"They have not returned yet." Emerson whispered as he watched the sun set. His jaws clenched together. Eyes turning sharp and glaring at the sky. He turns around, hearing hiccups and tiny voices.
He steps closer towards four kids. They hiccup, hugging each other, pushing themselves against the wall.
Emerson smirks, towering over the tiny figures, who flinch, shaking with fear. "Please," one among them speaks with a sniff.
Ermerson grins; slow, deliberate laughter echoes in the tiny room far away from the palace inside deep forest.
"Your fathers are hunters, right?"
The kids nodded, shuffling closer to each other.
"They have not returned yet," Emerson stated, followed by a laugh. "Do you understand the meaning of this?"
The kids glanced at their mothers sitting in the other corner with chains.
"Your fathers are no more. They have died. They are killed by your crown prince."
The kids saw their mother's tears falling from her eyes and muffled sobs behind the cloth wrapped over her mouth. They look back at the young prince.
"Died? What is died? killed?" The kids asked, glancing at each other, if either of them knew the answer.
Emerson chuckled, "My apologies. You are children, unaware of the world."
He snaps his gaze at the ladies. Three wives are shedding tears for the loss. However, one among them glared at Emerson with tears brimming in their eyes. Her forehead was throbbing with prominent veins.
Emerson smiles with amusement. "Are you cursing me?" He looks away, heaving a sigh. "If your husbands do their task properly. They would have been alive. Yet, they are known as the best hunters. However, unable to kill a mere human."
The woman throws her head back with a muffled laugh.
Unable to hold his curiosity, Emerson pulls the cloth away from the lady's mouth. "What made you believe that my husband couldn't harm the crown prince?"
She laughs again, "Because I know my husband very well. We were nomads with no destination, nothing called home. It was our prince who gave us a place in Amorite. My husband got this work because of his skills." She looks at the other ladies, watching her and nodding with everything she is saying.
"Do you think we are as cruel as you to harm the hand that fed us?" She smirks, "My husband would rather kill himself than harm the prince. By now, he must have given the message to the prince."
Emerson took his sword and slashed an 'X' on four kids.
The mothers closed their eyes, listening to the painful cries and gasps of their children.
"Remember this: the way our children are crying and shaking with pain. You shall get ten times more pain. You shall beg for instant death, and that will not happen. The person you sent to kill shall be the one taking your last breath." Her painful laugh for losing her husband, her children echo.
Then, it's silence. There is no sound apart from the shaky breath of Emerson. A drop of blood falls on the ground as he swings the sword again, taking the remaining breath from the ladies.
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"Pardon me, your highness; kindly enlighten me." Suvain felt himself being out of words.
Did the prince realize it long ago, and does he grasp it now?
Arson shook his head. "I cannot explain it to you without the full knowledge of the truth. What I do know is," Arson glanced at the raging sun's light. "Elric has become very important to me."
Suvain sighed at the retreating figure. He looks at the falcon feeding on a rat sitting on the branch.
Arson walked through the corridor, his eyes noticing the large painting of the royal family. There is everyone apart from the princess, who replies to his letters.
He has to know who is playing games with him. She pretended to be the princess and stood in front of him. Who sat in the market, if it's not the princess who has the same eyes as Elric?
Arson stood in his steps, watching the family portrayed. It was clear that the eyes belonged to Elric alone. The crown prince and the king shared the same shade and shape of eyes. It was Elric's eyes that were different.
If there is no princess, why did Elric play along when he talked about the princess? Why did he not correct Arson about it?
Perhaps Elric was fooling him?
His gaze lingered a little longer on the portrait as he shook his head.
"Perhaps, it was joyful to see me this way. And, I thought, his highness is different."
⋇⋆✦⋆⋇
Elric's finger's movement caused a stir in Arson's heart.
Arson's gaze rose over Elric's body, resting on the face.
When Elric opened his eyes, Arson stopped breathing. His lips quivered, gaze raking all over the young prince.
Elric blinks the fogginess from his sight. Eyebrows frowned when the cloudy vision didn't disappear. His hand moved, rubbing his eyes with cold blood running through his body.
"I am unable to see," Elric whispered, sitting upright with the support of one hand, and continued rubbing his eyes.
"Calm down, your highness," Arson whispered, holding Elric's hand with a gentle grip.
"You do not understand." Elric blinks again, and he can see Arson's worried face.
"Please calm down, your highness," Arson whispered, holding his cheek. "Can you see me?"
Elric nodded, pressing his lips together. When he felt the sharp pain over his shoulder.
"I thought, I shall never see you again," Elric whispered with a tender smile.
Arson smiled, brushing Eric's hair from his face. "I promised myself. I shall save you."
Suddenly, Elric's eyes focused on his legs. He continued staring without blinking. His mind is going haywire.
Whereas Arson felt relief pouring over his heart. Elric is fine and awake. He swiftly took the decoction, waiting for Elric. Touching the surface of the bowl, "It has turned cold." He kept it on the table and brought a water glass to Elric's lips. "Drink some water."
Elric's gaze didn't waver from his legs. His sight is filling with a blur, with brimming tears.
Arson noticed the tear falling on the glass as he was waiting for Elric to drink it.
"Your highness?" Arson swiftly wipes his tears. "Please look at me." Elric turns his attention to Arson with another tear gliding over his cheek.
Arson couldn't breathe, his shaky fingers holding Elric's face. "Please do not scare me anymore," pulling Elric into his embrace. "You have scared me to death," resting his chin on the young prince's head.
Elric's head pressed over Arson's shoulder. His eyes are unfocused with arms on his side.
"I am," Elric whispered, "unable to feel my legs."
For a moment, Arson couldn't hear anything apart from the ears ringing loudly. His arms pulling Elric closer with eyes falling on the limp legs. "Please calm down, your highness. Healer will give you herbs; very soon you shall start feeling them too."
Elric hums, gradually wrapping his arms over Arson, snuggling closer.
Fawther enters the room with a plate full of rice and different dishes for Arson.
"Merchant, please have your lunch," Fawther said with eyes focused on the plate as he carefully entered the room. He frowns, when there is no reply from the merchant. He looks up, assuming the merchant is sitting on the stool near Elric. His eyes widen, and the plate slips from his grasp.
"Your highness!" Fawther runs towards the prince. "Your highness," tears fill his eyes as he sits on the floor, looking at Elric.
Eric smiles, "You worry for no apparent reason. I am feeling good."
Arson smiles while pointing at the lunch, "And, you have dropped the lunch. I am feeling hungry, along with your highness."
Fawther swiftly wipes his eyes and stands up with a nod. "I shall get your lunch." He runs out of the room in a hurry and returns to take the plate, sighing at the falling rice and food on the floor. "I apologize deeply." Fawther kneels and scoops the rice with his hands.
Elric noticed Arson's frown. "We live for food. It gives us strength, and whatever we do is to earn a living. That's why we cannot use sweepers or anything for picking the rice."
Arson nodded, turning his attention to Elric. "I shall get the healers. Do not worry."
Elric gave a tender nod. He waits until Arson is out of the room. The duvet falls on the floor as Elric stares at his legs. He tries to move them at least the toes. However, they remained still. He takes the right leg with both hands. Holding it firmly, he tries to move it off the bed.
"Since when did my leg become so heavy?" He was unable to do anything as they rested on the bed, immobile.
Elric falls on the bed, flinching with the sharp pain in his shoulder. "Why shall I remain this way all my life?" He pressed his forearm over his eyes. "I have become a burden now." Tears glides over the cheek, touching the ear and falling on the pillow.
"Shh, calm down. Aaron and Father would return any moment. I cannot break down anyway." He rubs his eyes, getting rid of the moisture, and blinks his eyes.
Soon, the healer runs into the room, followed by his father and brother.
"I cannot feel my legs," Elric whispered in a monotone voice. He heard the gasp from his father and brother.
⋇⋆✦⋆⋇
Elric did not like pity in the healer's eyes. The sympathy in his brother and sorrow of his father. Fawther standing afar with guilt. Arson, the man is nowhere to be seen. The attempt to raise his foot didn't waver even if the healers shook their heads to his father. He can understand the implication very well. Perhaps he would never stand on his feet. He shall remain this way forever.
A burden and, very soon, an eyesore in the palace.
"Your majesty, this oil could help. However, I am unable to state when the young prince would walk again." The healer explained, gesturing for Fawther to take the small-sized oil container. "You have to apply it thoroughly when it's hot and massage it properly."
Fawther takes the bottle with a bow. Watching the bottle, he wishes for the oil to do its miracle and heal his highness fast.
"Son," the king whispered, gently caressing his hair. "Trust your father; I shall get the best healer for you."
Elric glanced at the king and nodded, turning his eyes to his legs hidden under the duvet.
"Do you find it? Why did the person shoot an arrow at me?" Elric asked, looking at his brother, then at the king.
The males exchanged glances. "It was not for you. The person aimed to hit the crown prince of Amorite, and you—" Aaron couldn't complete the sentence.
Elric's eyebrows twitched as a sad smile spread across his face. "It implies I protected someone I do not know, and where is that prince?"
The king held Elric's hand. "Who would know about someone attacking them?"
Elric's eyes narrowed. "You mean to say I am at fault for getting hit and becoming a burden?" He pulls his hand away from his father's grasp. "Everybody knows what happened yesterday night. Where is that prince? Doesn't he know what has happened to me?" His fist tightened on the duvet. "It is all his fault! Why did he come to our kingdom? Why did he attend our festival? Which prince trespasses on a nation without informing the king beforehand?"
"Elric, he is the crown prince of Amorite. The kingdom is larger than--" Elric cuts his brother's words with, "It is none of my concern. He could be the king of heaven. But he must abide by the rules of other nations."
Aaron snaps his gaze at his father. "Elric, the prince--"
"Please," Elric's lips wobbled, "please, leave me alone."
Arson, standing outside, attempting to knock on the door, froze after hearing Elric's words.
Forcing a smile, Arson steps inside. He carefully watched the people leaving the room. Aaron gritted his teeth as soon as their eyes met. The king gives a thankful smile and pats his shoulder. "He wishes to be alone now."
Arson nodded. "As you say, your majesty." He turns around to walk towards the door and steps inside the room again. "He has instructed others to leave him alone and not me." Arson said, pointing at himself.
The king gave a thought and smiled with a nod.
Arson walks towards the lump curled on the bed. He knows Elric's questions are not wrong. They were here to kill him, and Elric took it. He must do everything possible to bring Elric back to his feet.
"Good day, your highness," Arson said, stepping towards the window and gently picking the sparrow from his hand.
The sparrow chirped as though scolding him. "I apologize. However, how can you eat without his highness eating anything?"
The sparrow chirped again, looking around.
"Yes, yes. I do not even see him. His highness is hidden from us." Arson whispered, making Elric hear him.
The duvet slightly goes low as Elric watches Arson talking with the sparrow.
"We must bring his highness's favorite food." Arson gets Fawther through his eyes to get the food. "Do you know I have not eaten anything since the evening?"
Chirp.
"How can I eat when his highness is not eating and taking his medicine on time?"
The duvet goes lower, showing Elric's face and watchful eyes staring at them.
"Yet, who will worry about a poor merchant? I am alone here, and I stayed back for the prince. But it looks like His Highness does not care about us." Arson looks afar. "We are the lone travelers of life, little sparrow."
Elric pursed his lips together and rolled his eyes.
How dramatic! Wasn't it supposed to be his quota?
⋇⋆✦⋆⋇
"The crown prince of Amorite is here," Aaron whispered, writing down his thoughts. "I got a letter claiming from the crown prince himself." Writing down. "If he were here, then why did it take so long for the reply?"
"If the crown prince is currently in Amorite. Then why is the prisoner claiming that the prince is here?"
"If he is here, why did he not inform us about his visit?"
"By the statement of the assassin, if Arson Ritz is so kind, then why did he not visit Elric?"
"Foremost, I should know who are the outsiders were sitting around the fire." Aaron smiles, "The outsider would be the Arson Ritz."
He turns his attention to the doors. "Guards, send the guard working during the festival to the ground."
"As you command, your excellency."
Aaron smirks, "I could ask the prince for a peace treaty and empower my kingdom."
⋇⋆✦⋆⋇
"I am upset." Elric mumbles, chewing the rice. He parts his lips, taking another bite. "Someone should apologize to me."
Arson nodded, "Yes, your highness. Please pardon me." Feeding Elric with another small ball of rice filled with curry.
Elric shook his head, wiping his lips for excess curry.
"You like rice and curry so much, your highness?" Arson asked, washing his hands.
Elric nodded, gulping the water. "Yes, very much."
"The lunch is done. Now, time for medicine." Arson said, gesturing for Fawther to get the decoction.
Fawther smiled at his highness and sat by his foot side on the bed. "Your highness, please drink the medicine. I shall apply oil on your legs." Fawther gives the liquid and pulls his sleeves up.
Elric scrunched his nose and took a sharp breath and gulped the liquid in one go.
"It is very bitter." His face twisted with agony. It smells and tastes awful.
Fawther pulls the duvet away and carefully dips his fingers in the warm oil. His other hand gently takes Elric's foot and tenderly glides his finger over the foot.
Elric stares at his foot, hoping to see some goosebumps or at least a tickling feeling. However, there was none. He smiled bitterly, watching Fawther being tender as though a strong grip would hurt him.
"Fawther, if you pour the hot oil even then, I shall never feel anything," Elric spoke; the bitterness in his mouth could never be compared with the bitterness in his heart.
Fawther looks at Elric with wide eyes. "No, your highness. Please do not say that. You would heal and run around the palace." Fawther felt his eyes burning with pain.
Arson frowns, "How are you sure, your highness?"
Elric smiled. "Have you seen someone walking again after being crippled? I might be naive. However, I am not toad to not understand."
Arson stood up. "You are not crippled, your highness." His voice wavered. "You shall walk again, and I shall make sure of it."
Elric shook his head, heaving a defeated sigh. "This is it. This is my destiny. I would live in this room forever."
Arson nods his head. "As you say, your highness." Arson walked out of the room with the empty plate and bowls.
Elric parts his lips to stop him. But why would he stay? Previously, he could give a reason to learn something new from him. Now, what would he say? A cripple doesn't need to learn fighting skills. If an assassin tries to immobilize him. He won't be able to fight back. They would hold his hands tightly with rope and cloth over his mouth. How will he fight with numb legs?
"Your highness," Fawther's whisper brought Elric from his deep thoughts.
Fawther looks up while massaging the oil till his knee. He "I wish to tell you what happened while you were fighting with death." He looks at Elric. "May I?"
Elric frowns slightly and, with hesitation, nods his head.
Fawther narrates the incident from Arson holding him tightly to getting the flower to heal him, staying with him through all the problems, and bringing the complete kingdom together to get him the flowers.
Elric closed his eyes tightly. Perhaps he regrets saying all those words to him.
"The merchant held the determination to cure you. He did not give up at any moment. For a moment, I thought," Fawther whispered, taking a moment. "I thought I lost you. He was the one holding everything affirmatively."
Elric looks at the vast sky, where a falcon is flying.
The man did everything possible to cure himself, and when he got up and saw his numb legs, he gave up. No wonder Arson sounded upset with his words.
"I wish to sleep now. After a while, could you bring Arson here? I would like to talk with him." Elric spoke, looking at the sky, and his eyes landed on the sparrow trying to bite the petals of the flower hanging over the balcony.
Fawther smiled, "As you wish, your highness." He takes the oil away and helps Elric lie comfortably on the bed.
Elric glanced at his leg, noticing the white duvet soaking up the stains of oil. "Fawther, maybe I should—"
"I would wash it, your highness. Please do not worry about the stains and get bette"r.
Elric sighs, closing his eyes. Maybe he should take some rest. He wishes his legs to turn normal again, earning the strength back, and all this to be a dreadful nightmare and nothing else.
⋇⋆✦⋆⋇
"Commander, we are leaving this instant." Arson spoke, opening the doors harshly. His eyes search for Elric until he realizes. "Why am I thinking of him?"
Arson groans, slumping on the cot. Suvain was nowhere to be seen. He must have gone for petrol. Few habits can change with habit.
He sits in the chair and takes the quill. His other hand searches for the scroll, and he cannot find it.
"Why does everything go wrong in life?" Arson glanced at the door and sighed. "I have to get it myself."
He marched towards Elric's room. He would write a letter to his father and send the falcon, eyeing the sparrow away. Later, he could calmly write a farewell letter to the princess. If the stubborn prince feels better, he will write a letter for him as well.
As Arson reached Elric's door, he hesitated for a moment, wondering if he should knock or just barge in. The flickering light from within cast shadows on the corridor walls, deepening his resolve—he had come too far to turn back now.
With a determined breath, he raised his hand and knocked firmly on the door. The sound echoed in the quiet hallway, and Arson felt his heart race as he waited for a response, unsure of what emotions awaited him on the other side.
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