Paths to destiny.

Chapter 9. The fugitive.

Gabriel returned to the house of Mueller by midnight after leaving Byron and the soldiers in the woods.

When he knocked on the door of the house, it took a while before someone answered his knock. It was very strange for someone to be knocking by that time of the night. So Mueller and Abby ignored the Knock for some time even though they had heard it after the third it sounded.

But Gabriel persistee in banging the door as he said, "Open up, it's me Gabriel."

When they heard the voice, they listened again to confirm if it was truly him.

"I know you can hear me. Please open up."

This time they recognized the voice and it was truly Gabriel's, so Abby hurried and let him into the house. He was panting.

After he had taken a seat, Mueller said, "Why did you leave the way you did?"

"I told you that people are after my life and that man Byron is one of them." Gabriel said as he was calming himself.

Now Mueller understood what was going on though it was strange to him. Byron was the only leader in Tadeas who would want the throne to be occupied by its rightful successor.

From what Gabriel had said and what he had seen during the day, he believed him and wanted to reveal the truth to him. But he just did not know how he would tell Gabriel that they were actually the ones who told Byron about him being there at their house. So he concluded that it was best for things to stay the way they were. Gabriel should not know of what we have done and if Byron and his men come again asking after him, then they will claim he never returned to their how.

Meanwhile, Gabriel now knew that there was no place safe for him in Mayca, Ceevah and Gilroy. So his next move was to go over to Cyb, dwell there for some time while the high search for him in these other cities would subside.

But then, another thought came in, even though the people of Gytle had lied to the soldiers from Cyb telling them that he was dead. There is every tendency that need about him had also gone across from Mayca, Ceevah and Gilroy to the people and soldiers in Cyb. So he chose to stay a little longer in Mayca Mueller's house.

Since he believed that the soldiers were going house to house checking for him. He developed a confidence that they would not come back to Mueller's place because they have already checked it. Logically, there was no way he could go back to the place where they had found him before.

After two days, Gabriel was still in the house of Mueller. He was completely isolating himself there. He never exposed himself to the sun. And it was totally fine with Mueller and Abby. They have understood the magnitude of threat which his life was facing. They have also advised him countless times within these two days to return to Gytle and never come back to Tadeas. But Gabriel was stubborn and refused to take that advice.

It was his father's land, so he probably can not run forever. Whereas, he hasn't gotten his revenge on the leaders of Ceevah and Gilroy. And even if he returned to Gytle, it would not stop them from sending assassins after his life since they now know he was alive. For them to have attacked and killed his father along with other citizens of Gytle, then nothing would stop them from doing it again.

Returning and dwelling in Gytle would put the people at risk. The soldiers would not stop coming after him and it was surely going to put the lives of the people of Gytle in the line. So he said to himself that it was better he stayed there in Tadeas. If people should die for his sake, then it should be those from Tadeas and he won't have to feel it too much because they will die at the hands of their own people. This did not mean that he meant bad for Mueller and Abby. They were totally an exception. As much as he wanted the people of Tadeas to pay for what had happened to his father, he did not want any harm to come to Mueller or his granddaughter. They have been too kind to him for such evil to befall them because of him.

When it was noon, Byron and his men came again to the house of Mueller, but this time, they did not get the chance to come inside. Mueller was sitting at the front of the house.

"My lord Byron, you are here again. Hope I am safe?" Mueller asked Byron up on seeing him. He was quite shocked at their coming because he wasn't expecting them this time unlike before.

"Yes Mueller, I came to ask you a few questions." Byron stated. He was still standing with three of his escorts a few steps behind him.

"I'm all ears." Mueller changed his sitting posture to an upright one. He was leaning before now.

"We still haven't found the prince that ran off from your house the other day. So we thought that maybe he was back at your house."

"I'm sorry my lord, but we haven't set our eyes on him ever since. I was planning to go to your place and check on him. I've been so worried about him. He is a good man and reminds me a lot." Mueller's eyes were already full as tears soon began to pour from them. He was as sober as one could imagine and Byron felt really bad for asking those questions.

"I am very sorry sir, I should not have asked you that. I should not have been here in the first place. It was very wrong of me to think he would return to a place where he was found."

Byron turned and left the place with his men following him.

Instantly after they were out of sight, Mueller's mood changed again. He was back to his normal mood. He had really acted beyond suspicion. The way he forced those tears to roll down his check was what no one could think or imagine it being possible.

When he entered the house afterwards, Gabriel and Abby had watched his display through the window and they had a lot of questions for him.

"Pa, how did you do that? Where did those tears come from and where did they leave in such a space of time?"

Mueller hasn't answered Abby's questions when Gabriel added. "Thank you for not telling them that I was here. But, you did not tell me you're a good actor?"

Mueller smiled as he took a seat. "If I did not act that way, then they wouldn't have believed me. So let's forget about all these questions." He paused and looked at the young people. They were curious about how he forced tears out of his eyes.

"Gabriel, you have seen what just happened with your eyes. They will surely be back again which means you are no longer safe here. You should return to Gytle. Continue your life as it used to be. Forget about getting revenge for your father. You can not win against these people alone and I don't think there is any of the leaders who would like to see you rule your land. Take my advice and return home. There is no place for you here in Tadeas."

Those advice from Mueller reminded him of when his father said he had his reasons for keeping his identity hidden from everyone. He now understood why, but yet he refused to let his father's death go unavenged. And still he refused to put the people of Gytle in danger by dwelling among them. But he took the advice of Mueller to leave their house because his presence was putting their lives on line which he never wanted. So Gabriel left them that night but remained in Tadeas as a fugitive.