Lovell stood up, "Ark would never do that!" Anger was filling Lovell. "He has to have been set up!"
Kana raised her hand. "I know, Lovell, and that's why you need to help the King find it."
Lovell sat down; Luna turned to Kana. "What do you mean by that, Kana?"
Kana's eyes fixed on Lovell, "The KingKing is asking for your help. He knows that Ark is innocent, but his adviser has taken things into his own hands and persuaded the populous to his side." Lovell growled at the thought. "King Aris searched out one of my scouts and told him the situation hoping that help would be sent from the rest of the gang. But as you can see, that won't happen."
Scarlet leaned forward, "SO we head to the capital, go to the KingKing seek out the real thief and return it. Freeing this Ark person and having a golden ticket to the rest of the Goannas. If I'm not mistaken?"
Kana nodded, "Sort of, the king asked we do this discreetly and out of the guise of his advisor." Turning to Lovell, "Lovell, you know this is not going to be easy, so I want you to meet with the king in secret and ask what the item looks like."
Lovell nodded, "OK, and my friends?"
Kana looked at them, Zero smiled. "We can ask around town, and all meet up at an inn. Slums and shady locations would be the best place to ask since we are not known in the kingdom, well, my sister and me anyway."
Zephyr nodded at her brothers' words as Kana smiled at the idea. "OK, then I leave that to you. As for the rest, talk to the locals and the shopkeepers to see what's going on. remember, this is sensitive, and you five don't have much experience in this line of work." They all nodded as Kana got up. "Now, before all of you leave, I have rented some horses to get you there faster. They are mixed with herizonian's, the words fastest horse and most finicky, but they will get you there faster than going on foot. That's for sure."
They thank Kana as the left, Lovell stopped before leaving. "Kana, be safe and take care of yourself." As he went through the door, Lovell turned to Kana, "And you should send a letter or two to Grailla, your daughter once and a while." Kana smiled as he left.
Lovell caught up with the others as the readied the horses. The owner told them that they can release them, and they would return once they reached the outskirts of Goldhill. Luna stroke the one she was going to ride. Lovell walked up to the last one, he looked over it, seeing how it looked like his old horse. Gale and Lance knowing that might be hard seeing a look-alike of his old horse. They watched Lovell mount up as the others did too. They could see Lovell was OK as they mounted as well. Riding off to Goldhill, Lovell turned to make sure no one was left in the dust.
As they reached their destination, Lovell looked at the sprawling city. The gold-trimmed Castle nestled atop the large hill, stood out against the colourful housing and shops while the outer area was dull and grey.
Scarlet rode up beside him, "Welcome to Goldhill, the rainbow city, and the capital of the Gold Heart Empire." She unmounted, Lovell followed suit. "So, you ready to do this, then?"
Lovell looked back, seeing the twins rubbing the rears as they let their houses go. "Yeah, just stick to the plan as much as possible, and things should work out." Lovell watched the other get off and do the same, releasing the horses as he and Scarlet let theirs go as well. "I'll go to the castle tonight, so I'll go ahead and find a place for us to stay." Scarlet nodded, as they all head into the city.
As they walked down the busy streets, Luna noticed the roads were paved with intricate designs of the four-season. She walked up to Scarlet, "Hey, Scarlet, are the roads depictions represent just the season or other places as well?"
Scarlet looked at her, "Yeah, they depict the four seasons and one of the country's greatest feats." She turned to Lovell, "One is the country's relations with the Krisnik's, but they have been all but forgotten by folk and the royals I do believe."
Luna looked at Lovell and Fang, "Oh?" She smiled at Fang. "Hey Fang, do you have a moment?"
Fang the other stopped, Lovell and Fang looked at her. "What's up to Luna?"
"Do you know anything about your family's relations here?"
Lovell looked a Fang as he sighed, "Yeah, I was about twenty or so when my father saved them from a rogue dragon attack. He killed the dragon, and they made a road in his honour, why?"
Luna smiled, "Just curious, Scarlet was giving me some info about the designs of the roads."
Lovell stunned by what Fang said as he looked up the road, He noticed a sign saying, 'Rain Fall Inn.' Lovell smiled, "Found the inn, so meet up with you all later. If none of you are back by sundown, I will be you know where." They all looked at the sign and nodded. Lovell sighed, "OK then, take care."
They all went their separate ways as Lovell went to check them all in, once inside Lovell noticed a woman standing off to the side, he thought nothing of her as he got the rooms set up. The woman walked over to him. Lovell turned to see she was holding the note. Lovell suspected she was with the KingKing and followed her to an alleyway.
The woman smiled at him. "So, you are the one he sent for, for help?"
Lovell looked over the woman. "And if I'm not?" Lovell remembered that Kana gave him a passcode to see if they were friend or foe.
"Wolves are the worst watchdogs."
Lovell smiled, "OK then, so what is it you want from your employer?"
The woman handed him a guard's uniform from her bag. "Put this on, and then follow me to the castle."
Lovell sighed as he took the uniform and told her to turn around. She did, watching for any spies of the advisor. Once Lovell was changed, she led him to the Castle. As they made their way to the King's chambers, the advisor walked up to them.
He sneered at them. "Where are you going, Marie?"
Lovell kept behind Marie, as she clenched her fist. "I am to take this rookie to the west corridor after I see the King, advisor."
The man looked at Lovell, trying to see under the helmet as Marie stepped in front, "Very well then be off, before I report you to your superior." The advisor walked away in detest.
Marie sighed as she looked at Lovell. "Let us get going before he grows a real brain, of what's going on." Lovell nodded as they reached the King's chamber.
Marie knocked at the door. "Come in, Marie!" The KingKing granted them entry, as they entered Lovell looked around to see that kings' room was bare compared to the lavishing's outside. "You must be from the Goanna's?" Lovell looked at the KingKing, his smile welcoming compared to the advisor. "Please show me your face and have a seat." He turned to Marie. "Marie, make sure that the fool is not poking around while we chat."
Marie bowed as she left. Lovell took the helmet off, showing the KingKing his face. "Well, I thought I would have come much later to see you, your majesty." Lovell bowed in respect.
The King was shocked to see Lovell's youthful appearance. "You are much younger than I expected?"
Lovell smiled. "Well, I'm twenty-six, and my youthful look is due to what I am." Lovell grabbed a seat. "Now about Ark, is he safe for now?"
The King nodded, "Yes, at the moment, those still loyal to me are keeping a watch over him, but my advisor trying everything kill him."
Lovell sighed in relief. "That's good, ah, sorry I forgot to introduce myself, I'm Lovell Krisnik."
The Kings' eye widened. "Did you say Krisnik?!" Lovell nodded. "By the goddess, they aren't all dead." Tears welled up in the King'sKing's eyes as he wiped them away. "Sorry, but from rumours, the Krisnik clan was said to be destroyed over twenty years ago after an incident with the lost prince of the Faremin Kingdom."
Lovell looked away from the KingKing, "Well, that prince is me and Fang might know more than me, but that is not why we are here."
The KingKing looked at Lovell. "We?"
Lovell nodded, "Yes, I'm currently on a journey with people I've met, one of them being my much older half brother Fang, and six others. They are in town gathering info on the real thief as we speak."
The King understood Lovell's words. "Well, let get to business then. Firstly though, as you might or might not know me, I'm King Orville, and outside, the door is Marie, a loyal subordinate of mine. Any way the artifact that was stolen is a Ren-Ky jewel."
Lovell cleared his ears out. "Wait, did I hear right in you saying that is a Ren-Ky Jewel, like as in one of the Ren-Ky warrior jewels of legend?"
The King nodded, "Yes, why do you ask?"
Lovell leaned back in his seat as Marie opened the door, "Sorry to do this, but we need to leave before some get suspicious."
The King nodded, "Very well, well till the next time we meet young Lovell."
Lovell stood up and bowed. "Likewise, your majesty."
Marie escorted Lovell back to the city, as they reached the alley from before. Marie once again stood on watch as Lovell changed back into his own clothes. "Hey Marie, how long till anything happens with my old comrade?"
Marie Looked at him. "It will be six weeks or else the public would have an outcry. Something the advisor doesn't want."
Lovell sighed as he touched her shoulder. "That gives us time to search and for me to have more conversations with the king." Marie nodded, "Well, till next time, then, take care and don't get caught."
Lovell extended his hand to her, she grabbed it. "Likewise, Lovell."
Marie left back to her duties as Lovell head to the inn and waited for the others.