13 No Where To Hide

Xanxier gaze fell on Huare. She was a blonde and her hair was short, she was taller than the two.

"I tried to abolish the practice of slavery in the Kingdom but it seems am not trying enough." Xanxier said calmly like he was having a friendly talk but his graze was so sharp and cold and it seemed the temperature in the room dropped with each word.

"Your Majesty..." Daminas started but Xanxier stopped him by raising his hand.

"Each minister knows their work." He turned to the Prime minister with a pointy look. "What say you?" He asked as he shook out his sleeves waiting for an explanation.

"Your Majesty I have been trying to solve this as soon as I learned that some people are into the trading of the slaves privately in Autumnshell and it seems this trading as been going on before the throne was passed on to you and I was aware about it two years ago but I was unable to arrest the prepetrators." The Prime minister elucidated.

The murderous aura coming from Xanxier was so suffocating that the court officials had to avoid his gaze. He closed his eyes like he was trying to calm himself. He opened his eyes and this time he was just staring at no one as he took a deep breath. "Who is your master or mistress?" Xanxier asked in an unexpected quite and calm composure. He wasn't looking at them which made Kamigani so confused on who is supposed to reply between them.

Huare shifted from foot to foot and she doesn't seemed to be awear of her actions and it made Kamigani so nervous, Tutina seemed a little at ease.

"Lady Ayante your Majesty." Kamigani replied since she knows Tutina wouldn't since she was still bitter pinning the blame on her for being arrested and Huare seemed to be clueless on how to reply.

Xanxier had to start from knowing why the woman called Ayante let them wandered around. According to the knowledge at his disposal slaves masters doesn't care much about their slaves and just send bounty hunters if they escape. In this case it seemed Ayante doesn't want to lose Kamigani since she sent Huare and Tutina to look for her which means Kamigani was more useful to her.

Xanxier look was like he was trying to solve a mystery, with the way they dressed and looked one could easily tell they were trained in martial art and Ayante wasn't using them to run a brothel that he was sure. "Where is she?" Xanxier asked he stared at Kamigani.

This time Kamigani was lost on what to say. She was now regreting being so worried in the cell and not discussing the solution to their predicament with Tutina and Huare.

"She went on a journey....." Huare trailed off when she noticed the King was glaring coldly at her like she just made a big mistake, she quickly fell on her knees as a cold sweat run down her spine. "Forgive me your Majesty for speaking out of my turn." She apologised and kowtowed before quickly raising her head for fear of a guard cutting off her head without warning as soon as she lowers it. She knew it would probably not happen but she wasn't so sure.

Xanxier turned to Tutina since she looked like the composed one between them, she had a look of someone that would not plot on another behind their back she would rather plot about them in front of them and even tell them of her intentions. "Where is Ayante?"

Tutina heart accelerated when Xanxier turned to her. "She went on a journey and left the three of us to take care of home." She said quickly her graze darting between Xanxier and Daminas.

"How do you survive?" Xanxier asked looking like he was studying her.

"Hunting, we sell the meat your Majesty." Tutina said calmly as she tried to keep her heart beating faster under control since she knows it would be an ugly ending if the Xanxier issues an investigation.

Xanxier gaze shifted to Kamigani and Tutina sighed in relieve. "You said you have no bows and arrows."

"Your Majesty We..."

"Silence!" Xanxier cut Huare off and turned to glare at her this time he stood up and the ministers that lined at the side took a deep sharp breath with made Huare knocked her head thrice on the floor as she bit her tongue wanting to apologize but at the same time not wanting to lose her head. "You dont talk when its not your turn and if you say one more word....."

Huare shivered in fright as Kamigani wanted nothing but to be six feet under, Xanxier was still staring coldly at Huare as he walked down the stairs slowly, his boots stepping on the floor gracefully only to stop few feet from Huare. Kamigani racked her brain for what to say knowing they were all walking on a thin thread.

"Your Majesty I have no idea how she had a bow and arrows." Kamigani said quickly to divert Xanxier's graze.

Xanxier turned sharply to her taking a step to the side to tower above Kamigani. He was a head taller than her and Kamigani graze at his chest her heart in her throat. "Why do you say that, who has a bow and arrows?"

Kamigani knew the King was playing a mind game with her and it was making her uncomfortable how close he was standing to her, her heart was pounding so fast it was like it wanted to burst out of her chest.

She quickly fell on her knees, this was harder than she thought. "That bow, I have seen Huare with it once and I thought she borrowed it your Majesty.." She also planted her hands to the floor to stare at his shining dark boot that had not a single flaw on it, she would give anything to leave the room, guilty or not.

"Hmmmmm elaborate." Xanxier said looking down at her and anybody could tell he wasn't interrogating her because of the curfew. He was carefully studying her reaction and cloth.

"I saw her with it once and I guessed she borrowed it I have no I idea its hers." Kamigani said a little glad she was kneeling and wasn't looking at him anymore. His graze was so cold she wanted to confess and end it all.

"Who said its hers?" Xanxier asked still looking down at her. It was a little hard to watch her kneel. If she was a princess he knew there would be alot of suitors that would want to marry her and would do anything to have her but life wasn't fair.

Looking down at her Xanxier realised this girl was so innocent she didn't even try some seducing tricks on him and she doesn't seemed to be aware of her beauty that could make Kings wage war because of her. She seemed to be a caged one not knowing what was happening outside not even aware of how to behave and it seemed she only copied what she saw. Xanxier could feel the ministers graze on her and he was sure if he made a rash judgement they would beg on her behalf.

Kamigani kowtowed. "I just assumed now."

"You lie and you lie again, I will ask you one more time, do you have a bow at home?" Xanxier raised his voice and this time a tear rolled out of Kamigani's eye as she felt so naked under the King's eyes. She wanted to curse herself for saving him, she wanted to curse Ayante, curse the turban man since she knows she wouldn't be able to leave the room unless she suffered a life time humiliation.

"I know she always had a bow, Lady Ayante must not know because she worked hard to pay for it thats why I lied." Kamigani was already shivering as she refused to raise her head.

"Very well the three of you will stay in the palace and work as servants till your mistress comes home." Xanxier said before turning to walk back to his throne. "You will be paid handsomely of course." He added knowing he had already found out all he wanted to know.

Kamigani eyes widen wondering if the King was really wise or mad to keep them in the palace. Keeping the same person that wanted to assasinate him.

"Your Majesty, I dont...." Daminas frowned before closing his mouth and staying quiet.

"That is my final decision." Xanxier said as soon as he realised Daminas was not going to continue. He raised his hand as some guards excorted them out as soon as they left the minister of Justice stepped forward and bowed which made Xanxier frowned knowing for a minister to step forward without him calling them only means they were about to give him a bad news.