74_Burial Rites

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The cloud was dark and the night breeze blew with force, someone was lurking in the shadows on the high walls of the Palace, looking beneath at the soldiers walking through and fro as the cold wind blew her red hair and cloak

"Finally, I'm here," Raven said and jumped down.

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The next day, The Royal family was all draped in black, standing at the Kingdom's Arena at the center of Cranes Kingdom. The subjects were there sitting at the far ends while, The Royal family was accompanied by the soldiers and Elders like the Duke, Duchess, Admiral, and Commanders.

"Any sign of Adam?" The king said, walking in front, towards the casket in which his son lay. Decorated with white flowers and ribbons.

General K, hurried to catch up with him and whispered back, "No your Majesty, there is no sign of him in this line,"

The King exhaled, he had expected this, even if Adam left, he was still the Second Prince of this Kingdom, he was supposed to be here at the funeral of his eldest brother.

"Thanks for gracing us with your presence prestigious King Aaron," The high priest said with a slight bow.

"We shall begin the function now,"

The gathering took their seats, except for the high priest.

Silence, as if an angel had passed by accorded his words for a few moments until the young maiden choirs began a hymn.

It was a high-frequency vocal type that sounded low in contrast to the high notes.

"I welcome everyone seated on this gathering where we celebrate the life of late crown prince Nathan, who has ascended before us to join in the sailings on the waves of the Heavens," The High priest said.

"We rejoice for he has gotten this opportunity before us, an honor, and a great privilege to be among those who are to set foot on the grounds of Heaven which surpasses a thousand of the earth,"

There was a pause.

If a needle were to drop at the moment, the sound would be heard by all ears within range.

Xavier was lost in his thought, the silence was too heavy that he could discern the hypocrisy of the culprit that he was sure was present at the gathering at that point.

His sixth sense was throbbing and so was his brain. He wished he could just let Zavian out at that moment to use his demonic, extraordinary gifted sight to fish out the culprit whom he was certain was sitting with them in that setting.

He allowed his eyes to trail around, watching closely, everyone present with a gaze akin to blatant skepticism.

"I will now call on our King Aaron, the father of the late crown prince to give a short speech about the deceased," The high priest said loudly, crashing Xavier's train of thoughts.

The King's speech ended, mostly talking about how great Nathan was and how he was going to make sure he caught that Assassin.

Xavier could only imagine how hurt his Father must have been, Nathan was his best friend, his favorite child, and his confidant.

They were always seen together, attending meetings together, sparing together, and sometimes going in place of the King to important gatherings like this when the king needed his rest.

It was only natural for his Father to break down and shed tears, but Xavier knew his Father, was not one to show weakness, he might be smiling as he was saying those words but Xavier knew his heart was aching.

Which angered him, he didn't want to see his family get hurt and this Assassin had just crossed the line.

After the speech, they were about to put the crown prince into the ground, calling on his Family, starting from the King, to sprinkle crystal salt and then the prince and lastly, the concubines, who were acting like the death of the crown prince took a toll on them, but one could tell it was just an act, especially if he lived within the castle walls.

After the burial rites, The royal family headed back to the castle on their horses, while the concubines were in a carriage.

They got to the palace's gate and the soldiers opened the gates, Xavier was glad to see Zeke, Alex, and the ladies, he was worried something bad must have happened to them especially when he left unannounced.

But Ezekiel must have taken care of the matter, one of the perks of having a good friend by your side and one reason I can't let Zavian eat him.

'I still think he'd taste delicious,' Zavian said inwardly.

'Shut the fuck up Demon,'

"Your Majesty," They all bowed, greeting the king.

King Aaron walked towards Evie and embraced her like a Father, "I heard about your Father young lady, accept my condolences," He said, pulling away.

"And I heard about your Son Your Majesty, I sympathize with you," Evie said with a curtsy. Which pleased the King as he nodded and headed inside the Palace, with his Soldiers and General following him. Leaving the young adults to discuss their matters.

"How did you get here so fast, you even left your horse behind," Alex was the first to throw the Question, looking at Xavier suspiciously.

"C'mon man, can't you see he's bereaved and that's the first question you throw at him, what kind of man are you?" Ezekiel said, lecturing Alex.

"How are you holding up?" Zeke asked Xavier, who looked like he was about to burn anything in sight to the ground.

"Oh I'm holding up well, until I get my hands on the neck of that assassin, slowly squeezing the life out of her," Xavier said with a low growl that was unnoticeable to anyone.

"You need to calm down, we don't know what this Assassin is capable of yet," Evie said.

''That Assassin brought a whole Kingdom down and Killed the King, what makes you think you can kill her yourself?" Alex asked with a sarcastic chuckle.

Xavier smiled, gazing at Alex," Watch me," He said, his eyes closing from the side like that of a serpent's own, which made Alex crease his brows to see if what he had seen happened or if he was imagining things but Xavier pushed him aside and walked in.

'How about we eat that Alex guy huh? he seems like a pain in the ass,' Zavian asked as Xavier walked in the hallway.

"No one's eating anyone, and I thought you liked him?"

'That was before he started asking who Zavian was,'

"And?"

"I am a private demon, I love keeping to myself," Zavian said which almost made Xavier chuckle if not for the fact that guards and maids present in the hallway were looking at him as if he had gone crazy.

"Enough, you're embarrassing me," Xavier said, pushing the doors to the courtroom open.