Chapter 16 A Kiss of a King

Chapter 16

A Kiss of a King

 

                It’s been roughly two weeks since Talson was lost. Not only that, it seems that Ricardo left with Alessandra without a word. I still remember waking up a bit before noon and watching them ride off. My head said to go after them but my heart thought it best to let them go. It was best to head to my city and to form an army to reclaim Talson… or whatever is left of it. Cole was a bit nervous about them leaving without us. He really takes his job seriously and is beyond dedicated when it comes to protecting her. It’s as if he’s got feelings for that he probably shouldn’t. But who am I to say anything. Jorn, that’s an interesting reaction on his part. He just laughed and whispered little sister with a smirk. He knows something but I left it go. The three of us keep going to my city, it was rather quite most of the way, and the sighs of relief when we saw the sign, Welcome to Celestial's Haven, was a much needed release.

 

                The moment our horses entered the farm lands I would see many farmers working the fields. As we slowly walked out steeds across the main path, each citizen that looked to see the travelers noticed it was me. In a matter of minutes we had a small group of people following us, all cheering my name. King Sarwar, The benevolent, Home at last. Over and over as we walked they would chant that. I never really minded it, but that day I felt nothing like the Benevolent King that they saw me as. I felt more like a failure then anything else. Losing Talson… I sent Cole off to form some scouting parties to watch the lands, seems to be keeping his mind off of Alessandra. Jorn… Jorn just does what he normally does. Disappear.

 

                So I’m sitting here at my desk, towers of paper in every corner of my office, trying to figure out what to do. I’m at a lost really, Ricardo is the better at war, and his passion for protecting everyone still amazes me sometimes. I consulted my Generals and they think that I was joking about losing Talson. They refuse to accept it, insisting that I stop with the joke. I’d ask Cole what he thinks but I don’t want to drag him from his work. It’s all too complicated right now and I need a break. Sadly I won’t be granted one it seems, just more and more needs to be done. Maybe it’s true, conquering lands is easy compared to ruling it.

 

                He leaned back in his chair and looked at all the papers. His anger started to boil in how helpless it all looks. In rage he slammed his fists in to the table and his bracer started to glow, the sapphire in glowed then turned gold. Puzzled Sarwar ran his hand along it feeling it emit a warm essence that reacted with his gift. He stood up and held his arm above his head letting it shine above him, still trying to understand this bracer. It formed armor for Alessandra, why could it not do anything for him. Again his anger got the best of him and his fist connected with the wall. Only this time the bracer helped his punch. The wall had wisps of gold latch on to the wall itself. As he pulled his fist away the wall started to evaporate. The gold gem glow brighter then moved his arm to his chest, were it returned to the sapphire stone. Only now, the bracer felt like some type of untapped power. It was hard to explain really, it felt powerfully but as if there were walls stopping him from seeing more. 

 

                It felt good really, to have it finally do something even if I couldn’t use it. I’m not sure what it’s for or what I can do but there isn’t much I can do. It may be possible that Ricardo knows something about it, I mean Alessandra as one so it seems only people connected closely to him have one. Maybe he has them all and just gives them out. Who knows but I do need to ask him about that.

 

                A knock came from the door, and Sarwar only then noticed how big the hole in the wall was. He held his hands up, palms to the hole, and released his gift slightly. The wall reformed and complete itself. Again the knock came only this time followed by a soft whisper.

 

“My King, is everything ok?”

 

                He was a bit hesitant to open the door. He’d been gone so long that he couldn’t remember the voice. He knows it but who it belongs too was off his mind. He walked slowly to the door and opened it. Behind the door stood a girl roughly the age of 22, she wore a maid’s outfit and looked at him with curious eyes. He brown locks were cascading down her figure her piercing blue eyes look in to his and cast some sort of spell over him.

 

“Everything’s….. Everything is fine. Thank you for asking.”

 

“But I heard banging and I was worried.”

 

“Sorry that was me. My work is frustrating. May I ask do I know you?”

 

“We’ve met before but I didn’t work as a maid until last week.”

 

“Were have we met?”

 

“At the ceremony you had two years ago, when you gave my father his position as one of your Generals.”

 

“Hmm… Oh now I remember, His daughter, the rather sour one that wanted nothing to do with the party.”

 

“Yea… that one, Sorry I was foolish and young.”

 

“No need, you look beautiful really and you had every right to want to leave.”

 

“Tha… tha… Thank you.”

 

“You’re welcome.”

 

                He took her hand and kissed it softly then walked past her out of the room. As he headed down the hall he could here faint foot steps behind him. He was being followed… by her. In his amusement he kept walking. She followed as if she wanted something. He made a turn right and she went right. A sharp left and again she turned left. He knuckled slightly and turned back to notice her quickly making it look like she’s cleaning. When he turned back he bolted as fast as he could down the hall. She followed. Within a matter of seconds he’s lost her. She wandered around a bit looking for him. Checking each hall way, every room, he was gone. She let out a sigh and he wrapped his arms around her. She gasped and jumped out of his arms. He laughed softly and just looked at her.

 

“I’m not King for no good reason. I can fight and have some skills in stealth.”

 

“I can see that…”

 

“Why… why are you following me?”

 

                She started to dry wash her hands and turn away. He walked up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. As he turned her, he noticed that she was blushing. As her turned his head in confusion she quickly pulled him to her and placed her lips to his. Sarwar melted away in to the passion of the kiss. When we returned to reality she was looking in to his eyes, redder then before. Before he could speak, she ran away.