VII. LUKE

The waiting was terrible.

He had been sitting at the high table for what seemed like hours, but the old man hadn't bother to come.

After the great fire of Stonehenge, Luke had separated ways with Alex. He knew that he would still be thinking and cursing himself, thinking Luke's death was his fault, but he had to do it.

When Luke was feasting in his house, Rodrig had been sitting at the table. He told him of his parentage and Alex's story.

After that, it was just deception.

Luke was told he was of House Greyson of the white island and Alex was his liege Lord Valhazar. Rodrig had told him of the incoming attack and it was upto Luke to play the cards.

House Greyson had always been known for its deceptive plans. It was in his blood.

Luring Devon to his house had been easy, he had promised him to show a dead cat and Devon had just followed.

Then, he had to just wait for Alex to join them. And Alex had came, just as he anticipated, Kelly couldn't stop him.

She would have stopped Alex by brutal strength if Luke had not poured a certain amount of Lemar's juice in her wine, which left her hands weak.

When the three of them started running, Luke had lured the Knights his way and had mixed in with the fleeing peasants.

Now here he was, to save the Empire and his friend from yet another trap.

News had reached him by Maurice that Lord Mander Lancaster had hired an assassin for killing the Dark Prince. Luke had travelled to Carlos, dressed in armour to gather information.

A sudden loud laughter rang in the air and a fat man dressed heavily in gold came in the Great Hall.

The man sat on the centre and the steward spoke up,

"Behold, the light of Carlos, Lord Mander of House Lancaster and keeper of the gold lands. May the five bless him!"

"May the five bless him!" The people chanted.

"Now, now, here we are, bring them one by one and get this over with." Lord Mander snickered.

The Court started and names started being called one by one. Lord Mander didn't pay attention to half the sayings and gestured to move them out, occasionally granting the petition of  a few.

Luke's name was called and he went forward with a bow.

"Oh Lord Mander, the mighty, here I bask in your glory."

Luke said as respectably as he could.

The fat lord gave him a bored look."What do you want?"

"My lord, I ask of you the honour of killing the Dark Prince with my greatsword. I will make your enemy suffer to lengths and present you with his head on the next full moon. May the glory be yours." Luke bowed down and showed his sword.

There was a silence in the courtroom. Then a thousand voices started whispering at once. The steward clapped his hands and the voices drowned.

"No need of that. It has been taken care of." Lord Mander smiled vaguely.

" I assure you my lord, no enemy of the Dark Prince is greater than me. I would go great lengths to kill him. I challenge your assassin to a duel to death. Let the five decide who is more worthy."

"No need of that too. Fortunately, the assassin isn't an enemy, that would complicate things. No.... He is a friend of the Dark Prince and believe me, he wouldn't see the strike coming before it is too late." With this the fat lord, with his courtroom, started laughing.

Luke bowed down and went out. There was a lot of shouting and cursing, but he had got what he came for.

And if it was true, then his friend was in great danger.

He got on his horse and trudged silently over the roads, mourning the deed he was about to do.