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Chatters of laughter, jesters, and abrupt singing filled the deck of the vessel ship. Aboard were the prince of Ophir and his men. They were sailing under the scorching heat of the sun and the warmth breeze of the ocean. Nevertheless, everyone kept chanting their triumph. The prince himself was mingling with the noise. In his hand, he held a tankard of ale. It dripped in his tunic each time he drank but no one paid attention as every man with him was as drunk as he was.
Below the deck held the prisoners that had been captivated. They were of men and women in different ages to be executed or slave across Ophir depending on the King's decision and the noble's bidding. Iron shackles bound their hands and feet while their necks had a single iron cuffs on it. Unlike the loud and bright mood above them, they were in utter silence and gloom.
Two more days had passed and the soldiers had finally grasped the sight of the province of Paucusia where the royal palace stood.
As soon as the people saw the vessel with the cubozoa emblem, they hurried to the docks and chanted the prince's name. The glee of the people was so loud that it reverberated to the ship.
"All hail Prince Lazmet!" The people shouted when the prince had stepped down of his vessel. "Saviour of Ophir!" They shouted again.
The prince and his men mounted their horses and dragged the prisoners at the back of the parade. Their lips curved into wry smiles as more people chanted the prince's victory.
People were on the sides of the road watching them pave their way into the palace. Even when they managed to reach the palace grounds, the praising clamour of the people kept on.
The soldiers within the palace stooped down with their swords thrust in the ground as the prince dismounted his horse. "Welcome back, prince Lazmet!" They shouted.
The prince chuckled and received their warm greetings.
One of the soldiers approached him. Apart from the others whose armours were made of iron, his gears were of gold and detailed carvings. The prince recognized him as the King's royal guard, Oman. "Your Highness, the King has summoned thee to the throne hall," he said.
Prince Lazmet adhered and walked to the keep. He was in the hallway and saw a man whom he recognized as the King's attendant.
As soon as he noticed the prince's presence, he gave him a bow and went inside the hall to announce his arrival.
The Prince stood in front of the opened double doors. His face had become stoic. All the viziers were inside listening and speaking to the man sitting in the throne carved of pure gold, crested with several jewels and decorative metals forming an elegant coat of arms. The seat was elevated with three stair steps. The man wore a golden crown filled with gemstone, each following a shape of a certain sea creature. His hair and beard was no longer black, rather white. Nevertheless, his black skin remained shining as if it reflects the rays of the sun.
Beside the throne, a boy about his height was standing. He mirrored his own features but softer. Their eyes met and the boy curved his lips into a wide smile. Instantly, he recognized him. He was Taimek, his younger brother.
The King, then, laid his golden eyes into him. With the sun lighting up the hall, his eyes looked as if it was burning.
Lazmet used to shiver just by the sight of his father's eyes. But realizing that he had the same pair of eyes as his, he began to feel nothing by his presence.
"My son, come in," the King said and the mutters faded.
All the officials inside turned their gaze to him and bowed to acknowledge his presence.
Prince Lazmet walked toward his father until he was just a few feet away. He kneeled down with the sword thrust into the ground. "Your Majesty, Ograns had been vanquished and conquered as thine orders," he said.
"Glorious," the King remarked yet his face remained passive. "Howbeit, Asvhe is retaliating against us. I expect thee to handle those wretches," he continued.
"I shall settle the matter, Your Majesty," Prince Lazmet answered.
"Thou shall depart as soon as the sun sets, then," the King uttered.
The prince raised his head and stared his father with widened eyes.
And the viziers murmured with the Kings commands.
"Why so soon, Your Majesty? At least let my brother take his rest," Prince Taimek faced the King with a frowning face.
"There shall be no time to waste," the King responded. "Do you not?" He continued while giving Prince Lazmet a glare.
The prince bowed his head again. "I shall leave as commanded," he said.
The murmurs got louder and the young Taimek exclaimed in surprise.
But the King said no more.
"If thou will allow, I shall leave the palace now and prepare the ship and my men," he asked in which the King allowed. He stood up and walked out of the throne hall.
He was already in the hallway when he heard the shout of his brother calling him. He halted and shifted his posture to meet him.
"Visit Mother. She has been waiting for thee," Prince Taimek said.
"I had to regroup my men. Tell Mother my apologies," Prince Lazmet refused.
"I could not believe Father. He makes thee do everything. It's not like we are short of commanders and generals," Taimek uttered having concern in his eyes. "How many seasons will thou be gone this time?" He asked.
"I won't be long," Prince Lazmet said and flashed a smile.
"Thou said that last time too yet thou came back when I am already as tall as thou are," the young prince uttered.
Lazmet chuckled and messed his brother's hair. "Ah! I remembered. Thou were so short back then, not even as tall as my shoulders," he said and the two of them laughed.
He sighed and tapped Taimek's shoulders. "But look at you now, all grown. Man enough to be... king," he insinuated.
Taimek's grin faded. "I tried to decline, brother. I had never sought the crown," he said.
"Albeit, the viziers supported thee," Lazmet muttered. "And Mother," he said and lift his lips into a smile faintly.
Taimek sighed. His gaze fell down.
"I shall go now," Prince Lazmet said. "Your Royal Highness," he said and bowed. He turned his back from his brother and began walking. "Ah!" He said halting his steps. He shifted his head and looked at him again. "Thou wrote in thy letter that thou art having a trouble falling asleep?" He asked.
"Aye," Taimek replied.
"I have brought dried chamomile flowers from Ogra. It'll be soothing. I will have it sent to thee," Lazmet said and continued walking out of the Keep.
The young prince's eyes lit up and his lips slowly lifted to a smile. "Take care, Brother!" He shouted.
Lazmet kept walking but raised his hand as a response.
***
Under the blue baldachin, King Emir remained sitting on his golden throne while gazing the viziers stepping out the hall. The session had ended.
"Father," Prince Taimek approached.
His face shifted to his side where the young prince stood.
"I shall go now as well," the prince said and bowed. He turned and left the throne hall.
As Prince Taimek walked towards the double doors, Oman, the King's guard appeared entering the hall. He subtly bowed his head to the prince and waited for him to pass through the door before he continued walking to the King. He stooped down thrusting his sword to the ground.
The King acknowledged and ordered him to stand.
"Prince Taimek just saw his brother after several seasons and thou had taken him away from him again," Oman said. "It would not hurt to let him stay even just for a day, Your Majesty," he continued.
"Lazmet has no place here," the King said.
"You are too hard on him. What if he finally decides to unsheathe his sword?" Oman uttered.
"Even if he does, he would not point it to me nor to his brother. He is ambitious, but smart enough to know that spilling royal blood would not make him obtain what he wants," the King said and inhaled deeply.
"Your Majesty, Prince Lazmet wanted only thy validation. He had sacrificed a lot for thy cause," the Kingsguard said.
The King arched his brow. "Sacrifices?" he hissed and laughed loudly.
But the sound made Oman flinched.
King Emir halted laughing and glared his guard. "No," he said. The King continued, "That was his way of satiating his desire. The kind of desire fulfilled by hurting other people."
"My apologies, Your Majesty. But I do not think Lazmet desires the throne. He did not even do anything when thou took away everything from him, and turned his younger brother thy heir while he was away battling the rogues," Oman defended.
The King simpered. "Oman, thou shall soon regret taking his side for Lazmet is no salvation," he uttered and stood up. He sighed and slowly shook his head as his gaze lingered on the Kingsguard. He stepped down the stairs and began stepping out of the hall.
Oman followed afterwards.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Footnotes:430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAh3ce6Xhlz
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One Season = one year430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMy4tkLufz5
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One full moon = one month430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkfIz5hGad
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Vizier - high ranking officials
