As his eyes slowly opened, the chief's gaze scanned his surroundings, but everything remained hazy. He struggled to focus, his mind foggy. Suddenly, he realized they were surrounded, and he felt the constraints of tight bindings. Smith's urgent voice pierced the air: "Chief, wake up! Chief, wake up!"
The chief's vision began to clear, and he saw Smith's worried face hovering above him. He tried to speak, but his dry throat only managed a faint croak. Smith's eyes locked onto his, and he nodded encouragingly. "We're going to get out of this, Chief. Just hang in there."
With a surge of determination, the chief strained against his restraints, but they held fast. He glared at their captors, his mind racing with strategies for escape.
The chief's ears picked up a low, menacing voice, echoing in his mind. "Don't even think about escaping. You'll only bring harm to yourself and your kin. It's a bad omen to spy on our ritual. Did the king send you? He should know better than to meddle in affairs he doesn't understand."
The chief's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with the implications. He recognized the tone - it was the same voice that had haunted his dreams, the same voice that seemed to know his deepest fears. He struggled against his restraints, but they only seemed to tighten, as if mocking his attempts at freedom.
The voice continued, its tone dripping with malice. "You should have stayed out of this, Chief. Now, you'll have to face the consequences of your curiosity."
The chief feigned confusion, stalling for time. "Hold up, hold up! I don't know what you're talking about."
The man's eyes narrowed, his grip on his blade tightening. "Don't play dumb, stranger. You're not one of us. Your speech, your clothes - everything about you screams outsider. Are there more like you? What's your plan? Are you here to attack our people? Who's the traitor who's taking you to our city?"
The chief's mind raced as he tried to come up with a convincing story. He knew he had to tread carefully, or risk facing the man's blade. "I...I'm just a traveler," he began, trying to sound as innocent as possible. "I stumbled upon your city by chance. I mean no harm, I swear."
The man's gaze bore into him, searching for any sign of deception. "I'll give you one chance to tell the truth," he growled. "If I find out you're lying, you'll beg for death."
The chief's words were laced with desperation, his eyes pleading for belief. "I'm not lying, I swear! I mean no harm to your people."
For a moment, the man's gaze lingered, searching for any crack in the chief's facade. Then, seemingly satisfied, he turned to one of his cohorts. "Get them water and food. Keep a close eye on them. If they try anything, don't hesitate to act."
The chief let out a silent sigh of relief as the man's grip on his blade relaxed. He felt a wave of vulnerability wash over him, a sensation he hadn't experienced since childhood. His mind raced with thoughts of escape, but for now, he remained at the mercy of his captors.
As the man turned to leave, the chief caught a glimpse of a symbol etched into his forehead - a mark that seemed to pulse with a strange energy. A shiver ran down his spine as he wondered what secrets this place held, and what lay in store for him and his companion.
As the chief and Smith sat in silence, sipping their water and eating their food, the chief's mind wandered to his daughter, Stella. Suddenly, Smith nudged him and whispered to remain quiet. The chief looked up to see Stella standing before him, her eyes shining with excitement and joy. But she didn't approach him, instead, followed clever went to one of the guards and said, " want to see my father. He's inside."
The guard looked confused, "Father, Stella?"
Clever quickly intervened, "Let us go inside, please." Once inside, Clever embraced a man, and they sat down. Stella turned to Clever, "You have a lot of explaining to do!" Clever smiled, "Stella, this is my father. Father, this is Stella, the Queen I told you about."
The chief bowed, but Stella's confusion deepened. "Stand up, please," she said, her voice laced with curiosity. As the chief rose, Stella's eyes widened in astonishment. "You're...you're my father's captor!"
Clever's eyes locked onto his father's, "The men you captured, they rescued the queen when she was just a child and took her home." Clever's father's expression changed from confusion to astonishment, "What?! Guards, call them in immediately!"
The guards hastened to summon Smith and the chief, and as they entered, their faces lit up with joy. Stella's eyes welled up with tears as she rushed to her father, embracing him tightly. "Father!" she whispered, her voice trembling.
The chief's eyes misted as he held his daughter close, "Stella, my dear child...I thought I'd never see you again." Smith smiled, his eyes shining with happiness, as he watched the reunion unfold.
Clever's father's face contorted in a mix of emotions, "I...I had no idea. I thought they were spies." He turned to the chief and Smith, "Please, forgive me. I was blind to the truth."
I have no idea
Clever's father gestured to the drinks, and they all took a refreshing sip. He noticed Stella's confusion and began to explain, "I was your father's personal guard and best friend. When the traitor seized power, I fled with a few loyal guards and we've been hiding among the people of our city, waiting for the right moment to strike back. Then, months ago, my son here" - he nodded towards Clever - "told me he saw you returning, bringing hope back to our people. We're all your loyal subjects, Stella, and we'll work together to overthrow that traitor."
Stella's eyes widened in understanding, and she nodded in agreement. "I don't like him either," she said, her voice firm. "He's been ruling with an iron fist, and our people suffer."
Clever's father smiled, his eyes shining with determination. "Together, we'll bring peace and prosperity back to our city. Your father would be proud, Stella."
Stella bowed her head, her voice laced with sorrow, "I wish I knew him." Clever's smile was warm and encouraging. "Father, it's time." Stella's confusion was evident as she raised her head, "Time for what?"
Clever's father's eyes locked onto hers, his gaze filled with a sense of purpose. "Time to reclaim your rightful place as queen, Stella. Time to take back our city from the traitor's grasp."
Stella's eyes widened, a spark of determination igniting within her. "You mean...we can defeat him?"
Clever's father nodded, his voice firm. "Together, we can. We have the support of the people, and with your leadership, Stella, we'll bring peace and prosperity back to our city."
Watch out for my next chapter
Coming soon