The Union 83 The Hostage

caged like a beast.

In Knightsend he dueled,

lion in the mist.

He thought he won.

Laugh he began.

Little did he know

King Tim brings woe.

In the castle King Tim feigned.

Arrows then rained.

Trapped! they were.

Surrender! they did."

Erik sang the new song he overheard from his guards. He leaned back against the iron bars of his cell. His voice was not good but the person who was also leaning against the bars from the other side clapped.

"What a great voice you have Erik!" she rubbed her head against his.

Erik pulled his head away. It was ticklish and making physical contact with her makes his hair stand on end.

"I thought you're only crazy. I never expected that you're also deaf. " Erik distanced himself from her. She had an unpredictable behavior and he was afraid that she will stab him without any reason.

"Fine, I lied. Your voice is like that of a frog. With a voice like that, you'll never impress me" She winked at him.

Seeing her wink brought shiver down his spine. She was beautiful, he must admit. But that only made her cute act more tragic. How could the Omniscient give a beautiful face like that to a crazy person with a rotten personality!

"I have no intention to impress you. Go away little devil" he shooed her.

But his gesture only made her laugh. "Come on Erik. I know you don't want me to leave. My visits are the highlights of your days. Would you rather be alone rather than enjoy the company of a beautiful lady such as myself?"

She had been visiting his cell ever since the first week of his capture. The first time he saw Sylvie, he thought that the crazy woman would kill him. He had heard about what happened from Timothy. Sylvie, Lucia's handmaiden, turned out to be a crazy bitch. She tried to kill Lucia because of some messed up idea of revenge.

Luckily, Sylvie didn't kill him. She just talked to him as if they were friends. She visited him again the next day, and the day after that. Sometimes she would stay outside his cell for a few hours. Contrary to his first impression of her, he just discovered that she was actually a chatterbox. She would talk about her day-to-day experiences to him. It was like listening to a diary.

He might be reluctant to admit it, but her daily visits had become an integral part of his day. He found himself always looking at the door, waiting for the arrival of a crazy woman. It must be because of boredom.

Because of his status, King Leopold isolated him. He must be afraid that Erik would be assassinated. Erik's death while being in the care of King Leopold would further damage the King's already abysmal reputation. But the isolation was killing him. The guards themselves were not allowed to stay near Erik for a long time. They would bring food and water three times a day and that was the extent of his contact with people. Being alone was painful. The boredom was eating him from the inside.

So even though he was afraid of Sylvie's unpredictable behavior, he had no choice but to tolerate her presence.

"I don't enjoy your presence, I tolerate it. Also you are not a lady. Have you forgotten that you lost your noble title?"

Sylvie's face lit up. He pointed at Erik. "You did not deny the beautiful part!"

Erik shook his head in confusion. "Huh?"

"I may not be a lady anymore, but I am beautiful right?" She put her two palms on her cheeks.

"Nope. You're not my type. Crazy is not my type. Also that facial scar is not good to look at." He shrugged and again leaned against the bars.

"Scars will vanish Erik"

"Scars are called scars because they don't vanish. Perhaps they do in that crazy mind of yours, but they don't."

She excitedly put her face in the space between the bars. "Skall said that there is an herb in Wismar that repairs scars!"

"Ah yes. Prince Skall. The idiot who made all this mess." Erik closed his eyes and sighed. "He's a medicus now, I see. Is he imitating Lucia? What a…"

Erik stopped talking. He spoke the name of the person who must not be mentioned in front of Sylvie. He had learned this lesson the hard way about a month ago. At the mention of Lucia's name, Sylvie would fly into rage.

Her long silence indicated that she was pissed. Erik became nervous. His head was close to her. He feared for his life.

He opened his eyes and slowly turned his head towards her. He was ready to jump away and call for the guards. But her expression was not what he expected.

She was smiling.

"What?" she raised her brows. "You think I would be angry just because you mentioned Lucia? I'm not crazy."

Erik choked on his own saliva after hearing her last remark. Hearing a crazy person say that he or she is not insane was… weird.

"Believe what you want Sylvie. For me you are. Who sent you here anyway? I think it's not Skall Wismar. I also bet it's not King Leopold. He is not stupid enough to let a crazy person near an important hostage."

"Oh King Leopold? No, not him. He would probably end my life the moment he sees me. You're also right, it's not Skall either. Would you believe me if I said that I am here of my own accord?"

"No, I wouldn't" Erik shook his head.

"But it's true." her shoulders dropped. "While someone did send me to spy on you, I grew tired of that. You are boring Erik. Lucia was the only one interesting to spy at. Do you have any idea how secretive she is? It was like.."

"Sylvie, don't go off course. Who sent you?" Erik asked. He was curious.

"Well, it doesn't matter if you know. I gave up on my mission anyway. It's actually…"

She was interrupted by the arrival a man. The guards saluted to the man and let him pass.

Sylvie pointed at the man. "Him"

Erik examined the man. He was familiar yet different. He was dressed like a Wismarine but his complexion betrayed his identity. The man was a Castonian.

Erik squinted. "Ivan? Is that you?"

"It has been a long time Erik. Three years huh? A lot has changed." Ivan removed his turban and his long hair was revealed.

"Should I say nice to meet you, or should I tell the truth?" Erik said. Even three years ago, his relation with Prince Ivan was sour.

"You have the same feisty words Erik. Good. Ashkara loves strong personalities" he smiled.

"Ashkara?" Erik was confused. "You mean the half-pigeon and half-human God in the Wismarine fairy tale?"

Ivan's smile vanished. It was replaced by an expression of annoyance. "It is not a fairy tale Erik. Do not confuse the Wismarine faith with the false teachings of the other Kingdoms. Ashakara is the true God. Also he is not a pigeon. He is a falcon. His speed and strength is absolute. Oh may the wind guide his wings" Ivan looked at the window and bowed a little.

Erik grunted. It seems Ivan had already been greatly influenced by the Wismarines. But he doesn't care. That was King Leopold's problem. "Fine, I don't care anyway" he said with double meaning. "So why are you here?"

"Do you know what your friend did Erik?" Ivan approached him. The prince squatted and looked at Erik.

"My friend? Your brother! He is your brother and you should call him as such. Can't you be nice to Tim every once in a while?"

"He is not my brother and he will never be" Ivan said with hostility. He then looked at Sylvie. "Since Erik is not willing to answer me, then I'll ask you instead. What did Timothy do?"

Sylvie did not answer immediately. "He declared war against King Leopold? Is that it?" she guessed.

"Exactly." Ivan confirmed. "And now he is dragging Wismar into this war. Such vileness.. Shameless to the extreme."

Erik scratched his head. He felt the little lice that had inhabited his hair avoid his long fingernails. "Why does it feel that you're more concerned with Wismar compared to Castonia?"

"Because Wismar is Castonia's future, Erik. We will become stronger with their help. They are powerful Erik. The Wismarines are wise and strong. I envy them" Ivan answered.

Erik realized that Ivan was beyond help. The Prince was blind. It was painful listening to his praises towards the Wismarines. "Just tell me why you're here Ivan."

"Timothy needs to be destroyed. He is currently marching back towards Solon with undisciplined mercenaries and I will attack him before he reaches the city. Just in case he makes things difficult for me, I'm bringing you along" Ivan said.

Erik frowned. "You mean.."

"Yes Erik." Ivan smiled. "Time to do your duty as a hostage."

Chapter end