Chapter 28
1080 Words
As soon as they returned, Kahil extended all of his resources to find out the true identity of Varian Alchester. Unfortunately, everything came up empty. It was as if the boy had never existed in the first place, as if his identity had been wiped clean off the maps.
After a few more days of searching, Kahil finally gave up. He ordered the maids to get Harry. When she entered, she seemed hopeful that he had found something, but she knew it was the opposite from the looks of him.
"Sit down, Harry," he said tirelessly.
She sat down and waited for his news.
"Listen," he grumbled. "The thing is."
"Yes?" she asked with eyes breaming full of hope.
"I . . . I haven't been able to find anything yet. All of my resources as the crown prince are now diminished." He knew his next words would hurt Harry, but what could he do? "I think we need to put out a criminal warrant for your knight."
Harry's eyes widened as she jumped up from her chair. "What?" she shouted.
"It's either that or we tell Father. He can use his resources as king to try and track the boy down."
As he eyed Harry's saddened face, he sighed and rubbed his hands through his hair. This whole situation was a headache.
"It's either we tell him now, or I send out a warrant, and he'll find out that way."
Harry frowned again. She knew they were low on options, and the king still needed to hear the news. It would also help to get him out of her mother's room. The man never leaves her side. He'd been neglecting his duties as king ever since, and this was not the time for him to be doing that.
Harry took a deep breath. "You're right," she said, conceding to Kahil. "Father needs to know."
"I'll go tell him," Kahil said.
"No," Harry replied. "It's okay, I'll tell him."
She gave Kahil a small smile. "I'll tell him," she repeated.
"Okay," sighed Kahil.
Harry nodded and left Kahil's room. He rummaged through his messy desk until he found a pen and paper. Slowly, he began to write something down. "It seems we'll need a warrant after all."
Harry made her way to her mother's room, and of course, there sat the king.
"Father," Harry called.
"Harry," he called back.
"Um . . . I . . . I need to talk to you."
The king straightened his back in his chair. "Go on," he replied.
Harry couldn't put her full focus on the king, not with her mother lying there lifelessly behind him.
"Not here," she said meekly.
"Okay," the king replied. "We'll go to my office then."
Harry immediately thought about how easily her father could send out a criminal warrant from his office. She smiled and said, "That's perfect!"
After extending their goodbyes to Caroline, the king and Harry headed to his office. He relieved his aid of his duties and took his rightful spot in his seat while Harry sat across from him.
"Now," he said a bit unnaturally. "What is it that you want to talk about?"
Harry had prepared herself for this moment. She had been since she left Kahil's room and when she walked to her mother's room, and even when she and the king walked to his office. Now, she had to put the words into action.
"Father," she said with much difficulty. He waited patiently for her confidence to come to her. "Please don't be mad at me."
He raised his brow. He seemed confused by his daughter's sudden statement. "Why would I be mad at you?" He'd asked as light-heartedly as he could.
Harry winced as she answered, "Because . . . because I've been keeping something from you. Something important."
"Okay," the king replied, sitting forward. "What is it?"
With great difficulty, Harry began to tell her father everything. She made sure to slip in some apologies after every few words. She thought that the king would handle the news just as calmly as Kahil had, but she was met with surprise.
The king immediately shot up from his seat. He began yelling and calling people into the office. He barked orders at everyone. Some of them, Harry didn't understand, but the few that she could understand were bad.
He wanted everyone available to put together a search party to find Varian's whereabouts. He wanted them to treat the boy as a very dangerous criminal and to take action as they see fit. The only thing he wanted was the boy brought back to him alive. He mainly wanted the temple to be investigated.
But why the temple? Was Varian involved with the temple or something?
Harry didn't completely understand what was happening, but she did know one thing, the king was angry. Very angry.
"You said you wouldn't get mad," she said hurt.
"I said I wouldn't get mad at you, not the situation."
"But you are mad."
The king slammed his fist on his desk. After letting out an exasperated sigh, he said, "Listen, Harry, this situation is dire. Surely you understand that. What the boy wants is a war, and that is very serious. Of course, I'm mad about it." He let out another sigh before continuing, "But I'm not mad at you. I'm just glad that you're safe."
"Do you have to send out a criminal warrant for him, though?" Harry asked tensely.
Before the king could answer, Kahil came in.
"There's no need for that, Father," he said.
Harry turned to her brother relieved.
"I've already sent one out."
"Kahil!" Harry shouted.
"Good," the king replied.
"Father!" Harry shouted, turning to him.
"Find everyone you know who might have been affiliated with that boy."
Kahil nodded, "Yes, Father."
"I'll head over to the temple."
Harry felt helpless by everything that was happening around her. She wondered what the temple had to do with anything. She couldn't just stand around and do nothing while her whole kingdom searched for someone who was very important to her like a criminal. Timidly, but surely, she spoke up. "I-I'll go with you."
"Okay," the king replied pulling a thick coat around his shoulders. "We'll take the horses. They're faster."
She hadn't expected the king to agree to let her go so quickly, but now they were going and to a temple no less. She wondered what awaited them there.
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