Three days later, thanks to Secily, I can finally move my legs and my back is better. But, I am still sluggish. Secily came to my room every day. Giving me meds, meals, everything. The maids also helped me to change. While I am trying to move and see my body's condition, I hear footsteps outside the door, heavy footsteps of a lot of people. I put back the bed sheet I had removed on me in a hurry. Then, the doors are opened:
"His Majesty the King DIACLASE FLORAS."
After being announced by a knight in armor, an old man enters my room, walking slowly, nonchalantly, like he owns the world. He is wearing a very well designed black coat with a white uniform. His stomach is sticking out so much it could burst from his clothes at any moment. His face is ugly, wrinkles here and there, and grey hair holds by a red and gold crown. He sits on a chair that three butlers had to carry while he was announced.
"So, you are the one that tried to kill my son? You look quite short. Tiny even. And you have managed to kill my friend Kalok with this body? Is that not a joke everyone?" He starts laughing and everybody follows him. "You could have done better you shitty assassin! What kind of sloppy job was that?!"
"Your majesty?"
The butler is surprised to hear the king talking like that. And so am I. Is he disappointed that I didn't kill his son? I see that Demether's speech about the inheritance of the crown is true.
"Assassins nowadays don't even know how to do their job properly. I wonder who trained you like that. Can you tell me?" When he asks, two knights come near me and point their spears to my face. So it was not a question but an order.
"I think we both know who sent me since it is the same person that brought me here." I will put all this on Veronica, serve her right!
"I see, Veronica will have some explanations to give then. Attempting murder without my consent cannot be tolerated. Or else it could be my turn at any moment. Very well, you will be executed in two hours, the time for me to talk with the head of the Grandcross about women and fine wine. Let's go."
As soon as he stands up, everybody starts moving. The butlers remove the chair, the knights formed two lines, and the king walks away as he came.
***
One hour later, the window of my room opens out of nowhere. I look at it for about one minute then I remember I must run away. I jump from the bed and go to the window. When I look down, there is a ravine. You can't even see the bottom, it is dark. But, on the window, there is rope and a claw. No need to think twice. I start climbing down.
After roughly fifteen minutes, I have a hard time holding the rope. I am still not in top condition. But now, at least, I can see the bottom of the ravine, there is a forest. That rope was really long to allow me to reach so far. As soon as I touch the ground, the rope loses all tension. It is weird. When I look up, it looks like the rope is falling. No, IT IS FALLING. The rope and the claw fall near me with a thud sound. That rope was really, really long. It takes about ten minutes to wrap it up.
When I look around, I only see trees everywhere, but then, among the trees, I see something shining in the darkness, I approach slowly. We never know. But it was just a mirror reflecting the sunlight. No, not just mirror, there is a bag attached to it. Inside the bag, I find food, water, a gold bracelet with a yellow gem the size of a lemon in the middle, another one with a needle inside it, and a note. First thing first, I start by eating the food. There is bread, cheese, smashed mushrooms. Things that will last. While I eat, I read the note inside the bag.
'KEVIN, IF YOU FIND THIS NOTE THEN IT MEANS THE FIRST STEP OF YOUR EVASION IS COMPLETE WITHOUT TROUBLE. ONCE AGAIN, I AM SORRY FOR WHAT IS HAPPENING. WE LEFT YOU SOME FOOD AND DRINKS TO LAST UNTIL YOU REACH THE FRONTIER. THERE IS A BRACELET WITH A COMPASS ON IT.'
So this transparent one with the black and red needle inside is a compass? Okay.
'FOLLOW THE EAST INDICATED BY THE COMPASS AND YOU WILL REACH THE FRONTIER WITH TITANIUM IN THREE DAYS IF YOU HURRY. DO NOT LET YOUR GUARD DOWN AT ANY MOMENT UNTIL YOU DO. THE OTHER BRACELET IS A GIFT FROM ME. I WAS TOLD YOU CAN'T USE ANGAS YET. WHEN YOU WILL, JUST INJECT IT INTO THIS BRACELET. I AM SURE YOU WILL BE PLEASED. I WISH YOU LUCK. MAY THE STARS BE MORE CLEMENT TO YOU THAN THIS WORLD IS.'
Well, now I am sure of it. This is from Demether. Surely his butler has arranged all this. As he said, I should move. They must have started looking for me in the mansion. I put the bracelet with a compass on my hand and start walking like I was told. To the east.