Who is to blame?

Gerald trailed after the Emperor who never looked his way lost in a world of his own thoughts.He took a quick peek at Tyran's face and observed his changed mood.Ever since the Emperess Fiona's demise one moment the emperor was in high spirit and the other a dark cloud of gloominess hovered above him.Gerald was not yet used to this Tyran.He wondered if this was the right time to mention what happened last night to him,he had to let him know and sooner for the longer he tarried the more danger the imperial prince would be put in.

He followed the emperor till they arrived at a small banquet hall,the smallest in the imperial palace.

Gerald's eyes hovered over the dark room as they entered.He quickly ran to the windows and swung the curtains open, letting the sunlight spread through the hall.

Tyran took his seat while Gerald took his position by the door.

Suddenly the door knob turned and three maids stepped in carrying various dishes in both hands,more than the emperor could eat alone.Gerald eyed the food,then looked back at Tyran who was busy staring into space.

The maids dropped the food,scopped a small quantity with the spoon they all held and stepped back.A usual routine before serving the Emperor.

They handed Gerald another spoon and he approached the food with it.

When he bent to taste the soup Tyran's gaze drifted to him,Gerald paused and stared back for a moment.Then he went ahead,tasted all the food and stepped back not taking his eyes off the emperor.

For the next few minutes the maids stood by the wall,their head lowered till Gerald dismissed them.

He watched as Tyran lifted the cutlery in front of him and took a bite,slowly and silently did he eat not turning his head.

Gerald titled his head to take a good look at him, memories of his dead wife must be rummaging through his thoughts.His face looked paler now,eyes dull as he stared at the meal before him as if reading more meaning from it than what he was seeing,as though seeing the empress face in it, right now he was certainly not the same person he spoke to a couple of minutes ago.

Tyran turned to the chair next to him,the one Fiona always used.Occasionally when he was free from his imperial duties,they would eat here together.

The whole room was filled with memories of Fiona as he spotted her in various corners of the room.Tyran couldn't help it,part of him didn't want these memories because it weakened him while the other part of him did as it made him feel closer to her.

The more he visited places they had been together,the more memories of her clinged to him and deep down he knew he didn't want to let go but he had to.He needed Sheba's help to.

Emperor Tyran envisioned Fiona sitting next to him and trying to stuff some food into his mouth,a bright smile on her face, exposing s set of spotless teeth.

Tyran smiled and opened wide but there was no one there,no food being stuffed and no Fiona.

Gerald watched as he returned his gaze back to his food, disappointment written on his face.This was certainly not the right time to talk about last night but he had no choice.

He hesitated for a moment then the words came out.

"Your imperial majesty"Gerald called out from where he stood but Tyran didn't turn to look at him.

"I have something to tell you your majesty,it is of utmost importance"Gerald said and took a bow.

At last there came a response from the emperor.

"Let's hear it"

Gerald walked closer to him then the emperor motioned for him to sit.He told Tyran all what had happened last night and the emperor looked thoughtful.

"Leblos"Tyran muttered.

He noticed the confused expression on Gerald's face and said,

"An ancient dark magic of raising the dead, forbidden and thought forgotten until now.The last time it was used was during war with the humans yet their holy things still prevented our victory"

"I didn't think raising the dead was possible your majesty"

"It quite is, Leblos is a developed form of necromancy,the dead are raised with their consciousness and memories and then manipulated.

When Gerald didn't say a word the emperor turned to him.

"Your ignorance of this spell doesn't marvel me at all since it's no longer taught in academies and has been omitted from historical texts but of cos except some hidden scripts".

Gerald nodded.

Little wonder he had never heard of it.He was a bright student back then in the royal academy had read all manner of books had practiced many spells but had never come across one such as raising the dead.

"Leblos"he muttered silently to himself.

Emperor Tyran finished just a plate and was dabbing his mouth with a small towel when Gerald asked.

"Why was it erased from history?"

"For a good cause"Tyran responded."So it would not be used to wrought evil.Its black magic,this is all you need to know about it"

Tyran clasped his hand on the table and leaned forward.

"The demon you saw, describe him"

"He had the height of a giant and an imposing statue other than that I saw nothing else,both face and body was covered in bla_"

"Dark!"Tyran said,his brows furrowed as he forcefully hit his hand on the table making the wine in his goblet overturn.

Gerald watched the goblet roll off the table to hit the marble floor then his eyes settled back on the Emperor.

"Dark is almost impossible to catch yet I didn't expect he would show himself at the imperial palace"

"Your majesty do sorcerors now raise the dead?"Gerald asked and Tyran looked at him.

"King Parlu, Leblos is his seed's special ability,their bloodline gift,his ancestors controlled the army of the dead during the war"

Gerald reasoned this up,King parlu's height was nothing compared to what he saw.He was a very short sturdy man, four-three precisely unless he was an accomplaince.

From what the emperor said the history passed down had been all lies or all a lie,he wondered how much more lies this place held,the realm as a whole and about the emperor's son.

"King parlu could be an accomplaince,I mean I can't think of any other in his household heard he's got just a kid and there's his queen".

"Could it be some sorcerors now found a way?or did they have that ability from the very beginning?"Tyran asked no one in particular as titled his head to one side.

"But what would they want with the imperial prince?"

Tyran shot him an angry look and Gerald regretted having asked the question,he knew how much the emperor detested questions about the imperial prince.

Gerald bit his lip wanting to hit himself when the emperor said,

"Knowledge saves and kills and trust me this one will kill you".

Tyran sighed and raised his head,his gaze now fixed on the ceiling, immersed in a world of his own thought.

Gerald just watched him.The emperor was someone he admired even as a younger child.He knew Tyran loved him and wanted him out of harm's way so he thought it best to tame his curiosity for it wasn't Tyran's wish he had that knowledge for his own safety,he decided to let it go.

"What do we do now your imperial majesty?"

Tyran lowered his head and their eyes locked,

"I will pay King Parlu a visit"Tyran said then he folded his hands and vanished,the force produced as a result of his disappearance scattering the chairs around him in diverse directions.

Gerald ordered some maids to come clean the banquet hall then he left in search of Zero.

"Zero let's meet"he said through telepathy.

When no answer came he called out again

"Chief Zero where are you?"

"By the stone statue in the garden"Zero responded.

"It's my wish to help you,you know the Empress's demise still has his majesty down,all I know is right now the Emperor is just out looking for who to blame,even the innocent,he would kill who ever he thinks guilty but I won't let that happen to you"

"What can you do over a lost sheet of paper,the best you can do right now is to stay by his majesty's side to try convince him,if not I might as well be an animal in a cage by tomorrow or perhaps have my head hanging on a pole".Zero said kicking a stone near by.

A strong wind rose in front of him and he looked up to see Gerald.

Gerald walked towards him,the dejected look on his friend face saddened him but what could he do,Tyran wouldn't listen to him either.

"Don't tell me you are here to comfort me,I don't need your pity right now"

"We will find it"Gerald reassured him placing a hand on his shoulder but the young knight pushed it away.

"I don't need this!"he grunted."You should be by the emperor's side trying to convince him,that's the least you could do".

Gerald stepped back,stattled by his friend's reaction and the angry glare being shot at him.He had never seen him this way before.

"You talk as if I am to blame,what is this reaction towards me zero?"Gerald queried and zero placed a hand on his forehead while he held out the other hand,montioning Gerald to calm down

"Look,Gerald am sorry,am just stressed out and_"zero paused and kicked the stone statue beside him."This is so fraustrating!"

He looked at Gerald.

"You know am Innocent right,you know I'd never hurt the Empress"

Gerald nodded.

"I do,I trust you Zero,you know I do and that is exactly what I told the Emperor".

"Where is the Emperor now?you are not with him"

"He's off to Sentah"

Zero's face brightened as he stared at Gerald.

"Oh really..."