“Zao?” Jake growled. “You stole the ruby?”
“Who else?” Zao said, grinning.
“I don’t understand. How could you betray your clan like this?” Bane shouted.
“I did not betray my clan. I betrayed the pathetic leader that rules this clan!” Zao said. “This spineless man who didn’t even have the kindness to finish me off!”
“I let you live!” Jake roared. “Even though I had the power to crush your throat, I let you live!”
“It was a fight to the death!” Zao snarled. “You didn’t even think me worthy enough to be killed! Because of you, I suffered far greater humiliation than I would have. Because you let me live, you proved to me that you did not think that I even deserved death. No. You let me live. You degraded me and ruined me even more by letting me live!”
“You are crazy,” Bane growled.
“No. I have respect for the ancient ways of this clan,” Zao said. “I refuse to let this clan be led by a leader like you! A leader who has no respect for the ancient traditions of the clan! The leader who has no respect for the opponent he defeats!”
“Bane,” Jake growled. “Go and check on Jazz. If she is injured, take her back immediately.”
“Zao, do not do this,” Jake said, turning to him. “Think of the harm it will do to your clan!”
“Why should I think of the clan that did not think of me?” Zao snarled. “When the voice in my head asked me to steal the ruby, I hesitated. But the more it spoke to me, the more sense it made. You humiliated me and ruined me in front of the clan. Not only that, but you also didn’t even have the decency to finish me off. To let me retain some dignity. Instead, you let me live, so I had to face all the clan knowing how badly I had failed.”
“The man who asked you for the ruby has already tried before,” Jake said. “He will use it for his gain and evil! Don’t let him manipulate you into going against your clan!”
“I don’t have a clan!” Zao snarled and lunged at Jake.
Jake was ready to dodge, but he didn’t need to. Jazz jumped into the middle, tackling Zao. The two of them rolled onto the floor, viciously clawing at each other.
Jake gave a loud, deafening roar and bounded towards them. He lunged onto Zao as Jazz rolled away and started to attack the general. His attacks were ruthless and merciless, forcing his opponent to go on the defensive.
Zao, even though a very powerful opponent, stood no chance. The other bears bounded in to help and soon enough he was outnumbered.
“Tell me who hired you!” Jake shouted as the chains of Alor were thrown around Zao.
Zao looked up and grinned, his eyes sparkling. “I will die before I tell you.”
“I don’t want to hurt you, Zao. You have served this clan for a long time. I respect you and appreciate your service,” Jake said.
“You respect me?” Zao roared. “You respect nothing! This clan was great when your father was alive! You have made it weak and soft! This clan doesn’t deserve to survive anymore!”
“Just tell me the name, Zao. This doesn’t have to be so hard,” Jake said.
“Kill me!” Zao shouted. “Kill me as you should have earlier! Because you won’t get any answer from me!”
“You are the only one who can help us, Zao!” Jake snarled. “Try and understand! If this man continues coming after the ruby, it will seriously hurt our clan!”
“I don’t care about this clan anymore.” Zao growled. “I am done with it!”
“Take him to the dungeons!” Jake ordered. “I don’t think he is under an oath, so we should eventually be able to get him to talk.”
His soldiers started dragging Zao by the chains, even as he struggled to get out of it.
Jake turned to look at Jazz, who was bleeding and injured.
“Are you alright?” he asked her, softly.
“Yes,” she whispered. “Just a few scratches, that’s all.”
“You fools!” Jake heard a voice behind him and turned around.
