THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS

Amorous Suspicions

 Chapter XIII

The new applicants was ordered to form a group that would consist five members.

Qardolan conceived a plan to ensnare the truth behind this man named Lamon, and that is to include him on his team to keep him closer. He has been studying his actions since the first day of the training, and he has always been the most peculiar to the rest of them. His skills were average and slacking for a son of the gathom.

 “ahmmmm—It’s fine with me to join the others though. You don’t have to...” Arayan is anxious with the way the other three members glaring at her 

“I’ve heard rumors about you, they said you almost got beaten by that Mourhak” The guy named Maro infiltrates his criticizing eyes to Arayan, and raises his eyebrow over her “really?-I—I don’t know about that” Arayan faked a laugh to evade his probing questions 

“No way! For a gathom, that Mourhak is a doddle” other’s argued, watching her with adoration on their eyes. Qardolan couldn’t disagree with Maro’s adverse attitude towards Lamon. Others might blindly believe his claim, but it is obvious that he is feigning his identity. However, for Maro, his physical features speaks too much of his personality, and it is intimidating enough for the rest of them. Qardolan wouldn’t be surprise if he is actually the real son of Arman Compare to the bragging Lamon who’s been laughing incessantly with his newly purchased followers. 

The other member of their team is Ramesis, he is a tall skinny guy whose countenance is always gentle and friendly. He only listens to their chattering, but he is one of Lamon’s fanatics 

“it’s okay Lamon, you are the star student and it would be an honor to have you in our team” Qardolan couldn’t help but act like them, though he is beginning to understand what Maro feels. He intently watches him from the back of his followers. He indeed has interesting features. Even though he has been watching him from distance for the past few days, he never had the chance to watch him closely that much. But upon his gaze, he discovered his soothing appearance. He really does reminds him of a woman, and a strikingly attractive one.

Maro marched towards Arayan; Flaunting his muscular body as the other applicants made way. He spit on the ground, as a mark of disrespect to her

 “I don’t believe you single-handedly defeated the Mourhak, the ogre that has been feared by most of the challengers inside the arena” she couldn’t possibly answer him straight. She knew too well that those rumors are nothing but an embellishment to acknowledge her presence as Lamon 

“ahmmmm...” Arayan cleared her throat “ye-yeah! I-it was a piece of cake to me” she tried to pull another chortle but it is no longer supporting. Maro was more pissed by her response and glared viciously at her as she tried to avoid making contact and turn herself back to the others.

With an awkward manly voice she greeted them and thump them on their back like what men always do with their buddies—but wait—do they? Yet, she felt discomfited by the way they reacted. They all glanced at her befuddling and quite surprised, thinking—this guy acts suspiciously weird—“ahhh.... now I know! You became like that because of your heavy and extremely difficult training” Ramesis exclaimed with a teary approval towards her. He seems too stupid not to consider her physical outlook. With a cheerful bearing he reached Arayan’s hand and greeted her back “Ahhhhh!! Hehehehe!!” only Jehino made less reaction amongst them, the fifth member of Qardolan’s team, whom he found so untalkative. He’s like ‘Quamran’—Arayan though as she looked at his dreary and rather dull face.

“This shall be your permanent group from now on. All the groups will be assigned into three different designation in accordance to the result of your test” the officer who’s been standing along with other officers at the center proclaimed. His uniform announces his high rank from the other officers. He let his eyes advance to study the entire figure of probably ridiculous trainees

 “the first task will be...” he paused, and glanced at them once again, making the announcement longer. Long enough for them to sweat hard, and suit himself with the pleasure of watching the exhilarating atmosphere of his new preys 

“Hunting!” 

The men shouted an intense enthusiasm. Except Arayan who’s hoping for something she might experience for the first time; such as horse riding or a one on one battle for at least a real human. Hunting isn’t new to her, and in fact she is positively confident with her skills towards it, it’s not so enjoyable though, for she’s been doing it day after day before she was sent into the palace.

“Hunting?” the boys murmured “how is that related on being a knight?” Maru said stridently              

“A knight Hunts” another officer appeared. This time, he has shiny bald head and more tough looking than the others; tall and has a very fierce- full voice. His wearing a heavy bronze colored armor and as he walk towards them, the rest of the officials paced back. This guy, in front of them is no ordinary official, he is probably a general some sort.

“A knight is not just a warrior with dignity and name. They are hunters of justice. They hunt the enemies to bring peace and righteousness for their king’s honor” the man step down towards Maru to meet his eyes

 “Do you understand?” His eyes widened and sharpened at the same time 

 “yes sir!” Maru cleared his throat and fix his pose prominently with his hand both at his side. 

The officer noticed the single  boy at the back row “who are you?” Arayan stumbled herself with a much discernible nervousness 

“I—” 

“why is a woman in here?”

 Qardolan gripped as he realized, he is not the only one to noticed Lamon’s female appearance. Arayan tried to meddle up 

“si—sir”

“silence! You will only feed a blood to the enemies” the Officer examine her thoroughly 

“Well, you must be from the chivalry. You are tall for a boy” the officer’s resolve did not satisfy Qardolan. The absence of his muscular figure does not imply he is just a boy. Lamon must have stronger charm amulet to deceive as many people as he want.

“Send this boy back to his master” he commanded

But an officer from the left side came running to whisper to him “what?” he exclaimed and turn back to the boy “you? You are Lamon?” Arayan flustered another discernable feeling. Yet, it is not just nervousness she feels, it is fear 

“Ahh!! ye-Yes!” she cleared her throat again, the same as what Maru performed, and lift her voice boldly to uphold her manliness 

“what?” from the looks of his opposing eye brows, he refuses to believe the information given to him 

“It can’t be” 

“but sir, it was the queen who announced that this guy defeated the Mourhak inside the arena”

“so there is this fable of the wolves residing inside the lamb’s body” the man advanced to her with a much more scrutinizing gaze 

“but still a fable is a fable” said he, burying his keen to Arayan’s most humble smile

 “show me! how will you prove that a fable could also be a fact” This little wimp is Lamon, the ace of Shuixron, the champion of his tribe. there is no more greater delusion than this news

 “I have never seen a Gathom, I cannot tell whether he is telling the truth or not, but I’ve heard rumors about your kingdom” he looked at him more vividly "why would the greatest soldier of Shuixron allying himself to one of its rival kingdom. I cannot believe the queen considered you irrationally. Isn’t this a treason to your kingdom? Your King helped you during your war against Kamuary, why would you betray him now?”

 Arayan lift her gaze to meet his, and with formality she spoke her thoughts against him “My kingdom? Hm- I am looking for my—s someone. I care less about that infernal kingdom, my duties are to protect my tribe and my bro—sister, betraying or not, I have no plans on becoming someone’s minion” in that sense Qardolan agrees with him intellectually. Truly the kingdom is infernal, with that devil prince around 

“your sister? The Prince’s fiancée who manipulated the prince of Shuixron. Interesting! Because her very own brother is going to fight for Qionar, for what? Because your king is worthless and your prince is a freak who couldn’t control the demon inside him?” the officer spoke loudly to the soldiers around

 “Everyone know this folly, Shuixron is nothing but a display. A huge act to please the freaky monster they keep inside that castle. adorned with fallacy and tales for children and idiots!” Arayan began fuming with anger, how much do he know the prince? He doesn’t know anything, she tried to grab the man to confront him 

“you wouldn’t call him demon” feeling reluctant of what she is about to do 

“What do we have here? Are you challenging me warrior?” the man cast her hands off him and counter him with a mocking stare. Her tears are abiding to fall, but she tried her best to keep it that way 

“Enough!” a voice of a woman yelled from nearby, the soldiers from the front; as well as the rest of the officers lined up before the woman. 

“You’re Highness” it’s the Queen. 

“Leonar! I didn’t give you any permission to humiliate my champion”                                           

“you’re Highness” the man bowed his head to the queen                                                                                                  

 “I have witnessed his strength and it was no doubt, truly he is the son of Arman”                               

“But Your Highness! He is no doubt a spy, he will betray us in no time and destroy our kingdom”

“I didn’t asked for your opinion”                                                                                                            

“My Queen, he is Lamon have you forgotten, he is the son of the greatest traitor of Kamuary” 

“Silence! I know what I am doing? Do you take me as an i***t as well Leonar?”                                                    

“No Your Highness, Forgive my Imprudence” he stepped back to let his queen pass towards Arayan 

“Forgive him, he doesn’t know what he’s doing” the queen herself went to ask this young man’s forgiveness, who is he? What is his relationship with the Queen and why do the queen trust him so much. Those thoughts troubled Qardolan, there must be something about this guy, he is aware about the tales of Gathoms, and he as well knows that Lamon is the new Ashoqhamen of  Ligayun, “but what exactly is he doing in Qionar?” Qardolan pondered.