LEGEND OF DEATH'S ASSASSINS

CHAPTER 18

Negev took off the crown, stretching his neck as the weight dwindled. He could almost feel his heart racing but he tried to maintain a calm composure, for now at least. If two third of the people in Terah have been wiped out by this, unseen force, then nowhere was safe, not even Moseroth. Darkness was upon the land, and if he remembered correctly, the witch of Gordor had said something about an evil from the vast waste of the north. It will destroy life on earth, and would come with the mist and wind, the witch had said. He had not understood what it meant. Even now, it was still hazy and nebulous. Finding a safe haven would be the only option, but that would have been feasible if everything wasn’t happening so fast. Two years ago and he could think well without making any substantial decisions. But now...

“This is not good,” The King swallowed.

“Tell me about it,” Lucas rested his back on the concrete chair, closing his eyes as a gentle wind drifted into the garden, taking the scents of the flowers and spreading them into the vestibule. The music from the Palace’s orchestra had ceased now, and the maids that had been cleaning earlier were nowhere in sight. The king and his messenger were alone, even though the chatters of the palace maids could still be heard somewhere in the garden.

“It’s just a matter of time before we lose everything we have ever built.”

“Well, there is still life, dear friend and King,” Lucas said. He had opened his eyes now and has folded his hands on his chest, “We need to live first, that’s the priority. Problems are things of the living. A dead man cannot harvest or put into a barn, or worry themselves about evil and good. It’s a thing of the living. And we have been living all these while without care of what’s happening. But I think it’s time we step up for a change”

“I missed them” The King breathed in, “I missed our peaceful days. If I can retrieve yesterday for a while, I would cherish those moments, every single bit of it.”

“I understand your pain, dear friend.” Lucas nodded but did not turn his attention to the King, “But right now is not the time for wishful thinking. We must act fast if we want to live.”

“But how, Lucas? Should we close our borders and double our guards? Well, be my guest, because closing our gates to the outside world would drive our people into cannibalism, or worst.”

“I agree with you. Closing the borders is not the best option. For now, we have other options in our sleeve.”

“Like?” Negev asked, raising his left brow with both surprise and admiration. Lucas was too useful to be whiling his time as the King’s emissary. With such wisdom and expertise in strategy and economics, he should be in positions like the Kingdom’s treasury or war analyst. But the king wanted to keep him as a personal adviser. Twice the king had approached him on the topic and twice the man had declined. Lucas wanted a place where he would not have to argue or debate matters. To him, he preferred little tasks that would make him stand out as a commoner. It helps me observe people better. Lucas had said once.

“Like helping the neighboring villages.”

“Again,” Negev pointed out, “That’s way beyond my jurisdiction. The emperor would question my motives if I make any attempt with the other village.”

Lucas laughed.

“Are you really afraid of the emperor?”

The question drove an icy spear through Negev’s spine. The horrid picture tried to settle in his head, but he shook his head to keep them off. It has been sixteen years now, yet it has hunted his dream every single moment. But as it stands, he would not dive into that ocean again, not while his scars were beginning to heal.

“Of course it’s the emperor, what else?”

Lucas looked at him this time as if daring him to ask the question again. The man—like the other two trusted men in the King’s court—knew vividly how the witch of Gordor had cursed the Queen with death and the princess with a sleeping spell.

“I understand the blight of your yesterday. But, you will have to face the fact, one way or the other.”

“How can I, Lucas? The Gordor witch had warned me to stay put in the Kingdom or I would meet an untimely end.”

“And when did you start listening to the Gordor witch?”

“The day I lost my precious wife and daughter.”

They sat in silence for a while and when the King thought Lucas had exhausted his bank of words, the man said.

“You know it’s the only way. But like I said before, we need to live first. Since the Gordor witch had commanded you to remain within the walls of the palace, I suggest your authority should do the work.”

“Yes, my authority” The king rolled his eyes, “I am just finding it hard to trust anyone now.”

“I beg your pardon” Lucas laughed, “Aren’t you the one that selected those men?”

“I sure did,” the King chuckled, “But change, Lucas. Those men have changed and now, they are after the wealth and prestige. Each of them is only looking out for their own selfish interest”

“For the king of Moseroth, I never knew that the rich also cry.”

“You have no idea.” The king shook his head with sadness, “And to make matters worse, I can’t remove any of them from office.”

“Yeah.” Lucas nodded and stood from the seat, “They are the economy of the Kingdom. The powerhouse.”

“Exactly. And as it stands, the emperor is out for those Kingdoms that are not generating enough money for the empire.”

“Slay your demon, Negev. You are the king after all.”

Lucas stretched himself, trying to keep old age from his bones. He was Negev’s best friend as long as friendship exists. While most men desire riches, Lucas on the other hand prefers to keep his dealing as simple and unique as possible. It was one of the many reasons why King Negev loved him. The man was endowed with many flairs.

“There is one thing I want you to do for me, old friend.”

Even as the King was speaking, Lucas was already shaking his head in protest.

“What?” The King’s eyes parted.

“I know what you are going to say,”

“And what is that, if I may ask.”

“You want me to lead the army out of our kingdom, to help the surrounding villages.”

“Nah,” The King chuckled, “I have someone that would do that. Even though I don’t trust him to deliver an impeccable job, I will leave him with the task anyway.”

Lucas looked down at the king now, and this time, the crease on the side of his eyes folded into a more delicate line when he noted the seriousness in the king’s eyes.

“And what is this special task?” he said.

“I want you…” The king broke off, looking over his shoulders to make sure they were alone, “I want you to break my curse.”

The words came out as a whisper, but even as they left the King’s lips, he could almost feel the tension in them. For the past sixteen years, he had not left the palace’s wall. Why many thought him a coward or sick, only a hand few knew about his blight. And if anyone can save him from this tragedy, it was his trusted friend and messenger.

“My Lord,” Lucas said in a more solemn tone, “This is too great a task.”

“I know, my friend. But there is no other person that can help me break this spell.” The King took Luca’s hand. It was cold to touch, but the king was too distracted to notice. “I really need this.”

Something danced in Lucas’s eyes. The King could not say for sure, but he thought he saw something like fear. Well, who wouldn’t be afraid to find a witch that has so great a power to kill, to cause, to sleep, and to confine one within the walls of their own comfort. If Lucas refuses to embark on the journey, the King wouldn’t blame him. Everything that had happened had happened because of his selfishness and ego. If Lucas declined, the King would only blame himself.

“But where can I find this witch,” Lucas met the King’s eyes, “The emperor had banished every Witch, Seer, Seekers, and Magi, in the Kingdom. There is no way I can find her, not while death awaits anyone who practices such.”

“That’s why I need you, my friend. With your skill, I believe you can find anything, hidden to both humans and spirits. I need this Lucas Obrudan Lakewood. Will you help a friend?”

Lucas shrugged and shifted his weight. He seemed to struggle with himself for some time, but nodded reluctantly.

“I will help you find this witch. I will break this curse and bring your freedom and daughter back. This is my vow to you, King Negev of Moseroth”