CHAPTER THREE.
Devin smiled triumphantly as he heard his father's words, it was a win-win for him. He would never get to see Zayn again and he didn't have to hear anymore that he was the most attractive prince.
"Father please, don't do this. Whatever have I done to deserve this?"
Despite his wound, tears flowed out of his eyes and it stinged his wound, causing him to feel a sharp pain but he couldn't care any less.
"And you're leaving the palace this second!" King Arsenio stood up from his throne and left the throne room with his arrogant sons.
"Please! Why do you have to maltreat me like this? I have done nothing wrong!" Zayn pleaded and begged continuously but Arsenio paid deaf ears to him, ordering a guard to make sure he left the kingdom without so much as the clothing on his body.
The guard slowly nodded to the King's order and even though he felt sorry for Zayn, he couldn't defy the King's commands. With his fellow guard, they both dragged the devastated prince out of the throne room.
Joselu saw when they were dragging Zayn and he immediately went to meet them.
"What is going on here?" He was surprised by the state of the prince and with a voice full of pity, one of the guards answered Joselu.
"His father just disowned him and ordered us to throw him out of the palace without any property."
Shocked to hear what the guard just said, Joselu looked at Zayn who was in tears, Zayn threw himself at him, grabbing his shirt with trembling hands.
"Joselu what did I do? What have I done to deserve this? Why am I the one being treated like this? Just because of my appearance? I can change it, I can change my hair color if they want. Where do they want me to go now? How do they want me to survive…" Zayn lamented, utterly broken as he continued to wail.
The guards obeyed their king. They dragged Zayn through the palace halls, out and past the gates. Hurling him into the dust.
Joselu made to go with Zayn despite how much the boy pleaded with him.
"Stay Joselu." Zayn begged, his voice breaking.
But Joselu only helped him up and said,
"I swore a blood oath. Where you go, I go."
Joselu carried a bag with him filled with food and clothes. He also carried a lamp, and with that the two set off.
Joselu knew a small village in the middle east so they headed towards that direction. It took a lot of hours, but Zayn and Joselu never stopped walking until they reached the outskirts of Jadovia.
Night time fell and Joselu lit the lamp he carried, but he knew they both needed rest so they stopped at a spot that seemed safe. Taking several fig leaves from nearby trees, he created a makeshift bed for both him and Zayn to sleep on, covering them with the clothes he carried.
While they both lay quietly, Zayn began to sob. Joselu could only feel sorry for him.
He pulled Zayn to himself, silently comforting him. Zayn was only 17 years old, still a young boy. He could be traumatized for numerous years to come.
Zayn dozed off in painful tears and Joselu also closed his eyes, ready to submit himself to sleep.
The two of them continued their journey the next day and arrived at the little Village in the middle east which wasn't part of any of the two Kingdoms. Jadovia was located in the South while Ragaounia was in the North. The place was called Homes Village because it was known for its hospitality. It always welcomed poor and homeless people, so lucky that Joselu knew of such a place.
A small woman with brown hair packed up in a messy bun and dressed in a long silky gown walked up to them as soon as they walked through the huge wooden gates.
"Hello, you must be tired and hungry. Why don't you follow me so you can rest and have something to eat?" They silently followed her, obviously too tired to say anything.
They were taken to a cottage where cloth was draped on their bodies to keep warm and they were led to sit near a fire. Soon after, food was served to them in a tray of which they ate hungrily. They were indeed grateful for the people receiving them with so much hospitality.
Soon after, they sat before the elders of the village who began to ask them questions. It was a very long discussion and the elders felt pity for the both of them when they were done talking.
"You boys have really gone through a lot, what are your names?" The woman asked.
"I'm Joselu and he's Zayn." Joselu replied.
"You both are welcome to stay in Homes Village for as long as you want, and if you need anything, be sure to let us know." One of the men said and the boys thanked the three elders.
Homes Village has been Zayn and Joselu's residence ever since then.
PRESENT DAY…
Zayn shook his head to divert away from his thoughts. He was walking along a forest path when he heard a painful cry in the bushes, he immediately turned to the direction. Zayn's hand took out his dagger that was in his boot as he got closer, but he could only hear the cry of a boy. He found a boy on the ground gripping his leg in intense pain, sweat breaking across his face as his eyes reflected with fear.
Zayn got to him and squatted, examining the wound on his ankle. it was no doubt that the boy was bitten by a snake.
Without wasting another second, Zayn tore the end of his shirt to make a rope, tying it above the wound to stop the flow of poison.
He could hear the boy's breath slowly fading and panic gripped him. If they spent another second there, the boy wouldn't make it. So Zayn acted fast. He carried the boy on his back and took him back to town.
The boy was saved. Zayn was immensely thanked and gifted.
Everyone in the village knew Zayn, he was their tall and handsome sweetheart, and he was such a Samaritan, attending to whoever needed a helping hand. The village trusted him and even those that knew his story wondered why he had such a traumatic past.
Zayn went back to his stroll after he was certain the boy bitten by the snake was alright.
He reached a quiet meadow quite far from the town, he hadn't been there before and he was amazed by the beauty of the place.
It had big and tall trees with fresh green leaves, bright and colourful flowers growing in abundance along the field, and a glistening clear pond in the middle of the meadow. The scenery was breathtaking, and peaceful.
Zayn sat on the soft grass at the edge of the pond and stared into the clear water at his reflection.
His jet black hair had really grown compared to the time he was chased out of his kingdom, and his silver eyes, still as captivating as they were.
His features were striking. Even the scar on his face couldn't deteriorate his good looks. Zayn's smile suddenly dropped as he continued to stare at himself. His features reminded him of his mother.
"Mother!!!" She was killed, hacked to pieces and he had witnessed it all.
Zayn's jaw tightened, he used his right index finger to trace the thin line of scar across his right eye, the same wound inflicted on him by his own brother. On purpose!
Just thinking about his family angered him and a single drop of tear fell from his right eye, falling into the water and causing small ripples.
Wiping his tear with his sleeve, he angrily began to throw stones into the lake to vent out his frustration.
At some point, he threw a stone a bit too far and it landed in the bushes nearby.
"Ouch."
Zayn stopped short at the small sound and looked towards the bush. He slowly got on his feet, walking towards the bushes, trying to make sure he wasn't just hearing things until he heard movement and he was certain someone was hiding there, watching him.
Probably an enemy.
Preparing his bow and arrow, Zayn barked at the person to reveal himself but as soon as he laid eyes on who it was, he stopped short and stared.