"Sire, do you want us to make camp?"

Artemis keeps her mouth shut while the guards speaking to the revolting man seated behind her upon the horse. She can only picture his smug triumphant grin believing he had won. His arms have been uncomfortable wrapped around her making her skin crawl under the material of the dress. The ropes tied around her wrist digging into her skin. Her body pleading to heal however Artemis refuses for them to see it. She keeps it in check taking breaths and controlling the power coursing through her.

"Why not.. They won't be able to find us this deep in the forest."

The men begin chuckling at their King's statement. Artemis physically bites her tongue to stop herself from retorting. Vispan's nasty breath gracing her neck as he whispers in her ear.

"Guess you weren't as important to them as you thought."

She says stone faced as he slides off the back of the horse. His hands going to her waist to pull her down. His face getting a bit to close for comfort. She leans back to place space between them. Vispan smirks seeing her body posture realizing what he is doing to her. He takes her hair twirling a piece around his fingers looking to it.

"You know, if you wouldn't have murdered my family... I would have made you sire my heir. You are quite unique."

Artemis yanks her head back glaring at the king feeling her blood boiling.

"I would kill you before you ever came near me."

She sneers out directly at him. At this he gives a chuckle that turns into a full blown laugh. His men joining end at her spit fire attitude. She is woman tied up and has no weapon. Her physical build is not of strength and has no bargaining chip... She is no threat.

"Oh you are definitely a fiesty one... Such a shame."

He sighs dramatically before tugging on her arm to come sit down beside him on the log. She sits down and discreetly looks around her surroundings recognizing that they are less than a mile from where King Maximus was killed. She looks upon all the men. Counting over 50 men, some of which continue looking at her form. She takes deep breaths waiting for her moment...

Artemis?

She closes her eyes, her head bowing to her lap as the men continue chattering around her. The king doesn't bother as the men hand him wine.

Navene...

Are you safe?

Yes... Where are you?

We are an hour away from the meeting spot.

She gets nudged looking up to find King Vispan looking to her with a raised brow. She doesn't care and looks to the skies. The moon lighting the evening sky making her body feel rejuvenated.

"So how does it feel?"

She blinks turning her gaze to the grinning king. His men already looking upon the exchange. She waits for him to continue fisting her hands in her lap.

"To know that after everything you did for them. They didn't even attempt to stop me. You are worthless to them... You will be killed tomorrow and they won't even blink."

She takes a long deep breath controlling her rage. Instead smirks before releasing a giggle, the giggle turning into a full laugh. The men giving confused and shocked looks believing the woman has gone mad. This infuriates the king. His hand goes up grabbing her jaw tightly in his hold forcing her to look into his eyes.

"WHAT... is so god damn funny."

He grits out staring into the silver irises dancing with flames from the fire... or so he believes. She smirks even with the pressure of his hand on her chin.

"You have decided to make camp within walking distance of your father's body."

He jerks her so they are eye to eye a breath passing between their faces. Vispan's vein in his neck pulsating while Artemis refuses to back down.

"Care to visit him?"

She is goading him, knowing he will take the bait. He can see it but can not resist saying goodbye to his father. He turns his head to his men who are frozen in their spots. He takes a breath while still holding her chin.

"I want 6 men to come with me. NOW."

He stands up jerking her up as well. Six volunteers standing up as Vispan gestures for her to lead the way. His body shaking in rage but attempts to control killing her on the spot. He plans to make a public beheading to his kingdom. A warning to any others who may cross him.

She begins stepping away and he can't help but shove her back making her stumble. Artemis is at her tipping point and she can feel it. Her eyes no longer the silver she usually portrays rather a fury red. She finds her footing and stands back up walking away. Not bothering to turn around.

Vispan looks around the darkness of the woods only illuminated by the moon and a few torches the men are carrying. He watches as she continues walking graciously through the woods. Her feet not stumbling on the debris or the unlevel land. She appears to know this terrain well while he is made a fool practically tumbling several times. He gets his sword out slashing some bushes while growl his anger out.

"How much longer?!"

Artemis turns around and he now notices a cage and a pitched tent standing a few yards behind her. He walks forward while she continues to look to him. Not saying anything as her hand goes out gesturing to a particular spot by the tent's entrance. He steps forward with four of his men walking next to him. The other two standing near the prisoner.

Vispan looks downs and feels bile rise up his throat. His men halting next to them as the stench hits their nostrils. One man coughing. Vispan falls to his knees next to the shredded corpse at the entrance to the tent. A crown laying on the ground next to the remains of a head. He clenches his fists while he feels tears escape down his cheeks. He stands up after a minute turning back to the witch who caused this. He draws his sword turning around. His men following in suit.

Artemis grins looking up to the evening sky for a moment. Her eyes glazing over as she communicates for a bare moment. Her eyes snapping back as the king looks to her ready to charge. She sighs dramatically as her eyes look around the area. Vispan eyes widening believing he may have been lead into a trap.

"Don't fear King Vispan... There is nobody there."

He snaps his eyes back to her stalking towards her with his sword forward ready to attack. The two men standing next to her grabbing each of her arms while she continues to give a sinister grin to the tyrant.

"Do you know why they did not fear me leaving."

This stops him dead in his tracks. Her eyes taking on a crimson color at the moment his men yelp retracting their hands from her body... as if she had torched them. He watches as the ropes binding her fall to the dirt. Her hand coming up with her palm open. She takes a deep breath and a flame emerges from her hand. Vispan's eyes go wide as his men become fearful of her.

"Cause I am the weapon... A fire just waiting to escape."

The flame grows higher in her palm. She watches it dance on her skin before looking back to the King.

"Thank you for lighting the match."

"KILL HER!"

His words bellowed in the hollow forest. His men standing beside her reaching for their swords. She turns around releasing the flame on one of the men while grabbing his sword. His face blinded by the fire that now is scorching his skin. He yells out in pain falling to the ground holding his face. Artemis takes his sword swiping the throat of the man on her other side, instantly killing him as blood falls out. She turns back to find the four remaining guards closing in on her.

She expertly maneuvers through their attacks. None even coming near her as she defends against four fully grown men. Vispan's eyes remaining shocked by the new development. She truly is a force of nature.

She kills two more before one gets a cut on her arm. She hisses but turns stabbing the man directly in his neck. The rest of his body covered in iron clad. She turns to the last man that is about to swing at her. She lets the sword fall and grabs his neck directly into her hand choking him. Her hand warming up as the power pulses through her. He begins wheezing as her flames lick his skin causing his airway to close up. He drops to the ground with a loud thud.

She turns back to the King who claps his hands in a slow condescending manner. She stands strong waiting for his advance.

"That was definitely... unexpected." She doesn't say anything but continues glaring at him. He steps forward slowly raising a single finger. "But... I have an army of men ready to kill you. What do you have?"

At this Artemis raises her chin defiantly with a smug smile.

"Kaleo"

Vispan's eyebrows furrowing together in confusion. A loud roar erupting the skies and the wind shifting over head. Artemis takes off while the King is distracted. He takes off after her while he hears screaming coming from the camp. He turns towards the area to find the camp has erupted into flames that are killing his men. He looks stunned momentarily before deciding he would rather kill Artemis than go rescue his men. They can be replaced...

Artemis watches the mad king look to his camp before turning back to her. An enraged bull charging at her. She closes her eyes feeling the flames licking her skin. Opening her palm again a flame emits. She aims it at the King. He ducks behind a tree trunk narrowly escaping the fire.

"You are just full of surprises Artemis... I underestimated you."

He yells out from the safety of the tree. Artemis still looking to the spot.

"You have no idea Vispan..."

Her words dripping with utter hatred. He begins feeling the earth tremble below his feet. He looks around in search of her or anything. She has disappeared from the spot she was at. He frantically looks around as the fear grows within him.

A searing pain goes through his right shoulder making him scream out in agony. His sword falling from his hand as he looks to the spot finding a dagger lodged in his shoulder holding him to the tree. He attempts to reach up to grab it when another pain rushes to his other shoulder. He looks forward to find Artemis standing in front of him. A dagger twiddled in her fingers.

"You should really check your prisoners next time."

His breathing becomes labored as his bulge out. He can not focus pass the pain or her abilities. It is then that he feels breathing on his side. He twist his head slowly to find a monstrous set of teeth perching from the other side of the tree. He screams completely horrified as the beast steps forward. Raven scales coming into view as a long body stomps by. The beast larger than the trees heading directly towards his capture. The serpents tongue coming out to lick Artemis' face. She smiles petting the beast as if a pet rather than a killing machine.

Vispan's pain becoming numb in his petrified state. Never has he seen such a creature... Let alone, someone who can tame such a thing. The creature turning it's gigantic head towards him Growling with it's large sharp teeth bared to him. He cries for help from anyone and then begins hearing the snapping of twigs. He sighs believing he has been rescued.

He looks up to find men in clad armor but they do not bare his emblem. A familiar figure steps out from behind also in iron wear but wearing a crown. Vispan noticeably gulps as the man steps forward. He looks directly in his eyes before turning to look at the silver witch in front of him.

King Casden rushes forward not even considering the dark dragon next to her. His tail whipping out to wrap protectively around her. Her hand touching his side in a reassuring manner. He continues to hold her waist with his tail even when the king steps forward to embrace her.

"Lady Artemis-"

"I am fine my King."

He sighs kissing the top of her head still holding her momentarily. He is thankful that Navene and Goliath were able to lead them here. He made Navene stay hidden and protected with some of the men. He turns back around to the man who has threatened not only his family but his kingdom. He slowly stalks towards him taking a good look at him. His shoulders drenched in blood, his forehead covered in beads of sweat. His breathing is ragged. King Casden stops a foot away making the mad man look at him.

"The laws state of our lands that you should be beheaded for your crimes against my kingdom..." He pauses as the mad man struggles against the trunk. The pain surging through him making him wail. After a minute gives up looking to the king.

"However... I once learned a very important lessons about packs." Casden turns to Artemis who gives a knowing smile before he turns back to the defeated king. "Attacking a member of the pack is a huge defense, but attacking a protected member... let alone head of the pack..."

The king leans his head in close enough to let his words linger.

"You are just asking for death."