” Tressa’s voice was holding a higher, more worried pitch now. “No one escapes your prisons.”

“I know. We are trying to figure out that part, but we did find him, or at least know where he’s going.”

“Here? What do you want me to do?”

Rehn was happy Tressa actually had a brain and he didn’t have to over explain anything.

“Nothing. Let the administration team know, but no one else. We will handle this quickly and there should be no disruption.”

“I can do that. Can you send me his picture just so the others know who to keep an eye out for?”

“There’s no need. They’ll know Drystan Sahylnd when they see him.”

“It’s Drystan? Are you sure you don’t want any of my help?”

“Thanks, but no. It may play our hand somehow. Plus, we don’t know how he got out or if he had help, so we are letting as few people know as possible.”

“Understood,” Tressa responded.

“We will be there soon. Heading to the team now.” Rehn ended the call without another word. He didn’t like to waste time on unnecessary good-byes.

As he tried not to race down the stairs, his bear was making it hard. Inside, he could feel it pawing at the ground, wanting to charge into battle and rip the threat to shreds.

---