Chapter 11
LIES OR AN EVIL PLAN?
"Sire, I have news," Rue said walking into Mytho's study.
"Yes, what is it, Rue?" he asked.
"I have heard that enemies from the Raven's Kingdom are infiltrating the Thieves Forest and plan to murder your wife on your engagement day," Rue said softly.
"What? I've heard of no such rumor," Mytho said, surprised.
Duck walked in and asked, "Any news from Fakir?"
"No," Rue said quickly.
"It's too soon my angel. Just a bit more patience," Mytho said and grinned kindly at her.
"He will come for me. I just know he will," she said and left.
"If you don't want her murdered then I suggest you let me empty it of all its inhabitants," Rue continued once Duck was out of ear shot.
"Yes, yes of course. Do that. I don't want Duck to be killed," Mytho said.
"Of course, sire. Thank you," she said and left the Prince to think about the sudden news.
She rushed out and found Femio. She pulled him to a corner where no one would see and explained her plan.
"Alright, so once you empty the Thieves' Forest I want you to put as many men as you think fit to guard the castle gate. We want it to look like someone very smart and powerful broke in and the Prince will know who ever it was was from the Raven's Kingdom," Rue said. "As soon as they are blamed the people will demand we go to war."
"Why do we want to go to war again?" Femio asked.
"So that the Prince can take over the Raven's kingdom for a reason and so that he will finally fall in love with me," she explained. "He will see just how important I am to him once that little Duck is out of the way. No matter what happens, don't tell anyone why you're doing it. Tell them it's Prince business. Got it?"
"Oui, d'accord madame," he said and left to do his job.
"He'd better do it right of he is so fired. Who knows, I might even go to beheading if he pisses me off enough," she said and walked back to the castle where she accidentally ran into Duck who was walking with her ladies in waiting.
"Oh, hi Rue. Watcha up to?" Duck asked sweetly.
"I'm doing my job," Rue answered.
"And what's that exactly?" Pique asked.
"Protecting the Prince and Princess. Now, leave me be, I have something important to take care of," she said and rushed off.
"Wow, she's in a hurry," Pique said.
"Or she just hates us," Liliae said happily.
"Well, I have noticed Duck hasn't been so blank upstairs but could that be because of something Rue's down?" Pique asked and poked Duck. "What's going on? You actually seem to have emotions."
"I'm waiting for Fakir and I know he'll come soon," Duck said with a shy grin.
"Isn't Fakir that one guy you said was dead five years ago?" Pique asked.
"Yes."
"Ooh! Duck's waiting for a ghost to take her away from life," Liliae said. "How sweet."
"He's not a ghost. He's alive, he's the one who saved me from my kidnappers," Duck said. "He was with me when you found me on the other side of the Fire Swamp."
"Oh, that was Fakir? He is really cute," Pique said and elbowed Duck. "You think he's got a friend just as hot?"
"What? No, I don't think so. I didn't ask him if he had any friends. He's a part of the Knight Riders but I don't think they count as friends," Duck said thoughtfully.
"He's one of the Knight Riders?" Pique and Liliae said excitedly. "An outlaw! Wow!"
"Forbidden love, how romantic," Liliae said and grabbed Duck's cheeks. "Isn't it just so cute?"
"Shut up Liliae and leave her alone. It isn't every day we get info out of her like this," Pique said. "So, how long you know this guy?"
"Almost my entire life," Duck said and twirled. "He's so kind and I just can't wait for him to come back."
"How cute," Pique said and smiled. "I wish I could have a love interest too but I'm never that lucky."
A few days later, Femio took a good portion of men to the Thieves' Forest and began to arrest the people there like Rue had told him to do when he saw Altor fighting off several of his men. He quickly hid behind a building and freaked out.
"Zut! If he sees me he'll kill me. Crap, he's always hated me even when I was his boss. I'm going to go," he said and began to leave when he ran right into the nerd. "Zut!"
"I know that stupid accent all too well," Altor said and turned to see Femio. "What the hell are you doing?"
"I'm doing what Lady Rue had told me to do," Femio said and tried to slink away.
"Lady Rue? You work for Lady Rue? What else didn't you tell me you half-wit?" Altor asked and pointed his sword at the man's throat.
"She paid me to kidnap the Princess, she's torturing Fakir, and she wants to start the war with the Raven so she can get the Prince for herself," Femio said, sweat pouring down his face.
"Who's Fakir?" Altor asked.
"That guy with cloak who was following us," he said, his voice cracking.
"So, this whole thing is because of Lady Rue wanting to get the Prince? How lame. But why is she torturing Fakir? He isn't a part of anything," Altor said. "Is he?"
"He's Princess Duck's love," Femio said.
"Hm, her love, huh? So, I guess if we get him to take Duck away this whole business with war will be over. Am I right?" Altor asked sternly.
"Yes, whatever you say," Femio said with a gulp.
"Take me to where ever this Fakir is being held," Altor said and pulled Femio in front of himself. "Get going you stupid French idiot."
On that same day Rue had been with the Prince getting the wedding preparations ready when Duck walked in sadly.
"Ah, my dear. Tonight we shall wed and tomorrow we shall go to the stables where every rider in my employment shall accompany us on our honeymoon," Mytho said holding her hand gently and twirling her into his arms.
"Every rider? What about the four you sent to give the letter to Fakir?" Duck asked as she pushed away from the Prince.
"Rue took care of that. Rue, you did send the riders didn't you?" Mytho asked.
"Or course I did, sire. I guess he just didn't want to come back," she said with a worried smile.
"You…you never sent the letters did you?" Duck asked as she walked up to the brunette. "Don't lie to me. I can see it in your face, you didn't send them."
"Don't be such a silly girl Duck. I did just as the Prince asked and I did it gladly," Rue said, her fake smile plastered on her face.
"Don't talk down to me. I'm not stupid. I know what you're doing, you're trying to make my life miserable just because you can't have the man you love. I'm not the one at fault here so why are you trying to take it out on me?" Duck asked and rushed out crying.
"Rue, what does she mean by you can't be with the man you love? Is there something you aren't telling me?" Mytho asked as he reached for her should.
"No, sire," she said and brushed his hand away. She looked at his worried eyes and her heart jumped. "I have to go. I have something to take care of."
She barged out of the room and headed straight to the torturer's chamber not caring enough to look to see if anyone was following, not that anyone was.
The torturer looked up as she came rushing in and began to say, "Lady Rue, I was…"
"She still expects you to come. But that's not going to happen. She knows how much I love the Prince and how much I want her to suffer. So I think the only way to make her suffer more than me is if I got rid of you," she said and put her hand on the crank. "Just think of all the happy times you could have had if only she wasn't so…perfect!"
She cranked the machine to the furthest setting and the torturer called out, "Not to fifty!"
Fakir yelled out in pain with scream that echoed through the entire kingdom. Duck heard it but she didn't know what it meant so she continued to do whatever she was doing. Altor heard it and stopped.
"What was that?" he asked, looking around the forest.
"It sounded like someone being tortured. Wait, only one torture could ever make someone go through that much pain," Femio said. "The machine. Hurry, maybe we can get to Fakir before it's too late."
The two men ran through the forest and when they found the entrance Altor stopped Femio.
"Wait just a second. When did you decide you wanted to help me? I'm forcing you to take me to Fakir so why do you want to help?" Altor asked, staring sternly at the French man.
"Je ne sais pas," he said and shrugged. "I guess I don't really want Rue to win. Hey I can change can't I?"
"In a matter of minutes? I doubt that," Altor said then pushed him away. "Show me where the entrance is."
"It's right…oh," Femio stepped back as he watched the torturer walk out of the tree.
"Where's Fakir?" Altor said suddenly.
"Oh crap, I've been found out. Rue won't like this," he said and tried to run but only turned out to be a semi-fast hobble.
"You were no help," Altor said and knocked the torturer out with his sword. "Come on Femio. Fakir must be in here. We need to get him so we can stop the wedding tonight."
They rushed into the chamber but were too late, Fakir was already dead.
