Chapter 89: Rival Nation Or Not?

Chapter 89: Rival Nation Or Not?
Beta Maxwell's POV:

I have to say, there's a lot about the current situation that just doesn't quite add up right now. Being in my position at His Highness's right hand didn't sit well with me one bit, as I was the one responsible for managing things when His Highness wasn't around. This whole thing was making my drive to get to the bottom of it more pressing than I could have imagined. It could go either way, honestly, and that could be either good for our nation on the one hand, by finding out about this when we did.

On the other hand, there was something lingering in the back of my mind. I thought, could this somehow be part of a bigger plan? Was there more to this... this group of individuals who turned up at the time when they did, determine that as well? I would need to determine that, too. This whole thing could just be a setup, one I would need to decide and then inform His Highness about.

I had hoped this wasn't anything close to a possible invasion of sorts. No matter what, I needed to figure out which part this individual had to play in all of that and, therefore, make a final decision. However, one thing still lingers and doesn't help me settle the situation. That one thing is... one of our older pack members seems to have recognized this particular individual, of all other people.

Our Grand Nation, the Nation of the Cascading Mountains, or more commonly known as Cascadia, is not commonly known for associating with other nations, as we mainly keep to ourselves. We have learned that it is better that way, as experience has taught us that much. We did have the issue with our rival nation before, but did this have anything to do with that? Noting that to mind, which would be the right course of action to take here in this case?

As I continued to ponder my thoughts in the forefront of my mind, I took in a deep breath as I exhaled. At the same time, I looked around at everyone else seated around the table, just as I placed both of my hands on the arms of the chair.

Then I spoke up after a short silence and said, "Well, have them bring this individual to one of the Holding Booths so I can have a chat with him. I am most eager to hear what he has to say. Especially since he was the only one recognized."

"They are already down there looking for him now and will be back shortly," Maddux responded once more. "We figured a conversation would be necessary, so once they were all bound, they proceeded with the search for him specifically."

"Uh huh," is all I managed to say aloud as I nodded my head slightly in acceptance of his response.

'Good thinking.' (My Wolf, Marx, responded right then, which only made me smirk at his comment.)

I was pleased that my Warriors knew to go ahead and deal with things, thinking ahead to the fact that I would want to discuss this with the prisoner personally. Only after the fact did they inform me of their actions when the time came. They knew when to take the initiative and carry out orders that would help speed up situations, such as this one. Those Warriors who took this initiative were placed in positions of importance, as they showed great character in doing what was needed when the time called for it.

All of a sudden, we heard footsteps coming from down the corridor through the open doorway. I knew this had to be them, as I also heard the slight clinking of chains, meaning they were walking with a captive. When I finally stood up and walked to the open doorway, I was intrigued by what I saw.

As I looked down the corridor, I saw four men about to enter a Holding Booth. One of those in particular was the one man bound in chains, I might add. Just as I started to study him at a distance, I noticed that he didn't appear young. In fact, he even has a bit of an older glint about him. Could it be? Was this the man that Lawrence seemed to recognize from the group of captives? If that is the case, I need to know when he knew him. Lawrence had not traveled outside our nation prior to this, so how could they even know each other?

I wasted no time when I started to slowly walk in their direction as several of the other Warriors I was meeting with followed right along behind me. It made me wonder what I would find when I got to that Holding Booth. Was I going to recognize this man as well? Or could that even be a possibility?

It has been some time since we sent out any Warriors to the various rival lands to gather information. So which group could he be from if that were even possible? And since this was one of the older Warriors who recognized him, how old was the man being taken to the Holding Booth? This just added to the number of questions I had running through my head that I needed to answer. Then, only after all of this, I would have to inform His Highness about all my findings.

As we got about halfway down the corridor, the three men walked out and mostly closed the door to the Holding Booth, turning to see us coming their way. I do believe it wasn't closed all the way, as they weren't expecting to see us this soon.

I walked up to them, just as they all stepped out of the way, bowing their heads as I walked past them to the Holding Booth, where that man was being held. As I approached the door in silence, I looked in the open crack of the door and saw the backside of the man in chains. He wasn't trying to escape, which I thought was odd. Instead, he was looking around at his surroundings. I watched him with fascination.

Without speaking, I pushed the door open once again and entered the room. I was also followed by the three men who brought him here, along with the other four men who accompanied me from the Resting Booth.

"Is this the man you were speaking about?" I asked curiously, no emotion in my voice whatsoever.

'He looks older. When did he last travel with a travel party?' (Marx questioned curiously.)

"Yes, Sir," Maddux responded as he continued to watch the man standing there in front of us, chained to the post in the center of the Booth. "This is the man I previously spoke to you about."

"What is your name?" I asked suddenly as I took a few steps closer to his position, wondering if he was going to take a few steps back as he turned around to face me.

"Hemming," he finally responded with a plain tone as he looked around at all of our faces standing before him.