DIATORAN KINGDOM...
"HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?!" Queen Xenia bellowed angrily at the troop of guards standing on either side outside the prison cell at the sight of the two dead guards in the prison cell that held Knight Craig captive a while ago.
Her molten red hair plunged behind her like a waterfall and her eyes had a dangerous hue that gave her a feral look.
The guards stood straight with their hands by themselves and heads bowed.No one dared to raise his head to make eye contact with the furious queen because of fear of what she would do next.
Xenia who was greatly infuriated by the news of Craig's escape-and had instantly killed the informant on the spot was impatiently waiting for an answer, which no guard was willing to speak for fear of their lives.
"If I don't hear an answer in the next five seconds, all of you here will be dead meat, now SPEAK!" Xenia threatened in a dangerously terrifying tone, causing the fear that was already evident in the eyes of all the guards to heighten.
"W..we.. d..don't know what happened here my queen." Bezus, the chief guard finally spoke but one could easily identify the great fear that backed his voice. His head was deeply bowed and his lips quivering."We just heard shrieks and shouts, but when we arrived, the Knight had already escaped leaving behind these dead bodies."
"You mean to tell me that, you allowed Craig to slip right through your fingers? Xenia questioned, still mad.
" Its...Its.."Bezus tried to speak but the Queen cut in.
"It simply means you are incapable of the job given you and therefore I have no use of you any longer."
Bezus' eyes widened like saucers at what Xenia said and right when he prepared himself to take his last breath, someone interfered.
"What's going on here." a deep voice boomed in the dungeon.
A heavily built man in royal clothes emerged from the dark. His aura was equally terrifying and a deep frown clouded his face.
Bezus took a sharp breath, thankful for the interruption that was the reason he was still standing unharmed yet.
"Why are you here, Gael?No one called you here." Xenia said in an irritated voice at the sight of her elder brother.
"I didn't plan to indulge myself in your matters dear sister, but I'm afraid your little commotion disturbed the fun I was having," Gael said looking at her sister in the eye with a sharp gaze.
"What's wrong this time around? Did you lose your gold ring again or did the chief guard fail to bring your gown on time? Which one is it?" Gael said nonchalantly, without a care in the world. His eyes held mirth as he spoke.
Xenia threw her brother a sharp glare. He was simply adding to her anger and his presence alone annoyed her.
"You are not needed here.Leave."
"By the looks of things I'm convinced you very much need my help. I heard your pet boy ran away."
"It's nothing you should concern yourself with. I told you to leave this instant. It's my command as your queen."
"As if I ever obey them, unless of course as a show to the people in public. You know I never obey anything you say. Don't waste your breath."
A deep frown registered on Xenia's face. She parted her lips to speak but Gael was quicker.
"Instead of wasting time questioning these incompetent guards of yours. Call for your loyal knights to go in search of him. The castle is huge. He might not have gotten that far."
On second thought, Xenia ordered the chief guard.
"Fetch the royal knights now."
Bezus bowed and hurried off to do what he was asked.
"Now you brats, go sound the warning bells and alert every guard in the palace to find Craig now, dead or alive." Gael was the one to give the instruction this time in an authoritarian voice.
"What do you mean by dead or alive?" Xenia snapped."I want him alive."
"Oh dear sis, apologies. I forgot he is your little pet boy and you would definitely want to spend more time with him." Gael said in a mocking tone which irked Xenia, earning him a hot glare from her.
He ignored her sharp gaze and turned to the guards.
"You heard your queen, now go."
The guards bowed and rushed off leaving the two siblings behind.
"Tsk, tsk...Xenia, why do you bother yourself so much? If only you had left matters for me to handle in the first place, things would not get this bad you see."
"I'm very apt in handling matters of this kingdom myself. I'm sorry but I don't need my stupid brother meddling in my issues."Xenia deadpanned.
" Stupid you say, you let Craig slip through your fingers knowing how competent, dangerous, and how much of a threat he is to your reign as the queen in this kingdom and you stand there and call me stupid? I pity you, Xenia."Gael said with a look of disdain and walked out of the dungeon.
---
In the throne room, nine gallant knights in suits of metal plate armor with red robes stood intrepidly in front of queen Xenia. They were the nine loyal knights of the king whom Xenia had succeeded in compelling to do her bidding against their will except for one-Craig Wayne.
They were under a great force of compulsion cast on them by the queen.
"Sir Craig has escaped from the dungeon where he was held captive. As your queen, I command you to go out in search of him. Capture him and bring him to me alive. Do not return till he's found. Now go." Xenia commanded and the knights bowed and responded in unison,
"Yes, my queen."
They turned and left the throne room.
A/N:This book is participating in the WSA 2022. Support this book with your precious votes and comments.
~love😍
Jane_Nana