Chapter 3

Bors' Lie

"No, no. This does not leave this room understood? Rumors of Acorns being captured must remain rumors, so as to keep the peace." Sally interrupted her council. The grand hall of Acorns echoed with concerned voices.

"A wise decision, there are outbreaks of open revolts across the kingdom. Mostly Little Beak and Auburndale." That was Penelope the platypus.

"The easterners, why? What is Bors and Tristan's response?" Sally asked feeling the tenseness rising on her straining head.

"We think they might be behind it. They have made no indication that they are stopping the outbreaks. And Bors has been ignoring our letters. Tristan on the other hand tells us that there is nothing to worry about." Said Dylan the porcupine.

"I for one do not trust these allegations. Rumors will be rumors, you will see, Jules will come back." Hamlin tried to discredit the rumors.

"That's not your expertise, what would you know about it? We've gone past that Hamlin." Dylan snapped.

"Who do you think pays for your propaganda and you're squabbling police force?" Hamlin pointed at both the porcupine and Penelope. "If there are any actions to be taken against this unrepresented and misshapen revolt as you so call it, the crown will be the first to pay. I am always involved, try not to forget that Dylan. Need I remind you not all of us got here because of a glorified father figure, I built my way up, and don't you forget it!" Hamlin snapped back.

"Gentlemen please. This council must learn to play nice." Sally reminded.

"No my queen, when Dylan here learns that law and justice does not supersede my treasury, then we'll play fair. Look at this!" Hamlin threw papers Dylan's way. "Summons: Echidnopolis! Sand Blasters! Golden Hive! Dragons! Wolf Pack Nation! All of them! This nation owes more money now than debt accrued over the last three hundred years and King Arthur himself. If it wasn't for me none of you would be here now!" Hamlin stopped throwing papers and threw his back on his chair.

"I will take care of the summons." Dylan commented, his voice dialed down to a peep.

"You sure as hells will and I will not fund any more unnecessary raids for you Penelope. If I have to I will go down there myself and tell- as a matter of fact, why don't I? To show this council that there still remains some backbone here I will go speak with Tristan and Bors myself. I will quell this insufferable heresy once and for all. Excuse me my queen!" Hamlin pushed his chair aside, gathered a few documents and left the council speechless.

"There is no more room to fill. Wing Screw, Capnut, and even the biggest, Chestnut Prison are all filled." Dylan said. Even the mention of Chestnut Prison sent a cold shiver through the entire council. Only the maniacs were sent to Chestnut.

"I was going to say, before Hamlin barged out, we need to enlarge the police force, we don't have enough to quell, as Hamlin said, even the slightest of revolts." Penelope added. "We also believe that Bors has fled the country, perhaps to go back to Knottingham, making these revolts harder to control, if that be true. And don't forget the Golden Hive."

"What of the Golden Hive?" Sally closed her eyes, it was at this point that she would normally tune out and feel the stress of the entire kingdom on her shoulders.

"This we can actually prove, "Penelope started, "Our informants have spotted Golden Hive beyond the borders of the Great Forest. An invasion, perhaps?"

"Don't be daft, the Hive wouldn't risk an invasion so far north." Sally snapped.

"Don't be too sure of that." Bernie finally spoke with a weird monotonous tone. "A letter from the Hive, check the seal. It's the king's." Bernie handed the queen the letter. "It states that interfering with any action taken against the Dragon Kingdom would be a direct insult and would otherwise make our alliance meaningless." Bernie shook her head from her trance and faced the queen. "Just summed up."

"Do they not realize how much trouble we are all in?" Sally whispered to no one in particular while reading the letter. "Wouldn't it be better if we all joined under one banner?" Sally hoped with wishful thinking. "There is a new evil that is on our doorstep and we might not even survive the morning of that invasion."

The council stopped again and stared at their queen as she spoke again, "If it were that simple I would say, I forgive you Regina and Jun Kun. I forgive the Dingo's for what they did to Echidnopolis, I forgive the Dragons and the Hive for whatever they are fighting over. I'm sorry for you Ban for your lost daught-"The queen stared off into nothingness. She thought of the night Bors had mentioned a niece that he had. She thought of anyone in that banquet who should have been there but wasn't. Who on Mobius?! She thought. She looked at Penelope. "Penelope your right, we do need to build the police force. I will send the funds myself. Your first priority is locating Bors, I don't care what it takes, get me Bors here, alive and well."

"Yes my queen." Penelope responded.

"Bernie, "Sally pointed at the hedgehog, "I need you to take what you need and find the Destructix, train them, they will need you. As for Jules, I cannot allow you to go looking for him, it is too risky, let me take care of that."

"Dylan, "I need another petition sent to the Wolf Pack Nation, we need them on our side. And, Dylan, find me Merlin Prower. For Gods sake we need him now, more than ever."

"At once my queen." Dylan said excitedly.

"We will end this war." Sally exclaimed.

Castle Little Beak was always bleak, Hamlin remembered the last time he came there. His job was not a fair one, but it paid extremely well. The pig did not go in the castle however, he just met with Bors outside the castle walls.

"They are looking for you Bors." Hamlin told the hedgehog.

"I wonder, what gave me away? Was it you old friend?" Bors asked, arms crossed and staring at the ground.

"You're stupid rebellion was premature and will be short lived." Hamlin chuckled, which sounded more like oinks, he thought he held all the cards. "When you see Regina, tell her I was the one handing the kingdom to her, not you."

"Anything else your future highness?" Bors asked, holding his temper.

"Yes in fact." Hamlin proudly walked closer to Bors. But the hedgehog only held his tongue and listened, "Since the Legion won't be needing you anymore, send my regards to the seven hells, oh… and to the Dark One." The pig excused himself as Bors prepared for his long departure, never to return again, never to be seen.