An Understated Dominance (Dustin Rhys)

“To avoid trouble, the four guards must die,” Mulder said bluntly.

The four Red Legion guards instantly turned pale upon hearing that.

Even Warrick frowned, his face darkening.

“What nonsense are you spouting? They are my personal guards, my brothers-in-arms. How could they possibly betray me?”

“You never really know who you can trust. Betrayal happens all the time-even between comrades. For your safety, we can’t take that risk,” Mulder said solemnly.

“A warrior can be killed but never disgraced. We’ve followed Sir Prescott for years, through life and death. No matter the cost-even if it’s our lives-we would never betray him,” Geralt said.

“That’s right. Don’t judge loyal men by your own petty standards,” Kalen snapped.

Hmph! Scum like you could never understand the bond between men who have fought and bled together,” another added.

They responded to Mulder’s words with a mix of anger and disdain.

These men were Warrick’s personal guards -battle-hardened and fiercely loyal. They had faced life-and-death trials and wouldn’t hesitate to lay down their lives for him.

From the day they joined the Red Legion to the moment they were chosen as Warrick’s personal guards, one belief had been drilled into them-his safety came before everything.

Not just their own lives-even if all their families’ lives were added together, they still wouldn’t measure up to Warrick’s importance. Loyalty and duty bound these Red Legion guards, but so did the unforgiving military code.

Warrick fell, they were expected to take their own lives in atonement, and their families wouldn’t

not care for your so-called brotherhood, but I understand human

you get caught, no matter how tough you think you are, you won’t withstand the tortures inside Grimhold Keep. So, don’t bother arguing with me because I

were beyond what most people could

fully grasp the depth of suffering and

in cursing and acting like they had nothing to lose, but those were usually the first to break and rarely made

place, dying was a privilege, but most prisoners weren’t given that option. They couldn’t live, but they weren’t allowed to die

serial rapist who had assaulted over 100 women and even murdered the daughter

tortured beyond recognition, and eventually

Mulder had no faith in human resilience. He didn’t believe anyone could withstand the interrogation techniques used

and their earlier defiance faded. Though they had never

could they endure the torture? None

for your own safety,

lowered his head, and his face was clouded with

do it, I can take care of it for you,” Mulder

need.” A cold glint flashed in Warrick’s eyes.

blade and swung it at the four men before him. The blade swept

shuddered as red lines

“Sir Prescott… you…”

line on his neck split open.