The Wanderer: Mystery Of The Young Master

Chapter 9

The knight with a machete was overwhelmed by the change of event. He froze in shock, as all the street lantern light seized to be. Trying to comprehend his speed, and reaction time. Knowing his comrade shot was in an instant, practically in real-time. Dodging the bullets should be impossible.

And the act of catching the bullet should be same, but yet he still had time to make it towards them without getting spotted, or sensed. At the moment, the only thing he could sense was an unfathomable sense of horror by his present, which made him think he wasn’t human.

“I’ll take it, you didn’t come here just to show off… If you have business with us state it, or be on your way… As you can see we are busy” the general said, with a rather intimidating voice, closing his eyes, a bit disturbed by the change of event, but curious of his business with them.

The mixed crowd were unaware of what was happening, after everything went pitch black, leaving the rays of the moon and stars to be there light. But after hearing the general’s voice, they turned to look at his direction hoping to gain sight of the cause of their current predicament.

To their surprise, they were unable to see a clear view of things, but observed a form of a shadow-like figure in front of one of the knights. While noticing the seize of movement from the soldiers around, and the knights with the general.

Upon gaining sight of the change of things, for a brief moment they all kept silent, as the view of what they saw overwhelmed them, from the kids that were crying to the parents, and adults around. Leaving them speechless, as they were unable to decipher, or comprehend if it was a friend, or foe to them.

They couldn’t even tell, if it was human, as they were unable to see anything, but a plain shadow-like figure. Due to the distance, position and the loss of light. But for some reason, the people of the resident were not concern, as to how it got in front of the knight, nor were they concern of how it seized the knights and soldiers around of their movement, or that of how he got the attention of the general.

They only hoped it could, at least help them break free from the b*****e they found themselves under. As they yelled for it to help them, while the soldiers were, in shock, comprehending the situation to be them being outmatched.

“You’re busy huh? I don’t really think the people you bounded up would call this being busy… Abusing is most likely the word that would come in mind…”

“But if you’re a masochist, or a sadist… It’s understandable, but you should do that with people that craves such… However this is me just saying, but I don’t think it’s wise closing your eyes to an opponent, especially one that could end you, so to say” the wanderer replied the general. Sharing his thoughts of things, while he walked towards the general unaware of who he was, or care of it.

The general who stood few lengths behind the two knights, didn't respond to the wanderer’s words, even as his intimidation was a bit overwhelming for him to stand. While the knights in front of him were unable to shake off the horror, they sensed from him.

“However, judging by the branded mark, I'll take it you're just a mere puppet... But it does seem like you're in charge of things here though… Am correct in assuming such?" The wanderer asked while recognizing the mark on the general to be a branded mark of a cursed pact.

“He can see it...? How? Who is this fellow?” he pondered in shocked to his words.

“Still not going to answer huh? Okay then, I'll be blunt... If you still wish to walk out of here, unscathed, and wish same for your comrades... I'll advise you proceed with your actual order of finding the princess, rather than your parade of abuse and disturbance in the kingdom…”

“Am feeling quite generous tonight, so, if you heed my words, I’ll give you a hint to her location, or better yet, I’ll overlook your acts, as that of your men, and even keep the secret of your brand mark, so, what say you?” the wanderer, whispered stating his demand, as his voice was rather intimidating, but gentle, while at the shoulder side of the general. Carefree of what his response might be.

The general didn’t pay much attention to his words, even when the thought of how he knew of his brand mark plagued him. Or when he knew he was serious of his uttered words, especially, when his present alone gave a significant level of intimidation, which made him believed he could end them all with ease.

Since even, he was not sure, if he could stand the intimidation if he kept it up. However, his pride as a general, made him to conclude not to give in, to whatever his demand might be.

But after hearing him state his demand, he couldn’t help, but to succumb to his words. Considering the safety of his men, and his secret. At that moment he became relieved and a bit overwhelmed with curiosity, as to who he was, how he knew of his secret, and if he could be of aid to him.

“Okay, I’ll do as you asked, so pray tell, where is the young lady?”

“Am glad you could see things my way… She is in a place that start with pa and ends with lace… Am certain someone of your brilliance will be able to fill in the gaps” the wanderer whispered with a smile on his face as he turn to face the general, after hearing the general’s answer.

“By the way, let's try not to meet like this, next time, okay… There's no telling if I might be this generous, again”

“Noted, but if you don’t mind me asking, why are you helping this people, or rather why now...? Are you some kind of aspiring vigilante?”

“Nope, I don’t think so, at least… Am just cleaning up a mess I partly caused… However, if you want one, I could play the role, to kill time… Given your circumstance, and how I can help change it, but it might cost you, your life though… Will your people be okay with that?”

“Hahaha!” the general laughed, unable to answer his question, as the wanderer concluded their talk. Fading to the night, returning the light to all the street lanterns in the area, after he had fade away from view. While the general stood unable to stop laughing to his question, in fear of holding out hope, as he opened his eyes to gaze at the night stars, and the moon after so long.

None, heard what the wanderer, and the general was talking about. Even the knight in front of the general didn’t hear a word of what they discussed, as they were still occupied with trying to shake off the intimidation they felt, even as he had fade to the night.

While puzzled as to why the general was laughing, and if he was unaffected by the intimidation.

The people of the residents bounded up were confused, as they were yet to know what was about to transpire after their talk, but hoped it would be of favour to them, as they were also confused as to why the general was laughing.

“So, what do you think? Was I long?” the young master said, appearing behind Olamide, on the roof of the building he left.

“Sire, are you okay?”

“C’mon now, you didn’t actually think his shot could actually hit me right? Just wanted to test how much of my intimidation they could take… As that of if they could sense my present in the process… But the result is less promising than expected” the wanderer said, in disappointment, in response to Olamide’s question.

“But still that was reckless… His bullets are not that of an ordinary knight, they are cursed bullets that pierce anything, and keeps the wounds from healing… Are you sure, your hand is okay… Let me see” Olamide said, grabbing his young master's hand, checking if he was okay, but to his surprise there was not a scratch on him.

“I noticed, when I caught the bullets… But such can't work on me, as you can see… Unless you’ve forgotten I can also use dark art, amongst other things… So, how about we get going?”

“Oh… Yeah… But…?”

“Don’t worry the people will be fine… I guess you can say the old man and I have a… Accord” the wanderer relayed in confidence, putting at ease Olamide’s worries of the safety of the folks bounded up outside their residence.

The wanderer and Olamide both left, with Olamide not sure of what he meant by the accord he and the general had. But believed this was possibly one of the best outcome the event could possibly have. As he was overwhelm with relief, and excitement, of his young master’s achievement, if truly the general would let the people be, as they left for home.

The soldiers, and knights around were filled with shame, disgusted of how one person rendered them, useless, and helpless by just his present. While the general pondered on, if truly he could be what he said to him, but refused to get his hopes up, as a sense of relief overwhelmed him. Pondering on the possibility of things.

“There might be hope for us yet… I truly hope you can be that for me and prevent what is yet to come” the general thought, as he stood gazing at the night sky, disappointed the moon didn’t grant him a view of its full form on his first night of looking at the sky, after so long, but he found comfort in the radiant of the twinkling stars.

Few minutes earlier. Back at the palace gates before the princess passed through the palace entrance doors. She stopped for a moment. Hoping the wanderer was still keeping watch over her, and could hear, as she said her farewell, in hopes that after goodbyes comes hellos.

“Thanks for everything… I hope we meet again” she whispered ever so quietly, as her voice was filled with gratitude, and a stain of sadness as she hope he could still hear her.

After passing the palace doors. One of the guards who had rushed in to announce her present to the king, upon gaining sight of her with her knight at the palace gate, was in the throne room relaying what he had saw to the king, and all in the throne room. Her family; the king his wife, mother and siblings who were waiting anxiously for a feedback from the general, as regards to the whereabouts of the second princess.

“What did you just say? Are you sure of what you’re saying?” the Queen and the king’s mother responded in surprise, with a hint of relief to what they heard with hope of the news, being true, as they tried to confirm it. While the king felt relieved upon hearing the news, as that of the others, as they were hoping to gain sight of her soon.

“Yes, your majesty… I spotted her entering the palace gates just now with Sir Adewale OluWakola Wole one of the kingdom's knight of the 4” the guard relayed stating all he knows.

“Now that’s a relief… My baby girl is safe… Thank God” the mother of the king, who was also the mother of the lady in hoodie clothing said.

“It is truly a relief” her siblings said in respond to their mother’s words.

“Good work… You can now return to your post” the king said in gratitude, before he waved his hand. Dismissing the guard from the throne room, before he left bowing returning to his post.

“Sir, Tosin”

“Yes, sire”

“Please send word to the general of her arrival… That should suspend, if not end his raid in the kingdom… Hopefully, there won't be much casualties… And please, let them know their present is not required tonight… They should rest, and we’ll meet tomorrow to continue further discussion… Understood?” the king said relaying his order to his right hand man, in a bit of relief, as his voice and expression had a stain of guilt.

“Yes, sire… I'll do just that” he replied, acknowledging his king’s order, which led to him using an art to summon a messenger bird to relay his king’s message, which he sent flying to the recipient, after he passed its thoughts to it.

Fortunately for the general, the messenger bird baring the order of the king came few seconds, after the wanderer had just concluded his talk with the general and left the scene. Giving him an excuse to work with.

“Hmm… I guess, he was telling the truth then… Hopefully, if this is not a coincidence, there might be hope yet” the general thought in a bit of excitement, as the bird had reached him, relaying its message and then returned to nothing, after the general had acknowledge receiving the message.