The Sea Orb

CHAPTER 19

Xavier looked at the little kid who was scribbling something on the parchment paper most likely letters from what he observed the last few days. He couldn't believe that they actually put a little kid to watch him. Just how sure were they that he wouldn't escape? Well, technically even if he did, he would get caught in a minute. But Xavier ignored that fact for the moment.

He could hear a series of footsteps outside which probably meant that their meeting had ended. Just as he thought, the door opened revealing the mother of the little kid, Renne, he identified.

She gave him a little nod and a smile before walking towards her son. She was the most approachable person in the whole ship Xavier noted in his mind. Maybe he could get some information from her sometime in the future.

"Arena!!!!" Hopper shouted in excitement which bought Xavier out of his daze.

"Arena?" He questioned while Renne looked at him. Hopper paid him no attention as he hopped around shouting in excitement.

"We are going to the Arena this afternoon, don't worry George will be here to take care of your meals." She spoke while the gears turned in Xavier's mind. He smiled widely all of a sudden.

"What's happening here?" Marin who arrived at the door questioned. Hopper immediately hugged her shouting Arena. She smiled a little at the kid's excitement. Her eyes roamed around the room and finally caught on to the familiar blue. The smile on her face disappeared into thin air.

"No." She spoke looking at Xaiver who blinked his eyes.

"I promise I'll behave." He spoke putting his hand on his heart.

"Never," Marin spoke expressionlessly while Xavier who always controlled his expressions almost pouted.

"Hey! Did I ever ask anything all these days? And why are you so rude to me?" Xavier spoke in annoyance while Marin raised her brow.

"Oh, should I be kind to someone I kidn*pped?" Marin spoke while Xavier gave her a stinky eye.

"Marin, now now. Calm down you both. And Xavier is right. He stayed for so long in the boat, he needs some change of environment." Renne spoke slowly to Marin as if talking to a kid while Marin pursed her lips. She reluctantly agreed and left but not before giving Xavier a glare who looked at her with a smug face.

And that's how I ended up here. Xavier thought as he looked around the place and took a deep breath.

The smell of land, ah! He thought closing his eyes to take another deep breath when someone bumped into him.

"Hey man! Why are you standing in the middle like a clown?" That passerby shouted a few curses before continuing his journey. Xavier looked dumbfounded as he stared at the retreating figure of the passerby. Hopper giggled at Xavier before running towards Renne who already walked halfway. Looking at the dumb look on his face Marin sighed before tugging the hem of his jacket.

"Let's go, we don't have all day." She spoke walking away with Elijah and Jonathan. Xavier walked towards them in a hurry. Jonathan looked back at him and stopped in his tracks.

"Common lad, let's go to the sitting area directly," Jonathan spoke to Renne who nodded her head and held hopper's hand so he doesn't get lost. Jonathan held Xavier's arm and walked towards the sitting area.

~.~

Looking at the scheduled matches, Marin sighed. She didn't have any matches for the next two days while Elijah's schedule was packed.

"Brother El, you get ready first. I will be in the sitting area." She spoke while Elijah nodded his head. Marin walked away from the back and went to the sitting area.

"What happened?" Renne asked as she beckoned Hopper to sit on her lap making place for Marin.

"Nothing, I don't have any matches for the next two days. But brother El should be coming up now." Marin said as she walked to the now empty seat when her eyes fell on the person sitting in front of her. A scowl appeared on her face but nonetheless she sat down beside Xavier.

"Uncle John, did you find out something from the locals?" Marin asked leaning forward to see Jonathan who sat on the left side of Xavier.

"Oh, I did. The people sitting there with the big table." He spoke pointing out the table at the right side of the ring while Marin looked at them keenly.

"That's a fake one," Jonathan spoke while Marin raised her brow.

"The real matter is in there," Jonathan spoke pointing at the last row of the seats at the back. There were three people in the back too. At first glance, they looked like normal people who came to see the match. But the big box covered by brown cloth beside them which looked more like money keeping safe if one looked carefully ratted them out.

"There seems to be no upper limit to these bettings so they are more con- con what's the word?"

"Conspicuous." Xavier pitched in while Jonathan made an Ah! face and patted Xavier's back.

"It's all black, they would get into trouble if any officials find them," Jonathan spoke while Marin grinned.

"People like them could be punished for 3 years at least. Especially the middle one looks like he had murdered someone before coming here." Xavier spoke with a grim look as he watched the three people collect money.

"Hahaha! You lad sure are funny." Jonathan laughed while Xavier frowned. He didn't feel any humor in his sentence.

"Alright, alright. It's Elijah's turn now." Renne hushed them. While Marin looked at Jonathan who nodded back at her. He stood up and walked straight to the three people.

"Boss," Jonathan spoke amicably while one of the three people looked at him.

"What is it, brother? Are you interested in betting?" The guy in the middle spoke with a sly grin.

"The betting on the third match starts in a few minutes. The starting price is 1 gold." The other guy spoke counting the money.

"How much do you want to raise and on which fighter?" The middle guy spoke while Jonathan scratched his head.

"How good is the guy on right?" Jonathan pointed at the guy Elijah was facing while the third guy grinned at him.

"Brother you have a good eye. That guy there had won 15 matches in a row." He spoke while Jonathan widened his eyes.

"And not only that, the other guy is a newbie. Now the odds are at 5:1. Don't worry you won't lose money." He spoke while Jonathan grinned.

"Then I'll bet on the guy on the left," Jonathan spoke handing 10 gold to the guy counting the money while the guy who was talking to him froze.

"Brother you have a very unique vision." The guy spoke sarcastically seeing him not listening to his words. Jonathan just shook his head and returned back to his seat. While the guy looked at him with pity.

~.~

After the fire incident that night, the prince's room remained untouched. After putting out the fire, the half-destroyed room was covered in wet black debris. Books were destroyed and the bed was unrecognizable. What once used to be the royal's room was now no different than the slum.

Seeing the state of his son's room, the king felt a dull pain in his chest. No matter how their relationship was, he still was his only son. The son he raised luxuriously providing him with everything even before he could ask. Knowing that his son was kidn*pped and that too by his worst enemy didn't sit well with him.

For the first time, he regretted his decision. He shouldn't have killed that boy. He knew that boy was her bottom line but he still played with her. He probably should have let her leave the place and work for him. That would have been the best option for both of them.

He knew Marin. He saw her train so he knew what that girl was capable was. She was different. Her character was more similar to his prime minister. Nathan and Marin had a similar kind of temperament. Stubborn, cunning, and ruthless. No matter how much you try to suppress them they would try to crawl back up. Looking back, Callum was perhaps the only reason why he was able to control her. But now that he had killed that link she was free from his grasp.

He didn't believe her to be a threat until now. He thought that he completely destroyed her will to resist. Now he finally realized that he gave her the reason to completely destroy everything he cherished just like what he did to her.

For the first time Alexander..... was scared. Scared for his son and somewhere even for himself.

~.~

Sitting in the general's tent Nathan looked calmly over the map in front of him again. A dozen soldiers were stationed around the tent while a few officials along with the general and his commander were seated in front of Nathan on the circular table. It has been three consecutive nights since Nathan's order was passed.

The neighboring countries were reluctant to give permission just for them to arbitrarily search their country but owing to the peace treaty that had been signed recently they could only let then in. The search was fast-paced and efficient. Probably because the person was the only prince of their country they were more dedicated and fast.

Nathan knew that things were already progressing faster than normal and he should be patient. But knowing it was Marin made him nervous with each passing day.

"The messenger came back from Zemira." The general spoke grimly.

Nathan spared him a glance after hearing him.

"The result is the same as Asterin. No movements in the port. No new immigrants." He continued.

Nathan nodded at him and looked into the map again. No one saw a ship in the neighboring countries so where could they have gone?

Where are they?

They couldn't have gone too far with a ship that was stationary for so many years. They should have made a stop somewhere.

It was absurd that no one noticed a ship. Especially a pirate ship that also had a hostage on it.

They were certainly not close to the shore but they couldn't have gone deeper. And the ship. She couldn't have operated it on her own. She must have someone with her.

Someone she could trust. Nathan thought as he widens his eyes a little.

He turned to the general "Send a few people to search the city again. Investigate people in Oakhelm and Northlyn. Find all the places she could have gone to and All the people in contact with her before the banquet as soon as possible."

The general turned towards the commander giving out instructions.

"Also." Nathan paused making the general internally tense.

"Send a few people to the distant kingdoms too. No land should be spared," Nathan spoke with a smirk.

That's it. He finally figured it out. She must have more that one person helping out. He knew that the kingdom had a few pirates in hiding. He never bothered about such a small issue. But looks like all the small scums have come together to make trouble for him.

In that case, he would deal with all of them.

~.~

It was almost midnight. The moon peeped out occasionally but was hidden by the clouds. The window of the prince's room slid open and a person fully clothed in black walked in. His black boots were sogged and muddy as if he was earlier drenched in rain. He looked around the moonlit room keenly afraid to miss any minute details.

After searching everywhere in the bedroom he calmly entered the study. He looked around until his eyes finally rested on a certain pile near the end. Though the shelves and books along with the furniture were completely destroyed one thing was still intact. It was like a wooden box. Not the ordinary kind as it had resisted the fire. He held the box and rummaged his clothes to reveal a pendant that looked like a key.

He inserted the key and opened the box only to find a small parchment paper. He patted the insides of the box but there was nothing more. He took out the knife and even pierced into the soft cloth inside the box. Nothing but wool could be found. He clenched his fist holding the box with only one thing in his mind.

"Where is the crown?"

~.~