Shall We Meet (Part 5)

Prince Leo ran through the mountains as he kept his eyes in search of King Luke of Theapan. In his shadow he could feel the wolf keeping a look out. He was not alone. Going forward he knew that as long as the wolf was with him it made him feel more at ease.

"Wait." Vorbuk said while jumping out of the prince's shadow. Sniffing the air carefully he could smell a scent similar yet very different from princess Isis. Yes, this was a scent that the princess had on her at the temple when he met with her.

"What is it?" Prince Leo asked.

Watching the wolf as he started to trot up the mountain. There was a mountain cliff in the distance. From a distance they could see a small group of people standing guard.

"I think we found him." Vorbuk responded with a complicated look in his eyes. If that scent was one that the princess carried on her it meant that it was from someone she was close to. Someone she saw on a regular basis. It was most likely that of her father. The only person who could be so familiar with the princess to carry just a familiar scent by being so close.

"He's watching the battle from so far away. He clearly doesn't want to put himself in the heat of the battle." Prince Leo glanced in the direction that the wolf was gazing.

The place the king was located was far from the battlefield against the temple. King Luke was keeping himself as far from the executioner and temple as possible while watching over the battle. There was no reason for the king to be directly involved in the battle when he had all his werewolf knights to serve under him.

King's safety was important for the kingdom to continue under his ruling. If the king was lost the kingdom would collapse and fall into the hands of another or worse the kingdom itself could fall into anarchy before a new ruler was crowned. The only heir to the throne for Theapan if the king fell was the princess. However she had no interest in becoming the ruler.

"As a king I doubt he really wants the battle to happen in the first place." Vorbuk responded.

"If he did not want the war to happen he should have never started it to begin with." Prince Leo sighed as he imagined all the lives that were forfeit because of the king's rash judgement. "What should we do from here?"

Prince Leo was not sure how they should call out to the king. If they were not careful he was worried it would end in them fighting. They needed to fight the king eventually but if Vorbuk wanted to meet the king personally before causing further strife it would be difficult.

A black fog surrounded Vorbuk as he slowly shifted into his human form. His red eyes watching the king's location carefully as he walked towards the cliff. He was not worried about starting a fight with them in the slightest. There was a card in his hands that he could play easily to get the king's attention. If there was a weakness the king had it was clearly the one he held currently in his own hands.

"What are you-?!?" Prince Leo felt himself begin to panic as he followed up behind Vorbuk.

Without responding Vorbuk walked on. Behind him he could hear the prince rushing after him. The knights at the cliff were alerted quickly to their approach. Weapons in the knights hands were raised on guard as they quickly took to formation. They were ready to defend. It was obvious that they were protecting someone and Vorbuk knew it had to be King Luke.

"Halt! Who are you?! Do you know who you are intruding upon?!" One of the knight's shouted out at them with a dark expression on his face.

Vorbuk stopped just far enough away for the others to hear him as he called out loud and clear for the king to hear him if he was hidden close by. "I am here to seek an audience with his majesty, King Luke."

"Vorbuk, I don't think he's going to simply accept to see us just because you ask for it.." Vorbuk whispered to him low so that nobody else could hear him.

"Don't worry about it." Vorbuk responded back in a low voice.

"How dare you! His majesty isn't someone that you can just call out!" The knight shouted in anger. How could a nobody expect to meet with the king of Theapan?

"I think he will meet with me though?" Vorbuk looked like he was pondering something as the knights glared at him with their weapons ready to start a fight with them. It was clear to him that they were not listening to him. He could feel it. The king was somewhere close by probably listening in.

"Your Majesty, I know you can hear me! I have only come to speak at the moment with you. I have something that I think you would like to be aware of. If you continue to refuse me she may end up only suffering more in the end when she learns that you turned me away without listening to what I have to say here today." Vorbuk called out loud and clear once again as all the knights tensed up at his words.

Something in his words caused everyone to feel tense. There was something strange with how Vorbuk spoke. Calling out to their king directly was something that made them angry because their duty was to protect the king. Those words were offensive yet they could not decide how to react. Hearing the sounds of footsteps approaching them. They could only turn their heads to see King Luke slowly stepping out from his tent and glaring at the two men that had approached their king's location.

"What do you mean by those words?" A cold glint in the king's eyes caused everyone to shiver.

"I think you know who I am talking about clearly." Vorbuk knew King Luke had understood who he was talking about.

"... I don't see her? You say she is with you?" King Luke could understand. He knew that it was his reckless daughter that was being brought up by the man in front of them.

"I did not bring her into the battlefield, but you should know as well," Vorbuk paused. "where that girl foolishly rushed off to.. and where she is now."

The temple... She really ran there of all places?! King Luke grit his teeth as his expression darkened. All that he had done and everything that he was currently doing was in order to protect his daughter. As a king he cared deeply for his people but his child was something that was completely irreplaceable. No matter how dirty his hands got her safety was something he had always put before his own. Princess Isis was hiding inside the temple now of all times?!

"I think I deserve a chance to speak with you personally at least once," Vorbuk pressed the king further for a chance. "after we talk you can still try to kill us if that is what you wish."

The king hesitated and nodded slightly. Turning his hand to them as he opened the flap of his tent. His voice carried a hint of distress but it was still strong and firm. "Come in."