Early the next morning, Aldric and his companion set off for the palace. They left before the break of dawn so they could get to the palace by nightfall, if they maintained a certain speed. Aziliah had taken them to a guest house to spend the night after ending the conversation.
They had tried their very best to convince her to come with them but had failed terribly. They were also amazed at how she declined a direct invitation from the king, something that many people would kill for and willingly accept without hesitation, and yet she declined.
They were already dreading the wrath of the king since they failed to bring her with them. But the good news is she'll still come to see the king, bad news is she didn't specify when, which was absurd!. The king would be furious about this. They sighed and braced themselves for what's to come.
Meanwhile, Aziliah left her house to take a walk in the forest. She walked silently enjoying the cool breeze and the calming smell of the pine trees. She thought about the men who came to see her last night, 'they must be on their way back to the palace by now' She thought.
She knew they weren't happy about her decision of not coming with them but she didn't care. It was more important for her to prepare herself for whatever it is that the king was summoning her for.
She is indebted to the king and so she felt like whatever it is that the king was summoning her for will have something to do with it, which means she won't be able to refuse even if she wanted to. She sighed as she kept walking.
She walked until she arrived at a small river by the edge of the forest. She sat on a rock by the riverside taking in the air. She stayed there for a long time meditating until a rustle not too far away pulled her attention. Someone was approaching her with silent calculating steps. She didn't even bother to look at the person and just sighed already knowing who it was.
"You know, If you were planning to sneak up on me Ryan, you should've at least try not to step on every twig in the forest, I could hear you coming from a mile away." Aziliah said teasingly, smiling behind the mask. The person froze. He was already standing behind her, hands in the air, like he was about to scare her.
"Ah geez... you're so boring Azee." Ryan her best friend said as he came to sit beside her on the rock. "So how've you been? Did you miss me?"
"I've been better and why would I miss you anyway?" She said while picking up a pebble and throwing it into the river.
"And by 'better', you mean you've been bored out of your mind without me, your sunshine around, so don't lie I know you missed me a lot" Ryan said as he flashed her a charming smile.
"Whatever.... " She muttered and smiled faintly. "How was your trip?"
"It was so boring, that I felt like I was going to die from boredom. Sigh.. Remind me never to go on a trip with Mr. Rogers and his men. That old man kept yapping to the point where my ears almost bled. It's a miracle I survived the entire 3 days!" He lamented as soon as she asked him the question.
She almost rolled her eyes. "Stop being so dramatic Ryan, Old Rogers isn't that bad. He talks but I doubt it's that extreme"
"Easy for you to say, after all you're not the one who spent 3 fucking days with him." Ryan said while rolling his eyes.
She didn't argue with him anymore and just stretched her arms and cracked her neck. She did that silently while Ryan watched her. He quietly observed her. He read her body language and furrowed his brows. He could feel it, something was bothering her.
"Hey Azee...." Ryan called softly and she turned to face him. "What's wrong? And don't say it's nothing cause something is obviously bothering you."
A faint smile graced her lips at how observant Ryan was. Despite the mask hiding her every expression he can always tell when something is bothering her. "It's really nothing Ryan." She said assuring him. "Its just that King Othniel sent some people to come visit me that's all." She shrugged.
"And you call that nothing? Azee the king sending people to see is not nothing!" Ryan said, He was getting worried . "What did they want? Tell me everything"
"They told me that king wants me at the palace immediately, and that I need to go with them to the palace but I refused and told them that I'll come to the palace after the tournament. I told them to send my regards to the king." She told him everything without leaving anything out.
Ryan listened carefully to everything she said, then ran a hand through his blonde hair and poked the inside of his cheeks with his tongue. She could clearly see he wasn't happy about this.
"Aziliah....."
"Yeah."
"We both know the king isn't just asking to see you just so he could ask you how you've been." She agreed. "He will definitely request for something from you and it's not going to be something simple..." Ryan said thoughtfully.
"I know.. That's why I'm preparing myself for whatever it is" She said.
The vampire king, King Othniel has never asked her for anything before in these four years that she has lived in his kingdom, so whatever it is that urged him to come looking for her was something serious.
"I see.. " He drawled then leaned back on the rock using his hands to support his body. "So when are we leaving?" He asked, and it made her smile.
She knew he'll say that. Ryan has always been like that, following her everywhere. He has always been by her side through thick and thin. This time was not an exception it seems.
"We're leaving in two days. You ready." She said a sly smile creeping on her face.
Ryan scoffed and said. "I'm always ready... But why are we leaving early? and wait isn't the festival starting tomorrow? Didn't you say you'll go after the tournament?"
" It is and I said I'll go to the palace after the tournament, I never said I'll leave Bronts village after the tournament" Aziliah said. "Besides I want to see how this year's tournament will be. I made a bet with Eli that it will be spectacular."
"If you say so then." Ryan said and stood up. Aziliah looked up at him brows farrowing. "Azee I'm starving what did you make at home?" He asked and before she could answer he pulled her up and carried her over his shoulders . "Never mind let's go." He said as he carried her away from the forest.
"Hey wait!! Put me down Ryan!" She yelled wiggling on his shoulders. as they made their way to her house.
****
Far away from the forest towards the north, the great Palace of Valencia stood tall and majestic radiating with beauty and power. A mix of black, white and gray coloured brick walls. It was surrounded by small hills and a beautiful forest in the back.
This was the residence of the great King Othniel, the king of the Vampires.
Inside the palace, servants were busy going about their daily business. Some cleaned, while others prepared dinner, but it was also buzzing with something else.
Three maids gossiped among themselves as they arranged the table.
"Guess what?" One of the said, and the others asked her what happened. "I heard Sis Ortis left the palace." She whispered
"Left or Quit?" The other asked.
"Obviously he quit Valerie." Another maid with blonde hair pitched in giggling. "I'm I right Brie." She added.
"Yeah Yumi, I heard it's been four days since he left." Brie said.
"Sigh I knew he wouldn't last." Valerie said shaking her head in pity. "How long did he last?"
"Hmmn roughly three weeks" Brie said looking thoughtful.
"That has to be the longest anyone has ever lasted with his Highness. I think its a new record!" Yumi said, and they all nodded in agreement. "So how is the king taking this news?" She asked.
"Well from what I heard.. Let's just say he was extremely 'delighted' by the news that he summon the prince to the royal court" Brie said, and they all giggled, and silently wished the prince good luck with his father.
While the maids were laughing in the dining hall, The king was running out of patience in the courtroom.
It has been four hours since he summoned his son to come see him in the courtroom and the brat was nowhere to be seen. He was already at his limit when a servant came and announced the arrival of the prince.
The king watched as his irritating son nonchalantly strolled into the room as if it hasn't been hours since his father sent for him. He bowed slightly and said with a lazy voice. "You called for me father.."