Few Days Later.
~King Wealene~
"If I may, His Greatness."
Jaith pulled the curtain of the inner chamber of the King. King Wealene looked to his side in bed, surrounding by a bevy of naked ladies. He sat up, as one of the ladies trailed her hand down his chest, towards his stomach. He ogled her suddenly as she took the warning.
As soon as the ladies paved way for him to see Jaithz he found his words,
"Do not tell me you've brought a bad news yet again?"
Jaith took few steps in and crashed before the king,
"Far from it, His Greatness."
Wealene pushed further in the bed and sat at the edge,
"Bring him in then."
Jaith thrusted his face to the floor.
"I thought so."
The king scorned. Jaith looked up,
"We have where he lives. He lives in a cave. The third batch of men has been sent, they are there at the moment. Even men worked through the night in cold and terror."
"If you have nothing fruitful, be gone!"
Wealene raised his voice. Jaith persisted, knowing what odds there were to that.
"We should had catch him, but he's aided by a sorcereress. We were outnumbered, ten to one."
"Get out!"
Wealene barked. Jaith crumbled.
"I'll have your head on a platter next time you return without him."
Jaith bowed and made to leave, Wealene called,
"Call the Princess."
Jaith hurried out of the inner chamber, strode through the beautifully adorned royal space, then two gaurds got the door for him and he stepped out of the King's chamber, into the hallway. He edged in the direction of the Princess' room.
He saw Samantha walking in his way, towards him.
"Where's the princess?"
He quizzed as soon as he got to her,
"I thought she's in the king's chamber. She left hers several minutes ago."
"Did she say to where she was going?"
"If she did, would I be standing here having this discussion?"
She walked away from him but she smacked her butts. She spun around,
"Don't you dare again. Else I'll say words in the ears of the princess and you know what that means."
She kept walking as he called at her, following her at close proximity.
"Sam, how long will we continue this way? Can you really say to my face that what we shared that night was a mistake and doesn't mean anything to you?"
She halted suddenly. He had no choice but to take suit. She turned to him and closed up the space. Standing directly before him, she tossed her head up, leaning forward as though she would kiss him. He pushed his frame forward to complement her effort. When their lips almost met, she strayed and her cheek brushed his, as warm air washed the lob of his ear in gentle whisper,
"If I could go back in time. I'd wish that night repeat itself. But poor us, it makes no difference. Twas just a fling."
She looked up at him,
"I do wish it would mean more, but I can't help it. Let's not talk about it again and keep our places as we were before."
She walked away, he hurried,
"You can't be sure. Let time test it."
But she didn't reply. She took another turn as he come to stand before the door of the king's chamber.
"Sam."
He grunted as the door opened before him. He strode in and halted at the curtain of the inner chamber,
"His Greatness."
He had gotten the curtain and was on his knees,
"Didn't I say not show your ugly face?"
"The princess isn't in the palace. I'll go search for her now at your words."
"She's not some stray cat to be haunted. This all should be over already if I had a better and capable general."
He shot. Jaith cowered at the thought of what next might come.
"I was on my way His Greatness."
"Hope for your sake you don't show up in vain again."
Jaith stood up and made to leave.
"Has his mother spoken yet?"
Jaith shook his head in response.
"You want your head off its neck?"
"No, I mean, His Greatness."
"Throw her in the dungeon until she speaks."
The king dismissed him and he scrambled off.
---------------------------------
"I'm certain you know who I am, young sorcerer."
Malisa said, standing under a large barren tree; no leaves, let alone fruits. Just a cluster of branches.
"If you've come to threaten me, princess, shall I leave?"
The young sorcerer countered. Malisa nodded softly,
"How did you know I would be here?"
"If words could fly to the ears of a king resting in his chamber, flocked by a bevy of ladies. How much a rider of magic?"
Malisa sighed.
"You will come to the Palace in three days time, bringing the words of the gods. You'll tell the king that you've been sent by the gods to bring a warning to him. The warning is... The princess has been chosen to marry a groom, keeper of horses, and no man shall stand in the way. For her sudden choice is nothing but the wills of the gods."
A quick smile paced his smoothly carved face,
"You will put words in the mouth of a sorcerer, princess Malisa, potential queen of the great Agranah. Daughter of the tyrant ruler, Wealene?"
"Choose your words, wisely, sorcerer. Will you be of service or not?"
The sorcerer stomped his feet, Malisa flinched at the sudden wind,
"I'll speak the truth, Malisa. Three-day's time it is."
And without further warning, the sorcerer was nowhere to be found; housed by the apt atmosphere, transported by the wandering winds.
"Hey, wait. You didn't say your name."
Malisa turned, looking around with no sign of the sorcerer.
"Givan."
She heard in the air. And that was all.
"Alright Givan, let's hope your truth falls in line with what I want. Else..."
She refused to complete the statement and walked to her horse. She climbed on and rode off towards the palace.
--------------------------------
~In the front of a grotto~
"Where in the world did she go?"
Kie remonstrated, pacing to and fro at the base of the large hickory. The same hickory tree to which he had pinned the strange creature which changed to an Alan.
The grotto he lives in was just opposite the hickory. It's been few days since they'd been living there. Life wasn't really hard living with a strange friend who could conjure almost anything and hunt at will.
Suddenly, he heard a movement up ahead of him. Behind a tree, few metres away, in the clusters of shrubs.
"Have these dorks found me?"
He ran to hide behind the large tree. Waiting for the owner of the movement to show up.
But he got nothing. Nothing at all. He moved a bit, peeping from the back of the tree,
"Was that the wind?"
He argued not sure. But then, there was a sudden stillness in the air.
"What was that?"
He looked again but he didn't see a thing. Suddenly, he heard a thud behind him. Before he could move, he had been pinned to the tree, his hard pressing hard against the bark...
But he was skilled in such art... he moved skillfully and held the person, throwing the person off him. He had climbed on the person before he realize who twas,
"I could had killed you..."
He tried to stand up from her but she pulled him back on her, his chest pressing against her titties.
"What are you doing?"
She was breathing heavily. His eyes kept a stern stare at her eyes,
"Do you love the Princess?"
"Why should that concern you?"
He asked, pushing a lump down his throat. His face yet stern.
"Obviously you do?"
"Never! I would choose Talia over her!"
She chuckled. And suddenly, began to bring her face to his... closer and closer...
Their lips almost met when they heard clopping of hoofsteps, neighing and constant calls of the guards.
She yet wanted to kiss him but he rolled over her,
"If you so wish to die, count me out."
He hurried towards the cave, she called.
"Come with me. They know you live here already."
They both walked off the cave, hurrying as the horses drew nearer.
"Where were you?"
"You'd find out soon."
She dismissed.
"Poor princess."
She added as he glared at her.
"There's actually no point running anymore."
She stopped suddenly. He grabbed her hand,
"What's wrong with you?"
"Sire, I found them."
A voice came from the corner they'd cut. Kie looked to his back and saw the guards. He made to make his own escape, since she wasn't willing.
But as he moved, Shamaica pulled him into her chest in a tight hug, holding unto him strongly.
No matter how hard he tried to break free, his mortal strength was no match for her supernatural power.
"Let me go, you bitch!!"
He struggled in vain. But she chuckled and stole a kiss, as the guards fell on them.
That Evening.~Kie Azholophased~"Hey Handsome."Shamaica teased him from the hanging cage next to his.The both of them had been brought to the palace straight and King Wealene had had the best of Kie... having him flogged severally by the captain of his guards, Jaith.And twas evening already, the time for judgement to be passed on the both of them. And all the people were gathered in the square, the gaurds stationed, the princess at the upper porch staring at Kie who was held up in a drooping cage.Everyone was awaiting the arrival of King Wealene, who would pass the judgement.The wooden cage in which the two of them were locked had iron doors. Kie's hands were tied as well as his legs. He could hardly move in peace in the tiny cage, tossed by the crashing wind, let alone break himself free.And of all the pains and rage he was plying through, Shamaica had just gone out of the mark and line to tease him. The hell!"Y
Same.~Kie~"Where's she?"He stopped walking for a little while, looking around him hurriedly. He knew he didn't have the luxury of that time. He knew the guards were still on him and could catch up with him anytime and any moment."The dungeon."He thought he heard someone say that to him. But it didn't matter. He hurried in the direction of the dungeon. He knew the path by heart even though it was once he had visited it."Mother?"He called as soon as he got to mouth of the pit, staring through the bars of rage beaten by wants, into the cold slightly gloomy pit."Are you there, mother? If you're there let me know please."He went on his knees, throwing his face into the bars to look into the far end of the pit. Then suddenly, he heard a movement in the pit. And soon, the silhouette first, then the frame of his mother came to view."What have they done to you mother. I will have the head of that foolish Wealene.
On a Path. The Next Day.~Malisa and Samantha~"It's rather contemplative how His Greatness looked away from the nuances of that insolent hostler."Samantha took a stray off the topic, taking a slight gaze at the princess who was riding beside her on a horse. They were taking the early morning stroll as usual, and the path to which they were headed led to the final hut at the outskirt of the village, Kie's Hut."What say do we have over the wills of the gods?"Malisa came on, taking a quick glance at her. Then looked to the front,"My father, the king, could seem harsh and tough and ruthless. Which all best suit him. But he does have regards for the gods. And he wouldn't go out of his way to insult or ridicule their words."Samantha was quiet for a while, but responded eventually,"But what would you do with the hostler. He sure is so dumb not to acknowledge the feelings of the only and the most beautiful princess in all the wo
Few moments Later.~Kie and Mara~"Have you come to your senses yet?"Mara called, leaning on the back window of the hut. She was in the hut, but looking through the window at Kie, who was at the back of the hut trimming the hoofs of Talia, his horse.He allowed the distraction and looked up from the last hoof to his mother's face, poking out independently out of the window as though it had no neck supporting it."Depends on your definition of sense mother."He looked back at the hoof too quickly, hitting the handle of the narrow blade which looked like a modern chisel. Only that twas rustier and hardly plain. But it did cut through the hoof, sliding off the hard keratin.After that push, he took a pause and said to his mother again,"If getting married to that wench is what you call sense, I'd rather be senseless."His mother scoffed,"You call the princess of the land a wench? Do you know what would happen if We
Africa. Kingdom of the God-king.~Xerxes II~"Hail the God-king"A dwarf man with bounty beards called in the large hall and everyone present in the hall echoed,"Hail."And as though no words were spoken, the activities in the hall went back to normal.The throne hall of the God-king was very enormous and its height, unprecedented. The palace wall cast in gold were built so loftily that its roof was almost a mirage. And twas built such way because of the elevated throne of the God-king.His throne, which was at the end of the throne hall to the North, was three feet above the floor. He had made such throne for himself to observe the activities of his subjects from the heights. Like God in heaven does!Few metres away from his throne, in the throne hall, before him, there were several sexual activities and local musicians playing lyre and harps like the Israelites would do to appreciate God.His deep immortal eyes straye
Celebration. Wealene's Palace. Agranah~Royalties~"Bathias, the bard."At the call of Jaith, Bathias the bald bard, kinky, stout, white long drooping beards with stray curls, dressed in a while linen garment which covered his waist, but left a strap up his chest to be connected to another at his back. Leaving his chest and back bare. Stepped into the ring of fire which ought to emphasize what dramatic direction his literary presentation would take. He bowed slightly and started his ritual humming before the words would flow.It's the gathering of the Kings. An occasion that takes place three times a year in Agranah. Mostly centering on the kingdoms yet to pay their taxes, new developments they've learnt from other nations outside the walls of Agranah and its sister kingdoms. Like they had once learnt from a kingdom called Frankia and had built a rampart to take the form of such defense system that had kept the remote kingdom standing.But this tim
Same.~Kie and Wealene~"Who, by the gods does this retard think he is to intrude whenever he wants."King Wealene mumbled under his breath as Kie walked to where he was. Kie miraculously went on his knees and bowed with his forehead brushing the floor before Wealene. Twas pretty much hard to tell what that was for. Respect or -- whatever."What is this?"Wealene queried as Kie stood up tall before him."Didn't you say she's not worth your while? That you'd rather get married to a -- Jaith what did the lad say the previous day?"Jaith, who had hurried there, standing behind Kie for any quick ambush if necessary, mumbled incoherently. King Wealene dismissed his poor memory as Kie came on,"I guess I was wrong about her and spoke out of rage. The rage of the clashes we've had before now."Wealene chuckled softly, taking few steps closer to him as the rest of the royalties watched in surprise."Pardon my interruption
Same.~Malisa and Kie~"Of all the days, why today?"Malisa complained, her arms tucked into each other over her fanny. Kie was leaning back on a royal table which was placed in the middle of the princess' chamber. He kept a straight face when he said,"Am I a stain to the royal house? Oops. I forgot, I'm an Ostler who shouldn't be present when other kings are."Malisa shook her head softly, her face wielding an emotional gaze. She swept a sheet of courage and took two steps towards him, standing quite not far from him.She argued, yet delicately,"Of course not. That's not what I mean."She puffed and strayed to an end of the room by the East where there was a big drawer with mirror and traditional makeup kits lined on its deck.She turned to him, her backside pressed against the edge of the deck."I know my father too well. He loves taking an advantage of situations. Especially such situations as this. And you k