DRIVEN

Chapter 8

KRIPGIN KINGDOM

(A day before the king is to head out).

It seems like the Vampire king is begining to feel the effects of the Kai seeds Lucilda has been managing to sprinkle in his food, he looks pale than normal and has been having dizzy spells.

Lucilda gets called to her father's bedchamber and sees him In a terrible condition, with him are some council members and the army commander, the healer is also present.

The healer attempts to run a test on the king to know what the problem is, they all stand at a corner and watch him attend to him.

lucilda feels nervous cause she knows what's going on and she begins to fear lest her plans be discovered, the king just looks weak, not necessarily in pain, the seeds don't create any serious discomfort for whomever ingests it just messes with the person for a while.

The healer finishes attending to the king and comes forward to address the rest.

"I can't say for sure what's the problem but I do know that it will take some time for me to run my tests and get back to you".

"But we planned on making our return trip to the battlefield tomorrow, what do we do now" The commander raises alarm.

"Can it be postponed?" elder feyman asks.

"No, we won't postpone anything, the plans go on as decided, I will lead the warriors tomorrow in place of my father.

"But your highness, the war front is not place for a ......"

"Complete that sentence elder feyman and I shall see it as treason against the throne".

"I have trained all my life for this moment, my father is temporarily indisposed and the enemy might think they have a chance but I will be more than happy to show them that I'm worth being scared of".

" We won't allow any more set backs, my father's wishes must be carried on with utmost urgency".

"Commander is everything in place?, have the arrangements been made for tomorrow's journey?"

.

The commander isn't too happy about the princess's decision to ride out with them tomorrow but sadly he has no say in this.

"yes princess, all the arrangements have been made".

"That's good, if you'll excuse us I'll like to be with the king in private", she says dismissing them.

Everyone moves out save for the healer, he feels like it's his duty to atleast knock some sense into lucilda's head about what she's attempting to do.

He gathers his things and comes to meet her.

"princess, have you thought about this carefully, I'm not trying to put you down or anything but princess you are well on your way to commiting suicide. I know it is not in my place to talk to you about matters such as this but this is dangerous, the lycans have never been known to show mercy to our kind talk more of them knowing your royal status, princess I fear all the terrible things they would do to you if they get the chance, I fear for you lucilda".

" you don't have to go there yourself, you can stay behind and when you're father is healed he will go himself please".

lucilda could see that Amol was really worried about her wellbeing, and for a moment she had a change of heart but then she remembered her reason for doing this and how far she had already come, the sacrifices she made, those were enough to make her reaffirm her decision to go.

"Amol, I know you care for me and I appreciate that, you've been there for me all these while at any time I needed you, but the truth is I have to go, I have to do this, you might not understand why today, but I promise one day you'll understand and maybe then you won't see me as a spoilt princess who gets her way all the time", she says smiling.

"Who told you I call you that", Amol breaks out smiling and hugs her.

"I'm going to miss you kiddo, just stay safe for me and don't hesitate to kick some lycan butt".

" Oh trust me I will, I'm going to kick that butt all the way to the moon".

"And promise me you'll take care of things over here, bianca will be at your beck and call and please Amol don't refuse, I'll like it very much if you moved into the castle for the meantime, atleast till father is healthy again, you can never trust that someone won't try to maybe poison him or try to finish him off while he is still down, I can only count on you to watch over him, please".

"What can a poor old man like me do", he says

"Oh please come on Amol I've heard the stories, I knew you were once part of the elite squadron of royal guards, and if I heard right which I'm sure I did, you were the best of the best before you left".

Hearing that makes Amol change his mood and lucilda notices.

Although I know you have your reasons which you don't have to tell me at all that's fine, I'm okay with it we all have something we don't feel like sharing, but please just this once I beg of you, take care of my parents, if anything were to happen to them, I would never be able to live with myself, please Amol".

" I promise to promise to protect them with my life princess, no harm will come to them on my watch".

A smile breaks out on lucilda's face, thank you so much Amol I knew I could count on you.

"Well it's not like I had a choice, some spoilt sassy princess ordered me and I couldn't say no".

Amol lays a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"That's right you couldn't say no to her" lucilda retorts with sarcasm.

"I have to go get ready now, I have a long journey ahead of me tomorrow, I'll see you in the morning, goodnight Amol".

she says before moving to her bed chambers