"Okay!" Corg mounted his horse and instructed Lester to do the same. As soon as Lester got on his horse, the two left Drogo and trotted to the village, entering as the first ray of sun emerged in the sky.
Drogo saw them disappearing inside the village. With his heart twisting with tension and dread, he mounted his horse and rode in the opposite direction. He was sure that after he created a fresh rebellion, the king would reward him secretly, but the king only got his posters hung, branding him as the criminal of the crime he never did.
Back in the palace, Lazarus was pacing his room. His father had called him and he knew exactly why. The rebellion up north had stirred up and the person responsible for it was none other than Emma's father.
"Lord Lorza?" Emma called him, hoping he would stop fretting over it, but it had been pretty agitated ever since he heard the news. "Do you want me to talk to my father?"
He halted in his tracks with wide eyes. "You won't go near that serpent!"
Emma flinched.
Seeing her reaction, he immediately softened. Closing the gap between them, he said, "Don't worry, I can deal with the situation. Just don't come out of your quarters, okay? It is too risky. I don't want to give Viktor a chance to find a reason to attack you." He leaned down to kiss her head. "Stay here. I will be right back."
When Lazarus was going towards his father's chamber, he met Jasper on the way. He stopped him. Giving his hateful looks, Jasper said, "I know that you instructed Drogo to kill Jade!"
Lazarus rolled his eyes and walked past him when Jasper grabbed Lazarus's collar and pulled him back. Furious at his behavior, Lazarus caught Jasper's hand and before Jasper knew, he was flying in the air, tossed across the corridor. He slammed into a pillar, but the next moment he got up and rushed to Lazarus with elongated fangs.
Lazarus's claws slipped from his hands and fangs lengthened. "I am asking you to back off, Jasper," he growled.
But Jasper was in a frenzy. "It was you who ordered Jade to be killed! Why would that fucking bastard, Drogo go to north and attack us?"
"I have nothing to do with him," Lazarus growled. "And if you don't want to believe me, then it's not my problem!"
"Lazarus!" Jasper lunged at him but Lazarus traced away, leaving him in the lurch. "I won't leave you!" Jasper roared.
Lazarus had traced to his father's wings. He could have tackled Jasper, but he didn't want to give Viktor another reason to go against him. Ever since Jade had been killed, his father had sent the soldiers to the village where Drogo lived and was investigating the murder. Situation was getting out of control and he had to get things back on track, lest the whole kingdom plunged into mayhem. Drogo being Emma's father didn't really give him any advantage.
As soon as he entered his father's room, he saw him playing chess. "Father," he bowed to him and stood, not wanting to go near him.
Viktor didn't look up. He knocked a pawn with his bishop and chuckled. When their gazes met, he said, "There is no reason for me to believe that you were the one behind killing Jade. Every clue points towards you. You were the one who called Emma's mother and brother to the palace. You are the one who wants Emma's brother to stay in the palace. You are showering that family with gifts. Drogo did all that on your bidding. And you know what?" He got up and approached Lazarus. "What is the penalty of such a crime in the palace?"
Lazarus narrowed his eyes on his father, but he remained quiet, knowing what was coming.
"Give me a reason not to send you to the dungeons or to the guillotines," Viktor said.
Lazarus looked into his eyes. There was no remorse, no sadness. Only something sinister. Something so ominous that it scared him. "Why did you send Jade and Jasper out there?"
Viktor chuckled. "To collect taxes. You know that already, don't you?"
"I know," Lazarus replied. "But what was the actual reason to send them there?"
Viktor took a step back. He turned and returned to his chair where he studied his chess game. He said in a very distant voice, "The actual reason to send them was to collect taxes. Nothing else."
Lazarus smirked. "I recommend that you study that chess game of yours nicely. You haven't thought about what you should have and played the wrong move. You are thinking that you will save the king?" He came to stand in front of the table where the game was laid. He picked up the bishop and placed it next to the white king. "That's check and mate." His smirk widened. "Don't be so happy on removing a pawn with the bishop." Saying that he turned and walked out of his chamber leaving him with a flushed face full of anger. Before he left, he looked over his shoulder. "You don't have any reason to send me to the dungeons. Just as I know why you sent Jade and Jasper up north to collect taxes you know that I have nothing to do with Drogo. However, if you try to do anything to Emma or Angus, then the palace will turn into a battlefield."
The way he spoke those words came out like black slick warning. As if he challenged the king to do anything to him. With a frustrating roar, Viktor swiped the chess board, tossing everything to the ground. He narrowed his eyes and hissed, "I am going to take you down this time Lazarus. Wait and watch."
"You must leave with Nephie to be with your mother," Lazarus insisted for the hundredth time after returning from his father's chamber. "That is the only safe place for you and Angus."
Yul and Magnus were standing there with helpless expressions.
"I don't want to leave you alone," she whimpered.
"There is no argument in that, Emma!" Lazarus said to her in a harsh tone. "You have to and that's it!" He packed her things and gave them to her. Nephie was waiting for her in the royal orchards.
"What about you?" she said, her lips quivering.
"I will be fine," he reassured her. After talking with his father, he was sure that Viktor or Jasper would attack her. Anton hadn't returned. However, if he returned, he was going to join hands with Jasper and Viktor. "With you safe, I will be able to focus on the problem at hand."
She was crying like a baby, scared as hell. He wiped her tears. "It is nothing," he said, cupping her cheeks.
"When do I come back?" she asked, her gaze darting to his eyes and lips.
He took a deep breath in and rested his forehead on hers. "Ask Nephie to come back in a week's time and check. If things are okay, you can come back."
"Why don't you also come with me?"
"I can't, love. This is a crucial time for me. Just do as I am saying, okay?" he breathed. Sending her away was like daggers piercing his heart but he had to keep her safe.
Two days later, it was announced that the king was holding a court in which he would hold a trial against his son, Lazarus.
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