Bonus chapter

Davina sat upright when she heard this information from General Neo, her sad face was once again glittering with a little hope, though she made it clear in her head not to anticipate much so that her expectancies wouldn't shatter like the previous time.

The general gave her a subtle smile, he didn't wish to hurt the Queen because she was a good woman so he would make this succinct without beating around the bush.

"His Highness Dorian was found laying on the ground beside His Highness Zephyr, I found out that both were brutally hurt"

Davina raised her hand to cover her mouth with it, this was what she feared, she didn't like her son going through any pain. All the pains he had gone through since he was a child took many years for him to recover. Davina always felt hurt whenever her son was hurting, right now, she could feel tears gathering in her eyes.

"General Lynx and Zedd had helped His Highness Dorian and when they wanted to help His Highness Zephyr, they were attacked and outnumbered, so they had to return with his highness Dorian while His Highness Zephyr was captured" He spoke all in a breath, not even sure if they caught a whiff of what he had blurted out.

This information was based on what General Lynx, a trusted man had told him. And when Neo himself had gone with the other armies to look for Zephyr, all they saw was his diadem, he was nowhere to be seen.

"So what do we do now?" Davina asked impatiently.

"I think Zedd and General Lynx have been acting strangely in the last few days and I once overheard Zedd talking about 'Leaving Zephyr behind'. We should probably ask them again what happened exactly that day" He voiced out his own opinion.

"Bring me Zedd and Lynx. Right Now" Davina ordered. She couldn't believe what she heard from General Neo, why didn't they bring her son along? Why did they choose to leave him all alone?

King Kodiac was unbothered by the whole issue, Dorian was fine and that was all that mattered.

Soon, Lynx and Zedd's arrival were announced, they strode into the hall, fell on their knees in front of the king and queen, and crossed their arms.

The Queen disregarded their greetings, she immediately summoned General Neo to repeat what he had said about 'Leaving Zephyr behind'. General Neo did just that.

Zedd and Lynx exchanged a look before Zedd abruptly stood up and pointed a finger at General Neo, "You lie, when did you hear me saying such?" He demanded aggressively.

"I only speak what my ears have heard, Zedd" Neo defended himself, "On the night of Friday, you and General Lynx were heading back to your camp, I noticed that scared look on your face and I knew something must be up, I followed you" He explained, the expressions on his face not wavering a bit.

But Zedd's face had darkened, he did accompany General Lynx to his tent, and they were unaware of the presence of General Neo.

"General Lynx never let anyone inside his tent, and surprisingly you entered with him, that confirmed my supposition and I stayed to listen to what you were saying"

Zedd's face paled, and he turned to look at Lynx who remained unshaken as he knelt on the floor.

Imaginary sweat beads formed on Zedd's forehead as he looked around him in fear, he wasn't like Lynx.

General Neo cocked his head to the side, "I'm right, Zedd, aren't I?"

"N-n-no you're not, I was only there to help General Lynx massage his thing because it was giving him trouble" He tried to defend himself but he ended up saying nonsense.

Neo, the king, and the queen, even Lynx looked at him disgustingly.

Are you gay?!

Neo wanted to get to the bottom of the situation so he chuckled so that they all could remember why they were gathering here in the first place, "Who are you trying to fool? Zedd, everyone knows that you're lying, it's so obvious on your face" Neo mocked him.

"Y...you!" he pointed his hands again furiously.

"Enough!" The Queen commanded. Her eyes which were closed shut started to flutter open. She stood up from the chair and walked down the stairs where Zedd was.

Zedd saw her coming and bowed his head, "Your majesty?" He asked, frightened.

"I'll give you whatever you ask for, any amount you want, name it, just tell me what happened that day" She stood in his front.

His head was still lowered, his eyes met with Lynx's and he saw the man subtly shake his head.

"Fifty golden bars"

Zedd's ears perked up at that, fifty? That was enough to renew his and his family's life. He glanced at Lynx and shook his head, the offer was excessively good to reject.

Lynx pointed at his sword.

"Hundred?"

"Two hundred?"

'What the hell Lynx!" Zedd thought in his mind, he was about to give it away when Lynx made a sound with the sword that only he heard about.

"Your majesty, what I know is what General Neo said to you" Zedd lied through his teeth.

Davina saw that this wasn't going to work out so she opted for another method.

"Look at me Zedd" she started, waiting for him to slowly raise his head and meet her eyes. "I don't care whatever grudges you hold in your heart against my son. I am begging you... Not as the queen but as a mother, please tell me what transpired that day. You know about it, so please tell me... Zephyr is the only one I have, don't make me lose him" she pleaded.

It was so touching that Zedd could feel his eyes starting to hurt, he wanted to cry. He had never heard something like this before, it melted his heart. It made him want to say everything that he knew but... He feared for his life, he feared for his family and children.

B...but he too was a father and he wouldn't be pleased if anyone would take his children away from him.

"Please..." she begged, tears flowing down her cheeks.

Zedd couldn't hold it in anymore!

"I promise, you will live a comfortable life after this, I swear to protect your children and family"

Alright, this was it! What else could he possibly ask for?!

Zedd opened his mouth to start talking about what he knew, he hadn't reached anywhere when General Lynx stood up from the ground and charged towards him. Lynx pushed the queen away to the side, she ended up falling into Neo's arms.

"It was General Lynx, General Lynx" That was the last thing Zedd could utter before he fell to the ground. His throat was slashed with a silver blade. The blade belonged to Lynx.