Just as Alvina and Elinar were chatting a soldier approached them.
He grabbed Elinar through his collar and said "You!"
Both Alvina and Elinar were startled. They didn't know what was going on.
The soldier tried to drag Elinar but Elinar resisted. Seeing this, another soldier came and punched him in his guts. Elinar bend down and clutched his stomach in pain. It was a pretty harsh blow.
Then both the soldiers dragged Elinar away. Even though he resisted, it was futile. The soldiers were more brawny than Elinar who hasn't even matured completely to be called a 'man'.
Just like the previous boy, they strapped Elinar to the chair.
Again, all four 'masked men' surrounded him for interrogation. Like the previous time, the fifth man was not present there.
"Where have you all hidden the bag of gold?" 'Blaze' asked.
"What bag of gold?" Elinar said confusedly.
"Let me repeat myself again. Where do you villagers have hidden the bag of gold?"
Now the question drawn to Elinar. But they made a mistake. Elinar was not from the village. He was just like Alvina who was captured at the same place and at the same day that of Alvina for stealing some medicines from a pharmacy.
"I am not from the village." Elinar honestly revealed the truth about himself with a gentle smile on his face.
"Where are the rest of the people of this castle?" 'Blaze asked another question.
Hearing this question both Alvina and Elinar's eyes widened in fear. They could guess what will happen if the interrogators were not happy with the questions.
"I don't know what that is," Elinar said in a terrified voice.
The previous boy was asked the same question and now his head is hanging on the castle's gate. He didn't want to be beheaded so early in his life.
Just like previously, Blaze instructed something to 'Aqua' with his eyes.
Just like previously, a wooden box was brought in front of him.
'Aqua' took out the scorpions from the box and was about to put it on Elinar's body when they heard the sound of hoofs.
It was their King, King Gerrarld.
He was of somewhat forty plus, but looked ten years younger than his actual age. He had definitely maintained his physique. He had light brown hairs along with some grey hairs which gives him a much more noble and a mature vibe. He was dressed in royal silk of color same as his flag, blue and golden. Seeing him everybody's attention turned towards him. All of them instantly kneeled on the ground with their heads down, whether the person was a prisoner or a soldier.
The commander of the castle immediately went by his side and helped him off the horse.
"Your majesty, we weren't expecting you till tomorrow." He said politely.
The king chuckled and replied, "Evidently not."
The commander signaled someone to take away 'His Majesty's horse and then started walking by his side.
He had to give reports about the situation of the castle.
The king looked at the prisoners held in cages and asked, "Why these prisoners are not in their cells?"
"Cells are overflowing, your majesty. So, we build these cages to keep them." The Commander instantly replied.
The king looked at the open sky above them without any expression.
Well, they were prisoners, what more they were expecting?
The king passed by Alvina who was standing terrified and was looking at Elinar.
He gave one long look at her and then looked at the direction where she was looking. He saw terrified Elinar bound to the chair.
"What's going on?" he said approaching the 'Masked men'.
"We are interrogating him about the rest of the people who were involved in the revolt and have escaped the castle. The mages." Blaze replied immediately.
These 'masked men' worked directly under the queen and didn't really have to answer anyone. But now in front of them was the king. If they wished, they wouldn't have answered but they know that later it will become troublesome for their Queen.
If it was any secret they would have remained mum but it was an honest interrogation on their part.
Seeing Alvina rooted to her place, one of the soldiers came forward and shouted, "What are you doing here? Go back to your cage or I will slit your throat this instant." His voice was much higher than necessary. He keeps looking towards the King discreetly. He wanted to get some browny points from the King.
Hearing the commotion, the King approached them.
Seeing the king walking towards their direction, the soldier discretely smiled but then in the next second covered his face with frowns and shouted, "Get down on your knees boy."
The king chuckled and said, "Are you blind or a fool." He then took a dramatic pause and after looking intently at Alvina he said, "This one's is a girl, you idiot."
The soldier was stupefied. He soon lowered his sword that was pointing at Alvina with a dumbfounded expression. He took a few glances at Alvina to get a close look at her.
Alvina was shocked too. More like she was badly shaken from inside.
She had seen what happened to the girl who was taken to one of the 'Masked men'. The girl came out half dead. There were patches of bloodstain all over her skirt and his whole body was totally bruised. Her white skin had turn purple under the torture of these men.
Even though Alvina was young and innocent, she knew exactly what happened to that girl. She had known the cruelty of the world long ago. She would feel blessed knowing that her real gender is hidden away from the eyes of these animals wearing human skin.
Now that her little secret was exposed so openly, in front of so many people, Alvina was terrified to think of the consequences it will bring in the future.
She looked at the eyes of the men surrounding her and soon felt that their gazes on her had become different and Alvina felt very uncomfortable under those gazes.
A woman wearing a man's clothes was a taboo. The men around her openly looked at the outline of her legs and her body. If it was a skirt, Alvina's legs would have hidden much properly.
The King then turned towards Alvina and questioned, "Reason for your crossdressing. Why?"