King Cyrus emerged from the carriage and stepped down. A red carpet had been placed for him to walk upon and he walked a few steps forward and stopped.
Sebastian stood rooted to the spot. Norman had been right. He could be passed as the King's double. They had the same strong jaw and high cheekbones, deep set eyes and dark hair. If one didn't knew better, they would say he was a brother to the King.
"That Norman was right",he whispered to Nicklaus. "I do look like the King".
Nicklaus felt like dying. Tension tied a knot in his guts and he felt like just leaving the premises. But it was too late. Leaving now would draw the King's attention to them and it would be disrespectful to leave when he was just about to speak. He decided not to say a word while he prayed inwardly to all the gods he knew for the King not to notice them.
"It has come to my notice",King Cyrus began without preamble. His voice echoed in the quiet arena. "That a rumor has been circulating. A rumor about my difficulty in choosing your next heir".
A hushed whisper went through the crowd.
King Cyrus paused. He looked round the crowd of people and continued.
"Whoever spread those rumors are liars, and enemies to the Kingdom",he said. "Such liars should be caught and punished. That's why I have come here to make it clear".
There was another pause.
"At the right time to come, I shall choose the rightful heir to the throne. The crown Princes shall go through special kingly trainings. And the exceptional of it all shall be the right heir".
There was a roar of applause as the people cheered. King Cyrus smiled at them all, his head held up with pride. He loved the applause and ovations because it made him feel fulfilled. It showed that the people were happy to have him as their King.
"Do not cast your ears to malicious gossips",he continued. "They will only poison your mind. There shall be a celebration at the castle. And all are welcome".
The applause thundered and King Cyrus smiled smugly. He turned to enter his carriage when a woman's cry stopped him.
"Have mercy, Your Majesty",the woman cried out and the noise of the crowd died down instantly. All eyes turned towards the old haggard woman who was on her knees and crawling towards the carriage. The guards stopped her from moving closer to the King.
King Cyrus turned around and faced the woman.
"What do you want woman?",he asked.
"My daughter",the woman cried. "She was imprisoned by the royal guards. I beg of you, spare her life. She is my only child".
"And what crime did your daughter commit?",King Cyrus asked as he stared down at the woman.
The woman gulped. She wrung her wrist nervously and looked down. She was obviously embarrassed to say the crime her daughter committed.
"ANSWER THE KING PEASANT!",one of the armed guards roared at her.
The woman flinched and tears spilled down her eyes.
"She was caught in bed with crown Prince Ferdinand",she said and wept bitterly.
The crowd let out a shout of surprise. For a peasant to have a relationship with the royal family was a taboo. Not to talk of the first crown Prince Ferdinand. They began to whisper within themselves, throwing furtive glances at the woman.
King Cyrus felt his anger mounting and he glared at the woman.
"Do you know the penalty for what you just said? Your daughter should be killed for trying to seduce the crown Prince",he said in a dangerous low voice.
The woman shook her head without thinking.
"My daughter didn't seduce the Prince. He forced himself on her".
The crowd went wild. People shouted in shock at the audacity of the woman.
Slap!
The harsh sound of a slap rang out as King Cyrus backhanded the woman. The woman sprawled on the ground, holding her face and screaming in pain. The crowd hushed immediately, eyes casted down. Everyone knew and was terrified of the fiery temper of the King. No one wanted to be at the receiving end of his rage.
"You dare accuse my son of forcing himself on your worthless daughter?",King Cyrus asked coldly, his pale blue eyes alight with fire. "How dare you?".
Slap!
Another harsh slap landed on the woman's face and she collapsed on the ground. Her lip was split and bleeding and the side of her face was totally red.
Sebastian felt his blood boiling. That woman was getting punished for the truth. He knew the rumors of the Princes. How they chased innocent girls and sneaked loose women into the castle. He was sure the said Prince Ferdinand had forced himself on the poor girl that was now imprisoned for a crime she didn't commit. He felt his rage mount as the King landed another slap on the woman and she cried out. He looked around. Nobody ventured out to help the old woman. If this was how they behaved, then it was terrible.
"That woman will die if the King doesn't stop",he whispered to Nicklaus.
"You can't do anything about it Sebastian",Nicklaus whispered back. "She is being punished for accusing the crown Prince".
"But we all know the woman speaks the truth",Sebastian whispered in argument. "We heard the stories of how the Princes molested innocent girls".
"Mind what you say Sebastian", Nicklaus chided him softly. "You don't want to be punished for blasphemy".
"I have to help her",Sebastian said.
"Sebastian please",Nicklaus pleaded. "I know we always fight for what's right but not this time. This is the King!".
"I can't stay back and do nothing".
"Sebastian no...". It was too late. Sebastian was already pushing through the crowd and heading towards the front. Nicklaus felt his heart drop and began to pound wildly. Sebastian was going to get himself killed and it was all his fault.
King Cyrus was about to land another slap on the half-conscious woman again when someone stepped in front of him. His rage filled eyes snapped up, furious at whoever dared to come before him. And then he stilled.
"Your Majesty",Sebastian said and bowed deeply at the King. People began to whisper, some wondering at the guts the young man had while some looked on in shock at the sharp resemblance between the young man and the King.
"Your Majesty I beg you",Sebastian continued with his head still bowed. "Have mercy on this woman. She is clearly distraught and knows not what she says".
"How dare you come before His Majesty, the King?",one of the guards challenged him. He drew his sword and was about to strike Sebastian when King Cyrus held a hand up to stop him.
King Cyrus looked like he had seen a ghost. His eyes were fixated on the young man kneeling before him. He didn't know why but the moment he looked into his eyes, he suddenly remembered Evaleen. His first love. Could this be a relative of hers?
"Rise boy",he said in a hard tone. People gasped and whispered within themselves as Sebastian rose from his knees and stood before the King with his head bowed. The woman whimpered on the ground, afraid to look up at her savior.
"Why do you help this woman?",King Cyrus asked. "Do you know the penalty of what you've just done?".
Nicklaus began to edge towards the front of the crowd. He needed to be ready incase Sebastian needed help.
"Forgive me Your Majesty",Sebastian said. "I do not know this woman. And I wouldn't help her because she spoke against the Princes". It angered him to admit to the woman's wrong doings when he knew she was right. "I only plead for her life because she is clearly distraught. The pain of her daughter's imprisonment must have consumed her and she has no idea what she's saying. She's old and weak. I'm sure she meant no harm".
There was utter silence after Sebastian's speech. Nicklaus was sure Sebastian just put himself in harm's way by helping the woman.
Through out Sebastian's speech, King Cyrus didn't take his eyes off him. He needed to know who he was.
"Who are you?",he asked.
"Your Majesty",Sebastian said. "I am Sebastian Roberts".
"And your parents?",King Cyrus asked, wanting to hear that he was related to Evaleen.
Sebastian paused before he spoke. Something within him told him that he shouldn't disclose the name of his mother. Who knew the motive of the King for asking for his parents?. So he gave the name of Nicklaus' mother instead.
"My father was Carl Roberts",he said. "He died ten years ago. And my mother is Beatrice".
Nicklaus snapped his head upwards when he heard Sebastian. What was he thinking, lying to the King? He just kept making everything worse. If the King decided to find out the truth of his words, it was all over for them.
King Cyrus felt the disappointment hit him hard. A part of him wished the boy had been related somehow to Evaleen. He was tempted to ask but he couldn't. He couldn't be seen asking after another woman. And most of the guards here knew Evaleen was his mistress. If he asked, another rumor would begin.
"You have courage boy",Cyrus said. "To stand before the King and plead for this woman's life".
"I mean you no disrespect Your Majesty",Sebastian said and bowed again. "Forgive me".
King Cyrus stared at him for a while and then turned abruptly towards the carriage. Without another word, he got in and the door was shut. The armed guards got into formation as the carriage was pulled away and they marched behind it while the guards on horseback marched in front of it.
Sebastian watched the carriage depart with a strange expression. Why did the King stare at him that way? Did he also notice the resemblance? A thousand and one questions flew through his mind without answers.
The crowd began to disperse and go their separate ways. They still threw sharp glances at Sebastian, wondering how he was able to stand before the King and not get punished. They marvelled at his boldness and right there, the gossip started. They painted it and made it look like Sebastian had challenged the King and gotten away with it.
"What on earth did you think you were doing?",Nicklaus asked as he marched towards Sebastian.
"Not now Nicklaus",Sebastian said and turned away. "Let's just go home". He whistled for Thunder and the stallion came trotting over to him. Without another word, he leaped up Thunder's back and headed for home. Nicklaus had no choice but to follow him.
Among the crowd of peasants that just dispersed, two figures stood by a corner, staring at Sebastian as he galloped away. They were dressed in faded clothes, blending in with the crowd. When Sebastian was out of sight, they turned and walked into a street without looking back.