#12: The Bad Fortune
Bithen
Camp Tent-Lord Commander
Geryon smiled as he read the letter sent by the raven. "How disgusting it is to watch a huge man like you smile while reading a letter", Nymeria commented while preparing his meal. "You are quite rude for a servant. You are in the grace of Gilbert. If you weren't his woman, you'd be a feast to the soldiers", Geryon sighed and placed the letter on the table. He was amused that the King is expecting a son. Gilbert entered the tent wearing soldier clothes. "Why am I going to join the war? I was sent to Oneison as a prisoner. If the Captain learns about this, he will totally break his oath with the Middle Kingdom", Gilbert tried to negotiate. "So, you would like to go back to that fishy palace? The Oneison already broke their oath when they declared war against Oneison", Geryon calmly explained. "Once you win the war, what are you going to do with the rest of them?", Gilbert looked at Nymeria. "His Grace commanded not to leave one pirate alive. He doesn't want a weed growing on the south because we spared one life", Geryon said without looking at the young man. "And you agreed with that?", Gilbert stepped forward. "Easy, young man. I am not here as a regular soldier. I am the Kingsguard. The King risked his own safety for the sake of winning the war. He is the King I wish to follow", Geryon stood up. "What happened to your values, Sir Geryon?", Gilbert pressed his lips together.
"We caught some women from the boundaries using the well. What are we supposed to do with them?". One soldier came and reported. The three of them followed where the soldier led them. Nymeria covered her mouth in order to stop her from throwing up. The ladies were cut open from top to bottom. "Who did this?" Gilbert clenched his fist. "Who is this young man who dares to question our capital punishment?", Derio tilted his head and studied his feature. "He is just an apprentice of mine. Put this corpse away", Geryon couldn't also stand the gruesome act. "And what did these women do for them to receive capital punishment?", Gilbert protested. "They breached the boundaries of Bithen and Oneison. That is a capital crime young man", Derio furrowed his brow. He was more than convinced that there was something unusual with the lad. "They need a proper burial. It wasn't just", Gilbert spoke out loud. "I really can no longer stand this twat", Hick, the second in command of the Bithen army stepped out of the crowd and pulled Gilbert by the collar. He has deep brown eyes and long curly auburn hair reaching till his collar bone. "Let me teach this young man a lesson", Hick dragged him on the crowd. "Gilbert", Nymeria was about to follow when Geryon blocked the way. "He won't hurt him", Geryon assured.
Hick's Tent
Hick threw a bag of rum at the young man. "I don't drink", Gilbert stared at the bag and back to the pretty-looking man. "Do you know how to sing?", Hick sat on his chair. "I am not an entertainer", Gilbert answered in irritation. He doesn't understand why a high-rank soldier would drag him from the crowd. "If you have nothing else to say, I have to take my leave", Gilbert turned his back from Hick. A dagger came flying passing through Gilbert. The dagger got stuck on the post. "One touch of that then you'd be squirming like a child. It was dipped in venom that I collected from vicious snakes"; Hick informed. He didn't sound like lying. Gilbert gulped and turned to face him once again. "What do you want?", Gilbert looked at pair of amused brown eyes. "You have emerald gems. Do you know what they usually say about emerald gems?', Hick stood up and walked closer to the man.
"Though it passes through the burning flames, it wilts not melt. Though it gets pound by thousands of hammers, it wilts not bend", Hick whispered in an unknown tongue to Gilbert. "I don't understand Bithen's native tongue", Gilbert moved away from Hick who seems to be emitting unusual interest in him. "I am interested in women. I have my lover with me", Gilbert seems to misunderstand his actions. Hick laughed aloud. "You will be serving under my troupe. I will make sure you stand next to me", Hick winked. Gilbert rightly stormed away from the tent.
He bumped into Nymeria who was dead worried about what they could have done to him. "Did they do anything to you?", Nymeria checked on him. Gilbert suddenly realized how much Nymeria had been treating him nicely. She had sharp tongue but she went to the extreme to attend to his safety. "I'm fine. He just discussed the change of troupes", Gilbert faked a smile to ease the lady. "I already stole a map from that stinky giant. We can leave this dawn", Nymeria whispered. Gilbert was just silent. "Are you already tired of running?", Nymeria noticed the uninterested aura from him. "My lady, I've caused you much trouble. I have nothing to repay your kindness. You had always saved me from damnation. If you continue to be with me, your life will just be in ruins. I cannot be the person who will be able to show you the whole Land", Gilbert bowed low. Nymeria hit his head with the map she stole. "Once the war is done, what do you plan on doing if you return alive?', Nymeria asked. Gilbert was dumbfounded by such a question. "You are a man with no sense of direction. I will be your compass", Nymeria flicked his forehead.
Andor
Inner Forest
Zefania saw animals gathering around together with the huge cat. The former Kraljica's tiger was just lying down in the center. Zefania tried to move closer but it hissed like a cat. The lady gulped and just sat in the distance having eye contact with the tiger. "I was looking for you all over the Palace. Why have you come here?", Keane sighed and stood beside the Kraljica. "What do they do with women who couldn't bear the King's son?", Zefania was curious. "They fed them to the beast", Keane answered. Zefania felt cold wind passing through her spine. "You really like to tease me a lot", the lady turned to look at Keanne but his eyes weren't laughing. "Kraljica, do you know? Andorians have a long history of human sacrifices. Do you have any idea to whom they give these human sacrifices?", Keane suddenly had a dark turn in the conversation.
"Time for supper", the two heard a familiar voice. Keane's aura suddenly changed. "Of course, Kralj. We don't like the Kraljica to starve to death. You still have to give us a Kralj-to-be", Keanne bowed then left the two.
They walked next to each other. "You disrupted our conversation because you were hiding something from me. I am no longer the young child that was brought into this Palace. I demand to know whatever this Kingdom knows", Zefania stopped walking. Zakili continued walking ignoring the 15-year-old young lady. Zefania's childish self burst out. She pulled Zakili's sleeves and directed him to a position where he can see her. "The food is waiting for us", Zakili said in a calm voice. Zefania was flustered for not being paid attention to. She lets go of the Kralj's sleeves and walked the opposite way. "I am not hungry. I will be in my room", Zefania held her tears. She doesn't want to get slapped again.
The young lady stayed late until midnight. Her stomach growled for not eating supper. She stood up and held the torch. She peeked outside to see if Keane is up to his schemes again but he wasn't there. She heard some howling and loud noises. The same noise she heard during those sleepless nights she had before. Keane said that it was just the wolves and some soldiers having midnight training.
Dungeon
Zefania followed the noise and ended up in the dungeon. She wasn't informed that there was a place as such hidden in the castle. It was pitch black and she couldn't see anything. She went closer and tried to use her torch. The whole gate was fenced with gold thick bars. She was awed by the majestic huge gate. She was about to step closer when her torch was grabbed by someone inside the gate. Zefania was pushed to the ground because of brute strength. "Who dares to push the Kraljica?", Zefania looked up and her eyes widened. Her scream echoed in the cave-like dungeon. Strong hands pulled her up and covered her in his robe.
"You are an obedient woman. Why did you choose to defy this one order", Zakili bit his lip and felt the trembling of his wife. She was holding tight to him that she doesn't want to let go. Zefania felt weak on her knees and knelt down. "Stand up"¸Zakili commanded. "I can't. My knees are-", Zefania was about to cry when Zakili knelt down as well and cupped her face. "What have I told you about crying?", Zakili put up such a strong face. He carried the young lady in his arms and took a different route heading back to the Palace.
King's Room
Keane was checking on some books inside Zakili's room. The door opened with Zakili carrying Zefenia with him. "What happened?", Keane asked while watching the lady still trembling in fear. "Bring me some nightshade and tea", Zakili asked the worried man. "They are the Child-ren of the Lost you were refer-ring to?", Zefania managed to talk with her voice cracking. "I see, you saw them", Keanne sighed and walked towards Zakili and Zefania. "I saw one. Just- one", Zefania covered her mouth in order not to throw up. "Hurry up", Zakili couldn't look into Keane's eyes. How dare he order his older brother? He just doesn't want him to say more of what had been seen.
"And you will be the mother of hundreds of what you have seen", Keane passed through them. Zakili put Zefania down and landed a punch on Keane's face. The lady was startled and looked around to see if someone saw it. Keane wiped the blood from his mouth and returned a punch to Zakili. "What are you doing?!", Zefania shouted. The Kraljica's loyal guard also landed a punch on Zakili. "Why do you have to tell her?", Zakili roared. "Until when are you going to hide the truth from her? If she won't know it before she bears your child, she will suffer more when she understood that those creatures are the ones who will decide who will be the next Kralj", Keane kicked Zakili. Keane had Zakili pinned on the wall. The Kralj closed his eyes.
He knew that Keane couldn't be stopped once he drew his sword. He was conditioned to thrust the sword once it is already in his hand. He was about to stab the sword at Zakili when Zefania hugged Keane's arm. "Please, stop this already", she begged and cried. Keane's hand was being drawn to pierce the sword on Zakili's chest. He got a bloodlust smile painted on his face. "Keane!", Zefania shouted once more. Keane suddenly went back to his senses and dropped the sword. He lets go of Zakili and covered his face. His head feels like breaking into pieces. Zefania hugged the man's head and then patted his back. "It's okay Keane. I'm fine", Zefania had tears in her eyes. He felt a certain comfort and peace hearing her voice.
Zakili wiped the blood from his mouth. He coughed and went to fill his cup with wine. "The wine will feel sour on your wounds", Zefania looked at him. "She is the one we all have been looking for. She is the mother of the Children", Keane raised his head and then met his eyes with Zakili. Keane stood up and left the room.
"You can go to your own room. I cannot comfort you or even wipe your tears from what you saw a while ago", Zakili looked away. Zefania walked towards the man and slapped his face. The Kralj was surprised by her bold action. "When I saw that thing, I didn't cry. I did my best to be strong in front of you. I cried because you were about to die a while ago!", Zefania shouted with her hands clenched. Zakili was lost for words to say. "You couldn't stand a chance to Keane. He is a strong soldier. You spent your time reading scrolls. Never die, no matter what. I don't care about being the mother of the Children of the Lost but never die trying to protect me from them", Zefania cried more and wiped her tears. Zakili hesitated to hug the woman but he did anyway. "Aren't you going to answer me?", Zefania hugged him back. She felt Zakili nodding his head.
Keane's Room
The old man sneaked into his room. "You will be hanged for threatening the King but I will have to let you loose for telling the young lady", Nova clapped his hand. "Once the baby gets rejected, I won't hesitate to kill all of the children of the lost before they even touch her child", Keanne said with dead serious eyes. "I will not allow you. The Children of the Lost are our greatest treasure", the old man knows that Andor is feared because of his unknown power.
Chapter end.