An Ashe In Charge.

You continue your march through the castle, angry as can be, pissed off that Karisi would hide something this important from you. If the King was telling you the truth, the majority of the Rathkin army left before Karisi left to come to Murnic and if that was the case, then she would have known what you were walking into. She knew the Syndicate would massacre Rathkin as the majority of the forces wouldn't be here to defend it. With a few grunts as you continue to ponder the situation as you walk through the castle, holding your weapons at the ready just in case a warrior jumps out from the corner.

Nothing to worry about though, as they were all either dead or gone.

You reach the front entrance and push the doors open, stepping back outside into the Inner City. Your warriors are still running around the entire city, going in and out of houses, pushing civilian's and unarmed warriors to the ground and keeping them bundled together. "At least they are following orders..." you mumble to yourself, happy that they are not just slaughtering all these people but allowing them to live. It's at that point you turn your head to the right and what you see really pisses you off. The warrior's life who you spared, the one who dropped his weapons and curled up next to the castle to surrender. Dead. A pool of blood forming below him. "God dammit..." you mumble to yourself "Fucking warriors need to learn." you grunt.

You will train these warriors, no matter what it takes, you will turn them from savages who slaughter, kill and **** to actual respectable forces which care for the civilians and the ones who surrender. Unfortunately, for the time being, you can't do that now as you have more important matters to attend to.

Making your way through the Inner City you walk towards the Gate, the entire time still grazing all over the area, making sure there are no Rathkin warriors to watch out for and to also keep an eye on your Sunriders, to make sure they are staying in line.

"Darien!" A voice yells out "Hey, Darien!" she says again.

"Ashe." You sheath your weapons and turn towards your Sunrider.

"The castle, is everything alright?" she questions

"The outskirts were empty, yes? Not a single warrior anywhere?"

"Uhh, yeah, how'd you know?" She replies "Were they in the castle defending it?"

You turn your head to the side, just thinking for a few moments.

"Darien?" Ashe can sense your irritation.

"Ashe, I need to go back to Murnic." you move your head back towards your Sunrider, your hands go up, bringing your hood down from your face "There's...something I need to figure out."

There was that same look of confusion on Ashe's face as was on yours before "Darien? What's going on?"

"The Rathkin army..." you swallow "They're gone."

"Gone?!" She's shocked "Gone, what do you mean gone?! Where did th..."

"Ashe." you interrupt her "That's what I"m trying to figure out. That's why I need to go to Murnic. There is someone I need to speak with."

"Okay, well, fine. Give me just a minute, I"ll go with you. We can bring a few other Sunrider's too." she's already turning towards the Inner Gate to make her way back out of the city.

"No, Ashe." you step forward, placing your hand on her shoulder and holding her in place "You need to stay here. Plus, with me riding alone I can get there much quicker. I won't have to just march along slowly, I will ride fast and will arrive in only a few hours."

"Darien, I..."

"Well I'm gone Ashe, you're in control. I need someone who I know I can trust." you pull your hand on her shoulder, causing her to turn around to face you "And right now, Ashe." you stare into her green eyes, just connecting with her at that very moment "That's you. I need you to do this for me. Please."

"Darien..."

"Lead the Sunriders. They trust you, they know you're my High Commander. " you look at her with authority "Keep patrolling the city, set up a base here, protect it at all cost." you nod at her, which she reciprocates "I'm telling you, stay here in Rathkin until I get back to you." Ashe just nods again, looking at you with determination "I'm going to send some of the people of Murnic here, for safety, please welcome them with open arms and allow them access."

"Yes, Darien." she nods once more before giving out a giant deep breath, just looking at you "I don't know what your plan is, Darien but I wish you the best of luck."

"Thanks, Ashe. I don't know how long I will be gone, if I end up staying in Murnic for awhile or come right back here or..." shaking your head "who knows..." you place your hand back on her shoulder, smiling at your high commander, happy to have her here. With that, you step past her, walking towards the Inner Gates so you can once more, leaving Rathkin behind you. "Oh, and Ashe?" You turn your head over your shoulder "If Karisi shows up telling you orders, keep her safe, but don't trust her at the moment. Do not harm her in anyway what so ever, but just...just be cautious, okay?"

"Karisi...?" she angles her head slightly while looking at you "The Rathkin girl we captured the other day? What does she have to do with anything?"

"I don't know, Ashe. But I believe there is something bigger going on here." you reply "And until I figure out exactly what that is..., just...watch your back, okay?" you connect your eyes with Ashe's again, both of you nodding again in agreement as you turn your head back towards the Inner Gate, hands up to your hood, pulling it over your head, shrouding yourself behind the fur and fangs.

The Battle of Rathkin was won, but the war was far from over...