~ Third Person's Point of View ~
Princess Alice went outside to talk over with Cartlon. She knows that he have bad news by looking at his serious and poker face.
She saw him playing with fire and a small branch of a tree. Cartlon seems thinking something deep and profound.
Alice walks nearer to him and said, "Cartlon, what's the matter?"
He promptly turned his head and shock was written on his face. "I have– Please, do take a sit first, Alice!"
Cartlon's eyes were tired and exhausted yet confused and wavering if he would keep the information he gathered from the quest man, Morgan.
Alice walks closer to him and seated on beside of him. She was then watching the fire as it burns the branches and turned it into ashes.
She said, "Are you hiding something from me, Cartlon?"
Upon hearing it, he looked at Alice intently and swallowed his own saliva; his ego; his pride.
Cartlon shook his head and burst into a whimsical and satirical grin. He replied, "Why did you ask that kind of nasty and naive question, your majesty? Of course, I wouldn't do it; never."
To eradicate the gap and chasm between the two of them, Alice burst into a loud yet pungent laugh. She then tried to meet with his gaze but Cartlon would always look at somewhere else.
"We've been knowing each other but I've never thought that you're too serious and nervous when you are tired and famish as well," Alice said.
Cartlon thwarted from laughing and stared at Alice. "I have gathered information with regards to the prophecy and the mage, Alice. However, I failed to convince the quest man to go come along with me and find the elusive mage with us."
"Does it mean that he knows everything? Did he tell you where we can find him/her?"
Alice exaggeratedly asked him. Her eyes widened; her face became bold and determined.
Cartlon gulped and put more woods to make the conflagration alive. "Alice, please, do not trust the quest man's words! We need something real and reliable; we need someone who knows and hides the book of prophecy!"
"Bring me to the quest man that you met earlier, Cartlon! I want to talk to him personally and I want to know the truth immediately. Or else... every one of us will die and zombies will rectify my Kingdom."
Cartlon stood up and looked up at the cloudy night. "It's not as easy as what you think, Alice! It's too risky and dangerous! What if they were already invaded by zombies? What if they will betray us and use you as bait and then what?! Sooner or later, they will steal your throne as the next Queen of Alicesha!"
Alice remained calm and she barely gazes at him. "Bring me to the quest man and we will go back to the palace as soon as we find Shaotzie! That's an order, Cartlon."
She stood up and take a few steps away from him. Away from the man, she trusts with; away from the prevaricator.
"Alice!" Cartlon exclaimed.
"ALICE!"
With enough energy and courage, he grabbed the Princess's arm and forced Alice to face him.
"There would always be 'lies that beneath the certainties', Alice. You are right, but we need to secure ourselves as we search for Princess Shaotzie and the mage. But, you have to trust the right timing and I know that we can solve this problem on the perfect time and place."
Alice sought out after hearing those possibilities and truths.
If she would see the other side of the situation, Cartlon has a point.
Alice said, "Cartlon, as the time passes by, the chance to see Shaotzie again became too little and fading! You know that I can't endure and live happily if I can't see and touch her again."
Tears springing into her eyes as she remembered her missing younger sibling. How can she live every single day if Shaotzie is not by her side?
How can she keep her promises when in the first place, she already broke it?
"If you can't discern my orders, then I shall do it on my own. The world knows what I'm capable of doing things like these."
Princess Alice leaves him dumbfounded and astounded.
Cartlon sits back and play with the fire to divert his attention. He was too devastated and frustrated with what Alice said earlier.
"You can't do it on your own, Alice." He murmured.
On the other hand, Alice didn't walk away from him. She was standing behind of Cartlon and eyeing at his broad and tired shoulders.
Out of nowhere, Sahara showed up and whispered softly into her ear. "It's time to eat, your majesty."
Alice crossed her arms around. She then embraced herself as the cold and chilling breeze blows up her hair and her cloak.
"Tell him to eat, Sahara. I'm not yet famished."
The Princess turned her back and went straight inside.
Sahara watches her back and catches a glimpse of the swordsman that looks problematic and formidable.
She sighed as she stops in front of Cartlon and said, "It's time for supper, swordsman. The Princess told me to do so."
Cartlon lifted up his head and smiled at her. "You're in good timing, Sahara. Of course, I'll eat everything you cooked, tonight."
He immediately stood up and leads the way back inside the hut. She wasn't even done explaining who cooked their food.
"Oww! Wait for me, swordsman!" Sahara blurted.
Sahara was stunned as she saw their seating arrangement. Princess Alice seated beside Billy and Cartlon seating alone.
Billy smiled at her and said, "You're here! Come on Sahara, sit beside of swordsman!"
She has no choice but to get on the ebb. "Woah! You are the best cook, Sahara! I've never tasted this upgraded boiled potatoes with some gist!"
Alice and Sahara looked at each other meaningfully. Sahara has no idea what he's referring to. Because the reality is, Alice is the one who cooked everything for supper and not Sahara.
Sahara said, "I didn't cook it, swordsman and I'm innocent! Perhaps, you were mistakenly complimented and praised me."
Billy and Sahara
burst into laughter as they look at the furious Princess and Cartlon who's stupefied and thunderstruck.