(Nathan POV or is it KIZEN POV)
(Dangle your feet in the water to attract the sharks. Huh ... hahahahahahahahahaha. I would have never thought about that. Even when she told me about the Idea, I still could not guess the details. Now that I think about it is quiet effective but ...…...)
"Why the hell am I the one dangling my feet in the water" I vociferated.
"Because you are the perfect bait. Now can you please not shout or else the plan will all be for naught" I heard Cecilia's whisper
"Huh" I sighed.
The plan we had was quite simple. I would act as a bait for the spy. If a spy had really infiltrated our city then he would definitely take the bait. I mean it would be really idiotic of him not to strike down the king when he can. So acting on the plan, all my guards left me and I removed all my weapons. I sent the soldier distributing the food on another errand and I myself started to distribute the food. Now by the looks of it, I was a caring king that cared for his subjects a little too much and was trying to give them food while all my guards were on other duties. I had no weapons and I was help-less. But that was just a single side of the picture.
We expected that the spy will take the bait and try to assassinate me because according to the info, I was supposed to be a good for nothing free loader.
"Hey you that's mine" Someone shouted.
I looked in the general direction and saw some hassle.
"What is going on there?" I asked the guy who was next in line to get the food. One thing that I forgot to mention was that the fact that I was the king and was distributing the food had people on edge. They were trying their best to show their finest behaviors.
"S-sire' I think some kind of fight has broken out. Oh it's that boy again. You should not concern your self with this matter your highness. That kid is just a little thief. Totally not worthy of your time."
What he said a stung a bit.
"That decision will be made by me and only me. Do you understand. I will be the judge of whether if its worthy of my time or not." I said a little harshly. The guy did not look like he had ever even seen the capital rather talk to the king. Just that much was enough to make him almost wet his pants.
I put the utensils in my hand and moved towards the crowd.
"Move it," I said and maneuvered my self towards the front of the crowd.
Any who saw me moved towards the side clearing a path for me. I went to the center of the crowd and saw a giant, burly man on top of a kid. The kids arm was twisted and locked behind his back while his face was pressed on the floor by the man's foot. The man was choking the kid by applying pressure to his neck by his foot while his other leg was placed on the kids hip.
"TCH look at this you dog. First you tried to steal it and now its all gone because of you. Neither of us can have it now. Its all your fault. I should kill you right here and now so that you may never be able to steal food again." With that he raised his hand and was about to strike his head.
I looked at the kid and saw something in his eyes that entangled me in web of various thoughts. Something clicked in my mind and before I knew it I was running towards the man. As his hand moved and was about to hit the kid, it was locked in place due to my grip.
"What the hell, let me go you...…." He turned towards me and threw a punch. The punch landed straight on my chest. I fell back. But then he noticed who I was.
"I am sorry my king. It was just a mistake. I did not know that it was your greatness who was holding my arm or would have never hit you. Please spare my life sire I shall ...…."
"I am not going to kill you its fine" I cut him short. "I know that it was a mistake." His eyes became stars and he fell down on the ground
"Oh thank you oh great king. I shall always serve you, I shall always be loyal to you. I will live my whole life for you and my children will always be told the stories about your greatness so that they may serve the kingdom ....."
(CRINGE)
"yeah whatever. Now get up" I ordered. He did as was told
"Tell me, what is going on here" I asked
"Sire this kid is just a little thief. This is his daily routine. He steals food every day. All of the towns folk a tired of his mischiefs. He stole my food today and as I was trying to catch him, all my food fell down and was wasted" he said pointing towards a spot. All the crowd nodded in union.
"Yes he is a thief"
"we are tired of his little plays"
"He should be punished"
Every started shouting
"SILENCE" But a single shout from me was enough to make them all fall silent.
"That is not for you people to decide. I will be the one to decide that." I said "Now clear this crowd this instant" And the people dispersed. I walked towards the man.
"You may have another bowl since yours was wasted"
"Thank you my lord" He bowed. "But what will become of him" He pointed towards the boy who was still sitting there rubbing his neck.
"That is none of your concern. Now come. You as well" I gestured both the man and the boy. They both did as were told.
After giving food to the burly man and listening to all his prayers for my long life and prosperity of the kingdom I finally returned to the boy.
"What are you going to do to me." He asked me. I looked at his face. He was no older than my sister. Maybe even younger. I could not tell his exact age because of his built. The kid was malnourished. His face was dirty and his clothes, ragged. But he had clear black eyes and an innocent expression on his face.
"What is your name?"
"huh?"
"So, I should just call you 'huh'? That is a weird name."
"N-No, no that is not my name. Its Aashok"
"Aashok, that is a nice name'
"Thank you. My mum gave it to me."
"Your mum. She seems like a nice woman"
"She is a really nice woman. She told me every thing I know"
"Good good. I can tell that she is a very educated woman."
"Yes she is a very ......." and he slowly opened up to me. He told me that he and his mother were the residents of a city near the border. Due to the war the city was destroyed and they ran with nothing but their lives. They ran a flower shop and lived a humble life. Not too rich and not too poor.
"So Aashok ... tell me something"
"Yes ??" He said
"Why did you do it"
"Do what?"
"Why are you doing this'
"You mean stealing food" He asked
I did not respond
"I was hungry. So I thought that I would steal some food for myself." He lied blatantly.
"You are lying. I can tell. Someone like you would never stoop so low as stealing just to satisfy his hunger like this. Now, will you enlighten me as to why you really did it." I looked straight in his eyes.
"I-I-I-I-I-I-I it's the truth I can swe ...." I just put a hand on his mouth
"No it is not the truth and you know it."
"I-I-I-It's my mom" He finally said it
"What happened to your mom"
"She is sick and cannot come to get her food. So I have to steal some more If I want to feed the both of us" Tears formed in his eyes
"But you could have just asked more for your mother."
"No one believes me. They say that I am just trying to hog some more food for myself" He wiped his eyes. "but I was never lying. My mum is really sick and I do not have the money to get her a doctor." He was getting more and more emotional.
"okay then let's go" I stood up.
"GO? Go where?" he asked.
"To your house of course."
"W-W-W-WHY ?"
"To see your mother. Now hurry up I don't have all day" And I walked. "I really need you to guide me because I do not know the way to your home."
"AA-A-A-A-A-AR-ARE you really going to help me." He was still unsure.
"Yes Aashok ...….. I am going to help you."
"Thank you ...… really thank you" the dam holding his tears back, bursted.
---------------------------
Aashok took me to a tent.
"Is this where your mother is."
"Yes, this was given to me and my mother. She is inside." He said. I could tell that the kid still could not believe all that was happening.
"I will check your mother and then we will call a doctor" I lifted the curtain and went inside. Someone was laying inside on a rag. I moved closer. I checked the person laying on the floor. I took her hands and checked the pulse. I felt a slight chill on my shoulder.
"Hey Aashok !!!!!!!! You never answered me you know." I said
"What ?" His response was simple enough
"I asked you that why are you doing this"
"And I told you every-thing. All that food was because of my mum." He replied. This time his voice was a bit shaky.
I stood up and turned around.
"I think that at this point you and I both know that I was not talking about the stealing."
Aashok was standing at the entrance holding a crossbow that was pointed towards me.