"Gavin," the king voiced, leaving the ministers murmuring.
"Gavin?," the high priest asked to confirm, but the king didn't respond, so he took his silence as a yes, and began flipping the coins.
The throne room went quiet for another minute, waiting for the high priest.
"Anyone else?," the high priest asked, after staring at the coins for a while.
The king right now was already fuming in rage. He sat up on his throne, glaring at the high priest, and then he voiced.
"You have refused Xander, because of a crime I don't understand. Now, has Gavin committed a crime also?".
"Gavin hasn't committed any crime, but.....
"No but", the king interrupted.
"Gavin is the crown prince and that's final, I have no other son," he spoke with a stern voice
The king spoke so boldly, that no one could oppose him. The ministers were confused and wanted to ask questions, but the atmosphere was deadly.
"Are you taking matters into your hands?," the high priest was the one to question the king.
"Yes. Where do the gods want me to get another? Or don't they want me to have a successor?."
"My king. Sorry to be interrupted , but you have one more son, and as far as I know, he isn't handicapped," one of the ministers bravely aired his thoughts.
"Prince Gavin is the crown prince, and I won't hesitate to crown him," the king said, taking everyone aback.
The ministers stared at each other in anger and confusion, they couldn't tell what was exactly wrong with their king.
The king ordered the servants, and immediately they lifted the platter, carrying a red staff and a glowing crown.
They all knew how fearless he was, but no one knew that it was up to this extent.
"My king...," the minister called, but he paid deaf ears.
On the other hand, Gavin sat with his face holding no expression of any kind. In his entire life, he had not imagined himself being king, it wasn't his thing neither was he capable, he was feeling pressured by everything that was happening.
On a second thought, he liked the look of the crown, and the thought of him ruling over his elder brothers gave him butterflies.
"Gavin," the king's voice brought him out of his thoughts.
He hurriedly stood up and walked up to his father, with both hands behind. He was trying so had to hide his anxiousness.
He stood next to the king. His eyes were not looking at that of the ministers, his eyes were channeled to the floor. When his gaze caught the sight of the crown in a clearer view; all he could see was power.
Xander's hands clenched into a fist as he watched the scene, he never thought that a day like this would come in his life.
Since the first day he walked into the throne and caught sight of the throne, he had concluded that it'll be his soon. Coz it was rightfully his... entering the throne room today, he already had his speech rehearsed.
Things might have gotten twisted, but he was thankful the high priest didn't spill his past offense.
"By the power invested in me.....
"Father ," Xander interrupted.
"Father I think you should ask Gavin if he wants this, he has to accept the title before he can be crowned." Xander's statement made the king halt, still holding the crown with both hands.
**
"I never knew you liked hunting," Logan mumbled, positioning his arrow to shoot.
He pulled it back firmly, before releasing the arrow. It flew and pierced through the Antelopes belly.
"Wow. Logan, you're so good," Seraphina praised, beamed.
"I don't actually like hunting, I'm just in the mood today," Seraphina replied to his question, and Logan nodded.
"Lord Logan," Leo hurried up to him. "We have a message from the castle, you're needed in the throne room and princess Seraphina's suitor has arrived."
Logan's brows arched as he listened to Leo, he swiftly glanced at Seraphina, before turning back to Leo.
"Okay," Logan replied.
He gave Leo the arrow he was holding and hurried to his horse, while a soldier went to get the injured animal.
Logan climbed on the horse, also helping Seraphina up.
"I thought you said you'll tell your suitor to visit tomorrow?," Logan asked.
"Yeah.... I guess I forgot," Seraphina replied, nonchalantly rolling her eyes.
"That's rude; he came all the way from his kingdom, and you're keeping him waiting."
"Since when did you start caring about such things?," Seraphina asked; smiling, but Logan wasn't finding it funny.
"Okay fine, I agree. I was wrong for not informing him, but I was scared that my mom will stop me from going with you," she explained, with her grip tight around Logan's waist.
"Are you angry?," she asked Logan, and he shook his head.
"Worried about why you're being summoned?," she added, and Logan smiled.
It was true, he wondered the reason this father sent for him.
"Maybe, you're going to be made the crown prince," Seraphina whispered.
"Can you stop joking around," Logan grouched, before increasing the speed of the horse, so she could stop speaking.
**
"Yes," Gavin's response was bold and firm, facing the glaring ministers.
The king couldn't help the smile that cracked up on his old face.
"Yes?," Xander repeated in his head.
"Even Gavin wanted to be king, the same Gavin that had plans to travel around the twelve mountains when father finally died, now he wants to be king. The taste of power isn't resistible." Xander kept thinking.
The king knew that Gavin won't make a good king, but right now, he cared less.
He raised the crown and placed it on Gavin's head and Gavin bowed, receiving the crown.
Immediately the hard crown made contact with his head, his whole body went mute, he couldn't even tell how he was feeling. It was like he couldn't feel his body or control his emotions.
He could hear his father say "Bow to the crown prince." He could tell that they were now standing on their feet, but he could barely see them.
Against his own will he began to move, he could see himself running round the throne room but he couldn't tell why, neither could he stop.
He tried to speak, but the situation got worse. He couldn't feel his skin now, but it felt like it was burning, and it was hurting him so much. He struggled with himself, trying to quench the invisible fire.
"What's wrong with you?," Xander asked, irritated.
"My skin is burning and something is curling under my head," Gavin yelled, taking the crown off his head and shoved it away restlessly.
"Gavin, will you stop!," the king thundered.
"I can't," he cried, now scratching his body.
"Gavin, I thought you said your body is on fire? Why then are you scratching it?," Xander scolded.
"I don't know, I can't stop."
"What's wrong with him," the king questioned the high priest.
"How would I know? We all watched it happen".
"I'll go get the doctor," Xander informed, taking his brother out of the throne room.
"I guess this meeting is over," King Dre said angrily, and the ministers murmured.
"My king, we don't agree that this meeting ends this way. We were here yesterday and today for the same case, we can't leave without finalizing this case. We have to know our next move," one of the ministers opposed and the ministers agreed, infuriating the king
"Didn't you all see what just happened?," he asked in a deadly voice.
"My king you were told, but you still took the decision," the high priest chipped in.
"Fine. What else do you ministers want me to do in a situation like this?" the king half yelled, trying to hide his fear.
"You have one more son," the counselor voiced.
The king turned slightly to the prime minister. The prime minister coughed, clearing his voice before he spoke.
"I think we should give the king time to sleep over this," he suggested. "Not every father can watch that happen to his son, and combined with his health condition."
Seeing that the ministers were not taking the excuse, he spoke up.
"I've already sent for Logan but he isn't in the castle, let's reschedule this meeting," the king spoke.
Just like the universe was against him, the door of the throne room flew open, revealing Logan.
"Lord Logan," they happily chorused.
**
"What? Sister. What did you do?," Lashonda asked curiously.
"I had no other choice," Peggy squealed
"So what are we going to tell the people of the castle," Lashonda half yelled.
"Lashonda calm down so I can think. Would you prefer to die?," Peggy yelled, making Lashonda quiet.
" I don't know if Miss Tanya would lend us some of her fish."
"She won't, no one lends out anything to us because of dad, you should know that," Lashonda reminded.
"I'm really confused, maybe I should just wait for the royal family to come get me," Peggy said, sliding to the ground.
"No way!," Lashonda cried.
"You know that the royal family doesn't take this kind of thing likely, they will surely say we are thieves," Peggy added.