Chapter 3 HIDDEN AGENDA

It was the dawn of a new day, the sky was cloudy, and the soil of the fogy Woody forest was wet and mushy from the heavy down pour at night. A young fellow swarming in wet sludge staggered his way through the soil. He soon missed his step which sent him tumbling down a slope towards a track, luckily for the lad a carriage happens to be passing by when he hit the ground.

Beside a cottage, surrounded by willow forestations at the top of a hill, the young fellow now clean and clothed in green linen gown lay peaceful and alive on a bed. By his left hand side sat a blond hair girl a bit younger in age, in same outfit as him; staring at his innocent frown.

By his right hand sat a young lady, also a blond, squeezing water out of a towel into a bowl before wiping the lads face with it.

"Is he going to be fine?" the little girl asked with a clean voice.

"Yes dear, nothing will happen to him."

"Mother, can you guess his name?"

"I don't know Luna; just ask him when he wakes up."

After a short while of tender wiping, the young fellow opens his eyes. The young lady immediately drops the towel into the bowl then began caressing his brunette hair. "How are you feeling?"

"Where am I?" the lad asked

"Don't worry, you are in Etrigon."

"Etrigon" The lad spoke delicately, tears welling in his eyes.

"Don't cry my friend" the little girl spoke passionately at same time wiping tears from the lad's eyes "you're safe with me."

"You've been through a lot already, you poor thing; what's your name?"

"Elroy" he sobbed, rubbing is eyes with his hands.

"Elroy, what a sweet name, I'm Linda" touches the girls head "this is Luna, my daughter."

"Nice to meet you El" Luna said with a smile then held his hand "I'll take good care of you."

Mid-Day

Lance Castle dungeon

Prince Phil walk his way through an old hall way, illuminated by lanterns mounted on each side of the cracked hollow wall towards a wooden door with transom, secured by two Lancian warriors. Immediately Prince Phil got close to the warriors, one quickly unbolts the door then opens it allowing him to walk in while Prince Phil followed behind.

The dungeon room was warm and partially dark, having only one window high from reach but low to ground level outside, that the feet of passer-by can be seen, the squeaking of rats could be heard but not one could be seen. At this instance Tony raised his head up towards the Lancian warrior, his lip curled as his nose crinkled. His hands were cuffed with a chain which was linked to the wall.

"What you looking at?" the Lancian warrior asked aggressively.

"You can leave us now." Prince Phil ordered. With a bow the warrior walks out of the room.

"You have a lot of guts showing your face down here Prince."

"Pain is only but an illusion Tony" clasps his arms behind his body

"You have no right to speak his words, NO FUCKING RIGHT."

With a scoff Phil walks to one end of the room, afterwards turns to Tony. "What's so funny about that?" Tony asked crossly

"You are grieved and hurt, I understand."

"For Christ sake, keep your shitty sympathy to yourself."

"Your father was a father to me as well you know" furrowed his brow, "do you think I would have sent him to his death."

"But still you let him go, he was all I had, he was the only happiness I had and you sent him to his death."

"I regret every moment of what I did" Phil yelled "I regret I was not by his side, I regret I was part of his death, every miserable day I curse that day that hour that minute that second; so you see, I care." he spoke heartedly

"But he died anyway."

"I pray you come to understand Tony, I really do." With these words Prince Phil walks out of the cell.

The Castle of Lance

This fortified structure is stationed at the middle of a courtyard in the north section of the first district; individual districts has four sections, the north, east, south and west. Each district also encircles one another, from the second around the first separated by a moat down to the sixth then an open land before the mighty walls of Lance; they are linked by two bridges, except the first which has just one bridge linking it to the second district. There are only two passages into Lance, the front gate called the Southern Gate then from behind, which has no gate but a dock.

At the balcony of the large Castle stood King Eric Levy, short flabby man, although not that good looking due to a scare across his wrinkled face; his dark shoulder lengthened hair gave him a bold look. He watched stewards care for the orchard and royal guards go about their various activities. The Kings relaxing view came to a stop when Sri Altai, a Lancian Elite, walks in; top ranked warriors tasked with coordinating war unit of Lancian warriors. There are thirteen high ranked swords men in Lance, six Commanders assigned to each district with twenty warriors; then seven Sri. Each Sri and Commander is cladded in chain mail tinted with dark blue. Altai is a black skinned average heighted man with a well-built body, a crew cut and side-burns united with his goatee adding to his fearless looks. His looks spoke evil of him, like he was happy doing anything bad; he wields a sword and a dagger cased in unique leather scabbard dangling from his left side as he walks.

"My Lord" Altai greeted with a bow.

"Speak Altai"

"Prince Richard and Sri Roderick's Calvary has engaged with the Drokans."

"What are the casualty estimates?"

"Casualty" Altai said with a smile, obliging King Eric to narrow his eyes towards him "the Drokans won't stand a chance my Lord, on the fore front is the Cavalry and behind awaiting orders are the infantry."

"Then we have nothing to fear."

"Before dusk the day after tomorrow Prince Richard will be back with the head of Zodiakal, the sixth in command to the Drokan armies."

"Well don't just stand here, tell Princess Atari to prepare her stewards for a large feast." Sri Altai quickly bows then walks away, not quite long from then Prince Phil walks into the balcony. "Tony is not helping Father."

"Give him time Phil; it's not easy losing your only source of happiness."

Stunned by his father's response Prince Phil walks closer to him, "You knew that?" Phil asked "and yet you suggested I send his father, my mentor to observe the chaos that ravaged on in the sixth district"

"Pay back is fragrant" King Eric assured with a wild smirk "when things go as planned, God bless his terrible soul."

"What's the meaning of this father?" Prince Phil asked now infuriated.

"I knew exactly what was going on and I knew Jerrod Rooks and his squad was no match for it."

"You sent him to die." Phil raged

"Hush now son, YOU" points his index finger at Prince Phil, "sent him, remember your place son, for I am still King." Prince Phil bowed out of respect to the crown then glared at his father before walking away. "Good boy" King Eric praised then focused on the beautiful female stewards tending the orchard.

District 4

Twenty-fourth hour

The busiest district in Lance, with business of various kinds going on mostly at night; there are five branches of the Black Bog in this troublesome district each pulling out at least three dead bodies from bar fights after every feast.

The night was cold and windy, streets almost void as various activities came to a close in the east section. A huge figure in black hooded cloak walks hastily from one junction to another where one of the Black Bog was located. After glaring up at a slim figure clothed in black hooded cape staring down from the balcony the huge figure walks into the Black Bog.

"Thank you for coming Thomas." The huge figure greeted as soon as he walked into the balcony.

"This meeting better be worthwhile Michael." The slim figure replied hastily

"Sorry for drawing you from your family."

"You left your wife and new born so we could meet, then this must be urgent."

"Yes indeed, Richard has been chosen to rule Lance after the reign of his Father."

"Well, that's good news, what about it?"

"I'm glad you asked; what does the Levia family have in common?"

"They've ruled Lance for six generations now, they contributed greatly to the building of Lance; they are very skillful fighters and fearless beings."

"Yes, rumor also has it the first Levia squired under the last descendant of one of the men trained by fallen Angel Azazel."

"Yes, there's that."

"What does Orrick Levia have in common with his grandson? Richard Levia"

"They are not as cold and bold as their families; although they are wild in a unique way"

"Then you understand why Richard has to join his grandfather."