36 Burning light...

I can't believe this! She exclaimed in front of him, his face looked rough. It was obvious that he had been through alot.

It wasn't just the pain of seeing them agree to that monster, it was the the trauma of seeing people he had trusted go back to what had caused their suffering. Life catches up on you so fast before you know you can become the thing you said you hated.

I struggled to leave there, he said swallowing his saliva, he held himself not to sheld the tears hidden in his eyes.

When I told them I wasn't joining sebastian, I had made up my mind but at the same time I was hoping they would heed atleast even one or two people will join me but nothing happened, He paused staring at her, she didn't utter a word but she listened with rapt attention. Nobody had ever listened to him like this before. He continued saying,

"They all looked at me as if I was a mad and it broke my heart seeing them do this. Suddenly, they made me feel like the enemy, the cause of their trauma. "

I left there physically but the struggle of leaving there mentally is still holding me.

The last time I felt like this was when l left my home, my family and freinds to join them...

Tears had also formed in her eyes but she of didnt shed it, she related to him and she knew how it feels when somebody you trusted betrayed you, it felt like an arrow piercing into your soul, the pain was excruciating and you died a thousand times.

Your home?, how are they?. She asked him, her mind cast back to when you left there. Chains in her hands who knew her beloved sister would soon die in her arms later on.

"Suffering, like I am, after the siege, the king of milerus warriors we're all over the kingdom. We all paid taxes and dues and life was never the same. We couldn't live our lives freely as before and it hurts. It hurts seeing people suffer without reason and you couldn't do anything. I made up my mind to leave, not many people from our lands did that, the few people that tried were caught and killed but I did, I was lucky, at first I thought I would die. "

Fate brought you here, to these plains and to us, you don't know how happy I was to see someone who came from my komgdoms, she said taking his hands and holding it as tight as she could.

She wanted to comfort him, to tell him everythimg was going to be fine but she didn't know how, the right words or maybe she didn't want to lie. Sebastian could attack them soon and he would win. They didn't have enough defence...

I know what you are thinking, he told her, his face was very young but you know it hid some kimd of pain therein, scars you do not tell anyone about.

His eyes shows that he was forced to grow up, like her, life was cruel to them. Making them see things to didnt make them sane anymore.

What! She said comfused.

I know what you are thinking, he said again.

"You do? "

"Yes because I do think that too, almost every time, my heart is always heavy with questions, I refused to answer, because the answers hurts more than the questions.

I know the answers but I still can't tell myself the truth. Because I am more afraid of the results of telling myself the truth.

I want to lie to myself, I lie to myself. "

And what is that truth?she asked him, staring deeply into her eyes.

The fact that we may never get what we want, "Peace". That no matter howuch we struggle and try that the enemy will always win.

Is that what you think?

Think, that is the truth.

For you? Your truth, not mine.

He stared at her like he had never seen her before.

"You think you can go back to your home, your palace.

Ofcourse, that is why we are doing this, that is also why we are here, right.

Why are you here?

I don't know, escape. I fell like I will continue to escape one way or the other. From place to place.

"Why did you join the rebels, when you knew it was impossible for you to reclaim your land. "

I don't know, maybe I thought they was a chance, you know, an opportunity, something.

"Hope? "

"Hope, yes, I hoped that I would be possible but now look at everything, it been six months, six months without my family and yet we are not close to achieving anything. "

"Then what happened, now, where is the hope, what is the difference now? "

"My dissapiontment, washed it away, the silent stares of the men who I trusted made it vanish. "

She took his second hands and held it, it was cold as death but that wasn't what worried her, he was dying inside just like she almost did before.

When you left home, did you do it for those men, did you?

He didn't respond, so she continued.

You did even when you didn't know you will survive, even when you were not sure of leaving the claws of those warriors watching for any body trying to escape.

You left there with only yourself, your dignity and ego. You didn't know that you we're going to see others like you. You started this yourself not because of anyone. Before ant one called you a rebel, you already referred to yourself as that.

So you are not going to give up this just because of some other people who are blind to see the truth. You are not a rebel because of them but for yourself. "

But...

"I don't know if we are ever going to see home again but one thing is sure. We are also going to fight for it. "

He sniffed, he didn't want to cry in her front lest she thinks he was a weakling.

She was right, those people didn't control him, he had left there because they can't, his thoughts did.

"I killed the king, she said still comforting him...

His face showed signs of shock and uncertainty.

"Yes, I did. In a million years, I never I could but I did because I was determined to. "

"My sister is still dead but I am feel better, avenging her death. "

"I feel better now, you lifted my sprit, I am glad you talked to me. "

"I had to, while they were thinking of the physical pain, you passed through coming here, I only though about the mental one.

And yes, about that, you have to rest, eat and rest. "

He only nodded then smiled at her.

It warmed her heart as she left, maybe it was going to be better afterall.

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

He had woken up early to prepare for their arrival. He had also told his men about their agreement for them to join him. He had told them they requested and begged for his help not the other way round, he had to keep hid reputation intact.

He was their king now but it wasn't formalised, he hadn't spoken to them about it either not until he had done all he wanted to do.

The only person who had questioned him, was his right hand man.

How can we trust those people, remember that they were with that him, he said referring to williams.

These men hated him with everythimg in them, simply because he was the son of the now dead king, their oppresor. He didn't need to convince them to. What if they find out he also was the son of the late king. All hell would break lose as they would turn against him on the very moment, thank heavens, he had killed the only person that knew.

You said it yourself, they we're with him in the past, not anymore, so whay is your problem, he asked the stiff man, two times his size.

"I don't know, it is rather strange for them to go against him, this very time. I mean it was too sudden. "

Too sudden you say, were you the one who went there to convince them? He eyed the man, wishing he would leave his sight.

He hated when he was been questioned and interrogated, he had led this people to take back their lands and now this. He was been questioned like a child.

"But I was telling you my thoughts, I do not trust them. "

You don't have to, blunted out, the man was shocked and wanted to talk back but he was not done.

I do and that is enough. I am the leader here and what I do and say is none of your concern just follow my orders and you would see. Amd I have told you and the others, don't mention any of our plans to them, he warned him and left before the man could say another word.

Before noon, his visitors arrived, they were late as he thought they had changed their mind.

He grinned showing all his teeths as he welcomed them. Their leader stepped out to talk to him.

Ah my freind, he shook the mans hand. Cosmos, right he told him

I see that you remerbered my name, cosmos smiled too.

Why not, like I said the other day, you all are to me and I never have plans to hurt any of you but you were going to support williams. You know how much we dislike him, just like his father, Another oppressor in the making.

I heard, he his now king, cosmos added.

I told you so, that was his plan all along, to be king and do as his father. I dont know what those people see in hurting others, the whole family is filled with hatred and wicked ness. He stopoed their not willing to curse at his family and ancestry.

"You are right, I am glad, I am with you, together we will stop the impending doom going to be fall us. "

Exactly, exactly, we will surely do that. He told the naive man, nodding his head in accordance.

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

He opened the door and saw her, she hadn't close it, and he wasn't used to knocking either.

It was his room, it had been for ages. But now he was married and he wasn't sure he was ready for the other things that followed. It was supposed to be an arranged marriage but he didn't know what was going on now.

She gasped as she saw him.

Em,em... He stammered.