Just as Lord Zhai said, the next day we left Troy through a secret passage. He took us to the secret passage that extended from the palace out of Troy himself.
"I've never let anyone know about this passage." Lord Zhai spoke to us.
"Then why did you bring us here?" I asked.
"Because we have the same goal. It'd take quite the time before you betray me." He responded.
"Hmph. I see." I said. "So, you're telling me that you don't trust even your servants?" I asked.
"Princess Naya, check most fallen kings and queens, they trusted her crown guard with every little detail about them." He responded.
"You're quite the mysterious one Lord Zhai. But does this add up to nobody in your kingdom ever set their eyes on your child? No one even knows your child's gender, neither do they know what the child looks like." Dolores said.
"It's left for me to decide who knows and does not know my family." He responded.
"Do they even live in Troy?" I asked.
"That doesn't exactly matter Princess Naya. Now if you must leave." He said and bowed slightly.
"Of course. Thank you very much Lord Zhai Zumar of Troy. I do appreciate your hospitality towards my companions and me. I will not forget our alliance." I said in respect.
"Neither will I. But only if it's worth keeping in memory. If you understand what I mean." Lord Zhai responded.
"I will never cross you if that's what you mean," I responded and Lord Zhai nodded.
"Okay, it's time Naya. We can't spend much time here." Dolores said.
The three of us left and did not even look back for a moment.
"Once United but destroyed. All our lands might fall apart if we don't fix what's broken. Tapita tal tee tan." I sang on my horse as we journeyed.
"Where did you learn to sing that song?" Dolores asked.
"Back in Damitro, I worked at the tavern to make extra money. We heard stories of the fallen empire, the golden empire. Not historically though. Perril knew just a little and so we only heard of the little. Talus forged the song or maybe he said the truth about it being a historical song. I always asked my mom, Mara, about it but she never wanted me to know about the story. She never admitted it was real." I said and sighed. "I miss them. Mother, Perril, Talus, and the others." I added and sighed again but this time with a sad smile.
"You made the right decision. I'm sure Mara knew that as well." Dolores said. "Once United but destroyed. All our lands might fall apart if we don't fix what's broken. Tapita tal tee tan." she smiled sadly. "I'm sure Ka... Ta... Tal... Talus, yes Talus. I'm sure he forged it but, Tapita tal tee tan is an old tongue of the golden empire." Dolores added.
"Really? What does it mean? Wait... Hold on. Tapita." I said as I recalled my discussion with Lord Zhai. "The golden empire was once called Tapita." I said.
"Mhmm. Did you also learn that at the tavern?" Dolores asked.
"No. What does tal tee tan mean?" I asked.
"Tapita tal tee tan in the old tongue means Tapita the fallen empire." Tyril responded.
"I didn't expect a cold man like you to interfere in our conversations. That's new." Dolores said to Tyril but Tyril neither responded nor smiled.
"Tapita the fallen empire? That's too mean of Talus." I muttered.
"Do you want me to tell you about Tapita?" Dolores asked.
"No. Lord Zhai already did." I replied.
"He did?!" Dolores said in surprise and quickly halted her horse. "What did he tell you? Hurry up and tell me, I need to make sure he only told you the truth."
"Lord Zhai is known for various negative attitudes but lying or defamation of Kings, Queens, or their Kingdoms has never been heard of him." Tyril said.
"Right." Dolores said.
"I presume our next stop is Zago?" I asked.
"Mhm." Dolores nodded. "The last of the Kingdoms we have to visit." She added.
"Anything we need to worry about?" I asked.
"No. The King of Zago, King Matte is a coward. I'm sure it won't take much energy to get him on our side. I mean if we could get the high and mighty Lord Zhai Zumar on our side, then there is nothing we cannot do." Dolores assured us but Tyril objected.
"I don't think it'll be as easy as you see it." He spoke gently.
"Why?"
"King Matte is indeed a coward, Your highness but not just any coward. Stories have it that he is entirely subservient to King Stefan. He's nothing but his puppet and a loyal one." Tyril said.
"Cowards don't stay loyal to just one master forever you know. All we have to do is find out what he cowers at the most and we'll shut him up before Stefan." Dolores said.
In Devon, King Matte stood before King Stefan, shivering like the coward he indeed was. King Stefan had his dangerous glare piercing his very soul. Though King Matte was dressed in his full regalia which did not exempt his crown, he still looked very stupid before King Stefan whom he thought of as his god.
"I should have always known Lord Zhai. I knew he'd double-cross me without batting an eye." King Stefan sighed in defeat. He was leaning against his throne in a sunken manner.
"I... I'm... I'm sorry... You... Your Majesty." King Matte said in a stuttering manner.
"Sorry for what? Were you a party to his plans?" King Stefan asked King Matte.
"N... No, Your Majesty. You know I could never have done such a courageous thing against you."
King Stefan observed King Matte for a while and scoffed. "I'd never even think you can ever be capable of such. You lack even the tiniest courage." He sighed again then sat up this time. "Matte, I need you to do something for me, can you?"
"I'll do anything for Your Majesty." Matte responded.
"From my calculations, their next stop is definitely in your Kingdom. You must keep your ears very close to the ground and hand them over as soon as their feet step into Zago. And I want them alive, especially the girl."
"Yes, your Majesty. I'll do as you have instructed."
"Fetch me, my crown guard, on your way out."
King Matte left and just as soon, his crown guard entered.
"Have you verified the authenticity of the information on Mara?" King Stefan asked.
"Yes, Your Majesty. In a short while, my men will be here with Mara as our fugitive." He assured King Stefan who smiled complacently but wickedly...