All the Things You Never Knew (20 page)

Leon cursed to himself when he got out of the dungeon to find Hargate surrounded by a hundred of Lansing’s guards.
“Hargate!” he cried, diverting the attentions of the guards towards him.
“Heartily!” Hargate smiled, and knock down one of the guards that was coming at him.
Leon did the same as one of them charge over to him. Though he was strain of energy, he did his best to fend for his friend.
“What are you doing?” Hargate asked when they had come backto-back with one another. “You were supposed to be escaping with Longsword.”
“And leave you? I think not.”
“I’m fine.”
“With a hundred men charging at you? I don’t think so.”
“You look close to collapsing.”
“You have no idea, my friend.”
Leon and Hargate were able to knock a third of the guards down until more were sent out.
“How many of these idiots are there?” Hargate asked, ducking the sharp point of one of the guard’s sword.
“No idea.”
“Heartily, Longsword and I know who your real enemy is now. It’s not the present marquess but the former.”
“Rose told you guys?”
“Yes.”
A whistle came from behind them and Longsword fought his way to them.
“Where the hell did you go?” Hargate inquired.
“Setting up the explosion,” Longsword answered. “You guys were good with catching their attentions.”
“What do you insist we do?” Leon asked, he was panting out of breath as he dodges a blow.
“You guys see that barrel over there? If we can get them close enough, I can shoot at it and it would blow up.”
“We have to dash outside fast though or else we will get inflamed with them,” said Hargate.
“Yes,” Longsword nodded. “But we run off pass it and then I will turn back to shoot at it.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Leon agreed, kicking off another guard.
“On the count of three, let’s dash,” Hargate replied.
They nodded, and started back towards the barrel.
“One…”Hargate began.
“Two…” Longsword followed.
“Three!” Leon shouted, and the three of them dashed off, leading the herd of guards to follow them.
“I see your legs are finally working,” Longsword said to Leon.
“Shut up. Get your aims ready,” Leon said.
Longsword laughed and pulled out the pistol from his hessian. “Here goes nothing.”
He turned back just as they outran the guards and shot at the barrel.
“Down!” Hargate shouted, and they flew off on their stomach, out the open door as the barrel burst into flames, sending guards flying in all direction.
“That was close,” said Longsword, as he rolls onto his feet. “Good one,” Hargate answered, sitting up.
“I thought we would never escape,” said Leon. “Where did you get those explosive devices, Longsword?”
“I brought them,” said Hargate. “War battle devices.”
“Yes. They belong to Hargate,” said Longsword.
Leon doesn’t know why Hargate has these war battle devices, but nodded his head. “I see.”
They all got to their feet and surveyed the ground of dead bodies.
“Thank God we’re out in the country that there’s no one to witness this or be at harm,” said Longsword.
“Where’s that Lansing?” Leon asked, remembering now. “I have to kill him. I shouldn’t have let him survive that day at Phillipa’s at all.”
“And Lady Rosy!” Hargate exclaimed. “Where is she?”
“What?” Leon was suddenly filled with indignation. “You brought Rose here?”
“No. She led us here,” Longsword answered. “Without her, you would still be chained up.”
“Oh hell!” Leon bellowed. “We have to go find her.”
“Leon, watch out!” Hargate cried, suddenly pushing him to the ground.
“You son of a bitch!” Longsword roared and shot at one of the guards that had survived the blow.
“What the hell–Hargate!” Leon and Longsword both rushed to where Hargate lies, clutching to the side of his abdomen.
“That bloody son of a bitch stabbed you!” said Longsword as he helped Hargate up.
“You shouldn’t have done that, Hargate,” said Leon. “You should have let that bastard take me instead.”
“W-what’s a f-friend if h-he c-can’t e-even s-stand up for h-his ffriend’s?” Hargate murmured. He was bleeding like hell that Leon was in a panic to rip up his shirt and wrap up the wound.
“It’s a deep stab,” said Longsword as he examines it. “What do we do now? We have to get Lady Rose.”
“Lansing and his ass father must have took her off somewhere by now,” said Leon. “We will help Hargate first. I will come back here later for clues.”
“Where should we take Hargate?”
“I suppose back to the inn,” said Leon. “He’s bleeding like crazy. We’ve got to get him a physician.”
“I don’t think we should take him back to the inn,” said Longsword. “The enemies are sure to be there. They abducted you from there, remember?”
“I didn’t get abducted,” Leon said, disliking the way it sounded. “I was merely knocked out and taken as a prisoner.”
“I-I will b-be f-fine,” Hargate managed through clenched teeth as Longsword and Leon argued about their next destination.
“Shut up,” Leon told him. “I’ve decided. I’m taking you to my sister’s hideout. It’s the last safe place close to here.”
“Your sister’s hideout?” Hargate asked, groaning in pain as Leon wind his shirt more securely around Hargate’s waist.
“Avangelene’s,” Leon answered. “She wouldn’t tolerate it but I have to. There’s a doctor over there that can help. Quickly Longsword. We’ve got to hurry.”
Longsword nodded, and stood up from his kneeling. “All right. Should I be the guard on the lookout or should I carry Hargate?”
“D-don’t be absurd,” Hargate winced. “I c-can m-manage a few ffeet or two.”
“No you can’t,” said Leon. “We will ride those horses over there. They belong to you guys, right? I recognize that brown one to be yours, Longsword.”
“Correct,” Longsword answered.
“Good. It should take us less than five minutes or so to get to Avangelene’s place.”
“All right.”
“Get the mounts ready, Longsword, then come back and give me a hand with Hargate. You’re quite a few stones, you know,” he said, helping Hargate up on his feet.
Hargate gave a weak laugh and slowly step forward with Leon guiding him towards the horses.
“Don’t even walk,” Longsword said, hurrying to them with the horses. “I will help you up, Hargate.”
Leon and Longsword both gave him a boost up and tied the reign of his horse to theirs.
“We would ride as a trio,” Leon said, and whipped the horse off down the road.
“Am…am I g-going to d-die?” Hargate asked dumbly.
“No!” Leon and Longsword answered in unison.
He just gave them a weak smile and closed his eyes.
How grateful Leon was to have such a great friend who would sacrifice his own life for his. Though he’s merely a bastard, his duke and earl of a friend had submitted to him as if he’s the one in power. He doesn’t even deserve their kind treatment. He should have been the one that was wounded, not that he wasn’t already. He was the one everyone intended to kill. Not Hargate.
“We’re almost there,” Leon told Hargate after a few minutes. “Don’t go into the dark.”
That broke out a weak laugh from Hargate. “Only light, I assure you.”
“Keep talking,” Longsword add in. “That way, you can stay a while longer.”
“Please. I’m…I’m not g-going t-to…to…” The words slip off Hargate’s mouth and he was out cold.
“Hargate!” Leon cried out as Hargate went silent.
“Quick, Leon! I think he’s…”
“No!” Leon replied. “He’s going to be all right!”
Leon pressured the horses to run faster until finally they arrived at the hideout of his sister.
“Why are we at a waterfall?” Longsword asked, confused. “Don’t you know Hargate might be dead already?”
“Shut up!” Leon snapped. He doesn’t want to hear that word.
“Where’s your sister’s place?”
“Help me get Hargate down,” Leon said. “Her place is behind that waterfall.”
“Behind the waterfall?” Longsword was quite amazed.
“Yes. I have to hit the switch.”
“Quite intelligent,” Longsword replied, jumping off to get Hargate down.
Leon jumped into the roaring water and swim under the waterfall to press the switch that only Avangelene allow her siblings to know about in case they were to face situations like this. The waterfall stopped and a stone door slides open.
He smiled gratefully and swim back to help Longsword with Hargate.
“He’s still breathing,” Longsword informed.
“Good sign then.” He looked at Hargate and nodded. “You will be all right.”

and Longsword as they waited outside the door to the guest room of his sister’s cottage. “Lost quite a high amount of blood but he should be all right. Pretty good bandaging skill you have.”

“Thank you, Dr. Wesley,” Leon smiled, adjusting the tightness of the bandage that the doctor had wrapped around his head after treating his wounds. “We are most grateful to have you help.”

“I will escort you out, Dr. Wesley,” Longsword said, taking the old doctor by the arm.
“I highly appreciate it, m’lord.”
Leon slip into the room Hargate was placed in as Longsword took the doctor out, and went to kneel down beside him on the floor.
“Hargate, can you hear me?”
He was still unconscious.
“Hargate?” Leon gave his shoulder a shook but he didn’t make a sound.
“Is he up?” came Longsword as he returns.
“No.”
“Perhaps we should let him rest for a while.”
“Yes,” Leon nodded, standing up.
“We should go back to help Lady Rose. She might think we had abandoned her.”
Blast it!

Leon had forgotten about her.
Rose.
She better be all right.
If that bloody Lansing dares to lay one finger on her, he swear

there would be hell to pay.
“Right,” Leon replied with a nod.
“But then we need someone to look after Hargate,” Longsword

added. “And you might need to change out of those bloody clothes.

It’s a mess.”
“I know what to do,” Leon answered.
He walks over to a drawer and open it up, pulling out a piece of

paper and a quill ink pen.
“What are you writing?” Longsword asked, walking over to peek
behind him.
“A note to my sister.”
“What for?”
“She would be in a fury if I don’t. She would never allow Hargate
or you to be in here without her consent.”
“Oh?” Longsword crossed his arms and lean back against the
wall. “Avangelene’s hideout, you say. Why does she need it?” “Can’t tell you why, but I’m grateful she has it.”
Leon quickly signs his name and folded up the note, placing it
beneath the oil lamp burning on the drawer. He hopes she will come
and see his note.
“All right,” he said, turning to Longsword. “Let’s go finish up
business.”

* * *

Avangelene Heartily couldn’t believe her cottage was a mess of mud and dirt as she visits her secret place, a hidden village she had found behind a waterfall that has been abandoned. It took her five years to bring it back to life and now seeing her house like this, she only hope that danger wasn’t lurking in the air.

“Tom! Tom!” she called out to one of her butler.
He quickly ran in and bows down before her.
“Yes, Mistress?”
“No need to bow,” she told him.
Please! She hates formality and prefers to be treated as the

regular human being that she is.
“Sorry. How may I help you, Mistress?”
“Have you seen anyone come in here? My house is a bit…amiss.” “Oh, yes,” he nodded. “Your brother Leon and two of his

friends.”
“What?” Unbelievable. Leon was captured by the marquess.
Could it be that he had escaped? “What business has he to come?” “I–I’m not sure,” said Tom. “But one of his friends seems injured
so they brought him here.”
Oh great!
“What for?” she asked. “Where did my brother go? Is he still
here?”
Tom shook his head. “He left about an hour ago, but one of his
friends seems to have been left behind.”
“What?” Oh, she’s going to force that man out, whoever he is. “I’m sorry, Mistress, for not–”
“Not your fault,” Avangelene replied briskly. “You may return to
your duties. Thank you for the information.”
Butler Tom nodded, and went back out.
Now it is Avangelene’s turn to seek out that left behind rascal. She checked all the rooms in her cottage, finding them all empty
except for when she opens the door to her room.
“Damn you, Leon,” she cursed as she saw a half-naked man
sprawled out on the floor of her chamber sleeping soundly. The first thing that came to her mind was to punch him awake
and force him out, but then something stopped her.
A pile of dirty red stained cloths were thrown next to the man and
it almost frighten the soul out of her.
Surely the man is still alive. She doesn’t want to have a rotten
dead spirit lingering in her cottage.
She kneeled down beside him and checked his pulse. Still good.
Then his heartbeat.
Normal.
Thank God.
She rose up to leave but a strip of white paper caught her eyes
from beneath her oil lamp on the drawer.
She walked up to pull it out and opened it up to see a hasty
handwriting scribbled down the page.
Avange
, it reads.

I know you would probably be mad for my intrusion with my friends. Please forgive me, but I have a favor to ask of you. I don’t even know if you’re going to be here or not but my friend, the Duke of Hargate, has been injured whiling rescuing me. I took him to your hideout because it’s the last safe place. Please watch after him for a while as I go out to handle some unfinished business. I’ll be back on the morrow.

Your Brother, Leon

P.S. I threw him on the floor of your guest room because I know you wouldn’t like him on the bed. I hope it is okay. Thank you. Take care.

Avangelene laughed at the post script.
“Stupid Leon. Guest room is two rooms down. This is
my
room.” She was happy that her brother was freed. Now she just hopes

Jack and them hadn’t left yet to go save him because it will be a total waste of time.
Oh well. So much for not letting her go with them.
She turned her head and glance down at the man on the floor and cocked her head.
“The Duke of Hargate, eh?” She went over and kneeled down again to examine his face.
It was clean shaved and smooth with no facial hair at all. It could have been a perfection, except there was a light scar along his jaw line, which really has no effect.
His hair was of a rich dark auburn color and fell rather nicely to his neck, lightening the complexion of his face. He looks rather familiar to her after a few minute of examination but she couldn’t recall where she had seen him.
Well, she is going to leave him be.
Slowly, she pulls the cover up from his waist and tucks it under his chin.
“There you go.”
She was about to stand up and leave when a hand suddenly grab her arm.
His
hand.
“What the–” She turn back to look down and realize the man was beginning to stir awake.
Damn it! She isn’t in the mood for this.
“Are you–”
The man, or rather the duke, started coughing and slowly open his eyes looking blank.
“W-where…am I?” he asked, shifting his gaze to Avangelene.
She sighed and sat down crossing her legs. Thank God she had decided to wear her breeches and not her evening gown as she should whenever she comes to her hideout.
“You are in my house,
Duke
,” she said. “And now if you’re awake, you might as well unhand me before I kick you out of here.”
“What?” He looked at her confused, and tried to sit up wincing in pain.
Avangelene wanted to give him a hand but it’s rather awkward since she barely knows him. And still,
he
was holding her arm.
“Who are you?” she asked, though she knows he’s a duke and the companion of her brother.
“Me?” For a moment he looks as if he had forgotten his name. “Laguna,” he managed out.
“Oh.” Somewhat it sounded familiar. Perhaps she had heard Leon mention a thing or two about him.
“Are you feeling okay?” she asked him.
“Not in the least.”
“Well, good thing my brother brought you here then. But now that you’re awake, you should leave.”
“Nice of you to say,” that Laguna grunted.
“Thank you. Now let go of my arm.”
He glanced down at his hand and hers, and then jerked away. “Sorry,” he murmured.
“Don’t care in the least,” she answered rather coldly. “Your brother brought me here?” he asked.
“Yes,” she nodded. “Leon.”
“Of course.” There was a moment of silence and then he look at her. “So you are?”
“Avangelene,” she put in slowly.
A shocking expression crossed his face. “Really?”
She ignored him and turned away.
“Since you seem a little better, please put on a top and cover yourself.
“My apology, but–”
He suddenly moan in pain and she finally turn back to see that he had a long stitch along the side of his abdomen.
“Oh, lord.”
She scooted up to him and helped lay him back down. “You’re badly hurt. Rest for a while and don’t stretch your wound. It seems to be newly stitched.”
“D-didn’t you w-want me to l-leave?”
“Yes, but not in this condition.”
She would be heartless to do so.
He gave her a smile and closed his eyes as she pulls the cover over him once more.
“Thank you.”
She merely looks at him and said nothing.
“Thank you,” he said again. “Avangelene.”
Still, she said nothing in return and just sat there.
“Are you declining my gratitude or are you going to accept it?” he asked when she didn’t care.
“You’re welcome,” she finally said. She has got to admit that he had struck her dumb with his oh-so-natural arrogant remark.
“Avangelene, may I call you by your name?”
“What else would you call me then?” she replied. “Yes, you may. I don’t care.”
He smiled again.
“May I ask where your brother went?”
“Somewhere,” was all she can say since Leon didn’t really specify where in the note.
“I’m sorry for being of an inconvenient to you. I–”
“Don’t mention it,” she said, getting up to leave. “Leon told me what happened already.”
He opens his steel gray eyes that gleamed with a golden delight and smiles at her again.
He was quite a smiley one.
“Did he tell you that I also like to eat?” he asked, grinning now.
She looked at him and shook her head.
What a friend he is.
“Well.” He propped up on one elbow and gazed up at her. “I would like something to eat if you don’t mind.”
“I…”
She looks at him for a moment and then nodded.
“Thank you,
Avangelene.
”
Avangelene just nods her head again and left the room. There’s something about that
Duke
that causes quite a stir in her chest. And she hates the great emphasize in his voice when he spoke her name. So annoying and arrogant. Not to mention bossy, too. He seems to have no manners at all.
Leon just better be back soon and take him off of her supervision.