Chapter 14: Taken in Sentah, the sixth kingdom
"For what reason did he go so far away so suddenly?"Zero questioned raising a brow.
"That's not an information I deem disclosable"
"Come on...Gerald you know you can tell me anything".
Gerald stared at the dark haired knight in front of him who seemed rather interested than pleased at the news, perhaps he asked out of curiosity or maybe to ease the uneasiness within him but still it was improper and unprofessional to disclose the Emperor's activities even to a friend.
"Zero you know I ca_"
"Nevermind, I am just delighted...it's a good thing he's out...probably I still have the whole day and tomorrow to find it before he returns".
"How are you coming up with the search"
"My knights are stationed at various corners of the palace surroundings searching for it, hopefully I find it before the Emperor returns,hopefully he returns late tomorrow or the next...that's why I asked you the reason he went to know how long his stay would last,to know my fate".
Gerald looked away.
"He should be back by tomorrow or late in the day actually I don't know how long his stay would last depends how quickly he gets what he need"Gerald said then turned to study the young knight in front of him,whatever happens he might get arrested but he would protect him and prevent his death,he was most certain of that.
Zero drew closer and gave him several pat on his head an action they always did as boys but Gerald grabbed his hand and threw it off smiling.
"Hey stop that!"
Zero laughed and reached out again for his hair,Gerald stepped backwards and covered his hair with both hands chuckling.
"Am warning you!"Gerald said pointing a finger at him.
"Come on gerdy...I know we did this as kids but I dont know why am so fond of this,maybe it's cos your hair smells nice and I want to get it's scent on me"Zero said as he drew closer reaching for his hair again but Gerald vanished in time to appear further in front of him.
"Zero we are to old for this"Gerald laughed folding his hand.
"Gotcha!"Zero exclaimed, now appearing behind him to rub his hair."No we're not"
Gerald smiled,disappeared again and when zero spun around and couldn't see him he rested an arm on the stone statue letting out a sniggering laugh.
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Emperor Tyran appeared in Sentah's royal palace, the sixth kingdom of the realm after commanding Carolene not to leave Fiona's chambers anymore and blocking her telepathic link.
Sentah was a thousand miles from Urah and flying all the way here was a death wish,he didn't want to travel all the way as it would take days so he decided on teleporting.
Teleporting at such distance drained him of both strength and magic energy, making even his sight blurry.Tyran staggered as he walked, barely able to keep his feet and wherever he found a wall he supported himself with it as he walked, turning his face the other way anytime a noble passed by so as not to be recognized.
He had left his crown behind and was dressed in a black hood covered over his face but he feared recognition,mostly from his enemies because at times like this with reduced magic energy he was most vulnerable.
Tyran found few opportunities to take a good glance at his surroundings though he lowered his head as he walked,at intervals his eyes searched around for knights since they were the only ones who would know the king's whereabouts or perhaps his queen.He could not remember the last time he had been to Sentah though it seemed to him as though nothing about the place had changed.
The royal palace still had this ancient outlook,some part of its walls were covered by creeping plants that would grow back immediately as soon as you cut them.
The palace gardeners had given up on cutting them and had done a good job in beautifying the palace with it,some thought it to be a kind of curse but what was thought to be a curse was now used as a form of beautification.The plants now shaped in different attractive patterns held beautiful flowers of diverse colours in them which held an appealing scent that would make one want to always stay by the walls to inhale.
Emperor Tyran paused to admire the patterns the plants made on the wall then walked on.
He walked past three servant girls carrying a basket filled with herbs which Tyran percieved as medicinal.As he walked few paces past them he fell to his knees holding his heaving chest.
He couldn't keep on any longer,his sight now blurry as he struggled to see,he felt as if he might collapse any moment and this wasn't a good place to do that.
The girls stopped and turned to him.
"Mister are you alright?"one of them asked.
"Yes...i am well"Tyran responded.
"Doesn't look so"another persisted.She took few steps towards Tyran and bent, placing both hands on her knee.
"Let me help you"she offered.
Tyran considered this.No doubt he needed help and a short rest wouldn't be bad but not from strange women.At this point he had no choice seeing he might not make it before he met the king,he would rather be in the company of these ladies than a man like Dark,but he would try not to fall asleep.
Tyran peered at them wondering what type of demon they were,if these servant outfit was merely a disguise,if they were really women or even alive to begin with,but he didn't smell any corpse,he wasn't even sure his senses were working right now.
When tyran said nothing and two of the servants crouched low and placing his hand on their shoulders lifted him back to his feet.
They led him to a small wooden door situated in between two closely positioned fences.
The third girl who wasn't supporting him fumbled in her front pocket for a key.She reached forward,inserted the key into the key hole and twisted her hand anticlockwise.
The lock gave way and the door swung open.
The room was small and had only a bed sitting by the only window it had.A small bucket stood next to a stool close to a fire place whose fire was already kindled.It was an abondoned storeroom the girls had converted to their secret rest place.
They placed Tyran on the bed and the three stood before him as they watched his eyes grew shut