28 We are because they were.

Who are you? He repeated.

The man turned sway from her slowly and met with his eyes.

Emm, what do you mean, I am lady Natalie

Personal guard. I am here to.... Em...

He is here to give me my medicine, she interrupted him.

Yes, I am here to give her her medicine.

He stood there watching them from eye to eye, like he was searching for something.

OK, he said and left.

Oh, thank the heavens, she said relieved.

The look of terror faded from his eyes the next minute and he smiled.

You need to get out of here fast, she told him, panicking again.

....... ....... ....... ...... ...... ..... ...... .........

What! The king said perplexed.

My king, it came as a shock to us too, all along he wasn't helping us but himself. The chief warrior said bowing down.

How did this happen? The king asked.

I can't fully explain but he seems he has an army and had been planning this for long time now, this is very serious...

Sebastian?, he asked still bewildered.

He stood from his throne and almost fell down, his heart had derailed so much.

My king... The chief warrior held him, are you okay?

I am, he muttered. This past few days had taken a toil on him, his son was not yet found and now this...

This must be some sort of nightmare. He never felt so vulnerable until now.

This army of his... Can you tell me who and who it consists of. He managed to asked after some moments of silence.

They are really secret and we haven't yet found anything much but I hear they are a sort of rebels. Rebels from past conquered kingdoms.

"Rebels, how did they form, you mean people escaped from there and start establishing an army under this plains and I know nothing of it until now. "

My king, it is nothing like that, we are not in good relationship with the other kingdoms that may have informed us...

What do you mean, are you blaming me for this?

"No, my king. How dare I. What I am saying is that we need to be tactical about this. This has gone beyond what we think it is."

I want my son found, immediately, the king said after thinking thoroughly.

What! I mean, what of the rebels?

Forget them.

"But my king, I do not think you understand the magnitude of this... He said confused.

I said, what I said, find my son. That is the only thing of importance to me right now."

I will do as you wish my king , He said walking away defeated.

A bunch of rebels... the king scoffed. Really, was this a joke of some sort. Planning to overthrow him. That was a suicide attempt, Anyone who tries this was only awaiting death. To think he would feel threatened by a group of scoundrels was laughable, with all the power and authority he had acquired over the years, no rebels could be able to pull him down.

And Sebastian? That rogue. No one plays a fast one on him and goes scout free. He was only inviting trouble and trouble he shall get.

Soon, not now but soon when he was done with getting his son back, for the future of the kingdom.

The kingdom comes first....

..... ...... ....... ...... ....... ... ...... ......... ....

What do you think is happening now? It has been an hour already and he is not back, Williams said grim mincing.

Calm down, he is not stupid, I believe he will soon.... Oh talk of the devil, the other man gasped at the sight of his colleague.

We didn't see you coming, Williams said to him, where did you pas through.

The excited man said, oh, they was a sort of problem but it is over now.

Yes, I saw her. Its her, he is with her.

You mean you saw Natalie? Williams asked not hiding his happiness.

Yes, I did.

Yes, her. He said sharing his excitement with him. The both of them flushing like little kids within the watchful eyes of others.

Okay, not trying to be a killjoy here but we still haven't found a way in rescuing her, one of the onlookers said.

You are right but dammit, she is alive and that is something to look forward to.

You are right, we can't rescue a dead person, can we? But the sooner we get her out of there the better. This people may soon suspect we are out here in these plains.

So what are these people? Williams asked facing the man now serious, his intuition squibbed.

What else rebels from other lands.

Like how many are there.

Not more or less than a hundred men.

A hundred? What is they doing? Williams asked.

"I don't know, what rebels do of course. They are trying to plan a siege maybe or take their lands back. "

And we all know who goes around waging war on other kingdoms, not much of a surprise isn't it.

My father, he is after my father. Williams said aloud.

"Yes and I don't think he thinks very well of you either. "

"Why didn't they join you all, I mean they want the same thing as you too right. "

Williams, not everyone of fighting for something may have the same intentions you know. Sebastian kidnapped Natalie, he definitely don't look like a good person so...

We are rebels,yes, but we are fighting for a good cause. To save our people and rebuild our lands.

And these other ones are doing what? Williams asked. This things were new to

him, all his life he had lived in the palace and not in the plains. His only problem had been his father and nothing else but thus right here was a totally different cause. This people were fighting the real fight, the fight for a chance, the fight for survival. Something he never thought he could be part of in his wildest dreams.

The man laughed, I don't know he said almost choking. They must have a reason for not joining us.

And, it is probably not a good reason, the other man chipped in. He had been quiet all along.

someone told me, he was a rebel right from time, he continued, the other turning to face him.

Really? Williams said his thoughts racing.

"He is a prince from the other plains far away from here. "

I know Sebastian since when I was a lad, I didn't know this. I thought...

He was brought to the palace willingly, the man hissed as he continued. I bet you also didn't know he tried escaping when he was one time too but he was caught.

Whoa, that is a whole lot of information, how did you know this? One of them asked him.

Let just say, I also know him since when he was a lad too, he smirked.

"So this people are rebels that is also from the other lands that Sebastian came from, hmm, understood. "

We need to get Natalie out of there, not like this, but we will.

We need to go back to the troops and inform them of what is happening. We need a better plan.

You are right, Williams said seemed like I underestimated him all along.

And as they left there going back to where they came from, the man came closer to Williams and whispered to him.

You need to be careful with this Sebastian person, he is not what you think he is, he seems to have a personal issue with your family, you know, your grandfather abducted him.

... .... .... .... ..... .... ..... .... ..... ..... ...

Bring the gallons of wine, Sebastian ordered almost in drunken state. They had been drinking for some hours ago that Natalie wondered what the celebration was all about.

What is going on? she queried.

What?, oh this, Sebastian said, just a little celebration. You know, it is an exciting thing knowing they now have a queen.

A queen? She said frowning.

He didn't answer and ducked his head the other way. Not tonight, he said to himself. She wouldn't make him angry today again.

Soon, we will be together in our palace. Soon, very soon my love, he cajoled her.

What is exciting about being enslaved again? She snapped.

What! What do you mean? He asked. She was slowly getting on his nerves.

Can't you see, you are doing the same thing, the same thing all over again just like the king had done. She said aloud. This time not minding the presence of the other men.

They all watched her with curious interest.

His eyes turned red with anger, how... can you... He stuttered. How can you compare me with that animal.

But, that is what you are , both of you are monster, evil monsters, she said tears forming in her eyes.

He raised his hands to hit her but he stopped in his tracks, what was he doing, he couldn't hit her in the presence of the other men, that would not be ideal for his reputation. They had welcomed him as their leader and he was just soon gaining their trust.

He put hid hands down but she was not done yet.

Do you think this is what my sister wanted, I told you of her, I told you...

Look, enough if this, enough of all this sister talks, he blunted out. Why do you put so much energy in this, respecting her at any cost, she is not even your sister anyway.

What!

What are you saying, Sebastian she screamed. Are you drunk.

What the hell did you just say?.