THE RETURN OF GENERAL KAI

Chapter 3

“What did you say?” Kymani asked Astrophel. She crouched down on her knees as her arms grew tired from holding him up. “You’re able to delete memories. Wipe the General’s memories before he wakes up.” Astrophel repeated.

“Why the hell would I do that? That can be classified as treason!” Kymani yelled at Kai’s godfather.

“It isn’t treason if he can’t remember any of it.” Astrophel paused, “think about it. You’re in danger too for knocking him unconscious.”

“I did not nothing wrong. He was going to kill us all and you asked me to.” Kymani defended.

“You’re right, I did. Now finish your good work and wipe his memory. Only heaven knows what will become of us should he wake up and remember the horror that awaits.”

“Do this for Nexarath, Kymani Everard. You have a duty to your people. Should the General become conscious with his memory intact, we will be back where we started and with even more people dead.” Kymani hesitated. Astrophel had a point.

“Do you think he will be happy with you? You, knowing how many lives have been lost because of his outburst and allowing him to come to with his memories intact?”

“But…”

“Save your General from himself, Kymani Everard.” Astrophel paused, “at least until we can figure out what happened here.” He gestured to the burnt down mansion.

“Okay.” Kymani muttered to herself, “I’m sorry.” She said to Kai who looked very peaceful unconscious.

“I need somewhere dark, I need incense, I need my pendulum. Can your men get those for me? We have maybe ten minutes before my sleep spell wears off.” She said to Astrophel.

“Consider it done, just come with me.” The two of them staggered with one of Kai’s arms across their shoulders.

“How is this place?” Astrophel asked. They were behind the burnt down mansion and Kymani scrunched her nose at the smell of roasted flesh. It smelt like war. She never thought she would perceive such a foul odor coming from the Rylan house.

“Kymani!” Astrophel snapped her out of her thoughts, “yes! Here is fine.” She said and they both dropped Kai’s body on the ground. 

“Hold his head.” She said to Astrophel as she took off her cloak, “his head needs to be elevated so he can watch my pendulum swing.” She explained and he nodded.

A horseman arrived wearing a dark coat and a head covering. The strange man jumped down from his horse and revealed himself to be Axel Blackwood, Astrophel’s son.

Kymani internally rolled her eyes at her present predicament. “Why am I here?” She asked herself before clearing her throat, “I suppose you’re with the incense and my pendulum?”

“Hello to you too, Everard witch.” Axel said slyly and Astrophel reprimanded him, “you will not speak to one of the Vorgath’s officers that way! Apologize at this instant.”

“Forget it. As if a boy that still wears diapers and takes orders from daddy can upset me. Give me my tools.” She said calmly to a fuming Axel.

He hated Kai and every one of his officers. He hated his father too for being their busboy despite being a noble as well.

“Now get out of my sight. Both of you, your presence might disturb him.” Kymani dismissed the father-son duo and as Axel was about to bite back, his father dragged him away.

“Be patient. Don’t ruin this.” Astrophel whispered to his hot tempered son and they walked away quietly.

“The hypnosis will knock him unconscious. What do you plan to do with my Lord after? Are there arrangements in place?” Kymani asked the retreating duo.

“His father had a plan should something like this ever happen. Leave the rest to me.” Astrophel lied.

“Okay.” Kymani rolled up her sleeves and got to work the moment she noticed a change in his breathing pattern.

Kai’s eyes flickered open and before he could draw his next breath, he was in a trance. Kymani’s slender fingers moved the pendulum back and forth, her nails painted black was the last thing he saw before blacking out completely.

~

“You have to swear you will not tell the other officers what happened here today.” Astrophel cautioned Kymani.

“Where are you taking him?” She ignored him.

“Swear, you Everard bitch!” Axel chipped in. Kymani turned to look at him and he screamed in pain. She held his mind and twisted his brain cells, causing him extreme anguish.

“I’m sorry!” Axel cried out and Kymani released control. “I’m not comfortable with you taking him away from the capital. Whatever the issue is, I have been trained to be able to control him. You need not take him away. Nexarath will fall.” She urged Kai’s godfather. She was also scared for Kai too. 

Awake, he was the most feared man but unconscious and now with no memory of his past, he was as vulnerable as a child that just learned to walk.

“Mark Rylan trusted me to take care of his son should he ever lose control of his powers. If you must know, there is a special asylum in the capital. That is where he will be.” Astrophel lied through his teeth.

“But for how long? I need to be able to answer when my comrades ask. There is no Vorgath without the General.”

“You will say exactly what I just told you. The General lost his mind and he is recovering at an asylum in the capital.” Astrophel spat harsh words at Kymani.

“He has not lost his mind.” She said in a flat tone, “he lost his family.”

“And murdered his men.” Astrophel completed, “look the other way and I will cook up a story as to what happened to the thousands of bodies surrounding us. Focus on your experiments or whatever you Everard’s do. Leave important matters to those that know best.” Was the last thing Astrophel said before wheeling Kai away in a beat down carriage.

Kymani watched until they disappeared from her view.

“My Lord.” A tear dropped from her left eye.