The Wanderer: Mystery Of The Young Master

Chapter 11

The stated decree changed the atmosphere in the throne room, as most fell short of words, making them silent, even after the king was done talking, and all awaited the princess response to his decree.

Although most were not surprised by his decree, especially her family. Given the circumstance of things, and the fact that they were aware of most of the attempts the king made in securing her safety and the warning he gave. Even so, they couldn’t help but felt it was a bit too much, since she was a female.

Guarded everywhere, and anywhere seemed excessive and a breach of privacy, and yet he said he would take away her privacy, if she goes against his decree. And that made most wonder what was yet to be taken.

While the meaning of the king’s words was as clear as day to his mother and wife, which led them to employ him to reconsider that she was just going through a phase, before the princess made any utterance. In fear that she won’t give in to his decree.

Believing their plea could help suade him, but in the case of otherwise. They knew them taking the lead to request that the king reconsider his stated decree, would redirect his action to them, even if she refuse to give in to it. Since it would seem that they were supporting her, which in turn would complicate things.

Hopefully, enough to prevent him from going through with his action of, if she refused his decree, so they hoped. While they paid little to no concern of what might happen to them in consequence to their action.

However the king ignored their plea, knowing what they were playing at. Standing on his stated decree, as her junior brother and knight was speechless. Knowing they can’t do much of anything, since his the king. And her knight believed the king’s decree would secure her safety, which he aspired for. But he felt same can’t be said for her happiness.

Pondering on, if the king was only gunning for her safety, and profit for the kingdom, as the thoughts of such made him felt annoyed. While the thought of if the king’s decree was partly, because he thought so little of his capability to protect her, started surfacing in his mind. Meanwhile the king’s right hand man knew the king’s decree only had her best interest at heart, as he could sense the king’s true emotions.

While most, if not all were in a bit of panic to the decree of the king. The princess in question didn’t react to his words, or showed any form of concern to them. Instead she kept patting her younger sister, who came to grab her earlier, crying her eyes out, but now was shivering in fear of the king.

Not paying much attention to his words, as the fear of him being mad overwhelmed her, while unaffected by his intimidation. Her elder sister, the second princess tried calming her, with a smile on her face, as she whispered that all was going to be well, and would end soon for them to play. Before giving the king a reply.

Knowing there was nothing she could do to suade him, or make him reconsider things. And she believed it was probably for the best for her to do as he said for both the kingdom and its people, at least for now. Especially when she knew what he meant by taking her privacy, if she object to his decree.

“I’ll do as you said, your majesty… However I’ll appreciate it if you could help decrease the pain have caused, if not created, by releasing the people arrested during the cause of your search for me in the kingdom, as that of the repairs of the homes and goods destroyed…”

“Given how it’s obvious they had no hand in my absent… And since I am in charge of the development of the kingdom and finance of it I can assure you we have more than enough to address such, without it affecting the treasury much…”

“So could you be so kind, as to grant this ignorant child such kindness… Your majesty” she said appealing, as she kneeled with both legs, while she rest her younger sister on her laps. Her knight was shocked upon hearing her response, as that of her family, in surprised that she gave in, so easily. As they watched the event unfold.

“I’ll see to it... You don’t need to worry about that” the king replied, concealing his disappointment of the deeds of the general, while looking close at her as she kneeled.

He only noticed then, she had no markings, nor any form of injury; her clothes had no scratch or any dirt that would show that she was in any struggle, or trouble, which put his mind at ease.

However he couldn't help but felt a bit surprise, she gave in so easily, and was curious as to how she came by the information. As the thought of her knight being the informant came to mind.

“It seems uncle is still stirring up troubles for me… I wonder why you always choose to give me such a hard time uncle? Ugh” the king thought to himself in self-pity, worried of what the outcome of the raid would be.

“Thank you, your majesty” she replied, showing her gratitude, but her voice didn’t hold much of it, as it was embodied with sadness, while she was trying her possible best to hold back her true emotions and thoughts of things.

“Don’t thank me with your words… Show me your gratitude by not causing any more trouble… We are done for tonight… So, get some rest… All of you” the king said dismissing all present. Calling it a night.

It took them only a moment for them to leave the throne room. After the concluded discussion, the king’s younger brother went to his elder sister, the second princess, to take his younger sister off her, so the second princess could rest for the night, and not otherwise. While greeting his elder sister in the process, but the third princess refused.

As she caused a bit of commotion, but was later pulled off her, and carried to her chamber. After the second prince told her, if she kept resisting he would tell the king.

While the queen, and the king’s mother rushed to the second princess, one in each arms, as they pulled her to her chamber, in concern of things, especially with her decision. In hopes to suade her to retain it, while the second princess thanked them for all their support and aid, all after the king’s dismissal. Leaving no chance for her to bid her knight farewell.

In light to that her knight left bidding his farewell to the king, in belief his present was no longer needed, leaving the throne room, and the palace, as he head home. Disturb by the result of the event.

Moments after all except sir Tosin and the unconscious guards was in the throne room. The king then, used his authority to awake the guards, he made passed out. After he gave a secret order to his right hand man, to investigate the missing note, he proposed earlier, her whereabouts.

And as that of everything that happened in the kingdom during, the course of searching for her amongst other things, and all should be reported to him once done. Without alerting anyone, especially the general and the chiefs of his council of such being conducted. He then left to his chamber, calling it a night.

It was night time, and most part of the radiant kingdom, that wasn’t raided was living up to its name, as each region, sparkled as the street lanterns was lit. Making the view of things alluring and visible as the wanderer and Olamide head home for the night. While the wanderer could sense the ease of tension all around the regions. Filling the atmosphere with more of warmth, and relief.

And the people were filled with less negativity, as the raids had seized to be for the night, even the disturbing trace of standard energy (soldiers), he sensed heading to the market square before he left, had arrive but was with less hostility now, and some had even withdraw. The current change in the atmosphere made him felt he had done his part for the night, and the general had kept to their accord.

As they were jumping from one rooftop to another with high speed, and precision. Leaving no sound as they moved, or present. The wanderer moved sensing almost all the sensation the people felt, in each region, community, house, and market place they moved passed, and to, instinctively.

From their positive emotions to otherwise. While witnessing the busy night of sales, within certain markets in the regions, as the sellers and buyers transact between themselves, while they moved pass them.

With the stands of restaurants and more, as the street became crowdie; filled with people, as far as the eyes could see. With the nightlight spreading, all through the corners, and outlets of the kingdom.

Making most things visible, which had little to no difference from when he first entered the market, it was more like both the buyer and seller never left, or were taking turns for purchase. Having a shift for each period: morning, afternoon and night. At least so he thought.

However, he could sense that compared to when he came into the kingdom. The air and atmosphere now was rather whelming with excitement, there was hardly any sense of malice around. One would hardly believe certain parts of the kingdom was raid few moments back.

“It would seem the old man kept to his word and added a little bonus… To had pulled out most, if not all the raids in the regions… He must be quite influential…?”

“Well, he is the general and the orchestrator of the raids, so I guess, it’s only natural for him to be influential” Olamide replied, after hearing the wanderer uttered words, in sensing the changes in the atmosphere of the kingdom.

“Wait… His the general?”

“Yes sire… Couldn’t you tell…? I thought it was obvious given his energy signature… And how he was the one in charge… I guess his dressing was what distracted you from coming to such conclusion right?” Olamide replied in a bit of sarcasm to the wanderer’s question. While relieved that his previous act was not because he was in search of the general, but at the same time curious of his actual reason. As they leaped.

“Nah, that wasn’t it, but your whining was quite distracting, it's probably the cause… Especially, the constant complain of what will, and will not be a hindrance to my stay… And that of your obvious sarcasm infused in each turn, or opportunity you get… It’s quite boorish… I would punish you if I wasn’t mesmerize by the view of the kingdom right now”

“Then Thank God for the radiant of the kingdom, but I do agree it is a sight to behold… Even at night the kingdom is always a sight for sore eyes… I guess you could say the kingdom lives up to its name” Olamide continued expressing his thought of the night, with a significant level of passion, in response to the wanderer’s comment.

“I see… You’ve gotten attached to the kingdom haven’t you…? Well, I guess sending you here was the right choice after all” the wanderer thought, in a bit of relief.

It only took a few minutes for them to reach their final stop. A story building, which the lower part, or first floor of the building was used, as a gallery studio. Dealing in sales, and display of art works amongst other things. And the other was used as the residents’ homes.

Olamide guided the wanderer in, as lambs attached to certain corners of the walls of the studio were still lit. Making the view around visible as they entered. From the painting erected in display, to even a man sitting on one of the painting space, at the edge of the studio inside.

While the wanderer could sense the present of someone concealed in the shadows, at the front side of the man sitting as he paint.

“Greetings, Sir… Am back, and I…”

“Hi, Old man, sir Babatunde… I hope you’ve both been well” the wanderer said, cutting in to Olamide’s statement. While he reached to the shoulder side of the man painting, as he waved to the person in the shadows, all in an instant, after entering the studio.

“Greetings, sire” the man concealing his present in the shadow replied, taking a bow to greet the wanderer. Recognizing his voice and present, before the man painting could reply. While still retaining his present in the shadows.

“Nephew? How pleasant… I’ll take it you had a fight again?”

“Now that’s hurtful, old man… You’re making it sound like I only come to visit, when am in trouble”

“Is that not the case? Because given how there was no prior notice of your visit, and the history of your visits… It’s a bit hard to think otherwise… Or am I wrong, Nephew”

“Again hurtful… But as much fun, as it would be to engage on who’s right or otherwise… I’ll have to pass… Given how it’s a bit late, and am exhausted, so right now arguing is a luxury I can’t afford unfortunately…”

“So how about we just agree to disagree, old man?” the wanderer suggested. Smiling as he itched the back of his head, in response to the man painting words, as he remained seated, painting. While the man concealing himself in the shadow stood watching them, as they talked, and Olamide did the same.

“Hm… Agree to disagree, huh? Okay… However pray tell Abidemi why the hell are you still addressing me as old man? If memories serve, I’ve told you countless times to refrain from such boorish act, even when last we saw… So, why are you still addressing me as such…?”

“Do you want to die?” the man painting asked the wanderer. Holding back a bit of his anger, as to how he was addressing him. While he made a sudden pause from painting, almost breaking his painting brush, with his fingers holding it, as some of his anger made shore of his consciousness, while his painting brush was still on the canvas, as he paused.