The Kings Secret
1036 Words
Chapter 14
The King's brother sat with Terry silently, his eyes scanning the environment. He wondered why everyone was safe and nothing had happened, just as the strange man had said.
The King's brother: "I'm not happy with how peaceful the King is."
Terry: "That is your misunderstanding—they aren't peaceful. They are worried about my brother."
The King's brother nodded as soon as the King stepped out of his room and sat with them at the dining table. He started phase 1 of his plan.
The King's brother: "I am very worried about Prince Anderson." He winked at Terry.
Terry nodded and played along. "Not just Anderson, but Michael as well. Michael is such a coward; he runs away from his own sword. He should have been a woman, but the gods made him a man by accident."
The King's brother couldn't help but laugh. The King also laughed. Terry and his uncle stared at him—why was he laughing? They wanted him to be worried and abandon his breakfast.
Terry: "What is funny, Father?"
The King: "I’m just happy to see you concerned about your brother; it warms my heart. But you are a knight—isn’t it your duty to go with him and protect him, to sacrifice your life for the people and for your future King?"
The King's words struck Terry's heart like a sword. He was right, but Terry needed to be here. If Anderson died, this was his chance to be the next heir.
The King smiled and walked away after eating to his fill.
The King's brother: "And you said the King was worried? I think the King is hiding something from us, from everyone."
Terry's eyes widened. "What is it?"
The King's brother: "Magic."
Terry nodded; he was eager to know more about what his uncle was saying, but he noticed the King's head guard watching them. The guard's eyes didn't even blink.
Terry told his uncle to be silent and look to his left.
The King's brother: "Whenever I see him, I feel goosebumps all over me—his eyes make my skin crawl."
Terry: "Me too. We need to eliminate all those who are faithful to the King and chip in our faithful servants."
The King's brother smiled; working with Terry was more fun than working with Anderson. Anderson was always caring and considerate, but Terry was a demon worth reckoning with.
The King's brother: "I have always wanted to be King, but I’m sure that if you are King, you’ll do exactly as I say—and that is enough for me."
Terry smiled; he had finally won his uncle over.
Terry: "The Ring will be yours, but the throne and the crown will be mine. Now let’s go before the King's head guard suspects us."
The King's brother nodded, feeling fulfilled.
The gates of the palace were always open to those citizens who needed help. Today, the knights opened the gates to four wretched-looking people.
Amanda: "Oh my goodness, this place is amazing. If this was heaven, I wouldn’t be surprised at all."
Amanda's husband: "Can’t you keep your foolish thoughts to yourself?"
Amanda's husband looked at the knight with puppy eyes and folded his hands.
Amanda's husband: "Forgive her, please; this is what I have to deal with every day."
The knight smiled and let them in.
In the palace, Terry bribed a woman to stir up a rumor.
Maid: "The prince has been gone for weeks now—what if he’s been eaten by a wild animal or killed by witches?"
The people mourned instantly; they couldn’t bear the news. The news spread to the King's ear, and he became furious, ordering the woman to be sent to prison.
The King: "If anyone speaks ill of my son again, the same fate awaits them—and worse."
Terry and his uncle watched from a distance. His uncle had told him that there must be some magic protecting the palace and Eryndor. Terry agreed, because no spell seemed to penetrate the palace, yet the King was hell-bent on destroying magic—such a hypocrite.
Terry: "But what if he isn’t aware of this?"
The King's brother: "Then we should make him and the people aware."
Terry smiled when suddenly a woman bumped into him.
Amanda: "You’re the prince’s adopted brother, right?"
The word "adopted" got Prince Terry extremely furious.
Terry: "What did you say to me?"
Amanda's husband rushed to his knees to plead on behalf of his wife.
Terry: "I’m not as kind-hearted as other people you may have met before."
Terry lifted his hand high in the air and hit the woman; the sting was so hard it made her fall.
Terry: "Let that be a lesson to you."
The Witches’ Village
Anderson smiled; finally, people. The strange man was upset—he didn’t want Anderson to find any other help. He cast a spell to make Anderson weaker, but it didn’t work at all. He looked at his hands. His mind instantly went to Princess Aria—was she protecting him? He moved swiftly to where he had tied them up.
Jeff: "It’s a good thing you’re here."
Jeff's eyes sparkled with a bit of hope as soon as the strange man stood before them.
Jeff: "Just look at her—I’m sure you have a sister or at least a mother. She’s dying; if you don’t restore her powers, she won’t be able to survive."
The strange man: "How did you know I took her powers?"
Jeff: "It just came out—I didn’t know at all."
The strange man: "You’re just a boy; you haven’t eaten a bit in weeks, yet you aren’t weak at all. You only look thirsty."
Jeff: "I’m sorry if my existence bothers you. I just have a very high tolerance level. You’ll need it when Prince Anderson eventually asks for your help—he is very annoying."
As Jeff spoke, the strange man looked at Aria; he needed her to be alive so he could bargain with the King of Zorek, but giving her some of her powers back might put him in danger.
Jeff: "Will you help her, please?"
- Writer
