THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS

The Hero’s Betrayal

Chapter XV

The rumors about Lamon betraying Shuixron by affiliating himself to Qionar extended throughout the kingdoms.

The trustful Squire of Shuixron overheard the news from the gossiping merchants and quickly went to an errand of delivering it to the castle.

“Your Majesty…..Your Majesty……” the door opens for the winded Squire. His exhausted look dazzled both the prince and the king as he enters the great hall. The king remained at his throne while prince Eulo approached him to help him relax, but his comfort only made the uneasiness worst. The Squire bowed down his head and trembled away from the prince. It is already expected, but Eulo is no longer used to it since Arayan wouldn’t avoid him when she was still in the castle, he is only reminded to the one person he is desperate to forget.                                      

 “What?” the king yelled “Your majesty  A very bad news!”                                                                                               

 “what is it” said the King serenely

 “it----it’s ----it’s” he drop his knees to the ground and exhaled a heavy breath to lessen his exhaustion 

“relax! you are not chased by a wild boar” the king teased 

“but Your Majesty, Lamon is allying himself to the rival kingdom, he will be participating for Qionar” 

 “What?” He stood up to attempt an action, but he is too vulnerable to do so. The news have affected his calm. Though there is no way Lamon will ever betray him. Yet, what is this squire talking about? Is he lying to him? Why would he? He sure must find out 

“father ” Eulo’s voice recovered him after seeing his flustered expressions 

“there is no use of panic without first investigating the situation” said Eulo, and he is right! Outraging will never resolve anything.

Before the war Lamon pledged his loyalty to the Kingdom. Someone must have been using his name? And who is it? No one would dare to use Ligayun’s Ashoqhamen’s name. Not unless this person knows him very well, or somehow related to him very closely

 “Arayan” the only person who has the guts to do such idea. Since he haven’t heard any news about Lamon, the only hole to be ascertain is the real Lamon’s location, where could he be?

 “Father, Do the Ascans still refuses to accept our help? Are you still allowing the Elves to freely intrude our lands for that?” Prince Eulo queried and doubted the possibilities he has in mind 

“Yes! Yes until they realize that they need our help and surrender themselves to us!”                                                                                     

“Father? Could it be that it is Arayan who pretended to be Lamon” 

“What? How will that be possible, Arayan is a woman and she is far from her brother’s appearance, I doubt she can be” 

“but father, she might have been looking for Lamon, after the war we heard nothing about them and now it is impossible that a treason to be committed in this situation, not unless if the reason of such treachery is—” 

His views towards the circumstances deterred Eulo from saying another word. Only Arayan has a reason to do so. It might be too painful to accept it, but, Arayan might be the person behind this 

“Stop it Eulo! There is no point on remembering her. It will only increase your despair—her or not, this will never stop us from retrieving what is ours”

 Eulo’s vision hazed, his hand gripped as he tries to be firm over his father’s advice. He is right, remembering his broken love will only Increase his despair. But perhaps— somewhere inside him, hoping that if he can obtain the scroll, he might be able to become normal, and Arayan might come back to him.

“Find Lamon and bring him here, I will speak to him myself ” commanded the king. The Idea of Ligayun betraying them is just too far from reality. they have nurtured their minds into great dependency towards Shuixron, it will take another lifetime of their first Markham to change that ideology. 

Now, Who could answer him this disturbing news about Lamon. it is either he captures Lamon and make him explain himself, or someone from Ligayun would do the job for their Hero.

Not knowing the conflict caused by Lamon’s absence, the tribe of Ligayun continued to live harmonious as they always are. But, Namasi is no longer a recipient of such life, as she woke up with clothes covering her body and Kundra nowhere to be found, her horrors has just began. 

She was left alone in the forest, confounded by the way Kundra treated her. She stood and wore her clothes back, and walk feebly back to their shack

 “Namasi! Where have you been?” an old friend came approach her

“no! I—went outside to take a deep breath”                                                                  

“you must have missed Quamran so much huh! Well, now you miss Kundra’s departure!” Namasi shook her head and raised it with confusions 

“left?”                                                                                                                                                          

  “Yes! The old Shama said he will go to the main kingdom and talk to the king about Lamon, he has not come home yet” Namasi is now more confused than distress

 “why? What happened? Something happened isn’t it?” Namasi dropped her emotions and worried about Arayan and Quamran rather 

“I don’t know, But I bet the kingdom of Shuixron is making moves to find him now”

Him? Only him? Or Arayan and Quamran as well. These are questions she knew she will never get to answer by just sitting there embracing herself from the intrusions Kundra did to her.