Return of the General's Daughter

It was already late evening when Prince Alaric rode up to the Baron’s mansion, flanked by his three most trusted guards—Angus, Aramis, and Redon. The sky had darkened into a velvety indigo, the moon and stars veiled behind a slow-moving mist.

"Ari, you’ve finally returned!" Agilus exclaimed, his voice filled with relief and agitation as he stood by the grand entrance of the Baron’s mansion.

"What’s the matter?" Alaric asked stoically when he noticed the agitation in Agilus’s voice. Why did he look like he was bullied?

Agilus took a breath, visibly trying to calm himself.

"The mayor tried to escape from his mansion." Agilus sighed deeply to relax. "We apprehended him at his every attempt, and he would curse at us every time. He was like a madman. It was quite annoying, you know. Why can’t we just put him in prison?"

"He’s still an elected official," Alaric replied coolly. "We need to bring him to the capital to stand trial. If we act rashly, it gives his allies a reason to claim political persecution."

Agilus threw his arms up in disbelief.

"Did you know that he threatened the soldiers? He said that he had backing from the capital, and if the soldiers did not let him through, then they and their families would suffer. He kept on bragging that his backer was a very influential person, and not even you could defeat him—that’s what the mayor said." Agilus finished passing the information quickly.

The words rushed out of Agilus like a flood, all in one breath. Alaric couldn’t help the faint chuckle that escaped him. He really could not comprehend how Agilus could speak so much in a short time.