18 Eyes And Ears

The day was still bright even though it was almost dusk. Xanxier slightly rolled up the map he had been staring at for the past hour and gave it to Kale who quickly pinned it on the board. Xanxier had been in his study after the court meeting.

The study was located next to the library. It was a medium sized room with a desk, two small shelves filled up with books, three chairs. A wooden partition which was riddled with carved designed holes that seperated him and two guards standing at the other side.

Xanxier heard some footsteps and he raised his head to see a guard approached him.

"Your Majesty." He bowed. "Lord Za is back and currently in the throne room." He reported.

Xanxier took a deep breath and massaged his forehead. "Lead him here and also call the Prime minister."

"Your Majesty." The guard bowed and left.

It was quite hectic trying to review all the pending reports and the letters on the table were piled up.

Xanxier took a letter and opened it to see it was an appreciation letter. He only took a glance at the title and the name of the sender before throwing it in the basket full of opened letters next to his chair.

Xanxier dropped the pen he was holding and started checking the sender's names on the letters sent to him. He saw a letter with the name King Rev of Springhill written on the envelope.

Xanxier took a deep breath and opened it and scanned through it to only see it was a marriage proposal of Rev's youngest daughter and him. Xanxier folded the letter back in its envelope and placed in on his table. He checked through the letters till he saw one with the name Lea written at the bottom of it.

His eyes dimmed as he squeezed the letter so hard his knuckles turned white, he threw it into the trash can but still wasn't satisfied.

"Bring the letter."

Kale reached into the can and fished out the crumbled letter and gave it to him.

Xanxier tore it into pieces wishing he could just burn it and that was what he did by lighting a candle and made sure the ashes of the letter wasn't even visible. he dumped the rest of the letters in the basket since none seems important.

"Your Majesty." Za came to view and bowed.

"Take a seat." Xanxier said and folded his hands on the table. "Kale you and the guards can wait outside." He ordered.

"Your Majesty." Kale bowed.

Xanxier watched Kale and the two guards leave as the door closed behind them. "Za you being my extended eyes and ears I do not appreciate your adventure outside Autumnshell since I gave you only one month to solve Nomand's problem" He narrowed his eyes.

Za was the minister of strategic defense but it was only a title to cover up his real work. He had many men working under him and his men can penetrate any nation, he knows any current situation on any Kingdom and nothing excape his eyes and ears.

"Forgive me your Majesty I was delayed." He bowed slightly.

"Tell me how did it go?"

"I gave the Nomand the hectares of land they wanted to farm since their land is barren and as an exchange they will share a quarter of their harvest with us." Za reported.

Xanxier shrugged slightly, he would have prefer them sending horses instead. "Fair enough."

The door opened and Xanxier's eyes darted to the door as The Prime minister came to view.

"Your Majesty." Barin bowed and occupied the chair next to Za.

"Tell me everything. " Xanxier said to Za. He had been waiting for Barin to come knowing with the two he would be able to solve any problem without breaking a sweat.

Za and Barin had been working with him privately, he kept most things from Daminas since emotion can cover his judgement.

"I heard an Assassin infiltrated the palace and the court suggested Agatha may be behind it because of Queen Krista that may or may not be bitter since the spy caught was a soldier of Agatha. What I discovered is the spies are the minor spies kept in a Kingdom to report about the economy growth and once the Kingdom fails they will send word and see if they can present an alliance or attack. " He explained. "King Dima Zee of Agatha died this afternoon, I heard he died due to poisoning and Agatha is not strong enough to wage war on any Kingdom at the moment even though they are receiving mages all over middle-earth."

"What you are saying is that Agatha was not the one that sent the Assassin because they are not strong enough to attack Autumnshell?" Xanxier asked.

"Correct your Majesty. It may be other Kingdoms or a personal matter since I heard a hint of Freshland warming up to declare war on Autumnshell." Za reported.

Freshland. How dare they!

Xanxier eyes turned cold as he clinched his fists under the table. Freshland was very big and they had alot of warriors since men dominated the nation. When he was thirteen he was arrested for trespassing when he only wanted to check the Kingdom out, out of curiosity. His father had to pay a handsome price for his release from his confined room, then Xanxier could tell the King of Freshland was a very greedy person.

"Personal matter? do you mean Vane?" Xanxier asked to distract himself from thinking of his experience in Freshland.

"Lord Vane had been busy making Trenor strong and stable, there is no unusual activities even though he is here I think he came to see you because he missed you." Za said. "Lord Vane is just like a child." He added.

"A child who plotted againt me five years ago." Xanxier stated offhandedly as his mouth curved in a small smile.

"I think Lord Za is right, Lord Vane is just here to see and support you." Barin contributed. "He may have many guards working for him but as far as I have seen he means no harm and I don't think Agatha is behind the sending of an Assassin, they cannot risk putting their Kingdom in jeopardy."

"Do you think Vane killed that man Morton?" Xanxier directed the question to them, the question he couldn't ask Daminas.

"The probability is high according to Lord Vane and Morton Noth history, the minister of Justice will soon to figure it out." Barin said.

"It is a tight lips case unless the perpetrator tells someone." Za added.

Xanxier nodded. "Talking about Duren, Za am sure you know the trading of slaves are still going on right under my nose."

"Forgive me your Majesty, I do not have power to engage them, I only made a report to Lord Duren to solve it." Za elucidated.

Xanxier was impressed by the way Za and Barin were. They do not cower in front of him or kneel unnecessarily to apologize and they were always honest with him even though it may upset him but they will always tell him the truth.

Za told Xanxier once when Xanxier was thirteen to prove to him why he should stay since he wanted to retire when his father pass the throne over to Xanxier even though he was in his mid forties.

After Za realised Xanxier was a person to follow, he became his eyes and ears and travelled as an envoy also using that to gather relevant informations.

"Talk to Duren about Freshland and Prime minister work together with Goutra and Duren to make a plan, you may leave" Xanxier concluded.

Za and Barin stood up. "Your Majesty." They bowed before walking out.

Xanxier tidy his table a little bit ."Anybody out there." Xanxier called out.

Kale came to view and bowed. "Your Majesty."

"Call me someone." He said and it didn't take long when he heard footsteps.

"Your Majesty."

Xanxier raised his head to see an errand boy as Kale went to stand at the side of the desk. "Tell someone to send my dinner to my quarters." He watched as he bowed and left.

Xanxier stood up and shook out his sleeves to cover his hands before walking out of the room gracefully, Kale walking behind him and the two guards at the door quickly joined them.

He walked down the corridor as people bowed as he walked pass them. He spotted Yua and Trazin at a corner talking and he quickly pulled up a scowl to avoid them talking to him. They bowed and he nodded once in acknowledgement. He spotted Tutina and Huare who were now dressed in feminine robes among the servants that bowed he quickly glanced around but Kamigani wasn't among them.

He almost exhale a relieve breath when he finally rounded the corner to his quarters. He walked up to the door and the two guards opened the door for him.

Xanxier stepped into the room and turned to Kale. "Don't let anyone in except Daminas." He said leaving Kale at the door.

Daminas took matters into his hands and was currently working with Duren and Goutra in order to report any new development in finding out the perpetrator.

Xanxier walked down the meeting hall before taking his sit in the dinning room, he should eat first since he missed lunch. He heard footsteps and narrowed his eyes at the entrance to see Laile and Kale appeared.

"Your Majesty." Laile bowed and placed a tray on the table and just as Xanxier expected Kale brought out a silver spoon to test if the food wasn't poison.

Xanxier almost send him out when he started taking out a portion of the food and started eating it but he doesn't want Daminas to chew his head off which made him watched and waited till Kale nodded like he was proud of doing a good job.