Chapter 48: The Ultimatum
"Well, well, well," Lord Skarde drawled out in that bored tone of his. His gaze was cold, unbearably so as though his mixture of intent, danger and pure force power dominated the space. His imposing presence towered within the dim torchlight atmosphere as he stood there in his dark attire with a golden necklace encrusted with jewels worn around his neck.
His cold gaze slowly assessed me, before they rested on the prisoners who shied away from his gaze. "Aww, leaving so soon are we? And here without so much as a goodbye?" Lord Skarde asked, his lips tugging up at the corners into a cruel smirk, "Thought we were more familiar than this, right guys?"
I noticed that Lord Skarde didn't come alone, he had at least four guards with him. My hands flexed at my side, "Step aside Lord Skarde," I said, my tone cautious, "Let us pass and no one needs to get hurt."
Lord Skarde's gaze turned to look at mine. "Hurt? Well you are right about that, people will be getting hurt." He said with a shrug, "I'm afraid that will have to be you, not me!"
I glared at him in response, He was really starting to get on my nerves. There wasn't enough time to trade words with him, I needed to get back to the manor and he was in my way.
"You know what Lord Skarde, I do not have the time to entertain your nonsense theatrics." I said with my hands on the sword on my waist belt, "You either let us pass or I will gut every single one of you down!"
Lord Skarde laughed heartily along with his men. They laughed out loud as if I had just shared some joke over a drink. Still laughing, Lord Skarde approached me, "You know son, you keep taking words out of my own mouth!" He said before his gaze turned to the prisoners, "Alright everyone listen up, I will admit I haven't been fair in the past but I will give you an ultimatum now_" He said, his voice carefully measured and filled with something sweet and sugary, like a predator who distributes false hope prior to its deadly attack.
"Here's the deal, you can either choose to die with whoever this is_" He said his gaze flickering to mine for a minute before he turned back to look at the prisoners, "Or you can go back to the dungeon, right where you were always meant to be."
"Do not listen to him!" I yelled at them although I could almost taste their fear and hesitation.