"But it's true!" the patient protested. "If you
really think he's not a wimp, then show him a needle and point it at him. I guarantee you he'll start screaming and crying. Like a wimp."
"I'm not doing that," Meriandra scowled. "He's already been bothered enough for one day
."
Cassandra glared at the patient. "Being afraid of needles is quite common, so shush!"
Not wishing to anger Cassandra any further, the patient wisely shut up.
Later that evening, Frederick finally made it home... and he now faced the awkward task of explaining that his mission had been an utter failure. Knowing that delaying this burden wasn't going to make it go away, he simply bit his lip, and returned to the barracks, where it didn't take him long to find Gideon.
"I c-couldn't get either of them..." Frederick confessed, trembling with sheer dread at Gideon's response. "Jake is still evil, and he's too powerful to capture... and Kyle is still completely useless... he's at New Atlantis, but he's a complete baby who's completely unfit to rule
..."
Gideon frowned at Frederick not looking happy. "You already said he was useless, so I don't know why you tried again. As for Jake go get him. We NEED him."
"But I can't!" Frederick protested. "He's too strong! Or rather, his girlfriend is too strong... she almost turned me into a tree! If we're going to capture Jake, then we're going to need an entire army regiment... and probably half of our mage force! Are you sure that's wise?"
"Jake is the only useful one. We need him here." Gideon said shaking his head. "Do as your told and bring him here! Do whatever you need to!"
Frederick was simply even more annoyed with this.
"Do you think I want Jake here?!" he cried out in frustration. "Of course I do! If I had a way to bring him here, then I would have done... I didn't just make that trip for nothing! But I can't just magic him here with the wave of my hands... I need those men, and I definitely need mages!"
He then stood firm and crossed his arms. "And I'm not leaving Lennart Castle again unless you come with me!"
"Do it, or I'll toss you into the dungeon myself!" Gideon yelled getting red in the face. "GO NOW!"
"I told you, I can't just magic him over here!" Frederick retorted angrily. "And besides, I'm not your slave, so you don't have the authority to throw me in the dungeons to begin with. Anyway, you're being unreasonable and not even listening to me - so, I'll go now."
Frederick flipped Gideon off, before turning around and storming angrily to the Great Hall, where he ordered himself a glass of apple cider, and sat all alone in the corner.
A week later, nothing had happened at Lennart Castle. Frederick hadn't set off on another expedition: he was still there, and he wasn't even speaking to Gideon any more. On the whole, the atmosphere in the castle was rather depressing: there was no Tom, no Kyle, no Jake, and no hope.
Meanwhile, over at New Atlantis, Kyle was still in hospital. Aliana was there to pay him a visit - to see how he was.
Kyle was doing a bit better. When Aliana came in he was bugging Meriandra about when he could get out of hospital. He was still very weak, and couldn't walk very fast or anything, and he still had a hard time eating himself, but he was getting bored. "Can't I go yet?"