Chapter 2.5

In the corner there was a small table, which had a number of vials and flasks on top, of all colours that you could imagine, with a few people mixing and drinking them. The sides of the area were lined with armour and spare weapons, and as Jemima took it all in, her awe must have shown on her face, because Oscar nudged her and muttered, "Don't look so surprised. Oli trains here everyday."

A small, timid looking servant walked up to them, his hands clasped in front of him respectfully.

"N-Noble Greyleaf, the King would like to discuss- some stuff with you." He flashed a small glance at Oscar, then quickly looked away as he saw Oscar staring back impassively. "The King is over there." He continued quickly, pointing at a shaded corner of the courtyard.

Jemima started walking, Oscar following, when the servant spoke again in a soft voice, trembling slightly.

"He would like to see Noble Greyleaf in private."

Oscar scoffed. "Whatever you say, Servant." He turned away and stalked off.

Jemima gulped, fear washing over her at the prospect of facing the King on her own. She hurried over, leaving the servant on his own and heard a voice calling her.

"Ah, it's young Greyleaf!"

The owner of the voice was a tall, stern looking middle aged man with sparkling blue eyes and a chipped front tooth, grinning coldly at her.

"Welcome, welcome!" His eyes had a brightness that didn't match the rest of his face. "Please, come sit down!"

Conscious of every movement she was making, Jemima sat down stiffly next to the King, on the cold, grey, stone step.

"No need to be so uptight," the King laughed, slapping Jemima's back, causing her to almost fall forward, shivering from the cold stairs under her legs.

"Sir, am I supposed to be training today? Or what have you got to tell me?" Jemima asked slowly.

"Cut right to the chase, hey? What a fine and mature boy you have grown up to be!" The King laughed again, a scraping sound that sent shivers up Jemima's spine.

"Well, I trust that you have recovered enough from your little accident. As you have already been informed, you will be attending the Council meeting this afternoon." The King stared at Jemima closely.

His tone suddenly switched, like a cloud over the sun. "I've heard rumours of a possible plot to kill me. You haven't heard anything about that...have you?" The King stared into her eyes. "No, I'm just joking! But anyway, we will be discussing security and how to make me safer. That is all for now."

The King stood to leave, then turned back to Jemima, his eyes dark and hair flowing in the light wind.

"Oh...and one last thing. I see you are still frolicking with that little Commoner pet of yours. You'd better get rid of him...or I will. And it will be messy." With that the King strolled off casually, like he didn't just threaten to kill someone.

Jemima shuddered at the King's turned back, and quickly stood up to go find Oscar again and tell him about what had just happened. She ran over to the place where she had last seen him, but Oscar was nowhere to be seen.

"Excuse me, Servant, have you seen Commoner Darkland?" Jemima asked a passing Servant holding mutiple swords and a basket. He turned to looked at her.

"Oh, the blond boy?"

Jemima nodded eagerly.

"He said he needed some privacy and ran off into the woods. He's a very strange boy, that one."

"Okay okay thank you!"

Jemima rushed into the woods and looked around, inspecting the paths Oscar might have taken. In the end, she chose the middle one. No particular factor influenced her choice, simply, her instincts told her. As Jemima hurried along the path, she pulled her cloak tighter around herself. The shadows of the trees blocked out most of the sunlight the further you got into the woods. Briefly, she wonder what things could be lurking, hidden in the dark, but quickly pushed that thought away.

Thwack, thwack, thwack.

Jemima stopped, her heart pounding. Up ahead, off the side of the track, there was a shadow, slamming an axe into the trees around them, over and over again.

"aaaaAAAAAAHHH!" They howled, pain and frustration clear in their voice.

Jemima recognised the voice. It belonged to Oscar.

He threw the axe away and slumped to his knees, head buried in his hands.

Jemima thought she had never seen a more pitful sight. She ducked behind a tree as Oscar raised his head again.

"It's my fault...my carelessness...IT GOT THEM KILLED!" He sobbed. And he screamed again. It was a tormented, animal like sound, and it went on for so long, Jemima thought her heart would burst with pity.

"I'm useless...I stood there while watching them be killed...I'm SO USELESS!"

She couldn't take it anymore. Jemima ran from her hiding spot behind the tree and dropped to her knees beside Oscar, draping one arm over his back and stroked his hair with the other.

"Jem...ima?" He looked up at her with his dark grey eyes, shining with tears.

"Let's get you back to the castle."

No one questioned her as she helped Oscar through the castle, although she did get some questioning and disapproving glares.

Jemima finally reached Oliver's room. With some difficulty, she opened the door and dragged Oscar in, and laid him down on the couch.

He was a mess, she thought, as she glanced at his face, streaked with tears, dirt and what looked like- blood?

Jemima rushed into the bathroom and found some cloths. She quickly ran them under the tap and strode back into the bedroom, where Oscar had fallen unconscious. She wiped all the grime and much from his face, and found the source of the bleeding. A small gash on Oscar's cheek, which Jemima could not even fathom how it got there.

She glanced out the window, and to her horror, it was already late afternoon. She would be late to the Council meeting! Glad that Oscar had shown her where the Council met beforehand, Jemima quickly cleaned herself up and rushed out the door, leaving Oscar unconscious and unattended on the couch.