168. Mai Sakarai. *

Walking inside this palace was always a dreadful experience.

Soon as Zephyr dropped me off I walked towards the castle in the distance. Wanted my report be done and organize my own house.

The Sakarai banner of the rising sun from a blue background adorned every available space in the long hall.

Lord Mai Sakarai was a lanky man with shaved head, a sugary demeanor and a depraved mind.

With him his new pet Miyke Lense.

He was new in Insatel and only Mai known where the creepy midget came from.

He had no discernible talent or worth of any kind yet he climbed fast on the social ladder.

I stopped about 20 feet away and bowed down.

" Lord. I've returned. "

He pretended to only notice me now, even though the murmurs of his boot lickers carried my name to him long before set foot in here.

" Carlos..welcome home. " - he looked up from some papers Miyke handed him. " ..tell us how is his holiness Viego? "

" He is well lord. Wishes you and his majesty good fortune and looking forward to the upcoming wedding. " - I lied seamlessly.

His smile spread. Sneak like little shit..never been able see inside his head.

" So is Jin from what I've heard. " - he shared a disgusting smile with his yes man sitting in tables close to his throne.

" Tell me about the young Cortez princess..I heard she is beautiful. "

The whole family was a despicable lot. Look at those lustful eyes over a 15 year old child.

" Princess Isabella will make a wonderful bride for Prince Jin. She is indeed beautiful young girl my Lord. " - I answered.

" Hahaha...good. My dear guardian, I know you just arrived and wanting to rest but unfortunately, I've need you now. " - he talked down from his throne with pretend sadness.

Another execution? Why not just use a fucking blade and some trash who's willing to wield it?

" I'm ready Lord. "

" Zephyr Astoria .. "

I managed to keep a steady face and waited for him to continue.

" Reports said he put a wall around his worm hole of a village. He is preparing..but the fool trained the man already didn't he Memphis? " - he asked the man at the table closest to him.

Memphis Lane, was the the commander in chief of the armed forces of Malai.

About 50 years old, short brown hair with a lot of silver mixed there. His age now started to show but, he still top 5 swordsman in the army.

Battle tested, calm under pressure, and his experience allowed him the luxury to see situations more clearly. Also a man a honor from what Zephyr told me.

" Yes Lord, the army is trained. " - he stood up and informed the room.

He was also a smart man who understood more about the depravity and rot surrounding the Sakarai royal family more than me. Yes the army was trained...and respected their Master Zephyr already...just like old man Memphis.

" My brother forbade me to make an enemy out the man. He will take matters into his own hands once his son is married and Dharma's allegiance secured. " - he looked annoyed as if he or anyone could possibly kill him.

The news wasn't a surprise. Zephyr predicted this long ago. No man with his power can possibly allowed to gather support, without his allegiance to the crown first...which he already refused multiple times.

Things are accelerating now.

" Anyway..I need you as his trusted ' Rival ' .."

..What you know about Rivals or friendships of any kind? You slimy fuck.

" ...to infiltrate this.." - he looked at Miyke.

" Emet village, my Lord. " - he added.

" ..yes that place. Since your close, you have better chance staying longer and it won't raise his suspicion. Unfortunately the scouts sent never returned. He probably already disposed them with that...frightening power of his.."

He shuddered thinking of such and end..problem was he never found any scouts ..or disposed them.

Something was wrong.

" 69 and counting Lord. " - Mike as a good dog made sure the numbers were read from his stack of papers.

" Right..As my first guardian will you accept? " - he asked with a disgusting smile.

" Your will, my hands. " - I bowed deeply reciting the same old garbage, I've been saying for years.

It was perfect. I could head back by tonight and arrive tomorrow afternoon if make good time.

" Ahh..my most trusted. " - that smile spread covered most of his face.

That face, that smile it made my stomach turn, most trusted my ass. Your only blessed would've been more accurate.

" You will need a reason..I can't have him suspect anything..I'm tired of having to fear everytime, I walk outside and look up at the sky. " - he said looking at the ceiling.

His death was guaranteed already. And these walls, these pahetic cockroaches surrounding him won't make any difference. You're living on borrowed time.

" How about training Lord? "

Memphis had every ones eyes on him.

" Explaine.." - he said to the commander.

" Lord Em has man of his own from Dharma. Don't you? " - he turned towards me and waited.

" I do..50 man in total. " - I answered.

" So why not arrive under the pretext of training? Lord Mai can write an official letter asking him and send payment. " - he turned back to his lord.

The people whispered and looked towards the snake in that ridiculous chair imitating his brother's in Tetra.

" I have to pay the man again? He has more gold than most of my own overseers.." - his overseers basically just thugs he lend his support and allowed them to terrorise smaller villages in his territory. " ..fine. Miyke write the letter and gather the coin..send my ' eternal friend ' a thank you with it. "

Mike walked off doing what's told.

" Carlos the letter and coin will be delivered to your villa soon. Go make preparations and have your man report back every few day about the comings and goings of that shit hole..understood? "

I didn't overdo it since it would betray my true feelings.

" As you say Lord. I'll send my man within a week with the first report. " - I promised.

" Yes...go with Ehlite. "

With another show of respect, I quickly turned around and walked past the noble ants avoiding my eyes.

Once outside walked the stables and a solider waited there.

" Lord Em. I'm Yem and serve directly under Lord Commander Lane. This letters contents is for Leader Zephyr's eyes alone."

He handed me the letter with a dead serious expression.

" Safe journey Lord. "

I nodded and put the letter inside my jacket.

" Thank you, Captain Yem. "

He nodded curtly and pulled his cloak over his head then he soon disappeared from my view.

Good things first ..

I get to go home with the blessing of that cockroach and take my man who, already received some of his training and will be delighted to pick it up full time.

A lot of questions..

Who killed Mai's scouts? Zephyr wouldn't do that without telling anyone. He had no reason to hide how he killed a few spies. Couldn't be him...I was certain. Who is helping him from the shadows? Why? Do they know him from his past? Why would anyone commit such killing just to keep his movements secret?

Also..Memphis secret letter. I wanted read it now but he said it wasn't for me.. What could it say? Does Zephyr already secured his allegiance?

I know how much they learned from him and respected him. Mai was a fool, who unlike his older brother had no interest in leading soliders of any kind.

He left the second largest army in Insatel in others hands. Now those others ...just handed me a letter behind their Lordship's back.