The Great Southern Kingdom
Adam had to arrive at the kingdom before he fainted from loss of blood.
"The entrance… is right… there."
His view was blurred and as his horse approached the walls, two soldiers saw him, but it was too late, his limbs tickled, and his head got cold. Next thing he barely knew, his body fell directly to the ground.
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The warmth of the sun reached his skin and after cleaning his throat, Adam opened his eyes. Two girls wearing the clothes of the royal servants ―long gray ropes and a piece of cloth around their head― were walking around the room.
"Oh, Lord Adam! You finally woke up!", said the girl with a bowl of water in her hands.
"We were just changing the bandages of your head," said the other girl with a plate full of dirty pieces of cloth, "How are you feeling?"
"Well… I feel…" Adam sat down on the floor bed and scratched his forehead, "Oh yeah! Jasmine, Tora. Where is General Fu? I must speak to him as soon as possible!"
"Oh… General Fu?" the girls looked to each other as if something had been worrying them, "if this is in regards to the Royal Family's death then…"
"What… how do you know…?"
Tora, who had the dirty ropes, took a couple of steps to the door, and timidly opened it; looking at both sides of the outside hall, she sighed and closed the door again. She looked at Jasmine with her lips pressing to each other and nodded, then Jasmine walked closer to him saying.
"Were you with the royal family at the moment of their death?"
"Ah… y-yeah. There was a surprise attack from very strong men and… a man with a, very strange but powerful magic as well. But as of all the details, I can't… remember, my head… still feels heavy."
"Don't force yourself, Lord Adam," Tora stood right next to Jasmine, "then... now that you confirmed that the attack really happened… that means... that… it was all true."
"What do you mean… and how do you know about their death?"
"Well… General Fu was informed everyone about five days ago that the royal family and their kindred were attacked by evil men from the north, and without much hesitation, he gathered the priests from the high council and after a whole day of debate, appointed him as the new king," they knelt next to him while pressing their chest.
What did they just say? it was as if cold water was thrown to his face.
"You mean… General Fu is… the new King?"
"Y-yeah... now he is... King Fu."
His lungs were short of air.
"Wait… how long have I been unconscious?"
"About two days," Jasmine said.
"So… when I came, General Fu was already the King?"
"That is correct."
"It doesn't make sense. It took me from night to dawn to come all the way to the kingdom… how would he know of the attack before it happened?"
"Are you saying that General Fu knew all along about the attack?", Tora leaned over him.
"Now that you mention it…" Jasmine frowned her eyes while looking at Tora, "I remember seeing General Fu coming out, quite angry, from the king's decision room before the royal family's departure."
"This is unacceptable! We must inform everyone!" Tora stood up while her heavy breath increased.
"No… we don't have enough information about these events," Adam said, "by law, he is the rightful king; so he has all the power over the armies and resources of the kingdom… if we act carelessly we might end up as prisoners or even worse… dead."
"Adam is right, Tora," Jasmine took Tora's hand, "we are assuming over something very serious. We must act wisely."
"As if nothing happened, you are saying?"
"No, we must gain their trust and gather as much information as we can," Adam said.
"But what if General Fu starts taking bad decisions for the kingdom?"
"Tora, please lower your voice", Jasmine stood up next to her.
"Alright, let's say we tell everyone," Adam said, "then what?"
Tora pressed her fists while looking at the floor. Tears started to fall through her cheeks.
"It's just… I… I can't believe that the royal family… including the princess… are gone."
"Me neither…" Adam sighed while closing his eyes, "I was very fortunate to survive… but something tells me that, the princess is still alive."
"You really think so?"
"It's just a feeling but, we must be wise with this situation."
Someone knocked on the door.
"Go…" Adam whispered, "act as if this conversation never happened."
"Yeah".
"Let's go Tora."
Adam placed his head on the pillow and changed his position. Jasmine opened the door.
"Oh… how may I help you?"
A voice with a strong tone responded.
"I come with King Fu, he wants to see how lord Adam is recovering."
Adam made signs to Tora with his hand, and Tora nodded to Jasmine.
"Ok, you can come in."
"Good."
Adam's heart was pounding fast while pretending to sleep on his side.
"Welcome, oh King Fu." He heard.
"Hm… I just wanted to see how young Adam is doing," he noticed that this honeyed voice kept approaching to him, "has he awoken yet?"
"Mm… no but, he has given signs of recovery."
"Good," the loud steps moved away from him, "after he wakes up, can you tell him that I am eager to speak with him? I am very anxious to know about the tragedy that happened to the royal family and their kindred."
"Y-yes… oh King." Tora said.
Adam's throat shrunk.
"And also keep me informed about his recovery."
"As you wish, oh King."
"Good."
The king's steps left the room.
Tora and Jasmine closed the door and exhaled as if they had been holding their breath all this time.
"You heard that, lord Adam?"
Turning his head, Adam nodded.
"Don't worry about me. If we keep a low profile, we will be able to gather more information about his true intentions."
"Please be careful lord Adam." Jasmine pressed her chest.
"I actually have an idea that will give us time to investigate."
"And that is?"
"You will see."
"Alright then, we trust you."