99 Still Tris

"Well…", the King cleared his throat as he shift the conversation. "I loved Tris. I still do, more than anything", the King said as he stood up. "Haelan holds an unspeakable truth about the woman I would ever love intensely and madly. I want to find out why Haelan is here and where is Tris. I just can't wait to get my hands back on my favorite traveler… Tris of Caluso", he said as he meet the gaze of his friend.

Timely, the doors opened suddenly followed by the swift entrance of a lady with blonde hair twisted up, wearing a thick red fur coat over a red plate armor. The distraught knights on guard halted the woman with spears that doesn't seem to bother her.

"All these years, it's Tris again?", Lady Octavia uttered as the knights block her way. Standing beside her was a silver short-haired man with high hairline in a forest green and gold brocade doublet with an emerald green coat over his shoulders.

"Lady Octavia and Lord Axis have arrived", Bjorn announced shakily. "Apologies my King", he said with a frown.

"Just in time", King Silvius nodded at the knights that gave passage to the King's other guests. "Lord Nero and I are just discussing the importance of finding the boy with the gray eyes who made a quite a fuss in Brandenburg", he said as he sat back down.

"A fuss? Is that what it's called? It's a traveler who killed Harlan", Lady Octavia said as she enter the room. The heels of her boots resounded as she step in. "Isn't it a bit chilly here?", she asked with knitted brows as she shuddered in the cold room. Lord Nero made a slight nod at the lady as he took his empty goblet to ask for more wine.

"Like you don't know my brother-in-law. He likes the cold.", Lord Axis said as he follow in. The lord of Beorg Mountains removed his coat and tossed it on the back rest of Lord Nero's seat. "I have news. Haelan escaped holding a priest captive, along with three other skilled confederates. They are a danger to us all, don't you think, brother-in-law?", Lord Axis said as he remove a few buttons on his collar revealing his neck with thick chains of gold and fingers full of gold rings. He leaned on the chair where Lord Nero is seated. Lord Nero was about to drink from his goblet when Lord Axis snatched it and chugged it all.

"So you have heard.. In that case, I called you all for a very important message. I like all crusaders, archers and knights to stand on their toes to capture the traveler and his accomplices… and bring Haelan directly to me alive", the King ordered. Originally, the meeting was about the recognition of a new paladin, however things have changed.

"General Rowan have already given orders. But did you say alive?", Lord Axis said. Lord Nero took his goblet back and poure wine himself.

"Perhaps, it would be better if… dead. What happened to eye for an eye?", Lady Octavia said as she sat on the divan across the king. "We all know what happens to a traveler who stains his hands with blood. They become more stronger, and difficult to kill", she said with utmost concern. Her icy blue eyes match her stare that gave off a cold vibe. She was served with wine, yet, she completely ignored it with no plans of drinking it.

"I never knew my decisions required clarifications", King Silvius scoffed at the two opposing leaders. "But I'll give you that. As you all know, lately, someone has been creating dark healers. Haelan is not an ordinary traveler, and it is not everyday we see a Celestial. And so, it is o ly worth it to find out through him who else is he bonded with and what he wants in Nether. I am in dire need to feed my curiosity what is he doing in Brandenburg, and why did he took a young priest with him. I have my reasons, reasons that I do not need to share or explicate", he said as he gritted his teeth.

"Makes perfect sense", Lord Nero said as he drink more of his wine until it spills at the side of his mouth. Then, he wipe his lips with the back of his hand.

"Or… the King just wanted to find out the whereabouts of Tris", Lady Octavia asked as she roll her eyes.

"Maybe that too", Lord Nero said with a smirk at the lady in red armor plate.

"Don't be ridiculous, Silvius", Lord Axis said as he walk ahead and sit down beside Lady Octavia. "King Edmore chose to remove all trails of those travelers because they killed your mother. Have you forgotten that now?", he asked.

"This is madness", Lady Octavia breathed shakily as she shook her head. "Have you completely lost your mind?", she uttered.

King Silvius shifted his gaze alternately at Lord Axis and Lady Octavia. Then, he laughed boisteriously like a crazy man until his eyes were flooded with tears. Lord Axis and Lady Octavia were both dumbfounded at the King's uncontrollable guffaw. It took a while until the king calmed himself. Lord Nero just continued drinking wine at the very last drop of the bottle. He already knew that the King would go berserk at any rate now.

"I know we are all friends here. But let me remind you, I am the King now.", King Silvius said full of scorn as he have stopped laughing. "My father has been long gone. We are no longer the fools who used to play in the courtyard", he said as he hardened his jaw..

"Then I suggest you should act like a King, your Majesty", Lady Octavia said as she pout her lips.

"I'll take that as a cordial admonition from the predecessor of the Lioness of Aria, Octavia", King Silvius said as he stood up. "Then again, make sure that the next words you say would impress me", he said as he snapped his fingers making a red flame in his palm.

The room went warm instantly at the red flame of the King. Lady Octavia breathe shakily seeing the king seethe in fury. Lord Axis could only act nonchalantly. Being friends for a long time, they have addressed each other informally with no filters that other nobles couldn't fathom.. Lady Octavia may be blatantly honest with the words that come out of her mouth, however, she never say it to hurt a friend. She'd rather become brutally honest, rather than sugar coat lies. And everytime they talk about travelers, it always ends up bad with the King assuming that they always cross the line.

"Relax, Sil. We're just talking here", Lord Nero said as he calm down the King who just lost his temperament. The King immediately put out the flames.

"We'll find the celestial traveler alive then.", Lady Octavia said. "Lady Vesta would be enthralled to deliver him in perfect condition, King Silvius.", she said in a low tone.

"About that", King Silvius took his cigar and walked towards the arched window. "I want Vesta to stay with me at all times in Evandrus' absence", he said as he puff some more smoke.

"Consider it done", Lady Octavia answered blandly, like losing her appetite in a dinner.

"Alesso insists on investigating the incidents. He said, there's more than meets the eye in all of these", Lord Axis blurted out.

"Let your boy, Alesso, take care of matters of public security. Rowan will deal with the investigations", the King said as he stood by the window.

"I was informed that the general refused", Lord Axis said.

"I shall speak to him", the king said minimally. Then he looked out the window, away from the pair who's getting unti his nerves. He stood there for too long as the awkward silence fill the air.

"Would that be all, my King?", Lady Octavia stood in her feet as she break the silence. She was about to leave when the King talked once again.

"You know", the king said without turning his head. "It is still customary in this kingdom that when you greet a King or bid farewell, you should kiss my hand to show your fealty and undying loyalty", he said as he face the two.

Lady Octavia and Lord Axis looked at each other confusely measuring if it is a grand joke of a monarch friend or, his pride talking. Eventually, they both gave in and took turns pressing their lips on the back of the King's palm. Dragging their feet out of the chancellery, the pair left

"That was sublime, but was it necessary?", Lord Nero said as he leaned back with is finger on his temple.

"I am tired of arguing of those two. They never change", the King said as he went back to sit on his chair.

"Sil, where to you sent Evandrus to?", Lord Nero have been longing to ask.

"He didn't tell you? I set him along with Galen for a sight-seeing in Caluso..", the King said.

"I guess there was a slight bargain in exchange for a dangerous journey to the snow mountain?", Lord Nero asked with a ballooning doubts since no one simply go to Caluso even if it's under the orders of the King.

".. in exchange to cancel his betrothal to the princess of Vierme. He easily accepted", the King revealed.

"Is that so", Lord Nero dropped his eyes hearing the condition Stellan made a deal to. "I'll just find Evandrus another bride", he said.

"Oh Nero", the King called as he shook his head. "Until when do we call him that?", he asked. Lord Nero insists on calling Stellan Evandrus ever since he was nine.

"That's his name, Sil", Lord Nero said as he massage his numbing fingers.

"It isn't the boy's fault", King Silvius said.

"It is", Lord Nero insisted. "If he didin't drag his brother to that Cedar hill, he would still be with us. Don't you think?", he said as he massage the back of his head.

"I think you have drank too much, my friend", the King said as he watch his friend uncomfortably fan his reddish face from the drinking so much wine.

"Have I?", Lord Nero asked as he loosen a few buttons of the doublet.

"Drowning ourselves in sorrow, as always", the King said with a smile. "You still blame Stellan?", he asked:

"Everyday", Lord Nero admitted. "And as long as I haven't found Evandrus, Stellan will have to own that name", he said as he wet his dry lips.

Moments later, a distinct loud crying screams disturbed the peaceful ambiance of the castle. It echoed throughout the corridors of the palace as it reach the King's chancellery. The palace knights frantically attended to where the voice was coming from.

"Help!!! Help!!!", a servant covered in blood hysterically called. "The general and the high priestess are dead!!!", she said.