The Decoder - Chapter 36

Avery

“Avery, we have a situation.” Lucien stormed into his office without a knock, causing Avery to startle from his position behind the desk. It was rare for Lucien to barged into his office unless something dire had happened.

“What situation?” Avery asked as Lucien stopped before his desk and rested both of his hands on the mahogany surface. He was out of breath and it took him several moments to compose himself. His meticulous hair was rumpled as if blown by a strong gust of wind.

“Edith. I believe I saw Captain Lynch approaching her and…”

Avery dropped his pen and stared at his friend. Dread sent a shiver down his spine and his stomach knotted in fear, the very same fear when he discovered Edith had went missing during the Starlight Festival.

“I did not have a clear look as I was some distance away. I thought I saw Edith at the City Square and Captain Lynch approaching her out of nowhere, and the next thing I knew, he was carrying her somewhere. I followed him, but immediately lost his tracks. I’m sorry…” Lucien explained.

“Why Captain Lynch…?”

“I don’t know. Captain Lynch is under Major Wright’s command. And, Major Wright is under the High Commander’s command.”

“Damn it!” Avery rose to his feet, the legs of his chair scraped against the floorboards. He immediately understood the reason. He wasn’t able to deliver the coded message and Sir Alcoft’s personal journal to the High Commander, so the High Commander personally took matters into his hands. Avery grabbed his leather double-breasted overcoat and pulled them on as he strode for the door.

“We need to find her immediately.”

“How? We can’t be searching the entire city. Captain Lynch could have brought her anywhere.” Lucien said.

“I know Captain Lynch owns an apartment at Bren Street and Eder Street. I know the address as I was invited to his small party three years ago.” Avery said and yanked on the doorknob, stepping out into the hallway and increasing his strides, not stopping if Lucien was on his heels. He couldn’t afford to waste any time. He needed to get to Edith immediately, save her. Damn, it’s all my fault…

He’d decided to turn against the High Commander. The promised position of a General be damned. He would find other alternatives to exact vengeance on his brother. Right now, Edith’s safety was of utmost importance. He shouldn’t have left her to venture out of Militia alone, shouldn’t leave her out of his sights.

Avery had come across Teo along the hallway and had requested for his assistance in searching for Edith. The three of them made their way to Captain Lynch’s apartment at Bren Street, but found that his apartment was empty. Teo had went ahead of them, searching the entire City Square while Avery and Lucien searched the entire Bren Street. When she was nowhere to be found, they moved on to Eder Street at breakneck speed. Avery couldn’t fathom what would Captain Lynch do to her. The thought of it made the blood drain from his face. No!

Avery and Lucien arrived at Eder Street’s entrance and they began searching every corner of the street, starting from the address Avery remembered Captain Lynch owns. As they entered the apartment and ascended the stairs to the third floor, Avery came across Captain Lynch in the corridor, looking agitated and gloomy and his uniform was slightly askew. When their eyes met, Captain Lynch stopped in his tracks, casting a glare at Avery and Lucien. There were footsteps from the stairs, but Avery paid them no mind. All he could think of was pummeling the captain before him and demanding to know Edith’s location.

From Captain Lynch’s expression alone, Avery knew, and he was trying his very best to restraint himself from lashing out. He was never close to Captain Lynch, and he hardly know about the man. They rarely cross paths and he was always seen with Major Wright. He never bore any feelings for the man, but right now, anger was brewing to the surface and the desire to beat the man to a pulp was overwhelming.

“Where is she?” Avery asked acidly.

“Who are you referring to?” Captain Lynch asked nonchalantly.

“Don’t pretend.”

“I see you’ve grown fond of the woman. Major Wright and the High Commander were right.” Captain Lynch smirked.

“One did further research and found that the both of you were childhood friends.” Captain Lynch continued when Avery remained silent, seething.

“Where is she?” Avery asked again, a growl reverberated from his throat and he was beginning to see red.

“She’s one stubborn woman.” Captain Lynch grinned, ignoring Avery’s question.

Avery lost his control. He lunged forward despite Lucien’s protest, his fist shooting out to punch the despicable captain in his face, but the captain was quick. He ducked and jammed his right shoulder into Avery’s stomach, pushing him down the corridor. Avery forcefully planted the sole of his right feet on the floorboards, grabbed the captain by his waist and kneed him in his abdomen. The captain grunted and released his grip on Avery.

Lucien intercepted by hauling the captain away from Avery with all his strength and punched him square in the face, breaking the captain’s nose in the process. The captain yelled and staggered backwards.

“Go. Go to Edith now. I will handle him.” Lucien urged.

Avery did not hesitant a single moment. He was confident in Lucien handling Captain Lynch on his own.

He found the room which he recalled from the captain’s address and kicked the doorknob so hard that the knob broke and the door swung inwards. He was shocked by the scene before him. There, lay his childhood best friend, her head drooped forward, and she was bound to the chair. He rushed to her side within seconds and was stunned speechless to see her cheeks terribly swollen and the bandage on her right cheek was stained in red, blood trickling down to her chin and dripping onto her skirts. She was unconscious and Avery had to bite the inside of his cheek, keeping his rage and fear in check and definitely from the urge to pummel Captain Lynch to his death.

“Edie…” He murmured and pulled out his dagger from his boot. He leaned forward, shielding her entire body as he circled his arms around her to reach behind, and cut the ropes, freeing her hands. The ropes tied around her body, binding her to the chair came free next and finally the ropes at her legs. Avery’s hands were shaking, and he willed them to stop, but failed.

Edith’s weakened body slumped forward when he freed her from her bounds, and he immediately caught her in his arms. Though she was unconscious, he tightened his arms around her, afraid that she might just vanish into thin air. He was so afraid for her, so afraid she might disappear again. He couldn’t bear the thought of it. He murmured her name several times before he calmed himself down, convincing himself that she was safe in his arms.

The High Commander had gone too far this time.

“Avery?” Lucien stood at the doorway.

Damn the High Commander.

Avery gritted his teeth and finally willed himself to rose to his feet. There was no point in staying in this damn room. He had to get Edith treated, and he was not going to bring her back to the Militia. He will keep her faraway from the High Commander. He gathered his thoughts and lifted Edith into his arms, her head lolling against his shoulder.

“Damn…Captain Lynch has gone too far.” Lucien whispered, horrified by the injuries inflicted upon Edith.

“I’m bringing her to my apartment in Bren Street. Please send for a doctor immediately.” Avery said as he moved past the doorway. He could bring her to Uncle Vern, but he figured her uncle might fall into apoplexy should he see her current condition, so he thought the better of it. Better to not involve her uncle.

“Yes.” He heard Lucien said before he strode down the corridor, ignoring the unconscious Captain Lynch at the corner, and stopped short at the sight of Sera and his spy, Teo. Why is Sera here? And what was Teo doing with her?

“Stay away.” Avery warned with a menacing expression.

“What happened?” Sera asked softly, her face growing paler by the minute.

Avery ignored her question as he walked past. He had no time to deal with her and he was slowly losing his patience.

“I asked what happened to her, damn you.” Sera repeated her question with irritation in her voice.

“I will watch my mouth if I were you.” Avery turned and scowled at her.

“She’s my childhood friend as well and we were supposed to meet hours ago.” Sera did not back away. In fact, she did not show an ounce of fear. Teo remained silent a few feet behind her.

“Meet you? Why?” Avery’s scowled turned severe. The thought that Edith did not inform him anything about her meeting with Sera again increased his irritation tenfold.

“No. Don’t answer. I don’t have the patience to listen at the moment. Edie needs medical attention.” Avery said and walked down the corridor without waiting for a reply. He needed to leave the apartment before his anger exploded, needed to be away from people, needed to calm himself and think rationally.

Once out of the suffocating apartment, he strode uphill to Dastren Street, ignoring the stares and whispers from the citizens. He stopped a hackney and ordered the driver to his private apartment at Bren Street. He cradled the unconscious Edith in his embrace, refusing to let her go even for a moment. He did not care if the blood stained his uniform. His mind was filled with ways to get rid of the High Commander. He will not let this matter go lightly, not anymore, not even if Ira stepped in.

At the thought of Ira, he recalled the conversation they had in his office just two days ago. He’d called for her and she’d come willingly, entering his office in her usual elegant demeanour and settling down on a chair in front of his worktable.

“Why did you call for me?” Ira had asked.

“You’re one of the masterminds behind Operation Z, aren’t you?” Avery asked, getting straight to the point.

Ira stared at him for several moments and he could practically hear the cogwheels working its way in her intelligent mind.

“Yes. Why?” Ira said, eyeing him suspiciously.

“I want you to stop the operation. Convince your father to call it off.” Avery said.

“What are you—"

“A war does not benefit anyone. It will only cause destruction and death.” Avery interrupted before she could finish her sentence.

“Why the sudden change of mind?”

“You know, I have been wondering for a while now.”

“What is it?”

“Are you aware of your father’s plans? And what he has in store for my future.” Avery rested his chin on the palm of his hand, his elbows braced on the arms of the chair.

Ira went silent at his question. Her face turning pale and she averted her eyes from his gaze. Avery could tell from her silence and reaction that she knew something. So, the High Commander had indeed something in store for him. All the conquering of small villages and those assignments, which he despised, had been part of the High Commander’s plans for him.

And realisation dawned upon him at that moment. The High Commander had always known of his hatred for Lord Noel, and he was now using Avery’s hatred to seize Hathage. White hot rage surged in him and he gripped the arm of his chair so tightly that the wood creaked.

“Answer me, Ira.” Avery said in a menacing tone.

“Yes…” She answered softly. Avery clenched his jaw and fought the urge to reach across the table and strangle her. He had been a pawn in their political games all along. He gripped the arm of his chair tighter and the wood started cracking. Ira glanced at the wood and she had the nerve to look ashamed.

“Stop this operation.” Avery said in an icy tone that could have froze the entire office.

“I do not have the full power to go against my father. And there’s our betrothment as well.” Ira levered a glare at him.

“I don’t care about the betrothment any longer. I’m annulling it.”

“You can’t!” Ira rose to her feet abruptly, causing the legs of the chair to scrap vigorously along the floorboards.

“And, why is that? Don’t tell me this betrothment is part of what the High Commander has in store for my future?”

“No…I requested for it. You know I love you. You have always been by my side for the past eight years…At least until your childhood best friend shows up.” Ira said, her voice chocking at the end of her words. Avery looked away and released a heavy sigh. He never enjoyed hurting a woman, physically and mentally, but he needed to be firm this time.

“I’m sorry, Ira. You know how I feel and where my heart lies.” Avery said apologetically. He knew Ira was hurt, but he could not reciprocate her feelings. With that, Ira strode out of his office without another word and there goes the chance and hope to persuade her to talk her father out to call off the operation. He knew it was a futile idea, but never try, never know.

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