03 Betrayal or Loyalty

After the guards left the dungeon, discussions started among the prisoners. Some starts to think that what rewards will be given to them if they deliver the information to Khartagu. Will they get a chest full of gold, will they get beauties accompany them for everynight..... all these question's lingering in their mind.

"Silence! " Shouted Lemu in a weak voice.

"Are you all still the citizen of Rashald Kingdom! Are you all still the proudest soldier belongs to the Rashald Kingdom! Can you all face your father, mother and you love ones who had been killed?!! Ask yourself!" Scolded Lemu to the prisoners.

Everyone silence down after heard what Lemu said. King Herald still kept silence even what had happened in the dungeon. He knew that in this era of war, loyalty is important but human's needs , the desire can overcome loyalty when a person is lead to stray. Now, he can only pray for the best for his princess.

At the last cell of the dungeon, one prisoner, namely "Madly one-eyed" gave out a silent sinister smile. He was one of the man who followed Lemu during the rescue of King Herald. Then, he sit at the corner and went into deep thought.

(At the city compound)

The street was quiet, only the sound of soldiers patrolling can be heard. After Khartagu successfully sat on the throne and threw the king, along with other captives to the dungeon, he ordered to stop all indecent acts. No more killing, no more robbing from the civilians and no more raping. He knew if he want to sit on the throne as the new king of Rashald, he needs the support from both military and civilian. No one will ever bow down to the leader who do not care about them. However, what has been done cannot be revert. Hatred has been seeded in the heart once the barbarians entered the city and did all those indecent acts.

At one of the alley, a young boy sneakily moving with a dagger on his waist. His eyes was full of concentration to implement his plan. His concentration was locked onto the four guards who were patrolling on the main street. Slowly, he counts deep in his heart. "10, 9, 8,.....3, 2, 1!" He rushed to the street and hide behind a broken carrier. Then, he crouch quietly to enter a rice shop that left opened after the owner got dragged away by the soldiers. No one knew what happened to the owner, alive or dead. The boy grabs a sack and pour the rice into the sack. He dare not to take too much of thhe rice as it will be too heavy and will affect his movement. As he scooping the rice into the sack, suddenly a person figure approach the boy from behind. Quietly, the person steal the dagger from the boy and point it to the back of the boy. "Don't you dare to move, boy" whispered the girl. The boy was shocked and tried to turn around but the dagger is poking his back. The girl hold the dagger with her right hand and reach the sack with her left hand. However, she did not know that the sack is too heavy for her to hold from her position and she lost her balance. The boy quickly held onto the girl's hand and push her onto the floor. If anyone who sees this position will be imagining the boy trying to rape the girl but these two children only aged around 12 to 15.

Suddenly, the soldiers patrolling earlier turn back and moving towards the children location when one of the soldiers heard the commotion. The boy cover the girl's mouth and give her the signal not to scream. The soldiers slowly closing by. The clock at that moment was like moving so slow. Heartbeat for both children and the curious soldiers were beating fast.

Suddenly, a horn was blew to signal a gathering order at the city square. The soldiers stop moving towards the children location and rushed to the city square. After silence for more than 15minutes, the boy finally moved his hand away from the girl. He looked at the girl and gave out a relieved smile. At once, the girl kick at the boy crouch, will full strength!!!

(Crackkk~ the eggs are cracking~ the banana has broken~)

The boy wanted to scream in pain but the girl slapped and stuff his mouth with a rag to keep his mouth shut. "This is the punishment for touching me, you jerk" said the girl. The boy still kneeling on the floor with both hands covering his crouch along with teary eyes. "Alright, both of you, enough with the commotion, do you wish to meet the barbarians?!". Then, a middle aged man appeared from the counter. He is Lawwis, the uncle of Lemu.

"Uncle!!" The young boy rushed towards Lawwis and gave Lawwis a tight hug. "I am so glad to see you. Uncle, where is my second brother??" , asked the young boy. "Lancelot, now is not the time for conversation. Let's grab the provision and leave this place to a safety location.", said Lawwis. Then three of them grab any food or ingredients that can be carried away into their own sack and leave the shop.

Lawwis brought the children to a quiet alley. At the end of the alley was a door which covered with old rags. Lawwis recheck their situation of whether there is assassin following them or not. Only after it was secured, he knocked the door three times along with secret code method.

("Knock...knock...knock......")

The door opened from inside. Numerous sounds of locks being unlock can be heard.

(Clak, Clak, Clack ,clack...)

"How long we need to wait till the door is open? So many locks...." , complaint the girl. Lawwis just smiled as he heard the girl but did not reply her. A middle aged lady opened the door with one hand while the other hand holding a sword.

"Quick! Come in!!" urged the lady.

Three of them rushed in with Lawwis being the last. Then, the lady closed the door. From inside, around 3 types of locks can be seen being used on the door. "What the....so many locks for what" asked Lancelot. Lawwis replied "This is for safety. Maybe its quite troublesome to open but its to prevent the door from being opened from the outside. I do not wish to have the enemy wait for us within the room." The two children nods their head to shows that they're understand.

"Ahem, Okay, now...shall we introduce ourselves" said the lady with a smile on her face.

"Okay, let me start first. Since, this boy is my nephew and we already knew each other." said Lawwis.

"So, first of all, Lancelot, this is Mary Anne, my fiancee and this young lady here, she is our kingdom's princess, Princess Leila." continued Lawwis.

"Hmmph! Boy you deserved my kick! If you want it again, I'm glady give you Another ~Hahahah…" said Princess Leila.

"Okay… okay, now, Lancelot, intro yourself" Lawwis quickly cut off before Lancelot start argue with the princess.

"Yes, uncle. I'm Lancelot, 15years old, the future king's knight!" exclaimed Lancelot along with a his silly pose (The left hand on the waist and the right hand pointing the ceiling of the room).

(........)

"So.... let's back to our main discussion here....."Lawwis continued his conversation with Princess Leila and Mary without continue to look at his nephew. He was too embarrassed!

The eyebrow of Lancelot twitched when three of them did not look at him nor giving any reaction after his introduction.

"Oh come on....why didn't you guys clap or something towards my ambition?!" exclaimed Lancelot.

"Alright boy, come over here. This is important.", said Lawwis.

Lancelot walked towards the group lazily and joined the discussion. .

(City Square)

Sounds of blade hammering the shield can be heard out loud. Numerous guards guarding the podium while soldiers gathering in lines. King Herald was brought to the city square as well. He was tied to a pole on the middle of the podium in half naked. His naked body was shown to everyone to discriminate him as the fallen king of Rashald Kingdom. This was a strategy to boost the morale of the soldiers by Khartagu.

(Dom..dom..dom.. - sounds of the drum)

(Bfuwuhhhhhh.... - sounds of horn)

At this moment, all soldiers quiet down. It was the arrival of their Great Leader, Khartagu. Khartagu walked onto the podium followed by four guards which armored in black and ten attendants. As Khartagu walked to the middle of the podium and turned to face the soldiers, all soldiers in a split of seconds kneeled down and greeted him "May The Great Leader Lived Long A Thousands Years!."

Then, Khartagu raised his hand and signaled the soldiers to stand up. He started to give his speech, "After all these years, we the so called barbarian by this King, the fallen king, have finally conquered them! We will be no longer need to lived beyond the wall! We will be no longer need to fear! To run! To hide! From them...Now! they shall be the one who will do so As We Are Stronger!!!

"Hoorah" shouted all soldiers.

"To all my people, to all my fellow tribal leaders who started this coalition with me. Today, I give you all one announcement.... We Will Build our own kingdom. We shall called as the people of Moon Crescent Kingdom. Our god is the Moon Goddess, we are the children of the Moon! Thus, thy the name as Moon Crescent Kingdom. And!!! I am the new King...."exclaimed Khartagu.

Some other tribal leaders was shocked with this announcement as they never agreed with who will be the King yet and one of them shouted in disagreement but Khartagu did not give a heed.

Suddenly two guards appeared from the leader who shouted for disgreement got sliced on the throat. Another life just taken away by Khartagu's man. All leaders were stunned with that event and they silenced down. They never thought that Khartagu would be this tricky and evil despite of having the stories of him being a murderer of own family members to become the great leader of crescent tribe.

"Now! I want to introduce a great figure to you all. I present to you all, The king of Fallen Rashald, King Herald...." introduced Khartagu.

"Booooo..... Boooooo" voiced by all soldiers towards King Herald.

Khartagu signaled the army to silent down but with a mischievous smile. "He is the King..., I'm sorry, was a King." said Khartagu.

All the soldiers silent down and Khartagu continue his speech. "This man will be place here for seven days seven nights. All men shall spit on him once each day. No beating nor any action other than spitting is allowed. Do you all...understand me.....?" said Khartagu. All men placed their right hand on their chest and shouted "Yes, my Great Leader".

During the seven days, King Herald was allowed to eat and drink but with shame. He need to eat his meal, feed by the guard who incharged to guard over him without even being stop for a second without being spit on. The ex-citizens of Rashald Kingdom dare not to save the king as they afraid of being killed. Most adult man been killed and only the weak women as well as the children were left behind. No matter rain or under hot sun, King Herald was still tied on the pole. This scene watched by Lawwis but he was unable to save the king. He can only hide his anger and continue to act like a weak man that unable to defend against the soldiers so that he won't be suspicious in the eye of the enemy. After Lawwis back to the safe house, he did not tell the Princess regarding on what had befall to King Herald because he knew the princess will rush to the city square and be caught by the enemy. If this happens, his promise to the queen to protect the last royal blood of King Herald will be broken.

He held on the secret for seven days.....

At last, the punishment had finished and King Herald was sent back to the dungeon. King Herald health had deteriorated due to the weather and his mental suffocation. He was down to his knee when he was release from the pole. The guards carried him on both side and dragged him back to the dungeon with that method. Lemu saw the king's condition and want to yell for the king but his injuries were not recovered. King Herald was thrown into his cell by the guards without even care about his condition. Then, the guards proceed to the last cell and brought "one-eye" out of the dungeon.

(Two hours later)

There were about 20 soldiers marching towards the safe house location where Lawwis, they all were hiding in. Each soldiers carried a bow and arrows along with a sword hanging on their waist.

At this very moment, Lawwis found out the actions of the army and push the table towards the door to block it. Then, he opened the secret back door that link to another alley and asked all of them to leave. However, Mary and Lancelot did not listen and stayed behind after the princess being the first one to leave for the alley. "Mary! Lancelot, what are you doing! Please! Leave at once!" said Lawwis.

"No, uncle! I want to stay behind and kill the enemy!" ; "No, darling! You die , I die. You do know I won't leave you no matter what happens, right?!" replied them both to Lawwis.