🔥 The Path of Fire (Path of Light and Fire Book #1)(Completed) 🔥

Chapter 25: Gone Fishing

If Takuya betrays me, he will meet the end of my blade.

Frost covered the hard ground and the trees were void of foliage. Takuya lumbered in front leading them to the exchange point. The army wanted the Seriens to turn themselves over for questioning in a murder and Sabin could only guess how such a falsehood came into being.

He'd sketched out a battle plan with the others while Alaina healed Takuya. Kianna put him to sleep just after for good measure. They told him it was side effect, but in truth they'd used that time to put it into motion.

He knew it would work, but it would be at a great danger to himself. Despite Kianna's protest, there was no one else he would put in that position.

I will not lead from a position of safety.

A combination of Acadian knights in heavy armor and Yuan warriors in stone plate stood together: thirty by Sabin's quick count. Yua and Acadia had been at war off and on for decades, yet here they stood in solidarity to assure the Seriens capture. The sight reminded Sabin of the absurdity of his dream to be a Knight of Acadia.

Four of the biggest men Sabin had ever seen stood out front. Yuan warriors, with stone plated armor and short spears in each hands. Two stepped to each side, providing a path inside. Takuya walked through and raised his eyebrows when the others did not follow.

"What are you doing?" Takuya asked. "They said-"

"The leader will meet me here and bring Kaita," Sabin said. "They will show me she is unharmed before we negotiate anything."

"But-"

"You tell your masters what I said."

Takuya straightened up and all cowering disappeared from his stance. "I told them you wouldn't trust me. I don't think they cared. They wanted you close so you couldn't run."

"You know what we are?"

"Yes," Takuya said. "Criminals. Murders. And you most of all are a hypocrite. You claim to be righteous, but I know your sins Sabin. I know them all. I also know your weakness."

He raised his hand and three Acadian Knights came forward, the one in the center dragging someone by the arm. Her hair was disheveled and her cheeks were a bit less round, but it was clear who it was.

Kaita.

The knight in the center tossed Kaita to the ground. Kaita smiled and her eyes widened.

"Sabin? You came for me."

"Always." The word twisted his gut into a ball of guilt and shame.

"Surrender yourself to us." The middle knight drew the katana at her waist. "Or I will kill her, right here and now."

"What do I care of a commoner's life?" Sakima sneered. "You will not have the Hidenka at your mercy."

"Sakima!" Sabin shouted.

A knight pointed his sword at Sakima. "Not you. Just Sabin. The rest of you are free to go."

Sakima turned to Sabin. "They will not honor the deal."

Sabin dropped his shoulders and stared.

Can I sacrifice her for the good of humanity?

"I surrender."

Takuya smiled and snatched a katana from one of the knights. "Now come before we change our mind."

Sabin removed Wade from his shoulder and the hiss of steel filled the air. Two of the Acadians near Kaita wielded weapons other than the standard issue katana. One wielded a naginata, an axe bladed spear. The other wielded a double-bladed great axe like his father, Aegis.