The taxi driver came to a screeching halt and parked the car at the entrance of the hotel. "20 Shillings," said the Taxi driver. Philippe took out a bill and handed it over to the taxi driver. "Thank you," said the driver. Philippe then opens the door and enters the hotel. It is quite good, he thought to himself. There were around 15 odd steps which Philippe strides over and heads over to the reception. There was a young lady at the desk. The young lady remains seated, "May I help you sir?" she asked him. "Yes, of course," replied Philippe. He reaches over to his pocket, takes a piece of paper given to him by Alex, and hands it over to the receptionist. She glances over at the paper. Picks up a key and hands it over to Philippe. "Room 106," she said. "Thank you," said Philippe. "Just the bag sir?" she asked him. "Yes, I carry light," remarked Philippe. He smiles and walks over to the staircase, overlooking the elevator. He walks up the stairs, opens the room marked 106, and enters it. "Not a big room, he uttered" but it will do the job. He opens the curtains and looks over the street. Philippe lights his pipe. Not too many people at this time of the hour At the same time, Atticus draws the curtains. As Atticus draws the curtains, the doorbell rings. That must be Anna, he walks over to the door and opens it. He opens the door and lets her in. She closes the door behind her and hugs him. Atticus hugs her tightly for a good few seconds. She looks up at him, "It is quite shocking, what happened over there" "And that too to Chris" she said. Atticus slowly moves away from Anna and sits on the chair in his apartment. The whisky by his desk. "A Drink?" he asks her. "No thank you" she replied Atticus then goes on to pour a drink for himself. "To my friend Chris," he toasts. "Are the police any close to finding out who it was?" asked Anna. "No, not at all. They seem to be getting far away every day from the closure," replied Atticus. "Now that the bosses are involved because of the fleets that have gone missing. Things are about to get messy." he further added. "Are you in trouble Atticus?" asked Anna worriedly. "No, I'm not in any trouble. I have just been given leave with pay for a couple of months till these things smooth over" he replied. And what about Chris? Anna asked him. Will they find out who killed him? she asked him. "Yes, I sure do hope so" replied Atticus. "I have given them all the information I know and that's that! Let us see what happens" he further added. "And his parents?" asked Anna. "Do they know what has happened to their son?" "No, I do not think so." "Think it has been a couple of years since he last spoke to them. And I think the police would eventually get to them and tell them what has transpired" replied Atticus. "It's all so strange," Anna said. "Yes, yes" replied Atticus. "Very strange of course" Far away in the Forests Darticus enters his house. Keeps his armor on the side and seats himself on the chair. Darticus then walks out to the round of chairs where people were seated outside his home. The elders and the important people all sat there. The people are already in deep discussion, and he then seats himself at the chair in the center! "What will be the fate of the kingdom?" The elder man asks. "There is no heir to the kingdom?" "What will happen to the people and the lands." "The king will be succeeded by a nephew" replied the other elder men seated there. "Anyway, the rule of the king will be there for another 10 to 15 years at least." "He is not on his deathbed," said Rylo. Rylo was the counsel and army general of Darticus. Rylo also was the son of the elder man of the tribe. "Yes, 10 years is a short time, when you have lived long enough as me. You know it is short. Then what? what is to become? Will the successor be as just as the king?" replied the elder. "Just as the king," laughed Rylo. "Maybe eons ago he was a just man. But he has been slipping to the edge recently." Rylo added. "Yes, that may be so, said Rylo's father. "But the most just king we have seen in over 500 years. King Maximus," he said with an old man's pride! "We have been given our separate land and rule Rylo. We cannot expect the same from the next king" said the Elder. All the people remained silent. Darticus too remained silent. The elder man continued to speak "After his death, there will be instability and the most affected of everyone will be us. We should expect war." "War?" Rylo responded? "The days of Maximus are gone, but they still boast of an army 10 times larger than ours or anyone in the lands" said a few men! "We shall not plan for war," Rylo said with a firm hand. "There will be war. Raised a voice from the center. There always was, and there always will be when a king takes over from another. Do not be naive Rylo" said the chief "I'm not being naïve chief," "Do you expect us to win over them at war?" asked Rylo. Darticus looks over at Rylo "No I do not expect us to win. but I expect us to be prepared. It may be after 10 years, it could be next week. But I want us to be prepared" said Darticus and that was to be the final decision. The elder man agreed in unison. "We have to form allies with all the people of the forests, the ones who are our enemies. We have to get them on our side. We need everyone on our side. All the people of the forests we need on our side" said the commanding Darticus "Yes chief," replied Rylo with a hint of hesitation. "Rylo, take a few of our men and start forming allies. Start with the ones that are friendly with us" ordered Darticus! "I shall come with you," said Rylo's father. "If that is okay with you King Darticus!" he said looking for approval from the king. Darticus did not hesitate for a moment and agreed at once. "That shall be for the best, he proclaimed." "We shall then set early morning tomorrow, said the father!" "Yes, let that be," said Darticus "To our lands," said the people seated there "To our lands," said the King.