Eight

Asher 

I sat in my chamber and leaned over a large table that dominated the center of the room, littered with maps and figurines representing armies, rogue factions, and borders.

Beside me sat a scarred faced General Lucien and Eddie who sat sharp and attentive with eyes fixed on the maps like a hawk.

 We were studying the map of the rogue kingdom, studying every inch of the territory they claimed near the mountains. These rogues had grown bolder, raiding small villages, stealing resources, raping women and spreading their filthy brand of chaos like a plague.

A raw hatred bubbled inside me and my fingers dug into the edge of the table. These rogues, with their greed and disregard for order, needed to be punished severely. They were a disease, and I intended to burn out every last infected piece of them.

“How many men can we deploy?” I asked.

The warriors exchanged glances and shifted their weight as they whispered among themselves. The lead warrior stepped forward and handed me a scroll filled with intelligence reports.

“Over five hundred of our best, Your Majesty,” he stated firmly.

“Divide them into three battalions,” I commanded, my tone leaving no room for argument. “I want each battalion to scout their routes, uncover any weaknesses, and infiltrate their ranks. I need every leader of theirs identified and marked. We won’t allow these bastards to disrupt our lands or harm our people.”

The rogues’ assault didn’t come from nowhere. It was the aftermath of a brutal civil war, ignited by power-hungry factions battling for control by lowlives who thrived on conflict. They had become a unified menace, hell-bent on stealing every corner of our province and spread fear and chaos like seasoned killers.

In the past year, they had grown more ruthless and attacked trade routes, set towns ablaze, and pushed fear to the very edge of our borders. The trauma they forced upon my wife alone was enough to justify wiping them from existence. 

Rage seared through me like a fierce fire that left no room for mercy. I would make them pay. I wanted to see them convulse, to hear them choke on the horror I’d unleash.

Eddie’s voice broke through my thoughts. “That’s a solid approach, Your Majesty. If we choke off their resources and sever their supply lines, their entire system will crumble. Without communication, they’re as good as dead.”

After I dismissed the warriors, we remained by the table, studied the map and planned every possible move to dismantle their operation.

My thoughts circled back to Lila and the uncertainty of her recovery. Eddie noticed my distraction and raised an eyebrow.

“How’s your wife holding up? No more attempts to slip out, I hope?”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “She’ll recover, I hope. It might take time for her to regain her footing, but I know she’ll find her closure once those who did this to her are destroyed. It’s the only way she’ll heal.”

A slow smile spread across his face. 

“What’s got you grinning like that?” 

“Nothing much,” he said, lifting one of the maps marked with a large red X over a rogue fortress. “Just that I’ve never seen Lila so reserved. Usually, she comes home with enough tales to fill an entire night, but she seems like a ghost of herself.”

A frown tugged at my lips. “You think she’d be full of stories after what she’s been through? The woman’s traumatized. Do you have any idea what it’s like to endure that kind of terror?”

His casualness ground on my nerves. “Guess you’re right,” he muttered, his gaze drifting back to the map. “Maybe it’s time to bring in a doctor or a therapist, someone who can help her process this.”

“Is that really necessary? Lila's tough; she’ll bounce back on her own. Why make her relive it all?”

But thinking about it, I needed her to get through this as soon as possible. I'd do whatever it takes to help her find peace.

Maybe Eddie was right.