Chapter Six:

Chapter Six:

There was something lingering in the air. Stellan knew it and yet he can’t grasp what it is. Given that the man walking in front of him is distracting him. Sighing, he answered another question from the informant. Ivan was walking backwards facing the prince with his hands at the back of his head. He was enjoying flashes of annoyance in the prince’s eyes.

“I’ll continue my questions later. For now, here we are.” Ivan opened the door in front of them without hesitation. It was a small room with minimal to no designs. Beddings and other sleeping materials on the side. Inconspicuous enough to hide things. He entered the room and inspected every details there is.

“Are you sure we are in the right room?” Stellan was skeptical at the room they are in. He was expecting a more secretive room full of books and documents. He watched as Ivan started tapping some places of the walls.

“We are. I just need to tap the right--- Aha!” Taking out his coin, Ivan tapped his coin on the wall on a patterned tapping.

Tap! Tap! Tap! – Tap! – Tap! Tap! – Tap!

The wall groaned and vibrated as it revealed a hidden passage behind. Ivan reached in his hand inside his pouch and took out lamp to light their way.

“Your pouch is bottomless.” Was the only thing Stellan had said as they both ascended on the long stairs. Ivan laughed at the prince. Secret passage is no surprise to royals as they have them on their own castle. But only Kings and Queens are allowed to know where they are located to insure safety amongst royals.

“Informations are more valuable than your own crown. One bad information can ruin a royal, especially us informants. That’s why those of us who does not travel, they hide themselves and trusts their location to their village chief. I trust that this location remains a secret.” Prince Stellan hummed in agreement. They both walked silently with only the lamp lighting their way. Reaching the bottom of it, Ivan signaled to stop and took out his coin once more. With the same rhythmic pattern, the door opened with the same groan of metals. Piles upon piles of paper and books greeted them. A scent of old and new parchment paper lingers in the air as they entered the room.

“You better have a good idea of why you bring that man here, Ivan.” Behind of all the mess in the very back of the room was a small wooden table. A woman no more than twenty years old sit behind it. Head didn’t rose to look at the intruders in her turf.

“Collete! It’s been so long, no?” Ivan spread his arms like he was accepting a hug. His cheerful voice echoing inside the room.

“Shut up. You’ve been here a month ago. Heard that you got caught by the kingdom knights, I am sad that you are still alive.” The woman named Collete said coldly, still writing in the parchment paper in front of her.

“Oh, come on! Don’t be too harsh! You weren’t the one who sold me out, right?”

“Oh wow! What a surprise! Who knew you are too clever to figure that out, hmm?”

“You are kind of a bad woman, but I like it! HAHAHAHAHA!” Stellan questioned the sane of the informant he just made a trade for. Here he was talking to the woman who sold him out to the Mindu knights and yet, he seems enjoying it. This man needs a doctor. Stellan shook his head at the man and tried to just make himself busy with the documents there is.

“Glad you are entertained and can you make that man you are with to stop snooping at my documents? Unless he can trade me gold for every information written on it, he better stop.” Ivan lightly smacked Stellan’s hand and signaled him to stop. Stay. He mouthed to the prince.

“What am I, a dog?” Stellan said on his mind. Annoyed he just look the initiative to sit down on the chair in the corner of the room. Looking around the room, Stellan was quite impressed by the state of it. Although it is full of documents and books, the room is clean. Spotless even.

“No! I am not trading you any more information about that – that – THING! You need to leave that obsession you got from your father behind!” Stellan got startled. Quickly turning his head towards the source of the outburst, he was met by a partially terrified Ivan trying to shield his face from the fuming woman.

“I for real need it now! I traded for that! Can you calm down first so I can explain?!” The woman reluctantly sat back on her seat, still fuming but willing to listen.

“You better tell me a good reason Ivan or I’m selling you to the Mindu knights again.” Ivan sweat dropped at the glare his friend is giving him. He looked at the prince with intensity in his eyes.

“You better help me explain or I am bringing you with me to my grave!” The prince sighed at what the informant meant in his stare. He sure did understood it. With the desperateness and panic in his eyes, he can sure see the message behind it.

“I am the one he is helping. I need that thing to cure my sister. She have weak body. Gets cold easily and gets flustered at every little things she does.” He explained.

“Did it ever occur to you that she’s just, you know, weak? A little medicine will help her. Exercise will do too.” The woman waved her hand around like she was explaining something to a two year old. Her face shows that she is bored and that she is not buying his explanation.

”I would watch what I’m saying if I were you. That man can order people to have your head rolling if you anger or offend him in any way.” Ivan, now out of his scared stature said to Collete sitting at an empty chair in front of her.

“Oh please, like he has some authority to do that! I bet you’re a noble who offered this douchebag a big trade just to satisfy your greedy nature and would just run off to who knows where without doing your end of the deal. I bet that you will surrender this ma---“

“I am the crowned prince of Eastern Kingdom.” Frozen in her spot, all Collete could do was stare bewilderly at the prince.

“I am prince Stellan of Quelle.”